"Mission accomplished?"
Momousagi was briefly stunned, then her eyes suddenly widened. "You mean... you actually persuaded Sister Shizi to return to Marine Headquarters?"
"That's right."
Standing before the living room sofa, Noah glanced over at the old woman already packing her luggage in the distance and chuckled. "Rear Admiral Shizi has made up her mind. She'll set off tomorrow and report to Marineford."
"Really?" Momousagi's voice over the receiver carried a hint of disbelief. "But before... didn't everything fall apart? How did you manage it?"
"Pure personal charm."
Noah didn't want Rouge's affairs to become public knowledge, so he vaguely brushed it off.
"You can ask Rear Admiral Shizi yourself when you see her later. As for us, let's talk about the reward first."
"A reward is fine. What do you want?"
"How about Kompira?"
"...Boy, if you want to die, I can grant your wish directly. There's no need to be so roundabout."
"Sorry." Noah rubbed his chin. The stubble pricked his fingers; apparently Momousagi hadn't helped him shave these past few days. "I haven't thought of anything yet. Can I come to you once I do?"
"Fine. I'll owe you a favor."
Momousagi agreed without hesitation. After a brief pause, she asked, "These past few days... you haven't done anything improper with my body, have you?"
"Of course not," Noah said. "Back in my East Blue hometown, there's an old saying: once a man gives his word, not even four giant Sea Kings can pull it back."
"Boy, I seem to remember warning you not to make up sayings. Does your hometown even have giant Sea Kings?"
Damn it, she saw through him again?
"...Anyway, I haven't wronged you. I dare pat my chest and guarantee it. Oh, though I don't have a chest right now."
"Same thing: if you want to die, you really don't need to be so roundabout."
"Sorry." Noah apologized sincerely again, then raised the question he cared about most. "Where are you now?"
"Of course I'm in the bedroom... Oh, you mean where the warship is?"
"Mm."
"We're still on the way. The voyage has been fairly smooth. We should reach Citrus Island around the morning after tomorrow." Momousagi thought for a moment. "Are you planning to rush over for the practical assessment?"
"Of course. And while I'm at it, I need to beat that stinking raccoon up... Tch, it hasn't already run off, has it?"
"No, it hasn't. It seems rather fond of Aokiji. Lately, I keep seeing it napping on top of his head." Momousagi sighed. "Also, boy, even though your body has returned to normal, I still need to remind you that the warship can't stop and delay for one person, much less turn around to pick you up."
"I understand that, of course. You don't need to worry."
With that, the conversation seemed more or less finished, so Noah wrapped things up. "Then good night. See you at Citrus Island, Commodore Gion. I'm sure you'll finally get a good night's sleep tonight without being woken up at five-thirty."
"You've got some nerve saying—"
Mentioning that damned biological clock made Momousagi's anger flare, but before she could finish, the Den Den Mushi made a soft "KOCHA" sound as the call was cut off.
That brat dared hang up on her first?
Momousagi's willow brows shot up. Just as she was about to call back and scold him, her reaching hand abruptly stopped, and she stood there in a daze with a somewhat strange expression.
She clearly remembered that when she had first met Noah, the boy had been quite respectful toward her, with an impeccably proper attitude.
When had he... become so familiar and casual with her?
Meanwhile, in the living room.
After hanging up, Noah stretched lazily, feeling completely refreshed.
"Rear Admiral Shizi, I'll be going now!" he called toward Shizi at the other end of the room. "I just asked Commodore Gion. The warship hasn't reached its destination yet, so I need to hurry over and take part in this practical assessment!"
"You're leaving now?"
Shizi paused her packing and gave him a sidelong look. "It's pitch-black outside. How are you getting there, swimming?"
"I'll ask the 329th Branch for help." Noah shrugged. "Marines are one family, after all. Citrus Island isn't far from here, and I can get there within two days. They'll definitely have the proper Log Pose in storage. I'll borrow it, and while I'm there, borrow a small boat too."
"Naive." Shizi sneered. "There aren't many people on duty at the 329th Branch in the middle of the night. The current branch colonel, if I remember correctly, is called Bako. He's probably already asleep. You think he'll go through all that trouble for you?"
"It's not that big a favor, is it?"
Noah scratched his head. "Besides, I'm from the Marine Headquarters Elite Training Camp, aren't I? Once I graduate, I'll at least be a Marine Headquarters major. That would make me the direct superior of a 329th Branch colonel."
"You said it yourself: after you graduate. Right now, he has no reason to do you that favor." Shizi stared at Noah. "Is this practical assessment important to you?"
"Very important." Noah nodded seriously. "So I really can't delay any longer. I have to set out overnight."
"I understand."
Rear Admiral Shizi walked to the table, searched through an address book, and made a call. After giving a few instructions to the person on the other end, she looked back up at Noah. "I've spoken to that boy Bako. He's already gotten up and is heading to the branch base tonight to help you arrange a vessel and a Log Pose."
"So eager?"
Noah was taken aback. Then he remembered Bako's fawning expression when he had visited the 329th Branch in Momousagi's identity, and it made sense. "Right. You're a Marine Headquarters rear admiral, after all. With that guy's personality, he probably wouldn't be able to eat or sleep unless he went in person."
"Vice admiral," Shizi said, glancing at him.
"Hm?" This time, Noah was the stunned one.
"After dealing with Shiki three years ago, Marine Headquarters planned to promote me to vice admiral. But I happened to resign and return home at the time, so I declined."
Shizi's expression remained calm, as if she felt nothing in particular about it. "So when I return to Marine Headquarters for reassignment this time, I'll resume my post as deputy chief of staff as a Marine Headquarters vice admiral."
"I see..." Noah suddenly understood. "Then shouldn't I congratulate you? How about I go buy you a gift right now? What do you think of strawberries?"
"Cut it out." Shizi shot him an irritated glare. "I still haven't settled accounts with you over Hina!"
After clearing up the misunderstanding with Garp, she had finally found the time just now to examine Hina's body. As Noah had expected, it was indeed the Ori Ori no Mi.
Could only say it was fate?
Noah felt that even if he hadn't come here, that Devil Fruit mixed in among the strawberries would ultimately have been brought home because Rear Admiral Shizi loved strawberries, then accidentally eaten by Hina...
"That was purely an accident. How can you blame me?" Noah protested. "Besides, Hina wants to join Marine Headquarters as a Marine. The Ori Ori no Mi is perfect for capturing criminals. If anything, you ought to compensate me instead, right?"
"How about this? We'll go by the lowest black-market price for a Devil Fruit, round it down, and you can give me one hundred million Beli."
"I should call Bako right now and tell him not to go to the branch base. He can go home, wash up, and sleep." Shizi said expressionlessly.
"Vice Admiral, I was joking."
"Oh, so was I."
The two stared wide-eyed at each other for a moment. Then Shizi suddenly laughed, patted him on the shoulder, and said gently:
"All right, go on, kid. You need to hurry. Also, even though Rouge has already passed away... this time, I truly owe you a favor. After returning to Marine Headquarters, if you need help with anything, come find me."
Another favor?
Noah was overjoyed. This trip hadn't been in vain. Though the body swap had put him through hell at first, he now had a favor from Momousagi, a future admiral candidate, and had also forged a connection with Shizi, the deputy chief of staff at Marine Headquarters. It was practically like the old saying...
Mm, how was that saying supposed to go when adapted to local customs?
Though Shanks had his arm bitten off by the Lord of the Coast, who could say that wasn't a good thing?
After bidding farewell to Vice Admiral Shizi and stepping out through the courtyard gate, Noah found the starry sky beyond the white picket fence especially brilliant.
Noah took a deep breath of the fresh summer night air and looked back. The lights on the second floor were still on, and a tiny figure leaned against the window, seemingly watching him leave in secret.
Little brat, still not asleep?
He waved toward the window. After seeing the figure shrink back as though startled and switch off the light, he smiled, turned around, and set off toward the military harbor at the 329th Branch base.
It was around midnight now. The road was silent and deserted, and on the rural path, only his lone figure remained. The atmosphere was rather creepy.
To relieve the boredom of the journey, Noah opened the system panel. Looking at the substantial six-figure points total, he grinned and shifted his gaze to the "+" symbol after his attribute points.
"Shenlan, are you still sleeping over there? Get out here and add some points!"
Before you continue