Time rewind, on the same night Gern arrived alone on Baterilla Island.
Marineford, Marineford.
The Fleet Admiral's office was brightly lit.
Sengoku stood by the window, holding a newly delivered intelligence document, his brows tightly furrowed.
Suddenly, the office door was pushed open with a loud bang.
Sengoku turned his head to see Garp striding in, his Marine cloak still carrying the salty scent of the sea breeze, clearly having rushed back overnight.
"Sengoku, still working overtime so late?" Garp grinned.
He casually pulled out a bag of senbei hidden in Sengoku's office and tossed it onto the table, "Eat something to refresh yourself."
Sengoku glanced at the senbei, but didn't reach for it. Instead, he said in a deep voice, "Garp, you're finally back."
"Mission terminated. I heard there was an emergency at Marineford, so I rushed back as fast as I could," Garp shrugged, flopped onto the sofa, and crossed his legs. "What's wrong?"
Sengoku took a deep breath and handed the intelligence document to Garp, "See for yourself."
Garp took the document, his eyes scanning the contents of the investigations by CP and the Marine intelligence network over the past few days.
His smile gradually froze, and his fingers unconsciously tightened, making a slight rustling sound with the paper.
"Roger… the Roger Pirates disbanded?" Garp's voice was low, carrying a hint of disbelief.
"What is that guy Roger thinking?"
"That's what we're worried about!" Sengoku walked up to Garp, his eyes behind his glasses as sharp as knives.
"Why would someone who just became the 'Pirate King' suddenly disband his pirate crew?
The World Government suspects he possesses some dangerous secret, perhaps even one that could threaten the stability of the entire world order."
"No way." Garp was silent for a moment, then tossed the document back onto the table with a sneer.
"Those old farts in the World Government always like to overcomplicate things.
Roger might just be tired and wants to find a place to retire."
"Retire?" Sengoku frowned. "Garp, you know Roger best. Does he seem like someone who would give up easily?"
Garp's eyes flickered slightly, then he burst out laughing, "Who knows? Maybe he's just ready to retire after fulfilling his dream? Zephyr is like that too!"
"How can that be the same?" Sengoku's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Besides, Zephyr is still training the new generation after his retirement. Is Roger also preparing to cultivate a Great Pirate Era after his retirement?!"
"Oh, come on, Sengoku!" Garp spread his hands, his tone relaxed. "I was just kidding!
But, knowing Roger's personality, he really might retire."
Sengoku stared at Garp, trying to discern something from his expression, but Garp's face showed only his usual nonchalance.
"Sigh." A moment later, Sengoku sighed. "Regardless, the Marine must find Roger as soon as possible.
If he truly possesses some secret, we cannot stand idly by."
"Alright!" Garp stood up and stretched. "Since you're so worried, I'll reluctantly help out.
Anyway, I've been chasing that guy for half my life, hahaha!
But…" He paused, a flicker of complexity in his eyes, "If you find Roger, how do you plan to deal with him?"
Sengoku's voice was cold, "Kill him without mercy."
Garp's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. "You're really ruthless, Sengoku."
"It's our duty." Sengoku turned his back to Garp. "Garp, I hope you understand that no matter what the past was, now we are the Marine, and Roger is a pirate."
Garp didn't answer, simply walked to the window and gazed at the distant horizon.
In the night, waves crashed against the shore's rocks, making a dull sound.
"Sengoku," Garp suddenly spoke, his voice low, "Let the kid Gern come with me! That guy has nothing to do at Marineford anyway."
"Ger… Gern." Hearing Garp mention Gern, Sengoku's expression stiffened, and he rubbed his brows.
Garp was startled, and also frowned. "What's wrong? You don't want him to?"
"It's not that I don't want him to, it's just… you came back in Gern's place!"
"Huh?! I came back in his place?" Garp looked bewildered, then suddenly became anxious.
"Wait! He didn't beat my son half to death and then didn't dare to come back, did he?
Didn't that bastard say we'd all play along with Kong?"
Watching Garp's anxious expression, Sengoku twitched his lips and interrupted, "It's not as complicated as you think. That guy just ran off somewhere!
On the warship back, Libo and the other one claimed he was on board!
Fleet Admiral Kong is furious because of this! That's why we had no choice but to frantically contact and recall you."
"Is that so?!" Garp scratched his head and chuckled, "Well, that's certainly something he would do!"
As long as his son was fine, he wasn't too worried about anything else.
"Garp, Roger's matter depends on you! Among the Marine, you're the only one most likely to find him! And…"
"No way." Garp's gaze was deep, as if it could penetrate the night. "Although that guy is a pirate, he shouldn't be an ambitious person."
Sengoku's frown deepened. "Garp, what exactly do you know?"
"I don't know anything." Garp shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "It's just a… feeling I have when it comes to Roger."
A brief silence fell over the office.
The wind outside the window gradually picked up, making the curtains rustle.
"Garp," Sengoku finally broke the silence, "It's up to you.
And I suspect that guy Gern is still in the first half of the Grand Line or the Four Seas.
That guy's actions are always too risky," Sengoku said in a deep voice, "If you find him on the way, and discover…"
"Discover what?"
"If you find out he's secretly fooling around with the Snake Princess of Nine Snake Island, then you just throw him straight into the bottom of the sea!
Make that bastard sober up!!!"
"Hahaha! Sengoku, you still like reading the gossip news in the papers!"
Garp grinned and clapped his hands. "Alright, I haven't stretched my muscles in a long time anyway.
But…" He pointed to the senbei on the table, "You have to eat all of these; don't waste them.
You're already so busy now; I can't imagine how busy you'll be when you become Fleet Admiral."
"Got it, got it!" Sengoku sighed helplessly, finally reaching for a piece of senbei. "Hurry up and go; time waits for no one."
"Then I'll go prepare!" Garp laughed heartily and turned to walk towards the door.