Tug!(3x)
"Noah, you asleep?"
A knock landed on Noah's door. He instinctively glanced outward, and with [Byakugan], he saw Borsalino standing outside, his face looking bored as usual. The man didn't seem impressed by the earlier banquet.
"Come in," Noah said calmly, already resigned. With clingy guys like this, there wasn't much use resisting.
"I thought you'd be knocked out by now," Kizaru muttered as he strolled in and noticed the untouched dishes on the table. Only a few bites had been taken, clearly not enough to satisfy.
"Not a fan of the food?" he asked with a small smile while casually pouring himself a glass of wine. Noah glanced at the food again. "It's fine."
These were the type of dishes meant for offerings to the Celestial Dragons. Of course they had to be top-tier or heads would roll, literally.
"We're expecting the Beasts Pirates to arrive tomorrow," Kizaru said while sipping. "Maybe they'll be a bit late though."
He didn't seem too bothered. Unless Kaido came himself, they'd have no trouble handling it. If Kaido really did show, well, they'd just have to deal with it then.
Even though he brought few men, he still had Noah at his side. That alone made a big difference.
"Don't relax too much," Noah said with a slight smirk. "If an Admiral shows up, Kaido won't sit still. That guy's got a temper."
Kizaru rubbed his chin. "Think he'll really come? Hopefully not."
"Better come up with a plan either way," Noah said, looking amused. "I'm only here to clean up the small fry. You're the one with the real job."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right," Kizaru sighed. "I shouldn't have agreed to this mess."
The more he thought about it, the more annoying this whole mission felt. All he wanted was to evaluate Noah's strength. Now he was risking a fight with a Yonko.
"I'll contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku," he muttered while heading out. Noah smiled faintly, watching his back disappear.
That guy only moved when things got urgent. He hardly looked the part of a Marine Admiral, but the confidence behind those lazy steps couldn't be faked.
Even if Kaido came, Kizaru probably wouldn't flinch. The only real problem was having Noah around. Alone, Kizaru could waltz into enemy territory. But with Noah beside him, things became a lot more complicated.
…
Two days passed in a flash.
Peace didn't last long. Hina stood beside Noah, reporting the newest developments with a serious look on her face. "Gecko Moria's been taken down."
By a rookie.
After Crocodile, now Moria. Another Warlord had fallen to the same unknown pirate. These were pirates who had once stood against Kaido and Whitebeard—and lived.
Now they were losing to some upstart with no reputation. The Marines were losing face fast.
If Crocodile's downfall in Alabasta could be brushed off as a strategic arrest, Moria's defeat was harder to explain. It was all over the news—everyone was talking about this rookie pirate.
"The rookie's name is Monkey D. Luffy," Hina reported with a strange expression.
She paused for a moment. "If I recall, Vice Admiral Garp's surname is also... Monkey?"
The implication was hard to miss. Noah's brow lifted slightly, then he chuckled. "Garp's grandson. Don't mind it."
Even without official power, Garp's presence in the Navy was enormous. Noah didn't care for bureaucracy, but he also didn't want to throw away a steady tea supplier. That old man had long since started bribing him with good leaves.
"I see," Hina muttered, lips twitching slightly. But her confusion remained.
Why would Garp's grandson become a pirate? And such a well-known one at that?
The name Monkey D. Luffy was now echoing across the Grand Line. Wouldn't that stain Garp's reputation?
But that wasn't her problem.
"Anything else going on recently?" Noah asked as he leaned back. Hina shook her head. "Not really. The sea's been calm. A few potential rookies in the first half, but nothing serious in the New World."
Even the Whitebeard Pirates hadn't made a move. It was like the entire ocean had fallen into quiet slumber.
"Good," Noah said. But deep down, he was getting impatient.
Why hadn't Ace been caught yet?
No matter, he'd wrap things up here first. Then he'd apply for a little vacation time.
If he timed it just right, he might be able to skip out on the upcoming Marineford war altogether.
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter