"Hissss…" Lin Hai sucked in a sharp breath and yelped, "Hero Garp, are you trying to slap me to death? What kind of naval hero hits people like that?!"
"Huh?" Garp nonchalantly picked his nose. "Don't sweat the details. You still haven't answered me—how did you just appear on my ship out of nowhere?"
Lin Hai dragged a chair and edged away from Garp before responding, "Honestly, I'm not too sure. I think… it happened after I ate a Devil Fruit. The power just sort of… activated."
Both Garp and Aokiji perked up immediately. Aokiji was first to ask, "What kind of power? Teleportation?"
Lin Hai shook his head. "It seems related to space manipulation, but I'm still not used to it. I almost teleported myself into the ocean just now—haha."
"Hmm…" Aokiji muttered, "Sounds like a Paramecia-type. If developed properly, it could be an incredible ability."
Lin Hai couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Devil Fruits are just flashy gimmicks! Real power comes from technique and Haki. I'm not like those guys who obsess over fruit powers...
Before he could get lost in thought, smack! Garp slapped his shoulder again. Lin Hai howled in pain, "Uncle Garp, please! Keep your distance! That hurts!!"
"Ahahaha!" Garp laughed off Lin Hai's complaints and mused, "Looks like you just ate it recently. Makes sense that you're still fumbling with the power." He leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me… you stole a Devil Fruit from the auction on the island and now you're on the run?"
Lin Hai's eyes widened—What an imagination! Honestly, that excuse might be better than the truth about hitting a Celestial Dragon and running for it!
Noticing Lin Hai's expression, Aokiji smirked, "Wait… could it be true?"
Lin Hai nodded eagerly like a pecking chicken. "Yeah, yeah! I hadn't eaten in three days, and I just grabbed the first fruit I saw. I didn't know it was one of those auction-bound Devil Fruits! No wonder they were after me!"
A solid excuse. Lin Hai latched onto it. After all, the warship had already left the Sabaody Archipelago—no way they could fact-check it now.
Garp narrowed his eyes. "Really now?"
"Of course!" Lin Hai replied quickly. "Why else would I end up here like this? Oh, and thanks again for letting me aboard… though I'm kinda broke, no Beli on me..."
Garp waved him off. "No need for all that. The Navy helps those in need. What kind of hero demands payment? As long as you're not some pirate or criminal, we're happy to offer a lift."
Grabbing Garp's hand in gratitude, Lin Hai beamed, "You Navy folks really are the best! Thank you, thank you! May the heavens bless you! Long live justice!"
"..."
Everyone on the ship stared at Lin Hai like he'd grown a second head. Even Garp awkwardly pulled his hand back, looking vaguely creeped out.
From his lounge chair, Aokiji called out, "So, kid, where's home? You planning to sail with us for a while?"
Right. Where was he headed?
He'd been in such a panic earlier that he hadn't thought that far ahead.
Glancing warily at Garp, Lin Hai quickly stood—just in case that unpredictable old man tried to hit him again…
"Travel together, huh?" Lin Hai tilted his head to the sky at a perfect forty-five degrees and murmured philosophically, "I have no home. Life is fleeting, like lightning across the sky. Wherever I go, is wherever I'm meant to be..."
Aokiji's face darkened. "Speak human."
Lin Hai scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Just drop me off at the next island."
Smack! In a blur, Garp's hand landed on his shoulder again, followed by his loud, carefree laugh. "Kid, why not just join the Navy and come along with us?"
"Hsssss!" Lin Hai doubled over and scrambled away. The idea of becoming a Navy soldier conjured up images of Celestial Dragons butchering him and feeding him to Stalin's ghost. He waved his hands wildly. "No no no! No way I'm joining the Navy! Not in this life!"
The mood on the ship shifted. The smiles faded.
Lin Hai noticed the tension and winced. That had been an instinctive reaction—hard to control.
A heavy silence fell. Aokiji broke it first. "Kid, why such a strong reaction? Did the Navy do something to you?"
Lin Hai gave an awkward smile. "Well… it's more like… I'm just lazy. I've always liked taking it easy. And the Navy's all 'wake up before dawn, drill till you drop,' right? Not my style. Plus, I don't really do well with orders."
Garp rolled his eyes. "Sounds like someone's full of excuses. You need some discipline, brat. I can see it—you're sharp. Come join the Navy. You might even make Admiral someday!"
Lin Hai's hackles rose. "You sly old man, stop trying to trick me! Fine, I'll say it straight: You know about the human auction houses on Sabaody Island, right?"
Aokiji nodded, puzzled. "And that has what to do with joining the Navy?"
Now fully in rebellion mode, Lin Hai snapped, "Everything! The Navy HQ is so close to Sabaody, and yet those auction houses are allowed to exist?! If I joined the Navy, I'd be dead in no time!"
He paused, then added fiercely, "What is justice anyway? Is it just a tool for the powerful to ignore principle and treat people like cattle—bought, sold, discarded?!"
From the moment he arrived in this world, fate had tried to brand him. Lin Hai hated being told who to be, where to go, what path to walk.
Suddenly, a surge of raw energy burst from his body.
A wave of unseen force rippled across the ship. For a moment, time froze. Several Marines rolled their eyes back and collapsed, unconscious.
Though unaffected physically, Garp could feel the emotion behind the pressure—Lin Hai's frustration, his rage.
Aokiji was dumbfounded. Not by fear, but disbelief. This kid—who looked like an average civilian—had just unleashed Conqueror's Haki?! A power said to appear in only one in a million…
And his words... That question about justice…
It lingered. It struck a nerve.
Even Garp and Aokiji, seasoned veterans of the sea, found themselves with nothing to say.
"That… that's Conqueror's Haki, isn't it?" one Marine asked through gritted teeth.
"Did he do that?"
"We've got a monster on board…"
Lin Hai blinked as realization dawned. Then gave an awkward laugh. "Uh… that just slipped out. Sorry! I didn't mean it!!"
Garp looked him over with a glint in his eye—somewhere between warning and admiration. "Kid, you're dangerous."
Lin Hai immediately took a step back. "Wait, wait, I'm a good guy! You guys are justice, right? Don't try anything shady!"
DUANG!
Aokiji knocked him on the head. "Shady? Look what you just did! Get over here and help already!"
"Help? Help with what?" Lin Hai rubbed his head, confused—but secretly thrilled. So this is what it's like to be a transmigrator. Feels pretty good!
Aokiji groaned. "You knocked out the helmsman. And most of the crew handling the ship. What do you think?!"
Lin Hai stammered, "I-I don't know how to steer a ship!"
DUANG!
This time, it was Garp's turn to land a punch. "No excuses!"
Tears welled up in Lin Hai's eyes. "I'm gonna report you guys to Navy HQ! Hitting me like this… I'm the victim here! Boohoohoo..."
Eventually, after much chaos, the warship returned to its normal course, slicing through the vast, endless sea.