Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me

It's not that Garp's appearance in the East Blue is a rare occurrence.

But how could it be such a coincidence that I ended up here?

"Thank you for the invitation, Lieutenant General Garp."

Upon learning Garp's identity, Sanji's attitude became more respectful: "However, I still have work to do here, so I must decline your invitation..."

"Pfft! Is that so? What a pity!"

Garp laughed nonchalantly.

He extended an olive branch to Sanji: "If you ever want to join the Navy, you can come find me at Marine Headquarters!"

After that, Garp's gaze swept over everyone present.

Finally, it fell to Rocks, whose looks and temperament were the most outstanding...

Garp's eyes lit up, and he strode over to Rocks's table, laughing, "You must have been the one who unleashed that flying slash just now? I didn't expect you to be so young..."

Chapter 29 Garp: Your name is Rocks?

"Uh..."

Upon hearing Garp's words, Rocks was startled and vaguely realized something...

Could it really be such a coincidence?

Rocks didn't deny it: "If you're referring to the slash from about twenty minutes ago, then that must have been the one I slashed to kill a sea king."

After a pause, Locke continued, "If my strike caused you any damage, I am willing to compensate you..."

"Hahaha, he actually used that kind of attack to kill a sea king? What a terrifying kid!"

Kap laughed heartily.

The laughter paused, and he looked Locke up and down, saying, "That slash didn't cause us any damage. The reason I came to find you is because I'm very curious about you..."

"A swordsman in the East Blue who can unleash flying slashes—I, as a naval officer, naturally want to get to know him."

"Is that the reason?"

Lox swallowed the food in his mouth, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Did you come to see if the person who unleashed that slash was Haini Jun?"

"You're quite clever, kid..."

Garp was taken aback, then laughed.

He also did not deny his previous thoughts: "Indeed, as you think, this is my hometown. If a particularly vicious sea monster were to appear, I, as a navy man, would feel ashamed."

He wasn't one to mince words, and he admired Locke's directness.

He's a promising talent!

"Fortunately, I am not a naval officer, but a vice admiral has my eye on me."

Lox shrugged, showing no fear despite not being a tyrant: "Otherwise, I'm afraid I'd be in trouble."

"So you know me too?"

Karp chuckled.

He sat down as if they were old friends, but without touching the food on the table, he said, "Am I really that famous?"

Rocks replied noncommittally, "Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, the naval hero, a big shot in the Navy, who doesn't know him in the East Blue?"

It would be too fake to say I don't know you.

Few people in the East Blue are unfamiliar with the name Monkey D. Garp.

"Hahaha, I love hearing that!"

Garp laughed again, then changed the subject: "Kid, we've been chatting for so long, aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

"Oh, I almost forgot."

A mischievous thought inexplicably popped into Lox's head. He chuckled and introduced himself, "My name is Lox, and currently I'm... well, an adventurer? Sometimes I can work as a bounty hunter."

"Huh? Rocks?"

Upon hearing this name, Garp froze on the spot.

Rocks...

He was so familiar with that name that it was hard for him to forget it!

The other person's name is actually that...

Garp's expression was very strange: "Your name is Rocks?"

Lox's mischievous pleasure was satisfied, but he wore a puzzled expression: "What? Is my name strange?"

Garp didn't know what to say: "No..."

He encountered a man named Rocks, a young man who could unleash a flying slash at such a young age.

Judging from her appearance, she should be no older than twenty.

To possess such strength at such a young age, and to be named Rocks...

A strange thought arose in Garp's mind—was Rocks reincarnated?

Garp's eyes flickered as he observed the changes in Rocks' expression, and he slowly said, "I just think the name sounds really powerful; not just anyone would dare to choose this name..."

"Is this name imposing? I don't really think so. It's not as imposing as Eiichiro Oda's."

Lockes' expression remained completely unchanged as he casually remarked, "As for what name to choose, it wasn't my decision. It was decided by the elders in the family, so I had no say in the matter."

"I've gotten used to this name, otherwise I really would like to change it to Eiichiro Oda, that name sounds so powerful!"

"Are there elders in your family? That's something you can't change, hahaha!"

Garp, oblivious to what was happening on Rocks' face, burst into laughter again.

The world is so big, and the population is so large, it's not uncommon for people to share the same name...

Let's just consider it a coincidence!

Garp asked, "But why does the name Eiichiro Oda sound so imposing?"

Rocks laughed: "If there is a god in this world, he would definitely be Eiichiro Oda!"

Without further rambling, Rocks asked the question that had been bothering him: "So, does Lieutenant General Garp have anything else to say? You can't expect me to treat you to a meal, can you?"

What exactly is that old guy Garp up to?

We can't just investigate his background and origins simply because of the name "Lox," can we?

As for arresting him?

It's not that bad.

First of all, he, Rocks, did not do anything heinous.

Secondly, Garp is not the kind of hawkish Marine; he has his own set of behavioral principles.

It's unlikely they would attack an "ordinary person" like him for no reason... right?

I love your straightforward personality!

Garp, his eyes filled with admiration, explained his thoughts: "I would like to invite you to join the Navy. You have great talent, and if you are trained, you may very well become a Navy Admiral in the future!"

That was indeed his idea.

If it's a naval officer, then the US should try to recruit him into the navy.

Now that I know the other party isn't Hai Ni, I'm sure I can see through their disguise.

A powerful naval force named Rocks...

It sounds really interesting!

"Inviting me to join the Navy?"

Rocks was surprised, but shook his head and refused: "I have no intention of joining the Navy."

"Pfft, hahaha, even the rejection is that direct?"

Karp laughed heartily, almost to the point of tears...

Locus: "..."

The other person's jumpy personality is... quite abstract!

"Kid, don't blame me for reminding you, your name... isn't suitable for sailing on this vast ocean."

Garp finished laughing, and his tone became more serious: "I don't want to know if you know what this name means."

"However, this name will bring you a lot of unnecessary trouble."

"Joining the Navy is your best choice!"

Does the other person know the meaning behind the name "Lox"?

Karp didn't want to delve into it.

I was just trying to kindly remind them.

Using this name to sail the seas will cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Whether it's the Navy or the Marines, the meaning behind the name "Rocks" will definitely be of great interest to them.

With his youth, his talent, and the name Rocks, it's hard for people on the high seas not to care or pay attention to him!

The name "Lox" is truly significant; to put it bluntly, it's almost taboo...

"A name can actually cause trouble?"

Lox feigned ignorance, his tone tinged with surprise: "What literary inquisition?"

Counting on his fingers with one hand, Rocks looked directly at Garp: "If I don't join the Navy, will Vice Admiral Garp attack me because of this name?"

Is this fight in Chapter 30 absolutely necessary?

"That's a problem."

Garp fell into deep thought: "Let me think about it carefully..."

If he were just a young man with amazing talent who could unleash a slashing attack, Garp would only mention him briefly, though he might be worth recruiting into the Navy.

Like that blond boy just now, whether you agree or disagree depends on your personal wishes.

He won't force you.

But now that the man's name is Lox, it has a different meaning.

Whether it's to satisfy some of one's inner thoughts.

Or perhaps it's because they don't want to see a promising talent get caught up in a lot of trouble because of a name.

He really wanted to recruit this kid named Rocks into the Navy!

Locus: "..."

Really?

Is that old man Garp really planning to make a move?

This doesn't fit their personality!

Or is it that... the name Rocks is really that sinister?

"I've made up my mind. I'm going to recruit you into the Navy Headquarters as a Navy soldier!"

After a pause, Garp looked at Rocks and gave him a willful smile: "Even if you don't agree, you have to come with me to Naval Headquarters!"

"You two should come too!"

Garp then looked at Kuina and Nami.

These two must be Rocks's comrades, so let's take them both to Naval Headquarters.

He's always been a capricious and willful person, doing whatever comes to mind...

"..."