Fighting Champion

Noki took Anasiah around the city for a while and finally found a lavishly decorated hotel. Though the room rate was steep—over a million Beli a night—she was his mother, after all. He should be willing to spend the money.

Anasiah had actually looked into Marine salaries before. Though she was a Celestial Dragon who never lacked food, clothes, or the finest things, she understood the value of money. One million Beli was a month's salary for even the highest-ranking Marine officer! As his mother, she had never helped her son with anything. How could she spend the money he had worked so hard to earn?

So Anasiah tightly clutched Noki's arm and refused to let him pay. "Noki, let's find somewhere cheaper. I'm used to luxurious surroundings. I want to experience a new way of life."

Since Anasiah stubbornly refused, Noki gave up on staying there and found another inn with simple decor and a clean, tidy environment.

Only after hearing that it cost merely tens of thousands of Beli did Anasiah agree to stay.

After settling his World Noble mother in, Noki used Geppo to head for the warship at the docks.

Ain had already made the bed and was about to rest when she suddenly saw her man walk in. "Noki, weren't you at the palace? Why are you back?"

"How are things in the kingdom?" Noki asked about business first.

Ain blinked her bright eyes and replied, "I had Tashigi and the others stationed at every key area, keeping watch for suspicious people. So far, we've only found one person who might pose a threat to the Celestial Dragons."

"Who?"

Ain walked over to the table and handed Noki a file. "His name is Jesus Burgess. He's the fighting champion of some country. Recently, he's been traveling through various nations in search of opponents who can match him.

"Rumor has it that he's not only immensely strong, but also willing to do anything to win a fight. Quite a few warriors from different kingdoms have already fallen to him."

"Oh, so it's him..."

Noki had quite an impression of Burgess.

In the original story, he was the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates' First Division. He was forthright, bold, and extremely confident. Although he often used despicable methods such as sneak attacks in battle, he was actually a decent person and fiercely loyal to those around him. That was why he became Blackbeard's most trusted subordinate.

He was worth cultivating!

Noki had originally felt that he already had enough subordinates. But after learning of the World Government's attitude toward him, he knew that if he wanted to protect himself better and achieve his revenge in the future, he had to accumulate strength and recruit more talented people under his command.

No matter how strong one person was, there was always a limit. If he wanted to stand against the World Government in the future, he needed people beneath him.

As for his connections in the Marines...

Perhaps they could keep the World Government from wiping him out completely, perhaps they could lend him a hand when he was in the greatest danger, but there was no guarantee they could help with anything else.

Noki had no plans to leave the Marines, but he knew there were too many inconveniences within their ranks. So during this time, he intended to find a solution that would let him remain in the Marines while also building his own power outside them.

Seeing Noki lower his head in thought, Ain asked curiously, "Do you know this person?"

Noki shook his head. "This is my first time seeing him too. Ain, I'm taking you somewhere. We'll talk on the way."

If it was something he could not even say aboard his own warship, Ain instantly realized how serious the matter was. She hurriedly changed clothes and followed Noki out.

"Noki, what happened? Did something go wrong with the World Nobles? No matter what, I'll be with you..."

Hearing Ain grow more and more outrageous, nearly turning it into a farewell between life and death, Noki hurriedly interrupted. "This is important, but it's not as serious as you're making it out to be. It's a little complicated. Listen, and I'll explain it slowly."

Noki lowered his voice and leaned close to Ain's ear.

Feeling his warm breath brush against her ear, Ain's fair cheeks flushed crimson. She tried not to think too much about it and listened intently to Noki's explanation.

By the time they reached the entrance of the hotel where Anasiah was staying, Noki had more or less finished explaining.

"S-So... so... I'm going to meet Noki's... his... mother now!"

Ain's heart pounded wildly in her chest. Calm as she usually was, she now looked utterly flustered. "No, no, absolutely not! I'm not ready yet! I didn't even put on makeup before leaving, my clothes are far too casual, and I didn't bring a gift. I can't meet Noki's mother like this!" With that, she turned and ran.

Noki grabbed her arm and laughed. "All right, all right. My Ain is so beautiful that even without makeup, even in the plainest clothes, you're still the loveliest sight around."

Hearing the man she liked praise her made Ain's heart feel sweet, but she was still worried. Noki's mother was a World Noble. Would she look down on her?

And so, Noki practically dragged Ain to Anasiah's room.

"Are you ready?"

"No, no! Let me think about what I should say later."

Ain was now like an arrow already on the string—she had no choice but to let it fly. She had never imagined this situation would arise. They were both orphans, after all. Who could have expected Noki to suddenly have a mother, and one with such an incredible background at that?

"I'm opening the door now."

"No, no, Noki, give me a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes." Ain's large eyes were watery, and she was so anxious she was nearly crying. She wrapped herself around Noki's arm, terrified that he would actually open the door.

Noki found her current appearance both adorable and amusing, so he could not resist flicking her delicate nose.

"Hmm... almost five minutes have passed. This time, I'm really opening it."

"No, no, I haven't figured it out yet."

Click!

The door opened.

Noki had not opened it. The door had opened by itself.

Anasiah stood there with a sly smile, looking at the two tangled together outside. "Noki, this is your girlfriend, isn't she? I've been listening inside for quite a while. She's so cute~"

Ain had never expected to meet Noki's mother in such a state. She froze completely, her head spinning. If Noki had not been holding her up, she would have collapsed to the floor.

"Auntie... no, hello, Mother!"

After a long moment, Ain finally came back to her senses.

Anasiah looked Ain up and down. She only felt that the beautiful girl suited her son perfectly, as though she were seeing herself with Rogers more than twenty years ago.

"Come inside first."

Noki pushed Ain into the room.

Ain sat stiffly on the sofa, not even daring to lift her head. Her cheeks were intensely red, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Anasiah asked, "Your name is Ain, right? I heard you've known Noki since you were children?"

"Yes, we... we started playing together when we were three."

"Then you two are childhood sweethearts. When are you getting married? Are you planning to have a boy or a girl?"

Ain's face turned even redder, and she nearly fainted from embarrassment.

"Cough, cough."

Noki took the chance to rescue her. "M-Mom, you know the situation we're facing. Until we resolve it, we have no plans to get married or have children."

"That makes sense." Anasiah suddenly grew sorrowful, tears glistening in her eyes. "It's all because I dragged you down."

Ain hurriedly comforted her. "Mother, please don't think that way. We were originally planning to wait a while before getting married anyway."

"You don't need to comfort me. I understand."

Anasiah wiped away her tears and smiled brightly. "I'm already very happy today. Not only did my son acknowledge me, but I also got to meet my future daughter-in-law as I wished."

For a moment, Ain did not know what to say. Then she caught sight of Noki's handsome face from the corner of her eye and immediately had an idea. "Mother, how about I tell you about Noki when he was little?"

"Yes, yes! I want to hear!"

"Noki was very smart even when he was little..."

Once Ain started talking about Noki, she became endlessly eloquent, instantly finding topic after topic to discuss.

Anasiah was also happy to hear about all of her son's experiences.

Noki quietly watched them from the side. Sometimes, hearing himself described through Ain's words even made him laugh.

The family chatted like that until late into the night.

The two women were still full of enthusiasm, but Noki was exhausted. "Ain, you have work tomorrow, right? Why don't we rest first? I... Mom should be tired too."

"Not tired, not tired. Noki, I'm not tired."

Anasiah's eyes shone as she said repeatedly, "I've spent every day in the Holy Land with nothing to do. I've rested enough already. A little longer won't matter."

Ain also did not want to miss such a wonderful chance to build a good relationship with Noki's mother. "I've already arranged for Tashigi and the others to handle tomorrow's guard duty, so I don't really have anything to do. I'll keep Mother company a little longer."

"All right."

Noki tried to hold out for a while.

But with his average daily sleep lasting more than twelve hours, how could he possibly stay awake?

His eyes slowly drifted shut.

Afraid that he would catch cold, Ain quickly grabbed a blanket and covered him with it.

Anasiah gazed at Ain gently and smiled. "With you by Noki's side, I can rest easy as his mother."

"You flatter me, Mother."

Ain had barely finished being modest when Anasiah's next words immediately made her heart leap into her throat again.

"Still, I think you're working too hard, Ain. How about finding someone to help you? I know a girl named Boa Hancock. She once promised to become my daughter-in-law. Why not call her over to help you?"

The Pirate Empress!

Naturally, Ain had heard of Hancock's famed beauty. She actually had this kind of relationship with Noki!?

Anasiah truly meant well. Having lived among the World Nobles for so long, she was accustomed to men with multiple wives and subconsciously considered it perfectly normal.

But Ain did not see it that way. She thought Anasiah was somewhat dissatisfied with her!

Noki, deeply asleep and unable to wake himself, knew nothing of the misunderstanding between the two women.

Until the next morning.

When Noki took Ain out of the hotel and saw her looking dejected, he finally asked, "Did something happen after I fell asleep last night?"

Ain told Noki about Boa Hancock.

Noki laughed. "Ain, you've misunderstood. For us, having multiple wives is excessive, but she's a World Noble. Men with eight or nine wives are everywhere in her world. That's why she thought of finding someone to help you. Her intentions were simple—she just wanted to help. She just didn't realize that the two of you have different views."

"Noki, now that you put it that way, that really does seem to be it!"

Ain silently cursed herself for being foolish. How had she failed to think of something so obvious? Last night, she had been too busy feeling jealous.

Noki sent Ain back to the warship and told her to get some rest. Then he returned to the hotel to take Anasiah on a tour of the old places.

Anasiah, who had been born a World Noble, had clearly not thought as much as Ain had. She assumed Ain's sudden silence the previous night was simply because she was tired.

After Noki explained a little, Anasiah finally realized that she had said the wrong thing. She immediately felt guilty. She had only gotten to see her daughter-in-law once, yet she had made her unhappy...

Noki comforted her, telling her that Ain actually liked her very much and had praised her beauty, understanding nature, and willingness to listen.

Only then did Anasiah cheer up. She took Noki around the city, telling him how his father had courted her back then and where the two of them had pledged themselves to each other.

Noki was very patient and spent most of the day accompanying her around.

"Wihahahaha!"

As the two walked down the street, they suddenly spotted a huge fighting ring ahead.

A man nearly three and a half meters tall stood in the center of the ring. Built like a bull, he had long purple hair and wore a black tank top.

Several sacks filled with Beli sat beside him.

"Who else wants to challenge me? Whoever defeats me gets all this money!"

Noki had originally intended to find him after taking Anasiah back to the palace, but he had not expected to run into him here.

The "champion," Jesus Burgess!