The Half-Blood Prince

While Noah was lost in thought.

At the bow, Kizaru was chatting amiably with William. He invited William and his party aboard, offering to take them the rest of the way on the warship. They were already close to the coast of Lodestar Island.

William readily agreed and boarded the warship with a few trusted guards. The other sailors stayed behind to wait for a rescue vessel from the port.

The warship continued toward Lodestar Island with William's party aboard. A little over half an hour later, it dropped them off at a port called Nanohana Port.

Noah knew the name well.

He remembered that nineteen years later, Luffy would reunite with Ace here, only to run straight into Smoker, who had pursued him there. The encounter would spark a chaotic free-for-all.

The Swimsuit Pirates' meeting place with the underground arms dealer was Hot Nest Peninsula, about an hour north of Nanohana Port. It was practically on the way.

William's detour had added no more than ten minutes to the warship's voyage.

"Did you get anything out of him, Vice Admiral?"

As soon as the warship left Nanohana Port, Noah found Kizaru and asked him outright.

He had noticed Kizaru sticking close to William ever since the prince came aboard, smiling as he peppered him with questions.

William had kept his composure and answered each question with a smile, but judging by how quickly he had taken his men ashore at the port, Kizaru's questions had probably worn on him.

"Oh, you caught on?" Kizaru didn't seem surprised. He raised an eyebrow at Noah. "You're suspicious of him too?"

"Of course."

Noah nodded. "Rear Admiral Buma disappeared at Hot Nest Peninsula only last night, and William happened to show up in nearby waters first thing this morning. It's hard not