"Borsalino, pry the ice and dig a path," Garp sighed and turned around, saying.
There's no way, truly no way; they can only retreat and reconsider their plans, preferably consulting with Sengoku and Tsuru.
He genuinely lacked the ability to take down these girls now, especially since Luna's Void Ability was too unresolvable and troublesome.
Hearing his words, although all the Marines on the warship were disheartened, they could only comply. After the bitter battle they had just endured, they truly didn't want to fight anymore.
Soon, some Marines who could still move went down to pry the ice.
"A smart choice," Luna smiled, then prepared to leave. Her mission was complete, her reward was in hand, and there was no need to linger here.
"Wait a moment," but Garp suddenly stopped her.
"Is there anything else?" Luna, who had only half-turned, immediately stopped. She looked at the old Marine with an expressionless face and said.
"Why choose to be a pirate?" Garp said, his expression somewhat complex and awkward.
He didn't understand, he truly didn't understand. First, his own son, then Ace, and now his grandson Luffy.
His son, Monkey D. Dragon, couldn't stand the World Government, and he also hated those trash Celestial Dragons, so he didn't blame his son much for leaving the Marines to form the Revolutionary Army.
As for Ace, his biological father was Roger after all, and he also wanted to prove himself, so he became a pirate. Garp didn't blame him much either.
As for that kid Luffy, he only blamed the kid for being foolish, and that scoundrel Red Hair for corrupting his grandson. But he still blamed him a little.
But now, he didn't understand, truly didn't understand, why did this group of exceptionally talented girls all choose to be pirates?
How wonderful it would be if they joined the Marines! The Marines now had the old generation, the middle-aged generation, but no successors in the new generation. The Marines were already facing a generational gap, so how wonderful it would be if these girls were truly part of the Marines.
Especially Luna, with such an unresolvable Void Ability, if she joined their Marines and grew, she might very well become an Admiral or Fleet Admiral, leading their Marines to new heights, and even breaking the current situation of the sea.
So he really wanted to know now, what were these girls, especially Luna, thinking?
At this moment, Luna hadn't expected Garp to ask this, but thinking about it, it made sense. This old Marine cared too much about the Marines and truly wanted to cultivate a new generation.
Having read Pirate King in her previous life, she was very aware that the current Marines indeed desperately needed young blood to join them, needing a new generation of successors and heirs.
But she had said before that she inherently disliked the Marines, especially after the Marineford War ended, and the Marines' inaction and increasingly vile deeds over the next two years made her dislike them even more.
At this moment, she didn't mind answering Garp.
"In my eyes, whether it's justice or evil, kindness or ruthlessness, I have my own set of principles. Are pirates necessarily evil? Do the World Government and the Marines necessarily represent justice? At least my eyes can see and make my own judgment. I've also recently heard some rumors about us from the East Blue."
"They say a group of female pirates has appeared in the East Blue, indiscriminately attacking Marines and other pirates. But I just want to say, I only attack villains, bad people. If you don't believe me, you can investigate. I suppose I have a form of justice in my heart, a justice that clearly distinguishes between good and evil."
"However, I will form my own crew, a group of companions who support me in carrying out my ideals, rather than joining some hypocritical, vicious dogs of the Celestial Dragons who do evil under the banner of justice."
Luna expressed her thoughts, her ideals. She wanted to wander, adventure, and fight in this world, like the Straw Hat Pirates, but in dealing with people and things, as she said, she also had her own justice, a justice that clearly distinguished between good and evil.
At the same time, Luna also expressed her undisguised disgust for the Marines.
But as soon as she finished speaking, the first part was fine, but hearing the last paragraph, Garp lowered his head, his face incredibly grim.
The Marines on the warship were the same, why speak such blunt truths? And this wasn't what they wanted either.
These people, following Garp, naturally knew very well what the relationship between the Marines and the World Government truly was. To put it harshly? The Marines were the dogs of the World Government, big guard dogs sent out to bite disobedient people who wanted to resist.
But did many within the Marines want that? Did many truly want to be dogs? No, but after many saw the reality, they either chose silence or chose to fall.
And they here were the former, while the unaware Koby and Helmeppo, at this moment, had some of their beliefs about the Marines shaken. Were the Marines truly like this?
"The Marines are not what you think," Garp raised his head, gnashing his teeth and said.
But what Luna said next made him speechless and also shocked him. This girl actually knew.
"Hehe, really? 38 years ago, Rocks was clearly defeated by you and Roger personally, but you Marines and the World Government concealed the truth, saying he was defeated by you alone, and you became this so-called hero."
"And 20 years ago, Roger clearly had an incurable disease, so he surrendered; he was not captured by you Marines at all."
"And you said all this, besides concealing the truth, it was to beautify your own image of righteous glory on the sea and in front of the people, and for the World Government to solidify its rule."
Luna said impolitely, letting out a cold laugh.
But after she finished speaking, whether it was her companions on the pirate ship or the Marines on the opposite warship, they were all stunned. Some fell silent, and those who were silent included Garp.
Her companions were truly shocked that the Marines would do such things, especially Kuina and her two friends, who were utterly shocked, completely overturning their previous views and thoughts about the Marines.
Shiro and Shino Asada frowned. They exchanged glances. No, is this all the Marines are?
At this moment, Koby and Helmeppo on the Navy Warships were similarly stunned and thinking the same thing.
At this moment, their perception of the Marines, and the longing and respect they held for them in their hearts, were somewhat shattered.
The other Marines, including Borsalino, were all silent. These guys were veterans who had followed Garp for several years, so they naturally knew that the Marines and the World Government had concealed these two incidents back then.
And the reasons for it were truly sordid and dirty.
"Such Marines do not qualify for me to join. On a large apple tree full of apples, though it's covered in them, there are hardly any good ones. If that's the case, I'd rather be a pirate with my own thoughts, only for freedom and adventure. Though the apple tree I cultivate is small, it will at least not have any rotten fruit."
After Luna finished her last sentence, she turned directly and walked away, heading towards the pirate ship.
Garp watched her leave silently, and finally, he murmured with some helplessness.
"Yes, such Marines cannot accommodate such a group of girls, especially such a formidable figure."
He also understood that someone like Luna, who truly knew the filth beneath the mask of the Marines and the World Government, would not join the Marines or the World Government side, because she disdained them, considering it a defilement.
But at the same time, he also genuinely worried for their Marines. The Marines seemed to have no future, because it had been a very long time since excellent young blood had joined them.
But suddenly, when he looked up at Luna's retreating figure walking towards the pirate ship, Garp was momentarily stunned. He couldn't help but rub his eyes, suspecting he was seeing things.
Because he found that he seemed to be seeing not Luna, but that man from back then, that terrifying man with deep Red Hair and a strong, robust physique.
Just like back then, that man also, under the helpless and resentful gaze of the Marines, walked with such a back towards his Pirate Crew, his pirate ship.
But when he finished rubbing his eyes and looked again, he found that the two figures seemed to overlap somewhat, which immediately startled him. He believed this was not an accident or coincidence.
After all, there were too many strange things on the sea.
"Does this girl have Rocks's shadow on her?" Garp said, somewhat dazed. He remained rooted to the spot after speaking.
It wasn't until he saw Luna had returned to the ship that he reacted, suppressing a hint of fear in his heart, fear of that man from back then, and slowly walked back onto the warship.
With his command, "Return," the warship, which had already broken free from the ice, immediately departed.
Watching the warship slowly receding on the horizon, Luna knew very well that this was not the end, but the beginning. Their six-person Pirate Crew, after this battle, would surely attract the high attention of the Marines.
Especially towards her, because her Void Ability was too unresolvable, and the Marines would definitely try every possible method to deal with her.
But was she afraid? What was she afraid of? She had the system, was familiar with the plot, knew many things, and her many experiences and knowledge from her previous life were not for nothing. What was there to fear?
If they had the guts, they should come. Did they know what the 16-character strategy was? This young lady refused to believe she couldn't deal with them Marines.
Moreover, with the system, she had the ability and confidence to quickly improve the strength of her companions and herself.
But for now...
"Alright, everyone, let's rest up and prepare to set off. To celebrate our victory over the Marines and the formation of our six-person Pirate Crew, we'll go to a new town later and have a good, big meal at the best restaurant."
Luna turned around, revealing a sweet smile.
"Yes, Captain!" Kuina and Shiro also cheered, as this was indeed something worth celebrating.
Nojiko quickly found the best nearby town based on the existing sea chart. They also quickly left here and sailed towards that town.