Zephyr sighed heavily, reluctantly accepting Sengoku's orders. At his age, running errands across the seas was the last thing he wanted to do.
Grumbling under his breath, he muttered, "Fleet Admiral or not, give it two more years. Once I retire, I'd like to see how you plan to boss me around then, old man!"
While Zephyr complained internally, Tsuru was much more pragmatic. Understanding Sengoku's temperament all too well, she stood up without a word and headed for the door.
"It's been a while since I've been out," Tsuru remarked calmly. "Might as well stretch my legs."
Zephyr reluctantly followed her lead, but as he approached the door, he turned back. Spotting the bag of senbei on the table, he grabbed it without hesitation.
"What are you staring at? It's mine!"
Sengoku's eye twitched in disbelief.
"You… you asshole! If you fail to capture Dragon, don't even think about coming back, old man!"
The only response Sengoku received was the bang of the door slamming shut.
Fuming, Sengoku paced back to his desk, his frustration bubbling over. He yanked open a drawer, pulled out another Den Den Mushi, and dialed furiously.
As soon as the call connected, he roared into the receiver:
"GARP! YOU BASTARD!!!"
On the other end, Garp's voice carried its usual nonchalance.
"What now, Sengoku?!"
Sengoku then began to scold Garp and telling him of what Garp son had done
"LUFFY! YOU BASTARD!!!"
In his quarters, Luffy could hear Garp's booming voice through the Den Den Mushi. He sighed heavily, muttering to himself, "Even here, I can't catch a break…"
"Grandpa, what did I do this time—"
"SHUT UP, BRAT!" Garp's voice cut him off mid-sentence, his tone sharper than usual.
Garp, still steaming from Sengoku's tirade, took the opportunity to vent on his grandson.
"You little bastard! Why didn't you answer my call earlier?! What if there had been urgent marine business? Do you even realize how serious dereliction of duty is?!"
Luffy rolled his eyes, unimpressed.
"Marine business? From you? I'd sooner believe the sun rises in the west than believe you'd call me for something important."
Garp's voice rose another octave.
"You cheeky little brat! Just because you've been promoted to Vice Admiral, you think you can sass your grandfather?! Let me remind you, no matter how high you climb, you're still my grandson! Show some respect!"
Luffy glanced at the Den Den Mushi, which mimicked Garp's angry expression. He sighed again, feeling as though he was being scolded for something completely irrelevant.
"Why does this feel so… familiar? He's just like Master Zephyr, going on about respect and discipline…"
Deciding not to escalate things further, Luffy quickly apologized, offering a string of half-hearted assurances to placate his grandfather.
Satisfied with Luffy's contrition, Garp finally shifted the conversation to the actual matter at hand.
"Listen, Luffy. Punk Hazard was attacked earlier today. The Revolutionary Army—led by your bastard of a father—broke in and kidnapped Vegapunk."
Luffy froze for a moment, caught off guard by the news.
"Wait… what?! Vegapunk was captured?!"
Garp's tone grew more serious.
"Sengoku has ordered all Marine branches to tighten security and search for any trace of Vegapunk or the Revolutionary Army. Kuzan and the others will be leading the effort personally. I expect you to cooperate with them and patrol your assigned area."
Luffy suppressed the surge of joy rising in his chest. The news was better than he could have hoped for. The Revolutionary Army's plans were proceeding smoothly, and his father had personally ensured Vegapunk's capture.
Forcing himself to sound serious, Luffy replied:
"Understood, Grandpa. I'll strengthen patrols and make sure not even a fly escapes our watch."
Garp grunted approvingly.
"Good. You're capable enough for this kind of task. But listen carefully—if you find any trace of Dragon, don't act rashly. Call me immediately, and I'll handle it myself. I haven't seen that unfilial son in years, and my fists are itching to greet him."
The sound of Garp gritting his teeth almost made Luffy laugh. He struggled to keep a straight face as he imagined the chaos that would ensue if his father and grandfather clashed.
"If only I weren't working against the World Government, I'd love to watch that fight…" Luffy mused silently.
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