The rubbing appeared ancient and weathered, traces of time visible on its surface.
Shanks stroked the edge of the rubbing, his eyes revealing depth and gravity.
"This was brought out from Laugh Tale... It records..."
His voice was low and hoarse, echoing through the stone cave.
Garp, standing nearby, had been observing Shanks' every move.
Before Shanks' words could fade, Garp moved.
His figure blurred like lightning, appearing before Shanks. With an outstretched hand, he snatched the stone tablet rubbing.
His eyes scanned the ancient text, examining every stroke.
As his gaze moved across the characters, his expression grew solemn.
His resolute face now showed a complex mixture of emotions. As a high-ranking Marine, Garp's knowledge of ancient secrets ran deep.
He understood the immense information hidden within these texts and the profound impact they could bring.
The stone cave fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that their breathing was audible.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the reefs, like dull drumbeats, struck the silent space, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
After a while, Garp raised his head, the blazing fury in his eyes replaced by complex emotions.
His gaze, interwoven with confusion, shock, and concern for the unknown, fixed on Shanks.
"So this is why you chose Luffy?"
Shanks shook his head and let out a soft sigh. "It's not that we chose him... Fate chose Luffy."
His voice carried a mix of resignation and conviction, as if all of this had been predestined by an unseen force.
"Enough!" Garp interrupted, his voice tinged with anger.
As far as he was concerned, there was nothing left to say—especially when it came to Luffy.
With a forceful motion, Garp crushed the rubbing into pieces.
The fragments scattered like snowflakes, stirring up a small cloud of dust.
"I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense!" Garp's voice echoed through the stone cave.
The two fell into silence once more, an invisible barrier standing between them.
The last rays of the setting sun vanished through the cracks in the stone, like a final flicker of life extinguishing.
Darkness enveloped the hidden space, swallowing everything into an endless void.
Shanks took one last look at Garp, his gaze laden with unspoken words.
He turned and walked toward the cave entrance.
With each step, his figure was swallowed by the darkness, yet his footsteps remained firm.
"Time is running out, Garp... When the World Government truly takes notice of Luffy, do you think you alone can keep him safe?" His voice carried from the darkness, filled with concern.
"Especially when it contradicts the justice you uphold—will you still hold true to your convictions?"
Shanks' voice echoed through the stone cave, lingering.
His figure disappeared at the cave entrance, leaving Garp alone in the darkness.
Garp still clutched the fragments of the rubbing tightly.
The old Marine's expression was obscured in the shadows, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's, gleaming with vigilance and contemplation.
....
Meanwhile, on the Red Force anchored in the harbor, an inexplicable silence enveloped the ship. Even the sea breeze seemed to tread carefully, unwilling to disturb the fleeting peace.
Yasopp leaned against the ship's railing, one hand stroking the stubble on his chin.
His gaze pierced through the dense forest along the coast, reaching the familiar training ground behind the mountain.
His eyes fixed on two figures training diligently—Sanji and Zoro.
Their shadows stretched long under the setting sun, appearing resilient.
"That blond kid..." Yasopp muttered, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.
He watched Sanji walking freely in the air, his mastery of Moon Walk was so refined it surpassed the level of some Marine officers.
Those long legs traced sharp arcs through the air, each kick carrying undeniable power and speed, making Yasopp marvel.
Beckman sat nearby, exhaling a puff of smoke, his silver-gray hair swaying in the sea breeze.
He seemed to have already discerned Yasopp's thoughts.
"Go if you want, just don't take too long," he said calmly.
Beckman knew his old partner too well.
Ever since he hear about Usopp, Yasopp had been bottling up a restless energy, looking for an opportunity to confirm something.
Yasopp grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement
"Don't worry. Just a few questions."
Before the words faded, he leaped from the railing, his figure vanishing from the deck like a ghost.
...
At the training ground behind the mountain, Zoro sat with his eyes closed in deep concentration.
Three swords lay quietly beside him, gleaming in the sunlight, ready to answer their master's call.
His ears twitched, detecting an unusual disturbance in the air.
His eyes snapped open, pupils contracting as he scanned his surroundings with a piercing gaze.
"Someone's here!" he growled.
The three swords were instantly unsheathed, flashing as he entered a state of high alert.
Sanji reacted almost simultaneously.
The cigarette in his mouth trembled as his right foot coated itself with Armament Haki, his body shifting into a combat stance.
Standing back-to-back, the two warily surveyed their surroundings.
The atmosphere grew tense in an instant.
"Not a bad reflexes, boys."
A teasing voice came from above the treetops, carrying a hint of amusement and approval.
Yasopp crouched on a high branch, his sniper rifle resting casually on his shoulder.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his weathered face, making him appear even more enigmatic.
Zoro's pupils contracted, astonished that this man had appeared so silently and undetected.
The three swords trembled slightly in his hands, eager for this sudden threat.
"Who are you?" Sanji's voice was low and forceful.
The Armament Haki on his right foot grew denser, ready to unleash a lethal strike at any moment.
Yasopp dropped from the branch, landing without a sound. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"Relax, I'm just here to ask a question." His tone carried a hint of urgency and anticipation, his gaze fixed intently on the two before him.
"A question? What question could we possibly answer?" Sanji's voice held a mix of confusion and wariness.
"Go ahead and ask." Zoro lowered his guard slightly, though his eyes remained sharp as blades.
Yasopp's expression turned intense.
He took a step forward, his voice unable to conceal its eagerness. "You… have you seen my son, Usopp?"
The moment these words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze.
Yasopp's eyes were filled with expectation and unease, as though the entire world hung on their answer.
"Usopp? Your son?" Zoro and Sanji exchanged glances, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
They never expected this man to be Usopp's father!
But… where was Usopp now?
Zoro sheathed his swords, his brow furrowed in thought. "After we separated at Water 7, we were captured and imprisoned in Impel Down. Then we were brought directly here. During that time, we haven't seen any of our comrades."
He gestured to the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, his tone tinged with helplessness and regret.
Yasopp's shoulders slumped, as if bearing an immense weight.
His upright posture now seemed hunched.
His eyes, usually full of laughter, looked dim. He touched the small wooden pendant hanging around his neck—a rough yet deeply sentimental trinket.
Usopp had made it for him as a child.
Every groove seemed to retain the warmth of Usopp's small hands.
Each touch brought back memories of those warm, beautiful times—a precious bond between him and his son.
Sanji stood quietly nearby, exhaling a puff of smoke.
The swirling haze rose slowly before him as he frowned in thought. After a moment, he spoke.
"However…" He lifted his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Yasopp. "Nami and Robin should know. They've been in Water 7 all along."
He kicked a pebble at his feet.
The sound of the rolling stone echoed clearly in the quiet surroundings. "That guy Usopp… after his fallout with Luffy, he probably stayed there too."
Hearing Sanji's words, Yasopp's eyes lit up again, like a spark of hope found in the darkness.
"Water 7…"
Sanji gave a slight nod. "That kid may love to boast, but he's reliable when it counts. I'm sure he's figuring out a way to rescue us, just like he's surprised us countless times before."
Yasopp took a deep breath, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart.
A relieved smile spread across his face.
"Thanks, lads. With you around, I feel much more at ease."
Before turning away, he remembered something.
He pulled a small pouch from his chest and tossed it to Sanji.
Sanji caught the cloth bag and opened it to find several specially crafted bullets inside.
A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. "These are...?"
"Seastone bullets."
Yasopp had already leaped onto a tree branch, his figure flickering amidst the sunlight.
"They're quite effective against Devil Fruit users. I prepared them meticulously, hoping they'll come in handy at a critical moment."
Before his words faded, his silhouette vanished into the dense canopy, leaving only a rustling leaf swaying gently in the breeze.
Zoro gazed in the direction Yasopp had disappeared, lost in thought.
His brow furrowed, eyes resolute. "Seems we need to intensify our training... Our crewmates are waiting. We can't let them down—we must grow stronger together."
Sanji stored the bullets, treating them as precious.
Not only could these bullets injure the true bodies of Logia users, but they were also incredibly difficult to produce.
He relit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.
"Let's go, Mosshead. Time to check on that idiot captain. Wonder what nonsense he's up to now."
With that, he strode forward, his back appearing steadfast under the sunlight.
---------
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator