Chapter 43

"In addition to entanglement and hardening, Armament Haki has many other ways of application, so I won't go into detail one by one. In short, techniques have high and low difficulty, but there is no strong or weak in actual combat."

Garp said in a deep voice. "Ultimately, no matter which technique you are good at, you must improve the strength! Only strength is the foundation of Armament Haki, and it is also the direction you should focus on improving!"

Siano had already understood this truth.

One force breaks ten thousand laws, just like when he was sparring swordsmanship with Kuina and Zoro before...

Swish—

The tree canopy in the distance suddenly rustled, and birds were startled.

Siano, whose train of thought was interrupted, looked up and happened to see a figure wearing a brown wide-brimmed hat descending from the sky with a Moonwalk.

Bogard?

Siano recognized the identity of the person at a glance.

This guy looked very young, in his twenties or thirties, but he had started following Garp before the God Valley incident, and was at least a contemporary of Akainu.

"Mr. Garp."

Bogard frowned and opened his mouth. "Vice Admiral Fire Mountain sent a communication saying that the Buggy Pirates have been driven out of the East Blue and are currently docked at a nearby military port. We have to set off for Marineford early tomorrow morning."

"Why are you in such a hurry to urge me?"

Garp impatiently picked his ears. "The old man has only been back to my hometown for a few days; can’t I rest for two more days."

"But your leave period is almost up, and don't forget, Vice Admiral, we are hitching a ride on someone else’s ship this time. Your flagship is still being repaired at Headquarters."

Bogard said expressionlessly. "If we don't set off again, we’ll have to swim across the Calm Belt ourselves tomorrow."

"...Uh." Garp’s movements stiffened.

Swimming across the Calm Belt wasn't much of a difficulty for him, but it was tiring, and where could he lie on the deck and sunbathe comfortably every day?

"Alright."

Garp compromised helplessly, and happened to see Luffy and Ace walking over. He reached out his big hand and rubbed the heads of his two grandsons hard.

"The old man is leaving! Remember to listen to Dadan. Next time I come back, if you still don't look like candidate Marines, see how I deal with you!"

Who wants to be a Marine! Luffy was about to shout dissatisfiedly, but was stopped by Ace with a look—Stupid, they’re leaving, why don't you just go along with what he says!

"Mr. Garp."

This time it was Siano who spoke, calling Garp who was ready to turn around.

He clenched his fists, feeling the faint aura of Armament Haki. "Don't you plan to explain?"

"What?" Garp looked at him blankly.

"I’m not a child, so easy to fool." Siano grinned. "I can understand you looking favorably on me, but after all, we aren't very familiar, so there’s no reason to teach me such good things the first time we meet, right?"

"Didn't you save Luffy once from the mountain bandits last year? Isn't it normal for the old man to repay this life-saving grace for my grandson?" Garp raised his eyebrows.

"Just a misunderstanding, I don't believe Luffy didn't explain it clearly to you."

"...Can’t I hide it after all?" Garp scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit depressed.

"Alright, let’s tell the truth. Back then, there was a vacancy for a Warlord of the Sea, and I was the first to take the initiative to propose to Sengoku to invite Jinbe the Knight of the Sea to join."

"Originally, I just felt that with Jinbe’s character, letting him fill this position would be better than giving legal looting rights to other pirates. But I didn't expect the series of broken things later, such as the Sun Pirates splitting up, Arlong setting up on his own, and leaving for the East Blue."

"Conomi Islands, multiple villages and towns suffered heavy casualties."

Garp sighed for a long time. "And if it weren't for you, a little monster, appearing in Cocoyasi Village, I’m afraid it wouldn't have escaped disaster. So, when I saw your photo in the newspaper for the first time, I felt guilty in my heart, and when I met you in person, I felt even more guilty."

"There’s no need for that." Siano shook his head slightly. "Dragging the grievances of Arlong to Jinbe’s head is the limit, and what does it have to do with you."

"But it’s still hard to pass this hurdle in my heart. However, being able to hear you say this, I feel much better."

Garp suddenly grinned and patted his shoulder. "Continue to cultivate well, brat, make yourself stronger! With your aptitude, one day, even if you leave for a long time, you can still let those guys with bad intentions run away like stray dogs as soon as they hear it’s your hometown!"

You’re strong enough, and your reputation is already terrifyingly big.

But when Higuma the Mountain Bandit King broke into Foosha Village...

Siano couldn't help but complain, but in the end, he didn't say it. He stood with Luffy and Ace, watching Garp and Bogard’s figures gradually go away and disappear at the end of the forest.

"It’s not easy, the stinky old man finally left!"

Luffy relaxed his whole body, lay on the grass and stretched comfortably, suddenly remembered something, and looked at Siano with a grin:

"Hey, Brother Siano! We’re preparing to go back to find Dadan. Do you want to come with us? Let’s have a banquet together and celebrate properly!"

"It would be late at night by the time we get there, right? Scar and the others also came with me this time, and there are a lot of people, I’m afraid there won't be enough rooms."

"Don't worry, there are plenty of empty rooms! Everyone can be arranged! Sabo’s room has been empty, so you can stay there tonight!"

Sabo’s room?

Siano nodded and showed a sincere smile: "Alright."

Harbor.

Bogard, who was preparing to buy a boat ticket to a nearby military port, looked at Garp who was yawning on the side and finally remembered where something was wrong.

"Mr. Garp, where is your dog-head hat?"

"Hmm?"

Garp was stunned, reached out subconsciously, and it was really empty.

"Strange..." The old man touched all four pockets and really touched nothing. "I clearly remember picking it up and putting it in my pocket after the fight. Did it accidentally fall out again?"

"Your careless nature of losing things is really hard to change..." Bogard was speechless.

"Only know how to talk about me?" Garp glared at him dissatisfiedly. "Are you any better? I ask you, where is your hat?"

"Isn't it on my head?"

Bogard didn't understand what Garp meant, and touched his head with his right hand lightly, but he touched nothing, and was instantly dumbfounded.

Eh, where is my hat?!!

Could it be that the wind was strong at the harbor and it was blown away by accident?

"They’re all good things."

Late at night, Siano, leaning against the head of Sabo’s bed, was flushed, burped after eating and drinking, and looked at the system panel in front of him with satisfaction.

The stream of information brushing past one by one confirmed the sweat and effort he had put in.

[You sacrificed Garp’s dog-head hat, gaining 4,000 points]

[You sacrificed Bogard’s wide-brimmed hat, gaining 200 points]

[You sacrificed Sabo’s old coat, gaining 150 points]

[You sacrificed the adult magazine Ace hid under the bed, gaining 250 points]

[You sacrificed Dadan’s treasured wine, gaining 50 points]

[You sacrificed Luffy’s knock-off straw hat, gaining 3,000 points]

(End of chapter)