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With laughter echoing through the air, two figures strode forward, instantly changing the mood of the scene once again.
The man at the front was tall, nearly three metres in height, and wore a white Marine uniform. Though age was beginning to show on his face, his muscles were so well-defined that they seemed ready to burst through his clothes.
A step behind him was another man with a stern expression and a hint of gloominess about him. His brows were slightly furrowed as if troubled by the situation before him.
“Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp!”
“Marine Admiral Sengoku the Buddha!”
It didn’t take long for someone to recognize them. Their iconic appearances were so well known in this era that anyone with even a little knowledge could identify them at a glance.
Saint Figarland Garling frowned as he looked at the two of them, while a trace of wariness and seriousness flashed through the eyes of CP0.
In this era, no one could afford to ignore two fighters of Admiral-level strength, especially Garp. His long-standing record had proven the terrifying power he possessed.
As for Sengoku the Buddha, although he was famous as a resourceful general, his combat strength was by no means inferior.
The two of them alone were enough to demand everyone’s attention. Even if the Five Elder Stars were present, they would still have to deal with them cautiously.
Moreover, these two represented the full force of the Marines behind them.
“So this is the choice you’ve made as Marines?”
“Garp, Sengoku!”
Saint Figarland Garling spoke in a low voice as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
To the World Government, the Marines were a subordinate organization. To the Celestial Dragons, they were nothing more than servants to be commanded at will. Now, two Marines were openly standing against them; this was clearly not a good sign.
“I cannot tolerate my disciple being surrounded here!” Garp burst into laughter.
His eyes locked onto his opponent as if he might attack at any moment. Sengoku, on the other hand, frowned slightly and cast a helpless glance at his old friend.
“I just hope that the position I’ve chosen today won’t turn out to be the wrong one in the future.”
Taking a deep breath, he continued in a deep voice.
“Kojin is a Vice Admiral of the Marines. If he has committed any wrongdoing, the Marines have their own rules for punishment. So I ask for your understanding.”
After a brief pause, he continued.
“We cannot stand by and do nothing while one of our own is being treated like a criminal! That would go against Marine justice!”
Saint Figarland Garling suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“Justice, you say?”
“How interesting.”
With that, he turned and left.
“As for the consequences this incident may bring, I have no interest in them. Sengoku, you can experience them for yourself in the future.”
His voice echoed into the void, and in the blink of an eye, Saint Figarland Garling and the Holy Knights under his command disappeared.
Seeing this, the CP0 agents pursed their lips and also turned to leave.
As both groups departed, Sengoku let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Then he suddenly turned towards Garp.
“Garp, you were too impulsive! You actually dared to openly stand against them here.”
Garp grinned widely and slapped Kojin on the shoulder.
“My good disciple ran into trouble; how could I, as his teacher, turn a blind eye?”
“But you, Sengoku, you actually stood with me! That’s really something! Hahahahaha!”
Sengoku rolled his eyes.
“If it weren’t for you, you old fool, I wouldn’t have acted so rashly. And besides…” As he spoke, he looked at Kojin. “As I said earlier, this brat is still a member of the Marines. So of course I have to protect him!”
Kojin was momentarily stunned. He looked at Sengoku with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
While it wasn’t unexpected for his teacher to help him, it was surprising that Sengoku, with such a promising future, had also stepped forward without hesitation. That was truly surprising.
Besides, during the Battle of Ohara, Kojin hadn’t exactly gone easy on him.
“Hey, what are you staring at, you brat! Let’s be clear here, I didn’t do this just for you! Never forget your identity as a Marine!” Sengoku the Buddha shouted angrily.
Kojin laughed. “Thank you, Admiral Sengoku !”
The moment he said this, Sengoku’s expression softened visibly.
He was more than willing to repair his relationship with Kojin on a personal level. Whether it was Kojin’s strength or his current influence in West Blue, he would be of tremendous help to the Marines either way.
“Hahahaha! Has the World Government gone mad? Targeting my disciple again and again!” Monkey D. Garp grumbled in dissatisfaction.
“Shut up! There are too many ears around here!” Sengoku barked, his gaze sweeping the area.
Pairs of eyes… some shocked, some filled with awe were fixed on them.
“Oh? Then I’ll take back what I just said!” Garp laughed loudly, completely unconcerned.
Sengoku glared at him, grabbed Garp and hurried forward.
Kojin exchanged a glance with Cobra before quickly following behind. A short while later, inside the temporary residence of the Nefertari family…
“What? Those five summoned you just now?” After hearing Kojin recount what had happened earlier, Sengoku’s eyes widened in shock.
“Why would they…?”
He quickly became puzzled.
For the Five Elders, matters of an ordinary nature were never enough to draw their attention. The fact that they had summoned Kojin meant that this was no trivial matter.
“It was just a meaningless test of each other. I got what I wanted, and they got what they wanted as well.” Kojin replied calmly with a faint smile on his face.
“That was a dangerous test.” Sengoku said solemnly.
Although Kojin made it sound simple, Sengoku could sense the deeper implications behind it.
“As long as you’re fine, that’s what matters. Oh right, this guy Sengoku is about to become Fleet Admiral. When that time comes, you’d better support him properly! I thought that, after that incident, you might even defect from the Marines!” Garp said casually, grinning.
“Garp, you… You really do say whatever comes to mind! Couldn’t you think before you speak atleast once in your life?” Sengoku snapped, turning his head in irritation.
“Congratulations, Admiral Sengoku. I will naturally give you my full support,” Kojin said with a smile.
Sengoku’s expression eased. Then he spoke in a deep voice.
“It’s precisely because Kojin still considers himself a Marine that the World Government didn’t react more drastically.”
Kojin simply smiled, not telling them the truth.
Just moments ago, he had already stepped onto the brink of open conflict between the two sides. If not for the balance of power between them, it would have turned into a terrifying war sweeping across the entire world.
But both sides had concerns. No matter how much anger there was, it was destined to remain a test of negotiation.
“If there’s nothing else, we should leave soon. This damned place is filled with an unbearable stench. Staying here for even a second is unbearable! I’d rather go home and take care of my grandson!” Garp muttered.
“This is our duty as Marines!” Sengoku shot back.
“Tch!” Garp rolled his eyes.
“But he’s not wrong. Staying here will only lead to more conflicts. And the people you saved… they’re quite troublesome as well.” Sengoku said, frowning as he looked towards Boa Hancock, Fisher Tiger, and the others in the distance.
Rescuing the Celestial Dragons’ slaves within the Holy Land could be a big deal or a small one. Judging by the other party’s attitude earlier, outwardly tough, yet retreating without hesitation, it seemed they didn’t really care.
But it was still a problem in the end.
“Perhaps the Celestial Dragons consider other traits of Kojin to be more important than such a trivial matter?”
Sengoku the Buddha cast a deep glance at him and fell into silence.
Clearly, this young man still had many secrets he hadn’t revealed.
Not long after, Monkey D. Garp and Sengoku left.
Kojin was touched by how the two had unhesitatingly supported him earlier. At the same time, Sengoku’s warning made him more alert. Staying in this Holy Land would indeed trigger many conflicts and cause a lot of trouble.
Every single one of the Five Elder Stars, Imu, and CP0 was a top-tier force that inspired fear and danger. Ever since he had set foot there, he had been subjected to invisible tests and clashes.
Negotiating with Imu was not the end of it. The arrival of the Holy Knights and CP0 was also a form of intimidation and warning, demonstrating the strength of the Celestial Dragons and cautioning him not to act recklessly.
“What a headache…” Kojin rubbed his temples.
After comparing both sides, he realized that the number of top-tier fighters he could currently bring out was very limited.
Even if he could hold off the mysterious Imu, what about the others?
The gap in strength and overall foundation was enormous.
The next day, after discussing the matter with Cobra, Kojin decided to forgo the upcoming Levely and leave Mariejois. No one from the Holy Land tried to stop them, enabling them to leave smoothly. After the series of tests and probing exchanges the previous day, it seemed that even the World Government had grown wary.
Fisher Tiger and the Boa Hancock and her sisters wore large cloaks and hoods to hide themselves within the group. By the afternoon, their ship had arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Fisher Tiger bowed deeply before speaking. “I will remember Vice Admiral Kojin’s kindness for the rest of my life! The ideals you spoke of… I will spend the rest of my life spreading them and carrying them forward!”
Kojin nodded with a smile.
“Everyone has something they must do. Go forward boldly and do what you believe is right.”
Fisher Tiger nodded emphatically, turned around, and quickly disappeared into the crowd. He was eager to return to Fish-Man Island to share his experiences and beliefs with King Neptune and his brothers in the Fish-Man District.
Being enslaved was the greatest humiliation of his life, but it was also the beginning of his awakening, when his confusion cleared and he finally gained true understanding.
Kojin was the only light in his life.
Next were Boa Hancock and her sisters.
“I want to follow you, my lord! When I grow up, I want to marry you!” Tears welled in Hancock’s eyes as she spoke reluctantly.
“Just like I told Tiger, everyone has something they must do. Hancock, you have dreams to fulfill and responsibilities you cannot avoid.” Kojin smiled slightly while speaking and gently stroked her head.
“Think about your hometown. Think about your family. When you grow up, we’ll meet again.”
Boa Hancock froze.
Her two sisters held onto her arms from both sides, afraid that she might act impulsively, chase after Kojin, and forget everything.
“Lord Kojin! I know that right now, I’m not worthy to stand beside you. But I will work hard to become the one and only woman who can stand by your side!”
Through tear-filled eyes, Hancock stared at the ship drifting farther and farther away as she spoke with firm determination.
(End of Chapter)
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