They're Fighting Again?!

"Eh? Vice Admiral Garp? Isn't he at headquarters? I just got back myself, so I don't know! He hasn't contacted me!"

Mo Xingchen looked utterly bewildered by the question. Fleet Admiral Kong scrutinized him, and seeing that his expression did not seem faked, waved a hand and said:

"That bastard Garp vanished without a word or even a report. Who knows where he ran off to? Now that there's something urgent, no one can find him. Completely undisciplined and unorganized!"

"Just contact the officers aboard Vice Admiral Garp's warship. Then you'll know."

"That brat didn't take his warship. He sneaked off alone!"

At that, Fleet Admiral Kong slammed the table, his rage flaring even higher. Seeing his temper worsen, Mo Xingchen hurriedly redirected his attention, filled his teacup, and handed it over.

"Fleet Admiral Kong, have some tea and calm down. Getting so angry is bad for your liver. I saw a lot of Vice Admirals heading toward the conference room just now. Is there some major operation?"

"The scholars of Ohara were researching the blank century that vanished eight hundred years ago, and the World Government found out. The Gorosei have ordered the Navy to launch a Buster Call and destroy Ohara.

"CP has already gone to Ohara to organize the evacuation of civilians. Sengoku is presiding over a meeting to select the Vice Admirals who will carry out the Buster Call. Sengoku and I had originally planned to have Garp lead the operation, only to discover that the bastard had disappeared!"

Uncle Garp had slipped away alone without even taking a warship. He was probably heading to Baterilla Island in the South Blue to pick up Ace.

The Ohara incident... Nico Robin! Robin had always been Mo Xingchen's favorite character when he watched the anime. She was intelligent, refined, and kind. She was neither as arrogant as the Empress nor as reckless as Nami.

He also deeply sympathized with little Robin's experiences. She had an incredibly irresponsible mother who, in pursuit of the blank century, left her own child at her uncle's home, turning her into a true left-behind child. Her aunt was harsh and mean, leaving her hungry, cold, and mistreated from a young age.

After eating a Devil Fruit, she suffered bullying and ostracism from the other children in the village. Just when her mother finally returned, what awaited her was disaster. At eight years old, she began a wandering life, tasting betrayal and the ugliness of human nature, constantly fleeing and constantly facing the darkness of this world.

Even under those circumstances, she never turned evil. She was even willing to be captured and die in order to protect Chopper. On Enies Lobby, her desperate cry of "I want to live!" had brought tears to the eyes of countless innocent young men.

Decided! He would save Robin! He would pull her out of that dark world!

Fleet Admiral Kong watched Mo Xingchen stand there lost in thought and silent for a long while before asking:

"What's wrong?"

"Ah? Ah! Nothing, I just thought of something. Fleet Admiral Kong, since Uncle Garp isn't here, how about I carry out this mission in his place? Don't be angry with him anymore."

Fleet Admiral Kong considered it for a while. Although Mo Xingchen was still only a colonel, most of the headquarters officers knew him and understood his strength. Besides, he had originally been Garp's adjutant, so it was not impossible for him to replace Garp.

"Ahem. You brat are at least sensible. Go to the conference room now and listen to Sengoku's arrangements."

"Then I'll go find Admiral Sengoku first. Please carry on."

Mo Xingchen left the Marshal's Office and headed to the large conference room. Looking at the soldier standing guard outside, he asked:

"Is the meeting still going on inside?"

"Yes, Colonel Mo!"

Mo Xingchen nodded and pushed the door open. Good lord! Every one of them looked vicious, sitting with their legs crossed and cigars or cigarettes dangling from their mouths. This looked nothing like a meeting of Navy officers—it was more like a gathering of underworld bosses dividing the spoils!

The entire conference room was thick with smoke. Didn't they know how to open a window? Weren't they suffocating?

The meeting was interrupted, and everyone turned to stare at Mo Xingchen by the door in confusion. Sakazuki, meanwhile, said with an annoyed expression:

"What are you doing? This is a Vice Admiral-level meeting. Don't you know the rules?"

"Fuck! Why are you the one with so much to say? Not happy? Then come fucking hit me!"

Mo Xingchen immediately started cursing. He had already been holding in a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent it. First, he had taken the blame for Garp and gotten thoroughly chewed out by Fleet Admiral Kong aboard the warship. Then he had just put on a smiling face to placate the Marshal and endured another round of anger.

There was nothing he could do about Garp. That uncle had always treated him well. He could not get angry at Fleet Admiral Kong either; after all, the man was an elder and the highest-ranking leader. Since he was part of this system, he had to show the man some respect, didn't he? If he acted immaturely, wouldn't Kong ultimately blame Garp?

Besides, although Old Man had a bad temper, Fleet Admiral Kong had treated him well. Want a long leave? Approved! Need sword-forging materials? The man had gone and asked for them despite his pride! A person had to know gratitude!

But what the fuck was Sakazuki supposed to be? He had neither helped Mo Xingchen nor done him any favors. Admiral Sengoku, who was presiding over the meeting, had not even opened his mouth to scold him, yet Sakazuki had already started lecturing him?

Seeing the two of them facing off, the Vice Admirals all began watching with great interest. Sakazuki saw that Mo Xingchen not only refused to explain his purpose but had even cursed at him, and his temper instantly flared. His hands began to turn elemental as well, droplets of magma falling to the floor and scorching it until wisps of blue smoke rose.

Seeing that the two were ready to fight at any moment, Sengoku slapped his forehead helplessly.

"You two, enough! Are you trying to tear down the conference room? Sakazuki, calm down. Mo Xingchen, what are you here for?"

"Fleet Admiral Kong sent me to listen to your arrangements. Vice Admiral Garp is unavailable, so I'm attending the meeting in his place."

Mo Xingchen strode over to the empty seat beside Vice Admiral Tsuru and sat down carelessly, crossing his legs and shrugging as he spoke.

"What a joke. Since when can a colonel attend a meeting in place of a Vice Admiral?"

Sakazuki spoke mockingly with a cold, sour expression.

In that instant, everyone seemed to hear a dragon's roar. Mo Xingchen appeared atop the conference table, his sword already drawn, and the entire room brightened by several degrees. Holding the sword in one hand, he unleashed White Rainbow Across the River, spinning and sweeping it toward Sakazuki's head.

Bang!

Sakazuki hastily coated both hands in Armament Haki and raised them before his head, blocking the attack as he locked blades with the incoming sword.

Seeing this, Mo Xingchen immediately gripped the hilt with his left hand as well, switching to a two-handed grip. With a powerful upward slash, he used Parting Clouds to Reveal the Sun, knocking Sakazuki's arms aside and leaving his center wide open. From above, Mo Xingchen followed with Emei Sword Art: Dragonfly Skims the Water, thrusting straight toward Sakazuki's brow.

"Little Mo!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru saw the two start fighting in the blink of an eye, with Mo Xingchen's every strike aimed to kill, and hurriedly called out to stop him. Hearing her voice, Mo Xingchen stopped the tip of his sword at Sakazuki's brow.

The entire conference room fell silent. The Vice Admirals knew that Mo Xingchen was strong and that he had previously fought Sakazuki to a draw. But they had not expected that, after a year or so, he would become even more terrifying with a sword in hand. His swordsmanship was astonishing. Though there was an element of surprise in his attack, being able to suppress Sakazuki so easily was not something an ordinary person could do.

"Little Mo, be good. Come back and sit down."

Vice Admiral Tsuru knew Mo Xingchen's stubborn temperament well. He was the type who responded better to gentle coaxing, so she persuaded him softly.

"Hmph!"

Mo Xingchen snorted coldly at Sakazuki, sheathed his sword with a flourish, and returned to his seat.