#168 - Chapter 168 Iron Fist of Love - One Piece: Start as a mythical beast, practice to become stronger.

East Blue.

Amidst the waves, a fleet of naval warships cut through the sea.

Their magnificent formation, set against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, was particularly striking.

The fleet's destination was Loguetown.

A place of symbolic significance for the entire ocean world.

It was not only near the entrance to the Grand Line in the East Blue,

but also the birthplace of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.

On the warship, Jin An held a fishing rod, his posture relaxed.

Among the tense faces in the fleet, he was the only one at ease.

"Sigh... this errand was still pinned on me."

Jin An sighed softly, listlessly swinging the fishing rod.

His gaze followed the ripples on the water, as if seeking a chance to relax his mood.

Beside him, Roger sat as a prisoner bound by chains.

He appeared carefree, maintaining his optimism and open-mindedness in this final moment of his life.

"Hahahaha, Jin An, shouldn't you be happy to accompany me on my final journey?"

His voice was particularly loud on this sea.

Even in such a wretched state, he couldn't help but exude his heroic spirit.

"It's precisely because I'm sending you off that it's a chore," Jin An grunted, followed by another fruitless fishing attempt. "Great, another day for the air force."

His words seemed lighthearted, but they couldn't hide the deep-seated helplessness.

Roger looked at Jin An's embarrassment, a hint of emotion in his smile.

"I can hear it, you're grieving for me."

His voice was gentle, seemingly able to penetrate the heart.

"And, you're worried about something."

Jin An glanced at Roger helplessly.

"We two have a good friendship, sending a friend to the execution ground isn't something to be happy about..."

This kind of farewell journey was undoubtedly a great test for him.

Jin An's teeth clenched unconsciously as he recalled the situation when he accepted the mission.

Although Roger had arranged everything before surrendering, his extraordinary personal charm led the Navy Headquarters to make some additional deployments.

The original intention of the headquarters was to send only a Rear Admiral-level officer to supervise the execution.

This was supposed to be a formal task, but at the last moment, things changed.

Jin An was originally comfortably enjoying life at the G5 Branch, but for some unknown reason, he was suddenly recalled to carry out this task.

Garp was watching all of this from the side at the time, and even gave Jin An a big smile.

But!

When Jin An stood on the pier, gazing at the sea ship that was about to set sail.

That old guy Garp somehow appeared before him.

Jin An's footsteps seemed lighter than usual, and he was full of energy.

When his eyes met Jin An's, Garp flashed a mouthful of white teeth, his smile full of cunning and playfulness.

"Jin An, are you also going to the East Blue?" Garp said with feigned surprise, then added without hesitation, "It seems our destinations are the same."

At that moment, Jin An really wanted to take off his size 42 standard navy shoes and smash them hard on Garp's hateful smiling face.

Thoughts returned.

"I didn't expect you guys to have such a good relationship, it seems my decision was correct."

A familiar voice came, with a clear smile.

Jin An turned his head and saw Garp chewing on senbei, walking towards them casually, the corners of his mouth twitching even while eating.

Jin An instantly put away his fishing rod, strode a few steps to Garp, his eyes flashing with anger and doubt,

"So it was you who got me to carry out this task?"

Garp patted his chest pretentiously, but with an indifferent expression on his face,

"Why are you running so fast? I was afraid you wouldn't be comfortable at the G5 Branch, so I let you return to the embrace of the headquarters."

He said it with confidence, as if all this was for Jin An's good.

Afterward, Garp continued with a helpless expression,

"Moreover, I just happen to be going back to the East Blue, that dog thing Sengoku has set his sights on me."

"I had no choice but to let you accompany me on the journey."

His tone was full of innocence.

That shameless spirit was displayed vividly at this moment.

After hearing this, Jin An's fists were almost cracking, and all his good times in the base were ruined because of this dog thing.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

In the end, he could only helplessly look at Garp's pretentious smug look.

"Garp, you're still so shameless."

Roger's voice sounded at this time.

Roger was already used to Garp's unreliability, and this time Garp roped in Jin An, which made Roger feel a little funny.

Garp always had his unique unruliness, and smiled at Roger, the sunlight beside him shining on his face, reflecting the traces of the years.

"Roger, we've been entangled for half our lives,"

He said with a slightly sad tone,

"Tell me, do you think your life has been worth it?"

At this moment, a complex emotion flashed in Garp's eyes, containing his friendship with this rival.

They had generated inexplicable entanglements for half their lives.

Unexpectedly, this would be the farewell.

At sea, the navy and pirates, standing on opposite sides, are two groups with complex relationships.

In the long-term struggle, the navy and pirates are not simply hostile.

Sometimes, for common purposes, they will temporarily put aside their hostility, cooperate and utilize each other, forming a delicate balance.

The battle of God Valley is the best proof of the delicate balance between the two major groups.

In that legendary battle, Garp of the Navy and Roger the Pirate King, the two strongest men temporarily forgot their identities and joined hands to fight against a common enemy, the Rocks Pirates.

After God Valley, a battle ended, but the story continued.

The tacit understanding between the navy and pirates still maintains a subtle balance in every corner of the sea.

Roger was stunned, then burst into laughter, the laughter passing through the heavy sea fog and resounding through the clouds.

"Hahahaha, is there even a need to ask?"

Roger replied confidently,

"My life has been much more exciting than yours!"

His words were full of affirmation of his various choices in this life.

Suddenly,

"I see, hahahaha."

Garp also burst into laughter.

However, Jin An seemed a little helpless, he stood aside, shaking his head gently, looking at Garp with speechless eyes.

"Stop laughing, my ears are uncomfortable," Jin An complained, Garp's laughter was simply heartbreaking.