The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp

Mt. Colubo, morning.

"ACE—!!!"

Garp's roar was like a cannon blast, sending all the birds in the forest flying in a panic.

Ace, still asleep, was startled awake. He sat up with a carp-like jump, his black hair a mess, his eyelids still closed. "You old geezer?! Again?!"

"BANG!"

Garp kicked open the wooden door, his laughter echoing through the sky. "Hahaha! Time to get up and train! My 'training of love' starts today!"

Ace's face instantly turned green. He clung to his blanket for dear life. "I don't want your 'love'! That's murder!"

"No nonsense!" Garp reached out a large hand, grabbed Ace by the back of his collar, and lifted him up like a kitten. "Today, I'll teach you the 'Fist of Love' first!"

"Help me!!!" Ace's feet kicked wildly in the air, tears almost coming out. "You bastard old man! Put me down!"

"BANG!" Garp punched him on the head, and a large bump instantly formed. "This is the education of love!"

Ace clutched his head. "That hurts! I'm going to sue you for child abuse!"

Roy stood to the side, rubbing his forehead helplessly. "Abusing his grandson like this every day, and leaving him to be raised by a bunch of mountain bandits. It would be a miracle if he didn't grow up to be a pirate..."

On the open ground in the back hills, a bruised Ace lay on the ground, panting, a Garp-brand bump on his head.

Garp stood with his hands on his hips, laughing wildly. "Hahaha! You're already down after only fifty laps? I used to run a hundred laps with a cannon on my back!"

Ace lifted his head and grunted through gritted teeth, "Who... who's competing with you... you perverted old man..."

Roy walked over and handed him a bottle of water. "Drink some water. Don't get dehydrated."

Ace chugged two mouthfuls, glaring at Garp like a little wolf cub. "You old geezer, I want to change instructors! I want to learn from Big Brother Roy!"

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

Ace nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Yes! You're much gentler than this old man!"

Garp's beard bristled with anger. "You brat! What nonsense are you talking!"

Ace said righteously, "Big Brother Roy's training at most just tires me out. Your training wants to kill me! I can tell the difference!"

Garp: "..."

Roy couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I'll practice with you then."

Ace's eyes instantly lit up, and he jumped up with a whoop. "Yeah! Teach me that move! The one that makes the rock suddenly fly up and then smash down!"

Roy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That's a Devil Fruit ability. You can't learn it."

Ace deflated on the spot. "Tch... boring."

Roy thought for a moment and smiled. "But, I can teach you some basic Marine martial arts."

Ace's eyes sparkled again. "Martial arts? Okay, okay!"

Garp was so jealous he could taste it. "Hmph! You brat, you forget the old as soon as you have the new. You're making me so angry!"

Ace stuck his tongue out provocatively. "Nyah nyah nyah!"

Garp was so angry his beard was standing on end. "You little bastard!"

For the next two days, the back hills of Mt. Colubo became a temporary training ground.

"Ahhhhhh—!" Ace swung his wooden stick wildly, but Roy easily caught it with two fingers. "Your posture is wrong. Tighten your wrist, and keep your center of gravity steady."

"Damn it!" Ace's face was red with anger as he readjusted his stance.

Garp, meanwhile, was holding a bag of rice crackers like a cheerleader, munching and shouting, "You brat! Hit it more accurately!"

Roy taught Ace basic martial arts, his movements clean and precise, with extreme patience. "Hey! I didn't tell you to swing so limply! Put some spirit into it!"

Ace got so angry he threw the wooden stick at Roy's head. "You're the one who's limp! I'm a super strong man!"

Roy tilted his head, and the stick was caught between his two fingers and snapped. "Stop messing around. Keep practicing."

Ace: "..."

Garp was laughing so hard he was bent over. "Hahaha! These two brats, they were born to get along!"

Roy: "Ace, try to keep up with me."

Ace stood with his hands on his hips, his face full of disdain. "Huh? You can teleport!"

Roy smiled slightly and said softly, "Don't worry, I won't use teleportation. Just my normal speed."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "That's more like it! Watch me!"

Five minutes later—

"Hah... hah... y-you call this 'normal speed'?!" Ace was lying flat on his back on the grass, sweat streaming down him like a small river, his chest heaving violently, like an exhausted husky.

Roy stood with one hand on his hip, his expression calm. "Mm."

Garp sat on a nearby stump, munching on rice crackers and laughing wildly. "Hahaha! You brat, you see the difference now, right? This guy's 'normal speed,' even I can't keep up with it!"

Ace's eyes were wide. "Wh-What?!"

After a short break, Roy casually picked up a boulder taller than himself and lifted it easily with one hand. "Come on, try it."

Ace's eyes widened, his mouth open enough to fit a watermelon. "Th-That's too big! Are you trying to crush me?"

Roy said calmly, "Mr. Garp's iron ball is a hundred times heavier than this."

Garp chimed in proudly, "That's right! My iron ball is specially made!"

Ace: "..." (Tears)

He gritted his teeth, wrapped his arms around the boulder, and used all his strength. His face turned red, but the boulder didn't move an inch.

Seeing this, Roy silently swapped the boulder for a "mini number three," which was about the size of a barrel. "Let's start with something simple."

Ace's self-esteem was shattered...

Two days later, Mt. Colubo, dusk.

The setting sun's glow fell on the grass in the back hills, stretching the three figures' shadows long. Ace, having finished his training for the day, was collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, his tattered tank top soaked with sweat.

He took the apple Roy handed him, bit into it fiercely, and asked indistinctly, "Big Brother Roy, are you guys leaving tomorrow?"

Roy nodded. "Yeah, we have to go back to Headquarters."

Ace was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up, his amber eyes shining with a stubborn light. "I'll definitely be stronger than you in the future!"

Roy smiled slightly and ruffled his messy black hair. "You'll have to work hard then."

Ace clenched his fists tightly and shouted defiantly, "Of course! I won't lose to you!"

Garp walked over, laughing, and slapped Ace on the head. The bump that had just healed swelled up again. "You brat, be good and stay with Dadan and the others. Don't cause any more trouble."

Ace winced in pain but still pouted stubbornly. "I know, I know."

Garp laughed heartily, but his laughter held a hint of imperceptible gravity.

Roy stood up, his gaze looking past Mt. Colubo towards the distant sea. The sea breeze brushed against his face, carrying a cool, salty scent. He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke. "Old man, let's talk."

Garp was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

The two walked a short distance away, making sure Ace couldn't hear their conversation.

Roy looked directly into Garp's eyes, his tone calm but firm. "Leaving him here to be raised by mountain bandits is not a solution in the long run."

Garp's smile gradually faded, but he didn't speak.

Roy continued, "I've been asking around these past few days. Dadan basically only gives him one bowl of rice and one cup of water a day. He has to fend for himself for the rest."

He looked back at Ace, who was munching on an apple, his voice low. "Growing up in this environment, I'm afraid he'll go out to sea and become a pirate in the future."

Garp was silent, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen. His fist clenched slightly, then relaxed, as if he were struggling with something unspeakable.

Roy looked at Garp, his tone firm. "If you hope he doesn't go down the wrong path, I suggest you bring him back to the Marines."

Hearing this, Garp's face suddenly darkened, as if he had made some kind of decision. He took a deep breath, his gaze as sharp as a torch as he stared at Roy, his voice hoarse and low. "What if... he's the son of the Pirate King?"

He stared at Roy's face, as if waiting for some expected shock or fear.

However, Roy just said lightly, "Oh."

Garp's eyes widened in disbelief. "No... that's your only reaction?"

Roy remained calm, his gaze deep and firm. "The child is innocent. He can still be saved now. If he really becomes a pirate, he can't be saved."

That sentence was like a bolt of lightning, striking Garp's heart. He stood there, stunned, his pupils trembling slightly, as if he had been hit by some huge shock.

Roy continued, "His birth is not his fault. It's something he can't control. But if we let him walk into darkness because of his birth, then that's our fault."

Garp closed his eyes, his breathing heavy, his fists clenched so tight they cracked, as if he were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

After a long while, he finally opened his eyes, his voice low and hoarse. "Roy... do you know what this means?"

Roy nodded. "I know."

Garp stared at him. "Once his identity is exposed, the Marines, the World Government, even the entire sea will see him as an enemy!"

Roy said lightly, "That's why it's even more important to have him stand on the side of justice."

"Besides, since you've raised him for so long, even if you have to be an enemy of the whole world, would you be afraid?"

Garp was silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a long breath, as if he had shed some heavy burden. He looked up at the sky and murmured, "...Maybe you're right."

He turned to look at Ace, a new determination in his eyes, and shouted, "You brat, pack your things!"

Ace was stunned and looked up in confusion. "Huh? Where are we going?"

Garp grinned, a long-lost heroic smile on his face. "With me, back to the Marines!"

Ace's eyes widened, and the apple in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

"...Huh?!!"

A slight smile appeared on Roy's lips as he looked out at the distant sea again.

"Maybe I really can change something..."

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