At dawn, the sky was dark.
Early in the morning, warships sounded their horns and left the harbor above the naval port of Marinford. The seagull flag, symbolizing the headquarters of the navy, was hoisted, fluttering in the wind.
On the deck, Garp and Zephyr stood side by side.
Zefa looked at the slightly dim sea ahead, glanced at Garp beside him, and asked impatiently:
"Can you speak now?"
"What are you going to do when you go out to sea with me this time?"
"I'm taking the new recruits out to sea for training this time, but the destination has already been determined."
The sea voyage report that Zefa submitted to Zhan Guo last night has been approved. Early this morning, Zefa personally took the lead and took the cadets of the Naval Academy out to sea for training.
Their destination was the Boeing Islands. Ever since Tsugikuni Yoriichi achieved good results in his "seclusion" practice on that island, the island was gradually used by the navy as a training ground for new recruits.
The island is full of delicacies, so the navy does not need to worry about supplies during training. Moreover, the natural environment on the island is harsh and full of dangers, but as long as the recruits are smart enough, they can survive the eating cycle of the Stomach Baron.
After all, if Usopp, an ordinary person at that time, could survive, it shouldn't be too difficult for these elite cadets of the Marine Headquarters.
It is precisely because of the various characteristics of the Boeing Islands that this place has become one of the fixed "projects" for navy training.
However, when they were leaving this morning, Garp boarded the ship mysteriously and insisted on going with Zefa and the others. Although Zefa didn't know what his old friend was up to, he didn't refuse Garp from boarding the ship.
It was not until the warship left the port safely that Zephyr asked Garp the reason.
"Nothing special, I just want you to take me to the East China Sea."
"I haven't been back for a long time. I suddenly miss those guys and want to go back and see them."
Hearing Zephyr's question, Garp smiled brightly and spoke.
"ah?"
"Damn it, the Boeing Islands and the East China Sea are not on our way!"
"Before you get too far from the shore, get out of here!"
"Take another ship to the East China Sea by yourself, don't come with us!"
Garp's words made Zephyr's face change, and he immediately grabbed Garp's sleeve and tried to pull Garp off the boat. But since Garp was already on the boat, how could he just leave like that?
And he had deliberately wanted to be with Zefa!
"Hey, Zephyr, as the chief instructor of the Marine Headquarters, how can you say such inconsiderate words to the headquarters' supply personnel?!"
"If I were to sail another ship to the East China Sea, I don't know how much manpower and resources would be wasted."
"You're going out to sea anyway, so what's wrong with taking me with you?!"
"Besides, wouldn't recruit training be effective if we don't go to the Boeing Islands?"
"Don't be so rigid-minded!"
"If we don't take the Seamless Road, we can just take the Upside-Down Mountain. That kind of experience will definitely be unforgettable for these guys!"
"Hahaha!"
Garp immediately took the moral high ground and pointed directly at Zefa. Seeing Zefa's face getting uglier and uglier, Garp put away his joking thoughts, put one hand on Zefa's shoulder, moved closer to Zefa, and whispered:
"Did Yunyi give you two devil fruits before?"
"Two Nature-type Devil Fruits."
"Don't you want to know who those two powerful natural elements he prepared are for?"
Zephyr was just thinking about how to throw this guy Garp off the boat, when he suddenly heard Garp say this, Zephyr raised his eyebrows slightly and showed an interested look.
Yoshikazu Tsugakuni had left two powerful nature-type devil fruits with him, namely the Flame-Flame Fruit and the Thunder Fruit.
With Zefa's vision, he is naturally very clear about the great value contained in these two devil fruits. If used well, these two natural types alone can give birth to two admiral-level combat forces for their naval headquarters.
But so much time has passed, and Zephyr still doesn't know for whom the two devil fruits that Yoshikazu Tsugakuin prepared were left.
Hearing what Garp said, Zefa naturally became very interested.
"Who is it?"
Zefa's expression became slightly serious and he asked.
However, at this moment, it was Garp who became a little mysterious. He shook his finger slightly, keeping everyone in suspense, and said with a smile: "You'll know when you get to the East China Sea."
Seeing Garp's mysterious look, Zefa frowned, and suddenly a bad feeling arose in his heart: "Isn't he preparing this for your grandson?"
"Is that guy crazy?"
Thinking of this guess, Zefa couldn't suppress his anger and cursed directly.
If the natural system prepared by Tsugakuin Yoshiichi is really for Garp's grandson, then as a teacher, Zephyr must correct Tsugakuin Yoshiichi's wrong decision.
It’s not that Garp’s grandson will definitely waste the power of the two natural devil fruits, but Garp’s bloodline will bring huge trouble to their navy.
Long's experience has already told all the senior naval officials that Garp is a reckless guy and his son is also a reckless guy.
Now that Garp has a grandson, there is no doubt that he will be a troublemaker in the future.
If Garp's grandson received a good education at the Naval Headquarters, he might have been able to "thrive", but Garp's grandson was taught by Garp himself. A guy like this will definitely go astray in the future.
Zephyr has an unusual amount of trust in Garp's ability to mislead young people.
"ah?!"
"No, no."
"That guy Luffy is still far from it."
"These are two little brats that Yunyi personally selected. You can take a look at them when you go to the East China Sea this time."
"I went back this time to check on the growth rate of those two guys."
When talking about his grandson, even someone like Garp showed a gentle smile on his face. And when Zephyr heard that it was Yoriichi Tsugakuin who personally selected the masters for the two devil fruits, he felt a little relieved. At the very least, Yoriichi Tsugakuin's vision was much better than Garp's.
This can be seen by just looking at the group of friends surrounding Yuichiro Tsugikoku now.
"Little devil."
"Then I really have to look forward to it."
Zefa held the railing with both hands, looking out to sea with a smile on his face.
Windmill Village.
A large red ship nearly a hundred meters long was parked in the harbor. There were several traces of shelling on the hull. The shipbuilders were dragging tools towards the harbor and setting up scaffolding in preparation for repairing the ship.
At this time, all the crew members of the Red Hair Pirates have disembarked from the ship and gathered in the only tavern in the town.
At this moment, Shanks's deafening scream rang out in the tavern:
"What?!!"
"You ate it?!"
In front of the bar, Shanks widened his eyes and looked at Luffy sitting on the bench next to him in astonishment, and the hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.
Next to little Luffy, there was an empty little wooden box. Under Shanks's gaze, Luffy nonchalantly picked up the juice on the counter and drank it all. Then, he smacked his lips and said with some disgust:
"Yes, I ate it."
"I thought it was something delicious that needed to be packed in a treasure chest."
"That fruit is so disgusting."
Luffy's words made the Red Hair Pirates in the tavern look at him in surprise. Shanks also heard this and grabbed Luffy's feet, lifted him upside down, and shouted anxiously:
"Spit it out, spit it out!"
"Idiot, that thing is a devil fruit. If you eat it, you will become a landlubber and will never be able to swim in the sea again!"
"You can't become a pirate!"
Shanks shouted anxiously while pulling Luffy hard, wanting Luffy to spit out the devil fruit, but unexpectedly, Luffy's legs suddenly stretched out unconsciously, and little Luffy's body fell to the ground, with his face tightly pressed against the floor.
"Puff--" The crew members of the Red Hair Pirates spat out the wine in their mouths when they saw this scene. Shanks' breathing also stagnated. He stared with his eyes and mouth wide open, his eyes full of disbelief.
"What?!!"
"Is there no way to become a pirate?"
Luffy's face was pressed against the floor, and he let out a scream belatedly. He turned around and saw his stretched legs, and his eyes widened involuntarily.
There was a sudden chaos in the tavern.
For a long, long time.
The tavern finally returned to calm, and Luffy finally learned from Shanks what he had eaten.
According to Shanks, he ate a devil fruit called the Rubber Fruit. After eating it, his body became like rubber and he could stretch and contract his body freely. However, the corresponding price was that he became a landlubber and could no longer swim.
Not to mention swimming, even if your body touches the sea water, you will lose your strength.
Luffy was naturally shocked when he heard the news. When he thought about not being able to swim, he ate his meal with a sad face and anger.
After the initial shock and regret, Shanks was forced to accept this reality. Shanks did not tell Luffy the truth about the rubber fruit.
The rubber fruit is actually the Nika fruit.
At Luffy's age, there's no way he can bear such a secret.
If news of the Nika Fruit leaked out, Shanks had no idea what the World Government would do to Luffy.
The Red Hair Pirates went out to sea this time because they learned the whereabouts of the Rubber Fruit and went out to sea specifically to steal it. They have been in the East China Sea for so many years, and this is their purpose.
Shanks originally planned to give the rubber fruit to his captain's son. He knew Ace's qualifications. At the same time, Shanks also knew some secrets about Raftel. He believed that if it was Captain Roger's son, he would be able to uncover the true secret of Raftel.
But by mistake, the Nika fruit was eaten by Luffy.
After returning to the island, Shanks's vigilance was indeed greatly reduced, and he was completely defenseless against Luffy, the naive little guy. He didn't notice it until Luffy ate the Nika Fruit, but by then it was too late.
The matter is done. No matter how much Shanks regrets it, it will be of no avail. He can only accept the cruel reality.
At the same time, Shanks's eyes when looking at Luffy also changed slightly.
Originally, Shanks regarded Luffy as his son. After being stationed in Windmill Village for so long, Luffy and Uta got along very well and were very close. Shanks also liked the innocent Luffy.
He hopes that Luffy can grow up healthy and strong, without any great power, just being happy, just like what he expects of Uta.
But now, there was a little more expectation in Shanks' eyes when he looked at Luffy.
Shanks also figured it out. The Nika Fruit itself has an unpredictable ability. The World Government has been trying to recover this fruit for many years, but has never succeeded.
Even a strong man like Yoriichi Tsugakuni, after receiving accurate information about the Nika Fruit, came to the East China Sea to search for it but returned empty-handed.
Now, he has snatched the rubber fruit, but by chance it was eaten by Luffy. I'm afraid that the Nika fruit chose Luffy.
Apart from thinking this way, Shanks could not find any other reason to convince himself.
Looking at Luffy working hard to eat beside him, Shanks held his chin with one hand and showed a gentle smile on his face. After thinking through these things, Shanks had reconciled with his obsession.
"Luffy, you better do your best!"
Shanks patted Luffy's head lightly and suddenly said something inexplicable. Luffy, who had turned his grief and anger into appetite, glanced at Shanks in confusion, still chewing his food, and asked vaguely, "What?"
Shanks didn't answer, but just drank his wine, with a glint of determination in his eyes.
If Luffy eating the devil fruit was the result of fate, then he would carry out the captain's will and guide Luffy well.
"If it were you, would you be able to surpass me and that guy Tsugikoku Yoriichi?"
Shanks has made up his mind to become Luffy's guide and lead Luffy onto the right path, but Shanks still has doubts in his heart. He can't believe that a kid like Luffy will one day be able to do something that even Yoriichi Tsugikuni can't do.
After all, Yoshiichi Tsugakuni has worked his way up from the beginning of his debut to his current high position, and the talent he has displayed is extremely terrifying. Shanks cannot see the so-called talent in Luffy for the time being.
Luffy is an ambitious boy, but if he wants to change the world, that kind of thing alone is far from enough.
For a child of Luffy's age, accidentally eating a devil fruit is just a very small episode in his "happy childhood".
After just one night, he had recovered from the disappointment of not being able to swim, and instead began to enthusiastically study the abilities of "rubber".
For Luffy, apart from the fact that he can't swim, becoming a rubber man is also very interesting.
His childhood was full of fun.
Days passed one by one, and one day, Luffy experienced a life-and-death crisis as the "King of Bandits", and it was on that day that Shanks left his arm in the East China Sea.
In his words, he was betting his arm on the new era.
That day, Luffy lay in Shanks' arms, his heart-wrenching cries echoing across the sea.
After Shanks lost an arm for Luffy, he stayed in Windmill Village for only a few days before leading the Red Hair Pirates to leave the Goa Kingdom where they had been stationed for several years.
"One day, I'll be able to gather partners stronger than you! And find the greatest treasure in the world! I'll become the Pirate King."
Luffy wore the straw hat that Shanks had left with him, and shouted to Shanks with tears on his face, bidding farewell to the Red Hair Pirates as they left the port.
The Red Hair Pirates left, and Luffy's little playmate Uta also left with the ship.
The Nika Fruit has been eaten by Luffy. It is meaningless for the Red Hair Pirates to stay in the East China Sea. Shanks is about to officially start their adventure.
Luffy's life is just like that of many "left-behind children". He has no playmates of the same age in the village. Not long after Shanks and the others left, Luffy couldn't help but start to miss the Red Hair Pirates.
However, his "loneliness" did not last long.
As a large warship docks at the port of Windmill Village, Luffy's life will also change dramatically.
"Luffy, your grandpa is back, why didn't you say hello?!"
Two men in military uniforms walked through the cowboy door and into the tavern. Garp saw Luffy, who was sitting at the bar sipping juice boredly. His loud voice made Luffy tremble slightly.
(End of this chapter)
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