Sometime later, a call from Foosha Village reached Garp, who was chatting with Gion at that moment.
"Garp, we've got trouble."
In Makino's bar, Mayor Woop Slap of Foosha Village held a letter left behind by Makino, fretting as he spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"What is it? Pirates attacking Foosha Village?"
Garp's expression turned somber at once.
"No, not like that. But Makino…she's gone to sea!"
"Hmm? Makino? Why would she suddenly leave? Did she just go to a nearby island to restock the bar?"
"No. She left a letter saying she's going traveling for a while!"
"Traveling? Why would Makino suddenly decide on a trip now? Did she say anything else?"
"She wrote that she went to sea to look for a man."
"A man? Wait—don't tell me she's off chasing Shanks? No, that can't be right; Shanks is in the New World, and she couldn't find him easily sailing from Foosha Village…"
"It's not Shanks. She said it was someone else, but she never mentioned his name."
"I see… Old man, do you suppose she's fallen in love? So she's sailing out to find this man?"
"That's impossible. I've never heard any mention of Makino in a relationship."
"She wouldn't necessarily tell you, would she? She could've been exchanging letters in her bar for all you know."
"Well…fine, that's true. But Garp…Makino left with pirates!"
"What?! Pirates?! Village elder, you must be mistaken!"
"It's the truth! Some villagers saw the pirates with Makino."
"Elder, maybe Makino was taken hostage by them?"
"That doesn't seem to be the case. The villagers said Makino and the pirates seemed to get along fine—especially that blue-haired woman, who acted like an old friend of Makino's. All according to what the villagers saw."
"A blue-haired woman? Any idea who she might be?"
"Seemed to be someone named… Whitey Bay!"
"Wait, Whitey Bay? The Whitebeard Pirates?!"
Garp's eyes widened, his mind buzzing at the mention of Whitebeard. Beside him, Gion's expression sharpened.
'Whitey Bay…the woman Arton's diary has mentioned several times. An elder of the Whitebeard Pirates—though she's gone independent, she must still be on good terms with Whitebeard.'
'And she's turned up in the East Blue, so surely she's looking for Arton. But how did she get here so fast? I knew her ship wasn't just for ice-breaking…'
'What about Makino, though? Could she be another Diary Copy holder?'
From Gion's perspective, Whitey Bay traveling so far to the East Blue had a clear motive: finding Arton. Under those circumstances, it seemed unlikely she'd do anything unnecessary. Yet she'd left with a local woman in tow, which naturally made Gion suspect Makino might hold a Diary Copy. Still, Gion couldn't recall Arton ever mentioning "Makino" by name in the diary.
"Why would Makino leave with Whitey Bay, of all people from the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Village elder, are you absolutely sure she wasn't coerced?" Garp asked with a frown.
"At least from the villagers' perspective, she wasn't forced at all. And Makino's letter also said she was simply hitching a ride on Whitey Bay's ship to find that man. Their destinations apparently coincide. Beyond that, I have no clue. That's all I can tell you, so I figured I should call you. Aren't you in the East Blue? Maybe check on Makino if you get a chance."
Hearing this, Gion silently concluded that Makino must indeed be a Diary Copy holder. Whitey Bay obviously sought Arton, and if Makino's destination matched Whitey Bay's, then Makino sought Arton too. 'But why?'
'Might it be for Ace's sake?' Gion wondered, her brow creasing.
"All right," Garp said gravely. "I'll keep track of Whitey Bay's movements."
After a moment, Garp hung up and muttered irritably, "Is this even the same East Blue I know? Why so many unusual happenings lately? First there's Arton appearing out of nowhere with Red-Haired Shanks' daughter. Then Shiki shows up and gets defeated by Arton. Now someone from the Whitebeard Pirates arrives and leaves with the tavern owner from my hometown?! And all to find some man?! What man could be worth her getting on a female pirate's ship…? Wait, is Makino also after a pirate?"
Indeed, Makino was in pursuit of the very pirate Garp and Gion were hunting.
"Gion, are you sure of your intelligence?" Garp asked suddenly. "Will that Arton guy really turn up in Cocoyasi Village?"
"Vice Admiral Garp, you're worried the intel might be wrong, and we'd be chasing shadows, right? No need. My source is solid—Arton's definitely heading to Cocoyasi. I know you're concerned about Makino, but even if we left now, we can't pinpoint Whitey Bay's whereabouts. Let's keep searching for Arton, and in the meantime, we can have our colleagues keep an eye out for Whitey Bay."
Gion believed that sticking close to Whitey Bay, Makino likely wouldn't be in danger. The priority was to reach Arton quickly. If Arton kept growing stronger, it might soon be impossible to stop him.
Garp scowled, contemplating Gion's suggestion. Just then, Garp's adjutant approached, clutching a newspaper.
"Vice Admiral Garp, there's fresh news about Arton—you'll never believe this." With that, he handed the newspaper over.
"News about Arton?" Garp muttered, grabbing it hastily. "Wait—this is real? Arton actually beat the World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk?! And Mihawk himself said Arton is the stronger swordsman? That's impossible… That boy shouldn't be anywhere near that strong!"
Garp's jaw dropped in utter disbelief.
***
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