Fans and Another Disciple

Noki's slap was incredibly powerful.

Bartolomeo had been completely unprepared. He had thought there was no way Noki could break through his barrier.

Yet reality far exceeded his expectations.

Bartolomeo took the slap squarely across the face. The immense force spun him a full 1,080 degrees through the air, and after hitting the ground, he rolled three more times.

"Looks like you're someone who relies too much on his ability."

With one casual slap, Noki had nearly knocked him dead, which showed just how weak Bartolomeo's hand-to-hand skills were.

It was no wonder. As a bug-like existence, the Barrier-Barrier Fruit naturally possessed nearly invincible defense, with an incredibly high baseline.

There were few strong fighters in the East Blue, so Bartolomeo had almost never encountered an opponent capable of dealing with him.

Someone who believed himself invincible would naturally stop thinking about improving. Enel of Skypiea was a living example.

"Boss!" Several underlings stood with their mouths agape, their eyes nearly popping out. This was not how they had expected things to go.

Half of Bartolomeo's face had swollen up from the blow. He was a tough man; despite taking such a heavy hit, he gritted his teeth and stood up without making a sound.

"How duh-did you br-break my barrier?" Bartolomeo covered his swollen cheek, unable to speak properly.

"Want to know?"

Noki smiled teasingly and crooked his index finger at him. "If you've got the guts, find out for yourself."

Bartolomeo had never taken such humiliation before. Crossing the index and middle fingers of both hands, he summoned another thick transparent barrier. Then he swung his fist forward, sending the barrier charging straight at Noki at high speed.

Dark Water!

Noki raised his right hand, and a pitch-black vortex spun in his palm. Facing the unstoppable barrier, he stepped forward and reached out to touch it.

Everyone thought Noki was finished.

But in the next instant, they were shocked to discover that Bartolomeo's supposedly invincible barrier had been dispersed by that ordinary touch!

"That's all?" Noki patted his hands, looking completely at ease.

"You've got to be kidding..."

Bartolomeo panicked. Refusing to believe it, he summoned three barriers in succession and sent them rushing at Noki one after another.

The result was exactly the same.

No matter how thick the barriers were or how fast they moved, Noki only needed the lightest touch to destroy them.

The suction force of the vortex in Noki's palm suddenly intensified.

Bartolomeo's body was pulled in, flying forward against his will.

Then Noki grabbed him by the throat, raised his left fist while deliberately holding back much of his strength, and struck him in the abdomen.

Bartolomeo was in utter misery, rolling across the ground in pain.

Meanwhile, Dezaya, who had been rescued by her underlings and was limping along, witnessed the scene with her own eyes.

Although Dezaya disliked Bartolomeo's personality and appearance, she had always highly regarded his strength, to the point of worship.

She believed in the strong!

Now Bartolomeo was being beaten by Noki without even the ability to fight back, looking utterly wretched.

This completely shattered Dezaya's understanding of the world.

There was actually someone this strong!

When Dezaya first saw Noki, she had thought he was merely a pretty face. Later, after being defeated by him, she had only thought the guy had some skill.

You couldn't judge a person by appearance.

Dezaya now thoroughly understood that saying.

"Deputy leader, the boss can't take it anymore! Let's go help him!"

"Deputy leader!?"

The underlings were stunned when they looked at her.

Dezaya no longer had any of her big-sister swagger. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked every bit like a lovestruck young girl. "What a handsome man!"

Dezaya was no ordinary woman. When she called him handsome, she was not referring to Noki's looks, but to her admiration and recognition of his strength.

Bartolomeo truly was a tough man. Even after being beaten into such a state, he still refused to admit defeat. He scrambled up and charged at Noki with a howl.

Noki did not want to kill him, so he deliberately went easier on him.

"Take my punch!"

Tempest Kick!

"Waaah!"

Iron Body Fist!

"Oooh~"

"..."

Bartolomeo was knocked down seven times in a row. For the first time in his life, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

"He's actually this much stronger than me..."

Bartolomeo's expression turned grave. He wiped the bright red blood from the corner of his mouth, braced himself with his trembling arms, and suddenly stood up.

Noki thought he was going to counterattack again, so he extended the index finger of his right hand and prepared himself.

But Bartolomeo took two steps forward, his legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees before him. Then he said something astonishing. "Please allow me to become your fan!"

Seeing this, his underlings also knelt.

"Hm?"

Noki truly had not expected this turn of events.

"Won't you agree? I've lived this long, and you're the only person I've ever met whose strength can crush mine. I'm willing to acknowledge you as my idol. Please, you have to accept me."

Bartolomeo stared at him with bloodshot eyes, full of anticipation.

Noki said, "Fine, but becoming my fan isn't that easy. There's one condition."

"What condition?"

"Bring your men and join the Marines."

The reason Noki had shown mercy repeatedly was because he wanted to beat Bartolomeo into submission and then recruit him into the Marines.

"The Marines?"

Bartolomeo froze when he heard that. "Is joining the Marines all I have to do?"

"That's right."

Bartolomeo had once looked down on the Marines immensely. After all, the Marines he had encountered before had all been helpless against him.

After meeting Noki, however, his view of the Marines had clearly changed.

So the Marines also had fighters this powerful!

"Fine, I'm willing to join the Marines!" Bartolomeo made his decision.

"We're willing too! Wherever the boss goes, we go!" the underlings echoed in unison.

Dezaya also raised her hand. "I'm willing to join too."

Things had gone so smoothly that Noki felt as though it was unreal. He had come prepared to do a lot of persuading.

"However..."

Bartolomeo changed the subject. "Before I join the Marines, I have a few matters to settle. Please give me half a month. After half a month, I'll definitely come find you at the Marine base."

"Sure. Do you need my help?"

Bartolomeo quickly shook his head. "No, no. It's just a band of mountain bandits. There's no need for you to act personally."

"Alright."

It was only half a month. Noki was not in any hurry anyway.

"By the way, may I ask your name?"

Bartolomeo could not help feeling ashamed. He did not even know his idol's name. He was truly an unqualified fan.

"Cudilia Noci, rear admiral of Marine Headquarters."

"Someone as strong as you is only a rear admiral?" Bartolomeo and the others cried out.

"Uh, rank doesn't entirely represent strength. If we have to compare, I'm probably already at vice admiral level, and I still have plenty of room to improve."

"That's true. You look so young. The future Fleet Admiral of the Marines can only be you."

Bartolomeo had never flattered anyone before, but perhaps he was naturally suited to being a fan. His praise did not sound forced at all.

Unlike Bartolomeo and the underlings, who wanted to become Noki's fans, Dezaya had another idea. She solemnly stepped in front of Noki. "Please accept me as your disciple!"

"You?"

Noki looked her up and down.

"Mhm, mhm." Dezaya nodded vigorously.

"I refuse," Noki said flatly.

Dezaya's heart instantly went cold. "Why!? Is it because I insulted you earlier?"

Noki shook his head. "I'm not that petty. To become my disciple, you need not only a certain talent for fighting, but also strong enough perseverance. Do you have that?"

"I do!"

Dezaya puffed out her chest.

"Words alone prove nothing. You'll have to show me."

"How can I prove it?"

"It's simple. I'll make you a one-week training plan. If you can stick to it, I'll take you as my disciple."

"It's a deal. You can't trick me."

"I always keep my word."

"Alright. Bartolomeo, I'll go back with Master Noki first. You alone are enough to deal with that group of mountain bandits anyway."

Bartolomeo looked displeased and objected, "That's not fair. Why do you get to see Senior Noki every day while I have to do all the dirty work? I want Senior Noki to teach me properly too."

Dezaya planted her hands on her slender waist. "Because I can't defeat a whole group of mountain bandits by myself."

"Can't you just take the underlings with you? Besides, you've always been the one managing all our territory. I say Senior Noki and I should head back first, and you can handle those trivial matters."

"Can't you show a little gentlemanly spirit? Haven't you heard that ladies come first?"

"Now you bring up ladies first? Back then, why did you..."

The two bickered noisily for a long while.

Noki could not stand watching any longer and tried to mediate. "How about we settle this fairly? Rock-paper-scissors to decide who goes with me first."

"Sure."

"Senior Noki, you really know what to do."

Dezaya and Bartolomeo readied themselves and made their moves at the same time.

Dezaya threw scissors, while Bartolomeo threw paper.

The winner was obvious.

Dezaya jumped up with an excited cheer. "I won! Master, take me back with you."

"Damn it!"

Bartolomeo was filled with regret and on the verge of tears. He could only watch Dezaya skip farther and farther away beside Noki.

"Men, we leave tonight! We must wipe out that damned Redlo gang and join Senior Noki as soon as possible!"

"Charge!"

Noki brought Dezaya back to the Marine base.

Sergeant Carter had fought Bartolomeo's group before and recognized Dezaya. "Rear Admiral, why did you bring a mountain bandit back?"

Noki glanced at him. "Watch your words. Starting today, Bartolomeo's group is no longer a criminal force. They are part of the Loguetown Marines."

"Huh?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"No, sir!"

Sergeant Carter snapped to attention. "I'll immediately make preparations to welcome the new recruits."

"Mm."

Noki nodded.

Sergeant Carter's strength was ordinary, but he was quite efficient at handling matters. He was a qualified subordinate.

Noki remembered that when he had entered Tashigi's dormitory last time, he had seen two empty beds inside. Therefore, he first took Dezaya there to get settled in.

As they walked, Noki said, "Since you've joined the Marines, you must follow Marine rules. Your clothing and manner of speech both need to change. Understand?"

"Don't worry, Master. This old lady... I'll definitely work hard to become a good Marine who is obedient and well-behaved."

Noki was amused by her. "Obedient and well-behaved? Is that the standard for being a Marine?"

"Isn't it?" Dezaya scratched her head, looking like a tomboy.

"Come to think of it, even I haven't memorized all the Marine rules. But my other disciple should know them quite well. This is a good chance for you two to meet."

"You have another disciple?"

"Mm. The one practicing swordsmanship over there is her. With her strength, beating two of you shouldn't be a problem." Noki shifted his gaze toward the window.

"Her?"

Dezaya was rather dismissive. Tashigi looked delicate and weak, as if she could not even withstand one strike from her club.

"If you don't believe me, you can spar with her."

"Sure."

Noki brought Dezaya to the training ground.

Glistening beads of sweat streamed down Tashigi's cheeks like rain, soaking the sandy ground of the training field.

"Rear Admiral."

Tashigi continued swinging her sword.

"Stop for a moment. This is Dezaya, a new Marine recruit. She wants to spar with you."

Tashigi adjusted her glasses and looked up at Dezaya. Seeing the heroic air between her brows and the aggressive aura radiating from her handsome face, she felt afraid. "Rear Admiral, I..."

Noki cut her off. "Just give it your all. Don't worry about winning or losing."

"Alright."

Tashigi set Shigure down, took two wooden swords from the barrel, and handed one to Dezaya.

Dezaya did not often use swords, but given her usual fighting style, the weapon she used did not affect how much of her strength she could bring out.

"Take this!"

With a sharp cry, Dezaya struck first, raising her wooden sword and launching a head-on assault at Tashigi.

After nearly a week of high-intensity training, Tashigi's body had undergone a transformation in every respect. Her sword swings were astonishingly fast, and her strength and accuracy had greatly improved as well.

With just one exchange, Dezaya's brutal, unstructured attack was easily broken.

"Hah!"

Tashigi's wooden sword struck Dezaya in the abdomen.

Dezaya had already been injured, and this blow only worsened her condition.

I won't lose to some little girl still wet behind the ears!

Dezaya gritted her teeth and held on, the speed of her wooden sword suddenly increasing.

Even in the face of Dezaya's fierce offensive, Tashigi remained composed, always anticipating her opponent's moves.

"An opening!"

Tashigi shouted and brought her wooden sword down.

"Ah!"

Seeing the attack coming from an angle she had never anticipated, Dezaya shut her eyes instinctively in panic.

A moment later.

The searing pain she had expected never came.

The strong masculine scent beside her made her cheeks flush and her ears burn.

At the critical moment, Noki had caught the wooden sword between his fingers.

"I'm sorry, Major General! I got too focused and nearly hurt a comrade."

"In a spar, injuries are unavoidable. You did well. Looks like I've got tomorrow's wager in the bag."

Noki was referring to the agreement he had made with Sergeant Carter and the others when he first arrived in Loguetown.

If Tashigi could defeat every Marine on her own, she would be exceptionally promoted to sergeant and replace Sergeant Carter in leading everyone's training.