The Great Voyage: The Props Master on the Straw Hat Ship

The gray-haired Sengoku clapped his hands, brushing off all the crumbs.

Then, with a calm expression, he looked in a certain direction to the side.

"After watching this show for so long, it's time to come out, isn't it?"

"Oh? You can sense my presence?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air in the direction that Sengoku could see.

"Indeed, after all, he was a man who once stood at the pinnacle of the Marine Headquarters. Not only is his Conqueror's Haki exceptionally strong, but his Observation Haki is also outstanding."

The newcomer seemed to remember something and chuckled knowingly.

"Do we need to say this between you and me?"

Sengoku silently stared at the massive iron arm crusher mounted on the opponent's right hand.

"So, you're going to get involved in this battle too..."

He said slowly, "Is this your choice, Zephyr?!"

"Aren't you the same, Sengoku..."

Former Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, "Black Arm" Zephyr, used his intact arm to stroke the 3.5-inch "Blindspot Star" that had been removed from his chest, a star that was almost unnoticeable.

It was precisely because of this very item that once helped the Straw Hat Pirates infiltrate Impel Down that he was able to easily infiltrate such a battlefield.

"Didn't you already step down from your position as Fleet Admiral of the Navy Headquarters? You're just a high-ranking inspector with little real power, which sounds impressive but is actually quite low-ranking."

Zefa adjusted the goggles on his face, obscuring the view beneath his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~

[A huge thank you again to the generous user 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Eunuch'! This morning around 7 AM, they gave me yet another donation, countless times! I'm truly grateful for their support!!!]

1018 Zephyr and Sengoku's Choice!! Garp's Move!! Against the Revolutionary Army? Get the hell out of here!!

"Why, at such an advanced age, practically retired, with gray hair and beard, would you still risk your life to come to this battlefield..."

"Even you can't escape this fate, which only strengthens my resolve, Sengoku!!"

The words of this former comrade-in-arms, with whom he had fought side by side, left Sengoku somewhat silent.

But then, he slowly shook his head:

"When you're at sea, you're not in control of your own destiny. There are always all sorts of reasons why you have to do things this way."

The Warring States period itself had no desire to get involved in such a war.

But as he said, this level of war was beyond his control.

When the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, Kong, came knocking on his door, he had no choice but to join the battle.

Actually, your arrival is a good thing for me too~~~

Sengoku stared intently at Zefa, then suddenly laughed.

"yes……"

Zefa, on the other side, also grinned. "This time, I didn't even bring my remaining apprentices and subordinates. I'm just here to find an answer."

"Then, facing you is a good thing for both of us, Sengoku!!"

One was an elderly, almost retired chief inspector who never wanted to get involved in the war.

One of them is a former admiral from the Navy Headquarters who came here simply to find out some answers to his questions.

Neither of them had any desire to fight, let alone fight to the death.

So……

"By the way, how did you end up here? What answer are you looking for?"

"Ah, I heard about the World Government's plan to hold a public execution, so I knew they probably wanted a real, all-out showdown with the Revolutionary Army and other forces..."

The two men were like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years, their auras confronting each other, but their words and tone were quite relaxed.

"Later, the Straw Hat Pirates' prop master contacted me. Because of some reason, they saved my life before, and they owe me a debt of gratitude, so..."

"So you're planning to come here in person to help them out of gratitude, is that right?"

"It's not entirely for that reason. The main reason is that I want to see what the World Government's final decision will be, and what mysteries lie within the so-called divine realm where those high and mighty Celestial Dragons reside..."

"When did your curiosity become so strong? You weren't interested in these things before!"

"People always change, especially after fighting for this for most of my life. I don't want to just drift away and die on this vast ocean, confused and aimless!!!"

"Indeed... but it seems your mental state has improved a lot, and you look quite well. And with that giant crusher arm attached to you..."

"You're cured, right? That's right. Not only my arm, but also my asthma and all the ailments I've accumulated over the years have been successfully cured. I went to Dressrosa."

"Dressrosa? I heard there's a user of the Healing Fruit there. It seems he's the one who healed your injuries."

“That’s right. Especially to heal my arm, that little princess really paid a price. I’m very grateful to them, and I didn’t let them heal me for nothing. After this war is over, Dressrosa might be a pretty good place to retire.”

"I see. It seems you've already decided on your own way out."

"Everyone has to think about their future, and it's not just me. What do you think, Sengoku? How about settling down in Dressrosa with me? The environment there is quite nice~"

"Hahaha, let me survive this war first, then we'll talk about everything else!!"

"Really? The war's over... But speaking of which, where's Garp? I haven't seen him."

"He... he wouldn't participate in a war like that."

Sengoku's expression turned slightly strange at the mention of Garp.

First and foremost is Garp himself, who is unwilling to participate in a war that is completely contrary to his own sense of justice for the sake of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

In particular, the person to be executed this time was the second-in-command of the revolutionary army, the chief of staff, his son's right-hand man, his grandson's sworn brother, and someone he had beaten up when he was a child, so there was a certain kind of fate between them.

He was already in great pain when Ace was executed, but because he was facing the Whitebeard Pirates, it was a matter of justice for him as a Marine fighting against pirates.

At that time, Garp had no other choice but to suffer between these two dilemmas.

But now...

Fighting the Revolutionary Army? Get the hell out of here!!

013 Well, although it's not the exact quote, given Garp's consistent style of doing things, that's basically how it is.

"You know that guy's personality; he dares to insult even Celestial Dragons. The World Government generally doesn't mess with him easily."

Sengoku shook his head, secretly admiring Garp's carefree personality.

Well, if it weren't for Garp's extraordinary achievements and extremely strong strength, he would have been imprisoned long ago for what his grandson and son did.

Not to mention he still holds the position of lieutenant general.

"Furthermore, the World Government is somewhat concerned about his stance and position on such a battlefield..."

Well, after all, they have to face the Revolutionary Army and the Straw Hat Pirates, and their own son and grandson. The World Government is really afraid of Garp, and for a moment, they couldn't think straight.

If they really just give up and let things fall apart, then the older generation should start contributing and shining for these younger ones...

~~~~~~~~~

[A huge thank you again to the generous user 'Once Upon a Time There Was a Eunuch'! Last night around 8 PM, they gave me countless donations. I'm truly grateful for their support!!!]

1019 [Red Earl] and [Cyborg], you were paired with me, weren't you?!

The thought of someone defecting to the enemy's side in the heat of battle... the World Government shudders at the mere thought of it.

Even if Garp doesn't switch sides, considering how he acted when facing Luffy and the vast ocean of enemies during the Marineford War...

Forget it, he's probably just coming here to release fish, and he'll be doing it in front of his son and grandson...

Why bring this guy here? He'll most likely just affect morale and make the navy even worse.

Therefore, the world government simply turned a blind eye to him and pretended not to see it.

Both sides maintained a tacit understanding of ignoring each other.

And Garp, I reckon, is also...

Click! !

Both Sengoku and Zephyr simultaneously conjured up the image of Garp, wearing a dog-head hat, in one of his rooms.

He crossed his legs, holding packets of rice crackers in his hand, and kept putting them into his mouth.

Then, watching the video Den Den Mushi in the room, witnessing firsthand their life-or-death struggle, that scene...

Sengoku and Zephyr both fell silent.

And for some reason, all my fighting spirit and desire to fight vanished without a trace.

The tense and wary atmosphere on this battlefield gradually dissipated.

There's no way around it; just thinking about Garp, and seeing what that guy looks like, completely kills their will to fight!

Zephyr and Sengoku exchanged a glance, then sighed simultaneously.

Still not as insightful and carefree as Garp!

These two veterans, who had served the navy for many years in the old era, looked somewhat desolate at this moment.

"Zeff, Kuzan... So even you've joined this battlefield?! 々〃 !"

Standing atop all the armies, Kong, the commander-in-chief of this war, remained expressionless, having thoroughly observed the situation on the field.

It rose and fell on this vast sea for decades, experiencing countless battles, both large and small.

A diverse array of powerful individuals, a variety of abilities, and a battlefield fraught with peril...

If Zephyr and Sengoku are considered veterans, then he is a true, thoroughly hardcore veteran.

That is why people who live longer have far more and broader knowledge than the average person.

Even Sengoku and Garp didn't know as much inside information as he did.

Especially after he joined the World Government, entered the Holy Land Mary Geoise, and became the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

We got a closer look at this so-called "Realm of the Gods" and gained a deeper understanding of the situation here.

In addition, the Five Elders, in order to intimidate him and make him more willing to serve the World Government, intentionally or unintentionally revealed certain factors to him.

[Steelbow] Kong clearly knew what kind of terrifying power was hidden in this holy land of Mary Geoise.

"Your ignorance will eventually destroy you..."

[Steel Bone] sighed softly in his heart.

"Heh heh heh, are you ignorant? Is there some thing or secret that we don't know?"

Just then, a soft laugh suddenly rang out beside [Steelbow] Kong.

"You really can't break this habit of eavesdropping on other people's thoughts, Ryder..."

[Steel Bone] Kong was not surprised at all, and remained calm as he said these words.

"Hehehe, I've always listened openly and honestly, and not by eavesdropping, but by you yourselves delivering your thoughts to my ears."

She was tall and thin, with white hair braided into two plaits that hung over her shoulders. She wore a plum-red shirt and blood-red trousers, and black leather shoes with gold trim.

Wearing a large, blood-red cloak with a checkered pattern underneath, a blue rose around her neck, and holding a slender umbrella with a bat-shaped handle, she appeared beside [Steelbow] Sora.

With his crimson eyebrows raised and a gold chain hanging from his lips, the "Crimson Earl," this "Lone Red," always wore a wicked smile.

"It seems your Observation Haki has become even stronger."

[Steel Bone] Kong merely glanced at the other party before speaking.

As someone from the old era, he was well aware of just how terrifying the strength and abilities of the "Red Earl" before him truly were.

That Observation Haki, capable of seeing through people's hearts, is an extremely powerful talent awakened from birth, allowing one to easily read people's minds and memories.

It is precisely because of this that Barrorick Redfield was able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Whitebeard and Roger, all on his own.

Even the navy paid a heavy price to capture him.

Moreover, the leader who led the operation to capture this "Red Earl" was none other than the "Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," the then "Fleet Admiral," who personally led the operation!

It could be said that his pursuit relationship with Redfield was like that of Roger and Garp, or Doflamingo and Tsuru.

Therefore~~~

"So, you came here and came straight to me, right, factory?"