Chapter 133: This Old Man is Full of Love
After the rain, the sky cleared, and the weather was fine and sunny.
Water 7 gradually recovered its usual prosperity. Azure waterways crisscrossed, and countless Yagara Bulls carrying people navigated through them. The residents who had sought refuge in Central Street had mostly departed.
"Aiya, this meat is very fresh. Let's buy some to take back."
A woman with wavy orange-red hair, her figure somewhat saggy and out of shape, stopped before a vendor's stall. After picking out a few pieces of meat, she began to haggle with the owner.
Beside her, a slightly balding, middle-aged man wearing round-framed glasses, carried large and small bags in his hands, looking utterly helpless.
"I say, honey, we have so much luggage already. If we buy any more, I really won't be able to carry it."
"Shut up! What do you know?"
The woman shot him a glare, retorting discontentedly, "Many shops in the Back Streets haven't even opened yet. If we don't buy here, are you expecting me to eat whatever you, an Air Force slacker, manage to fish when we get back!?"
Hearing this, the man immediately retorted indignantly, "What nonsense! Old Me will definitely catch a big fish today!"
Seeing the couple, Reiner, who was passing by, stopped.
He had a slight impression of this couple; he had seen them moving house near the Water Gate Elevator before Aqua Laguna arrived.
Sanji subconsciously asked, "What's wrong?"
"Ah, just seeing if I can buy something."
Reiner replied casually, then walked up beside the couple. "Excuse me, good afternoon to you both."
Hearing the voice, the middle-aged man turned around first, sizing up the young man who had approached to greet them.
Behind him, another person walked over. He didn't recognize either of them and couldn't help asking puzzledly, "Ah, hello. Is there something you need? Asking for directions?"
"Not asking for directions. Asking about something else."
Reiner smiled faintly and spoke quite directly, "You live near the Water Gate Elevator in the Back Streets, right? Would it be convenient to ask about the housing prices there?"
"Are you looking to buy or rent?"
The middle-aged man was clearly taken aback for a moment, then added, "But I'd still recommend you go directly to an agent; it would be better. After all, I'm not a professional."
"Get lost, old baldy!"
Thump!
"Ouch!"
The woman kicked the man aside, her eyes turning into hearts as she clasped her hands together and approached. "What would you two handsome gentlemen like to know? Houses, is it? We're very familiar with that area!"
"Hey, old hag! Old Me isn't dead yet!" The man got up, grimacing and cursing.
As evening approached, when Reiner and Sanji returned to Iceburg's mansion, the sun had already dipped below the sea horizon.
The others had all woken up and were eating dinner in the reception hall.
Luffy sat directly on the table, surrounded by towering stacks of empty plates.
His hands, a blur of motion, grabbed all sorts of food, tilting his head back, his abyss-like maw continuously pouring it in.
But his eyes were tightly closed, and snores constantly rumbled from his nose.
"This guy... does he even remember to eat while sleeping?" Sanji looked speechlessly at the wolfing Luffy.
"Mah~ He was even shouting about eating meat in his sleep. So I just carried him over," Nami explained, then asked, "Where did you two go?"
"We went shopping. Bought some ingredients and furniture," Reiner said, walking up and producing a list.
Nami casually pulled out the chair beside her and asked, looking up, "Furniture? Is it for the Going Merry?"
"That's right. Since the Merry is being renovated, it's a good time to refurnish it a bit."
Reiner sat down, placed the list on the table, looked around, and asked, "Where are Franky and Iceburg? I'll show them these things later."
"They seem to have gone back to the study."
Nami picked up the list. Chopper and Usopp also leaned over curiously.
It mostly contained ordinary furniture, nothing particularly novel, but the group still looked at it with excitement.
The thought of their ship being even more beautifully furnished made them unable to help but feel thrilled.
Chopper looked expectant. "Then I'll have a proper medical office!"
"And my cartography room!"
"I can't wait to see the Merry!"
"Speaking of which, I think I forgot something."
Zoro, sitting opposite, suddenly spoke to him, "What about a training area? We should have them make a dedicated place for training, right?"
"I asked. They said it's not necessary."
Reiner explained, "The ship's structure will be much sturdier than it is now. Besides, Adam Wood timber is as hard as steel; training anywhere will be fine."
"Really? Are you sure?"
Usopp blinked his eyes. "It's hard to imagine a ship being able to withstand the abuse from you two monsters."
"Hahaha, relax!!"
A burly figure entered from the doorway. Franky strode straight up. "Don't underestimate Treasure Tree Adam, Long Nose!"
"Don't call me Long Nose, you pervert!" Usopp grimaced.
Franky, however, looked thrilled, craning his neck and cupping his ear. "What! Did someone just compliment me by calling me a pervert!?"
"Who's complimenting you!!"
Usopp completely couldn't understand his thought process. How could someone in this world be proud of being called a pervert!?
"Right, Franky. Take a look at this."
Reiner handed him the furniture purchase receipt. "You can arrange these things accordingly later."
"Oooh! Bought quite a few Water 7 specialty products, huh!"
Franky glanced down at the list and laughed heartily. "Excellent taste! Leave it to me!"
Early the next morning, the sky was clear, the sunlight gentle. A large crowd had gathered outside Dock One.
"Hey! You reporters! You're disrupting our shipyard's work!"
"Please let us in!"
"Are the Straw Hat Pirates inside right now!?"
"How many times do I have to say it!? They're not here!"
Paulie, a cigar clenched between his teeth, said angrily, "You guys are really like stubborn leeches!"
"Hey! Foreman Paulie, look quickly!"
A shipwright came up from behind, pointing towards a large group of people striding towards them in the distance. "It's not good! It's the Marines! The Marines are here to capture the Straw Hat crew!"
Hearing this, the reporters immediately erupted into a frenzy again.
"Did you just say the Straw Hat crew!?"
"So Straw Hat and his gang really are inside!"
"Enough! All of you, shut up!"
Paulie had completely lost his patience, waving his hand grandly, about to drive them away.
"Wait a minute! That's—!"
A reporter, looking at the Marines in the rear, saw their leader, a man with graying hair yet a ramrod straight posture, striding with imposing steps.
The incredulous reporter then shifted his gaze further into the distance. Sure enough, at the edge of the port below, a warship was anchored, its figurehead unmistakably a giant dog's head chomping on a bone!
"There's no mistake! That warship... it's Vice Admiral Garp's personal warship!!"
Hearing this, everyone immediately turned, their gazes converging on the Marines striding towards them.
This one look instantly left all of them dumbfounded with shock!
"It really is him!"
"The legendary figure from Roger's era, twenty years ago, who chased the Pirate King all over the world!"
"Marine Hero! Garp!!"
"Ahahaha! See that, Smoker!?"
Garp threw his head back and laughed heartily at the sky. "Old Me really is popular wherever I go!"
"Where do you see 'popular', smelly old man!?"
Smoker, two cigars clenched between his teeth, walked half a step behind him.
Seeing these two, Paulie's brow instantly furrowed tightly. "White Chase Smoker... and the legendary figure, Marine Hero Garp..."
"This is trouble now! You guys hold them off! I need to hurry back and inform them!"
As Paulie spoke, he turned and was about to run into the shipyard.
But just then, a tall shadow fell over him.
"Boy. Who did you say you were going to inform?"
Hearing this deep, heavy voice, Paulie instantly broke out in a cold sweat, his entire body stiffening as he turned around bit by bit, like a rusty machine.
"Wh-what are you... here for?"
"Ahahahaha!"
Garp laughed loudly, slapping his shoulder heavily. "We're Marines. You're not a pirate. What are you so afraid of? Did you do something to feel guilty about?"
"N-no."
Paulie was incredibly flustered at this moment, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "You're here to capture the Straw Hat crew, right? They've already left this island."
"Oh, so that's how it is, hahaha! Then it looks like we'll have to pack up and leave."
Garp scratched the back of his head with a simple-minded look.
Seeing this, Paulie also sighed in relief. He believed that? Too easy to fool! Good, a narrow escape.
However, the next second, his pupils contracted. A sandbag-sized fist instantly filled his vision!
"Lying is not a good habit!!"
BANG!!
Garp's punch sent him flying directly, crashing heavily into a warehouse in the corner. Then, with an "I-own-this-place" swagger, Garp strode straight deeper into the shipyard.
"Hope Old Me's fist full of love can reform you! Ahahaha!"
"Mr. Paulie!"
"Are you okay, Foreman!?"
"We need to inform the Straw Hat crew quickly!"
Several shipwrights immediately rushed over to help him up, then prepared to head inside. However, they were intercepted by a troop of Marines.
"With Mr. Garp! Subjugate the Straw Hat Pirates!"
Bogard tipped his hat brim lower and said gravely, "Maintain alert! To prevent civilian casualties, absolutely no reporter or shipwright is allowed inside!"
(Absolutely no one else must find out! That Straw Hat brat is Mr. Garp's grandson!)
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers immediately formed a cordon, leaving a portion stationed there, while the crowd of reporters could only watch from afar outside.
"Is this the unit of the Marine Hero?"
"To think they'd consider civilians even before a battle has begun."
"Hey, idiot! Whose side are you on!?"
"Yeah, yeah! The Straw Hat crew are our city's heroes!"
(End of this chapter)
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