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"What are you doing?! Let me go!!!"

A loud scream broke through the forest, coming exactly from Klein who's screaming like he's being tortured by someone. His small body moving around, trying to escape the grasp that Garp has on his collar. The horrified look on his face was real, especially when he felt his body being dragged on the ground, his always clean shirt now being tainted by the soil.

The sight alone is a major torture for Klein who quickly tried to deliver a kick towards Garp, which obviously failed.

"Grandpa! Let Klein go!" Luffy also said, albeit a bit muffled since his body is dangling. His cheeks is being held by Garp, tightly too in case Luffy decided to do something.

"Old man! Stinky Old Man!! Let me fuvking go!!"

"Shut up! Didn't I told you to call me Grandpa?!" Garp responded as loudly, shaking Klein's body without mercy. "This time, you two better erase the thought of becoming a criminal into your mind and instead, learn and train to become a great Marine!"

"I told you already! Grandpa! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!!" Luffy yelled stubbornly after hearing what Garp just said.

"Pirate King my foot!"

"Let go! Let go! Ne!!! Let goo!!" The more he felt his body being drag on the ground, the more Klein could feel the sensation of something unknown prickling his skin, like ants were running in his body ready to bit him. "I can walk on my own!"

Garp doubted that, of course. He took a great deal on taking the kid with him, even using his Haki to ensure the kid wouldn't ran away.

"Just be silent! Both of you!"

No!!!! My clothes! My skin! The dirt!

Klein cried in his mind. Although he's not so obsess with cleanliness like his life depended on it, he couldn't tolerate it. One because his cleanliness came from fear, and the other is the psychological feeling it brings him, causing him to feel so uncomfortable and distraught every single time.

This time is no exception.

"Garp---Grandpa! This time, I swear in my name I won't run away, alright?!" Klein sounded like he's at the verge of begging. His arms were touching the grass, and he the wetness coming from morning dew sticking into his skin, making Klein more horrified of the feeling.

"Hmp!" Garp pause for a moment when he heard that the kid he took away, or decided to take away, from Shanks care finally called him Grandpa. Then, he look down at Klein who look genuinely pale and distraught and immediately the marine Hero scoff. "Wanting to become a lawless pirate but can't stand a simple dragging! You're simply dead once you set sail out in the sea!"

"@ajsh&jsd!!!" Klein wanted to curse Garp. He really want to. But he swallowed his words because, well, isn't it obvious? He wanted to get out of his situation!

Taking out a deep breath, Klein pleaded. "Alright, whatever makes you sleep peacefully at night. But please, I really feel uncomfortable so let me walk."

"Alright!" Garp finally put Klein down, earning a relieved sigh from an almost breaking down kid.

Klein quickly took out some handkerchief that Hongo gifted him after knowing his condition regarding cleanliness. With the clothing, he quickly wipe the yet to fall tears and then tightly clutch the handkerchief, his eyes flashing a bit with dangerous light before it was broken by a cry.

"Owww!!"

Looking back at Garp, he saw Luffy's dangling form. Klein feels a bit of pity but remembering his previous situation, he choose to shut up in case Garp decided to drag him again.

"Grandpa! I don't wanna become a Marine, let me go!" Luffy said without fear.

Garp glared sharply ahead the road and couldn't help but pinch Luffy's cheeks a bit more, "Shut up! Not only did you eat a Devil Fruit, but you have the gal to speak to that way?!" The Marine Hero had already imagined the scenario of cutting Red Haired Shanks to pieces once he learned that his Grandson has been influenced to become a Pirate. Now, Garp's heart is wounded by this atrocious events and couldn't help but cry internally while venting his frustrations at the two unlucky kids, forcing them to partake a training to become the greatest 'Marine'.

"Luffy! You, this blonde brat and Ace---

"My name is Klein." Klein quietly said through gritted teeth but Garp ignored him. The Marine Hero continued, "You three are going to become the strongest Marines that have ever lived when you grow up!"

'As if.' Klein snorted silently. His background alone is enough to become a hunted criminal. So why would he be so stupid as to hand himself to the Marines, what's more, become one? Surely when his true background in exposed even pirates and marines alike would go after his head.

Of course, Klein buried his thoughts inside his mind and pretend to be obedient, or at least, silent and aloof while following Garp. His fear of being drag into the ground sure has taken a big toll on his mind. He could only pray for Luffy to also shut up so they can arrived quickly at their destination and perhaps, make a run from Garp.

"Why does this hurt if I'm rubber?! Lemme go Grandpa!"

Klein doesn't know what to say to that. But inside his heart, he really curse Garp with tons of foul and colorful language.

'Fuck. This old man is insanse! He didn't even hold back in using his Haki and directly hit people like some kind of punching addict. What's up with the Marines?! Are they blind people treating a complete maniac as some kind of Hero?!'

Of course, as a child, Klein has many complaints in his heart that he has no energy to voice out. He even compared the treatment he got from Reyleigh and Shanks, then the "loving" way of Garp. He couldn't help but grimaced at the huge difference.

"It was a mistake of me to leave you in this Lukewarm Village." Garp muttered, his tone serious and angry causing Klein to shudder a bit. Not because of fear, but because of worry since he's pretty sure this crazy old man wouldn't forgive Shanks.

'Shit, Now I feel like it's a mistake to leave Old Rayleigh's side!'

ᴘᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴘɪʀᴀᴄʏ // ᴏɴᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ Where stories live. Discover now