Reserved yet sharp, with extraordinary insight—this had been Garp's initial impression of Xia Yu.
Then came Xia Yu drawing his blade to cut down corrupt marines, fearlessly saving the villagers of Syrup Village. And now, seeing him display the compassion of a healer, Garp's impression of him rose to an even higher level.
Of course, the most crucial point was that whether in Foosha Village or Syrup Village, Xia Yu was deeply loved and supported by the people.
Powerful, righteous, compassionate, unafraid to face darkness and evil, and fearless before any authority—finding a young man with such limitless potential was like searching for a needle in a haystack!
But why… why didn't someone like him want to become a Marine?
Should I just tie him up and drag him away?
Watching Xia Yu seriously writing out Kaya's prescription, Garp couldn't help but feel a little tempted.
"Mr. Xia Yu… you're really amazing."
Little Kaya hadn't expected Xia Yu to know medicine. Although she had answered some of his questions vaguely, he still understood her perfectly. It made her feel as if he could see right through her thoughts.
To her, this gentle, big-brother-like Xia Yu was simply wonderful.
"Alright, Kaya. From now on, follow the butler's instructions and take care of your body properly. It won't be long before you're no longer weak—you'll grow up healthy and happy."
"Mhm!"
Kaya nodded obediently, looking adorable as if she would do anything he said.
Boom!!!
Suddenly, a loud crash resounded from the courtyard outside. A figure flashed past the doorway and slammed heavily onto the ground.
"Huh?"
Xia Yu and Garp blinked in confusion as they looked toward the door.
At that moment, a servant rushed in, face full of panic, and stammered to Kaya's father, "M-master… the marines outside… they've started fighting again!"
"What?!"
Kaya's father immediately broke out in cold sweat and turned to Garp. Bowing quickly, he said, "Vice Admiral Garp, if you don't go out and take a look, the entire courtyard is going to be destroyed!"
He was truly at his wit's end.
Since the latter half of last night, those marines had been sparring nonstop. One entire wall on the west side had already been completely destroyed. He had hoped they would calm down after a while—but who knew they'd start again just a few hours later!
If this continued, he really wouldn't be able to handle it anymore!
"They're really going overboard…"
Even Garp felt a headache coming on. Ever since his subordinates obtained their Devil Fruit powers, they hadn't stopped training. Each of them wanted to fully develop their abilities as quickly as possible.
And his decision to stay in Syrup Village had conveniently given them time to train!
But training was one thing—why do it in someone else's courtyard?!
With that thought, Garp clenched his fist and rushed outside.
Seeing this, Xia Yu also led little Kaya toward the doorway.
"Hahaha! Swick, you're seriously too weak!"
In the courtyard, Mr. Dung Beetle stood proudly, gripping his fists with a horn on his head, laughing arrogantly.
Meanwhile, Swick—transformed into his ant form—lay flat on his back at the gate, looking utterly miserable.
"Swick! How long are you going to keep fooling around like this?!"
Garp rushed to the gate and glanced at Mr. Dung Beetle before shouting at Swick, "Even if you're fooling around, at least make it look decent! Lying there like that—what kind of image is that?! Come on, Stok—beat him properly!"
"Pfft—"
Hearing this, Kaya's father, who had just come out, nearly choked in disbelief, black lines forming across his forehead.
Wasn't he supposed to stop them?!
Turns out Garp himself was the biggest instigator!
Stok… was, of course, Mr. Dung Beetle.
Having transformed, he had already developed his Devil Fruit ability to a certain level. And upon doing so, he discovered something astonishing—
His strength far surpassed Swick's ant form!
At first, he had been devastated about turning into a dung beetle.
But after developing the ability, he realized the power it granted was simply terrifying!
According to his current mastery—
In dung beetle form, his strength was over a thousand times his base strength!
Meanwhile, Swick's ant form only granted about a four-hundredfold increase.
This was… incredible!!!
As subordinates of Vice Admiral Garp, every one of them longed for power.
And now, their dream had come true!
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
With Garp's permission, Stok lowered his horn and charged straight at Swick.
He had long wanted to teach his "brother" a lesson!
Before, he had always been the one getting beaten—but now, with a thousandfold boost, it was finally his turn to rise!
Swick, of course, wouldn't back down.
Facing Mr. Dung Beetle's charge, he met it head-on!
Boom!
A thunderous collision rang out, followed by a powerful shockwave spreading in all directions.
In the next instant—
Swick was sent flying again, hurtling straight toward the mansion gate!
"Kaya!"
"Mr. Xia Yu!"
The moment Swick came crashing toward them, Kaya's parents cried out in alarm. The trajectory was directly aimed at Xia Yu and Kaya!
Before they could react—
Swick had already reached them.
In that split second, Xia Yu smoothly pulled Kaya into his arms while raising his free hand—
"Armament!"
With a low shout, his fist instantly turned jet black, gleaming with hardened Haki.
Bang!
A heavy impact echoed out.
Swick, who had just crashed in, was instantly sent soaring into the sky like a cannonball—disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
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