Golden City—the most luxurious, high-end entertainment hub in the world, equipped with the most advanced facilities.
Previously, it had been under the control of Tesoro. However, after the historic upheaval at Mariejois, Tesoro underwent a transformation, rising to become the World Government's Minister of Finance—a high-ranking official within the system.
With that, Golden City was also brought under the World Government's jurisdiction, officially recognized as an elite entertainment destination for dignitaries and nobles from around the world.
Although Golden City offers a vast array of entertainment, including racing, concerts, stage performances, and amusement parks, its most renowned attraction remains its casino.
The gambling scene here is unparalleled. From small-time street stalls to the grandest, most opulent casinos, every level of gambling is covered, catering to gamblers of all types.
If you have money, you can enjoy the high-roller casinos. If you don't—well, even being "broke" here means you'd be considered wealthy elsewhere. The street stalls allow even the less fortunate to experience the thrill of gambling.
At this moment, in one of the more chaotic and noisy gambling stalls, two high-ranking Marines could be found blending in with the crowd.
One was Issho, better known as Fujitora, an Admiral candidate. The other was Vice Admiral Garp.
These two shared a similar nature, their personalities aligned, as did their views on justice. So, not long after Fujitora joined the Marines, he and Garp—known for his carefree antics—became close, much like Garp's friendship with Vice Admiral Tokikake.
Fujitora loved gambling, while Garp enjoyed lively environments and having fun. Naturally, they ended up here together.
In reality, given their status, one an Admiral candidate, the other a legendary Marine hero, there was no reason for them to be in such a low-tier gambling den.
They could easily access the most exclusive casinos.
But Fujitora had no interest in that. He preferred the raw, unfiltered energy of these loud, chaotic, and frenzied stalls. In his words, only in places like this can you truly experience the joy of gambling.
The high-end casinos, on the other hand, had lost the essence of gambling. They were nothing more than venues for the rich to flaunt their wealth and status.
There, people sat upright, observing their wins and losses with calm indifference. What's the fun in that?
True gambling was about passion, about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!
At this moment, Fujitora placed a stack of chips on the table, his voice booming with excitement:
"Big!"
Around him, numerous gamblers placed their bets.
Garp, ever the free spirit, was just as caught up in the moment.
Perhaps it was Fujitora's infectious enthusiasm that dragged him in.
Dressed in a gaudy Hawaiian shirt and a pair of flip-flops, Garp stood across from Fujitora, grinning wildly as he called out:
"Small! Small!"
Had Claudius been here, witnessing this old man getting so worked up, he might've genuinely worried about Garp suddenly collapsing from a heart attack or high blood pressure.
At this point in his life, Garp was as carefree as could be.
For one, the Marines had changed. In the past, he had to tolerate the Celestial Dragons' whims. But now? That was no longer the case.
This was a transformation that deeply pleased Garp, a Marine who had always despised the Celestial Dragons.
More importantly, the personal burdens weighing on his heart had finally been lifted.
Take Ace, for example. Though Garp rarely spoke about it, he had always worried about Ace's identity being exposed. Back then, even if Claudius wanted to protect Ace, there was no guarantee he could.
But now?
Claudius had become the ruler of the world. Even if Ace were revealed as Gol D. Roger's son, it wouldn't matter. Heck, if Roger himself were somehow resurrected, as long as Claudius willed it, he could ensure his safety.
Of course, that was just hypothetical. Claudius admired Roger, but only as a legendary figure—not as a pirate.
Ace, however, was different.
Ace called Claudius "old man". And for Claudius, that meant Ace was family, someone worth protecting.
Beyond Ace, Garp had another long-standing concern—his rebellious son, Monkey D. Dragon.
Dragon had also abandoned his past ways, leaving behind his life as a revolutionary. Now, he held a high-ranking position in the World Government.
No longer a fugitive, no longer living on the run.
For Garp, this alone was enough to set his mind at ease.
And then there was his beloved grandson—Luffy.
Not long ago, Luffy had received a proper lesson from his righteous brother, Sabo.
Though the kid still hadn't given up on his dream of becoming a pirate, Garp could rest easy knowing that Sabo would keep him in check.
Even if Luffy eventually set sail, as long as he didn't commit any serious crimes, Claudius would probably turn a blind eye for Garp's sake.
And if he did get caught? Well, he'd just end up being handed over to Garp anyway.
Locked up in Marine Headquarters for a bit of "reflection", then released when the time was right.
Besides, soon, the Marines would execute their New World strategy. When that happened, Garp would finally have the chance to settle his score with a certain red-haired bastard.
All things considered, with his worries gone, Garp was having the time of his life!
The dice rolled.
Small!
Garp erupted into laughter.
"Ahahahahaha! Fujitora, you lost!"
As he laughed, he raked in his winnings, his face beaming with joy.
"This round alone just earned me half a year's salary! Looks like I don't have to work for the rest of the year!"
Even though this was just a low-tier gambling stall, the people here were still wealthy. The bets might seem small compared to Golden City's high-roller casinos, but elsewhere, they'd be considered massive.
Fujitora let out a defeated sigh.
"I just lost half a year's salary... Looks like I'll be relying on you, Mr. Garp, for the next six months."
"No problem! You like noodles, right? The old man will buy you six months' worth of noodles! Ahahahaha!" Garp teased.
"Even if I love noodles, I wouldn't take it that far…" Fujitora chuckled helplessly.
Garp played with the chips in his hands, then suddenly remarked:
"Actually, there's another reason you don't need to save money."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Fujitora asked, puzzled.
"We're in Golden City right now, so you haven't received the news yet. But if we were in Marineford, you'd already have your transfer orders," Garp said with a grin.
Fujitora blinked, realization dawning on him.
"Oh! Fleet Admiral Sengoku has been promoted to Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sakazuki is now Fleet Admiral, and Admiral Kuzan has moved to the Secret Police… That means…"
"You're Admiral now," Garp confirmed with a nod.
"This morning, Gion contacted me—she already received and signed her transfer order. As of now, she's officially a Marine Admiral. And you? Yours has been confirmed as well."
"That means my salary is going up, right? And I get a raise too?" Fujitora mused.
"Of course! Plus, you get a top-class residence at the new Marine Headquarters—G-1."
"If they cover food and lodging, then… why do I need to save money?!"
At that moment, Fujitora felt like his old ronin days had returned.
No need to worry about money? Well then, time to gamble!
With that, he grabbed Garp and yelled:
"Come on, let's play two more rounds!"
(To be continued.)
***
This book is complete. Support me on Patreon to read all advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.