"If that's the case, then the Old Man actually meets both criteria," Rowan said, looking at Sengoku with a smile.
"Both criteria?" This time, it was Sengoku's turn to be confused.
Not just Sengoku, but Garp also spoke up hurriedly: "Pops, we're not joking around with you. Setting the military merit aside for a moment, let's talk about strength. If there's even a bit of exaggeration here and you get targeted by pirates or other forces out there, it would be a very dangerous thing!"
Rowan looked at Garp and raised an eyebrow. "What? You brat, do you have that little trust in the Old Man? I've been in the Navy for decades; do you think I don't know my own limits?"
Garp was momentarily choked by Rowan's words, not knowing how to respond.
Rowan wasn't wrong. Aside from merit and combat records, his seniority was vastly superior to even that of the "Marine Hero." Garp remembered the Old Man mentioning he joined the Navy as a teenager and had stayed within its ranks ever since. Even after retirement, he frequently visited the headquarters. It wasn't until about twenty years ago that he fully settled down in Foosha Village.
This kind of seniority was unmatched in the entire Navy. In the eyes of the World Government, perhaps only the current Commander-in-Chief of the All Forces could compare.
"But..."
Sengoku wanted to say more, but Rowan cut him off with a hand gesture.
"I know you don't really believe me. I won't bother mentioning those ten-million-Berry small-fries from the East Blue."
At this, Rowan turned to Zephyr. Zephyr immediately stepped forward, coughed twice to clear his throat, puffed out his chest, and said proudly: "Three days ago, on Kust Island in the Grand Line, Master Rowan defeated the pirate with the title of 'Whitebeard Jr.'—Edward Weevil, who had a bounty of 480 million Berries!"
As the words fell, the expressions on Sengoku and Garp's faces froze.
"Wait, what did you say?!" "Whitebeard Jr., Edward Weevil?"
Seeing their priceless expressions, Zephyr felt a surge of immense satisfaction. Heehee, how about that? Shocked to hear about the Old Man's real strength? Can't believe it, can you? Hahahaha! Just wait, I haven't even told you HOW he beat him yet!
"Zephyr, stop joking. How could Pops possibly defeat that guy?" After a long pause, Garp spoke up, looking at Zephyr with total disbelief.
"Whitebeard Jr. is no small character. He wouldn't be defeated so easily. Zephyr, don't talk nonsense," Sengoku added, his expression even more incredulous than Garp's.
Zephyr chuckled. "I knew you two wouldn't believe it."
Forget Sengoku and Garp; if Zephyr hadn't witnessed the scene with his own eyes a few days ago, he wouldn't have believed it himself. Tsuru had been the same way earlier.
"However, I can guarantee on my honor that what I just said is the absolute truth. All the recruits and instructors I brought with me can testify for Master Rowan!" Zephyr patted his chest.
Ain also chimed in from the side: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, what Master Zephyr said is true. We saw with our own eyes how Master Rowan defeated Edward Weevil."
After Ain spoke, Zephyr even displayed the unhealed wounds on his body. "See these? These were caused by Weevil. If Master Rowan hadn't stepped in, the news you'd be hearing today is that I and my entire ship of disciples died on that island."
Zephyr's face showed a touch of genuine admiration. "You haven't seen the Master in action. It was truly too cool."
Even Ain was saying it, and seeing Zephyr's sincere demeanor, Sengoku and Garp looked at each other, their faces filled with suspicion.
Could it be true? If so, how did Master Rowan defeat Weevil? Did Zephyr and Weevil fight to a stalemate, and the Master just went in for the finishing blow?
But that didn't make sense either. In their minds, Rowan's strength was at the Vice Admiral level at best. In fact, after watching the recordings from the East Blue recently, Garp felt the Old Man might not even reach Vice Admiral level anymore. Even if he could burst out with his prime strength, could he really be a match for Edward Weevil? That guy's raw strength was supposedly on par with a young Whitebeard. Though his bounty was only 480 million, even pirates with billion-Berry bounties in the New World might not be able to claim a steady victory over him.
A powerhouse of that caliber, even if heavily wounded, shouldn't be someone old man Rowan could handle. Caught in these thoughts, Garp and Sengoku fell into a silent contemplation. They didn't know whether to trust Zephyr or not; the information was simply too far-fetched.
Rowan looked at the silent pair and finally sighed. He knew well that the image he had built in their minds over the years was merely that of a retired Vice Admiral. With that fixed perception, forget killing Weevil—they wouldn't believe he could even handle a 300-million-Berry pirate.
But making these two believe him was actually very simple. He just had to show them his current strength!
Rowan's gaze sharpened. He let out a low bark: "Garp-boy, watch your defense!"
Suddenly, Rowan clenched his right fist and threw a powerful punch at Garp.
"Finger Pistol: Tiger Strike!"
Garp, still in a daze, was confused for a split second by the shout. But as he sensed the sheer power and momentum behind the incoming fist, his expression changed instantly. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Iron Body!"
CLANG!
Rowan's fist, condensed with full power and hardened through the Iron Body technique, struck Garp's similarly hardened forearms with the speed of a lightning bolt. A deafening, metallic ring echoed throughout the office.
"Pops, what are you doing?" Garp asked, his expression turning serious as he felt the horrific force vibrating through his arms.
His only answer was Rowan's follow-up Tempest Kick.
Is the Old Man... testing me?
Garp didn't have time for more thoughts. His gaze narrowed, and he blurred to the side, narrowly dodging the air-blade. But in the next heartbeat, Garp's face underwent a violent transformation.
Because the Rowan standing before him had vanished.
The Old Man... disappeared?! No, his speed is too high! On the right!
CLANG!
Hardened by Iron Body and propelled by the incredible speed of Shave (Soru), Rowan's punch slammed into Garp's defensive guard. This time, the force was so immense that Garp was sent flying back!