19 Is It Better To Be Loved Or Feared By Your Enemies?

Marine Ford Port

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the choppy waters, the silhouette of a massive wooden ship emerged on the horizon. It's sails billowed in the wind, the creaking of the rigging echoing across the harbor. 

The Marine's port bustled with activity as marines lined the docks, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the vessel. As the ship drew nearer, the giant Tree symbol on the ship's mast could be clearly seen, confirming that this ship belonged to the prestigious Nature's Family.

As the ship docked, when Ephon, Diana and Hercule disembark the ship, whispers from the marines could be heard. 

"Is this a joke? Where is the leader of Nature's Family?" a marine asked, puzzled, as he observed the three walking onto the dock.

"I thought he was an old guy that dominated the sea, but this…"

"Hey guys!? Maybe it's a devil fruit, and that's just an old monster in a young body." a marine exposed his guess.

The marines were informed earlier today that they will be visited by the Leader of Nature's Family, his wife, and son. And at hearing such news, the marines became excited and almost all of them wanted to see this legendary figure with their own eyes.

A lot of them grew up hearing stories about Ephon, the man who was once dubbed the strongest man in the world when he was only in his late teens. Not to mention his many other unbelievable feats, in fact, to some people, the name 'Ephon Jarilo', has started to be viewed as a Myth, instead of some recent Legend.

But now they are seeing a man that looked to be in his 20s, and some that have seen the old posters of Ephon made out the fact that he looked almost the same as he did in his poster half a century ago.

Ephon ignored the murmurs of the marines, as he walked toward Kong, who was standing alongside Sengoku and Garp who were staring at him with scrutinizing gazes.

"Oh… it seems you did a good job on my image Diana. There was once upon a time when no one dared to look at our Nature's Pirate due to the rumors spread by the WG." Ephon commented.

"Of course, I'm not one of the kings of the underworld for nothing you know." Diana responded as though insulted by Ephon's statement, but Ephon ignored her.

Observing the gazes from the three in front of him, combined with the silent murmurs from the marines, Ephon couldn't help but reminisce about the times when even marines would flee at the sight of him, much less murmur in his presence.

You see, NF never harmed civilians, and sometimes they even spared the lives of marines they deemed good. Ephon would even create a forest for of food when he passed by islands with impoverished people.

But because of his power, combined with his age and weird way of doing things, the WG found him to be a threat, so they demonized his image and spurred his reputation, to the point where people believe that encountering them was the same as encountering a Natural Disaster. 

After Diana developed her information system, Ephon tasked her with spreading rumors about the good things NF did during their time as pirates and disapproving harmful rumors spread by the WG.

Although she stopped, in addition with the rumors Diana spread, about Nature's Triangle being a Paradise, the world's view, and history of Nature's Family was slowly changed, and the behavior of these marines are the best proof of that. 

'But… for my potential enemies and their allies, it is better for them to fear me, than to love me and potentially look down on me because of my benevolence'.

Thinking of this, Ephon stopped in place, and turned his gaze towards the murmuring marines who were talking about him.

This caused Kong to become confused, but what happened next, left him unable to maintain his composure.

"I see that you Marines, who call themselves men of Justice have a lot to say about me, well allow me to introduce myself, my name is Ephon Jarilo!" 

As soon as Ephon spoke his name, he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, sending out a surge of power that reverberated through the atmosphere with flashes of periodic green and black lightning being summoned down from the sky.

In an instant, the sky above the port seemed to split asunder, as if torn open by the sheer force of his will. A jagged chasm of pure energy split the sky spreading all the way to the end of the Horizon of the sea, casting an otherworldly glow upon the astonished onlookers below.

But the display of power did not end there. As the Ephon's Haki spread outwards, the waters of the sea began to churn and roil, as if stirred by invisible hands. Waves rose and fell in a hypnotic dance, parting to reveal the seafloor in its nakedness.

In the face of such overwhelming force, the Marines at the port fell silent in shock, Kong, Garp and Sengoku were rendered speechless by the sheer magnitude of what they were witnessing.

 For in that moment, it was as if the Ephon had become a force of nature itself, bending the very fabric of reality to his will.

But what was more shocking to Kong and Sengoku, was the fact that no one passed out despite feeling and seeing Ephon's Conqueror's Haki. It seemed that they weren't targeted by Ephon's Haki at all, which was a relief to Kong.

Not to mention the fact that a 20 year old Ephon could fight more than three Admiral level fighters at once, he knew that Ephon's wife was 'The Seer' of the Underworld, and should not be underestimated, the fact that she still looked so young was proof that she not a simple.

So Kong really didn't want a confrontation with these old monsters, on top of the fact that a lot of their main combatants are away, not that he believed they could do anything, especially now after he witnessing the power of Ephon's Haki, he was even more sure of his decision to avoid a confrontation.

"Is this the power of those that stand at the top!?" Garp spoke aloud as he clenched his fist.

Although Sengoku didn't say anything, his face showed that he had a similar thought.

"No! This is the power of the one that stands at the top." Kong clarified.

Hearing this, Kong and Garp couldn't help but cast their glances away from the sea that was now returning to peace over to Ephon.

"And he was holding back." Kong added.

"Why did you do that Dad!?" Hercule couldn't help but question.

He too was amazed by his father's power, although he had fought against him in his combat training, and even saw his dad fighting against his Uncle Nolan.

Nolan had told him that his dad never likes to go all out, and has never used his full strength against him, even when he used his awakening ability.

So despite witnessing such a shocking scene of power, Hercule knew that his dad must have a reason behind his action.

"What a smart boy you are Hercule, I did this to send a message, you figure out the rest on your own." Ephon replied with a proud smile, as he openly complemented his son.

"Don't play mind games with our son Ephon!" Diana, who had been silently observing her husband's work, reprimanded.

"Mr Jarilo! Mrs Jarilo! and ahhh…" Kong, who had walked over to the group of three, tried to politely get the group's attention who was ignoring his presence, well, excluding Hercule. 

"Hercule! Hercule Jarilo." Hercule introduced.

Although the people of the Triangle knew that their leader had a son, not to mention his name, if he appeared in front of them now, they probably wouldn't know who he was.

"Yes, and Hercule, Why don't you guys come to my office to discuss matters in a more private setting." Kong's figure looked really weird speaking in such a professional way, with his stature and power.

"Lead the way."