Once Robin agreed, Ian didn't hesitate. He flipped up and led Robin toward the newly planned residential area.
The residential area was in a slightly secluded location, so it wasn't far from their house. After all, his original wooden house was already in a remote area.
Before long, the two arrived. Seeing rows of newly built two-story houses standing tall, Ian and Robin both showed faint smiles.
Pretty well-built indeed.
Their arrival stirred some commotion.
After spotting them, many people immediately put down their tools and enthusiastically greeted the couple.
After returning the greetings and not wanting to disturb their work, Ian brought Robin directly to their new house.
The two quietly looked at the house with faint smiles on their faces.
Ian glanced at the house, then smiled at Robin beside him. A wave of emotion welled up within him.
Without realizing it, he had already built a family in this world.
Family.
Not only married, but about to have a child. As for a career... The Grado Security Company should count!
After a brief look around, Ian took Robin for a stroll elsewhere.
At the winery, they met Village Chief Martin again. He looked extremely busy, so after a quick chat, he hurried back to work.
The entire island seemed busy, except for the children and the two of them.
This year's wine had already been produced. With a new grading system, the packaging had been redesigned to separate the two grades.
The custom packaging was being delivered one after another.
After the winter snow melted, merchant fleets rushed over to buy goods.
They couldn't afford to be slow.
It was said that to meet the packaging demands for Sibia River Archipelago's Sibia Green Grape Wine, Grado directly opened a large factory dedicated to producing the packaging, providing jobs for many on Baiscaiborg Island.
After staying at the winery for a while, Ian then brought Robin to the dock.
The dock was bustling.
Merchant ships crowded the shore, and crates of wine were loaded one after another, though still not enough to satisfy the merchants.
Many merchant ships were still waiting in line.
Last year's explosive sales brought even more merchant caravans here for supplies.
Especially several marine branches in the West Blue, which planned to procure directly through Captain Enchi.
Ian agreed.
After all, he originally intended to do business with the Marines through Zephyr.
How could he not take care of the Marines?
Watching the lively scene before him, Ian estimated that this year's sales would at least triple or quadruple.
After checking the port, Ian planned to bring Robin home.
Just as they were about to leave…
"Warship! A marine warship is approaching!"
Someone's shout froze them in their tracks.
Then they stared in surprise at the slowly approaching warship.
Once they saw the dog-headed prow, both of them exhaled in relief, then exchanged helpless looks.
That old guy again? What did he come here for this time?
While they were sharing that look, the man standing on the bow wearing a dog-head hat also spotted Ian.
He immediately let out a loud, booming laugh. "Hahahaha! Ian, kid! I'm here again! Are you here to welcome me?"
Ian: "..."
Welcome you? What the hell.
He didn't even know this Hero of the Marines was coming again.
Ian stared speechlessly at Garp, who hopped off the ship and instantly threw an enthusiastic arm around his shoulder.
Before Ian could speak, Garp was already chuckling.
"A banquet! You must prepare a welcome banquet for me! I heard when Zephyr left, you planned to give him a grand welcome next time. Don't think you can skip this for me!"
"Forget about the banquet. We've all been so busy lately, almost doing three jobs per person. We don't have time for a banquet. If you want to drink, feel free to do it."
Ian sighed, then asked: "Why are you here again? Didn't you just finish your vacation? Is Marine Headquarters really so relaxed that they gave you another one?"
"Is that so? Then next time you must prepare a welcome banquet!"
Garp didn't mind at all.
Whether a banquet happened or not didn't matter to him anyway. If he really wanted one, he could throw one on his own ship. He simply loved the lively fun.
"As for me..."
Garp picked his nose and grinned. "Sengoku didn't approve any leave."
He waggled his brows mischievously at Ian. "So I ran away on my own!"
"Ran away..."
"That's right, I snuck out! Hahaha! Sengoku must have noticed by now!"
The mere thought made Garp cackle. "That old man refused to reimburse my expenses and even deducted a year's salary! Too stingy! With that lousy pay, he still wants me to work seriously? Absolutely not! Let him be furious!"
Ian's mouth twitched, having more or less understood the situation. Only Garp would do something like escaping during a crucial period when the Four Emperors had just appeared.
He could already picture Sengoku cursing right now.
"You should thank me properly, kid."
Garp tightened his grip around Ian's shoulders and grinned wider.
"Because of you, I got a year's salary cut. Even the ship's cannonballs haven't been fully restocked yet."
"Thank you."
Ian gave a sincere response, then suddenly thought of something. "By the way, where's instructor Zephyr?"
"Zephyr? Still at Marines Headquarters."
A fleeting complexity flashed in Garp's eyes, but he quickly resumed his carefree tone. "That old guy isn't doing well lately!"
Ian: "...?"
Before Ian could speak, Garp continued.
"He's so old already, why insist on butting heads? Things have passed. Just live properly. If he can't stand Marines Headquarters' justice, he should learn from me."
His tone made shamelessness sound righteous.
"Work when you feel like it. If you don't, sneak out for a break. Marine Headquarters has always been like that. Why get angry now?"
Garp didn't say it directly, but Ian understood. Too many things had happened.
It is likely related to Zephyr later forming a new unit.
Some couldn't bear the twisted justice and loafed around, some turned a blind eye, and some took constant self-granted vacations.
Others left the Marines Headquarters entirely and still fought for their personal justice... Until the Marines, they devoted their entire life to, betrayed them, then they snapped.
While Ian pondered, Garp's grip tightened again, his loud voice returning with a gloating tone.
"Hehehe, annoying Sengoku is fine too. Best if he coughs up blood! That stubborn old goat dared deny my reimbursements and cut my wages!"
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