[Future altered on a small scale.
Reward granted.]
[Apoo eliminated.
Hawkins subdued.]
[Host has received enhanced attributes.]
[Current increase to all attributes: 10%.]
As he walked down the street, the System’s voice suddenly echoed in Garp’s ears.
Hearing the reward, a trace of delight appeared in his heart.
This was practically a fortune falling from the sky.
He hadn’t expected such a small action to grant him another ten percent increase in attributes.
And that ten percent was no joke.
His attributes were already above four thousand.
A ten percent increase meant over four hundred additional points.
That wasn’t a small number.
Once the base became large enough, percentage boosts became absurdly powerful.
If he were still a beginner, ten percent wouldn’t amount to much.
But now?
He was already standing at the peak.
A ten percent boost at this stage was simply outrageous.
Lowering his head, Garp glanced at his status panel.
[Host: Garp]
[Strength: 4746]
[Agility: 4642]
[Spirit: 4528]
[Physique: 7575]
[Combat Power: 14348 Stars]
[…]
[Passive: Combat power will never decline due to aging.
The Host will permanently remain in peak condition.]
After a brief look, even Garp was somewhat astonished.
The enhancement had been added directly to his base attributes.
In other words, if he received another ten percent reward in the future, it would be calculated based on these newly enhanced values.
The gains would stack continuously.
By this calculation, only six more ten-percent rewards would be needed to double his current stats.
Terrifying.
His combat power was already ridiculously high.
Then his Armament Haki had evolved into Divine Golden Armament Haki, granting him virtually unmatched offensive and defensive power.
And now his attributes had received another enhancement.
A massive windfall.
The joy in his heart gradually softened the stern expression on his face.
Even his steps became lighter.
The two continued strolling through the streets of Area 24.
Along the way, pirates fled the moment they spotted Garp.
Not a shred of hesitation remained.
After all, they had witnessed Apoo being crushed to death with their own eyes.
A Supernova with a bounty of 280 million berries.
Reduced to a lifeless lump of flesh.
Like a helpless chick.
Completely incapable of resisting.
Who would dare fight back?
“Wait a second.”
“Didn’t Mr.
Garp leave the Marines?”
“Then why is he here?”
“Did he come because of the Celestial Dragon incident?”
“But doesn’t Mr.
Garp hate the Celestial Dragons more than anyone?”
His face was filled with confusion.
He couldn’t understand why Garp had come to the Sabaody Archipelago.
But the moment he spoke—
The surrounding pirates exploded.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“What happened?”
“Hero Garp left the Marines?”
“How is that possible?”
“Isn’t he the Marines’ greatest symbol?”
“Look over there!”
“There’s even a Marine recruitment poster on the wall with Garp smiling and waving!”
“You fat idiot!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“How could Garp possibly leave the Marines?”
“Keep talking nonsense and I’ll kill you!”
“Exactly!”
“Didn’t you see what happened to Supernova Apoo?”
“He got crushed the moment he ran into Garp!”
“He definitely came here to hunt Straw Hat Luffy!”
“I never thought even Garp would become a Celestial Dragon’s hound!”
“…”
However, one pirate glanced at the newspaper in the restaurant owner’s hand.
Immediately, his body began trembling.
His arm slowly rose.
He pointed at the paper with a shaking finger.
His face flushed red.
His breathing grew rapid.
“Huff…
huff…”
“T-This is huge!”
“Look at the newspaper!”
“Look!”
A quick glance was enough to see the contents.
Because the newspaper carried only one piece of news.
Just one.
That reaction immediately drew everyone’s attention.
The pirates gathered around and read it.
Then they froze.
Marine Hero Monkey D.
Garp had left the Marines.
From this day onward, he was a free man.
What kind of earth-shattering news was this?
How many major events were supposed to happen in a single day?
First came the announcement that Fire Fist Ace, Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates’ Second Division, would be publicly executed.
Then Straw Hat Luffy punched a Celestial Dragon, throwing the Sabaody Archipelago into chaos as Marines and monsters flooded the battlefield.
And now—
Marine Hero Garp had left the Marines.
It was unbelievable.
“This has to be fake.”
“The Marine Hero quitting the Marines?”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“This is enormous news!”
“Why are we only hearing about it now?”
“Wait…
we’ve been running from Marines and monsters all day.”
“If this is true, then the Marines just lost one of their greatest pillars!”
“I can’t imagine the consequences.”
“Can the Marines even withstand something like this?”
“And what about the coming war?”
“Whitebeard versus Marine Headquarters.”
“How will that battle end now?”
“…”
The pirates could no longer remain calm.
The indifference and arrogance on their faces vanished.
What replaced it was fear.
Fear of the unknown.
The balance between the Four Emperors and the Marines might truly be shattered.
If the Marines won, it would be devastating for pirates like them.
But if the pirates won—
Then a weakened Marine force would no longer be able to suppress them.
Thinking of this, many pirates couldn’t help but feel excited.
Some even wished they could participate in the war themselves.
Soon, every pirate’s gaze turned toward Garp.
Not far away, Garp continued walking leisurely through the streets.
His eyes swept across the pirates on both sides.
Instantly, he understood what they were thinking.
At first, they had been shocked by the news of his departure from the Marines.
Now?
They were openly hoping Whitebeard would win.
But to Garp, none of that mattered.
Who won.
Who lost.
It made no difference.
He would do whatever he wanted.
Freedom and acting according to his own will—
That was what he sought.
Otherwise, what was the point of possessing such overwhelming strength?
Slowly leaving the street behind, he soon arrived at a grassy hillside.
The moment he saw the scenery, a feeling of familiarity washed over him.
Extremely familiar.
Just as expected.
On the opposite side of the hill stood a fat man dressed in red.
Several large figures followed behind him.
His expression was fierce.
Meanwhile, intense fighting was taking place on the right side of the hill.
Luffy.
Zoro.
And the others.
They were battling a Pacifista.
Even with the naked eye, it was obvious they were being beaten badly.
At their current level, fighting these machines was still extremely difficult.
If not for their solid foundations, they might have already lost their lives.
Just as Garp’s gaze landed on Luffy—
The man opposite him finally spoke.
“Vice Admiral Garp…”
“No.”
“Mr.
Garp.”
Sentomaru looked at him seriously.
“I’ve received orders.”
“To kill you.”