The Genshin Traveler in the World of Pirates

The next day, Kong, dressed in his Marine formal attire, stood at the harbor with Smoker. Behind them was a solemn line of Marine troops.

"Hey... Smoker, isn't this... a bit too much?"

Smoker's expression was serious.

"Not at all. It's not an exaggeration to welcome a Marine hero!"

"A Marine hero, huh..."

Although he knew Garp was awesome and had witnessed Garp's awesomeness, Kong couldn't take it seriously when he recalled Garp's unkempt appearance.

Paimon especially felt the same way about this.

"What Marine hero! He's just a shameless old man who swindles senbei from kids!"

Speaking of Garp, Paimon was full of anger. Back when they were at headquarters, Garp had pilfered no small amount of Paimon's privately hoarded snacks.

"Senbei?"

Kong explained.

"Nothing, the old man likes to tease Paimon. Paimon's senbei were tricked away from her before."

Paimon was still angry.

"Teasing me?! Those were given to me by Tsuru Grandma and Thatch! He said he'd trade me a big drumstick for them! But after eating my senbei, he gave me a drawing of a drumstick! Ugh! I still get angry thinking about it!!"

"And you still play with him?"

"I wanted revenge!"

"Forget it, don't go near him again. You'll just get tricked again."

"Hmph╯^╰!"

Smoker seemed thoughtful.

"Tashigi."

Tashigi, standing beside Smoker, was staring blankly at the sea and didn't hear Smoker immediately.

"Sergeant Tashigi!"

Smoker raised his voice, finally getting Tashigi's attention.

"Yes, Colonel!"

Smoker said nothing.

"Go buy fifty kilograms of senbei and come back quickly."

"Yes!"

After Tashigi left, Smoker looked apologetic.

"She was quite shaken yesterday by Roronoa Zoro. Her swordsmanship, honed since childhood, was easily defeated, and she still hasn't recovered."

Kong showed understanding. After all, before Perona appeared, Tashigi was the most popular candidate for Zoro's wife; her connection with Zoro ran deep.

"Comfort her. She's a girl, after all."

Smoker responded powerfully.

"What does it matter that she's a girl? She's a Marine. If she can't overcome this, how will she uphold justice? Don't worry, she's my subordinate. I understand her. She's not someone who's easily broken. But enough about her. Kong, I'm quite curious about you."

"I'm just a lieutenant commander. What's so curious about me?"

Smoker looked at Kong.

"Your abilities... is it a Mythical Zoan fruit? It seems you have the powers of ice and lightning in addition to wind?"

Kong calmly uttered the lie he had become most accustomed to telling over the years.

"Ah, my fruit is the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Celestial God form."

Smoker was surprised.

"Celestial God? I've never heard of that fruit."

"Because I'm the first one to eat it. This fruit is appearing for the first time."

Smoker sighed.

"You're really lucky then. Celestial God... it sounds incredibly powerful."

"Oh, it's just a name. It's not as good as your Smoke-Smoke Fruit. My ability can be continuously developed, eventually mastering seven different elemental powers, but I can't elementalize like you."

"Seven? That's still incredibly strong. As for elementalization? Heh, in the Grand Line, nature itself is nothing special. Your Mythical Zoan has greater potential than mine."

"Unfortunately, I've only developed three. The remaining four are still a long way off..."

"Don't worry, you're still young. I look forward to the day your fruit is fully awakened. Perhaps by then, you'll have the qualifications to become an Admiral."

"Maybe... Oh? They're here."

As they spoke, a large ship with a dog's head appeared on the distant sea, its double-masted sails bearing the blue anchor emblem of the Marines.

"Whoa... What... what's going on?"

"Is it... that badly damaged!?"

As the ship drew closer, everyone on the shore was shocked.

The huge ship was covered with countless cannon ports. There was even a jagged crack on the hull, almost splitting the ship in two, as if a giant had broken it.

Even Kong gasped.

"Wow... Did Dragon really go that hard?"

Smoker's expression was gloomy.

"I wonder if anyone on board survived..."

Ten minutes later, Tashigi returned, and at the same time, Garp's warship docked at the port.

"HAHAHAHA! Kong! Paimon! You came to greet me!? HAHAHAHA!"

Garp's unrestrained laughter echoed as he leaped directly from the bow of the ship. His head of white hair showed no signs of aging.

Following him, his adjutant Bogart jumped down silently, following Garp.

"You shameless old man! You... you okay?!"

Although Paimon had been angry before, upon seeing the state of the warship, her tone was filled with concern.

"HAHAHAHA! What could happen to me!? Even if they brought a hundred more warships, I could smash them all!"

Kong pointed at the riddled warship.

"Then this is..."

Bogart, holding his sword, said in a calm voice.

"The Vice Admiral did it himself. Dragon appeared, covering the retreat of the Revolutionary Army's fleet. The Vice Admiral, unable to contain his anger, threw all the cannonballs and then smashed the warship at them."

"...That's definitely your style."

Garp slapped his thigh.

"Damn it! That brat's always been fast. His mother's a real runner!"

Smoker stepped forward.

"Vice Admiral Garp, sir. I am Smoker, the head of the Loguetown Marines. It's an honor to have you inspect Loguetown."

Garp wasn't one for formalities.

"Alright, alright, cut the crap. Just speak plainly. I'm here to get the ship repaired. That damn Dragon has already left, he won't come to Loguetown again."

Smoker was taken aback but quickly recovered.

"No, sir, the main reason is to report to you on the collaboration between Dragon and... that pirate from the Roger Pirates..."

Garp interrupted Smoker directly.

"Pure coincidence. Dragon would never collaborate with the Roger Pirates. I know him too well. That Bucky is nothing but a small fry. He left Roger's ship a long time ago."

Smoker tried to speak again, but Kong stopped him with a slight shake of his head.

"Old man, Commander Smoker has prepared a welcoming banquet for you. You probably haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"Huh? Didn't you tell him I don't like these bureaucratic things? That money would be better spent on the people!"

Kong explained.

"No, it's Commander Smoker paying out of his own pocket. Don't disappoint his kindness."

Garp looked at Kong in surprise.

"You brat... you're speaking up for the Marine garrison. Didn't you used to love raiding their homes?"

Kong shrugged.

"I can't help it. After my investigation, Commander Smoker is a clean official. Even the tobacco he smokes is homegrown and hand-rolled."

Garp then carefully examined Smoker.

"Interesting. Smoker, is it? Kong rarely praises others. Alright, let's go to your welcoming banquet and see what it's like."

"Yes! Vice Admiral, this way please."

Smoker no longer held any contempt for Kong. Last night he acknowledged Kong's strength, and today he acknowledged Kong's potential.

As Garp said Kong rarely praised others, Smoker also knew that Garp was upright. To be recognized by Garp like this, it must be something extraordinary. Garp was not someone who would flatter you just because you were a disciple of a marshal.

"I'm really hungry, hahaha. Paimon, tell this old man what good food there is here. You've probably already tried everything."

Paimon pouted.

"Shameless old man! You're the one who swindled all our money! What do you think we can eat?!"

"What do you mean swindled? It was a fair and square win!"

"I don't care! I'm going back to complain to Grandma Tsuru!"

"Heh! Complaining won't do you any good."

"You... Ugh! You're making me so mad!!"