Shika Island's port.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Captain Bogard stood on deck, gazing toward the center of the island, doubt clouding their expressions. Several minutes had passed since the fierce clash of Conqueror's Haki, yet no further signs of battle had appeared.
Yoriichi didn't believe for a second that Dragon had been defeated that quickly. After all, Dragon was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user who had eaten the Wind-Wind Fruit. Even if he couldn't defeat Garp at full power, it was hard to imagine him being taken down with a single blow.
Even if he couldn't block Garp's attacks, elemental transformation and escape should be easy.
Given the silence now blanketing the island, Yoriichi guessed the father and son were simply "talking." He could imagine why Garp had come — probably to beat some sense into Dragon and drag him back into the Navy.
But that wasn't going to happen.
The Dragon of today was far stronger than when Yoriichi first met him. Now, Dragon had a path of his own, and there was no way he would follow the route Garp had paved.
"Yoriichi, the battle seems to have stopped."
"Should we go ashore and check things out?" Bogard asked, narrowing his eyes toward the island's interior. The absence of any further signs of battle made him anxious.
"Going or not going won't change the outcome. Let's just wait here on the ship," Yoriichi replied calmly.
"Captain Bogard, don't worry about Vice Admiral Garp's safety. They're father and son."
Yoriichi could see the heavy concern in Bogard's expression and couldn't help offering some reassurance.
Normally, Bogard wouldn't need such comfort. With his sharp mind, he clearly understood the situation. But his worry for Garp had overridden his usual composure, prompting the question.
Sure enough, after hearing Yoriichi's words, Bogard quickly settled down and nodded.
Just as they resumed watching the island from afar, a sudden gust swept across the sea. Yoriichi's senses stirred. He turned toward the rear of the deck.
At the same time, Bogard instinctively drew his sword and spun around.
In the middle of the dog-headed warship's deck, an uninvited guest had arrived.
Dragon's body solidified from wind, appearing atop the deck, a cloaked figure in black. In his right hand, he held a man wearing a bubble helmet — none other than Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.
"Dragon!"
Yoriichi turned fully, ignoring the man in Dragon's grip and smiling as he greeted him.
Bogard, however, wasn't so relaxed. The moment he saw the noble's attire, his pupils shrank. His hands tightened around the hilt of his blade as he asked in disbelief:
"Dragon… you actually captured a Celestial Dragon?!"
He never imagined their reunion would come under such circumstances.
"Oh, Bogard! It's been a while," Dragon said with a grin.
"You're still serving under the old man? That must be rough. But please, keep looking after him, alright?"
Dragon smiled as he spoke, pulling back his hood, then turned to look at Yoriichi beside Bogard.
"I didn't expect you to leave Boin Archipelago so soon."
"Did it lose its usefulness to you?"
Seeing Yoriichi again, Dragon noticed how much taller he'd grown — more mature too. Not just in appearance, but in presence. There was a faint sense of threat now, something Dragon had never felt before.
He could tell Yoriichi had made significant progress in just one year.
"Yeah, I left."
"But not because Boin Island was useless. Teacher Zephyr summoned me for something important, so I came."
"I just didn't expect that by the time I returned… you'd already left the Navy."
Yoriichi didn't use words like "traitor." After all, Dragon hadn't joined the pirates. And Yoriichi understood his goals. He always had.
"…A Celestial Dragon, huh? This is the first time I've seen one in person."
"Dragon, you've got guts. That's a bold move."
He glanced at the man in Dragon's grip and chuckled, as if chatting with an old friend rather than confronting a wanted revolutionary.
"Heh… I didn't plan to go against the World Government so soon," Dragon said quietly. "But I was left with no choice. The old man wouldn't let me go."
"Yoriichi, I've always admired you. Even though we only spent half a month together, I feel like I understand you."
"If you ever decide to leave the Navy, come find me."
Dragon didn't seem the least bit concerned about his situation. He chatted with Yoriichi casually, as if on a stroll. Then, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and tossed it to him.
Just as Yoriichi caught it, a figure plummeted from the sky, landing with a thunderous crash in front of him, standing between him and Dragon.
"Dragon!!"
"If you want to leave the Navy, then go!"
"But don't lead our future astray!"
Garp had landed like a meteor, glaring at Dragon, his brow deeply furrowed. His eyes fell on the Celestial Dragon in Dragon's grip, and his expression grew darker.
"How is that leading anyone astray?" Dragon shot back. "I just want Yoriichi to see the world for what it really is. To see the true nature of the Navy."
"Old man, one day, he'll walk the same path I did!"
"I can already tell. His justice… is completely different from yours!"
He suddenly burst into laughter, and without hesitation, hurled Saint Jaygarcia Saturn into the sea. His body turned to wind and vanished from the deck.
Garp didn't chase him. He simply let out a long sigh and turned to Bogard.
"Bogard, go retrieve the Celestial Dragon."
Even before Garp spoke, Bogard had already leapt into action, using Geppo to race across the air toward the splash zone.
Once Bogard was gone, Garp turned back to Yoriichi, his eyes fixed on him.
"Yoriichi… about what Dragon said…"
But Yoriichi raised a hand, cutting him off with a smile.
"Don't worry, Vice Admiral Garp. I won't follow Dragon's path."
"To be honest… my goal is to become Fleet Admiral."
Yoriichi didn't know the full story between Garp and Dragon, but one thing was clear — Dragon's path was one of revolution, of tearing down the Celestial Dragons by force.
That had never been Yoriichi's plan.
He had no intention of launching a rebellion from nothing. Too slow. Too uncertain. Too destructive.
What Yoriichi sought… was transformation, a reformation of the Navy itself, from the inside.
His words to Garp weren't just lip service. Whether or not he truly became Fleet Admiral, he needed one thing — absolute authority within the Marines.
"The great purge of the Roger Pirates… will be my first step into the public eye."
Yoriichi murmured to himself, tucking the Den Den Mushi into his coat.
Garp glanced at the motion and sighed. He said nothing more.
He chose to act as if he hadn't seen it at all.
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