บท 38: Chapter 38
Title: Garp: 'How About We Get Rid Of Sakazuki Together?'
"I'm truly worthless, I'm a coward!" Garp's voice broke as he wept, his heart heavy with self-reproach.
He knew he had the power to steal Luffy from the Celestial Dragons, to stand with him an Ace and roam the seas as a family. Yet, he had never been able to take that decisive step. The word "Marine" had become a thunderous barrier, one he couldn't bring himself to cross.
"Vice Admiral Garp," a guard rushed over with a transponder snail, "Admiral Sakazuki is calling."
"Sakazuki, huh... That kid was strongly in favor of Ace's execution," Garp muttered with a hint of hostility in his gaze. He had been disillusioned with the Marines and had his own motives for this mission.
"Pass me the transponder snail," Garp ordered the adjutant, who promptly connected the call. "What's the matter, Sakazuki?"
Garp's voice was devoid of emotion, mechanical even.
Akainu frowned, feeling like he was being attacked in a moment of vulnerability. Considering his ruthless style, he believed that Garp should be arrested. Garp's son was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and both his grandsons were pirates. The taint of criminality seemed to run deep in their genes.
"We're heading to Dressrosa soon. The Black Dragon is hovering over the island. Let's eliminate him together," Akainu stated ambitiously.
Garp responded with a blank nod. "I understand."
Haw!
After the brief exchange, Garp disconnected the transponder snail, refusing to engage further with Akainu.
"You old coot, what's with the attitude? Once I become Fleet Admiral, I'll have you retire immediately!" Akainu spat out his resentment. He had meticulously planned an attack strategy in light of the Black Dragon's threat, but the old man Garp had cut him off before he could present it.
"Have you found it?" Garp inquired of Koby, his trusted confidant.
"I've found it. Admiral Garp, are you sure about this? There's no turning back once you take this step," Koby replied with a complicated expression, dreading the possibility of witnessing a legendary Marine veer off course.
"They're ruthless and can't blame me for being ungrateful; they showed no mercy to my grandson either. Criminals don't deserve sympathy, but family is different!" Garp declared passionately, his face flushed with emotion.
Taking the transponder snail from Koby's hand, he spoke with unwavering resolve, "Doflamingo, it's Garp."
"Fufufufufu~~~ The Marine hero calling a government-declared criminal, quite the surprise," Doflamingo mused with curiosity about Garp's intentions.
"Step aside. I'm not interested in talking to you. Hand the transponder snail over to the Black Dragon," Garp demanded forcefully.
Doflamingo seethed, "You..."
"Watch your tone. You've already delayed important matters. Be careful; the Black Dragon might just skin you alive," Garp warned coldly.
"Old man, don't get carried away!" Doflamingo retorted defiantly.
Doflamingo though... Were very honest, he was running to send the phone bug after all, his legs were in overdrive. There had to be a significant secret at play here. Any further delay might result in the Black Dragon boss truly deciding to end him.
Meanwhile, at the southeastern port of Dressrosa, the Black Dragon's Observation Haki enveloped an area spanning tens of kilometers. Even with the Marines utilizing coated ships, they were still hundreds of meters deep in the sea, it was impossible to avoid his watchful perception. He knew that Garp and Akainu were the ones leading the charge, but he had already begun planning his retreat. There was no need to engage Akainu and Garp in a final battle at this moment.
"Brother!" Doflamingo rushed over with the phone bug, the urgency in his voice palpable. The Black Dragon regarded him with suspicion. "Why haven't you withdrawn yet? I'm preparing to depart. Dressrosa won't hold for much longer."
Doflamingo hesitated before speaking, "It's Marine Hero Garp calling."
"Garp?!" The Black Dragon's momentary confusion was understandable. It would've been normal if he was Admiral Xilan but... Currently he was the Black Dragon, a figure that is doing all kind of evils, his current criminal activities included selling Celestial Dragons and Marine Vice Admirals, which painted a very different picture at the moment.
"Let me talk to him."
Doflamingo handed over the phone bug, and the Black Dragon took it with a puzzled expression. "Yo, old man."
"This old man wants to make a deal with you," Garp stated directly, catching the Black Dragon off guard.
In the world of the Marines, Garp was renowned for his unwavering principles.
Was he planning to betray them now?
The Black Dragon was genuinely surprised, murmuring to himself, "It seems that Luffy becoming a slave has deeply disappointed Garp in the World Government and the Marines."
"Speak, old man, I'm listening," the Black Dragon replied expectantly.
"You're undoubtedly strong, but if I team up with Sakazuki, you'll be outmatched," Garp declared confidently.
Although he didn't particularly like Akainu, he couldn't deny the Admiral's overwhelming strength.
"Outmatched?" The Black Dragon sneered, finding the idea amusing. "Old fool, how dare you say that."
"You..." Garp's eyebrows furrowed as Xilan had also addressed him as "old fool."
Was it a coincidence?
"If you're just here to boast, there's nothing for us to discuss," the Black Dragon said, disheartened, about to disconnect the call. However, Garp's next words piqued his interest.
"How about we get rid of Sakazuki together?"
—
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