Loguetown was within reach, and Garp's warship was steadily sailing towards the island.
This warship, the flagship of "Hero of the Marines" Garp, exuded an aura of silent power.
The warship was massive, its deck as spacious as a small training ground, and its hull was painted a stately dark blue.
A colossal dog head statue stood proudly at its bow.
The sails soared sky-high, and the turrets at the stern of the warship were lined up, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.
On the deck, Garp was laughing heartily, his hands tucked under the white Marine coat draped over his shoulders, looking completely at ease.
His laughter was deep and resonant, his handlebar mustache neat and tidy, his thick eyebrows and large eyes appearing particularly spirited, and a scar on his face added a touch of gravitas.
His tall figure, coupled with his perpetually boisterous smile, was like a towering mountain pressing down on the ship, yet also like a kind uncle from next door.
Standing beside him, his adjutant Bogard, was completely tense.
He was a lean but extremely strong man, slightly shorter than Garp.
His dark brown short hair was always impeccably groomed, and his sharp, angular jawline on his thin face made him appear capable and decisive.
"Vice Admiral, we're almost at Loguetown," Bogard said, closing the map in his hand, his tone respectful but with a hint of urgency.
"According to intelligence, the Straw Hat Pirates are very likely to choose this island as a resupply point in their itinerary."
"Oh? So little Luffy might be here?" Garp's smile widened, and he reached into a nearby donut bucket, pulled one out, and took a few casual bites.
"Vice Admiral, should we—" Bogard's words were cut short as the telescope in his hand suddenly paused.
He raised an eyebrow, quickly adjusted the focus, and then stared intently through the lens.
"What's wrong?" Garp tilted his head and glanced over.
Bogard lowered his telescope, his voice laced with heightened vigilance: "I've spotted the Straw Hats' ship, right on the coast of Loguetown."
He raised the telescope again, changing direction. This time, his gaze locked directly onto the deck of the Going Merry.
A tall young man in a black short-sleeved shirt stood there, arms crossed, his gaze directed straight towards them.
His black hair was slightly ruffled by the sea breeze, his eyes deep, sharp yet calm, and there was an inherent aura about his brows that commanded attention.
What made Bogard feel most pressured was that this person's presence seemed to merge with the entire ship's aura.
In fact—no, it was certain—he had already detected their arrival!
"Interesting." Garp narrowed his eyes, a curve of excitement forming on his lips.
He finished the donut in his hand and walked briskly to the ship's railing, squinting into the distance at the Going Merry.
His tone was filled with strong interest, "Who is that kid?"
"First Mate, Kai," Bogard said seriously, continuing his observation, "Bounty of 100 million Berries."
"A 100 million bounty, huh." Garp's laughter boomed again, this time with a hint of admiration, "That kid doesn't look simple."
Meanwhile, on the deck of the Going Merry, Kai's gaze remained calm.
He had long sensed the approaching warship, that subtle oppressive feeling.
And the several powerful auras emanating from the ship, all clearly registered in his mind.
As Garp's warship drew closer, the pressure Kai felt surged like a tide.
It was an indescribable weight, like an invisible giant hand in the sky slowly pressing down, making it hard to breathe.
His eyes gradually sharpened, staring at the massive approaching vessel.
Every second, his heartbeat pounded like a war drum, but he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
This feeling was an intuition: he had been targeted by the other party.
Suddenly, he saw an old man in a Marine admiral's uniform leap from the warship's deck, his posture casual yet incredibly imposing.
He clenched his fist, his aura like mountains and seas, and charged towards the Going Merry.
Before the punch even landed, its sheer force had already created ripples on the sea surface, waves churning in layers, as if to devour everything.
Kai's heart tightened—that old man was ridiculously strong; even a simple punch could tear the heavens apart.
Garp's voice boomed: "Kid! If you can't take this punch of mine, then perish in the sea!"
The rolling sound waves vibrated Kai's eardrums. He narrowed his eyes, feeling carefully, and found that there was no hint of killing intent in the other party's fist.
This made Kai slightly relieved, but the sense of danger in his heart did not dissipate.
Although the opponent had no intention of taking his life, this certainly did not mean he could be underestimated.
If the Going Merry were caught in the aftermath of this punch, it would likely be reduced to dust in an instant.
This absolutely could not happen!
"I can't retreat!" Kai's gaze became resolute, and the Conqueror's Haki coiling around his right fist shimmered with black and red lightning, as if distorting space.
He stomped hard on the deck, transforming into an arrow, and shot towards Garp.
Garp's pupils contracted slightly, then a smile of excitement curved his lips. "Conqueror's Haki coating, interesting!"
The Armament Haki covering his fist became even more intense, like it was forged from black gold, emitting an unbearable brilliance.
"Bang—!"
Their fists collided fiercely in mid-air!
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, then exploded with a roar.
Black and red lightning scattered, accompanied by a massive shockwave that churned the sea upside down.
The Going Merry was pushed far away, creaking and groaning, seemingly on the verge of breaking apart at any moment.
The force transmitted from Kai's fist was like a towering mountain crashing down.
His body stiffened for less than a second before being smashed into the seabed by a terrifying power.
The seawater was icy cold and biting, but Kai showed no panic.
A sharp pain shot through the bones of his right arm, clearly a severe injury, but his powerful regenerative ability had already begun to take effect.
At a visible speed, his injuries were healing at an incredible rate.
"Whoosh—" Kai burst out of the sea, like a fierce beast escaping its cage, and landed back on the deck of the Going Merry.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold and focused, his entire being like a newly unsheathed sharp sword, its edge fully revealed.
Garp frowned slightly, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.
He stared at Kai, watching his arm recover rapidly, and murmured, "Such strong regenerative power..."
However, the shock was only momentary. He then burst into laughter, treading on air, looking down at Kai from above.
The air beneath his feet seemed to solidify, allowing him to float steadily in the sky.
"Kid!" His voice was loud and powerful, as if it could pierce the sky, "I am Garp, Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, and also that kid Luffy's grandfather!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he grinned again: "If you don't want me to smash your ship to smithereens, then come aboard my warship!"