Chapter 1881 Ace Descends Like a God, Ace Meets Garp

Chapter 1881 Ace Descends Like a God, Ace Meets Garp
The naval warship slowly approached the shore and dropped its anchor.

Almost as soon as the gangway was lowered, Karp's snoring stopped abruptly.

His eyes, hidden beneath the dog-head hat, opened, still showing a hint of sleepiness, but a subtle glint of shrewdness flashed deep within them.

He picked up a senbei (rice cracker), took a bite, and mumbled indistinctly:

"We've arrived? Oh, it looks like a lively little island."

After saying that, he walked off the warship with a nonchalant air, ignoring the tense atmosphere and countless wary eyes on the island.

Aokiji followed silently behind him, his hands in his pockets, his expression calm, but the lazy aura around him had subsided somewhat.

A squad of elite naval soldiers followed closely behind, their steps perfectly synchronized, silently exuding the authority of military discipline.

When Garp and Aokiji, two top figures in the Navy, landed on the island, the crowd stirred slightly, but there was no panic.

They moved quickly and orderly toward the center, forming a defensive formation, their eyes fixed on the two naval commanders, a silent standoff filling the air.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in proper merchant attire, with a kind face but shrewd eyes, stepped out from among them. He quickly glanced at his companions and shook his head slightly to signal them to remain calm.

He immediately put on a professional and enthusiastic smile and quickly stepped forward to greet her.

"Oh my! Isn't that Vice Admiral Garp, and Admiral Aokiji too!"

"What distinguished guests! We are so sorry for not welcoming you properly! May I ask what business brings you two gentlemen to our humble place today?"

The businessman-looking man smiled broadly, his tone revealing undisguised surprise and respect, but his slightly tense fingertips and seemingly casually hanging hand, which was ready to react at any moment, betrayed his inner wariness.

Karp chuckled as he chewed on a senbei (rice cracker).

"Official business? I just came to take a look."

"What, you don't welcome this old man?"

Although Garp spoke casually, the pressure emanating from his status as a naval hero still made the businessman's heart tighten.

However, the smile on his face remained unchanged, and he quickly waved his hand and said:
"Vice Admiral Garp, what are you saying? It is an honor for our small island for you and Admiral Aokiji to come."

As he spoke, he stepped aside to lead the way, his posture respectful yet not subservient:

"Please come this way, gentlemen. Please feel free to look around. We're just here to conduct some transactions and collect things that our clients need."

Garp laughed heartily and, without any ceremony, munched on his senbei as he strode after the merchant, his eyes scanning the supplies piled up on both sides of the road with great interest.

Aokiji followed silently behind, his gaze behind his sunglasses taking in every detail.

On the open ground, there were many things piled up in different categories.

Some Devil Fruits were carefully placed in boxes lined with soft cloth, and several famous swords that exuded a chilling aura and were clearly extraordinary leaned against the shelf.

The blocks of raw sea stone shimmered with a dull luster, and there were also many strange plants and the remains of sea kings that even Garp couldn't name.

Garp picked up a piece of seastone, weighed it in his hand, then casually put it down, asking with some curiosity:
"Are these things intended for the people behind you?"

For Garp, it was simply out of curiosity.

Although the value and scale of these items are far beyond what an ordinary caravan could possess and handle, there must be a powerful demander or organization operating behind the scenes.

However, Garp did not immediately assume that the other party was plotting some world-threatening conspiracy.

In his view, as long as these people do not commit arson, murder, looting, or openly confront the navy, it doesn't matter whether they collect resources for their own use or to sell to a major customer.

He came here purely because the Warring States period had repeatedly issued orders, and this matter seemed to have caught the attention of the Five Elders, so he reluctantly made this trip.

If it were up to his own nature, he would prefer to drink tea and eat senbei at Marine Headquarters, or go find some ignorant pirate to stretch his muscles.

However, his casual question made the businessman's heart skip a beat, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

To the businessman, every action and every question Garp asked was full of hidden meaning and a sense of oppression.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his smile becoming even more humble, even bordering on ingratiating, as he quickly waved his hand to explain:
"Lieutenant General Garp is joking."

“We also search around the world for what our employers need, based on their specific requirements.”

There is no 'person behind it'.

Upon hearing this, Karp simply said "Oh," picked his ear, and seemed uninterested in the answer, his attention drawn to a plant nearby that emitted a strange fragrance.

His nonchalant attitude only made the businessman more uncertain and worried.

Aokiji, who was standing to the side, took in everything. A slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth behind his sunglasses.

He could see very clearly that Mr. Garp hadn't really thought much about it, but the other party had already lost his composure due to the natural pressure brought by Garp's identity and strength.

But that's to be expected, after all, he's Mr. Garp.

Karp seemed to be about to ask something more, but just as he was about to speak...

"Boom--!"

A clear, melodious bell rang out from the high sky without warning.

The sound of the bell seemed to pierce through the clouds, disregarding distance, and echoed clearly over the island, even resounding deep within the hearts of everyone present!
The sudden chime of the bell caused Garp and Aokiji to pause slightly.

A hint of surprise flashed in Garp's eyes.

Aokiji's brow furrowed slightly behind his sunglasses, and his Observation Haki instantly surged to its peak as he tried to pinpoint the source of the bell's sound.

In stark contrast to the Navy's vigilance, the people on the island who had been tense and on guard because of Garp and Aokiji's arrival all showed a relieved and relaxed expression the moment they heard the bell ring.

Even the businessman who had been trying to remain calm and maneuvering between the two naval leaders let out a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders instantly relaxing.

"My lords, I am truly sorry to take a moment to leave you here!"

The businessman's professional smile disappeared, replaced by a heartfelt reverence and awe.

He ignored Garp and Aokiji, and didn't even bother to maintain the superficial politeness. After saying a few words, he immediately turned around and strode towards the open space where a large amount of resources were piled up.

Not only this businessman, but everyone on the island spontaneously and orderly gathered around the open space, facing the mountain of rare resources, and solemnly knelt down in unison!

The next moment, a unified, fervent, and devout shout erupted like a tsunami, shaking the entire island:

"Welcome to the divine tree's manifestation!"

"I humbly beseech the sacred tree to accept this small offering and bless my journey!"

Their shouts contained a pure power that bordered on faith.

With that earth-shattering shout, a sudden change occurred!
A pure, emerald-green pillar of light, imbued with boundless life energy and a sacred aura, suddenly pierced through the clouds from the sky like a divine tree reaching to the heavens, and descended precisely upon the area where resources were piled up.

Under the emerald green pillar of light, the mountains of Devil Fruits, Seastone ore, famous swords, strange plants, and sea king remains seemed to be summoned, transforming into countless streams of light that surged toward the horizon.

At the same time, a figure draped in a white robe and with flowing black hair descended slowly from the sky along the pillar of light, like a god descending.

The moment he landed, time seemed to stand still for a split second!
An invisible pressure emanated from his body. It was not a deliberate release of killing intent, but a pressure that naturally emanated after a leap in life level.

The air seemed to thicken and become solemn, and everyone on the island unconsciously held their breath slightly, as if an invisible giant hand was gently pressing on their souls.

At this moment, everyone—from the devoutly kneeling subordinates to the heavily armed naval soldiers, and even Garp and Aokiji—clearly realized that the person before them was an undeniably powerful individual.

However, Garp couldn't help but frown slightly when he looked at him.

I feel like I know this person a little bit.

Ace's gaze also fell on Garp and Aokiji, a smile playing on his lips.

He didn't immediately acknowledge Karp, but instead slightly turned his head and addressed the devout believers still kneeling around him in a peaceful tone:

"Get up, all of you, and go do what you are supposed to do."

Upon hearing this, the believers immediately responded respectfully in unison.

"Yes, sir!"

They immediately stood up in unison, bowed to Ace again, and then quickly and orderly dispersed to return to their respective tasks.

After finishing his chores, Ace turned his attention back to Garp, a more pronounced smile on his face.

"Grandpa, it's been a long time."

"Ace! It really is you, kid!"

Upon hearing that familiar address, Garp's eyes widened in surprise, followed by a surge of joy.

"Hahaha, so it was you, you little rascal, who orchestrated this huge commotion!"

Having confirmed Ace's identity, Garp burst into hearty laughter, slapping Ace's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand.

"It's good that I didn't become a pirate! Very good! Although it's a bit of a pity that I didn't become a Marine, it's not bad that I can make a name for myself in a proper way!"

"As expected of my grandson, Garp!"

Ace let Garp ruffle his hair, a genuine smile on his face.

Seeing this, Aokiji pushed up his sunglasses and looked at Ace with some surprise.

Mr. Garp's grandson?

"Grandpa, it's rare for Admiral Aokiji to come all this way. Would you like to come and sit at my place for a while?"

"Although it's simple, there are some nice tea snacks."

Ace smiled and extended the invitation.

"Alright, let's see what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into!"

Garp readily agreed, put his arm around Ace's shoulder, and started walking forward, while Aokiji waved to the Marines who were standing by behind him.

"You all go back to the ship and wait for orders. Vice Admiral Garp and I will go and pay a visit."

"Yes, Admiral Aokiji!"

The naval soldiers responded in unison. Although they were confused by the current situation, they strictly followed orders and orderly withdrew from the warship.

Seeing this, Ace smiled and gestured for Garp and Aokiji to proceed.

"This way, the places where I occasionally stop are relatively quiet."

He led the two through the bustling area to a relatively quiet residential area surrounded by green trees on the side of the island.

The buildings here are still simple, but very clean. A spacious wooden house with an open terrace faces the sea and has a great view.

Stepping inside, the furnishings are simple, yet a strange sense of harmony permeates the space.

Ace took out some exquisitely crafted pastries with an enticing sheen and an indescribable rich aroma, along with a steaming pot of fragrant tea, from the inner room and placed them on the wooden table on the terrace.

"Come on, don't be shy, try it. This is something you absolutely can't get anywhere else."

Ace greeted them warmly, explaining that these were dishes from the world of MasterChef, which he had redeemed using points from the chat group shop.

Although it wasn't made by the young master chef, it was still a dish made by a master chef.

If Little Master were to do what he's doing now, he felt that even Garp might not be able to withstand it.

Garp wasn't actually planning to eat any; he wanted to ask Ace what he had done after setting sail. But the snacks Ace had brought out smelled so good that he reached out and stuffed them into his mouth without even looking at them.

"Well?!"

The moment the snack touched his lips, Garp's eyes widened in shock!
He wasn't burned; rather, his consciousness seemed to be sucked into a strange illusion.

He seemed to see the exhilarating battle with Roger in God Valley when he was young, and he could see Sengoku's arrogant face furious because his senbei was stolen.
All sorts of memories and emotions buried by time suddenly surge forth, accompanied by an explosive burst of ultimate deliciousness that sweeps across the taste buds!
"What is this?!"

Garp made a mumbled call, but his body betrayed him, chewing so fast it left afterimages, his face showing a mixture of shock, enjoyment, and nostalgia.

Aokiji raised an eyebrow at Garp's reaction, which was as if he had discovered a new continent, thinking it was a bit exaggerated.

However, out of politeness and curiosity, he also used his fork to take a small piece of the milk pudding, which looked like frozen snow and had a cool aroma, and put it in his mouth.

The next moment, Aokiji's usually lazy and indifferent expression froze.

He felt as if he had been transported to a boundless, peaceful, and serene world of ice and snow. The sound of snowflakes falling filled his ears, and the weariness and confusion that had accumulated in his heart from witnessing the injustices and contradictions of the world seemed to be quietly washed away and soothed by the pure coldness.

The milk pudding melted in his mouth, its exquisite smoothness and sweetness accompanied by an indescribable sense of tranquility as it slid down his throat, almost making him let out a satisfied sigh.

He was silent for a few seconds, then very naturally picked up the spoon and scooped out a large piece of milk pudding, eating it at a leisurely pace.