Chapter 161 Luffy and AceUpon hearing the village chief say that Luffy was still a pirate, Garp immediately flew into a rage. His joy at seeing Luffy vanished, and he directly led Lin Tian towards the huge mountain range behind the village.Originally, the village chief was also preparing to go, constantly saying that he would properly educate Lin Tian, but something came up, so he had to leave temporarily.Along the way, Garp walked into the depths of the mountain range at an extremely fast pace, his face full of anger. Lin Tian, at the same pace, followed casually behind Garp with his hands clasped behind his head, a look of anticipation on his face as he gazed at the mountain range before him.From the village chief's words, Lin Tian knew that this mountain range was called Mount Corvo, a dangerous mountain known for its steepness and frequent wild beast sightings. But these posed no problem for Lin Tian and Garp.However, the path was indeed quite difficult. Following Garp, they twisted and turned through the dense forest, filled with lush vegetation, until the sun set and the moon hung high in the sky, yet they still hadn't reached their destination.Lin Tian said to Garp, who was leading the way: "Hey, old geezer, how much longer? I keep feeling like we're going in circles. Why don't I just fly us over there?"Garp didn't even turn his head, still leading the way as he said, "Brat, you're already complaining about being tired after such a short distance. Your stamina has dropped a lot recently.""It's not a matter of whether I have enough stamina or not, it's that there's a simpler way. Why are we wasting so much effort walking like this?" Lin Tian retorted."Is that so?" Garp's tone was full of disbelief. He looked up and said, "However, you don't need to fly over now, because we've arrived."Following Garp's gaze, Lin Tian looked up. They were at the foot of a small hill, and a single light on the hilltop shone brightly in the dark jungle. They could vaguely make out the silhouette of a house.It seemed this was the Bandit's House on Mount Corvo, the place where Luffy and Ace grew up. Following behind Garp, Lin Tian slowly walked towards the house above.Climbing the small hill, the Bandit's House clearly appeared before Lin Tian. It was just an ordinary house, with some exercise equipment outside. A hammock was strung between two large trees in front of the main door.A dim yellow light emanated from the window, and the main door was shut, but faint sounds of laughter could be heard from within, indicating that something interesting was happening inside.Garp, with his hands clasped behind his back, strode towards the door. He raised his hand to open it, but upon hearing the conversation inside, his face instantly darkened.Under the illumination of several lamps, the entire cottage was brilliantly lit.A low wooden table, several meters long, was placed in the center, laden with exquisite food. Although the taste was unknown, its appearance alone suggested it wouldn't be bad.A large group of people were gathered around the long table, eagerly scrambling for the food. Among them, two youngsters sat at the table; these were Luffy and Ace.Luffy picked up a piece of roasted meat, took a bite, and said to the woman standing quietly beside him, smiling as she watched everyone eat the food she had prepared: "Makino, your food is so delicious! It's much better than the food these guys make."Hearing Luffy's words, all the bandits present stopped what they were doing and looked at Luffy. A fat, seemingly fierce and boorish woman at the table growled."Luffy! If you say that, then don't come to eat with us next time! There's no place for you here anymore!"Luffy stuck out his tongue and said, "If I don't come, I don't come. Anyway, I can eat roasted meat every day."Makino, with short dark green hair and a headscarf, her beautiful face always adorned with a gentle smile, waved her hand and said with a laugh, "It's fine as long as everyone likes it. I'll come over often when I have time.""However, Luffy, you can't talk back to the village chief next time. You made him angry and leave again this time," Makino said sternly, bending down and pointing her finger at Luffy.Luffy retorted defiantly, "But why does the village chief always scold us every time he comes? He even tells us not to be pirates! I'm a man who's going to be the King of the Pirates!"Ace, who had been eating with his head down, looked up, holding his fork, and said to Luffy, "Hey, hey! Luffy! I'm the one who's going to be the King of the Pirates! Only I can be the King of the Pirates!"With a whoosh, Luffy stood up directly and said to Ace from above, "Ace! I already told you, I'm the one who's going to be the King of the Pirates!"With a smack, Ace put his fork on the table and also stood up, staring intently at Luffy, saying without backing down, "Is that so? The King of the Pirates isn't something you just say you'll be. You can't beat me, so I'm the one who'll be the King of the Pirates.""Who said I can't beat you? That was yesterday's business. Today, I'll definitely beat you!""Whether it's yesterday or in the future, you won't beat me, because I'm the one who's going to be the King of the Pirates.""Only I can become the King of the Pirates!""It's me!"...Watching the two of them argue again, Makino couldn't help but show a wry smile. These two were usually fine, but they would always argue whenever this topic came up.The other bandits were already used to this and paid no mind to their bickering, lowering their heads and continuing their battle with the delicious food on the table.Suddenly, Makino, who had been smiling and watching Luffy and Ace argue, covered her mouth in shock as she saw Garp suddenly appear, pushing aside the door curtain and standing in the doorway. Makino hadn't expected Garp to be here.Makino's big reaction immediately caught everyone's attention. Seeing her shocked expression, they all, as if by prior agreement, looked towards the doorway with puzzled expressions."What!" A collective gasp arose.Seeing Garp suddenly appear at the door, his face grim, fists clenched, and nostrils flaring with heavy breaths, many bandits were so startled that they fell backward and quickly retreated to the corners.Luffy, Ace, and Dadan looked at this scene, and three words popped into their minds: "We're doomed!"With two dull thuds, Luffy and Ace immediately saw stars and fell to the ground, a large bump protruding from each of their heads.Garp raised his fist and said to Luffy and Ace, who were lying on the ground, "Ah! You two, after all this time, you're still thinking of becoming pirates! I told you both, you're going to become Marine soldiers for me!""Dadan!"Dadan quickly stood up and came before Garp, saying, "Yes! Vice Admiral Garp!"With a thud, Garp punched her. Dadan also landed on the ground with a large bump on her head."I gave you two years, and you still haven't educated these two brats! They're still thinking of becoming pirates! It seems you haven't diligently completed the task I gave you."Luffy and Ace, having recovered, exchanged glances. They sprang up, and before they could even stand steadily, they each rushed out the door from either side of Garp.Having been beaten by Garp so many times, Luffy and Ace had realized a truth: Garp's strength was too terrifying. No matter how they fought back, they couldn't be his match and would only get a severe beating. The best way was to immediately run away, escape into the forest, and then he would have no way to catch them.All of this happened in an instant. Luffy and Ace rushed to the door, pushed aside the cloth curtain, and ran outside.Garp, however, remained calm. He didn't chase after them. He turned around and shouted loudly towards the doorway, "Brat, bring those three back!"Hearing Garp shout towards the door, a hint of confusion flashed across everyone's faces. Could it be that Garp wasn't alone this time, and had brought someone else?No sooner had he spoken than the still-swaying door curtain drifted inward, and two figures flew in from outside, crashing heavily onto the floor."What's going on?" Luffy rubbed his aching chest, stood up, and asked in confusion. But as soon as he remembered his grandpa was behind him, he didn't think twice and ran towards the door again.Ace quickly stood up, his face filled with solemnity. Although he wasn't clear about what had just happened, in that instant of going out, he could vaguely see a blur appear, and then he felt a huge force in his chest, and his body involuntarily flew backward.He looked down at the faint footprint on his clothes. Ace understood that Garp had brought a master to block them outside.Seeing Luffy continue to rush towards the door, Ace quickly reached out and said, "Luffy, it's dangerous! There's someone outside, don't go out!"But Luffy didn't hear him at all and still rushed out headlong. Not long after, Luffy's figure flew back in from outside again.Seeing this, Ace leaped up, appeared in front of Luffy, and hugged him tightly. Both of them fell to the floor with a heavy thud.The people inside the house were already stunned by this scene. What exactly was outside? Luffy and Ace flew back in as soon as they rushed out.Luffy slowly got up and asked in confusion, "What's going on? Why do I fly back in as soon as I go out? No, I have to go out and see. There must be something very interesting out there!"As he spoke, his eyes sparkling, he was about to run outside. Ace quickly leaped up and pressed Luffy to the floor. "Idiot! Someone's blocking the way outside, why are you still running out?""Thump, thump..." Footsteps sounded from outside. A hand grabbed the door curtain and slowly pulled it open. Lin Tian's figure slowly appeared before everyone.Everyone saw that the person who came in was also a young boy, and couldn't help but let out gasps of surprise, while also wondering, who was this boy?Lin Tian, who walked in slowly, immediately scanned everyone present.To the right of the door, the one covering her mouth, looking shocked, with dark green hair, wearing a headscarf, and very beautiful, should be Makino.At the table, the broad-figured one with a somewhat rough and fierce face should be the leader of this group of bandits, Curly Dadan, and also Luffy and Ace's foster mother.On the ground, the boy around his age, bent over and tightly pressing down on another person, with black hair, a normal complexion, and freckles on his cheeks, looking at him with a serious expression, should be Ace.And the one being pressed down by Ace, with a straw hat tied around his neck, struggling non-stop, wearing a light blue T-shirt, looking very cute and adorable, and constantly shouting "Ace, let go" was Luffy, the future King of the Pirates.In just a few seconds, Lin Tian had clearly identified everyone's identities.Under everyone's puzzled and curious gazes, Lin Tian smiled and introduced himself, "Hello everyone, my name is Lin Tian. I am Garp's student, and also a Marine.""Marine!" Luffy and Ace looked at Lin Tian in shock. (To be continued.)
Chapter 162 Lin Tian vs Luffy and AceLin Tian's appearance was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly shocking the entire peaceful bandit family.No one expected Garp to bring his student here this time, and no one was too surprised by Lin Tian's identity as a Marine, as it was perfectly normal for Garp's student to be a Marine.What truly surprised everyone was Lin Tian's age and strength. Although no one knew his exact age, they could roughly tell he was around Ace's age. To be a Marine at such a young age was astonishing.Dadan, who knew Ace's identity, was not only shocked but also confused. She couldn't understand why Garp would bring such a young Marine here, especially since Ace was the son of the Pirate King Roger.Garp knew this, so why would he bring a Marine? Even if it was his student, wouldn't it put Ace in a very dangerous situation? How could Garp do such a thing?Hearing Lin Tian's introduction, Ace looked at him with a tense and cautious expression. This wasn't just because of his sensitive identity, but also his dream of becoming the Pirate King. Pirates and Marines were inherently irreconcilable enemies.After their brief encounter, Ace realized that this person was very strong, much stronger than himself. He hadn't even seen Lin Tian's movements before being kicked back."What? You're a Marine!" a surprised cry rang out. The slow-witted Luffy had finally caught on, causing Ace's face to darken.After saying that, Luffy began to struggle desperately again, shouting loudly, "Ace, let me go! I want to duel him! That first time doesn't count. I want to have a fair and square duel with him!"In response, Ace just tightened his grip on Luffy. He himself had been beaten, so Luffy had no chance.Garp spoke, "You brats, how dare you talk about dueling! You've been here so long and you still want to be pirates? I've told you, you can only be Marines! And Ace, you still want to be a pirate?"Ace just snorted, not replying. He lowered his head, his eyes flickering with determination. This was something he had to do; he wanted to show the whole world."Grandpa, I'm not going to be a Marine! I'm going to be a pirate! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!" Luffy reiterated.In a flash, an enraged Garp appeared directly in front of them, sending both fists flying towards the two. Under Garp's furious punches, they were sent flying back again."I told you, you two can only become Marine soldiers, not pirates, let alone some Pirate King."After speaking, Garp glanced at the two, his tone full of disdain, "Besides, with your strength, you still want to become the Pirate King? Becoming the Pirate King isn't just about talking."Ace spoke, "Old man, of course I know that. Becoming the Pirate King requires strength, so you don't need to worry about that. Anyway, I won't become a Marine. One day, I will take that step with strength even greater than that person's."When he mentioned "that person," Ace's face showed a hint of resentment. His hatred for that person was the main reason Ace wanted to become the Pirate King.Hearing "that person," Garp was startled, his anger gradually turning into helplessness. Garp knew who Ace was referring to. As an outsider, Garp didn't know what to say about the two of them.Luffy, who had gotten back up, raised his fist and said, "Grandpa, I'm really strong now! I even killed that giant tiger in the forest! One day, I will become the Pirate King!""Is that so?" Garp asked back."Of course!" Luffy replied firmly.Garp smiled and asked, "In that case, do you dare to do something with me?""What is it?" Luffy asked, puzzled. Ace also looked confused. Usually, at this time, Garp would beat them up, so why was he asking them to do something today?Garp turned and walked towards the door, saying, "This will let you know that your strength isn't enough to become the Pirate King."Hearing this, Lin Tian seemed to understand something. He gave Luffy and Ace a meaningful smile and followed Garp out the door."Ace, what do you think Grandpa wants us to do outside?" Luffy asked Ace, puzzled.Shaking his head, Ace said, "I'm not sure either. We'll find out what he wants us to do once we go outside."With that, he stepped towards the door, and Luffy quickly followed. "No matter what Grandpa does, I will definitely become the Pirate King!"Dadan, Makino, and the others also followed them out the door to see what Garp was up to.Lin Tian asked from behind, "Old man, are you sure you want me to fight them? With their strength, they don't stand a chance.""Nonsense! If they had a chance, why would I have you fight them? Later, you need to go all out and beat them severely. Don't do anything else. Make them realize that with their current strength, they should give up on becoming pirates as soon as possible.""Alright, I'll do as you say!"...Outside the house, on the open ground, the moonlight shone down, covering the earth in a layer of silver. Everyone had come out and stood there.Garp looked at Ace and Luffy in front and said, "You two want to become pirates, don't you?""That's right, Grandpa! I'm going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy quickly replied. Although Ace didn't say much, his eyes conveyed everything."Pirates have to encounter Marines. To become the Pirate King, the Marines are a necessary and most basic hurdle. If you can't even get past the Marines, forget about being the Pirate King, don't even be a Marine."Ace seemed to understand something. "Old man, what do you want me to do? Is it...""That's right," Garp nodded and said, pointing to Lin Tian beside him, "He is my student and also a Marine. Today, he will be your opponent.""He's the same age as Ace. If you can't even beat him, then forget about becoming pirates."Luffy said with joy, "Does that mean if I defeat this Marine, I can become the Pirate King?"Garp thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course. If you can truly defeat him, then in the future, the Marines alone won't be able to stop you."Lin Tian was hailed as the strongest genius in the Marines. If no unexpected circumstances occurred, he would definitely have a place among the top experts in the future world."Is that so? Grandpa, just watch me! I'll definitely defeat him and become the Pirate King!" Luffy said with full confidence, raising his fist.Ace grabbed the excited Luffy and cautiously said, "Luffy, be careful. This person named Lin Tian is very strong. Wait, Luffy."As Luffy looked on in confusion, Ace suddenly ran into the house. Not long after, a long object flew out of the house. Luffy caught it, it was an old, discarded water pipe. Ace also rushed out, holding an identical old water pipe.Coming up to Luffy, Ace, full of fighting spirit, said, "Luffy, let's go together!""Okay," Luffy responded softly. He and Ace, holding their old water pipes, charged directly at Lin Tian.Watching Luffy and Ace charge, Lin Tian simply smiled faintly, remaining still and unmoving.The two rapidly closed the distance to within a few steps of Lin Tian, then simultaneously leaped high, raising their old water pipes, and brought them down fiercely towards Lin Tian.Seeing Lin Tian not even dodge, the onlookers gasped. If he were hit directly, Garp's student would likely be severely injured.Lin Tian's foot slid lightly, and he turned his body sideways, accurately dodging Luffy and Ace's attacks. He smiled at them from close range.Ace's expression changed. He had known Lin Tian was strong before, but he hadn't expected Lin Tian to dodge their attacks so easily and casually.He forcefully lifted his descending pipe and then swept it horizontally towards Lin Tian's waist, while on the other side, Luffy also leaped high again, bringing his old pipe down towards Lin Tian.Lin Tian remained unhurried, reaching out and grabbing the pipe sweeping towards his waist. Ace immediately felt a huge force, and looking up, saw the pipe firmly held in Lin Tian's hand.Ace quickly pulled, trying to yank the pipe from Lin Tian's hand, but Ace's strength was no match for Lin Tian's. Lin Tian lightly lifted the pipe in his hand to block Luffy's attack.With a clang, the two pipes vibrated violently under their immense force. The air in the pipes oscillated, continuously making a buzzing sound.Luffy felt a huge force transfer from the pipe to his arm. Not only his hands, but his whole body trembled uncontrollably, and in less than a second, he was sent flying backward.Lin Tian's left hand clenched into a fist, directly meeting Ace's flying kick, and he sent Ace flying with a single punch, causing him to fall to the ground.All of this seemed to take a long time, but it actually happened in just a few short seconds. Lin Tian had easily countered Luffy and Ace's attacks and dealt with both of them.This was with Lin Tian holding back and not using his full strength. Otherwise, Lin Tian could have instantly killed them both, instead of just having them fall to the ground relatively unharmed.Luffy and Ace were not as strong now as they would be in the future. At this time, they only faced ordinary beasts and local thugs, or fought each other, which made it difficult to improve their strength.After a brief exchange, Lin Tian had a rough understanding of Luffy and Ace's strength. Simply put, their current strength was far inferior to Sabo's. Both Luffy and Ace were very weak at this point.Only when they set sail would they encounter true experts and experience real life-or-death battles. At that time, their strength would rapidly increase, and in just a few years, they would become renowned experts in the Grand Line."How about it, you brats? Do you know how big the world is now? With your strength, you two should just give up on being pirates, let alone the Pirate King," Garp mocked from the side at the opportune moment.At the same time, he secretly thought, "Lin Tian, you brat, you did well this time. This is how they need to be beaten, so they give up on becoming pirates. The path of a pirate is not for them."Ace snorted, grabbing Luffy's old water pipe—his own had been snatched by Lin Tian and was now lying at Lin Tian's feet—and attacked Lin Tian again."Luffy, use your ability to attack him!" Ace shouted loudly. (To be continued.)
Chapter 163: Misery Loves Company"Gum-Gum Pistol!"Luffy suddenly swung his fist. Seeing Luffy's greatly extended arm, Marcus's expression finally changed, revealing curiosity."Soru!"Marcus's figure instantly vanished before everyone's eyes. Luffy and Ace's attacks both missed. Under the extremely astonished gaze of the crowd, Marcussuddenly reappeared right in front of Luffy.Luffy was startled and immediately took several steps back. Then, extending his arm, he launched another "Gum-Gum Pistol!"Given Luffy's current attack speed, it was like a snail crawling to Marcus; he could accurately dodge it even with his eyes closed.As Marcus accurately leaned slightly to the side, dodging Luffy's fist, Luffy roared again and quickly shook his arm."Gum-Gum Gatling!"Facing the constantly flashing fists, a trace of surprise flashed across Marcus's face. He gently extended his hand and softly called out, Imprisonment."What's going on? Why can't I pull my hand back?"Both the fists and the arm were completely frozen in mid-air. Even when Luffy desperately pulled backward, it only served to stretch his arm further.Ace, who was attacking from behind, saw this scene and secretly thought, "This person is actually a Devil Fruit User, just like Luffy."Dadan quietly said to Garp, "Garp, what you're doing this time is a bit unfair. This Marcus must be the one known as the strongest genius of the navy, right?"Dadan knew some things about Garp's position in the Marine and other secrets. Therefore, when she saw the news in the newspaper back then, Dadanhad already memorized Marcus's name."That's right," Garp nodded and replied. "He became my student three years ago, trained at Marine Headquarters for one year, and spent two years in the Grand Line. Now his military rank is Navy Rear Admiral, and his combat power has reached Marine Rear Admiral or higher.""Hiss..." Hearing Garp's words, Dadan couldn't help but gasp, looking at Marcus, who was battling Luffyand Ace in the arena, with shock and curiosity.She had thought that since he was hailed as the strongest genius of the navy and had Garp's guidance, Marcus's strength should be considerable. But she never expected him to be this powerful—reaching the combat level of a Marine Rear Admiral, and at only thirteen years old.No wonder,the bigshots at Marine Headquarters and the World Government call him the strongest genius of the navy.Changing her mind, Dadan whispered, "With such immense strength, you still expect Luffy and Ace to defeat him? How could their current strength possibly match his?"Garp replied seriously, "Precisely because of this, I want Marcus to thoroughly crush them, so they give up the idea of becoming pirates."Pausing, Garp continued, "I kept the two of them here because I didn't want them to walk the path of piracy. But now that things have turned out this way, sometimes I wonder if this is fate?""Sigh..." Dadan let out a soft sigh and refocused her gaze on the arena. Without needing Garp to say more, she could generally guess what was on his mind."Whoosh, whoosh..."Sensing the sound of air being torn behind him, Marcus threw a backhand punch, meeting the two crossed pipes in Ace's hands directly with his bare fist.With a buzzing sound, just like Luffy, Ace's entire body trembled under Marcus's power. His figure was sent flying backward, and the old pipes in his hands nearly slipped from his grasp."Luffy, catch this!" Ace shouted loudly, throwing one of the old pipes toward Luffy. With a bang, his body fell heavily and slid several meters across the ground.Luffy leaped up, caught the old pipe, and quickly retreated until his arm could stretch no further. Looking at Marcus in front of him, he relaxed his feet, and his whole body instantly shot toward Marcus."Gum-Gum Rocket!""Take this move!" Luffy shouted loudly, raising the old pipe in his hand. Ace also scrambled to his feet behind him and attacked Marcus, sandwiching him between them."space sword"Marcus gently clenched his right hand, and a dark, black longsword slowly appeared in his grasp. Just then, Luffy and Ace arrived before Marcus, leaping high as they attacked him.With a whoosh, a cold gleam flashed by. Before anyone could react to what happened, Marcus's figure had vanished from his previous position, reappearing instantly right in front of Luffy.The black sword in his hand was resting on Luffy's shoulder, the sharp black blade pressed tightly against Luffy's neck.Seeing this, Ace immediately lifted his old pipe and prepared to charge forward, but before he could move, he noticed something was wrong—the weight of the old pipe in his hand felt off. He looked down and realized that only a small section of the pipe remained.The smooth cut at the break point clearly indicated that this was done by the sword in Marcus's hand.Marcus slowly withdrew the black sword in his hand and gently swung it. This suddenly appearing black sword vanished from his hand just as abruptly.Instead, he uttered a sentence that stunned everyone."I lost! This was a completely unfair duel, so I lost."Marcus, who had been utterly dominating them, suddenly withdrew his weapon and made such a statement. Everyone was immediately confused, and no one understood why Marcus did this.Pausing, Marcus smiled and said, "This kind of place is not the stage for you two. The open sea is the stage for true powerhouses. Remember! I will be waiting for you in the Grand Line."Although Ace didn't know why Marcus did this, a smile also appeared on his face, and he confidently said, "Don't worry, I will go to the Grand Line. When we meet again then, the situation won't be like this."Luffy also quickly said, "I'll go too! I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King! I'll definitely defeat you then.""Is that so?" Marcus asked himself internally. Marcuswas very much looking forward to meeting them on the Grand Line, given his identity as a Marine."You three Stinky Kids!" Garp's furious voice came from behind.Marcus's heart sank, and he muttered, "I'm screwed." He had been so caught up in his own thoughts just now that he almost forgot the instructions Garp had given him.He had originally wanted Marcus to crush them, forcing Luffy and Ace to retreat from difficulty. But unexpectedly, this Stinky Kid Marcus had spouted those words at the end, encouraging them to become pirates and talking about meeting them again in the Grand Line. Garp's fury was imaginable.Feeling the intense killing intent behind him, Marcusdidn't hesitate and immediately dodged to the side at a speed twice as fast as'Soru'.A loud crash sounded.Where Marcus had just stood, Garp's half-crouching figure appeared. The entire ground shook violently under Garp's power, and huge cracks spread across the surface like a spiderweb.Glancing in the direction Marcus dodged, Garp's figure also flashed, instantly pursuing Marcus, who realized Garp was catching up."Armament Haki, Observation Haki!"Instantly realizing Garp's fist was smashing down toward his head from behind, Marcus's figure paused. He suddenly turned around, raised his black fist covered in Haki, and met Garp's punch head-on.When it came to strength, Marcus definitely wasn't Garp's opponent; Marcus knew this. But Marcus also knew that Garp's speed was several times his own, making it difficult to dodge Garp's attacks. His only choice was to meet him head-on."Bang! Boom!" With an Aura like a meteor crashing from high altitude, the two fists collided heavily.As the fists met, immense power vented into the Void Realm. The surrounding air violently collided, and the air's electrical charges created flashes of lightning accompanied by roaring thunderclaps.At the same time, a powerful shockwave spread in all directions. The large trees around the two of them, thick enough to require several people to embrace, instantly shattered into countless pieces. The formerly dense jungle immediately fell down in swathes.The shockwave reached Luffy and the others at extreme speed. Luffy, standing closer, was instantly blown away. Ace quickly reached out and grabbed Luffy's collar, resulting in both of them being blown away together.Ace quickly grabbed hold of the roots of a large tree, hiding his body behind the massive roots to avoid the impact. With a hard pull, he dragged Luffybehind the roots as well.The Bandits behind them were not as strong as Luffy and Ace; they were blown away instantly without even a moment's hesitation.Dadan knew Garp's strength. As soon as she saw the situation was bad, she quickly pulled Makinobehind a large tree and shielded Makino with her own body, as Makino was just an ordinary person.Fortunately, Marcus and Garp also knew their destructive power was too great, and the place where they fought was slightly away from here. Otherwise, these large trees wouldn't have been able to withstand their combined strength.As the shockwave dispersed, Luffy and the others slowly emerged from their hiding places. Standing on the hill, they had a clear view of the battle scene below.Where the lush green forest had been, a circular clearing dozens of meters wide appeared. Several layers of the ground had been scraped away, revealing pale black soil and rocks buried deep within the earth.Seeing this scene, the four of them gasped in astonishment. Makino was so frightened that she covered her mouth with both hands; this sight was truly shocking for an ordinary person like her.In the center of the arena, Garp stood in the middle, while Marcus lay on the ground, beaten by Garp, unwilling even to exert the effort to speak."Hey, Luffy, let's hurry up and leave. That old man is too powerful. If we stay here, we'll definitely suffer even more," Ace whispered.Luffy nodded and quickly followed behind Ace, sneaking off to the side. But how could their movements escape Garp's eyes?"Hmph, these two Stinky Kids actually think they can sneak away," Garp snorted coldly.He stomped his single foot down. The ground immediately cracked under the force, and countless fissures spread across the surface like a spiderweb. Using this recoil force,Garp flew high up and landed precisely right in front of Luffy and Ace. Ace and Luffy, who were sneaking away, were startled. When they clearly saw that it was Garp in the smoke,their fright turned into terror. The two immediately ran backward. Garp let out a rough breath and chased after them directly, and instantly, a chorus of miserable screams erupted."Ah! Grandpa!""Bang!""Ah... Stinky Old Man!""Bang!"...These tragic screams lasted for several minutes before finally stopping. Garp glanced at the three people lying on the ground, clapped his hands, put his hands on his hips, and walked toward the Bandits' hut above."You three Stinky Kids, you'll be lying right
Chapter 164 The Birth of Friendship"Hiss…"Lin Tian slowly reached into his clothes to retrieve something, accidentally pulling on his wound, which made him gasp in pain.This time, the enraged Garp had shown no mercy, practically beating Lin Tian senseless."Hiss, Grandpa always hits so hard! I'm a rubber man, how could I feel pain? It hurts so much!" Luffy complained, lying on the ground beside him.Luffy didn't know why, but Lin Tian did.It was because Garp had secretly used Haki; otherwise, a physical attack like a punch would have little effect on Rubber Man Luffy, who possessed excellent elasticity.Ace, on the other side, said nothing, but his tightly furrowed brows and slightly contorted face clearly showed that he was also in a great deal of pain.After fumbling in his clothes for a while, Lin Tian pulled out a small glass bottle—the special medicine used by the Celestial Dragons.Lin Tian had already used up the bottle that Hancock had given him.However, during the last raid on the Heavenly Tribute, Lin Tian acquired dozens of bottles.He couldn't carry so much medicine with him, so he only brought one or two bottles.The rest, along with his share of the Heavenly Tribute, was to be transported by the Revolutionary Army to the Sabaody Archipelago and given to Shakky, who would then pass it on to Hancock when she had time.Although he only got a small portion of the Heavenly Tribute, the total amount was so vast that even a small portion represented a significant amount of wealth, and such a large quantity of items would be troublesome to hide.After some thought, Hancock was still the most suitable person.Hancock was already the empress of the Kuja, and the Marine Headquarters was currently discussing whether to make her one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.He carefully poured out a little and applied it to a few severely injured areas, then capped the bottle.After all, this kind of thing was extremely precious, and he only carried two bottles with him.Lin Tian was about to put it away, but after a moment's thought, he glanced at Luffy and Ace, who were also in immense pain on the ground, and lightly tossed it towards Luffy.Feeling something flying towards him, Luffy quickly reached out to catch it, but the sudden movement pulled on his wounds, making him cry out in pain.Ace had already noticed Lin Tian's actions.Lin Tian threw something to Luffy, and Ace had wanted to warn him, but Luffy had already caught it, and since Luffy was fine, Ace didn't say anything more.As the pain subsided, Luffy finally opened his palm to see that it was just a glass bottle.He looked at Lin Tian and asked, puzzled, "What is this? I thought it was something delicious."Lin Tian couldn't help but smile wryly.Luffy truly had a thick skull; even at this moment, all he could think about was food.Sitting up, Lin Tian said, "This is medicine.If you apply it to your body, it can quickly reduce pain.""Really? That's amazing!" Luffy exclaimed, looking at the small bottle in his hand.Without any hesitation, he directly opened the glass bottle and slowly applied it to his wounds.Before long, a cool sensation spread from his hand, and the pain in his wounds indeed lessened significantly.The medicine was so effective that Luffy quickly applied it to his other wounds.After applying it, the pain throughout his body was alleviated.He tossed the medicine to Ace and eagerly said, "Ace, hurry and use it! This stuff really works; it doesn't hurt anymore!"Ace took the bottle, but unlike Luffy, he thought for a moment before opening the cap and applying the medicine.Ace still harbored some reservations about Lin Tian.After applying the medicine, the pain throughout his body indeed disappeared.Ace returned the medicine bottle to Lin Tian and said apologetically, "Thank you!""It's nothing," Lin Tian smiled faintly, waving his hand.Luffy asked, "Hey, Lin Tian, you're Grandpa's student, and you said earlier that you came from the Grand Line.Is that true?"Shrugging his shoulders, Lin Tian smiled and said, "Of course.I've been in the Grand Line ever since I came to this world.""That's amazing! You were actually born in the Grand Line and have been there all this time," Luffy exclaimed.A hint of surprise also flashed in Ace's eyes; he hadn't expected Lin Tian to live in the Grand Line.Lin Tian didn't explain the misunderstanding that they thought he was born in the Grand Line.Not just these two, but everyone else thought the same, simply because the person he possessed was born in the Grand Line.Knowing that Lin Tian was born in the Grand Line, Ace also couldn't help but ask, "Lin Tian, what's the Grand Line like?"For most people in the East Blue, the Grand Line was a terrifying place, also known as the Pirate Graveyard.Countless pirates went there every year, but few ever returned.From the sea, there was only one entry point into the Grand Line.To leave, one could only pass through the Calm Belt or by land.Some powerful pirates could completely traverse the Calm Belt.Moreover, pirates who entered the Grand Line either died there or grew stronger step by step, continuing their journey towards the end of the Grand Line.After some thought, Lin Tian propped his chin and said, "It's a place only for the strong, gathering powerful individuals from all over the world's oceans.It's a stage for the strong, where only true powerhouses can carve out a place for themselves and continue towards…""…conquering that ocean to become the Pirate King, standing at the world's pinnacle.And in all these years, only one person has achieved this feat: Gol D. Roger.""One Piece! Pirate King, how exciting! But I will definitely become the next Pirate King," Luffy said with an expectant look."Gol D. Roger…"Ace didn't refute Luffy's words this time; instead, he repeatedly whispered the name, lost in thought, his tone filled with countless emotions.Lin Tian immediately noticed Ace's change and understood why, after all, he was the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.Perhaps in Ace's heart, he didn't wish for his father to be a world-renowned Pirate King; instead, he might have preferred him to be an ordinary person.That way, his mother wouldn't have died because of him, and he wouldn't have been an orphan from birth.Luffy asked, "Lin Tian, you've always lived in the Grand Line.Have you ever heard of Shanks?"Feeling uncomfortable, Lin Tian shifted his position and, under Luffy's curious gaze, said, "Of course I've heard of him.Shanks is very famous in the Grand Line.Everyone in the Grand Line has heard that name.""Hahaha!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly."Ace, I told you! Shanks is a great pirate.I can't wait to see him!"He pressed his straw hat down."Wait for me, Shanks, I will definitely reach the Grand Line, become the Pirate King, and then return this hat to you."His gaze shifted to the straw hat on Luffy's head."Luffy, can I take a look at your straw hat?""Mm," Luffy nodded and quietly agreed, gently taking off his straw hat and handing it to Lin Tian.Luffy reached out and took it, examining it carefully.It was just an ordinary straw hat, costing about ten Berries if bought.It was a bit worn, and there were some obvious mended patches on it.This seemingly ordinary straw hat, from the hands of Pirate King Roger, to Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, and now to Luffy, its owners were never ordinary.Those who wore this straw hat were all strong individuals qualified to change the world."I'm done looking; here, take it back."After observing for a while, Lin Tian returned the straw hat to Luffy.The observant Ace had been watching the changes on Lin Tian's face, and he couldn't help but wonder what significance Luffy's straw hat held, given Lin Tian's significant change in expression after seeing it."Oh, right, besides being a stage for the strong, is there anything else about the Grand Line?" Luffy asked as he gently took back his straw hat and put it on."Yes, the Grand Line is also a magical place.It has all sorts of strange things, creatures, and even events."Ace said, "Magical.What specific magical places are there?"Propping his chin, Lin Tian thought for a moment and then introduced, "For example, mermaids, who are half-fish and half-human.There are also Longarm Tribe members with two elbow joints, Longleg Tribe members, and the Tontattas, who are as thin as a thumb, and giants several tens of meters tall…""Wow, that's amazing! I never imagined the Grand Line had so many incredible things," Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.Ace's expression was not much different from Lin Tian's.Lin Tian smiled and continued to introduce, "Not only that, but in the Grand Line, you might experience four seasons in one day, and there are even islands where it rains thunder…""That's amazing…"…In the quiet of the night, three teenagers in their teens chatted with each other, their conversation growing wider and wider, until they themselves didn't know what they were talking about, only that occasional bursts of laughter would echo.Through their conversation, the bond between the three grew closer, and the barriers and wariness between them disappeared.A Marine's son and two future great pirates took their first step towards friendship.Although it hadn't reached the level of a life-and-death brotherhood, it was a first step, and a friendship was forged.And above, on the hammock, a figure slept soundly.This person was Garp.Garp had not entered the bandit's hut but had been lying there all along.Garp wasn't at ease simply leaving these three troublesome brats together.These three rascals stood on opposing sides, Marine and pirate, which was Garp's concern.It was difficult for people with different stances to get along.But to Garp's surprise, the three of them slowly started chatting, and their conversation became more and more lively.The worry on Garp's face gradually turned into a smile.Garp was happy to see the three of them form a bond, and it was what he had hoped for.Garp had brought Lin Tian here this time precisely so that the three of them could get to know each other.Even in the future, the three of them would be able to help each other because of their bond.The identities of all three were extraordinary, and their futures would certainly not be ordinary.Seeing
Chapter 165: The Beginning of a BondThe next morning, the rising sun illuminated the earth. The mist in the forest had not yet fully dispersed, and streaks of sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, sprinkling onto the forest floor.A new day arrived. Early birds had already flown onto the branches and begun to chirp. Dewdrops on the leaves dripped into the puddles, making a "plop" sound followed by circles of fine ripples.A startled cry rang out, instantly startling a flock of birds!"What?! Stinky Old Man, you're not taking me with you? You want me to stay here for a year?""That's right. I thought about it all night yesterday and still feel that staying here for a while would be good for you," Garp said with his arms crossed and a determined look on his face.Garp had decided this on a whim after thinking for a long time yesterday. There were several reasons. First, Marcus got along quite well with Luffy and Ace, so it was better to strike while the iron was hot and let the three of them spend a year together to strengthen their bond.Second, regarding the tenryuubito tribute incident, the Marine and the World Government had noticed something was wrong and were investigating the Marines who knew about the plan. Leaving Marcushere would also keep him away from that whirlpool.Third, Marcus had spent two years in the Grand Lineand had gained quite a reputation. There was also a bounty on him in the Underworld, and who knew how many people were eyeing his head. Garpcouldn't be by his side all the time, and letting him stay here peacefully would also allow Marcus to steady his mindset.Overall, there were more benefits than drawbacks to Marcus staying here, which was why Garp decided to leave him.This news from Garp was indeed very shocking to Marcus. He had never even considered things turning out this way. To be honest, Marcus didn't really mind Garp's proposal.However, he had things to do. There were matters to attend to with Ain and Hancock, and also the treasures from that batch of tenryuubito tribute to handle. All these things required his personal attention.After thinking it over, Marcus chose to stay here for a year. Those matters could be resolved later. If it really didn't work out, he could also communicate via den den mushi.Furthermore, even if he didn't want to stay, Garpwouldn't agree. In that case, he might as well just agree.Garp said, "Stinky Kid, don't think that spending a year here is like being on vacation.""If it's not a vacation, then what is it? Do I have something to do here?" Marcus asked with a look of confusion. Did he have some kind of mission here?"Of course, Stinky Kid. Staying here for a year, you need to set a good example for the two of them. Let them know that being a Marine is much better than being a pirate.""Being a Marine should be their dream," Garp said with a serious expression.He turned his head and said to Luffy and Ace, "Do you hear me? You two, if I come back next time and you're still talking about being pirates, I definitely won't let you off."After saying that, Garp didn't say anything more. He simply turned around and started walking down the mountain.Marcus suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Stinky Old Man, I didn't bring any of my stuff. How am I supposed to stay here?"Garp waved his hand without turning around, continuing to walk down."Don't worry. Once I reach the Marine base, I'll send someone to deliver it here. When the time comes, go to Foosha Village and pick it up from Makino, the proprietress of the Party's Bar."Seeing Garp walk away, Marcus turned his head and looked at Dadan with a smile. "I'll be living here from now on. Please take care of me.""Stop!" Dadan quickly raised her hand toward Marcus and said in her gruff voice, "Garp said he's leaving you here, but we never agreed to let you live with us. Go find somewhere else to stay."Great! That Stinky Old Man Garp only mentioned leaving him here and didn't explain anything else before patting his butt and leaving. What was he supposed to do?At that moment, Luffy happily suggested, "Hey! Marcus, why don't you come with Ace and me? I want to hear more about the Grand Line."Marcus agreed with Luffy's suggestion in his heart, but since Ace hadn't spoken, Marcus found it hard to answer for a moment.Ace thought for a bit and nodded in agreement. Marcus's enthusiasm, talkativeness, and help last night had left a good impression on him."Sure, Marcus, you might as well come to our place. These Bandits are all very lazy; I'm afraid you wouldn't even get a full meal here."Hearing Ace's words, Marcus smiled slightly. "Then I'll be troubling you.""Ace, you brat, what did you just say? How dare you call us lazy!" Dadan's dark voice rang out.Hearing that voice, the three of them involuntarily shuddered and quickly turned to look. They saw all the Bandits behind them looking at them with dark faces. Ace finally realized he had said the wrong thing.The three of them looked at each other and shouted."Run!"Looking at the three running figures ahead, Dadanwaved her hand forward and shouted loudly, "You three brats, don't you dare run if you have the guts!""Goodbye, Dadan! We'll come back in a few days," Luffy said, waving as he ran. He almost crashed into a large tree, but fortunately, Marcus acted in time and pulled him back.Patting his chest, Luffy laughed loudly. "That was so exciting just now!"Watching the three of them gradually enter the jungle and disappear from sight, Dadan whispered, "I hope having an extra brother can ease the grief in your hearts..." In the dense jungle of Mt. Colubo, the three of them traveled at a very fast speed. Following Ace and Luffy all the way, Marcusexperienced a puddle full of crocodiles and a valley full of wolves everywhere.However, there were no more crocodiles in that puddle. When those crocodiles took the initiative to attack, Marcus didn't care much and inserted hundreds of Space Blades into the puddle, turning the entire puddle red instantly.Ace pointed upward with his finger and smiled proudly. "Marcus, how is it? We built this ourselves. It took a lot of effort."Following Ace's finger, Marcus looked up. On a massive tree that would take several people to encircle, where several thick branches intersected, a house was faintly visible through the dense leaves."Hmm, building a house in a place like this is quite good."Luffy, who had already climbed the tree, waved to the two below and shouted loudly, "Ace, Marcus, come up quickly!""Got it, Luffy," Ace said with a slight smile. "Let's go, let's head up and take a look, Marcus."Nodding slightly, Marcus followed Ace and easily climbed the dozens-of-meters-high tree.Looking around briefly, it was a simple and crude house. There were no other rooms, just one room with some common daily necessities placed on the side and three sleeping spots on the floor.In front of the house was a ship's steering wheel. Standing here, one could see the scenery of the surrounding Mt. Colubo and the azure ocean further away. Overall, it was quite nice.Looking at the three sleeping spots on the floor, a hint of confusion appeared on Marcus's face. "Why are there suddenly three spots here? Is there another person?"Hearing Marcus's question, Luffy and Ace didn't answer immediately but watched silently without speaking. The atmosphere became somewhat somber."I'm sorry, did I bring up something unpleasant?" Marcus said.Ace waved his hand gently and pointed to a photo hanging on the side. "Originally there were three of us, but a year ago, he died."Looking closely, it was a photo of the three of them. Besides Luffy and Ace, the other person was Sabo.Marcus finally understood and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't know about that."Seeing the atmosphere in the house become a bit gloomy, Marcus changed the subject. "That Stinky Old Man dumped me here on short notice, and I didn't bring any of my stuff. Are there any large cities nearby? I want to go buy some things.""There are, but it's just that..." Ace seemed to have some concerns and hesitated to speak.Luffy chimed in from the side, his tone a bit annoyed. "That city is surrounded by thick walls, with only one entrance. And there are guards; we aren't allowed in. To get in, we have to find an opportunity. It's so bad that I can't even eat ramen when I want to.""Yeah, the people living inside are all Nobles. Many shops only allow Nobles to enter; others aren't qualified to go in."Marcus was somewhat shocked that such a city actually existed. Even though he had been in the Grand Line for so long and had visited many places, he had never seen one that isolated itself from the world.Within the high walls, they thought they were the center of the world and superior to others, but they didn't realize that to the world, they were like a group of livestock raised within high walls."Those aren't problems for me," Marcus chuckled.Luffy was full of questions. "Why? You're no different from us; you'll still be stopped.""I'm different from you. The people here aren't qualified to stop me."...Under the lead of Luffy and Ace, everyone arrived at a dilapidated junkyard. This was the Gray Terminal.A foul stench filled the air, with mountains of scrap garbage everywhere. There were quite a few people on the trash heaps rummaging through things, and there were even some houses nearby where people lived.Along the way, many thugs and hooligans showed a hint of fear and vigilance upon seeing Luffy and Ace. Clearly, the two of them had made quite a name for themselves here.Beside this junkyard was a high wall over ten meters tall made of blue bricks. The only gate faced this junkyard, and many garbage trucks were driving out from inside.Before reaching the city gate, Ace said with a bit of worry, "Hey, Marcus, are you sure this will really work? Maybe we should just find a way to sneak in."Marcus turned around and said confidently, "Don't worry, it'll definitely work. I'm a Marine. When we get in, I'll take you to eat something good. My treat.""Great! Let's hurry! I really want to eat that delicious roasted meat, lots of roasted meat," Luffy said, drooling.To this, Ace could only pat his forehead helplessly. Luffy had absolutely no resistance to roasted meat."Hey, what do you three want to do? You can't enter here," a soldier guarding the gate stopped Marcusand the other two as soon as they reached it.Luffy and Ace were the overlords of the Gray Terminal, and they often snuck inside to cause trouble. These two brats were strong and hard to catch."Although I don't recognize the other kid, since he's with these two, he's probably up to no good either," the soldier thought to himself.Marcus didn't say much but held up an ID with a domineering air and waved it in front of the soldier.Seeing the symbol of a seagull carrying a pair of scales on the ID, a look of shock appeared on the soldier's face. This was a Marine ID, and this kid was actually a Marine.Taking it to look, it had Marcus's rank written on it: Navy Rear Admiral, affiliated with Marineford. The soldier was completely stunned.He quickly put away his gun and gave a standard military salute. "Lord Rear Admiral, I didn't know your identity. Please forgive me."Marcus returned the salute casually. "I'm on a private mission this time, so don't tell anyone. Just keep it to yourself.""Yes, sir!"Marine IDs were made of a special paper that no one but the Marines could forge, which was why the soldier didn't doubt it."How's that? I told you it would work!" Inside the city walls, Marcus said, waving the Marine ID in his hand.Luffy didn't care about all that. He sniffed the air and ran straight out, shouting loudly at the same time."Oh, delicious roasted meat is waiting for me! Here I come!"
Chapter 166: One Year LaterTime flies; spring, summer, autumn, and winter passed one after another. In the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.During this year, Marcus's figure could be seen flickering between four places: Mt. Colubo, the Bandits' Home, the Goa Kingdom, and Makino's Party Bar in Foosha Village.Although there were no adventures or strange experiences like on the Grand Line, this place possessed a rare tranquility seldom found in this world.Over the year, the bond between Marcus, Luffy, and Ace gradually deepened with the passage of time. Although the three did not address each other as brothers, their feelings for one another were stronger than those of actual siblings.This year was also very important for Marcus, not only emotionally but also in terms of his own mindset. Since his Rebirth three years ago, Marcushad always been on the Grand Line.Every day he had lived a life of swords and shadows, hanging on the edge of death. The stability here calmed Marcus's heart, and the time spent over the year allowed him to reflect on many things.As a person who had experienced Rebirth, Marcusdidn't have a lingering attachment to his past life because there was nothing worth missing. However, knowing the general trajectory of this world, Marcushad always inwardly considered himself a mere passerby.But a year of quiet reflection made Marcusunderstand many things and realize many things. Overall, this year brought a massive change for Marcus... At the highest peak of the Mt. Colubomountain range, the originally sharp summit had been leveled at some point, turning into a flat platform.On the peak, Marcus, Luffy, and Ace stood looking at a high platform made of cyan stones erected upon it.Looking down from high above, the entire platform was an octahedron, nine meters high. Each side was a platform of twenty-seven, carved with special symbols."Whew... this thing is heavy!" Luffy bent over, panting heavily as he looked at the rectangular stone beside him. He said with a look of displeasure, "Hey, Marcus and Ace, you two actually made me carry this thing alone!"Marcus glanced sideways and said, "I said we should carry it together, but you insisted that the loser of Rock-Paper-Scissors had to carry it. In the end, you lost, so there's nothing I can do."Looking at the massive platform in front of them, it had taken the three of them more than ten days to complete, carrying these stones up from thousands of meters below the mountain and stacking them.Confused, Ace asked, "Marcus, why did you suddenly make this thing? Does it have some special purpose?"After spending more than a year together,Ace had gained an understanding of Marcus. Marcuswasn't the type to do useless work; he always had a purpose for what he did.Marcus nodded slightly. "It does have a certain use, but I'm not sure if it will work. After thinking about it, I decided to build one anyway, just in case."With a light leap and a soft thud, he stood on the platform and said to the panting Luffy below, "Hey! Luffy, bring that stone up. Be careful.""If I'd known, I wouldn't have played Rock-Paper-Scissors. I didn't expect this thing to be so heavy," Luffy grumbled, but his hands didn't stop moving.He picked up the stone at his feet and walked toward the platform step by step. Even for Luffy to move so slowly, one could imagine how exhausting this stone was."Here!"Marcus took the stone, lifted it with effort, and walked toward the center of the platform where a pre-prepared groove already existed.He gently slotted the stone in. Before Marcus could even catch his breath, the entire platform suddenly began to vibrate. The vibration didn't decrease; instead, it gradually intensified.The stones on the ground began to bounce under the power of the platform's vibration, and dust slowly rose, filling the entire mountain peak with a choking smoke.Luffy and Ace were instantly bewildered, looking at Marcus with confusion. What exactly was Marcusdoing? What was that stone he just inserted?Marcus was actually just as bewildered in his heart. This was his first time doing such a thing, and he wasn't sure what would happen. However, Marcuscould feel that this situation should be developing in a good direction.As for the specifics, Marcus didn't know either and could only wait quietly. The vibration came quickly and left quickly; after lasting a few seconds, it disappeared completely."What happened, Marcus?" Ace walked over and asked with concern.Luffy also asked from the side, "Yeah, Marcus, what did you plug in? That was a huge commotion."Marcus shook his head and said with a smile, "It's nothing. It's done now. Let's head down."Hearing Marcus say it was fine, the simple-minded Luffy didn't care much more. He adjusted the straw hat on his head and headed straight down. Although Ace was a bit confused, he didn't ask further and followed him down.Behind them, Marcus opened his palm and glanced at the stone in his hand that was emitting a silver glow, a happy smile appearing on his face.Walking off the platform, Luffy asked, "Hey, Marcus, where are we going now? Let's go have BBQ!" Whenever BBQ was mentioned, Luffy would get excited and drool.After thinking for a moment, Marcus said in a somewhat somber tone, "The Stinky Old Mancalled. He's coming tonight, and I'll be leaving tomorrow. Let's go to Foosha Village today, to Makino's place."Hearing Marcus's words, Luffy, who was immersed in thoughts of meat, snapped out of it and cried out, "What? You're actually leaving?"Marcus nodded silently. Regarding their parting, Marcus felt a bit heavy-hearted; in fact, everyone felt the same.The atmosphere in the air became a bit somber, and no one knew what to say. Finally, Luffy shouted happily, "To celebrate our parting, let's have a banquet tonight!"Marcus also smiled and quickly caught up with Luffy. "Right, we'll have a banquet tonight. It's on me. Let's go!"Ace also smiled and nodded, picking up his pace to chase after Marcus. The laughter of the three echoed through the woods.The three figures nimbly avoided branches in the high forest, leaping through the woods at high speed.Ace suddenly remembered something and asked Marcus beside him, "By the way, Marcus, have you said goodbye to Dadan?""Yeah, I told her earlier. She kept crying."After spending a long time with Dadan, one would realize she was a classic example of someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Don't be fooled by her usually gruff way of speaking; her heart was actually very kind.When he said goodbye to her earlier, she kept waving her hand to drive him out, saying he caused trouble with Luffy and Ace all day and she couldn't wait for him to leave. But the moment Marcusstepped out, he heard the sound of crying from inside.As the sunset began to fall, the three arrived at the peaceful Foosha Village. A pale red glow shone across the entire village from the sea.Walking along the familiar road, the three jogged to the Party Bar run by Makino. This was a bar where pirates and Bandits congregated, but under Makino's management, the bar had always operated peacefully.When Marcus and the others reached the bar, a large crowd had gathered outside. A look of doubt flashed in their eyes, and they immediately quickened their pace, pushing through the crowd to rush inside.Entering the bar, they saw a group of Banditscausing trouble, smashing things inside, while the Village Chief was leading a group of people in a confrontation.With a crash, the lead bandit kicked over a table, and the wine bottles on it shattered all over the floor. "What's this? You have so much wine, yet you tell us there is none? Are you looking down on us?"The Bandits behind him quickly chimed in, "Yeah, are you looking down on us..."Makino crossed her arms, showing no weakness as she said, "I already told you, this batch of wine has been reserved. It's not for sale.""Hahaha..." the bandit laughed loudly. "Someone reserved it? Where are they? Why don't I see anyone?""We're here. We ordered those drinks," Marcus and the other two said in deep voices as they pushed open the door and saw the state of the bar.The lead bandit pointed a finger and said with a look of disdain, "Just you three brats coming to order wine? I'm in a bad mood today, so I'll take my frustration out on you."Hearing the bandit's words, Marcus also gave a disdainful smile. "Same as always. Let's see who can take down the most. As for the biggest one, whoever grabs him first gets him.""Fine, I'll definitely win this time," Luffy said with full confidence.Ace said with a smile, "Luffy, you've lost ninety-nine times. If you lose this time, it'll be a hundred.""Go!"Marcus took the lead, his figure flashing as he instantly appeared in front of the lead bandit. A simple straight punch hit the bandit's face directly, smashing his head into the ground.Fortunately, Marcus's mindset had stabilized a lot; otherwise, according to his personality a year ago, he would have killed him in one move.Seeing this, Luffy and Ace quickly increased their speed, rushing toward the Bandits behind. Given Marcus's speed, if they didn't hurry, there wouldn't be anyone left for them.The Bandits behind, seeing their boss punched into the ground by this kid, showed looks of terror and instinctively backed away.After dealing with the leader, Marcus rushed toward the crowd behind. The three were like wolves among sheep; none of the Bandits could withstand a single punch from them.Seeing their companions dealt with instantly by these three brats, the fear on the faces of those remaining grew even more. One cowardly bandit couldn't take it anymore, dropped his things, and ran toward the door.Fear is like a plague; it's contagious. Once one person fled, two followed, and finally, the whole group.But it was too late for these Bandits to escape now. With Marcus and the others' speed, the Banditshadn't even run a few steps before they were caught.Immediately, a chorus of screams rang out, accompanied by several thuds of bodies hitting the ground. In less than a minute, all the Bandits were dealt with. Most had fainted, and those who hadn't were in even more pain, screaming incessantly."Nine.""Seven.""I only got six.""Luffy, it looks like with this one, you've lost a hundred times," Marcus said with a smile.Dealing with these Bandits was just an ordinary trifle for them. They hadn't even finished warming up before the Bandits were completely wiped out."Sorry, Makino. I didn't know this would happen. I'll have someone fix the bar later."Seeing the bar destroyed like this because of him, Marcus felt a bit embarrassed, his tone full of apology.Makino smiled slightly and said, "Since our Marcuswants to compensate me, I won't refuse."Makino knew Marcus was very wealthy, and repairing the bar was just small change to him, so she didn't decline too much, as that would have been awkward.The villagers who had been in the confrontation, seeing Marcus and the others deal with the Banditsso quickly, couldn't help but praise them, "Marcus, Luffy, Ace, not bad! I didn't expect you three to be so strong."Thump, thump, thump... the Village Chief struck the ground hard with his cane and shouted loudly, "Good? What's so good about it! All you know is how to fight all day long, how is that good..."Facing the Village Chief's lecture, none of the three spoke up, because everyone knew that if you talked back, the ensuing lecture would likely be even longer."Huh! What happened here?" (To be continued.)
Chapter 167 Sabaody ArchipelagoSince Makino's bar was destroyed, Lin Tian paid for a grand feast, inviting everyone in the village to the open space.The stubborn village chief initially refused, but no one wanted to miss such a rare opportunity for celebration. Not a single person listened to the village chief, and everyone joined in.The next morning, as the sun rose in the east, the entire Fo Xia Village was still filled with the joyous atmosphere of the banquet.At the small dock in the village, Ace, Luffy, Makino, the village chief, and some villagers were seeing Lin Tian off."Luffy, Ace, you two need to work hard! Hurry and come to the Grand Line. I'll be waiting for your news there," Lin Tian said with a smile.Luffy quickly replied, "Of course! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King! I'll definitely go to the Grand Line and then defeat you!"Ace was the first to disagree with Luffy's confident words. "Hey, Luffy, I'm the one who set sail first! I'll definitely become the Pirate King before you and defeat Lin Tian!""You only left three years before me! I can still defeat you. The Pirate King will definitely be me!""Hey, hey, can you two stop dragging me into this? You both want to be the Pirate King. What does that have to do with defeating me?" Lin Tian interjected, clarifying the situation.Ace smiled and said with certainty, "Of course it has something to do with it! You're the strongest genius in the Marines. We're going to be the Pirate King, the strongest people on the sea, so of course we have to defeat you, the Marine genius!"Hearing this reason, Lin Tian immediately surrendered. This reason was so powerful that he had nothing to say. However, Lin Tian was also looking forward to what it would be like to meet a stronger Luffy and Ace in the Grand Line.After a pause, Lin Tian, who had thought for a long time yesterday, finally decided to whisper to Ace, "Ace, do you want to know what kind of person your father really was?"Upon hearing Lin Tian's question, Ace fell silent, the smile on his face gradually disappearing. After some thought, he asked, "Do you know what kind of person my father was?""No!" Lin Tian shook his head gently and handed him a small, folded white note. "Although I don't know, I know someone who knows your father very well. He was your father's vice-captain. This note has his address."Looking at the small note, Ace immediately became nervous. He reached out his hands but didn't dare to take it. Although Ace had always wanted to know what kind of person his father was,when it came down to it, Ace couldn't make up his mind.Finally, with a bite of his lip, Ace took the note directly, gripping it tightly in his hand, and sincerely said, "Thank you, Lin Tian."Lin Tian smiled slightly and said, "You're welcome. We're brothers!""Yes, we are brothers!""Lin Tian, be careful out on the sea and take care of yourself," the kind Makino said with a gentle smile, showing concern.With a soft thud, Lin Tian lightly jumped and landed steadily in the dinghy. "Don't worry, Makino, I'll be careful. And I'll deliver that thing from last night to Shanks intact."Hearing Lin Tian's words, Makino's fair face instantly turned crimson. Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Makino covered her face in embarrassment, secretly scolding Lin Tian in her heart for mentioning such a thing in front of so many people.Seeing Makino so embarrassed, everyone could roughly guess what had happened and couldn't help but exchange knowing glances. Makino felt these glances and her face grew even redder.The village chief on the side angrily tapped his cane, scolding, "Makino, oh Makino, how could you..."The village chief disliked Shanks from the first sight, not only because of Shanks' pirate identity but also his habit of often drinking and getting drunk.Only the thick-skinned and emotionally clueless Luffy, scratching his head in confusion, remembered something he needed to say and quickly spoke up, "Lin Tian, remember to say hello to Shanks for me!""Mhm, don't worry, I'll tell Shanks."Luffy waved goodbye, "Goodbye, everyone, goodbye! I'll miss you!"The dinghy rowed further and further away, and the dock gradually disappeared from Lin Tian's sight. Luffy and the others' figures also blurred, and Lin Tian looked at the distant sea."Grand Line, I, Lin Tian, am back!"...After a journey, Lin Tian crossed the first half of the Grand Line and finally returned to Marine Headquarters.Four years later, Lin Tian, who had set out from Marine Headquarters, had crossed the first half of the Grand Line twice, as well as the East Blue and West Blue, finally returning to his starting point.From a Marine Lieutenant when he left, Lin Tian had experienced various battles over four years, personally killing countless pirates and sending countless others to Impel Down. He was now a Marine Rear Admiral, the fastest promotion in Marine history.After four years, Lin Tian had grown a lot, not only in appearance but also in his inner mindset.Looking at the Sabaody Archipelago before him, Lin Tian's face showed a hint of a smile. "Three years gone, I didn't expect the Sabaody Archipelago to still be so beautiful, with no major changes, just a bit more popular."Before Lin Tian's eyes were giant red trees. This was the Sabaody Archipelago, the island closest to Marine Headquarters.There are seventy-nine of the world's largest red trees, "Yarukiman Mangroves." Because their roots are always exposed above the water, they form the Sabaody Archipelago.The biggest feature of the Sabaody Archipelago is the special natural resin secreted by the roots of the Yarukiman Mangroves due to respiration. The resin expands in the air to form bubbles that float into the sky, creating a beautiful scene."Of course. These red trees have existed for thousands of years. How could there be any major changes in just a few years?" Andre walked over and said.Compared to a year ago, Andre hadn't changed much, except for a scar on his face. His rank was also Marine Rear Admiral, like Lin Tian, indicating that Andre had also experienced countless dangerous battles in the past year.Lin Tian stretched lazily and said in a relaxed tone, "You're right. Time means nothing to these red trees.""Oh, that's right," Lin Tian turned around and asked, "How long will we be staying at the Sabaody Archipelago this time?"Andre rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "Probably about a day. Marine Headquarters didn't give us any orders to return quickly this time, so we should be able to stay a bit longer.""A day or so should be enough," Lin Tian murmured, deep in thought.Seeing Lin Tian like this, Andre immediately understood that Lin Tian was going to explore the Sabaody Archipelago alone again. Andre wouldn't usually care if others did this; how could one visit the Sabaody Archipelago without having some fun?But since it was Lin Tian, Andre felt compelled to remind him. Lin Tian always caused quite a stir whenever he visited an island."Hey, Lin Tian, this time you can only sightsee on the Sabaody Archipelago. Don't cause any big commotion again, or it will be difficult for us to explain to the rulers here. You know this is the Celestial Dragons' territory."The place they had arrived at this time was the Sabaody Archipelago, where the Celestial Dragons ruled. It was also a necessary stop to enter the New World, and who knew how many pirates and criminals were hidden there.Given Lin Tian's usual habits, if he started trouble, it wouldn't be small. Andre didn't want them to deliver such a big "gift" to Marine Headquarters as soon as they returned."Don't worry, Rear Admiral Andre, I'm just going to see some old friends this time. I won't cause any trouble. Besides, am I the kind of person who actively seeks trouble? It's always trouble that finds me."After saying that, Lin Tian even gave Andre a reassuring look, as if to say, "You can trust me; I definitely won't cause a scene."Andre's gaze flickered slightly, a look of disbelief on his face. He thought to himself, "Trust you? You're the only one on this entire ship I don't trust. I trust everyone else. Otherwise, why would I only remind you?""Hey, Lin Tian, you need to be low-key this time. The Celestial Dragons who rule here are..." After thinking for a moment, Andre decided it was necessary to give a reminder."Alright, alright, don't worry, I promise I won't actively cause trouble this time," Lin Tian said, bending over and pleading, hearing Andre still nagging."Alright, alright, I won't say any more. But you still need to remember...""Okay, okay, I'll definitely remember. That's enough, I'm leaving now."Before Andre could say more, Lin Tian jumped down from the ship's deck and disappeared from Andre's sight. Seeing this, Andre quickly ran a few steps to the ship's railing and looked down.He saw Lin Tian on the sea, sprinting towards the Sabaody Archipelago, several hundred meters ahead. Unbeknownst to them, they had already approached the Sabaody Archipelago.Seeing Lin Tian's figure suddenly shoot up, leaping into the Sabaody Archipelago and disappearing from view, Andre shook his head helplessly."He's still just a fourteen-year-old kid. He's been on the Grand Line for so long, yet he's still so impulsive.""Hey, where did that brat Lin Tian run off to?"Garp, who had just woken up, casually scanned the area as usual and found that brat Lin Tian was gone again. He then asked Andre."Vice Admiral Garp, Rear Admiral Lin Tian just went down from the ship and entered the Sabaody Archipelago.""What?!" Garp immediately said angrily, "That brat Lin Tian, he went off on his own again!"Towards the end, Garp's tone became helpless. No matter how many times he said it, that kid Lin Tian always couldn't shake off his bad habit of acting alone. (To be continued.)
Chapter 168: Secretly Playing with the Celestial DragonsIn the Sabaody Archipelago, at redwood tree No. 44!Marcus was strolling through it. Although Island No. 44 was the entrance for civilians into the Sabaody Archipelago, most pirates and outlaws also entered through here.Perhaps it was luck, but the random one Marcuschose was No. 44. Since it was an entry and exit point, crowds of people were coming and going everywhere.Therefore, this was also one of the most prosperous among the seventy-nine islands of the Sabaody Archipelago, and one of the few places where fights frequently broke out.Marcus hadn't been there for more than a few minutes before he saw a fight sparked by a simple matter of yielding the way, caused by two groups of pirates.The pirates who could make it to the Sabaody Archipelago all aimed to enter the New World. These pirates weren't weak, and arrogance was inevitable, so they were the most likely to cause trouble.While seemingly walking aimlessly down the street, Marcus's eyes were sharp as he checked his surroundings, observing the crowds and stalls nearby.After walking just a few dozen meters, Marcusspotted several groups of pirates, but they were all small-time and not particularly powerful.In Marcus's eyes now, pirates with bounties under a hundred million were all small-time. He found it hard to take an interest in such pirates.After wandering around for a bit, he found it dull. Marcus felt it wasn't interesting at all. Just as he was preparing to leave Island No. 44...The crowd ahead suddenly became noisy, making quite a commotion. Marcus immediately grew curious and was about to go forward to see what was happening.The crowded mass of people suddenly moved in unison, retreating to both sides until they reached the edge of the road, leaving the entire path empty.It was as if some big shot was ahead, causing them to move aside unnaturally. However, judging by the expressions of disdain, fear, and hatred on their faces, the newcomer was truly no ordinary person.Marcus, caught in this massive movement of people, was instantly squeezed tightly within the crowd. After struggling for a while, he finally broke free, flipped up onto a tall building, and sighed in relief."There are way too many people. But who is this coming? To have such a grand display that everyone makes way."Marcus leaned over to look, and the curiosity on his face instantly turned into annoyance as he couldn't help but curse under his breath."Holy crap, I thought it was someone special, but it's them.""I was wondering why so many people were making way; it turns out this trash has arrived."The ones on the street causing everyone to clear the way were the "Celestial Dragons," known as the World Nobles. Only the Celestial Dragonspossessed such power.In the middle of the road, a large group of people walked slowly. Leading them were three Celestial Dragons, wearing finely crafted clothes with white capes behind them and bubble helmets on their heads.Behind them was a large group of guards directly subordinate to the Celestial Dragons, about several dozen people, specifically for their protection. Behind them were some slaves chained together by shackles.The Celestial Dragons, the World Nobles living in the Holy Land Mary Geoise, are the descendants of the twenty kings who established the World Government 800 years ago. They consider themselves the "descendants of the Creator" and use this as a basis for their arrogance and dominance.They casually treat people of other races as slaves and enjoy all privileges. If offended, an Admiral from Marineford must mobilize all military forces to protect them. They are a group of people who consider themselves great but are called the greatest trash by others.In Marcus's view, these people were worse than trash. Compared to them, the officials in his past life were all good people. Yet, it was this kind of trash that had been ruling the world, with the World Government under their control.In the entire world, the ones Marcus disliked the most were the Celestial Dragons. Having stayed at Marine Headquarters for a year, Marcus had gained a clear understanding of them. It was precisely because he understood that he was so annoyed with them.In the perception of the Celestial Dragons, they believe they are gods, the Creators, and that the world only exists because of them.Therefore, they believe they possess the noblest Bloodline in the world, while everyone else is trash born to be slaves. The meaning of others' existence is simply to serve as a foil to them. Simply put, they don't treat anyone as human.To highlight their nobility, they even feel disdain for breathing the same air as common people, eventually resulting in the creation of a special helmet.To describe this practice, Marcus would use a certain phrase: it was typically like a prostitute putting up a monument to her chastity. Even wearing a "cover," they were still breathing the same air.Actually, besides being arrogant and considering themselves gods, the Celestial Dragons are also prone to producing oddities. He really wondered if there was something wrong with the feng shui of Mary Geoise, as those living there were all such weirdos.In the very middle was a middle-aged to elderly Celestial Dragon with graying hair, holding a cane encrusted with precious gems.At this moment, he was sitting on the back of a shackled slave. Judging by the slave's clothing, he should be a pirate. It was unknown how he fell into the hands of the Celestial Dragons, but looking at the injuries on his face, it seemed this Captain had endured inhuman torture to end up like this.Standing beside him were a male and a female Celestial Dragon. From the looks of it, they should be the children of the one in the middle; this was likely a family.The male Celestial Dragon had a trail of snot hanging from his face, which was very disgusting. He was holding an iron chain, and at the other end of the chain was a group of female slaves shackled together.As for the female Celestial Dragon beside them, although she didn't seem to be doing anything bizarre on the surface, living in such a family, she surely wasn't anything good either.The female Celestial Dragon complained, "Father, Brother, what are you two doing here? If you want pirate Captains as slaves, you could just go to Marine Headquarters and ask.""They have many pirate Captains there; you can have whatever kind you want. Why come all this way? I'm exhausted from walking."He looked down at his daughter and scolded, "Isn't it because of you? If you hadn't played my slave to death, would I have run all the way here to find a new one?""Besides, you know what the Captains captured by Marine Headquarters are like. They're either injured or powerful pirates; can they really be used as slaves?""Furthermore, there are more pirates in the Sabaody Archipelago, and they're all unruly pirate Captains. Only by capturing such Captains and then breaking them is it truly satisfying."Saying this, the Celestial Dragon laughed loudly, then kicked the Captain beneath his feet and cursed, "Hurry up! You're moving so slowly. Once I find a better one, I'll throw you to my daughter."The male Celestial Dragon tugged at the iron chain in his hand, making a clanging sound of metal colliding. His eyes revealed a lecherous gaze as he muttered to himself, "I hope there are some beautiful female slaves here so I can add another to my collection."After speaking, he glanced at the female slaves behind him with a disgusting smile on his face and pulled hard on the chain. A clanging sound of metallic wailing rang out.Hearing her father's words, a smile appeared on the female Celestial Dragon's face. She had been eyeing this Captain slave for a long time, but her father had never allowed it.A look of sorrow appeared on the Captain slave's face. If he fell into this woman's hands, he wouldn't be far from death. He never expected he would die in such a manner.The pirates hidden in the surrounding crowd felt anger rising as they heard the conversation, their fists clenching repeatedly.But not a single person dared to act. Not to mention whether they could break through the guards' blockade, if they did strike, they would have to face the pursuit of a Marine Admiral.Suddenly, several thumping sounds rang out. Everyone nearby was instantly shocked, and many girls covered their mouths, letting out gasps.In the middle of the road, all three Celestial Dragonsfell to the ground, along with the Captain. The four of them were tangled together in a heap.The middle-aged Celestial Dragon had been sitting on the pirate Captain's back, so he had a meat shield when he fell and wasn't injured. The other two Celestial Dragons weren't so lucky.The male Celestial Dragon fell right onto the iron chain. His transparent bubble helmet slammed directly into the chain, leaving it covered in cracks, and his nose began to bleed from the impact.The female Celestial Dragon was even worse off. Her head hit a rock. Fortunately, the helmet protected her from serious injury, but the entire helmet shattered, and her face was scratched by the rock, leaving several bloody gashes. She was disfigured.The guards behind them immediately reacted, rushing over to surround them and looking at the crowd ahead with vigilance. A few of them hurried to help the Celestial Dragons up.Feeling the pain on her face, the female Celestial Dragon hurriedly reached out to touch it. A warm sensation came from her fingers, and a shrill scream rang out."Ahhh...!"The Celestial Dragons who had gotten up hurriedly asked the female Celestial Dragon, who was bowing her head, "Sister! Daughter! Are you alright?"When she looked up at them, she nearly scared them to death. Several bloody gashes were visible on her face, with blood flowing from the wounds. It was quite terrifying. She was already somewhat ugly, and now she looked horrific.The female Celestial Dragon snatched a gun from a nearby guard and immediately pulled the trigger on him. With a bang, a figure collapsed.Following that, the female Celestial Dragon, enraged by her disfigurement, raised the gun and pulled the trigger repeatedly at the crowd ahead. She didn't care if those in front of her were her own subordinates or ordinary people; in the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, no one was human.With every gunshot, a figure fell. Although the surrounding crowd found the scene satisfying and wanted to laugh, they quickly fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire now that the Celestial Dragon had gone mad. The once-crowded street was emptied in an instant.For some reason, the female Celestial Dragon, who was killing indiscriminately in her madness, tripped and fell to the ground again, and the muzzle of the gun happened to point right at the Celestial Dragons behind her."Bang!" A gunshot rang out as a bullet was fired from the gun.Seeing this, the guards stood there with their mouths open in shock. If it had actually hit, the world would have been shaken tomorrow by the tragedy of a Celestial Dragon dying at the hands of his own sister.Thud!The male Celestial Dragon collapsed onto the ground in fear, panting heavily as he stared at the small hole in his bubble helmet with a face full of terror.As a breeze blew past, he felt a chill in his lower body, only then realizing that the gunshot just now had scared him into losing control of his bladder."Whew..."The guards nearby breathed a sigh of relief. If a Celestial Dragon had truly died, they would not have escaped responsibility and would likely have been killed by the other Celestial Dragons."Sister, what are you doing? Do you want to kill your brother? I wasn't even going to mention how you caused us to fall earlier, and yet you almost killed me!" the male Celestial Dragon shouted angrily. No one would be in a good mood after a brush with death.The female Celestial Dragon was already irritable due to her disfigurement, and being scolded like that, she retorted, "What are you shouting for? It didn't even hit you, yet you're scared like this.""What? What did you say? You actually said that? Do you even consider me your brother anymore?""I certainly don't, not with a brother as disgusting as you..." As the three of them argued, a figure slowly and quietly slipped down from the roof of a nearby building. (To be continued.)