Chapter 137
**Chapter 137**
Spandam had had enough.
With a wave of his hand, a row of **suited agents** instantly stepped forward, ready to **restrain Dragon**.
But before they could move—
**Whoosh!**
A sudden **gust of wind** sent them flying, **slamming** them into the deck's railing with brutal force.
Spandam barely had time to **register what had happened** when another gust **rushed past him**.
The next thing he knew—
**Dragon was standing right in front of him.**
Spandam's eyes **widened in fear**, his breath catching in his throat.
"You—"
**Snap!**
Dragon's **hand shot out**, grabbing Spandam by the throat and **lifting him off the ground** with terrifying ease.
His **cold gaze** bored into Spandam's trembling form.
"Who do you **represent**?" he demanded.
Behind them, Garp watched, arms folded.
"Alright, Dragon," he said, his voice light but firm. "You **can't** go around choking government officials. That's just bad manners."
Dragon didn't even glance back. His grip **tightened**, and Spandam's face **turned purple**.
"I'm ending this **today**—"
Before he could finish—
**Slash!**
A **flash of red** cut through the air.
The next moment, Dragon's body **flew backward**, **slamming** into the wall behind him with a sickening **crack**.
**Thud!**
Spandam collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
For a moment, he just lay there, dazed.
Then, as realization struck, he **scrambled forward**, clutching at the legs of the one who had saved him.
"**Admiral Black Dragon!**" he cried, his voice trembling. "You finally came! I—I was almost **strangled to death** by that **Dragon!**"
Carl stood above him, his expression **calm and unreadable**.
He glanced down at Spandam and spoke in a **soft, steady voice**.
"I saw everything."
"You've been **wronged**."
Spandam's **eyes teared up** in relief.
Still kneeling, he quickly straightened his upper body, afraid he might **dirty Carl's uniform**.
"Admiral Black Dragon," he sniffled. "I—I'm only doing my **duty** for you! A little **suffering** is nothing!"
Carl placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Stand back," he ordered.
"I'll **handle this** myself."
"As you command, Admiral!"
Spandam **scurried away**, staring at Carl with **deep admiration**.
---
Inside the room, Garp had already pulled Dragon out of the wreckage.
His son's abdomen was **smeared with blood**, five deep **claw-like wounds** clearly visible.
Garp's **fists clenched** in fury.
Even though he was usually easygoing, seeing his **son injured** like this made his blood **boil**.
At the doorway, Carl remained **calm**.
The sharp **claws on his right hand** slowly retracted as he spoke, his voice **emotionless**.
"**Vice Admiral Garp,**" he said evenly.
"Spandam is an **official of the World Government**. Your son attacked him **without provocation**."
Carl's gaze was ice-cold.
"What punishment do you think he should face?"
Garp's **anger erupted**.
"**Bullshit!**" he roared.
"**Spandam** sent his goons after us **first**!"
Carl's expression **didn't change**.
He tapped his **earpiece** and said,
"But I distinctly remember **hearing you mock Spandam first**. His men were unconscious **before** they could act. I didn't hear Spandam give any order to attack."
Spandam **nodded furiously** from behind Carl, his face smug.
Garp was **momentarily speechless**.
Dragon, still kneeling, coughed—**blood dribbling from his lips**.
Garp's **rage reignited**. He pointed at Carl and **shouted**—
"Forget all that! **You went too far!**"
Carl took a slow step forward.
The **air grew heavy**, thick with an oppressive **bloodlust**.
He **locked eyes** with Garp, his voice turning dangerously **low**.
"So," he said.
"You're going to **ignore the facts?**"
Garp's fists **turned black**—coated in **Haki**.
His eyes **narrowed**.
"So what if I am?" he growled.
**Crack!**
The walls and floor **fractured** under the pressure of their clashing wills.
The room seemed to **warp** from the sheer force of their auras.
Just as they were about to clash—
"**Admiral Black Dragon, I was wrong. Please forgive me!**"
Carl paused.
Garp **froze**, turning to Dragon in shock.
"**What?!**"
Dragon shot him a **pleading look**.
"**Stop, Father!**" he yelled.
Despite the **pain in his abdomen**, Dragon forced himself to **stand up**.
Then—he bowed deeply to Carl.
"**Admiral Black Dragon, please forgive my father and me for our recklessness!**"
Carl's eyes **flickered with surprise**.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then—**the bloodlust around him faded.**
After a long, unreadable **stare at Dragon**, he **waved his hand** dismissively.
Spandam, ever **eager**, rushed forward.
"Admiral Black Dragon! You called for me?"
Carl nodded.
Then, he turned his gaze back to **Dragon**.
"The one you should truly apologize to—"
Carl's voice was steady.
"**Is Spandam.**"
Both Dragon and Spandam **blinked** in confusion.
Garp **bristled** in anger.
"**Don't push it!**" he barked. "Dragon **can't—**"
But before he could finish—
Dragon had already walked up to Spandam.
And—**he bowed his head.**
"**I apologize.**"
Spandam's mouth **fell open**.
For a moment, he simply **stared** at Dragon in disbelief.
Then—his lips **curled into a smirk**.
"Well, well," he said, trying to **sound generous**. "At least you **know your place**."
Carl's gaze **shifted** slightly.
Spandam **immediately shut up** and stepped back.
Dragon said **nothing**, his face unreadable.
But inside—he was **more suspicious than ever.**
Why was Spandam—a man who **looked down on almost everyone**—**so afraid of Carl?**
Sure, Carl was an **Admiral**.
But Garp, despite being a **Vice Admiral**, could take the **rank** any time he wanted.
Yet Spandam treated **Carl** like he was something **far greater**.
Something **beyond an Admiral.**
Dragon's **eyes narrowed**.
**Something wasn't right.**
---
Carl glanced at the **bloody wounds** on Dragon's abdomen.
His voice was **calm, detached**.
"I'll let this go **for now**."
"Get your wound treated."
His gaze turned toward the horizon.
"We'll be reaching **Goa Kingdom** soon."
He turned away.
"After all," he said lightly.
"It's about time we had a **proper rest** after being at sea for so long."