The eating contest between Ash and Monkey D. Garp turned into a ridiculous yet evenly matched battle.
Old and young sat across from each other, devouring dish after dish for an entire day. Plates piled up, chefs rotated in shifts, and by the end of it all, eighteen chefs had been completely worn out.
Yet, there was still no winner.
The reason was simple. No one in the restaurant was willing to stay up all night cooking for two bottomless pits.
Of course, they could have gone out and hunted a few Sea Kings to grill over a fire.
But Ash had grown used to proper meals. There was no way he was lowering his standards just to keep competing.
In the end, both of them reluctantly accepted a draw.
Only when it came time to pay did Ash realize something was off.
Garp stood there, staring up at the night sky as if the bill had nothing to do with him.
Ash narrowed his eyes.
So this old man really came here just to freeload?
After eating and drinking their fill, the two moved to the beach, carrying more alcohol with them as they continued their conversation under the night sky.
Garp spoke freely, praising Ash for what he had done over the past two years, wiping out pirates and stabilizing the seas.
There was no official tone behind his words. Ash could tell Garp genuinely approved.
And that was exactly what made it strange.
Ash studied him quietly.
Garp had enlisted in the Marines alongside Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru. Over the years, he rose through the ranks by relentlessly chasing pirates, eventually becoming a legendary Vice Admiral at Marineford.
Throughout his career, his fists never rested.
He had clashed with the Kuja Pirates, crushed Don Chinjao of the Happo Navy, fought Gol D. Roger countless times, and during the God Valley Incident, even joined forces with Roger to defeat Rocks D. Xebec.
After that, he continued hunting the remnants of the Rocks Pirates, clashing with figures like Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and more.
All his life, Garp had either been beating pirates or on his way to beat pirates.
He never bowed to the World Government, nor did he show respect to the Celestial Dragons.
A man like that absolutely deserved the title of Marine Hero.
And yet…
That same man had a strange bond with Roger, someone he fought for over twenty years.
Not only that, he had hidden Roger's son, Portgas D. Ace, from the Marines and raised him in the East Blue.
Because of that decision, countless pregnant women and newborns on Baterilla Island had been hunted down by the World Government.
Who should bear that sin?
Then there was his son, Monkey D. Dragon, who left the Marines and founded the Revolutionary Army after witnessing the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons.
Garp neither stopped him nor joined him.
He simply stood aside.
And his grandson, Monkey D. Luffy, openly declared his dream of becoming the Pirate King.
Instead of correcting him, Garp laughed.
In Ash's eyes, Garp embodied the contradictions of human nature.
Simple on the surface, yet impossibly complex underneath.
Sometimes Ash wondered if Garp had even thought about the consequences when he chose to protect Ace.
Or if he had simply been thinking about something as absurd as Roger's son calling him "grandpa."
Then there was the irony of it all.
Garp, a Marine hero.
Dragon, a revolutionary.
Luffy, a future pirate.
Three generations, each standing at the peak of completely different paths.
Ash almost laughed.
Yeah right, old man, playing all sides like some noble family hedging its bets.
The drinking continued until dawn.
As the first light spread across the sea, Ash took a slow sip from his gourd and glanced sideways.
"You're heading back to the East Blue to see your grandson, right?"
Garp froze for a moment, then let out a laugh.
"You've got good information, brat. Yeah, I'm going back to visit him."
Ash took another sip before speaking again.
"When you get there, take a good look at Ace and Luffy. Then make it clear, don't let them go out to sea as pirates."
Garp's expression shifted slightly.
Before he could respond, Ash continued.
"Both of them have complicated backgrounds. If they start causing trouble on the seas, it won't do your reputation any favors. You're already old. Losing your name now would be pathetic."
Silence fell.
Garp's gaze sharpened.
At his age, he did not miss the meaning behind those words.
How does this brat know about Ace… and Luffy's connection to Dragon?
Ash ignored his reaction.
Inside, he smirked.
Serves you right for trying to freeload.
Stretching his arms, Ash stood up and pointed toward the sea.
"See that? That's my flag."
Then he looked back at Garp, his tone turning cold.
"Keep an eye on them. If either of them goes out to sea and ends up in my path… I won't hold back."
Garp said nothing for a moment.
He understood his family better than anyone.
He had wanted both boys to become Marines, but it was already clear that neither of them would follow that path.
Now, before they had even set sail, they had already drawn the attention of the most feared pirate hunter on the seas.
Even Garp felt a headache coming on.
In the end, he simply laughed it off and turned to leave.
Ash watched his back as the old man walked away, still broad and steady despite his age.
The next time they met, things might be very different.
The thought lingered only briefly before Ash dismissed it.
A few days later, he was back to his usual routine, watching Nico Robin try on different outfits and taking Jewelry Bonney out for expensive meals.
Another week passed.
After more than a month of preparation, Sali's wedding day finally arrived.
The bride was a native of Sky Island, quiet and gentle, more than a match for him.
All members of the Dawn Faction returned for the celebration, and the atmosphere was lively.
As a gift, Ash presented a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the Evil-Repelling Fruit.
Its form resembled a winged lion-tiger with grayish-white fur, similar to the White Sage Beast.
The bride accepted it happily, but instead of eating it, she carefully stored it away in a treasure chest.
Ash did not care.
To him, it was just a fruit.
Life soon returned to normal.
Until July 12th.
Sali, who had already returned to Twin Capes, contacted Ash through a Den Den Mushi.
On that day, Garp's ship passed by Twin Capes.
The two saw each other from a distance.
Knowing Sali's connection to Ash, Garp chose not to approach.
But that brief moment was enough.
Sali activated the Voice of All Things.
This time, however, Garp noticed.
Years of fighting against Roger had sharpened his instincts. He frowned slightly, watching Sali with a thoughtful look, but did nothing.
The two ships passed each other in silence.
Ash listened quietly as Sali recounted everything.
Once again, he was reminded of how complicated Garp really was.
But who could he blame?
Dragon had chosen his own path.
That was his decision.
But Ace and Luffy had been under Garp's care since childhood.
Instead of raising them properly within the Marines, he had left them with mountain bandits in Foosha Village.
If they turned out the way they did, that responsibility fell squarely on him.
Ash exhaled slowly.
"Forget it."
After a moment, he muttered to himself.
"If those two go out to sea someday…"
He paused, then smirked.
"I'll just break their legs and toss them back to the East Blue."
"After all… I'm being generous."