Marine Headquarters Transfer Order

Ever since Noki single-handedly destroyed the Krieg Pirates, pirates, Marines, and civilians alike had come to fear and respect him.

At some point, rumors had begun circulating among the public that Noki had an unhealthy fondness for killing. As a result, whenever he went out, the streets were practically deserted.

They knew Noki was a good man, yet they still did not want to get close to him. Humans always felt fear and caution toward things stronger than themselves.

Although the Marines of Loguetown were somewhat afraid of Noki, they also understood his intentions. No matter what the outside world said, they always chose to support their superior unconditionally.

Tashigi, Dezaya, and Bartolomeo still trusted Noki as they always had.

It was worth mentioning that even during the two days when Noki's reputation was at its lowest, little Tereina had remained steadfastly by his side, constantly trying to curry favor with him.

Even Ain could not help admiring her determination.

But when it came to Noki, Ain would never yield, no matter what.

After spending so much time together, Ain had developed some feelings for both Tereina and Carmen. Coupled with their unwavering loyalty to Noki, she made an exception and turned the two girls back into adults.

However, they had agreed beforehand that if either of them made any excessive move toward Noki without Ain's permission, she would immediately turn them both back into children—and they would stay that way for at least half a year.

Therefore, even if Tereina harbored improper intentions, Ain's threat kept her from acting recklessly. She could only stay cooped up in her room every day, devising her so-called plan to win over the commodore.

Carmen still wanted to study cooking under the commodore. This time, she was firmly committed to her position. Even if Ain had not asked her to keep an eye on Tereina, she still voluntarily reported every single one of Tereina's recent actions.

She had long understood that only by pleasing Ain could she possibly persuade the commodore. It was the only way.

All the pirates in East Blue avoided Noki, but one person was an exception. Not only did he not hide, he even ran to the entrance of the Marine base and shouted for Noki to come out.

That person was naturally the son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger, the man who would later be known as Flame Fist—Portgas D. Ace!

Noki had calculated the timing and had originally planned to seek him out. He had not expected Ace to deliver himself right to his door.

"You brat, you've got quite a life. I beat you that badly last time, and you're still alive?"

Ace stood tall with both fists clenched. His exceptionally sharp gaze landed on the stunningly beautiful man before him, who wore a lazy expression, and he shouted, "Cut the crap. Let's find somewhere else and fight again."

Noki looked at him and said calmly, "The destruction of the Krieg Pirates some time ago should have made pirates like you understand that before me, a pirate's only fate is death. Yet you still dared to come looking for me on your own. I have to admire your courage."

Ace pressed down on his cowboy hat, his tone exceptionally resolute. "If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have gone out to sea."

"Well said, brat. You saw the Krieg Pirates attack that town with your own eyes. Do you think that is the free life you yearn for? Trading other people's freedom for your own—wouldn't your conscience hurt living that way?" Noki asked in rapid succession.

"There is honor among pirates too. I will never become that kind of pirate."

Noki sneered. "That sounds nice. There is no shortage of pirates who set sail for so-called honor. They appear to punish evil and promote good everywhere they go, but they only uphold their own beliefs. They do not act according to absolute fairness. Often, people like that are even more harmful to society than ordinary pirates. The kind of pirate you want to become is probably one of them."

Ace said, "No matter what, the life I want is one where I can make every decision for myself. I believe only then can a person live without regrets!"

"Childish! Before you've committed some unforgivable crime, it's not too late to turn back."

"Heh, the word regret has never existed in my dictionary. Why are you as nagging as that old man of mine? If you want to fight, then hurry up."

Noki knew full well that once Ace had set his mind on a belief, he would remain devoted to it until death. Saying any more would be a waste of breath.

Asking him to train a future pirate did not quite align with his own principles.

However, as a Marine, Noki still wanted to guide people toward good as much as possible, in accordance with the justice in his heart.

Since Ace was still not a pirate, even though Noki knew he would become a great threat to the Marines in the future, he had no reason to kill him before that became reality.

After all, to put it bluntly, Ace was currently nothing more than a civilian with slightly greater strength.

That was also one reason he had agreed to help Garp train Ace back then. It was not simply because he coveted Garp's martial arts. He was a man with principles and boundaries too!

"Fine. Since you've put it that way, it really would be unreasonable for me not to make a move. Do your best to survive my hands."

As soon as Noki finished speaking, darkness gathered in his right palm. He used Soru to close the distance while simultaneously using Dark Water to draw Ace's body toward him.

"We're fighting right here!?"

Ace's heart skipped a beat. He had not prepared at all, and by the time he reacted, it was already too late. Noki seized him by the neck and dragged him into the air.

"Damn it!"

Under Dark Water's effects, Ace could not use any of his abilities. His physical skills were also far inferior to Noki's, so no matter how he struggled, it was useless. He could only watch helplessly as Noki carried him out of town and slammed him hard into the ground.

"Let me have a good look at just how capable you are, if you think you can defeat me."

"Take this, Flame Fist!"

Ace hurriedly climbed to his feet and threw a punch. Scalding flames surged and expanded, sending a wave of heat rushing straight toward Noki.

"You've improved quite a bit in developing your ability."

Noki threw a punch as well. Bottomless darkness condensed into the shape of a fist and collided with the flames.

When Ace saw that their first exchange had ended in an even match, neither side gaining the upper hand, he was overjoyed. Unfortunately, it lasted only a moment.

The black mist unleashed by the Dark-Dark Fruit could be called the most powerful product among all Logia Devil Fruits.

It was not an ordinary natural force. Ice could be melted by fire, while fire could not withstand even hotter magma. These natural elements all had mutually restraining relationships.

But darkness had none. Even Kizaru's light could not break free of Dark Water's restraint. It was practically "invincible."

The Dark-Dark Fruit was called the most vicious ability for good reason. It truly was the strongest elemental power, capable of devouring everything and reducing it to nothingness.

In the original story, Ace's Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor was powerful enough, yet it could not harm Blackbeard's darkness in the slightest. That was exactly why: no matter how powerful an elemental force was, it found it difficult to escape darkness's devouring.

Noki's dark fist was only held back by the flames for a moment before breaking through the obstruction and driving straight ahead.

"Mirror Flame!"

Ace gave it everything he had. Vast amounts of flame continuously surged and boiled forth, forming a sturdy wall. Whenever darkness devoured a portion, the flames replenished it. For a moment, the two sides maintained a stable balance.

Noki could tell that this move consumed a tremendous amount of stamina, but for Ace to think he could match him was simply ten years too early. It was time for Noki to get a little serious.

Soru!

Noki vanished like a ghost and instantly appeared beside Ace. "So this is really all you've got?"

"Damn it!"

Ace hurriedly withdrew his flames and raised his arm to block.

Finger Pistol!

Bang!

Ace gritted his teeth and held on desperately, his legs sliding back several steps.

"Not bad. You didn't get beaten into vomiting blood like before."

Noki was somewhat surprised, then immediately thrust out another finger.

This time, instead of blocking, Ace swung a fist that had transformed into boiling, scorching flames, intending to trade injury for injury.

Faced with the raging blaze, Noki vanished once more and suddenly appeared behind Ace.

"Do you think I'm as stupid as you are?"

Bang!

Finger Pistol's powerful penetrating force dealt a severe blow to Ace's internal organs, and he spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wah."

He was already starting to get used to vomiting blood and being injured.

After getting beaten by Noki so many times, he had gradually become somewhat accustomed to coughing up blood.

"Damn it!"

Ace still refused to give up and tried to counterattack.

But Noki gave him no such chance. Finger Pistol struck Ace's body again and again. "On the battlefield, no one gives you a second chance. Don't be naive!"

After taking nearly ten consecutive blows from Noki, Ace fell once again.

This was probably his final fight, and he had lost so miserably again.

I can't accept this!!!

Noki looked coldly and mercilessly at the man struggling in a pool of blood.

Ace's chest rose and fell constantly as he said weakly, "This time, you should at least finish me off, right?"

Noki was silent for a long while before shaking his head. "I've changed my mind. It would be too much of a waste to let you die here."

"What exactly do you want? To humiliate me?" Ace became agitated.

"Perhaps. I told you before, killing you would only dirty my hands. I only kill pirates and criminal forces that I acknowledge. You clearly haven't met my standards."

"Acknowledge?" Ace gave a bitter laugh. "By your logic, I don't even count as a pirate."

Noki did not answer. He turned and walked toward the town.

Ace gathered all his strength and suddenly roared, "I'll make you acknowledge me! I'll make you see me as a real pirate, a real opponent! One day, I'll defeat you!!"

"Is that so? Then work hard, frog at the bottom of a well..."

After that.

Deuce found Ace and sent him to the hospital once again. The doctors were shocked. It was their first time seeing someone survive after suffering so many severe injuries in succession. His vitality was simply beyond imagination!

Deuce did not know what to say about that. Was he supposed to say Ace was lucky?

If he were truly lucky, he would not have been beaten into such a state.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, nearly half a year had passed.

Over those six months, Loguetown experienced its most peaceful and stable period since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era.

Pirates were no longer regular visitors to the town.

Civilians lived and worked in peace, no longer troubled or threatened by violence.

That was true not only for Loguetown, but for all of East Blue.

Ever since the Krieg Pirates were destroyed, the remaining pirates in East Blue had become much more subdued. Among them, Kuro of a Hundred Plans had recently been captured by a Marine named Morgan.

Of course, the Kuro Morgan had captured was not the real Kuro. Just like in the original story, Kuro had infiltrated Kaya's household in Syrup Village and become her butler, beginning his preparations to seize her family's fortune.

Meanwhile, Buggy the Clown had entered a semi-retired state. The Marine branches had not received any news of him for a long time.

After half a year of training and building foundations, Tashigi, Dezaya, and Bartolomeo had all improved tremendously, especially in physical combat.

As for Nami, driven by the temptation of money, she worked hard toward becoming an all-purpose talent, with remarkable progress.

Aside from sleeping and occasionally going shopping with Ain, Noki would also guide Tashigi and the others in their training from time to time.

At the same time, through Carmen and Tereina's unremitting efforts, Ain had also persuaded Noki to resume teaching them cooking.

There was also Ace. Over the past half year, Noki had defeated him twenty-two times in various ways. He fought after every loss and lost after every fight, but under Noki's deliberate guidance, his strength had improved tremendously.

Garp was very satisfied with this.

Their ordinary days passed in this simple yet fulfilling manner.

Kuzan had once told Noki that he could stay in East Blue for no more than a year. Now that East Blue had become excessively peaceful and stable, there was no longer any meaning in having him remain there.

Therefore, Marine Headquarters issued a transfer order, commanding Noki to return to headquarters immediately. Marine Headquarters Colonel Smoker would take over as the new commander of the Loguetown base.

After receiving the transfer order, Noki immediately began preparing to return to headquarters.

He had indeed become somewhat bored of staying in Loguetown. Such dull days were clearly not something a man his age should have to endure.

According to the plan, he would select the elite Marines of Loguetown as his core team and bring them back to headquarters.

The list had long since been decided.

Tashigi, Dezaya, Bartolomeo, and Nami were all included without exception.

He would also bring Bartolomeo's underlings along. Among the lackeys, they were considered outstanding.

For logistics, Tereina and Carmen were unquestionably the best candidates as the finest cooks, so they would be taken as well.

When Sergeant Carter heard that his name was not on the list Noki announced, he was deeply disappointed despite already knowing the outcome.

He did not blame Noki. He only blamed his own inadequacy.

If I had met the commodore sooner, perhaps things would have turned out differently...

Noki had anticipated Carter's reaction. Although he would not change his decision, he decided to give him a parting gift as recognition for his work during this time.

Half a year ago, he had defeated a pirate with a Zoan ability. The Devil Fruit he had obtained by using darkness's principle of devouring everything had been kept in his room ever since.

"Commodore, are you really giving this to me?"

Carter looked in delighted surprise at the fruit in his hand, covered in strange patterns.

"Yes. You've always wanted to become stronger, and this is the only way I can help.

After I leave, Colonel Smoker, who will take over as base commander, is also a very capable Marine. With this ability, you'll certainly become his right-hand man. Protect this pure land well in my stead."

"Yes! I will never forget the kindness you have shown me during this time!" Carter knelt in gratitude.