Luffy's training was interrupted by Usopp's shout:
"Land-ho!"
They were getting nearer to League Town and the island became visible, Luffy became excited as stars appeared in his eyes and he muttered to himself:
"The Island where the pirate king lived and died..."
It was like a spiritual journey for him who wanted to become the next pirate king, Luffy decided he needed to see the place where the pirate king died, the execution platform!
Kuina shook her head at Luffy's antics, to her Luffy was quite the funny guy in her opinion, then she indicated to Zoro to come closer to her as she had something to say to him:
"I'm feeling quite bad that I can't visit my sister anymore due to this." She took something out of her pocket, it was a paper which had the word 'dead or alive' on it in large characters in black color, most of the wanted poster space was taken by a picture of Zoro with his bandana on all three swords out and a peculiar aura that existed around him somehow the camera that took this photo captured the aura around Zoro.
Under the dead or alive was a relatively big number 350,000,000 it was a huge first bounty, Zoro chuckled as he saw the number, he thought that it could be a bit bigger but it was still quite a good number.
Kuina shook her head as she observed the wanted poster, Tashigi maybe would ignore the fact that she was in Zoro's crew if Zoro wasn't present as she didn't have a bounty herself but if Zoro got recognized, her as a marine needed to try and apprehend Zoro, so Zoro couldn't come with her if she wanted to visit Tashigi.
As Kuina told him those words Zoro nodded his head and said:
"If you want to visit your sister you can go now, I think I'll train on the ship and wait for you guys to finish your jobs on the island, don't forget to buy some mini den-den mushis for everyone so we will be able to contact each other even at high distances."
The den-den mushi wasn't an idea Zoro had, Nami told him about this before and he decided to remind Kuina about it. Kuina nodded her head, she would visit Tashigi then go with the others to shop for some sword sharpening instruments and some other things she needed.
Zoro decided to start with his meditation training first and he let everyone else leave. Kuina Usopp Luffy, Kaya Nami and Sanji left the ship to buy the things they needed.
Usopp went ahead to buy some trinkets and things he needed to create ammo, Luffy walked around trying to find the execution platform and with the help of a guy named Smoker he found it, Smoker didn't recognize Luffy as Luffy didn't have any bounty yet so Smoker went back to his office to rest after a day of patrolling.
Kaya and Nami went to buy some clothes and medical supplies that they needed, Sanji entered into a strange contest with a woman for a giant elephant tuna fish and also bought different types of fish and cooking supplies, he knew of Luffy's appetite so he bought quite a lot having a giant bag strapped to his bag.
He met with Usopp later who helped him with the weight.
Zoro was training on the ship as he expanded his Observation Haki, however, he couldn't find the hidden existence who was Observing Luffy and everyone in his crew.
The existence chuckled as he looked at Luffy jumping on the execution platform and then being admonished by a guard there:
"Charming as your old man aren't you Luffy? You got quite an interesting crew there."
In Marineford there was a meeting between some important old men as they looked at pictures of Zoro on board, an old man who had a sheathed sword in his arms and was bald wore glasses and he had a blue and white gown on his body said:
"This little fellow has quite the high potential, our cipherphol dug around for quite a bit before we got some things regarding his past, even though his teacher is unknown he didn't leave the east-blue his whole life!"
An old man with a flowing white beard and a black suit harumphed and said:
"If his potential is so high that means he is a danger to the world government I say we call an admiral to take care of him immediately! His first bounty exceeded 100,000 he is extremely dangerous!"
An old man who wore sunglasses and had a dirty mustache said out loud:
"Why don't we invite him to become a Shichibukai?"
The old man with the sword chuckled and he said:
"Old third, it seems your memory isn't as good as before, didn't you know that all the positions are filled?"
The man with sunglasses coughed then said:
"Then let's just throw someone out."
All the other old men's eyes widened, throw someone out for Roronoa Zoro? even though he was strong that would mean going against the word they gave those pirates.
The man with the sword chuckled and he said:
"Doable, but who can we throw out? most likely Moria I guess, he is the weakest, even though his ability is useful we can make without it as long as we can get someone who can grow as strong as Mihawk in the future."
All the old men nodded in unison.
Then one of the old men said:
"Who do we send to give him the invitation?"
The old man with the sunglasses gave out another suggestion:
"Let's send Garp he is the closest to the east-blue now, he is on a holiday in the calm belt."
The old men nodded, they had very high seniority and even though Garp was on a holiday he should listen to their orders, but it was very likely Garp would put a finger in his nose and fall asleep afterward. An asleep Garp couldn't even wake up by WhiteBeards shockwaves if he entered a deep sleep, he would wake up only when he wanted to!
However, everyone else was too far away from east-blue so they had to rely on Garp to send this message if Zoro refused Garp should know what to do.
Garp was on his gourmet holiday, drinking sake and catching his sea kings then eating them in sushi-style or barbecuing them over a huge fire he made on the middle of the ship, the captains and lieutenants under him looked with wide eyes as Garp ate a whole sea king then burped when a den-den mushi started to ring puru puru puru puru...
Gatchak, the snail's eyes suddenly had sunglasses over them and the voice of the old man was heard coming out of its mouth:
"Vice-Admiral Garp, we need you to send a message to a potential new Shichibukai, if he refuses you know what to do, but if he accepts Gecko Moria's Shichibukai status would be immediately cut off and his bounty unfrozen along with his crewmates, I want you to relay the news about this if he accepts."
Garp started picking his nose as he looked at the snail then said:
"I'm on holiday!"
The snail knew things were getting out of hand as Garp was prone to sudden bouts of anger if things didn't go as he wanted then said:
"You are the nearest to east-blue, this man is currently in the east-blue so we need you to do it, you can go back to your holiday after you finish this simple task, you should give us face as you should know who is calling you."
Garp started to clean his ears after he finished picking his nose then said:
"Should I give a damn about you old fogeys up there? Where were you when I was fighting the pirate king with Sengoku?"
The man coughed as the snail did the same action and then he said:
"Uh Garp, come on you know me, do this to me as a favor and I will get you those rice cookies that only world nobles get to enjoy, the special extra fluffy kind, please!"
Garp smiled as he heard the word rice cookies then he responded:
"Now that's more like it, I will see what I can do with that young lad!"
Garp closed his eyes as he started to expand his Observation Haki to find the strongest aura there was, he was in the calm belt near Logue Town, even though the old man didn't specify where they were supposed to be Garp guessed they could be in Logue Town or near the grand line entrance.
He found quite a strong aura and a familiar aura in Logue Town, it was the aura of his damn grandson and the supposed aura of the guy who was going to be a Shichibukai.
He patted the captain of his ship on the back which almost made him go through the deck of the ship then he said:
"Oh, you improved Captain Broloaf, go and set the destination for Logue Town you heard the man on the snail!"
Suddenly a snot bubble appeared at Garp's nose as he entered his sleeping mode, The captain didn't say anything as he sailed with Garp for quite a few years already and he knew of his antics the best, he made sure everything was okay on the deck then made the ship go towards Logue Town!
The ship sailed slowly towards Logue Town and Zoro suddenly felt a monstrous presence approaching Logue Town while sleeping Garp let his aura out for everyone to feel. Of course, this wouldn't affect people who didn't know Observation but for people who knew it was like a behemoth was approaching an ant ready to step on it!
There was no way to fight back in such a situation no way to run, Zoro was grunting as he suddenly cut off his connection with Observation to stop feeling the aura. Cold sweat appeared on Zoro's body as he shook his head and said:
"That aura is even stronger than Mihawk's, who could be such a monster?"
The ship approached Logue Town at quite high speeds as marine engineering was above the pirate one, the world government had the greatest scientist to live working for them Vegapunk! Of course, the marines would be outfitted with great machinery to help them in their endeavors.
Garp approached the strong presence and Zoro opened his eyes to see an old man with a strong build and tall physique who wore a white suit with blue tie white jacket under his suit and white shoes looking down on him, maybe it wasn't a great idea to turn off his Observation Haki Zoro thought.
The old man observed Zoro then nodded as he said:
"I'm vice-admiral Garp, I have been sent to invite you uh..."
Garp scratched the back of his head and asked:
"What's your name again?"
Zoro sweatdropped at Garp's antics then he remembered that this guy was supposed to be Luffy's grandfather!
Zoro sweated as his Observation Haki turned back on but he felt that Garp reined in his aura and now it was at normal levels, he shook his head as he responded:
"Roronoa Zoro."
Garp looked around and he spotted the flag that sported a straw hat and narrowed his eyes, he knew he felt Luffy's aura around but it seemed Zoro was in Luffy's crew or else he wouldn't be on his ship.
Garp looked at Zoro then said:
"I have been instructed to invite you to the Shichibukai, seven warlords of the sea, pirates who ally with the world government and get special privileges from the world government while they have to work with the world government sometimes in exchange."
Zoro narrowed his eyes at the invitation, now as a pirate, he didn't want to become affiliated with the world government for no reason, he saw the ugly parts of the marine's already.
He looked at Garp then asked:
"Who's in the Shichibukai?"
Garp started to count using his fingers then said loud enough for Zoro to hear but it seemed like he was reminiscing:
"Uh, that boy Mihawk, Kuma maybe, that lass Hancock, Crocodile, Moria, Doflamingo and uh uh who was the last one? Oh yeah, the Fishman guy Jinbei I think."
Zoro heard of some of the people but most of them were unknown to him as he didn't get his hands on the grand line wanted posters.
Garp continued:
"If you accept the invitation Gecko Moria will be taken out of the Shichibukai."
Zoro considered for a few seconds then said:
"I refuse."
Garp didn't mind the refusal and he asked:
"Why?"
Zoro just said a few words in exchange:
"Because Mihawk is a Shichibukai."
Garp nodded his head then said:
"I see."
Garp left the ship in a burst of Soru as he disappeared, he felt the aura of his son and he had some things he wanted to talk about with him, he decided to let Luffy be, he was already a pirate in name even though he didn't get a bounty yet, one was soon ready to get to him.
Dragon looked towards his father and he chuckled:
"What do I owe the pleasure father?"
Garp looked at his son and narrowed his eyes as he said:
"Every time I look at you I age ten more years boy."
But then he shook his head and he continued:
"But I don't blame you for what you are doing, I know you want to change what you saw when I first took you to the headquarters... I can't forgive myself for taking this path but I'm already too far in it, you are looking around for your son now aren't you?"
Dragon chuckled as he said:
"Of course he is my son, after all, I have some plans for him, well the plans are already made anything he would do from now on would be beneficial for us and not for the world government."
Garp shook his head and he said:
"I can say that I didn't see anything here today but in the future... If you show yourself to me or if Luffy does I can't be merciful at all, I'm still a marine and there still a few years before I'm able to retire. However, I will try to go easy on Luffy, as for you I can't promise the same thing."
Dragon chuckled as he said:
"I wouldn't want you to go easy on me anyway."
Suddenly Dragon transformed into a gust of wind which disappeared, the last message drifted by the wind appeared at Garp's ears:
"Make sure to take care of yourself old man."
Garp chuckled as he said:
"You do the same, son!"
Garp appeared on his ship as he said:
"We go back to the holiday, Roronoa refused, let's go!"
The captain thought that they were supposed to apprehend Zoro if he refused but a look from Garp stopped him from doing anything if Zoro wasn't in Luffy's crew Garp would have caught him here but since Luffy had such a strong crewmate who could help him get stronger he decided against it.
Finally, Luffy and the other's made their way back to the ship, Kuina looked a bit sad that it was going to be a long while before she could meet her sister again but there was not much she could do about it, She asked Tashigi if she wanted to join her crew but Tashigi was adamant in remaining a marine, even though they were family they were in two different factions now. She shook her head as she explained to Zoro what happened.
Zoro nodded his head, it wasn't a good thing that the next time they met the sisters could be enemies but there was not much that could be done, Tashigi was too stubborn.
Sanji was cooking something for the crew then he came with a few dishes, as they approached the red line he said something that took everyone's attention:
"I know of a ritual a crew would do before their they entered the grand line, it's supposed to bring out luck."
He took a barrel as he put his leg on it and he said:
"To find all blue."
Luffy followed in with the others:
"To become the pirate king!"
Usopp:
"To become a great warrior of the sea and find my father!"
Kaya:
"To become a great doctor that can do any kind of surgeries!"
Nami:
"To create a map of the world!"
Kuina:
"To become the world's greatest swordswoman!"
Zoro:
"To become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Then they lifted their legs and destroyed the barrel according to Sanji's instruction, they laughed in unison as the red-line was in view.
The grand line was just around the corner, an exciting adventure just behind the cape of the redline!