Adjutant Hope

After Gion and Kake hurriedly left to prepare for their new posts, Fleet Admiral Sengoku remained silent the entire time.

"Yaen."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku asked sternly, "Why did you choose the North Sea?"

"I heard there are especially many beautiful women in the North Sea," Yaen said matter-of-factly.

Sengoku obviously did not believe Yaen in the slightest and asked, word by word, "You already know something, don't you?"

Yaen's movements paused slightly as well, but he soon returned to normal, slumping onto the sofa as he said, "Old Man, are you referring to Corazon going undercover?"

"Where did you hear that? This should be top-secret intelligence. Besides, given Corazon's personality, he wouldn't easily leak this matter to you." Sengoku interrogated him.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew somewhat heavy, and silence lasted for several breaths.

Then Yaen shifted his gaze and said, "Old Man, you can insult my body, but please don't insult my intelligence."

Those words caused Sengoku's expression to darken slightly.

Immediately afterward, Yaen called toward his room, "Xiao Jin, newspaper number 057."

The next moment, an elegant Canary carried a newspaper marked with the number 057 and placed it in Yaen's hand.

Yaen tossed the newspaper in front of Sengoku. A person's photograph on it had been circled in red ink—it was none other than Corazon.

Above the photograph was also a headline: "Donquixote Pirates Appear to Have a Top Executive."

After a pause, Yaen continued in a calm tone.

"I don't know whether the busy Fleet Admiral has read this newspaper, but its entire article hints that Corazon isn't particularly trusted by Doflamingo anymore. The fact that Doflamingo deliberately exposed him in the news may well be because he wants to confirm something."

"I spent more than ten years with Corazon. I may know his past even better than you do. He was once a Celestial Dragon of the World Nobles, and is now the biological younger brother of 'Heavenly Yaksha' Donquixote Doflamingo."

"Even without this newspaper, after Corazon went to sea, he didn't join the Marines. Instead, he disappeared without a trace for more than a year. Where else could he have gone? Did you really think I couldn't guess?"

"But this is the path Corazon chose, and his way of repaying a debt of gratitude. I have nothing to say about that, but..."

Yaen's expression grew unusually serious as he said,

"There's one thing I need to make clear, Old Man. If Corazon truly faces a threat to his life, I will definitely intervene. I won't hesitate even if it means killing Doflamingo."

Sengoku's expression instantly became complicated. He naturally understood how dangerous it was for Corazon to serve as an undercover agent.

However, Doflamingo possessed secrets that made the World Government and the Marines wary, to the point that neither dared pressure him too much.

To prevent Doflamingo from secretly using those secrets to cause earth-shaking trouble, Sengoku could only allow Corazon to secretly return to the Donquixote Pirates as an undercover agent, thereby monitoring Doflamingo's every move.

Sengoku quickly came to his senses and cursed angrily,

"You brat, don't you know your own limits? You might not even be able to beat Corazon, yet you want to kill Doflamingo?"

Yaen said with a grin, "It's fine. If I lose and get captured, I'll reveal that I'm the Fleet Admiral's son. I imagine Doflamingo wouldn't dare kill me. Old Man, just remember to ransom me when the time comes. Don't be stingy with a little profit or benefit."

After a pause, Yaen said seriously, "Power, wealth, and the like can always be acquired again after they're lost. But once your family is gone, they're truly gone."

If Yaen hadn't been trying to remind Sengoku to ransom him, Sengoku might even have felt somewhat moved upon hearing those words.

But at this moment...

"Get lost!"

"Get to the North Sea immediately!"

Amid Sengoku's roar, Yaen left the courtyard in a sorry yet somehow dashing manner and headed toward the port.

Sengoku had already prepared the necessary warship at the port and arranged its personnel. Yaen only needed to reach the ship for it to set sail immediately.

The sun shone brightly along the way, and a smug smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of Yaen's mouth.

Ginger might indeed get hotter with age, but when it came to playing tricks, Sengoku was far behind Yaen.

Although Yaen was disappointed that he had jumped straight to the rank of Marine Headquarters Captain, he had carefully considered the matter just now. Slipping away to the North Sea was also a pretty good choice.

Or perhaps, in Gion and Kake's eyes, this position would allow him to rack up a great deal of merit with ease. After gaining some experience, he would be able to return to Marine Headquarters and immediately receive an important assignment.

Unfortunately, with Yaen's unique perspective and insight, he had determined that this position was actually the easiest one for taking it easy.

As long as he hid away in the North Sea, even if he spent every day sunbathing, fishing, and sleeping, could Old Man Sengoku really come all the way to the North Sea and drag him back to Marine Headquarters?

Especially since Yaen had deliberately mentioned Corazon's existence.

It could be said that as long as Corazon remained undercover within the Donquixote Pirates, Sengoku probably wouldn't have the nerve to call Yaen back when Yaen was so determined to protect his Sworn Brother.

"Corazon, thank you for providing me with such a wonderful excuse."

If Yaen hadn't still been in Marineford, with Marine Soldiers constantly passing around him, he might even have started whistling.

However, when Yaen reached the warship Sengoku had assigned him and saw his adjutant, he could no longer smile.

"Colonel Hope, what are you doing here?" Yaen asked with an unpleasant expression.

Hope, who had once brought Yaen to Marineford in Seastone Cuffs, hurriedly saluted Yaen and reported,

"Captain Yaen, Adjutant Hope reporting to you. The warship has been fully prepared, all assigned personnel are in place, and supplies including ammunition, food, fresh water, and medicine have been replenished. We can set sail at any time."

"Don't joke around, Colonel Hope. I'm only a Captain. How can a dignified Colonel like you serve as my adjutant?"

"Quick, tell me where you've hidden my adjutant. I'm in a hurry to head to the North Sea on official business," Yaen said.

The burly Hope straightened his chest and answered with an excellent bearing,

"Reporting to Lord Yaen, I am your adjutant. Some time ago, I was demoted for disrespecting Fleet Admiral Sengoku. My current rank is Second Lieutenant. Please issue your orders."

Yaen.

Silently, Yaen raised a filial finger toward the apparition of Sengoku's courtyard.

You old bastard, you're really something. How could you do something this utterly insane?