Chapter 25

"What? I got a promotion?"

"Yup! Congratulations for getting into a Commodore position! Just two more ranks and you will have the same rank as me, Bwahahahaha!"

I release a sigh at my mentor, laughing for some reason.

"Isn't it too fast? I don't want others to think that I'm using you as a stepping stone to rise in rank."

"Bah. You did not need to worry about it. You deserve that rank. You are one of the busiest captains of your entire generation. Many captains usually stay on the base and do whatever they want. However, you do all the work. Healing, helping the people, and fighting the pirates in this part of the sea. If you did not deserve the promotion the others deserve to be demoted. So, take the shoulder strap and wear it with pride."

"Yes, sir."

"Now! Show me around this place. I hear you are a hero for the people of this island!"

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|Monkey D Garp - Hero of Marine and Iron Fist of Marine|

"Big brother Yuuji!"

I can see Yuuji, the feared Marine in the South Blue, get surrounded by a group of children demanding his attention. This is what a Marine should be. The Marine is not a symbol of fear but a symbol of hope and goal.

However, lately, we always use fear as our weapon. We use fear as our image. We use them so well that not only pirates are afraid of us. The civilians are also afraid of us. So that fear became a double-edged sword for us.

Pirates fear us, and the same is happening to civilians. Because of this, they did not trust us.

"Big brother Yuuji! Who is this?"

I snap from my thoughts when one of the children points her finger at me.

"Oh! Let me introduce you to my mentor and boss. This is Vice-Admiral Garp."

"Bwahahahaha! Hello there!"

I gave them a big smile, and to my surprise, they did not run away like many islands that are afraid of the Marine. Instead, they look at me and surround me with a curious expression.

"Woah! Are you really Yuuji's boss?!"

"Are you strong?!"

"Can you punch like him?!"

"Yeah! Like Pow! Bow! And Boom!"

I laugh loudly and nod my head.

"Of course! I'm stronger than him after all!"

"No way!"

"Nu'uh! Yuuji is stronger!"

"Yeah, he can beat you, Grandpa!"

Ohhh, the innocence of the children. I look at Yuuji, who sighs a little and nods his head.

"Then what about a show? Yuuji and I will have a spar."

"Really?! Can we watch?!"

"Of course! You guys can watch. However, you need to watch it from the distance, okay?"

"Yes~"

I see them run back a few meters away from us while Gion follows them. I look at Yuuji and say,

"So! We will do what we always do when we meet."

"You beat me black and blue."

"Bwahahahaha! Sparring, Yuuji! We are sparring."

"Sparring, beating me black and blue, what is the difference if the outcome is still the same?"

"Bwahahahaha! Come on! I will hold back a little."

"Yeah, just a little."

I laugh once more, and we walk a little bit further away from the spectator. I look at Yuuji with a grin on my face before suddenly moving. I appear in front of him and thrust my hand. When dodging my attack, I move my body and use my leg to kick him. To my surprise, he managed to block it.

Oh! Did he manage to get a breakthrough in his Observation Haki? Then I can increase the intensity.

I continue to swing my fist at him and watch him move like he is dancing. He manages to dodge all of my attacks and even does his own counterattack. Well, let's increase it even more!

Other than my fist, I also use my leg to attack him. I can already see that he cannot block and dodge all of them. Some of my attacks manage to slip out of defense. He knows it is coming, but I'm just too fast for him to dodge or block.

After fighting like that for a few minutes, Yuuji decided to take all of my attacks at once and then use his leg to kick me away with all of his strength. I get thrown a few meters away from my previous position and see my hand smoking from blocking that attack.

"Was that Rankyaku? A modified version of it as well. Instead of a wind blade you make a wind spear. A single point attack just like shigan but more powerful."

"And you already notice it in a single glance. Rankyaku suppose to be an invisible air pressure you know?"

"Bah. A master observation Haki will notice it right away. You need to cover it with Haki so the others notice it less."

"Cover it with Haki? Just like the basic imbuement?"

"Nope! This is a more advanced technique. Anyway! Enough talking and more punching!"

With a Soru, I again appear in front of him and punch his stomach.

~Fifteen minutes later~

"Ohhhh! You are so strong, Grandpa!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"You went like Boom! Pow! Kachau!"

"Bwahahaha!"

I laugh loudly and pat their head one by one.

"And you can be as strong as me when you continue to train and keep eating your veggie!"

I can hear Yuuji muttering something about not eating veggies. Well, I'm an adult. I can do whatever I want.

"Really? But veggies are yucky."

"I like veggies."

"Because you are a girl!"

"Hey! My father likes veggies!"

"Then he's weird!"

"Take that back!"

I laugh for a second before separating them before they start clawing at each other.

"Now! Now! Veggies are not only for girls you know? Even a boy like you can eat them."

"But they are yucky!"

"Bwahahahaha! Vegetables can be good if you prepare them well. Come on! The chef on the ship will show you how a veggie can be delicious."

"Yay~"

However, before we could walk away, one of the girls suddenly said,

"Wait! What about big brother Yuuji?"

I look at where Yuuji is and see him sitting underneath the tree with Gion and having a pleasant conversation. They are laughing and smiling. Ahhh, young love. How I miss it. If only you were alive, my dear, maybe Dragon would not be where he is right now.

"Let them be. They are dating."

"Ewww~ They will kiss each other! That is yucky!"

"Bwahahahahaha!"