Chapter 80 - The meeting

[A/N: Much thanks to 'mrgn' and 'arima1f' and 'Ryu D' for their donations!!]

Now three days had already passed, and as some sh.i.p.s were already coated they had already started leaving.

The rest that are still waiting for their sh.i.p.s to get coated are still partying big time.

Each of them came to Ian at some point and thanked him heavily for healing their father. The reason they had not done it before, is that they had thought he had become one of them by joining the Whitebeard pirates. So they thought they could do it later.

But since they had heard that Ian would be leaving soon… they all came to apologize and deliver their thanks. Ian accepted them all as he chatted with them some getting to know them better.

Now Ian was preparing with his crew to leave. Their ship had already been stored in the ring the day Elene brought the rest. She had taken the ring from Ian to do it.

So now the only thing keeping Ian in this ship was if Garp and Sengoku may come. But this was the third day. And he resolved to leave if they didn't call. It was not like Elene could not teleport them back after all.

But as if things were looking out for him… Someone came and informed Whitebeard about a call.

Ian shared a look with him and nodded.

"Let's go, Elene," Ian said.

And she followed after him and Whitebeard.

When they entered a room, Whitebeard grabbed the speaker and spoke.

"This is Whitebeard." He said.

The snail was taking the shape of Sengoku's face with his mustache and beard.

The other side was silent for a bit before he replied.

"We want to know more about that beast," The voice said. And Ian knew it was Sengoku.

He knew that Sengoku had already resigned from the marines. As most likely the government had chosen to hide the existence of the criminals who escaped. In a bid to conserve what was left from their reputation after the war. But this finally had Sengoku fed up. He couldn't believe they were willing to sacrifice the people they swore to protect for something as measly as reputation.

But Ian didn't know what happened with Garp. As in the original, he would have resigned due to Akainu killing Ace. In truth, Garp had thought about what would have happened in the war. And reached the conclusion that maybe both his grandsons would have died. While he stood there contemplating between family and duty.

As such he reached the conclusion that he should retire before he had to make that choice. Since before, he did not want to move up the ladder of ranks like Sengoku, precisely for taking orders from those sc.u.ms above. Now he was also disgusted at them as they chose to let those criminals go free. The marines still wanted him to stay as an instructor, but he just told them that he was already old. Actually being 76 years old. Then he had his retirement processed.

"Sure. Where are you right now?" Ian was the one who spoke this time.

When they replied, he had Elene go and bring them to the room.

And just a few seconds later the both of them were there.

They had shocked looks on their faces. But they soon got back to the point.

"We meet again, Whitebeard, Ian" Sengoku greeted. But one could detect a hint of bitterness in his voice.

While Garp gave them a nod, as he held rice crackers in his hand.

Both of them had time to think about the beast they fought. The marines above them had been adamant to deny its existence on the pretext that it would bring chaos to the world if their existence was confirmed, but the both of them felt something was wrong about that even if they agreed.

Since the whole world knew about the whole war, including the devil part… The marines were losing the faith of the people. And pirates were getting more brazen since Whitebeard had won… Which is why Sengoku was bitter.

So now here they were trying to gain more information on the beast and see from there what they would do.

"Old man, since they are here, it's obvious it's about the Diávoloi so I'll let you tell them about them," Ian said.

And so, Whitebeard told them of his experience and roger at that time. And the marines had records of that fight but they had thought it was one regular fight with the known rivals.

Then when Whitebeard finished telling them about the voice, the three diávoloi, and the unknown existence Ian felt it was his time to start explaining.

So he said.

"And then, one day when I was on the sea, that said voice the old man spoke about, contacted me," Ian said. They had just calmed down from hearing Whitebeard when Ian shocked them again.

"And what did it say?" Garp was admittedly more composed than Sengoku.

"It said, that the Diávoloi were awakening. And that I should reach out to Whitebeard for him to explain what they were." Ian said.

"Which is why when you asked me at the time for what I had to discuss with the old man, I couldn't tell you." Ian then added.

Then both of them stayed silent for a bit.

And Ian and Whitebeard let them think for a bit.

After a while, Sengoku spoke.

"Then what do you gain by telling us this information?" He said.

"Well for one, I'm pretty sure the marines would not make the news about them spread in fact they are probably going to deny them completely," Ian said. Making Garp and Sengoku grit their teeth.

But they just nodded in the end.

"What I want from you, is to help me and the old man in the future if we find out about the whereabouts of one of the devils. We want all the help we can. You have seen how strong that devil was. And that was possibly the weakest of the devils. With Elene's help we can trap it and kill it" Ian said.

He had a plan in the future to infiltrate Marijois and take a picture of 'IM' and the five elders as 'IM' might be the leader of the devils or even the existence controlling the devils… It was necessary to show that picture to them to make sure Garp and Sengoku understand things and be on his side.

Once again Sengoku and Garp stayed silent, contemplating before finally, they agreed. They found out that these devils are more than enough for them to let go of their differences with the pirates.

Then the meeting was concluded. Ian and Whitebeard had gained two new allies.

Then Elene took them back before Ian finally prepared to start sailing with his crew.