Chapter 14 —! Setting Sail: The Flunky Aboard the Dog-Headed Battleship
It had to be said—Garp truly was one of a kind within the Navy.
Relying on his unmatched exploits and that legendary "Fist of Love," this Vice Admiral was practically untouchable at Headquarters, enjoying privileges that no other officer of his rank possessed.
Just a few days ago, over dinner at Zephyr's home, Garp had said he'd take Kokushibo Yoriichi out to sea with him—and not even a week later, that day had come.
Early in the morning, Yoriichi was quietly reading at home when Garp suddenly burst through Zephyr's door without so much as a knock.
As if it were his own house, Garp strode right in, spotted Yoriichi, and barked:
"Oi! Kid, I'm setting sail! You're coming with me—move it!"
Looking up from behind a pile of books, Yoriichi couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye at the man's brashness.
"Wouldn't that be... inappropriate?"
"Zephyr-sensei isn't home. Shouldn't I at least tell him first?"
Truth be told, the thought of going out to sea stirred something in him.
He'd already been in the Navy for nearly a month, and though he'd felt Zephyr's warmth—almost like family—his growth in strength had completely stagnated.
Yoriichi had begun to suspect that Zephyr's reluctance to teach him combat techniques came from orders from above. The stack of books Zephyr had given him only deepened that feeling.
Garp's return had merely confirmed his suspicions.
There was no way he lacked the physical strength needed to learn Haki or the Rokushiki.
Zephyr might have said that Yoriichi's Douryoku score of over 5000 was "weak," but Yoriichi knew better. That kind of power was already enough to begin learning those Navy arts.
Even the so-called "genius" Rob Lucci only had around 4000 Douryoku.
He wanted to set sail—but he also didn't want to act out of line.
Zephyr and Garp were fine, but Yoriichi knew the real restrictions didn't come from them.
"I already told Zephyr. He has no objections!" Garp said with a grin.
"And since when do you need anyone's permission for that?"
"What, you'd rather stay here buried in books? Don't tell me you don't want to go to sea?"
"You won't achieve your dreams by sitting around reading, kid!"
They hadn't known each other long, but after decades in the Navy, Garp was an expert at reading people.
"..."
"I do want to go, but—"
Before Yoriichi could finish, Garp waved him off impatiently.
Catching sight of the black blade resting by Yoriichi's side, Garp's grin widened. He stepped over, grabbed Yoriichi by the waist with one hand, snatched up the sword with the other, and hoisted him out the door like a sack of rice.
"Uhh... Vice Admiral Garp, I can walk on my own."
But Garp, carrying him at his side like a chick, marched straight toward the harbor. The sailors they passed saluted him respectfully—but couldn't help stealing curious glances at the boy he was carrying.
Being stared at like that was mortifying, but Yoriichi soon gave up resisting.
"Hahaha! What's the problem?!" Garp laughed.
"If you want to set sail, then set sail! The Navy's all about freedom, after all! Wahahaha!"
Freedom... for you, maybe, Yoriichi thought silently, resigning himself to the situation.
Before long, Garp's Dog-Headed Battleship came into view—a massive vessel with its canine prow grinning fiercely. Clearly, Garp had already made all the preparations. The crew was assembled and ready, awaiting only their commander.
Yet, just as Garp was about to board with Yoriichi, a group of officers stepped forward to block his way.
At their head stood none other than the Fleet Admiral, Kong (Sengoku the Steel)!
Behind him, Zephyr and Sengoku flanked either side, with a squad of armed marines in formation.
The moment he saw Garp, Kong bellowed:
"Garp! What do you think you're doing?!"
Garp blinked, taken aback.
He'd only been planning to take Yoriichi out to sea—did that really warrant the Fleet Admiral himself showing up?
Was Kong really this idle, to meddle in such trivial matters?
The surprise passed quickly. Garp set Yoriichi down, tossed him his sword, then calmly dug a pinky into his nose and replied:
"Isn't it obvious?"
"I got word on Roger's movements—so I'm heading out to sea."
Steel Bone Kong seemed long since immune to Garp's casual disrespect. He ignored the man's slouching attitude, instead turning his gaze toward the boy beside him.
"If you want to chase Roger, then go," he said coolly.
"But you can't take that boy with you."
"He's Zephyr's disciple—one of our Navy's key protégés. He must not leave Headquarters so lightly."
At those words, Garp stepped forward, placing one broad hand on Yoriichi's back as he grinned.
"I know," he said. "That's exactly why I'm taking him."
"A Marine only becomes stronger out on the sea."
"That's how I did it. And that gives me the right to say so."
His tone was unwavering, his posture firm—utterly unafraid before the Fleet Admiral himself. Even as a mere Vice Admiral, Garp remained as stubbornly unrestrained as ever.
"...Must you really insist on this, Garp?"
For a moment, Kong's voice softened—so unexpectedly that the marines behind him all looked up in surprise.
The Fleet Admiral was a man whose iron rule had carried him to the top. For him to yield, even a little, was unheard of.
"Wahahaha!" Garp burst out laughing.
"Don't worry, I'll bring him back safe. Now get out of the way!"
Still laughing, he threw an arm around Yoriichi's shoulder and started up the gangplank. Kong didn't move to stop him. As Garp passed, the Fleet Admiral murmured quietly:
"Garp, you'd better take responsibility for this. Don't let me down."
Garp only turned and flashed his trademark grin—no words, just that reckless confidence—and led Yoriichi aboard.
"Set sail!"
His thunderous shout rang across the deck. The anchor rose, the ropes were cast off, and the Dog-Headed Battleship slowly glided out of the naval harbor, shrinking into the distance until it vanished beyond the horizon.
Zephyr stood watching it go, a faint smile playing at his lips—but the instant Kong turned back, that smile was gone.
Seeing the Fleet Admiral's displeasure, Sengoku hurried to smooth things over.
"Come now, sir. You know what Garp's like. Don't take it to heart."
"And really, it's just a kid. So what if he takes him out? No harm done, eh? Hahaha—no harm done!"
That last remark lit the fuse on Kong's smoldering temper.
In an instant, his suppressed fury erupted.
"Fool!" he roared.
"That boy has awakened Conqueror's Haki, Sengoku! Do you even understand what that means?!"
"One in a million talent! If we nurture him properly, he could become the very pillar of the Navy's future!"
"We can train a hundred officers, but a single person like him can bring peace to an entire sea!"
"Do you have any idea how important that is?!"
"And yet—because it's Garp taking him, I can't feel at ease!"
"What does that idiot know about cultivating soldiers?! Nothing!"
"A 'veteran,' he calls himself—hah! If everyone did things his way, I'd have died of rage years ago!"
He ended with a sharp "Hmph!", chest heaving with anger. There was no mistaking his fury—but beneath it, there was something closer to frustration, even helplessness.
Because when it came to Garp, even the Fleet Admiral had no real way to stop him.
Out at sea, endless blue stretched in every direction as the battleship carved a white wake across the rolling waves.
Yoriichi stood at the railing, both hands resting on the cold metal. The sea breeze was brisk and refreshing, his crimson hair fluttering freely, the red mark on his brow catching the sunlight.
Looking out over the boundless ocean, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"So this is why so many people are drawn to the sea," he murmured.
"No matter how many times you experience it, this feeling of freedom never loses its wonder."
He half-closed his eyes, letting the wind wash over him.
"You... like the sea too, don't you?"
Footsteps approached from behind. A tall figure came to stand beside him, smiling as they gazed out at the same horizon.
(End of Chapter)