The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

"Lieutenant General Garp?!" Gern's pupils contracted, and his body reacted instinctively, taking a half-step back with his left foot.

"Buzz!" His entire body instantly transformed into elements, and his figure turned into countless leaping white light spots a second before the fist fell, spreading out like ripples.

"Boom!!!" Garp's iron fist slammed into the ground, causing the entire shipyard to tremble violently. Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread for dozens of meters, and dust billowed into the sky.

"Huh?" Garp withdrew his fist, raised an eyebrow, and looked surprised. "You dodged it?"

As the smoke cleared, Gern's figure re-formed not far away. He dusted off his shoulders and said helplessly, "Vice Admiral Garp, are you trying to kill me?"

"Hahaha!" Garp laughed, hands on his hips. "Not bad, kid! Your Observation Haki has improved pretty quickly; you can even dodge my punch!"

“If we can’t dodge it…” Gern rolled his eyes: “After that punch, I’ll probably be bedridden for half a month!”

"Don't worry about the details!" Garp waved his hand dismissively and strode over.

He grabbed Gern's shoulder and said, "I heard you awakened Conqueror's Haki? Come here, let me see!"

Gern's lips twitched: "It can't be used now..."

"Huh? It's been that long?" Garp's eyes widened. "Your Conqueror's Haki is only working on and not on? Have you been slacking off?"

“I just awakened, so I can’t control it well.” Gern shrugged. “Professor Zephyr told me to learn from you.”

So, because of the Flying Pirates, weren't you sent to patrol the New World?

“I forgot.” Garp stroked his chin, then suddenly grinned. “Never mind! Perfect timing, I’m on vacation and planning to go back to the East Blue.”

Do you want to hitch a ride? I can teach you a few tricks along the way!

"East China Sea?" Gern was taken aback.

"What, you're looking down on the remote, impoverished East Sea?" Karp raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the document in Gern's hand, ripped it open, and threw it away.

"You don't need to worry about this. The other three guys aren't at headquarters yet, so it's going to happen in two or three months. It's still early!"

“That’s not the reason…” Gern shook his head.

However, upon further reflection, the Golden Lion's retaliatory actions were completely suppressed in just two months thanks to the combined efforts of Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr.

The Flying Pirates suffered heavy losses, and Golden Lion himself has temporarily disappeared.

With the Navy Headquarters currently not facing any major missions, it's certainly a good opportunity to relax.

Moreover, he also had his own idea: to visit the Kingdom of Sorbe in the South China Sea.

If you calculate the time, the bear and Ginny who escaped from God Valley are over there.

“Okay, I’ll go with you.” Gern nodded, then asked as if he remembered something, “By the way, where’s the Dorrag? I haven’t seen him for a while.”

Upon mentioning his son, Garp's expression instantly fell, and veins bulged on his forehead: "That good-for-nothing brat! He already voluntarily applied to be transferred back to the East Blue Branch!"

After saying that, Garp angrily waved his fist, as if Dragon was right in front of him: "What nonsense about 'defining one's own justice' and 'the East Blue needs change'!"

"Elite personnel from the Navy Headquarters, insisting on running back to that rural area!"

"He just told me not to look down on the remote and impoverished areas of the East China Sea..."

Despite his complaints, Gern nodded in agreement: "It is indeed a bit of a pity. Senior Dragon's strength could have shone brightly at headquarters."

"Hmph!" Garp snorted heavily. "Never mind him! Anyway, when we get back this time, I'm definitely going to teach that brat a lesson!"

As he spoke, Garp clenched his fist, his knuckles making a sickeningly loud cracking sound.

Gern silently mourned for Dorrag for a second, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll go to the East Sea with you."

"It's a good opportunity to broaden my horizons and also take a trip to the South China Sea while I'm passing through."

"Hahaha, good! That's more like it!" Karp's anger turned to joy, and he patted Gern's back forcefully.

"Although the East China Sea is not as bustling as the Grand Line, the scenery is beautiful and the people are kind and simple!"

As he spoke, Karp nudged Guern's shoulder again, "Especially in my hometown of Windmill Village, there happens to be a very nice girl there, and I'd like to introduce her to you!"

"A girl? Isn't Makino not even born yet?" Sensing something was amiss, Gern instinctively asked.

"what is her name?"

"Dadan! She's a warm-hearted little girl who loves living in the mountains and picking mushrooms!"

Gern: "Vice Admiral Garp, if you're ever left on Pirate Island by the deserter king, I absolutely will not go to rescue you..."

[Salted Fish's comment: Thank you all for the gifts and encouragement! Keep pushing Salted Fish hard!]

Chapter 56: Dragon, who clearly skips work often

A gentle sea breeze blew as the dog-headed warship slowly entered the East China Sea.

Sunlight streamed onto the deck, casting dappled shadows.

Gern stood by the railing, feeling the calm sea breeze, so different from that of the Grand Line...

"How is it?" Garp appeared beside him at some point, holding a bag of unknown snacks, and said indistinctly, "Isn't the sea breeze in the East China Sea much more comfortable?"

“It’s definitely much calmer than the Grand Line.” Gern nodded, his gaze sweeping across the distant horizon.

"However, Vice Admiral Garp, you've destroyed quite a few pirate crews along the way."

"Hahaha!" Garp laughed loudly, swinging his fist.

"Those insignificant pirates can only bully civilians in the East Blue. I'll beat them all up!"

Gern smiled helplessly.

During these few days of sailing, Garp's "vacation" seemed to be busier than his mission.

Whenever Garp encounters a pirate ship, regardless of size, he enthusiastically rushes aboard, picks up cannonballs, and uses them as human cannon barrels, having a great time.

As a result, the dog-headed warship's journey was much slower than expected.

"By the way, kid," Garp suddenly stopped smiling and his expression became serious for the first time, "I'm bored, and there are some things I need to tell you in advance."

"What is it?" Gern glanced at him, waiting for him to continue.

“That’s right, the Roger Pirates.” Garp’s gaze deepened. “After the elite training camp ends, you and Kuzan and the other two…”

They should all be promoted to admiral level, supplementing the mid-level combat force, which means that the pirates you're about to face are no small fry.

"Especially Roger, he loves to roam around the New World. If you encounter them on a mission in the future, you'd better be prepared."

“The Roger Pirates…” Guern repeated softly, the smiling face wearing a captain’s hat on the 3.7 billion bounty poster appearing in his mind.

"Roger's strength goes without saying; in a one-on-one fight, even I would have to take him seriously." Garp clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

"But he has a few tricky guys on board."

First mate 'Dark King' Rayleigh, whose swordsmanship and Haki are both unparalleled, combatant 'Bronze Demon' Jabba..."

Karp listed them one by one, his tone unusually solemn.

“Rayleigh, Jabba…” Gern silently memorized this information.

I know that; in the future, one will mislead students, and the other...

If you asked me before who was the strongest in Roger's pirate crew, I would say Roger. Now, it's definitely Jabba!

Based on the giants' height in the original story, even if Jabba himself entered the fray, he wouldn't be enough to stand a chance, but Jabba did it!!

This is definitely not an ordinary person.

"It's Jabba, how did you even get in there..." Gern muttered to himself as he thought this, when Garp overheard him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Jabbar? Roger's third-in-command, he's alright! Rayleigh is much more troublesome than him!"

“No! Lieutenant General Garp, this man has a very strong future,” Gern said solemnly.

Garp: "..."

"The most troublesome one is still Roger," Garp sighed. "After Rocks died, Roger used Haki to become above everything else."

"In short, don't be reckless when you encounter them." Garp patted Guern on the shoulder. "Call for backup immediately, and Sengoku and I will be there as soon as possible."

“I understand,” Gern replied solemnly.

Joking aside, although he is confident in his abilities, it's always wise to be cautious when facing the future Pirate King.

At most, I'll make one cut and leave, as a sign of respect for the future Pirate King...

……

The dog-headed warship continued its voyage and finally arrived at the port where the 33rd General Branch of the East China Sea Navy was located on the evening of the third day.

"Vice Admiral Garp!" The naval soldiers in the port immediately stood at attention and saluted when they saw the dog-headed warship, their eyes full of respect.

"Hahaha! I'm back!" Garp laughed as he jumped off the warship, the ground trembling slightly as he stepped on it.

Gern followed behind him, his gaze sweeping over the small naval branch.

Compared to the grandeur of Marineford, this place appears much simpler, yet it exudes an air of orderliness.

"Vice Admiral Garp, Major Dragon is waiting for you in his office," a naval soldier reported.

"Oh? That brat knew I was coming?" Garp raised an eyebrow, then strode towards the branch building.

"Come on, Gern, let's go see my good-for-nothing son!"

Gern followed Karp and, after passing through several corridors, they arrived at the door of a simple office.

"You bastard who's running away now!" Garp didn't even knock, he just pushed the door open and came in: "I've come to see you!"

Inside the office, Dragon, dressed in a naval uniform, looked up after hearing the sound.

He revealed a face that bore a striking resemblance to Garp, but lacked Garp's boldness and instead possessed a more composed and fierce air.

“Father.” Dragon stood up, his gaze sweeping over Gern behind Garp, and nodded slightly.

"Major Dragon." Gern nodded politely.

"Gern, I heard you repelled the Golden Lion with a single strike." Dragon's voice was deep and powerful. "The glory of that strike has spread throughout the East Blue."

Upon hearing Dragon's words, Gern laughed and said, "He has been killed, but...!"

This is only the first time I've left Marine Headquarters.

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Dorag's eyes, and he was about to say something.

Garp, however, impatiently interrupted, "Alright, alright! Let's stop talking about this! I just came to see you!"

“You say the same thing every time you come back,” Dragon sighed helplessly. “But when you return to Windmill Village, you either go to the tavern to drink or go to the mountains to look for Dadan…”

"What do you mean by going to the mountains to find Dadan?" Karp blushed and then lied, "I brought Genn here for special training!"

This kid's Conqueror's Haki is unreliable; he needs to practice it more!

Dragon's gaze fell on Gern again, lost in thought: "Conqueror's Haki...?"

Gern: "Huh? Is that so? I was just hitchhiking."

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became subtle.

“Father, why don’t I guide Gern?” Dragon suddenly suggested.

"Hmm?" Garp looked at his son suspiciously. "When did you become so enthusiastic?"

Dorag remained unfazed: "I just felt that it might be easier to communicate with someone who is also a young person."

“Gern is much younger than you.” Karp stroked his chin, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment, he waved his hand and said, "Alright! You two have a chat!"

After saying that, Karp left the office in a hurry, leaving only Gern and Drag behind.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Gern looked at Dorrag, who stared back at him; their eyes met in mid-air.

“Gern,” Dragon spoke first, his voice deep and powerful, “Do you really believe that the Navy’s justice can change this world?”

Holy crap! I knew it! Damn it, you traitor.

"Heh heh, justice comes in many forms," ​​Gern chuckled sheepishly. "Our navy's justice at least protects civilians from pirates."

"But what about the common people oppressed by the Celestial Dragons?" Dragon's gaze sharpened.

"What about those whose families were torn apart and who died because of the World Government's policies? Did the Navy's justice protect them?"

"Hey! Dragon." Gern's tone was serious, his expression suddenly turning stern, and his gaze fixed intently on Dragon.