Chapter 23
It took Kai a full week to reach Goa Island. After parking the Phantom with its stealth mode activated in a hidden spot, he set off on foot toward the island. Foosha Village—Luffy's home—was located on this very island!
"There's a Marine warship docked over there… no way! Is Vice Admiral Garp here visiting his grandson right now?"
As he walked, Kai suddenly spotted a Marine battleship anchored near the distant beach. He muttered in surprise. Garp was one of the absolute top-tier powerhouses in the One Piece world!
"Eh… what am I even worried about? I'm not a pirate yet!"
Kai paused for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. He stopped worrying and continued toward Foosha Village. From the original story, he knew Luffy often ran to the beach—meaning the village had to be near the coast!
"While I'm here, it'll be nice to see what the man who chased Roger all over the world really looks like in person!"
Kai gave a small, excited smile.
...
"Auntie Makino! I want meat!"
Inside the tavern, eleven-year-old Luffy grinned widely and shouted at the elegant woman dressed in green—Makino.
"Hehe! Coming right up! But little Luffy, do you have money to pay?"
Makino giggled and teased him playfully.
"Just put it on my tab! When I set sail and become a great pirate and find treasure, I'll pay you back!"
Luffy patted his chest confidently.
"Love's Iron Fist!"
BAM!
The moment Luffy finished speaking, a rough fist slammed down hard on his little head!
"Grandpa! Why'd you hit me?!"
Luffy clutched his head and turned around angrily to face Garp.
"Who told you you're going to be a pirate?! In the future, you're going to be an outstanding Marine—just like your grandpa!"
Seeing Luffy yelling, Garp roared even louder.
"I'm gonna be a pirate! I don't wanna be a Marine!"
Luffy shouted back defiantly, touching the straw hat on his head.
BAM!
Luffy's words were immediately answered with another loving iron fist from Garp!
"Ah… it hurts!"
Luffy squatted down, tears nearly spilling from the pain. He didn't dare argue anymore and just pouted silently.
"Hehe! Here you go, little Luffy—your meat!"
Used to the scene, Makino laughed again and brought over a plate piled high with meat.
The moment he heard "meat," Luffy's eyes lit up. Ignoring Garp completely, he grabbed a piece and started devouring it with huge bites!
"Hm?"
Garp grinned at Luffy's antics. But suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly. At the tavern entrance, a boy not much older than Luffy had walked in—immediately catching Garp's attention.
"That kid… he's already carrying killing intent at such a young age!"
Garp thought to himself.
"It really is Garp and Luffy!"
The moment Kai stepped inside and saw eleven-year-old Luffy chowing down on meat, along with the imposing middle-aged man in front of him, excitement surged in his heart! But he kept his face neutral. He walked straight to the counter and smiled at Makino.
"Miss! I'd like a plate of meat and some booze!"
As he spoke, Kai looked up at Makino—and his eyes instantly brightened. He had almost forgotten how stunning she was: gentle, refined, kind, cute, pure, and serene!
"Little guy! How old are you? Drinking at your age isn't good—big sis will treat you to meat instead. No alcohol, okay?"
Makino laughed softly when she heard him and saw he was just a kid. She smiled warmly.
"Pretty sis! I'm not just some little kid—I'm the 'Maple Leaf Hunter'! I've got plenty of money. A man's gotta drink!"
Kai replied helplessly. This kind of thing happened way too often.
Pfft~
Makino burst out laughing again. But when she saw Kai wasn't joking—especially noticing the Wado Ichimonji at his waist and the bag of Berries he casually pulled out—she believed him. She smiled playfully.
"Alright then! Since you're the Maple Leaf Hunter, big sis will bring you booze and meat!"
Customer is king. Makino had only been concerned about his age, but once she realized he was actually a famous bounty hunter, she stopped fussing.
"It really is him…"
When Kai announced himself as the Maple Leaf Hunter, Garp—watching his back—had a sharp glint in his eyes. He had clearly recognized him!
"Auntie Makino! If he can drink, I want some too! Bring me some!"
Luffy, seeing someone not much older than him drinking, immediately shouted at Makino—pointing at Kai!
BAM!
But the moment Luffy spoke, Garp's loving iron fist slammed down again!
"Damn it! Grandpa, you hit me again!"
Luffy clutched his now-red and swollen head and yelled back at Garp angrily!
"You little punk! When did I ever say you could drink?!"
Garp roared even louder.
"But why can he drink?! He's not that much older than me!"
Hearing Garp's roar, Luffy flinched a little, fear flashing across his face. But he still pointed at Kai with an aggrieved look.
"That guy's way stronger than you! Of course he can drink! If you can beat him, then Grandpa will let you drink!"
Garp glanced casually at Kai, then said to Luffy.
"No way…" "That can't be…"
The moment Garp spoke, the tavern erupted in low murmurs. Makino also looked at Kai in surprise. She had thought he was joking when he said he was the Maple Leaf Hunter—but hearing it from Garp, she was stunned!
Even though Luffy was only eleven, Makino—who saw him often—knew he was actually very strong. Ten or more grown adults couldn't beat him. Hearing Garp say Kai was even stronger made her look at the boy with wide-eyed wonder!
"Ah… the Maple Leaf Hunter…"
Makino stared closely and finally realized—this was the bounty hunter the pirates around here kept talking about. She covered her mouth in shock! He looked much younger than in the newspapers!
She didn't know the newspaper photos were taken during battle—when Kai's eyes were sharp and his aura was full of killing intent, making him seem much older and more mature!
"Really? If I beat him, I can drink?"
Luffy, however, didn't care about Kai's identity at all. Hearing Garp's words, his eyes lit up with excitement as he asked. Looking at Kai, he didn't believe for a second that he couldn't win—he knew he was super strong!
As for Kai? The moment he heard Garp's words, he knew things were about to get troublesome. He hadn't expected Garp to sell him out on the first meeting. Sparring with Luffy was fine—he was looking forward to it. But being used as a tool by Garp? That annoyed him!
"I really can't sense any emotional fluctuations from Garp at all!"
Kai glanced back at Garp and marveled inwardly. Then his mind shifted.
"Pretty sis! Hurry up and bring my food—I'm starving!"
Kai cutely called out to Makino, then turned and sat at a table—as if he hadn't heard a word of Garp and Luffy's conversation!
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