"Wow, what a feast! Bellemere, is it a special holiday today?"
Nojiko's eyes widened, sparkling like little stars.
Such a lavish meal was something they could only have on holidays.
But the weather today was too good, leading to a bumper crop of fruit.
The fruit was hard to sell and couldn't be preserved, so they earned very little money.
"Yes, I made some money today. A gentleman bought a lot of oranges."
Bellemere, who was busy, turned around, her face full of smiles.
"Really?"
Nami walked over to Bellemere's side in amazement, watching her fry two fish.
"Go on, put this on the table. We have a guest at home."
Bellemere said with a grin.
Before long, Genzo arrived, carrying some common gifts and food, of course.
The four of them had a very happy meal.
Of course, the happiest part was after the meal, when Bellemere took the initiative to ask Genzo to stay the night, and Genzo fled in panic.
Bellemere and the two girls stood in a row, hands on their hips, laughing heartily.
In the nearby sea, Cyrus lay on his small boat with the sail down.
His Observation Haki enveloped the entire Cocoyasi Village, "seeing" everything that happened at Nami's house.
"Atonement?" Cyrus said softly, finally closing his eyes and letting the boat drift with the waves.
...
At the 16th Branch, a huge dog-headed warship was docked at the pier.
The base commander, Captain Nezumi, was already waiting with all the marine soldiers.
When they saw Garp disembarking from the ship while picking his nose, everyone snapped to attention.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The lined-up soldiers shouted in unison.
"Ahahaha, sorry to trouble you all. I'm here on some business this time." Garp said with a hearty laugh.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp! This way, please!" Captain Nezumi said very respectfully. Perhaps Captain Nezumi, who had not yet begun his massive extortion schemes, was still somewhat clear of conscience.
"Bogart!"
Garp turned his head and shouted.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Bogart stood at attention on the warship and replied.
Garp nodded and then walked towards the branch base's garrison.
Although he was curious why Bogart and the Marines on the warship didn't disembark, Nezumi didn't dare to ask and could only follow obediently behind Garp.
A short while later, in the base's reception room, Garp sat on the sofa, looking at Nezumi who stood not far away.
Nezumi grew nervous under Garp's scrutiny.
"That person isn't here?"
"No, Vice Admiral Garp. But he didn't leave long ago, and he was in a small boat, so he shouldn't be too far. He might be back soon."
Nezumi naturally knew Garp was asking about Cyrus.
He had already sent people to investigate thoroughly and now answered immediately.
"Then do you know where he went and what he's doing?"
Garp asked again.
"Well, Vice Admiral Garp!" Captain Nezumi's tone was a little uncertain. "He has always called himself a Pirate Hunter. He came here this time after capturing two pirates. Perhaps he went out this time to find more pirates to capture for their bounties."
"I've invited him before, but he... he said...!"
Nezumi trailed off, not daring to continue.
"It has to do with the Celestial Dragons right?"
Garp's expression remained unchanged; he had already guessed what Nezumi was too afraid to say.
"Y-yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Nezumi nodded, inwardly shocked at how Garp knew.
'As I thought!' Garp sighed with a look of helplessness on his face.
He wasn't optimistic about achieving his goal this time.
Besides, an invitation like this inevitably felt coercive and would only make the other party dislike the Marines even more.
In other words, it might just backfire.
"Vice Admiral Garp, should I send men out to sea to search for him?" Captain Nezumi asked hesitantly, observing Garp's expression.
"No need. The sea is vast, how could we find him? And even if we did, we couldn't force him to come back. Since he's a Pirate Hunter, he'll surely come to collect his bounty after catching a pirate."
Garp stood up as he finished speaking.
"I'll wait in the East Blue for a while. The warship will remain here. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first. If he returns to collect a bounty, notify me."
With that, Garp left, leaving a bewildered Captain Nezumi behind.
Vice Admiral Garp doesn't seem to be as concerned about this matter as I thought.
Furthermore, this Vice Admiral doesn't seem to care about the Celestial Dragons' attitude either.
But of course, Captain Nezumi didn't dare to overthink it.
After all, Garp was a Vice Admiral from Headquarters, the Hero of the Marines, the man who had personally captured the Pirate King.
Perhaps a man like that had his own profound reasons for acting this way.
There were no profound reasons.
Upon returning to the warship, Garp immediately launched a small boat and left with a Marine sailor at the helm.
As for where he was going?
Naturally, he was returning to Foosha Village to visit his well-behaved grandson.
Of course, said grandson might not be so well-behaved.
...
Cyrus knew nothing of this.
Of course, he could guess that his case might be reported further up the chain.
But he didn't pay it much mind, continuing to do his own thing.
He glanced at a Bounty Poster in his hand, then looked up at the Pirate ship charging toward him.
The distorted Jolly Roger on its flag was identical to the one on the Bounty Poster he held.
"Vicious Dog Torf, bounty of 2,200,000."
Sighing, Cyrus raised his sword in one hand.
The slash cut through the sea's surface and struck the approaching Pirate ship.
Crack.
The Flying Slash split half of the Pirate ship open.
The vessel took on water, became unstable, and then broke apart.
The pirates on board fell into the water one by one, flailing desperately.
Swish, swish.
With another dozen or so slashes, the Pirate ship was sliced to pieces.
"As expected, I'm still a far cry from Hawkeye."
Cyrus sighed as he sheathed his sword.
Of course, he had only just become a Master swordsman.
This slash was only possible due to his immense physical strength and Haki enhancement; he was still a long way from Hawkeye's ability to cleave the sea with a casual swing.
But after a few more slashes, the small wooden boat couldn't withstand his attacks.
Some of the pirates in the water were struggling, some were clinging to fragments of the ship, and some were swimming toward him.
Among them was their captain, Vicious Dog Torf.
The pirate who loved to bite people and carry out massacres.
Watching the pirate swim toward him, Cyrus's mind drifted.
It seemed the weaker the pirate, the more vicious they were.
The stronger ones, on the other hand, might be indifferent, but they wouldn't stoop to such cheap acts.
"You bastard!"
Vicious Dog Torf was indeed the strongest of these pirates.
He was the first to swim over, and after pulling himself onto Cyrus's boat with one hand, he took the large saw from his back and glared viciously at Cyrus.
'This guy, did he not see me chop his ship to bits?' Cyrus was puzzled by the man's furious expression.
'Isn't this pirate afraid of death?'