Dimon hung up and waited in silence for the Rocks Pirates to descend like thunder.
He stood in the alley and watched the Celestial Dragons.
A man and a woman in their twenties or thirties walked with chins high, disdain dripping from every step.
Trailing them was a Marine vice admiral. Dimon recognized him at a glance as Garp.
At this point in time Garp was young, clean shaven, with short black hair and a restless vigor about him. By age he should not yet be forty, right in his prime.
Garp at his peak. Would he already have king level strength, Dimon wondered.
Besides Garp, several men in black suits followed the nobles.
Bodyguards was generous. Servants was closer to the truth.
The pair of Celestial Dragons strolled into the middle of the street, heading, by the look of it, for the nearest bubble park.
Suddenly the male noble stopped.
His sister frowned. "Brother, what is it?"
"Malice in those eyes."
The man's brow creased in displeasure. From his exalted height, he was very sensitive to gazes. Ordinary folk did not dare look him in the eye, much less with a stare this offensive.
His eyes swept over the kneeling crowd and quickly found Dimon in the alley.
His face changed and his tone turned frigid. "Who are you. Why are you not kneeling."
Dimon sighed inwardly. Sensitive to looks indeed. Even from an alley he could not slip past notice.
"You beast, how dare you meet our eyes," the woman snapped.
Dimon stepped out. "Brother and sister, then. Which family are you from?"
Siblings were good. The ransom could be set higher.
The kneeling townsfolk froze. From the corners of their eyes they peeked, breath hissing through teeth. The timid ones shook where they crouched.
Offend a Celestial Dragon and you were dead.
As if to prove the thought, the woman's face twisted. She raised a short pistol, sighted along the barrel, and pulled the trigger.
"Die, you wretch."
Bang.
The shot never reached Dimon. Someone intervened the instant it left the muzzle.
Garp caught the bullet, rolled his eyes, and said, "Leave this to me. No need to trouble yourselves."
"Garp," the woman snapped. "You dare shield him."
"Hahaha. Shield him. Do not worry. If he offended you, I will arrest him."
He moved on the heels of the words. In a blur Garp seized Dimon by the neck, dragged him back into the alley, and growled, "Come along. I will teach you a lesson."
"Vice Admiral Garp," Dimon said with a smile. "First, thank you for the save, though I did not need it. Second…"
"Hm?" Garp stiffened and suddenly tilted his head to the sky.
Dimon's next words still reached his ear.
"If someone snatched a Celestial Dragon right in front of you, what punishment would you face?"
Garp did not answer. He barely heard. All his focus locked upward.
Several monstrous auras were dropping from above, aimed squarely at the two pompous nobles.
"Damn it."
Garp released Dimon at once and sprinted for the younger of the nobles.
"Move, you fools," he bellowed.
Whoosh.
Boom.
Figures slammed down like meteors. Screams split the air. Dust boiled up and swallowed the street.
Through the rolling grit, someone stepped into Garp's path.
"Gurarara. Long time no see, Garp."
"Whitebeard."
Shock tightened Garp's chest. His eyes fixed on Edward Newgate. Behind Whitebeard, Stussy held one aristocrat under each arm, lifting the two Celestial Dragons off their feet.
"Easier than expected. Credit to Dimon," Gloriosa said, hands on hips.
"Target secured. Do we withdraw," Kaido asked, face set.
Shiki drifted down a beat late, laughing from on high. "Jiehahaha. Two Celestial Dragons. Lucky day. How much ransom do we ask."
Rocks stood in the center of the street and drew his sword, arrogance in every line. "Garp, why not join my crew. What meaning is there in being a Marine."
Streusen had not come down, but the lineup here was terrifying enough.
Panic erupted. The kneeling townsfolk bolted to their feet and ran.
"It is the Rocks Pirates."
"Run."
"The legendary Rocks Pirates."
Fear of Rocks outweighed fear of Celestial Dragons. Everyone fled like mad, even the suited attendants trying to follow instinct and escape.
Garp's gaze hardened. "Rocks, what are you doing."
Dimon walked past him and stopped before Stussy. He took the noblewoman's wrist, the one still clutching a gun.
"You tried to shoot me, did you not."
The woman choked on a sound and could not form words.
"This is not a toy. You really startled me."
Dimon twisted. The joint popped. The woman screamed as her wrist snapped, staring at Dimon in raw terror.
Even Garp, slow to anger, put it together at last. This man was with the Rocks crew. No wonder he ignored the nobles.
Their goal is to kidnap Celestial Dragons. Ransom. Damn it. I can only save one at best.
He did not hesitate. Knees dipped and he launched.
A blade met him head on. The keen edge cut across his palm and checked the strike.
"Jiehahaha. You think I will let you save them, Garp," Shiki taunted. "Tell your masters to bring ten Devil Fruits if they want these two alive."
Rocks grinned. "Shiki, take the team and go. I will handle him."
Shiki clicked his tongue, sheathed his sword, and stepped back behind Rocks. He slapped his palm down.
"Veins."
The ground heaved. A stone platform rose, carrying everyone except Rocks up and away.
Garp's eyes tracked it helplessly as the Celestial Dragons were borne off.
"Let them go."
He roared and leaped, a streak of gold flashing straight for the rising platform.
"Now now. Do not underestimate me."
Rocks intercepted him midair. Fist met blade. Conqueror's Haki crashed and bloomed, a detonation that tore the sky.
Thunder rolled. Clouds split apart. Rifts knifed across the heavens for hundreds of li.
On the platform Dimon tilted his head back and watched. "Magnificent."
(PS: In the latest manga chapter, the godly Garp single handedly chased Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido. That was pure Haki. Some complain I wrote Garp too strong. Perhaps I am simply following canon settings.)