Chapter 142 Human Joys and Sorrows Are Not Shared
"Where did they go? How could Vice Admiral Garp suddenly vanish?"
"Three-Eye Zane is gone too. Did he do something?"
"What on earth is happening? Isn't Three-Eye Zane a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user? How can he have such a bizarre ability?"
"
On the dog-headed warship, Bogard and the other Marines were vigilantly scanning the surrounding sea.
The disappearance of Zane and Garp.
This was undoubtedly something the Marines hadn't expected.
After searching the vicinity with no results, the Marines could only wait in place, fearing they might miss Vice Admiral Garp if he reappeared.
During this wait...
The Marines didn't show much tension; instead, they were relaxed enough to chat.
This behavior wasn't because they didn't care about their commander; rather, it was because they had a near-fanatical confidence in Garp.
No matter what method the enemy used to make Vice Admiral Garp disappear, the one who would eventually return victorious was bound to be their Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp.
This near-fanatical confidence stemmed from the prestige Garp had built over the years with his iron fists.
However...
Whoosh!!!
As they waited, a figure flickered into existence in the sky.
The one the Marines saw wasn't their hero, but their enemy—Zane.
He looked down indifferently at the warship and the Marines stranded below.
Zane's eyes narrowed, and his Conqueror's Haki instantly erupted.
Boom!!!
It was like a sweeping gale.
Under the pressure of the near-tangible Conqueror's Haki, the warship below began to spiderweb with dense cracks.
Many Marines, before they could even react, rolled their eyes and collapsed unconscious.
In just a brief moment, only a few officers on the warship, including Bogard, managed to remain conscious.
Even so, their faces were pale and drenched in cold sweat under the pressure of Zane's Conqueror's Haki.
Some even fell to their knees in disgrace, looking as if they were bowing down to Zane.
Regardless of the means...
After defeating Garp and further increasing his own strength, Zane's Conqueror's Haki had undoubtedly reached a new level.
"Where is Garp? Where did you take him?!"
Looking up at the sky, Bogard saw only Zane staring down coldly; there was no sign of Garp anywhere.
Bogard endured the palpitations caused by the Conqueror's Haki and shouted his interrogation at Zane.
"Truly laughable naivety. Or perhaps you Marines have grown too accustomed to looking down on everyone." Zane stepped on bolts of lightning, slowly descending a bit.
He looked down at the questioning Bogard with a contemptuous smile.
"In this world, no one stands at the top from the beginning—not the Marines, not me, not even God."
"But from now on, I will stand at the peak!"
"Whether it's Gion or Garp, if you persist in your delusions and insist on seeking death, then their deaths are merely the beginning."
He raised his right hand slightly. Along with his declaration, a bolt of violent lightning transformed into a beam, instantly piercing Bogard's skull.
Not every adjutant following Garp is a Kuzan.
Although Bogard was reasonably strong, he was clearly worlds apart from Zane.
With his head pierced, Bogard collapsed with a look of utter disbelief.
Ignoring the horrified and terrified expressions of the remaining Marines, Zane turned and stepped into an open Space Door.
He didn't spare the remaining Marines out of the kindness of his heart.
Rather, he needed these survivors to spread the terror.
With only the reaction of a Vivre Card, some would inevitably harbor false hope.
Only by bringing back news of Garp's actual death would the Marines truly understand the price of provoking him.
"The Marine Hero, Garp?!"
"Captain, did you really defeat that Garp?"
"Hey, watch your mouth! What's so great about Garp? It's only natural for our Captain to win!"
"Exactly. This so-called Marine Hero is nothing compared to the Captain."
"It's a shame. If only I could have seen you defeat him with my own eyes, I could die happy."
"
Leaving aside the subsequent reaction of the Marines...
Using the Door-Door Fruit's ability, Zane returned to the New Riding the Wind and Waves in a single step.
He was naturally greeted by Baby 5, Nico Robin, Manlong, and the others who had been waiting on the deck.
Seeing Zane return safely, everyone in the Hunting Team breathed a sigh of relief.
Naturally, they were curious about who the troublesome opponent had been this time.
After all, in their minds, someone their boss called 'troublesome' had to be at least at the level of a Marine Admiral.
And that was indeed the case.
When Zane revealed that the troublesome person was Garp, many in the Hunting Team were shocked.
It couldn't be helped.
Aside from those from Skypiea like Wyper, it was hard for anyone not to know of a legendary figure like Garp.
But the shock didn't end there.
As Zane casually recounted the events, the members of the Hunting Team soon learned that the legendary Garp had actually been killed by their boss.
How much time had passed from Zane's departure to his return?
Not to mention, he didn't appear to have any significant injuries.
In such a situation...
It was only because of Zane's immense prestige that the Hunting Team could even believe it.
Likewise, given their absolute trust...
The Hunting Team was incredibly excited about Zane defeating Garp.
"Alright, that's enough. Disperse. We'll head out once the supplies are loaded."
Seeing his subordinates beginning to act like a bloodthirsty audience, Zane wordlessly waved them away.
Just Garp.
He was worth discussing while alive.
Now that he was dead, there was no need to pay him any more mind.
The crowd dispersed.
Accompanied by Baby 5, Zane underwent an examination and treatment by Chopper.
As night approached, under Nico Robin's arrangements, the newly resupplied New Riding the Wind and Waves set sail once again.
That night, the ship was naturally lively. A grand banquet was held to celebrate the day's victory and cheer for Zane's defeat of Garp.
Zane's mood during the banquet was exceptionally high.
After all, the battle with Garp had yielded massive gains.
When the banquet ended, still unsatisfied, he pulled Baby 5 and Nico Robin together for a second, more intimate round of celebration.
Human joys and sorrows are not shared.
The Hunting Team was celebrating.
The Marines were in mourning.
For a figure like Garp, the Marines naturally kept his Vivre Card.
Returning to a short time after Zane defeated Garp...
Boom!!!
Inside the solemn Marine Headquarters building, a thunderous explosion rang out.
The door to the Fleet Admiral's office, along with the adjacent wall, was smashed to pieces.
The one who smashed through was Sengoku.
At this moment, Sengoku was devoid of his usual calm and composure; instead, his face was a mask of uncontrollable rage and grief.
Without a moment's pause after smashing the door, Sengoku leaped down from the floor.
Upon landing, he sprinted toward the Crescent Harbor.