Barrett stumbled home and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Late at night, Douglas Gray, Captain of the Galzforz unit, returned home.
He was surprised to see the training room unlit from outside.
After all, his adopted son was an extremely disciplined person and should have been training at this hour.
He turned on the light upon entering the house and sat down on the sofa.
He thought of his adopted son, who had always been so sensible and had brought him immense profits since childhood.
Gray's expression darkened. Excellence was a good thing, but seeing Barrett grow stronger and stronger...
Gray felt an inexpressible emotion. He was growing too fast, and his accumulated military achievements were subtly showing signs of him becoming a national hero.
This was intolerable for a power holder in his prime.
The sense of crisis in Gray's heart grew more intense. If he continued to grow, he would eventually threaten his position...
If all else fails, I'll have to implement that plan... Don't blame your father then, Barrett.
*Snap!*
He took out a cigar, lit it, and Gray's face, with its inscrutable expression, was obscured by smoke, making him unrecognizable.
*Tap, tap, tap, tap...*
Footsteps approached from behind. Gray quickly adjusted his expression, turned to look at Barrett behind him, and grinned:
"Barrett, what's wrong today?"
"You don't look well."
Barrett looked at his father's face and shook his head:
"I'm just thinking about some things, Father."
In truth, he wasn't foolish. For some reason, his father had become increasingly distant over the years and no longer showed the affection he had in his childhood.
This was one of the reasons Barrett had become even more withdrawn. They were father and son, but for some reason, his father treated him this way.
Unable to understand, coupled with the betrayal of his companions, Barrett could only find a sliver of meaning in existence through strenuous training, feeling his own body grow stronger day by day.
Thinking of the Marine officer he had encountered that day, Barrett had been listless at home all afternoon.
He finally recognized his inner desires, realizing:
"I want to have trusted companions, I want to be redeemed, and I want to protect..."
He solidified a certain thought in his heart and, when his father returned in the evening, Barrett walked over.
Sitting on the sofa beside his father, he said somewhat awkwardly:
"Father, I want to join the Navy."
Gray froze. His smile slowly faded, and his expression turned solemn. He took a deep puff of his cigar:
"Why do you have such an idea, Barrett?"
The cigar smoke shrouded Gray's face, making it unreadable. At that moment, Gray was wondering what Barrett's intention behind this statement was.
Was it a test, had his rivals said something to Barrett, or had he overheard something he shouldn't have?
Barrett lowered his head, was silent for a moment, and then looked up, saying with determination:
"Father, I want to have companions, I want to have trustworthy comrades, and I want to protect everything I have."
Each word struck Gray's heart like a hammer. Looking at Barrett's youthful, innocent face...
Gray was suddenly awakened. What had he been doing these past few years? He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but didn't know what to say.
Finally, he spoke somewhat stiffly:
"Have you made up your mind?"
Barrett nodded solemnly. Seeing Barrett's determination, Gray suddenly smiled.
The smile was no longer filled with distance. Perhaps he had been wrong before... But fortunately, no great mistake had been made.
His gaze towards Barrett no longer held any hidden apprehension. He nodded at Barrett, indicating his agreement.
Then he went into the bedroom, woke his sleeping wife, and asked her to prepare a rich meal for them.
Father and son, after many years, returned to the feeling they had in their childhood.
At the dining table, Barrett felt his father's changed attitude and concern. A hint of a smile appeared on his usually indifferent face.
He slept little that night.
The next morning, Barrett packed his belongings, ready to head to the port. He had heard that the group of Marines he had met yesterday would be resting on the island for one night.
Barrett had packed his bags early, intending to bid farewell to his parents, but his hand, raised to knock on the door, hesitated.
Finally, he knocked, but there was no response. Gently pushing the door open, he found that neither of his parents was in the room.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Barrett's face, and he walked outside dejectedly. Pushing open the front door.
What greeted him was not the first ray of morning sun, but his father, dressed in a naval uniform adorned with medals, and his mother, with red-rimmed eyes, wiping away tears.
Barrett smiled joyfully, grabbed the hands of his parents, and the three of them headed together to the port where the Sakazuki's warship was docked...
-------------------------
On the departing warship, Barrett looked back with reluctance at the island where he had lived since birth.
Sakazuki and Carol stood on the deck, looking at Barrett. This unexpected surprise was something they hadn't anticipated.
Furthermore, Barrett at this stage had not yet eaten a Devil Fruit. If nurtured properly, his strength could become that of the next Garp.
Recalling the Haki quantity and quality that Barrett possessed in the original work.
Sakazuki decided to personally train him.
This day, as he was guiding Barrett on how to train his Haki.
*Buru buru! Buru buru!*
The Den Den Mushi's ringing sounded from behind. Carol walked over with the Den Den Mushi and handed it to Sakazuki.
Upon answering the Den Den Mushi, Vice Admiral Maurice's worried voice could be heard from the other end.
After listening to what Vice Admiral Maurice had to say, Sakazuki's brows furrowed. He asked Carol to fetch a sea chart and gave some instructions.
Then, orienting himself and holding the sea chart, his lower body turned into magma.
*Boom!*
A violent explosion resounded, shaking the warship. Sakazuki shot up into the sky.