"So you're dreaming about sailing beyond the Grand Line and becoming pirates, huh?"
I froze.
I knew that voice.
But that was impossible.
"I'm gonna be a pirate too!" another voice shouted excitedly. "And not just any pirate—!"
"To all the shipwrecks of the New World!" I barked, lunging forward.
The boys ran behind me, Ace especially bolting like a bullet. Behind us, a strange male voice tried to calm the excited child, but when I finally saw who it was, the situation only got worse.
"Are you a goddamn idiot?" I snarled, stepping in front of the boys.
Garp grabbed the little kid who had just announced his pirate ambitions and lifted him by the collar.
"And you, witch from hell, shouldn't be filling their heads with nonsense!" he shot back. "Pirates? Sailing to the Grand Line?!"
"You stay out of my methods, you old fool," I snapped, planting one foot forward. "Because if I ever fall into the hands of your Navy, there won't be a single brick left standing!" I glared at him. "And what are you even doing here, plague of the grave? Who invited you? This is a private gathering!"
"I'm here on official—"
"I care even less," I interrupted. "Now get out of here, and don't you dare tell anyone where I am, because—"
"I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
Well.
We hadn't played that particular game before.
"I'm Luffy," the boy declared proudly. "And I'm seven!"
"Ace."
"Sabo. I'm ten."
"Call me Pebble, darling," I said with a smile. "And where did you get that hat?"
"How old are you?" Luffy asked immediately.
"GARP!"
"LUFFY! What did I tell you?!" Garp snapped. "You don't ask a girl her age!"
"But she's an old lady, not a girl!"
"Garp…"
"Well, then we'll go play," Ace declared.
"Me too! Me too!" Luffy shouted.
"No! We don't play with little kids!" Ace protested.
"Ace, Sabo," I said calmly, "Luffy goes with you. And you two are responsible for him."
"But Pebble—"
"Do you want dinner tonight?"
That ended the discussion.
My duo, clearly unhappy about only one part of the arrangement, marched off toward the river, while the cheerful voice of the little boy wearing Roger's hat echoed through the forest for a long time.
"Did Shanks give it to him?" I asked quietly, watching the boys disappear among the trees.
Garp, sitting beside me in a wicker chair, took another spoonful of sorbet. Only after finishing it did he nod.
"Yeah."
"Why did you bring him here?"
"I want you to take care of him."
He said it so casually that I almost laughed. Judging by the look on his face, however, he had expected a very different reaction.
"All right," I said after a moment. "We've got plenty of room here."
I glanced at him.
"What is he to you?"
"My grandson."
"Ho ho," I murmured, quickly putting the pieces together. "And Dragon doesn't mind the old pirate captain taking care of his firstborn?"
"Dragon's busy saving the world," Garp grunted, spitting to the side.
I lit my first cigarette of the day and leaned back, considering the situation.
"And you're absolutely certain he won't suddenly appear and take the kid back?" I asked with a faint smile. "I tend to get attached."
Garp didn't answer for a long time.
Instead, he wandered around the treehouse, examined the structure from below, drank more sorbet, and even accepted a small glass of vodka.
All of this, apparently, to prepare me for whatever shocking news he intended to deliver.
Eventually we finished discussing the transfer of parental authority over little Monkey D. Luffy.
That D in his name pleased me greatly.
Then we moved on to more serious matters.
"The Navy is planning an expedition to Tir Na Nog."
I was halfway through my third glass.
And it was definitely far too little alcohol to hear something like that.
"Don't you people think you're getting a little ahead of yourselves?" I asked, giving him a cheeky smirk that only deepened the wrinkles on Garp's forehead. "But go ahead. If you station guards in the capital, I'll gladly give up my title."
"I know this island is important to you…"
"Not at all," I interrupted. "It's safe. That's not the same thing."I flashed him a grin full of teeth.
The old fool nodded slowly and set his glass down on the table.
"So the rumor that you hid part of your fortune there is true," he said.
I swallowed another sip and sighed.
"Are you really here just for that? Fine. Yes, Tir Na Nog holds some of my money. Not just that either. If I remember correctly, I also left a few paintings there… a crucifix of the Great Mother…"
"And you're not worried someone might break in and take it all?"
Ah. So he kept pushing.
I fell silent and studied him carefully.
A few strands of grey had appeared in his hair and beard. There were more wrinkles around his eyes now, and a small wart had grown under the right one.
But he was still built like an oak tree. I had no doubt he could still crack a walnut between two fingers.
So what exactly was he trying to get at?
"And who exactly do you think would do that? Ed? He's got enough money of his own and wouldn't bother invading my territory."
"And besides him?"
"There's no one who can threaten me," I growled, finally growing irritated.
"Shiki?" Garp suggested, pouring more vodka with suspicious care.
I inhaled once. Then again. Then a third time.
Why the hell was he playing this game?
Why mention Shiki when—
"He's rotting in your cursed Impel Down," I said sharply. "And he's not getting out of there, no matter how badly he wants to."
Something was wrong.
Garp was pouring far too much vodka and glancing at me far too nervously.
I finished my cigarette and leaned forward, ready to demand the reason for this strange conversation.
But Garp sighed deeply first, already knowing he had no way out.
"He isn't," he said quietly.
"He escaped a week ago."