Koby and Helmeppo

As the marine ship cut through the calm blue waters back to the G-8 Marine Base, Adrian resumed his rigorous training regimen under Garp and Bogart. His skills had improved remarkably; now, he could hold his own against any of the marine soldiers in sparring sessions. However, when it came to Garp and Bogart, Adrian still found himself outmatched, a testament to their exceptional abilities and experience.

One sunny afternoon on deck, after a particularly intense training session where Adrian managed to disarm two marine recruits simultaneously, Garp clapped him on the back, a wide grin on his face. "You're getting stronger, Adrian! But don't let it get to your head—you've still got a long way to go to catch up to me."

"You know, Adrian," Garp began, chuckling as he wiped sweat from his brow, "I've got three grandsons, not just Luffy. The other two are as much my grandsons as he is, even if not by blood."

Adrian, who knew exactly who Garp was talking about but played along, raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Oh really? Who might they be? Do they also want to become Pirate Kings?"

Garp laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Oh no, those two are a bit different. One's got a fiery spirit, wants to make a name for himself without relying on his father's shadow. The other's a bit quieter, but just as determined in his own way."

Adrian laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Sounds like they're quite the characters. Must be tough having such ambitious grandsons."

Garp's expression softened, a hint of nostalgia flitting across his features. "Ah, yes, Ace and Sabo. Those boys, along with Luffy, were inseparable when they were young. They considered themselves brothers, thicker than any blood could define."

Sitting down on a nearby crate, Garp gestured for Adrian to join him. "Ace, he was a fiery kid, strong-willed and born a leader. Did you know he was the Pirate King's son?" Garp's voice lowered, as if sharing a state secret.

Adrian acted shocked, his eyes widening. "Really? Gol D. Roger's son? That's incredible!"

"Yes, kept it under wraps for a long time to protect him," Garp continued, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and sorrow. "Raised him as my own after his mother passed away just after giving birth. That boy had a burden from the very start."

"And Sabo?" Adrian prompted, playing into his role of the intrigued listener.

Garp sighed, looking out to the sea. "Sabo was like another son to me. Born into nobility in the Goa Kingdom but never cared for the life of luxury. He dreamt of freedom, the open seas. Tragically, we thought we lost him in a terrible incident when he tried to leave the kingdom. It broke Ace and Luffy for a long while."

Adrian feigned a gasp, "That's heartbreaking, sir. To lose someone like that..."

Garp nodded, his gaze distant. "It was tough on all of us. But you know, the sea is a strange place. It takes but sometimes gives back when you least expect it."

Adrian sensed there was more to Sabo's story that Garp wasn't telling, likely the part about Sabo actually being alive, which he knew from the storyline. He decided not to push further, respecting the narrative Garp chose to share.

The conversation then took a lighter turn as Garp started recounting various misadventures of Luffy, Ace, and Sabo's childhood, each tale filled with the kind of trouble that only young, spirited boys could find themselves in. Adrian laughed along, the stories endearing the characters to him even more.

"You see, Adrian, these boys—they've got the will of D. It's a powerful thing," Garp mused, a proud smirk playing on his lips.

"Seems like it runs in the family, sir," Adrian joked, earning a hearty laugh from Garp.

As the laughter died down, Garp stood up, clapping Adrian on the shoulder firmly. "Let's get back to training. Those boys might have the will of D, but you, my young Marine, you've got the will of Garp today."

Chuckling, Adrian followed Garp back to the center of the deck to resume their training, his mind richer with the histories of the brothers who considered themselves bound not by blood but by bonds forged in shared dreams and adventures.

Adrian walked away to rejoin his squadron, Koby and Helmeppo were left with their chores but now had much to discuss.

"Man, Adrian gets all the cool assignments, training directly under Garp, and now he's even talking about putting in a good word for us?" Koby said, a mix of awe and envy in his voice as he scrubbed harder at the deck.

Helmeppo sighed, pulling at another stubborn weed. "Yeah, and here we are, pulling weeds and scrubbing floors. It's not fair! I want to be out there, fighting pirates and making a name for myself, not just being known as Vice Admiral Garp's whiny kid."

Koby nodded, his scrubbing slowing as he thought. "But you heard Adrian. He started just like us, and look at him now. Maybe there's hope for us yet. We just need to show we're capable and ready for more."

Helmeppo grumbled, "Easy for you to say, Koby. You've got the guts. I'm just... not sure I can handle what comes with that much responsibility."

"Come on, Helmeppo, we can do this. We'll train harder, prove we're more than just chore boys. Adrian's story is inspiring, isn't it? If he can do it, why can't we?" Koby's words carried a hopeful undertone, trying to lift his friend's spirits as well as his own.

"Yeah, you're right, Koby. Let's prove to everyone that we're made of tougher stuff than they think," Helmeppo finally agreed, a new resolve firming his features.

Meanwhile, Adrian regrouped with his squadron, finding Garp in the midst of outlining their next operations. The air was thick with anticipation and the weight of responsibility as Garp's commanding voice rolled over the assembled Marines.