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Chapter 38: Kuzan Arrives
Luffy, on the other hand, didn't think that much.
As soon as he saw Garp, he was just happy. He charged over on his short legs and hugged Garp's thigh.
"Grandpa! You came to see us!"
Garp looked down at his precious grandson hanging off his leg, his smile growing even wider. He reached out his giant hand and rubbed Luffy's head, messing his black hair into a bird's nest.
"Bwahahaha! Of course!"
However, his gaze quickly shifted from Luffy to the rat-faced man still kneeling on the ground, wearing a fawning smile.
The smile on Garp's face vanished instantly.
In its place was an icy coldness and disgust.
He didn't even bend down. He just gestured at Nezumi with his chin, his tone flat and chilling.
"You were saying... you wanted to arrest my grandson?"
Nezumi's body trembled violently. The smile on his face was uglier than crying.
"No! No! A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding, Vice Admiral Garp!"
"Oh?" Garp dug in his ear, his other hand still rubbing Luffy's head. "Then what did you say you were going to do to them?"
"Kill them on the spot?"
Those four words floated lightly from Garp's mouth.
But they caused Nezumi's entire world to collapse.
"N-No! I didn't say it! It... it was them! They misheard! Yes! They must have misheard!" Nezumi shook his head frantically, pointing at his own men, who were frozen in terror, trying to shift the blame.
"How could I... How could I dare... to do that to your grandsons..."
"Shut up."
Garp cut him off.
His voice wasn't loud, but its unquestionable authority instantly silenced Nezumi, leaving only the clack-clack-clack of his chattering teeth.
Garp finally let go of Luffy and took a step forward.
His tall shadow completely enveloped Nezumi.
"Taking bribes from Goa Kingdom nobles. Leading Marines to 'clean up' civilians."
"You didn't even bother to find out who your targets were, and you dared to scream about killing them."
Garp looked down at this scumbag, who was so scared he was about to wet himself. There was no anger in his eyes, only pure, lofty contempt.
"Trash like you... is worthy of wearing this Justice coat?"
Garp grabbed Nezumi by the collar, effortlessly lifting him off the ground, his feet dangling.
"Urk... Argh..." Nezumi's throat was constricted. His limbs flailed uselessly in the air.
"How much money did you take?" Garp asked coldly.
"Five million..."
Garp was furious. Five million Beri is all it takes for you to sell out the justice of the Marines. You're worthless.
"You... and this bunch of trash under your command."
Garp glanced at the pale-faced Marines.
"All of you will be placed under internal investigation."
He tossed Nezumi to the ground like a bag of trash, and then delivered the final judgment to the squad.
"As for you..."
His finger pointed at the twitching Nezumi.
"Impel Down is your only destination."
After speaking, Garp didn't even bother to look at him again, turning back to his grandsons.
Captain Nezumi's eyes rolled back. He foamed at the mouth and passed out.
His Marine career, and his life, had just come to a perfect end.
Impel Down... had just gained a new permanent resident.
Meanwhile.
East Blue, in the waters outside Foosha Village.
The sea was as calm as a mirror, the sun scattering glittering light on its surface.
Squeak... Squeak...
A strange sound echoed across the empty sea.
A tall, slender man was leisurely riding a bicycle, moving slowly across the surface of the water.
Wherever his bicycle tires passed, the blue seawater instantly froze into a crystal ice path. And after he passed, the ice path quietly melted, leaving no trace.
This handsome man riding a bike wore a pair of sunglasses and had curly black hair. He had a lazy, half-asleep expression.
It was one of Marine Headquarters' top powers.
Admiral, Aokiji.
He slowly rode to the shore of Foosha Village, leaned his bicycle against a coconut tree, and gave a long stretch.
"Ara ra..."
"Finally made it."
He looked around the quiet, peaceful little village, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Aokiji walked along the small path of Foosha Village.
His pace was slow, one could even say lazy.
This errand, personally ordered by the Fleet Admiral, felt like just another stroll to him.
"Ara ra..."
He pushed his sunglasses up, observing the quiet village.
"Mr. Garp's hometown really is a nice place. Makes you want to take a nap."
The sunlight was perfect, the sea breeze brushed his face with a salty, damp kiss. Everything seemed peaceful and serene.
His eyes, always half-closed, scanned the village unhurriedly.
And then.
His gaze... landed in front of Makino's bar.
There was a laughably simple stall there.
A broken table, a lounge chair, and a wooden sign with "Dungeon Shop" scrawled on it.
A white-haired young man was sprawled on the chair, his head lolled to one side, fast asleep. The sun shone on his overly youthful face, making him look completely harmless.
Aokiji's footsteps paused.
For the first time, a flicker of interest appeared on his lazy face.
Mr. Garp, so excited in the Den Den Mushi he was about to burst a lung. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, his voice graver than ever before...
And the source of it all... is this white-haired kid, who's drooling in his sleep?
Aokiji scratched his signature curly black hair.
Hm.
This lazy, good-for-nothing aura.
This "the sky could fall and I wouldn't bother to look up" attitude.
Yep.
It's you.
Aokiji slowly ambled over. His tall figure cast a shadow on the ground, covering Blake.
Blake, deep in sleep, seemed to notice the change in light. He frowned, annoyed, turned over, and kept sleeping.
Aokiji didn't speak. He just stood there, looking down, observing.
He saw the sign on the table, with the price list scrawled on it.
Beginner Dungeon: One Million Beri.
Intermediate Dungeon: Ten Million Beri.
Advanced Dungeon: One Hundred Million Beri.
Aokiji's eyelid twitched.
This price-gouging... it's exactly as Mr. Garp described.
He reached out a long finger and tapped lightly on the dusty wooden table.
Knock, knock.
The crisp sound was especially clear in the quiet afternoon.
Blake's eyelids fluttered. He reluctantly opened them a crack, revealing eyes thick with sleep.
"Hey."
"Kid. You've got a customer."