He cried out in alarm and hurriedly said to Carlo, "Carlo! Let's go! No matter what you want to do, stay away from this dangerous guy for now! At the very least, let's fly to the sky to avoid him!"
However, Carlo shook his head unhurriedly.
"No need, John. Go do something for me. After you're done, leave God Valley directly and return to Hachinosu first."
John took two steps back and asked urgently, "What is it?"
"Help me find a few people and take them out of here." Carlo briefly described the appearances of Kuma, Ivankov, and Ginny.
Their appearances were very distinctive; John should be able to find them quickly.
"Fine! Leave it to me!" Although he didn't know why Carlo wanted to find a few Little Brats, John couldn't wait to leave this place immediately.
The pressure Garp put on him was simply too great.
Watching John leave quickly, Carlo was silent for a few seconds before adding a sentence.
"If possible, take some ordinary people with you while you're at it."
John didn't look back; he just nodded and left even faster.
Linlin, who was nearby, looked at Carlo with some surprise. "Mamamama, I didn't expect you to be so kind-hearted, Carlo, to actually show such mercy."
She glanced at the approaching Garp and said in a serious voice, "Do you need help?"
"Thanks, but no need!" Carlo reached back and took the heavenly dragon halberd from his black cloak, turning to face the approaching Garp.
"You go, Linlin. Let me meet my old friend alone."
Linlin took a deep look at him. "Then take care of yourself."
With that, she was about to leave.
Suddenly, a few Devil Fruits swept up by the strong wind flew into her arms, and she hurriedly caught them.
Linlin was stunned. "What are you doing, Carlo?"
"Keep them safe for me. If a winner of the 'Dragon Hunt Game' appears, help me distribute the prizes." Carlo said without looking back.
Linlin was stunned and said incredulously, "You... you actually trust me with such valuable things? Aren't you afraid I'll just keep them for myself?"
"If it were Shiki, I definitely wouldn't trust him. But as for you, I trust you. After all, we are allies, aren't we?"
Linlin fell silent. Looking at Carlo's tall and straight back, a trace of regret unexpectedly welled up in her heart.
If only she had met this guy sooner... She solemnly stuffed the four Devil Fruits into her bosom to hide them. While running away, she shouted:
"Since you trust Mama so much, leave this matter to me! I will definitely handle it perfectly for you!"
"It's been so long, Carlo, and you're still so popular with women." A familiar voice came from the opposite side.
The corners of Carlo's mouth curled up slightly as he looked at Garp, who had already come within a dozen meters of him.
"Old man Garp, long time no see."
Garp stumbled as he walked, veins popping on his forehead. He glared at Carlo fiercely.
"What old man! What kind of twisted sense of humor do you have, you brat? I'm clearly in my prime! What do you mean by always calling me an old man??"
"How old are you this year?" Carlo wasn't nervous about the upcoming fight with Garp at all. He asked with a smile, like old friends meeting.
Garp was stunned, scratched his head, and thought hard. "Uh... seems to be thirty-eight?"
"Bullshit! You're already forty!" Carlo said crossly.
"Nani?? I'm already forty? Dammit! I'm actually that old? When did this happen?" Garp was shocked.
Carlo was somewhat speechless. "Please, your son is almost at the age to be a father. Is it strange for you to be forty? Most people are almost grandfathers at forty. So you see, it's quite normal for me to call you an old man, isn't it?"
"Uh... that seems to make sense." Garp scratched his head, but soon he reacted and got angry again:
"No! You kid called me an old man ten years ago! No... twenty years ago, back when I had just joined the Marine. When you were wearing open-crotch pants in your father Admiral White's arms, you brat called me an old man, right? Don't think I've forgotten!"
"Cough, cough." Carlo coughed. "Is that so? It's been too long, I've forgotten."
"Don't give me that! That's just your twisted sense of humor!" Garp rolled his eyes.
The two suddenly fell silent.
Neither side spoke.
After a while, Garp turned his head to look in the direction John had left and sighed deeply.
"Kid Carlo, I heard everything you told John just now."
"Sigh..."
"I know you mean well, but your method is too extreme."
"Actually, there was no need to do that. Because of the arrival of you pirates, the Celestial Dragons' hunting game is basically over."
"Those pigs are now like stray dogs themselves, only caring about fleeing in panic. They can't bother with those innocent people anymore. They already have the time and opportunity to escape."
"Your actions will only put you in danger. Why bother?"
"Huh?" Carlo blinked.
Garp seemed to have misunderstood something.
However, it didn't matter.
Carlo smiled, suddenly stabbed the heavenly dragon halberd into the ground, clenched his fists, and looked at Garp.
"Let's not talk about that. Let's have a real man's contest! Pirate against Marine! Iron fist against iron fist!"
"Please give me some guidance! Garp... Sensei!"
Garp was stunned. Looking at Carlo's raised fist, he seemed to recall a few years ago in Marineford, a stubborn figure who pestered him to learn his Fist Bone martial arts and wanted to spar with him, only to be beaten until his head was covered in bumps every time, yet still refused to give up.
Although he knew that the tall young man before him—whose build, appearance, aura, and temperament had completely changed from a few years ago in Marineford—was no longer the simple, studious boy he once was.
But Garp still couldn't help but reminisce.
That precocious Little Brat who used to follow Admiral White Dragon and call him and Sengoku old men.
That boy who lost his father at a young age but didn't become decadent or sink into despair. Instead, he practiced and tempered himself from childhood, growing in silence amidst the criticism and humiliation of others.
That cynical young man who appeared lazy in the eyes of others but was actually a Marine Major with strength no less than that of a Headquarters Vice Admiral.
The one who was sent by Kong to the Rocks Pirates as an undercover agent but became a real pirate.
Now, he has become the Fourth Division Captain of the world-renowned Rocks Pirates, a Great Pirate with his own pirate group and a group of powerful subordinates!
He is even known as the Sky King!
Sorus Karlo!
But at this moment, in Garp's eyes, the Carlo before him was still the studious boy who pestered him to learn fist techniques and martial arts.
Seeing the powerful fighting intent blooming in the young man's eyes.
A surge of excitement filled Garp's chest, making him unable to resist grinning and laughing loudly.
"Bwahahaha, bwahahahaha!!"
"Since you still recognize me as your teacher, then what else is there to say?"
He clenched his fist, a sharp light exploding in his eyes. He suddenly stepped forward and threw a punch!
"Come!!"
"Let me, your teacher, see how much you've improved over the years!!"