Punching Bag

After inviting Borsalino inside, Mo Xingchen brought out two wine glasses, uncorked a bottle of red wine, and poured it into a decanter. The two slumped onto the sofa, lit cigars, and began puffing away.

Watching the smoke drift by, Borsalino said with an unfocused gaze, "Dragon left?"

"Yeah! You knew too?"

"That stinky kid was my adjutant before he entered the Training Camp. A while ago, when you and Garp were both away, he came to me looking for answers. That was when I knew he would leave."

"Young people are full of hot blood. He went out to sea to chase his ideals, unlike us mature and steady old folks, who only want to slack off like salted fish."

Enjoying the fragrance of their cigars, Mo Xingchen filled Borsalino's glass. The two continued sipping red wine, living an exceptionally pleasant little life.

"At today's vice admiral-level meeting, since Teacher Zephyr will step down from his position as Admiral next year, Fleet Admiral Kong recommended Sakazuki for promotion to Admiral. It was practically about to pass, but he refused the promotion himself. Fleet Admiral Kong was so furious that he chewed you and Garp out too, saying that every last one of you had no organization or discipline!"

"Hahahahaha! Good thing I'm not a vice admiral, so I didn't get scolded on the spot. Looks like I should avoid wandering around in front of him these next few days."

"Then, after Vice Admiral Tsuru reported that Douglas Bullet had gone mad in the New World and was committing indiscriminate massacres, they ultimately decided to launch a Buster Call against him, with Admiral Sengoku and Garp leading the operation. They left as soon as the meeting ended. I thought you would go with them, but instead, you were over at the training grounds looking after children."

"I don't even need you to tell me. Uncle Garp definitely rushed to volunteer. One middle-aged uncle with a bellyful of anger and nowhere to vent it, and one Great Pirate on the verge of madness... tsk, tsk, tsk~ What a coincidence, huh? I'll bet ten bucks that Bullet gets beaten half to death!"

Borsalino seemed to imagine Garp, utterly enraged and firing on all cylinders, then thought of Bullet's miserable state. He could not help but shudder.

"Kowai ne!"

The two clinked glasses in a toast to Bullet! The Marines would remember you, hero. Rest in peace!

Mo Xingchen also briefly introduced Robin to Borsalino, without going into too much detail. Though the two were like-minded friends, there was no need to explain every little thing so clearly.

The two chatted leisurely like this. During their conversation, Borsalino mentioned that although Sakazuki had refused promotion to Admiral, he himself had also been nominated as an Admiral candidate, so he asked Mo Xingchen to help him think of a codename. To avoid some bizarre and messy title, Mo Xingchen casually settled on "Kizaru."

As they slowly finished a bottle of red wine, Borsalino rose to say goodbye and went home to sleep.

Over the next ten-plus days, aside from supervising Robin's training and studies, Mo Xingchen took her everywhere to mooch food and drinks. Fortunately, Robin herself was sensible and obedient, and Vice Admiral Tsuru adored her.

After criticizing Mo Xingchen for being so lazy and saying he did not know how to take care of people and should not teach the child bad habits, she simply took Robin to live at her home. She even said that Gion had not been this obedient as a child, making Gion so jealous that he came looking for Mo Xingchen to duel. Mo Xingchen took the opportunity to give Kake a beating as well.

<Sengoku and Garp Join Forces Again; the Miserable Successor of the Demon Meets His End Under a Buster Call>

During the lunch break, Mo Xingchen sprawled on the sofa in Vice Admiral Tsuru's office, reading the World Economy News Robin handed him with great interest. The report even came with several photographs.

In one of them, the young Great Pirate Douglas Bullet had been beaten beyond recognition. He lay on the ground with his eyes rolled back, while Garp stood over him, his sleeves burst apart by his swollen muscles, wearing an immensely satisfied expression.

The corners of Mo Xingchen's lips curled up slightly. It seemed Bullet had helped Garp vent quite a bit of his anger.

Another photograph showed Sengoku and Garp together. The headline said Sengoku and Garp had joined forces again, but judging by the picture, Sengoku's suit and coat were spotless, clearly showing that he had merely been there to coast along.

So much time has passed, and Robin's wanted poster still hasn't come out. This time, we should have gotten away with it. As long as she doesn't say she's an archaeologist herself in the future, there probably won't be any major trouble.

Then what excuse should I use to ask for another long leave? I've finished touring the East Blue, but there are still three seas I haven't visited. I wonder if Old Man Kong's anger has faded yet. Tsk... it won't be easy to bring it up!

"Report!"

"Come in."

"Vice Admiral, Fleet Admiral Kong has summoned you to his office. He says there is an urgent matter to discuss."

At that moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru's Communications Soldier entered to report.

Seeing Vice Admiral Tsuru rise, Mo Xingchen quickly called out to Robin and told her to play by herself, then followed behind Vice Admiral Tsuru to find out what major event had occurred.

When the two arrived at the Marshal's Office, they found Borsalino already seated on the sofa. Before Kong could speak, Kizaru handed the documents in his hand to Vice Admiral Tsuru. Mo Xingchen craned his neck behind her to read them as well.

The documents had been sent from Impel Down. They stated that Golden Lion Shiki had severed both his own legs in the great underwater prison and successfully escaped. His whereabouts were now unknown!

"Fleet Admiral Kong, with Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit ability, there is simply no way to track him down. We can only wait for him to reveal himself," Vice Admiral Tsuru said as she looked at Fleet Admiral Kong after reading the documents.

"I know. What troubles me now is how to keep the news sealed. If that damned bird Morgans, who fears the world is not chaotic enough, reports this, the Marines will lose all face."

Mo Xingchen was secretly delighted. Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives! Wasn't this his opportunity? He tilted to one side and raised a hand. "Fleet Admiral Kong, I don't know how to make Morgans shut up, but I can go look for Golden Lion! I'm free anyway, and I like running around. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll run into him!"

Kong's eyes lit up when he heard that. Mo Xingchen was strong enough; against Golden Lion with both legs severed, he might genuinely be able to defeat him. Furthermore, he did not currently hold any important post, making him a suitable candidate indeed. What if a blind cat really stumbled upon a dead mouse?

"Fine, I approve it! When do you plan to set out?"

Mo Xingchen thought for a moment. He had no one available to use, and William had likely gone to sea with Garp, so he said, "I'll wait until Uncle Garp comes back. After all, whenever I went to sea before, I borrowed men from him. I'm used to using them."

"Mm, a few more days won't make a difference. But don't you brat just focus on having fun. Remember to clear out the pirates along the way for me too!"

Kong nodded at that. The matter was not urgent for the next day or two anyway, and it was a long-term mission. Besides, anyone who had led soldiers preferred subordinates they had rapport with and could use smoothly.

"Absolutely! I'll head back and make preparations first, then. You all carry on."

With that, Mo Xingchen slipped away. Not only had he finished enjoying the drama, but he had also taken the chance to secure himself a long vacation. As for everything else, what did it have to do with him? It was not as if the Marines could not survive without him.

He happily returned to Vice Admiral Tsuru's office and said to Robin, who was reading a book, "Do you want to travel around with your big brother, or stay here with Sister Tsuru and wait for me to come back?"

"I want to travel!"