Fighting Champion

Noki took Anasiah around the city for a while before finally finding a grand, luxuriously decorated hotel. Though the rooms were expensive—over a million Berries a night—she was his mother, after all. He should be willing to spend the money.

Anasiah had actually looked into Navy salaries. Though she was a Celestial Dragon and had never wanted for food, clothing, or the finest things, she understood the value of money. One million Berries was a month's salary for even the highest-ranking Navy officers! As his mother, she had never helped her son much. How could she spend the money he had worked so hard to earn?

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

Since Anasiah absolutely 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 Berries did Anasiah agree to stay.

After settling his Celestial Dragon mother in, Noki used Moonwalk and hurried to the warship at the docks.

Ain had made the bed in the room and was just 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 answered, "I had Tashigi and the others remain stationed at key locations, keeping watch for suspicious people at all times. 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 document. "His name is Jesus Burgess. He's a fighting champion from some country. Recently, in search of an opponent who can match him, he's traveled through countless nations.

Rumor has it that not only is he immensely strong, but he'll often resort to any means necessary to win a fight. Warriors from quite a few kingdoms have already fallen to him."

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

Noki had quite a deep impression of Burgess.

In the original story, he was the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates' First Division. He was forthright, bold, and extremely confident. Though he often used despicable methods like sneak attacks in battle, he was actually a decent person and fiercely loyal to others. That was why he became one of Blackbeard's most trusted subordinates.

He was someone worth cultivating!

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

One person's strength was ultimately limited. If he wanted to oppose the World Government in the future, he couldn't do it without people beneath him.

As for his connections in the Navy...

They might be able to prevent the World Government from completely wiping him out and lend him a hand when he was at his most dangerous, but they couldn't guarantee anything else.

Noki had no intention of leaving the Navy, but he knew there were many inconveniences within its ranks. So during this time, he planned to find a solution that would let him remain in the Navy while also building his own power outside it.

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, come somewhere with me. I'll explain on the way."

There were things he couldn't even say aboard his own warship. Ain instantly realized how serious this was, quickly changed clothes, and followed Noki out.

"Noki, what happened? Could there be a problem with the Celestial Dragons? No matter what, I'll stay with you..."

Hearing Ain's words grow more and more outrageous, almost to the point of a tearful farewell between life and death, Noki hurriedly said, "This is important, but it's not as serious as you think. 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 and listened carefully to Noki's explanation.

By the time they reached the hotel where Anasiah was staying, Noki had basically finished explaining everything.

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

Ain's heart pounded wildly. Usually calm and collected, she rarely looked so flustered. "No, no, absolutely not! I'm not ready yet! I didn't even put on makeup before leaving, I'm dressed far too casually, 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 pretty that even without makeup, even in the plainest clothes, you're still the most beautiful sight around."

Hearing praise from the man she liked filled Ain's heart with sweetness, but she was still worried. Noki's mother was a Celestial Dragon. 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 first."

Ain was now like an arrow on the string, with no choice but to fire. She had never imagined this situation would arise. Both she and Noki were orphans—who could have expected that Noki would suddenly have a mother, and one with such an extraordinary background at that?

"I'm opening the door."

"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 both arms around Noki's arm, terrified that he would truly open the door.

Noki found Ain's current appearance both adorable and amusing, and he couldn't resist tapping her delicate nose.

"Hmm... it's almost been five minutes. This time, I'm really opening the door."

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

Click!

The door opened.

Noki had not opened it. The door had opened on its own.

Anasiah stood there with a mischievous smile, looking at the two tangled together outside. "Noki, this is your girlfriend, right? I've been listening from inside for ages. 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 supported her, she would have collapsed onto the floor.

"Auntie... no, Mother!"

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

Anasiah looked the beautiful girl up and down and felt that she was especially well matched with her son. It was as if she were seeing her own days 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 raise her head. Her face was flushed bright red, and she lowered her head as though she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.

Anasiah asked, "You're Ain, right? I heard you and Noki have known each other since childhood?"

"Yes, we... we've played together since we were three."

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

Ain blushed even harder, nearly fainting from the heat in her face.

"Cough, cough."

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

"That's true." Anasiah suddenly became sad, crystal tears welling in her eyes. "It's all because I've burdened you two."

Ain hurriedly comforted her. "Mother, please don't think that way. We had originally planned 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 daughter-in-law as I wished."

For a moment, Ain did not know what to say. Then, catching sight of Noki's handsome face from the corner of her eye, she suddenly had an idea. "Mother, how about I tell you some stories 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 talkative, immediately finding herself with countless stories to tell.

And Anasiah was more than happy to hear about every part of her son's life.

Noki quietly watched them from the side. Sometimes, hearing Ain's stories about himself 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 still 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 lit up as she repeatedly said, "I had nothing to do all day in the Holy Land. I've rested more than enough. A little longer won't matter."

Ain also did not want to miss such a wonderful chance to improve her relationship with Noki's mother. "I've already arranged for Tashigi and the others to handle tomorrow's guard duty, so there's actually nothing much for me to do. I'll chat with Mother for a while longer."

"All right."

Noki tried to hold on for a while.

But how could someone who slept more than twelve hours a day on average possibly stay awake?

His eyes gradually drifted shut.

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

Anasiah watched Ain with gentle eyes and smiled. "With you by Noki's side, I can rest easy as his mother."

"You flatter me, Mother."

Ain had only just responded modestly when Anasiah's next words immediately made her heart rise again.

"However, I think you work too hard, Ain. How about finding someone to help you? I know a girl named Boa Hancock. She promised she would become my daughter-in-law. Why not call her over to help you?"

The Pirate Empress!

Of course Ain had heard of Hancock's beauty. She actually had this kind of relationship with Noki!?

Anasiah truly meant well. Having lived among the Celestial Dragons for so long, where men with multiple wives and concubines were commonplace, she subconsciously felt this was perfectly normal.

But Ain did not see it that way. She even 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 left the hotel with Ain and saw her looking dejected, he asked, "Did something happen after I fell asleep last night?"

Ain told Noki everything about Boa Hancock.

Noki laughed. "Ain, you misunderstood. To us, having multiple wives and concubines is excessive, but she's a Celestial Dragon. Men with eight or nine wives are everywhere in their world, so she naturally thought of finding someone to help you. Her intentions were simple. She just wanted to help you. She simply didn't realize that the two of you have different views."

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

Ain silently scolded herself for being foolish. How had she failed to think of something so obvious? Last night, she had only been focused on feeling jealous.

Noki sent Ain back to the warship and told her to get some rest. Then he returned to the hotel once more to take Anasiah back to revisit old places.

As a Celestial Dragon, Anasiah obviously did not overthink things as much as Ain had imagined. She had assumed Ain's sudden quietness last night was simply because she was tired.

After Noki explained things to her a little, Anasiah finally realized she had said the wrong thing. She immediately felt guilty. It was rare for her to see her daughter-in-law, yet she had made her unhappy...

Noki comforted her, telling her that Ain actually liked her very much and had praised her for being beautiful, understanding, and a good listener.

Only then did Anasiah cheer up. She took Noki around everywhere, telling him how his father had courted her back then and where the two of them had fallen in love.

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

"Wihahahaha!"

As the two walked down the street, they suddenly saw a large fighting ring ahead.

A man nearly three and a half meters tall, built as powerfully as a bull, with long purple hair and a black tank top, stood in the center of the ring.

Several bags filled with Berries sat beside him.

"Who else wants to challenge me? As long as you can defeat me, all this money is yours!"

Noki had originally planned to look for him after sending Anasiah back to the palace, but he had not expected to encounter him here.

"Champion" Jesus Burgess!