While waiting for Garp and Sengoku to return from their voyage, Vice Admiral Tsuru learned that Mo Xingchen would be taking Robin with him. Knowing she probably would not see the girl for a long time, she dragged Robin along every day to teach her all kinds of things.
Mo Xingchen was happy to take it easy. He either dragged Kizaru out for drinks and banter or went to play Gomoku with Admiral Zephyr. As for Kuzan, he had long since gone to the first half of the Grand Line to earn military merit.
At last, Garp returned. After explaining the situation to Uncle Garp, Mo Xingchen went to find William.
Same recipe, same familiar taste. They took the small escort warship, brought Robin aboard, and happily set out to enjoy a publicly funded vacation at sea.
That trip lasted seven years. During that time, Mo Xingchen traveled through nearly all of the West, South, and North Blues, capturing quite a few pirates along the way.
Over the past few years, he had learned about personnel changes at Marine Headquarters through the news. Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru had not changed much. Zephyr had stepped down as an Admiral years ago and devoted himself fully to being Chief Instructor. Sakazuki still refused promotion, but the name Akainu had grown increasingly famous.
Kizaru was still the same, commanding his scientific forces. His support abilities were simply too absurd, so he could only be kept stationed at headquarters. Kuzan, meanwhile, had become an Admiral candidate and gained the epithet Aokiji. Robin had come up with that name during a phone call back then. And that brat Dragon had taken the codename Dragon, founded the Revolutionary Army, and become known as "the world's most dangerous criminal."
Then headquarters gradually established five Marine branches in the New World, G-1 through G-5. Garp was the base commander of the G-3 Branch. Strictly speaking, Mo Xingchen was also part of G-3, since he was still Garp's adjutant, though that title was mostly nominal by now.
Mo Xingchen looked over his status panel.
Name: Mo Xingchen Race: Human Cultivation: Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivation Methods: Misty Immortal Method, Void Nether Body Technique
Two years ago, Mo Xingchen had discovered that the True Qi within his body had broken through. Since Qi Refining Early Stage corresponded to the strength of a Headquarters Vice Admiral, Mo Xingchen was now unquestionably at Admiral level—and an Admiral in both physical combat and swordsmanship.
"Big brother, today's newspaper."
Fifteen-year-old Robin was no longer a little brat, nor did she need to deliberately pretend to be a tomboy. At five foot five, with long, beautiful hair and a nicely developing figure, she was a proper little beauty now. My girl had finally grown up.
Mo Xingchen lay faithfully in his beloved beach chair, basking in the sun without even opening his eyes.
"Can't be bothered to read it. Read it to me."
"Fisher Tiger stormed Holy Land Mary Geoise alone and freed thousands of slaves. He also founded the Sun Pirates. Hm? There's a bounty poster tucked inside too. Let me count... two hundred million."
Robin rolled her eyes but obediently continued reading the newspaper.
Mo Xingchen curled his lips.
"Tch... I have a bad feeling about this."
"Pururururu~"
Robin automatically picked up the call.
"Hello, this is Colonel Mo Xingchen's warship. Please state your business!"
"Is that little Robin? It's Sister Tsuru. Tell Little Mo to return to headquarters as soon as possible."
Mo Xingchen spoke lazily.
"Got it, Sister Tsuru."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, he shrugged at Robin with a smug expression.
"See? I knew it. Vacation's over!"
"Big brother, what do you think happened? They actually called you back this time."
"I really wasted all those years teaching you. You're so smart, so why is your political instinct the one thing you're so terrible at?
You saw the news just now, right? The Celestial Dragons' nest was practically turned upside down. Someone important is bound to be held responsible. If nothing unexpected happens, Fleet Admiral Kong is probably stepping down this time."
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Robin wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue at Mo Xingchen.
"William! Set course back to Marineford!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford Naval Port.
Mo Xingchen wore a Justice Coat over a fitted dark casual suit. With both hands in his pockets, he led Robin, who carried Chun Jun on her back, along with William and the other soldiers down from the warship.
Although Mo Xingchen's rank had not risen over the past few years, his achievements in clearing out the three seas, combined with his exploits in sweeping through the East Blue, had been heavily promoted by both the World Economic Journal and the Marines themselves. He had become known throughout the seas.
Morgans had even dubbed him the "Pirate Buster."
In recent years, any pirate who managed to enter the Grand Line from the Four Seas could only be considered exceptionally lucky. Pirates who encountered Mo Xingchen either ended up at the bottom of the sea or were sent to Impel Down to work the sewing machines.
This greatly curtailed the flow of recruits to the Great Pirates of the New World. The young Marine boys and girls stationed along the route stared excitedly at Mo Xingchen and his group. Robin had also gained quite a few admirers in the Marines because of her looks. After all, any soldier who had served for over three years would find even a sow prettier than Diao Chan!
He had Robin and William carry the gifts they had accumulated over the years to Vice Admiral Tsuru first, while he went to the Marshal's Office to report in.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Mo Xingchen pushed open the door and took a look.
"Oh? Uncle Sengoku is here too. Why did Fleet Admiral Kong call me back?"
He placed the reports William had written on all the operations, large and small, over the past few years on Kong's desk. Then he turned around, sat on the sofa with Sengoku, and helped himself to some tea and snacks.
Kong flipped through the reports without looking up.
"You've seen the recent news, right?"
"The Mary Geoise incident?"
"Mm. To quell the impact of this incident, the World Government has decided to make this old man step down. Publicly, they're saying I'm being promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the entire military, so at least they're preserving a little of my dignity.
"There will be an officers' meeting tomorrow morning. You'll attend as well. Sengoku and I have matters to discuss, so go get some rest first."
"Alright. Oh, right—this time, I brought some local specialties from the Four Seas for all of you. I'll have Robin bring them over near the end of the workday."
After saying that, Mo Xingchen winked repeatedly at Sengoku before leaving the office. He was preparing to find Robin and visit Vice Admiral Tsuru as well.
There was no need to be overly concerned with formalities around Vice Admiral Tsuru. Doing so would only make them seem distant.
"Sister Tsuru, I came to see you!"
Mo Xingchen knocked on the door, waited two seconds, then pushed it open directly. Inside, he found two women, one older and one younger, sitting on the sofa amid piles of gifts, happily opening boxes.
Sure enough, women in every world had a special fondness for opening delivery packages!
"Hmph, Little Robin is the one who knows how to care for people. She bought me so many gifts. Unlike you, making a young girl carry that broken sword of yours all day long."
"My dear big sister! I paid for all these gifts! Besides, wasn't I training her?"
Robin immediately began playing the victim before Vice Admiral Tsuru, protesting with a wronged expression.
"I clearly took part in battles against those pirates too! Sister Tsuru, he's exploiting child labor!"
Women really were born masters of deception. One second, her little face had been full of excitement; the next, her eyes brimmed with tears as if she had suffered some enormous grievance. Seeing Vice Admiral Tsuru glare furiously at him, Mo Xingchen raised both hands.
"Alright, alright, you two are in this together. If I can't afford to offend you, can't I at least avoid you? I'm leaving. I'll go find Kizaru myself."
Mo Xingchen selected Kizaru's share from the many gifts, carried it out of the office, and closed the door. The moment it shut, pleasant laughter rang out from within.
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