Chapter Five : Alert
Garp has always hated pirates.
There used to be a time when he was battling pirates all the time since the New World was swarming with them. The pirates there were vicious and wicked, ready to kill a person any time they want. They used bad methods when they raid islands, making people feel fear. Since they started their piracy life, they ignored morals and let greed and vanity took over. They enjoyed terrorizing. For them, it was all just a game. The strong gains the upper hand while the weak ones perish.
Pirates are sick people who needed to be punished for their crimes. Garp did not like to see people suffering because of their greediness. So he set his dream of becoming a marine who will fight bad people and become the pillar of peace in this world.
He hated pirates but there was only one exception. Garp wished that all pirates were just like him. A happy-go-lucky man who never wanted to conquer the world but to just live freely in the sea. Too bad though, that kind of man was a hard catch and rare. And that was what made Garp respect him.
The reason why Garp was thinking of pirates now, was because he was bored. He wanted a worthy opponent. Someone worth his time. Most of the pirates now were mostly rookies and easy to be caught. Garp missed the action he had felt years ago.
He sighed and flopped back in his comfy seat. His office was a normal one any marine Vice Admiral can receive. There were biscuits in his hands, still munching on it. In the meantime, his way to passed time was to eat. It was good for his stomach after all.
Purupurupuru
Purupurupuru
Garp swiftly put all five remaining biscuits in his mouth. In one quick bite, he swallowed it whole. He licked the remaining crumbs in his hands before answering the ringing Den Den Mushi.
"Garp!" Sengoku greeted with a scream.
"Oh, it's just you. How's your pet goat? I'll bring him more grass next time I meet him!" Garp laughed.
"This is serious." Sengoku replied, tone laced with impatience.
Garp knows when Sengoku used that kind of voice to him. It meant bad news. Garp did not like that but still, he continued to listen while trying to be interested.
"What is it now?" Garp asked while tapping the table.
"You need to go back to Dawn Island." Sengoku said, straight to the point.
"What? I was just there a month ago for a vacation. You can send other officers close to-"
"An impostor of Roger was spotted there." Sengoku finished. "On your home, Garp."
That was when Garp's smile vanished completely.
"You want me to come there?" Garp questioned.
"Yes, as quickly as possible. We don't want some stupid doppelganger causing ruckus."
"I'll be there five days at most," Garp said, ending the conversation. He put down the microphone and the line went dead.
Garp put his hand on his chin. He started stroking his beard. It was not normal for anyone to try and posed themselves as the former Pirate King. People had claimed to be him in the past and they immediately learned their lesson to not cross that line.
Because even though Gol D. Roger was dead for eleven years now, he was still considered as one of the biggest threat for the World Government. Any ties and connections with the man will immediately get you into an execution.
An impersonator of Roger in Dawn Island. The place where Roger's son, Ace, was located. Ace's existence and heritage were a secret that only he and the mountain bandits know. But once Ace has learned about this impostor, Garp was worried about how he will react.
Garp knows that Ace hated his father with a passion. He might have already met the impostor and worse, the boy may have revealed himself, his true identity. Now, that was something Garp was worried about. He just hoped Ace was not stupid enough to tell secrets like that. Because if that secret has got into the wrong hands, he will be executed just for existing.
Garp breathed heavily. Anger was boiling up inside him. He will do anything to go back into the island as soon as possible. His adopted grandson was at stake here.
Whoever was this man impersonating Roger, he has a death wish.
- - -
Roger was on this island for three days now.
He did not see the boys this morning. The trio was familiar in the forest and know most of the best hiding spots. Roger went around and immediately spotted their presence using his Observation Haki. The trio was not that far but still, Roger decided to let them go for now. He wanted to give Ace space for the meantime. As long as Roger can sense them, he will know that they were in danger and will immediately go and help them. He knew that the boys can handle themselves but not all the time.
It does not mean that Roger will stop his goal. His son hated him. Roger was quick to understand Ace's reasons. It was not the boy's fault. This world is full of lies and deceptions that were told by the government to the people. Roger was never the one to care about what people think of him. He preferred to live his life to the fullest, not letting anyone hold him back.
But right now, he wished people's view of him was different. Because his own son obviously had heard about those fearful stories about him. He has to change that one of these days if he wants his son to trust him.
To not waste any of his time, Roger has found an area where he can stay for the moment. It a large cave full of stalagmite. He tried to found if there were bears inside that was hibernating but he found none. So he decided to stay there.
He was grilling the boar he hunted earlier. It was the afternoon and he was having a late lunch. He was drooling as he wait for the meat to cook. He felt a familiar presence coming his way. He looked over to see Luffy running.
"Hi, Roger!" Luffy greeted as he sat in front of him.
"Hello, Luffy." Roger smiled.
Luffy stopped eyeing him. His attention was in the meat being grilled. Roger laughed. The boy probably smelled the meat meters away and he decided to check it out. Having a bottomless stomach. That was something he and the boy have in common. After all, it was a D trait.
"You want some meat?" Roger asked while turning the uncooked side.
Luffy nodded and laughed. "It smells so good! Sabo and Ace are busy fighting each other so I went to find the smell."
"Fighting? What for?"
"We're training. We need to be strong. We're gonna be pirates, too! But Jiichan wanted us to be Marines as if that's gonna happen!" Luffy huffed, crossing his arms in defiance.
Roger chuckled loudly. Out of all the things Garp's grandson wanted to be when he grows up, it was to be a pirate and not just any pirate. The king of them. He wondered what Garp would think about that irony.
"Why do you want to be the Pirate King?" Roger questioned. "The Grand Line is the most dangerous sea out there? Can you conquer it?"
Luffy blinked a few times. He stared at Roger with wide black eyes open. He rubbed the saliva away from his mouth before answering.
"Conquering? I don't like that! It's just that, the Pirate King has the most freedom in the world! That's what I want!"
Roger's smile turned into a wide grin. He beamed in happiness. He had only know Luffy for three days and yet he can already tell that the boy was different. Unique in his own way. Most of the pirate set out for looting, not to be free. That was what makes Luffy and his brothers different than others.
The boy's answer, it was something that Roger would have answer if people had asked him the same in the past. Living with freedom without being prevented by other forces, it sounded so good. Roger was glad that he was living that life now.
"Why are you laughing?" Luffy asked, tilting his head sideways.
"Nothing." Roger replied. "Let's eat now."
Luffy happily nodded. Roger get the pieces of meat out of the fireplace. Roger watched as Luffy took his first bite. The boy's reaction did not disappoint Roger. Luffy beamed in enjoyment with his food. Roger also meat his meat.
"Why does Ace hate you, Roger?" Luffy asked after swallowing even the bone.
"Ace didn't tell you?" Roger piqued.
Luffy shook his head. "Nope. I tried asking Sabo 'bout it but he didn't answer. Did you do something to Ace?"
"No. Not directly." Roger let out a small chuckle. "Ace will tell you one day. Do you trust your brother?"
"Of course, I do." He pouted.
"Then you'll have your answer later on."
"I just don't understand it. Why would Ace hate you? You're nice! You saved me two times already!" Luffy praised.
Roger sighed before smiling. "Thank you, Luffy."
"Shihihihi. You want to be Ace's friend, right?"
"Of course."
"Try to see us everyday! That's how I became friends with him. I ran after Ace for months before he and Sabo accepted me as their friend." Luffy marveled proudly.
"How did Ace and you met?" Roger asked. He can get information to Luffy so he can know how to interact with his son.
"He threw a tree at me!" Luffy marveled, not bothered by his words.
"A tree?"
"Because he's like that! Ace is really nice. He's just lonely so he's acting that way. Don't give up on befriending him, 'kay?"
Roger laughed. He did not need Luffy to try and remind him that. He already made the choice before he met his son.
"I never plan to, Luffy."
"Good." Luffy gave him a wide toothy grin. "Because I really like you!"
The two finished the meal. Each determined to east more and faster than the other. In the end, it was still Roger who ate the most.
"Ace! Sabo!" Luffy stood up immediately and ran to the entrance of the cave where his older brothers were located.
The greeting Ace had given to his brother, was a punch in his head making Luffy crouched in pain.
"What's that for...?" Luffy purred.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop meeting him already!" Ace snarled.
"C'mon, stop that now." Sabo sighed, pushing his brothers away from each other not wanting them to fight.
"But Roger has meat! And besides, you and Sabo are too busy fighting!"
"You just ate like an hour ago! Didn't we feed you enough!?"
"Ace, you're the same as Luffy. As if you wouldn't have done the same and follow the smell of food."
"Oh why you-"
"See!? Even Sabo's with me!"
"Idiot, don't you realize that he's dissing us?"
At that moment, Roger could not help but to laugh. The bantering of the three boys in front of him was really something. Only brothers who loved each other can act that way.
"Why're you laughing you damn old bastard!?" Ace fumed, turning his attention to his father.
"You three are too funny that's why," Roger replied, grinning.
Ace rolled his eyes and started to walk away first as usual. "Whatever."
"Thank you for feeding Luffy, Roger-san." Sabo smiled.
"No problem, lad. I actually enjoyed his presence here."
"See ya later, Roger! Visit us tomorrow, kay?" Luffy bid while waving his hands.
"I don't think Ace will like that one..."
"So what? He's meeting me, not Ace!"
"Touché, Lu."
"What's too-shey? That sounded delicious." Luffy asked, drooling.
Sabo laughed before explaining it. "No, it's not. Touché is used when..."
Roger watched as the brothers leave his place. Well, that talk turned out to be better than he anticipated.
He will start his pestering tomorrow. For now, he will sleep.
- - -
A/N: Thanks for the follows, favorites and reviews! See you next update!