One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 124

Chapter 147 Garp's Well-Intentioned Efforts

Naval Headquarters, Marinevando.

The atmosphere in the marshal's office was frighteningly tense.

Zhan Guo's forehead veins bulged as he tightly gripped a newly delivered newspaper and the latest wanted poster.

The arrogant smile of "Fire Fist Ace" above, now raised to 255 million Berries, seemed incredibly glaring to him.

"Garp—!!!"

The roar, like a volcanic eruption, nearly ripped the roof off.

Sengoku slammed the newspaper on the table, pointed at Ace's picture, and roared at Garp, who was secretly picking up a senbei from his table:

"Look what you've done! Another one! Another one!! How did Ace end up becoming a pirate too?! Didn't you keep promising to let him join the Marines? I even gave you a long vacation every year because of that. And now, this kid has caused such a huge commotion! A Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit?! When did he eat it?!"

Garp shrank back at the shout, nearly dropping the senbei he was holding. He sheepishly put down the senbei, scratched his messy hair, and a rare look of guilt and headache appeared on his face.

"This brat..."

Garp muttered a curse under his breath, but his tone didn't reveal much real anger. Instead, it carried a hint of helplessness and worry, like a son who has grown up and is no longer under his mother's control.

"They actually sneaked out...and caused such a big commotion..."

He had certainly seen Ace's bounty poster, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

On one hand, seeing his grandsons (in his mind, Ace, Luffy, and Sabo are all grandsons, while Kuina and Robin are granddaughters) display such strength and courage, he felt a faint... well, he would never admit it.

But more than that, there is deep concern.

This kid is such a troublemaker! His behavior is practically screaming "Come at me!"

Navy, pirates, member states of the World Government, merchant ships, underground forces... he offended almost every force he could!

This is like dancing on a knife's edge, no, it's like dancing on a volcano!

The thought of the endless pursuit and danger that Ace might face in the future made Garp feel as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

In desperation, Garp disregarded his pride, rubbed his hands together, and approached Sengoku with a smile that was almost obsequious and completely incongruous with his heroic image.

"That... Warring States... old buddy..."

He lowered his voice, speaking in a consultative tone, "Look... are there any vacancies for the Seven Warlords of the Sea? How about... we arrange one for that kid Ace too?"

These words were like lighting the final fuse.

"roll--!!!"

Sengoku completely lost it, grabbing a stack of documents from the table and hurling them at Garp, spitting all over him.

"What do you think the Seven Warlords of the Sea are?! Your family's daycare?! Huh?! One Kuina isn't enough?! Now you want to shove Ace in too?! Do you think the World Government is run by me?!"

"At least Kuina is somewhat law-abiding! Look at Ace! What kind of person is he?! Always causing trouble, completely lawless! Making him a Shichibukai? Is he there to maintain balance or to overturn the table?!"

"Don't even think about it! Get the hell out of here! Right now! Immediately! Just seeing you makes me angry!"

Garp was blasted away and had no choice but to leave the Marshal's office for the time being. Standing in the corridor, he could still hear Sengoku's furious roar behind him.

He sighed, his playful expression vanishing, replaced by a serious look. He gazed out the window at the vast harbor of Marineford, cursing inwardly:

"That brat Ace... he's such a handful! Looks like... I'll have to find a chance to go and 'teach him a lesson' myself!"

East China Sea, Mount Gorbo, bandit's hut.

Unlike the storm at Naval Headquarters, the atmosphere here was somewhat delicate.

Rouge sat by the window for a long time, silently holding the newspaper that reported on Ace's bounty.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her no longer young but still serene face, revealing the deep, unyielding worry in her eyes.

In the newspaper, my son smiled so brightly and confidently, as if the whole world was at his feet.

But as a mother, what she saw was the countless hidden dangers behind that smile, the cruelty of the sea that swallowed countless dreams and lives.

Just like his father.

Her Ace, in the end, still embarked on that most dangerous path.

"Ace...please stay safe..."

She murmured softly, her fingers unconsciously tracing her son's picture on the newspaper, as if she could touch him in the distance.

In stark contrast to Rouge's deep concern.

"Wow--!!!"

Luffy snatched the newspaper, stared at the handsome bounty poster of Ace, his eyes widened like saucers, his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg, and then he burst into a thunderous cheer!

"That's amazing! Ace! It's Ace!! He's got a bounty on his head again! 255 million Berries!! That's so cool!!"

He jumped and bounced around the room, his rubber body bouncy with unbridled excitement. Waving a newspaper, he shouted at Rouge, "Aunt Rouge! Look! Ace has become a great pirate! He did it!"

In his simple and pure mind, being offered a bounty meant becoming famous, becoming powerful, and taking a big step towards realizing his dream!

He was genuinely happy for Ace, and even began to fantasize about what it would be like to have a bounty on his head in the future.

Seeing Luffy's excited and jubilant expression, Rouge smiled helplessly, her worries lessening slightly.

The children have all grown up, have their own wings, and yearn to fly to a wider sky.

As a mother, perhaps all she can do is watch over them silently from behind and pray that they can fly safely.

However, the path Ace chose was far too... thrilling.

She sighed softly and turned her gaze back to the boundless sky outside the window, as if she could pierce through the clouds and see that orange figure that stirred up a firestorm on the Grand Line.

"Mr. Liu Jiu, if the child has gone down the wrong path, I hope you can correct him in time!"

East Sea, Frostmoon Village, One Heart Dojo.

As dawn broke, the wooden floor of the dojo was bathed in a warm yellow light. The air was filled with the familiar scent of wood and sweat, but today, there was a hint of resolute farewell.

The green-haired Sauron was even more upright than he had been a few years ago, with bulging muscles and eyes as sharp as an eagle.

He knelt solemnly before the dojo master, Koushirou, and bowed deeply.

“Master,” Zoro’s voice was deep and firm, “thank you for your guidance over the years. Today, I formally bid you farewell.”

Koushirou still squinted, his face bearing that gentle smile that seemed to never change. He quietly looked at his most devoted disciple, the one who most reminded him of his daughter, without speaking immediately.

The other disciples who were practicing in the dojo involuntarily stopped what they were doing and looked at Zoro with complicated expressions. They all knew that this day would come sooner or later.

After all, among all his fellow disciples at the Isshin Dojo, he is currently the strongest swordsman.

This green-haired Sauron, who trained like a wild beast day after day, had his heart no longer in this small dojo, but on the vast, boundless sea where powerful beings stood.

After a moment of silence, Koushirou spoke slowly, his voice as calm as ever: "Have you decided, Zoro?"

Zoro raised his head, his eyes filled with no hesitation, only burning fighting spirit and unwavering determination.

"I will pursue the path of becoming the world's greatest swordsman! I will... defeat Kuina!"

Chapter 148 Zoro sets sail, Liu Jiu and the others reunite

The name Kuina, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a silent ripple within the dojo.

That senior sister who has become a Shichibukai known as "Purple Sword" is an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of all the disciples, and a goal that Zoro must overcome.

Koushirou looked at the unwavering fire in Zoro's eyes and nodded slightly. He slowly stood up, walked to the meditation room at the back of the dojo where the ancestors were enshrined, and returned a moment later, holding a long sword wrapped in a white scabbard in both hands.

The knife had an ancient design and a pure white scabbard, exuding a calm yet sharp aura.

Koushirou gently placed the sword in front of Zoro.

“This is…” Zoro’s gaze was instantly drawn to the sword. He recognized it; it was the sword that Kuina had once used!

“【Wado Ichimonji】.” Koushirou’s voice carried a hint of barely perceptible reminiscence and emotion. “One of the 21 Great Grade Swords. It’s Kuina’s sword.”

He paused, his gaze piercing through his narrowed eyes as he looked at Zoro's shocked face.

"Since you're determined to challenge her, you'll need a decent knife."

Koushirou's tone became serious and solemn, "Take it, Zoro. If you can't defeat her, then return this sword to her!"

Zoro's breathing quickened. He reached out his slightly trembling hand and carefully grasped the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, yet one could almost feel a sharp aura emanating from the scabbard.

"This sword once represented Kuina's swordsmanship and carried her dreams. But on the day she set sail, I didn't agree to let her take it with her, because she already had her own unique way of swordsmanship."

Koushirou's voice rang in my ears, "Take it with you and walk your own path. Use your sword to prove your way. Until then, don't let this sword... be covered in dust."

Zoro gripped the Wado Ichimonji tightly, remembering Kuina, who had never been defeated. He bowed deeply again, his forehead pressed against the cold floor, his voice hoarse with emotion:

"Yes! Master! I will definitely... I will definitely become the world's greatest swordsman! I will never let this sword down! And I will defeat... Kuina!"

He stood up and solemnly fastened the "Wado Ichimonji" to his waist. At that moment, he felt the road ahead became clearer.

He took one last look at Koushirou, at the dojo that held countless sweat and memories for him, and at his fellow disciples with their varied expressions.

Without another word, Zoro resolutely turned around and strode out of the dojo's gate.

The morning light shone on his green hair and the white scabbard at his waist, casting a long, resolute shadow.

As Koushirou watched Zoro's retreating figure, the smile on his face faded slightly, and a complex and unfathomable emotion flashed in his eyes.

There is relief, there is worry, and above all, there is a sense of tranquility in witnessing the passing down of traditions.

"Go, Zoro. This sea will witness how high your sword can go."

The sea breeze blows from afar, carrying a salty and free-spirited scent, stirring the wind chimes at the entrance of the dojo, making a crisp tinkling sound, as if bidding farewell to a swordsman about to embark on a long journey.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zoro embarked on his path as a swordsman.

His goal is to conquer the Grand Line and target Kuina, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea known as "Purple Sword"!

And then there's the world's greatest swordsman—"Hawkeye" Djokovic Mihawk.

As a result, he wandered around the East China Sea and got completely lost.

They could neither find the entrance to the Grand Line nor the way they had come from.

Who told Zoro to be 89% hopeless at directions!