Chapter 377: Chapter 377: The Relationship Between Green Stone and Life Essence!
Chapter 377: The Relationship Between Green Stone and Life Essence!
Soon, Garp arrived—accompanied by his two longtime partners.
Ever since Sengoku and Tsuru had stepped down from active duty, they’d been traveling the world with Garp, finally enjoying the freedom they were once denied.
It was time they did something for themselves.
After all, they’d given the best years of their lives to the Navy.
Besides, Sengoku had always secretly envied Garp’s ability to go where he pleased.
Now, he finally had the chance to do the same.
"Ryuunosuke! Come aboard and have some senbei," Garp called out casually upon spotting him and Shirahoshi waiting on the waves.
"...Alright."
With a light movement, Ryuunosuke brought Shirahoshi with him and landed smoothly on their ship.
None of the three elders held any real position in the Navy anymore.
So naturally, their vessel wasn’t some grand Marine warship—it was an ordinary boat.
Plain, low-profile, and unlikely to attract attention.
"That brat Dragon sure ran fast," Garp muttered.
"Probably afraid you’d punch him," Sengoku added, smirking.
"Hahaha..."
They all laughed heartily.
Ryuunosuke realized he’d probably been left behind deliberately—to cover Dragon’s retreat and prevent Garp from chasing after him.
—
"Say, shouldn’t you be trying to arrest me right now?" Ryuunosuke asked, eyebrow raised. "Instead, you’re offering snacks?"
After all, their identities were on completely opposite sides of the law.
"Arrest you?"
Garp scoffed. "Come on, kid. You think the three of us old geezers can capture you and the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
"Let’s be real."
Then, Garp did something unexpected.
He stood upright, solemnly bowed, and said:
"Thank you, Ryuunosuke."
The shift in tone made Ryuunosuke freeze.
"H-Hey, what the hell are you doing!?" he said in alarm, hurrying to lift the old man up.
"You’ve had your differences with the Navy... because of me," Garp said seriously. "So I had to thank you in person."
"Even as a pirate, I know you’re not a bad guy."
He smiled faintly.
"How about it? Want to reconsider and—"
"Stop right there!"
Ryuunosuke immediately cut him off.
This geezer was still trying to recruit him into the Navy?
Even now?
Incredible.
"That’s not what I meant..." Garp scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. "But seriously, it’d be a waste if all that power of yours was just used to be a pirate."
"If you joined us—if you joined the Navy—we could undo everything."
"With your strength and your crew behind you... we could—"
"Garp, enough." Tsuru interrupted, her voice calm but firm.
She’d had enough of Garp’s speeches.
Especially that one.
The plan he referred to—it had already failed long ago.
Everyone could see the World Government was using the Navy as a puppet.
But only a few knew that there had once been a different dream—one secretly built by Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru.
They thought maybe... just maybe... they could change the system from the inside.
But it all crumbled because their power wasn’t enough.
Garp’s refusal to become an Admiral had been a quiet protest.
Sengoku accepted the title only to protect him.
And Tsuru?
She became Chief of Staff so someone could clean up Garp’s messes.
That’s how it always was.
"Garp," Ryuunosuke said softly, "I know what you meant."
"But... if it’s a failed plan, let it fail."
"This era belongs to us now."
"So let me choose my own path."
He didn’t say it out of arrogance.
He just didn’t want to walk their path anymore.
"...You’re strong, kid. No doubt about it," Garp said.
"But take it from me—take a break sometimes."
"Seriously? That was your plan?" Tsuru snapped. "That’s not a plan. That’s just personal heroism."
"There’s no real difference between what you tried to do and what Dragon’s doing now."
She shot him a glare.
Garp, for once, had no comeback.
He couldn’t argue.
Because in the end, their efforts had failed.
—
"By the way, Ryuunosuke... give me some of what you gave to Whitebeard," Garp said suddenly, changing the subject.
"What I gave to Whitebeard?"
Ryuunosuke tilted his head. "You mean... the food?"
"Don’t play dumb."
Garp stared at him. "Whitebeard’s body was a mess. Then suddenly, it was better."
"What did you give him?"
"Uh..."
Ryuunosuke didn’t bother dodging anymore.
"Fine, this," he said, pulling out a single drop of life essence and handing it over.
As the dense aura of vitality flowed from the droplet, the three elders stared at it in shock.
"This feeling..." Garp muttered.
"Exactly," Tsuru said, stepping forward. "It’s just like it."
"Or rather, it’s a refined version of it," Sengoku added.
"You’re not saying... it’s related to that, are you?" Ryuunosuke asked, utterly confused.
Did they somehow already know about life essence?
Had they discovered wild sources of it before?
"I’m lost. What are you guys even talking about?" he asked.
"I’ve seen this before," Garp replied.
He raised his hand—and a faint green shimmer appeared in his palm.
Not from his forehead, of course. He had to keep up appearances. If people saw that, they’d question if Dragon was really his son...
"Is that the Infinite Green Stone?" Ryuunosuke’s eyes widened.
This was the first time he’d seen it in person.
"You recognize it?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Though I’ve never held one before."
"You call this thing the essence of life," Garp said. "Where did you get it?"
Straight to the point.
Typical Garp—no scheming, no cautious probing. Just ask directly.
"I created it," Ryuunosuke said simply.
He held out his palm—and another drop of life essence materialized from thin air.
Garp frowned.
"You have this kind of ability?"
"Wait... you can generate it?!"
"Prepare a tank for me."
Garp grinned shamelessly.
Ryuunosuke: "..."
Even Tsuru and Sengoku couldn’t watch anymore.
What was this?
Seawater?
You’re lucky to get a few drops, and now you want a whole tank?!
And from a man, no less!
If you were a beautiful woman, maybe we’d let it slide...
But an old man?
Shameless.
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