Chapter 781 - 780: The Navy, Justice

Mount Corvo, the East Blue.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

Halfway up the mountain, Garp reached into a donut bag, popped the very last donut into his mouth, and let out a loud burp. With a completely solemn expression, he muttered to himself, "Hmm, six hundred and sixty-nine. That counts as my current personal best."

Standing off to the side, a few people watched him with complicated expressions, utterly at a loss for words.

There were not many of them, just a handful.

They consisted of Garp’s old comrade Sengoku, his former apprentice Kuzan, the mountain bandits he had spared over the years led by Dadan, who was also the foster mother of the three brothers Ace, Sabo, and Luffy, and Makino, the bartender from Foosha Village.

The location for this decisive battle had not been announced to the world; it was being kept strictly confidential to prevent anyone from coming to disrupt or sabotage it.

However, the moment the clash began, Sengoku would activate the Visual Den Den Mushi. Just like the live broadcast of Roger’s execution years ago, it would broadcast Garp’s final moments.

Gol D. Roger had turned himself in to usher in the Great Pirate Era and awaken humanity’s yearning for freedom. In contrast, Garp chose this path to prove that the Navy’s justice still endured, and to awaken the sense of justice dormant within the hearts of the masses.

Yet, from a personal perspective, Garp’s approach was far more fitting and correct than Roger’s.

Roger’s path brought about a chaotic era, while Garp’s path sought to bring peace to the common people.

"Alright, next up, let’s challenge the final digestion phase!"

Garp went right back to pursuing his mundane, self-imposed challenge. At that moment, Makino could no longer hold back the tears welling up in her eyes. She rushed over to Sengoku and cried, "Please stop him! Stop Garp-san, Sengoku-san!"

"This is Garp’s own choice, and it is for the sake of this world," Sengoku said, gritting his teeth in anguish. As Garp’s oldest comrade, how could he bear to watch him walk to his death?

Makino bit her lower lip hard, her tears spilling over. Burying her face in her hands, she turned and ran away weeping.

Sitting on a nearby boulder, Kuzan spoke up in a seemingly playful tone, "Arara... what comes next is going to be far too intense for an ordinary young lady. Running away is for the best."

"Mountain Bandit Dadan, you’ve completely cleared the civilians out of Mount Corvo like you were told, correct?" Sengoku asked, his arms crossed as he turned to Dadan.

Faced with a Fleet Admiral, a mountain bandit naturally felt a deep sense of awe and dread. She nodded quickly.

Sengoku continued, "Because of Garp, we have turned a blind eye to your crimes for the time being. Under normal circumstances, sheltering the criminal bloodline of ’Fire Fist’ Ace alone would be more than enough to lock you away for life."

Dadan didn’t talk back. She simply stared quietly at Garp, thinking to herself with an aching heart, Are you really going to throw your life away just like that, you stubborn old man?

Suddenly, Kuzan’s expression shifted. The symbol of the Immortal Pirates on the back of his hand pulsed with a faint red glow. "He’s here."

Sengoku and Garp both turned their gazes forward, their faces instantly turning grave.

Meanwhile, in the waters surrounding Foosha Village, two battleships were moored near the shore. Standing on deck were not just Marine soldiers, but also the residents of Foosha Village. To prevent them from being caught in the crossfire of the upcoming battle, they were being evacuated to the Marine base in the nearest town.

The command of these two battleships rested with the Navy’s "White Chase," Smoker, and his contemporary, Rear Admiral Hina.

"It’s time to set sail, Smoker. Hina is getting impatient," Hina said, standing beside Smoker with her hands on her hips.

"..."

Smoker remained seated alone on a wooden crate, silently puffing on his cigars without uttering a single word.

Hina threw her hands up in exasperation. "Still the same boring man as always. No wonder you’re in your thirties and not a single woman likes you. Hina finds this utterly ridiculous."

Splash—!

Just then, the sound of a vessel cutting through the waves echoed across the water, instantly followed by terrified gasps from the Foosha Village residents aboard the battleship. "Th-That’s...?!"

Hearing the sudden commotion, Hina and Smoker strode over to the ship’s railing to look out. The moment they did, both of their pupils shrunk to pinpricks.

A small boat, pitch-black and shaped exactly like a coffin, was drawing near. Sitting upon its lone seat was a black-haired man clad in a crimson coat, looking exceptionally conspicuous.

"He’s finally here. Hina is deeply shocked," Hina murmured under her breath.

"Vice Admiral Smoker, there’s a woman running toward us!"

Hearing his subordinate’s report, Smoker turned his head and saw Makino rushing toward the shore. He waved his hand and ordered, "She’s a civilian. Lower the gangplank and bring her aboard!"

"B-But Vice Admiral Smoker, shouldn’t we escape right now?!" another Marine soldier stammered, stepping forward, clearly frightened out of his wits by Alucard’s arrival. He wasn’t wearing his standard Marine uniform, only his Marine cap, making his cowardice painfully obvious.

Smoker’s gaze turned fierce. With a violent swipe of his arm, he sent the soldier flying, roaring in fury, "You absolute bastards! What do you take the Navy for?!"

Feeling the brunt of Smoker’s rage, not a single person dared to utter another word. They scrambled to lower the gangplank and signaled for Makino to hurry aboard.

By this time, Alucard’s small boat had already glided past the two battleships, and Alucard himself stepped onto the docks of Foosha Village.

Her eyes still brimming with tears, Makino stared at the approaching man, her face pale. Her mouth parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but it felt as though something was choking her throat, leaving her unable to make a sound.

"Are you going to ask me to spare Garp?"

Alucard walked right past Makino, the corners of his mouth curving upward to reveal sharp fangs. "Don’t you think this is the grandest choice he could have made?"

Without waiting for an answer, Alucard walked in a straight line, heading directly toward Mount Corvo behind Foosha Village.

"Hey! You, young lady down there! Get on the ship quickly, we’re preparing to leave! This place is about to become a battlefield!" Hina shouted down to Makino from the battleship.

Halfway up Mount Corvo, Alucard strolled up the path. The first person he encountered was Kuzan, who was standing by the roadside.

"No matter what the outcome is, I will watch this until the very end," Kuzan said, his expression grim.

Dadan had already been sent away by Garp, leaving only Kuzan and Sengoku behind as onlookers.

As Alucard stepped in front of Garp, Sengoku switched on the Visual Den Den Mushi that had been set up nearby in advance.

In an instant, the Visual Den Den Mushi stationed all across the world flickered to life, projecting the image of the two men confronting each other to the entire world.

"I just finished eating a whole lot of donuts, so I’m currently in top form," Garp said, rising from his rock and flashing a grin as he cracked his knuckles.

Under the watchful gaze of the entire world, Alucard smiled back. "Is that so? Then you can die with absolutely no regrets."