Chapter 386: This World Can No Longer Wait
To the sea, the vast majority of people could not understand the events that had occurred in the world recently.
Not to mention the rumors that had already begun to circulate on the sea—it was said that the highest authority of the world, the "Five Elders," were dead again, and this time it wasn't just one, but all five of them wiped out.
Many nobles and kings of various kingdoms were deeply worried about this. Especially after making inquiries to Mary Geoise and only receiving vague responses, this worry almost turned into panic.
And what they found even more incomprehensible was that, facing the panic and inquiries of the entire sea, the World Government instead announced the news of a public execution of a pirate.
"Monkey D. Luffy? Who is this guy? Is such a grand display really necessary?"
This was the doubt of almost the vast majority of people on the sea.
In their eyes, Luffy was merely an ordinary pirate no matter how you looked at it.
His bounty wasn't high, and he had no connection to the Four Emperors or The Zodiac. Why could things escalate to the point of "public execution"?
"It couldn't be that he killed the Five Elders, right?"
Amidst such speculation, those who knew the inside story had already begun to act.
For example, The Zodiac, who had already sent messages to the two Four Emperors and Wano Country. Another example is...
Step! Step! Step!
Footsteps hurried as an old Marine with a robust figure far exceeding ordinary people stepped down from the dog-head warship and boarded this densely forested small island.
"Bogard, you guys stay here."
Garp looked back with a deep voice at Adjutant Bogard, who had followed him here.
And this Commander-in-Chief of the Star Hunters Unit, who was always laughing and joking on ordinary days, looked unprecedentedly heavy and serious at this moment.
Even judging from the bloodshot lines in his eyes, he clearly hadn't rested well for quite a long time.
"..."
After hearing Garp's words, Bogard, who knew who Garp was going to meet, also had a change in expression.
He opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but then after seeing the look in Garp's eyes, he gave up the intention to speak and merely responded gloomily: "Yes."
Garp nodded, and with a wave of his hand, walked deep into the small island.
The surrounding trees were deep and secluded, and ordinary people would find it very difficult to distinguish directions in the forest—but for a Haki master of Garp's caliber, it clearly wasn't a problem.
Quickly, Garp arrived at the deepest part of this forest, the precipice located on the other side of the small island.
Then, he saw a figure.
He stood calmly in the air, the sea wind blowing his coat fiercely, revealing the tattoo on his face and his sharp gaze.
That was a gaze determined to overturn the world.
"Long time no see, Father."
Looking at Garp in front of him, he spoke softly: "It's been thirty years since God's Valley, right?"
Amidst his words, his identity naturally needed no elaboration.
The "Revolutionary" Monkey D. Dragon was clearly appearing right here.
"Ah, yes—Dragon."
And at this time, Garp also looked with a complex expression at his son whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
The other party was once his pride, the most steadfast warrior among the Marines.
But just as Dragon said, it had been thirty years since they stood on opposite sides.
And this time, it was a long-awaited father-son "reunion".
"This old man remembers telling you at that time—after leaving that cell, never appear in front of this old man again, otherwise..."
Garp's voice was low and deep.
Then...
BOOM!
He threw a punch.
Intense Conqueror's Haki lightning wrapped around the fist wind, roaring towards Dragon.
Whoosh!
But the next moment, a fierce wind suddenly rose.
In the air, Conqueror's Haki lightning also roared.
Dragon's figure did not move.
But silently, the edge of Garp's fist was shattered.
"Father..."
And at this time, Dragon's words remained calm.
"How much longer are you going to play deaf and dumb?"
But his eyes rarely carried a sharpness like a blade.
He didn't state that name directly.
"Are you going to watch him die?"
But Garp clearly knew what Dragon wanted to say.
"Luffy..."
His fists were tightly clenched, his fingernails almost embedding into his flesh.
Clearly, even he actually hadn't expected the World Government to do such a thing at all.
The Government didn't inform the Marines and the Star Hunters Unit in advance about the "public execution". Everything seemed as if the World Government was acting entirely on its own.
Even Garp up until now didn't understand why there would be this "public execution"—the only possibility he could think of was that Luffy's relationship with Dragon was exposed.
But clearly, to Garp, that wasn't important either.
Because...
"No matter the reason, that boy became a pirate..."
Pirates being executed is a matter of course—his persistence over the past years told him so.
But...
"Pirate?"
After hearing this, Dragon merely sneered.
"Father, he was raised by you."
He looked at Garp: "So I think you know better than me what kind of child Luffy is—he indeed became a so-called 'pirate', but has he ever done even one thing that deserves to be judged?"
"..."
After hearing this, Garp also fell silent.
Clearly.
Whether it was him or Dragon, after Luffy set out to sea, although they didn't help him openly.
But they somewhat had an understanding of the news regarding Luffy.
Ever since Luffy set out to sea, the things he did were exactly the same as his ideals back in Windmill Village—he had never harmed commoners, nor had he pillaged civilians.
If one truly had to describe the things he did, it could actually be summarized in a simple sentence.
"He merely followed the dream and conscience in his heart, and lived freely!"
Dragon's words reached this point, but his voice suddenly became high-pitched.
"Why should a person be stopped for pursuing his ideals?"
"Why should a person be killed for desiring freedom?"
"Father, you have seen it since God's Valley thirty years ago—but until now, haven't you thought it through clearly?"
Amidst the words, Garp's expression abruptly became so gloomy that it seemed water could drip from it.
Normally, he could laugh and joke around.
But uniquely at this moment, in front of this son of his who chose to leave the Marines, he couldn't pretend not to hear.
"What do you want this old man to do?"
His white hair moved without wind: "Make the same choice as you!?"
He gritted his teeth, roaring lowly.
Just as stated before.
After that battle in God's Valley, many people were changed.
And among them included Garp, who was full of hope for the Marines and full of passion for justice at that time.
He saw the dark side of the world, saw the compromises his good friend made.
And ultimately, he also made compromises.
To protect the civilians, to protect the commoners, he chose to halt his steps within the Marines—not fighting for the Government and the nobles above the cliff, not fighting for power and authority, but fighting to protect the people below the cliff.
"Do you know how many people will die because of doing such a thing?"
"Because of the 'revolution' you insist on inciting, those who die because of it—their sorrow, their pain, their families... who will bear it!?"
He questioned his son in a low voice.
Then...
"I will bear it."
Dragon merely calmly stated his choice.
As the words fell, an intense, terrifying Conqueror's Haki not inferior to Garp's also burst forth at this moment, turning into black-red lightning.
"There is no revolution without bloodshed."
He looked calmly at his father, his voice resolute and resounding.
"Malignant ulcers must be bled to be eradicated."
That was the truth he had comprehended over the years lurking in various countries, seeing what he saw in various countries, and comprehending in various countries.
"I will charge at the forefront—I will be the banner, the lighthouse, the spark."
"In the past, the flame ignited by the spark was only in the dark."
He said calmly: "But if one day, the flame ignites the entire world, and everyone in the world must bleed—then I hope I will do the same."
That was also what he had always been doing.
Even though today, his status had long allowed him to hide in the dark during most operations, and even not appear, not strike, and not participate in planning at all.
But whether it was the revolution in various kingdoms or every operation of the Revolutionary Army, he was a direct participant and planner.
He always liked to put himself in the position of bait, acquiring operational opportunities for others.
He looked at Garp: "This is also the reason I came to find you this time."
"You should also be somewhat able to know—Luffy is my son, but he is similarly the hope of this era."
He said calmly.
"This 'public execution' is the time to ignite this world."
Thus, Garp's expression changed drastically, his sharp gaze looking at Dragon.
But unlike thirty years ago.
This time, he didn't see any emotion in Dragon's eyes.
No cowardice, no hesitation, not even anger or hatred.
In his eyes, there was only a calm, resolute determination to face death without flinching.
"Perhaps this old man should catch you here, or kill you."
He said in a deep voice.
"Father, you cannot—I might die, but it will definitely be after liberating this world."
After hearing this, Dragon wasn't angry in the slightest either.
"Inviting you to meet this time is only my last reminder, hoping you think it through clearly."
"It's time to think it through clearly, Father."
"Compromise can exchange for brief peace and stability, but a distorted pavilion will collapse one day."
"And at that time, I hope... to fight side by side with you once again."
As the words fell.
Dragon's body slowly turned into a gust of clear wind and dissipated.
And in the wind, only his final words were left behind, lingering for a long time.
"Finally, I must tell you one thing—Father, you were wrong... over these years, it wasn't me who incited the revolution..."
"It's this world, that can no longer wait."
After the final words fell.
"..."
The Marine Hero remained standing in place, speaking no more.
☆☆☆
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