Loguetown's Vice Base Commander

Noki stared coldly and mercilessly at the flustered Colonel Nezumi before him and asked in a deep voice, "Are you afraid of me?"

"Not at all. How could I be afraid of you, Rear Admiral? I was just excited to see you. Just excited." Colonel Nezumi wiped away his cold sweat and forced a smile.

"I heard your conversation just now loud and clear," Noki said flatly.

"Sir, I wasn't wrong at all! The pirate thief Nami is a pirate. If a pirate steals something from another pirate, doesn't that make it stolen goods?"

"It does. Of course it does."

Noki's tone shifted. "But before discussing the pirate thief, I'd rather discuss your problem first."

Colonel Nezumi's eyes darted around, and he hurriedly dropped to his knees. "This subordinate is incompetent. I allowed the pirate Arlong to run rampant for so many years. Please punish me."

"Everyone's abilities have limits. I can understand that. If you had wholeheartedly tried to eliminate pirates and repeatedly failed, then even if you had no merit, you could not exactly be called guilty. But!"

Noki raised his voice sharply. "Colonel, can you guarantee that you never entertained any crooked ideas?"

Colonel Nezumi had long mastered the skill of lying without batting an eye. He nodded repeatedly. "I can. I guarantee it, Rear Admiral."

"Really? Aside from my people in Loguetown, only the Third Marine Branch knew about my operation against Arlong. So how did Arlong learn of it?"

Colonel Nezumi silently cried out in alarm. How had he forgotten about that? Was he supposed to say the Loguetown Marines had leaked it?

Seeing that he did not answer for a long while, Noki raised his thumb, revealing the dazzling blade light of Golden Scale. It reflected across Colonel Nezumi's cheek. "I was trained by Admiral Akainu. Admiral Akainu has always believed in killing a thousand by mistake rather than letting one slip through. Since none of you will confess, I have no choice but to kill all of you, then report to Headquarters that you died at the hands of the pirate Arlong."

Colonel Nezumi was still hesitating.

The Marines from the Third Marine Branch trembled as they looked at Noki's blade.

The adjutant was the first to crack. Pointing at Nezumi's nose, he shouted, "Rear Admiral, it was all him! He colluded with Arlong for money! We only went along with him because of his power. We had no choice but to become his accomplices!"

Colonel Nezumi flew into a rage. "Don't you dare slander me! I—" Before he could finish,

A flash of golden light streaked past everyone's eyes, followed by a spray of bright red blood splattering across the adjutant's face.

Nojiko's legs went weak as she collapsed to the ground. A... a Marine colonel had just been killed like that?

"Rear Admiral, I... I... I..."

The adjutant's legs shook uncontrollably as he instinctively reached up to touch the blood on his face.

Noki slowly sheathed his sword and ignored Colonel Nezumi, whose expression was forever frozen in shock. "Whether Colonel Nezumi forced you or you did it willingly, I do not want to see this happen a second time. Otherwise, even if I risk demotion, I will remove the vermin from the Marines. Do you understand?"

"We understand! We understand..."

The Marines trembled as they nodded frantically and answered in chorus.

"Rear Admiral, how should we deal with the colonel... this criminal?"

"Simple. Since he claimed he came to clean up Arlong's remnants, report to Headquarters that he died at the hands of pirates. Then find some evidence of his collusion with pirates and submit it with the report. Do not mention anything about me."

Although Noki had connections and Sakazuki backing him, the Marines still had rules. If word got out that he had executed a Marine without authorization, it would affect his future prospects to some extent. It was best to keep it secret if possible.

The Marines all understood what he meant.

"Rear Admiral, don't worry. We'll take this secret to our graves."

It was not as though they had not considered reporting Noki to Headquarters.

But if they were Headquarters officials, one side was a high-ranking rear admiral who had served in the Marines for years, while the other was a group of ordinary Marines with neither merit nor status. It was obvious whom they would believe.

"Mm."

Noki nodded lightly, then turned to Nojiko and the others. "Ultimately, what happened today was caused by lax discipline within the Marines. As a Marine officer, I offer you my sincere apologies. I hope you can forgive us."

Genzo said, "How can we let a rear admiral apologize to us? You are our benefactor! Without you, the Fish-Man Pirates would still be running wild on this land, and these... corrupt Marines would still be oppressing the villagers of Cocoyasi Village in the name of justice. No matter what, this apology should not come from you."

The Third Marine Branch Marines felt deeply ashamed upon hearing this. The adjutant took the lead and bowed deeply to the villagers.

Noki said coldly, "Do you think apologizing is enough? The Third Marine Branch must have embezzled plenty of money over the years. I demand that all of it be distributed to the villages harmed by Arlong. I will send people to supervise you. If you still dare to embezzle anything, you know the consequences."

"Rear Admiral, we would never dare again."

Who would dare provoke a Marine officer who could casually cut down a Marine colonel?

With such confidence, his background had to be extraordinary.

Nojiko stared blankly at the man before her. His appearance was delicate, yet his presence was overwhelmingly masculine, creating a striking contrast.

He was so handsome...

Who would not love such a righteous and decisive hero?

"Get lost," Noki said.

"Yes!"

The Marines felt as though they had been pardoned. Each of them ran three or four times faster than usual.

Noki did not linger either. After saying goodbye to the villagers, he drifted away.

Nojiko secretly made up her mind that she had to get her sister to join the Marines and serve under Rear Admiral Noki. Only then might she have another chance to stay in contact with him.

Noki did not explain to Tashigi, Dezaya, or the others what he had gone to do. He merely ordered the warship to return to Loguetown.

Elsewhere.

A tall young woman with long, wavy aqua-blue hair stepped onto the soil of Loguetown, her pale, slender legs carrying her into the bustling shopping district.

"You suicidal bastard! This is territory protected by me, Bartolomeo! You actually dared to cause trouble here? If Senior Noki finds out, he'll definitely say this fan of his can't get anything done! I absolutely can't forgive you!"

"Noki?"

Ain could not help stopping in her tracks. She followed the voice and looked over.

A man with a green cockscomb hairstyle was repeatedly stomping on the faces of several pirates. Apparently still not satisfied, he occasionally spat on the ground.

Many onlookers watched with the eager expressions of people enjoying a spectacle.

"Pirates fighting pirates?"

As a Marine, Ain's sense of justice had been ingrained in her bones for years. She stepped forward and drew the curved blades at her slender waist.

"Who the hell are you? Don't interrupt me while I'm handling business."

When Bartolomeo saw a woman rushing toward him aggressively, he did not take her seriously at all.

"Die!"

"You overestimate yourself."

Bartolomeo crossed his index and middle fingers on both hands and bared a mouthful of sharp, demon-like teeth. "Barrier Impact!"

Ain suddenly remembered Noki mentioning over the phone that he had taken in a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user as a fan, someone who had once been a bandit. Could this be him? With that thought, she slid both curved blades back into their sheaths.

Ain spread her Observation Haki, accurately locating the barrier. She bent her knees slightly and leaped over the transparent barrier. Bright pale-purple flames rose in her right hand as she lightly touched Bartolomeo's shoulder.

"Huh?"

Bartolomeo's body visibly shrank and shrank until he became a child of around ten. His voice turned childish and high-pitched. "Why did I turn into this?!"

"What is your relationship with Noki?" Ain's cool voice rang out.

"Why should I tell you? Turn me back, you damn woman!"

Bartolomeo's clothes were far too large for him now, making it extremely inconvenient for him to move.

"Because I am a Marine Headquarters colonel, Noki's girlfriend and future wife. Is that enough of a reason?" A faint killing intent flashed in Ain's red eyes.

"Ah!?" Bartolomeo stared with his tiny eyes, beginning to stammer. "Y-you... you're Senior Noki's girlfriend?"

"Mm-hm."

Bartolomeo had not expected to crash into the Dragon King's temple. He hurriedly dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. "I was wrong, ma'am! Please punish me! If I had known who you were, I would never have said something like that to you! Please, please don't tell Senior Noki!! He'll abandon me!"

Seeing his panicked childlike appearance, Ain found it rather amusing and smiled brightly. "I can help you keep it secret, and I can turn you back to normal. But I have one small request."

"Please tell me." Bartolomeo perked up his ears and listened intently.

"Since you are Noki's fan, you surely do not want his reputation damaged, right?"

"Of course not."

"If Noki were burdened with the reputation of being unfaithful, what do you think people would say about him?"

"Although I think capable men having a few more wives is nothing much, it... would still invite criticism."

"Then, in order to keep your idol's image from being ruined, what do you think you should do?"

Bartolomeo rubbed his chin and thought carefully for a while. Then realization dawned on him. "Ma'am, I get it! I absolutely won't let those bad women get close to Senior Noki."

"Mm. That is what I want you to do."

Ain used her pink flames to touch Bartolomeo once more, reversing the effect of the Backward-Backward Fruit.

Bartolomeo returned to normal and patted his chest as he promised, "Ma'am, I guarantee I'll complete your mission."

Ain nodded lightly, then asked excitedly, "By the way, where is Noki now?" She wanted to give her man a huge surprise.

"He led a team out to wipe out pirates some time ago. He probably won't be back for a few more days."

"He's not here..."

Ain could not hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Bartolomeo eagerly led Ain back to the Marine base.

When Carter saw Bartolomeo bringing a woman into the base commander's office, he asked in confusion, "And this is?"

Ain took out a transfer order approved by a Marine Headquarters admiral. "I am a Marine Headquarters colonel. I have come to serve as Loguetown's vice base commander."

After Petty Officer Carter confirmed that the transfer order was valid, he hurriedly stood and saluted. "My apologies, Colonel. I had not received any notice that you would be arriving. I'll go prepare your quarters and office immediately."

Ain shook her head. "No need. Just arrange for me to stay in the same room as Noki."

Petty Officer Carter was a little stunned.

Bartolomeo explained, "Senior Ain has another identity. She is Senior Noki's future wife, so of course she should live with Senior Noki."

Petty Officer Carter had always assumed Noki was devoted to military affairs and did not like women. After all, he often saw Tereina, Dezaya, and Tashigi circling around Noki. If Noki had been interested, he would have taken one of them already, right?

So he had long since been taken.

After asking where Noki's room was and receiving the key, Ain bid the two farewell, opened the door alone, and entered Noki's room.

His familiar scent filled every corner.

It was a pity she could not see him in person...

Ain lay down on the soft bed, lifted the neatly folded blanket, and pulled it over herself. She took a deep breath of its scent. She had traveled all the way from Headquarters and had barely rested properly.

Now, surrounded by the scent of her man, she felt exceptionally at ease. She fell asleep after lying there for only a short while.

A few days earlier, Tereina had successfully defeated Sanji's senior female chef Carmen with the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall that Noki had taught her.

Carmen was a woman obsessed with cooking. When she learned there was still a cuisine she could not make, she insisted on learning it.

So she followed Tereina back to the Marine base and became a chef there as well, all so she could learn cooking from Noki.

Tereina disliked Carmen, but she could not stop her from joining the Marines. She could only watch helplessly as Carmen became both her roommate and comrade, forcing them to see each other every day. It nearly infuriated her to death.

At the same time, Tereina desperately looked forward to Noki returning from his expedition. Winning over the rear admiral was now the most important thing in her life, and her only wish.

To make that wish come true, Tereina was willing to give almost anything.

Today.

As usual, Tereina came to Noki's room. Though she clearly knew he was not there, she still could not suppress the anticipation in her heart and came over to take a look.

To her surprise, the rear admiral's door was open!

Filled with curiosity, Tereina peered through the crack in the door with her big watery eyes.

No one...

So she gathered her courage and pushed the door open, wanting to see what the rear admiral's room was actually like.

Because the bed was positioned somewhat off to the side.

Tereina did not notice the sleeping Ain. Like an inquisitive child, she looked here and touched there, even opening Noki's wardrobe with a blushing face.

She had only ever seen the rear admiral in uniform. So he had this many clothes too. He would surely look beautiful wearing them.

Tereina's curiosity had not yet been satisfied, so she continued exploring. When she reached the bed, she noticed that the blanket was bulging. Something inside seemed to be rising and falling. She reached out and grabbed it directly, drawing a soft, delicate moan.

This feeling...

Tereina suddenly realized something and violently threw back the blanket. A blue-haired woman was lying inside!

No matter how deeply Ain was asleep, such a huge disturbance was enough to wake her. She had been having such a lovely dream and had almost finally kissed Noki... yet she had been forcibly dragged from it.

More importantly, the person who woke her was a woman. She clearly remembered being in Noki's room!

How could this woman just barge in?!