Rogers's Letter

Noki was somewhat surprised. Kuzan was actually going to tell him about Nico Robin?

Although he knew everything about those past events from memories of his previous life, Kuzan had never revealed even the slightest bit to him. Nico Robin was something of a knot in Kuzan's heart.

Since Kuzan could bring up Robin in front of Noki, it meant he regarded Noki as his closest friend.

"The survivor of Ohara, Nico Robin?" Noki feigned confusion.

"Yes."

Kuzan wore a rare serious expression. Only after confirming that no one was around did he continue, "A long time ago, I had a friend named Saul."

"Vice Admiral Saul of the giant race, who betrayed the Marines?"

Kuzan exhaled a deep breath of cold air. "Yeah. For certain reasons, I killed him with my own hands at Ohara."

"What does that have to do with Nico Robin?"

"When I arrived at Ohara, Saul was protecting Nico Robin. He used his life to hold me back and keep that little girl safe."

Noki nodded in realization. "I can probably guess what happened next. With your loyal and sentimental nature, you must have deliberately let Nico Robin escape, right?"

Kuzan looked up at Noki's jewel-like bright and beautiful eyes, then smiled faintly. "Ara ara, I did do that. In my eyes, Nico Robin inherited Saul's will. As Saul's friend, I had a responsibility to help him prove whether that decision was right."

"So how has it turned out so far?"

"Not well. Nico Robin has always drifted between different organizations, betraying them. Every organization she joined has, without exception, been destroyed. Wherever she is, there seems to be disaster and chaos."

Kuzan frowned, determination flashing in his eyes. "If she keeps this up, sooner or later, I'll personally put an end to it."

The corners of Noki's lips rose as he smiled. "Forget it. Don't I know you? You're a soft-hearted nice guy. You talk tough, but when it comes to action, you always hold back."

Kuzan propped up his chin with one hand and said helplessly, "Noki, that's a bit too much."

"I'm just telling the truth. Anyway, I understand what you mean. There's still some time before the Reverie begins. I'll arrange my schedule and head to Alabasta as soon as possible. When the time comes, I'll give that rebellious girl a proper lesson for you."

"Uh... isn't it a little inappropriate to call Nico Robin a girl? She's quite a bit older than you," Kuzan questioned.

Noki laughed. "The two of us are peers. You call her a child, so wouldn't it be a mess if I called her big sister?"

"Ara ara, suit yourself. But I didn't ask you to interfere with Nico Robin. I only asked you to investigate her. If you cause any trouble when the time comes, don't drag me into it," Kuzan said half-jokingly.

"Got it. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Mm."

Noki walked out of Kuzan's office. Just as he was about to head downstairs, Sakazuki approached him with steady strides.

"Noki, I heard you were back. So many accidents happened during this escort mission for the World Nobles. You definitely came into contact with that woman, didn't you?" Sakazuki got straight to the point.

"Uh..."

Noki instinctively wanted to make up a well-intentioned lie.

Sakazuki seemed to see through his thoughts immediately and said in a deep voice, "Tell me the truth. I have plenty of ways to uncover it myself."

Noki nodded helplessly.

"Hmph!!"

A blaze of fury rose in Sakazuki's heart. He clenched his fists, and scorching magma abruptly raised the temperature in the room.

"Admiral, you..." Noki hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, no one was nearby.

Sakazuki noticed his lapse and withdrew his power. He shot Noki a fierce glare. "Brat, come with me."

Noki followed him into Akainu's office.

Sakazuki opened a drawer, rummaged through it, and took out a yellowed envelope. He handed it to Noki. "Rogers left this for you. He instructed me that if you ever met that woman, I was to make sure you read this letter."

"Have you read what's inside?" Noki asked as he opened it.

Sakazuki crossed his arms over his chest and said in a deep voice, "Do you take me for one of those petty people who peep at others' secrets?"

Noki smiled awkwardly, opened the envelope, took out the letter inside, and unfolded it in his hands to read:

["Noki, I'm your old man, Rogers. By the time you see this letter, I'm probably already reincarnated in another world. Maybe I'll even transmigrate again.

I really can't bear to leave!

Sigh!

I'm probably the most pathetic transmigrator there ever was.

It's been hard on the system that followed me too. After I die, it has to self-destruct along with me. Its very first host turned out to be me. I'm really sorry...

(Noki selectively skipped over a huge pile of self-pitying remarks)

Son, you're probably still completely confused after reading this far. Everything above was just your old man venting, so don't take it too seriously.

What follows is the important part. Though your old man may be useless, I still wanted to contribute something for the only son I've had across two lives.

So before I died, I traded all my possessions for a special constitution that can withstand two Devil Fruit abilities.

Though it can withstand two Devil Fruit abilities, remember this well: never eat two fruits of the same type, or incompatibility issues will still arise.

Unless the first fruit you eat is the Dark-Dark Fruit. That fruit is an exception. In theory, your constitution combined with the Dark-Dark Fruit would allow you to use every Devil Fruit ability. But son, the chances of you obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit are far too low, so there's no point in saying much more about it."]

Noki could not help raising an eyebrow when he read that.

So you barely said anything useful, but you sure didn't spare any ink on useless nonsense!

He continued reading:

["As for your mother, you don't need to carry too much of a burden. To put it bluntly, it's all because your old man was useless. I don't expect you to accomplish what I failed to do.

Back then, I thought things would be simple, but reality was cruel. Maybe I was just too stupid.

A transmigrator like me actually ended up in such an utterly hopeless situation...

Oh, right. If the World Government gives you trouble in the future, you can ask Sakazuki for help with anything. I once saved that kid's life, and he still owes me!

Sakazuki may be somewhat cruel by nature, but when it comes to loyalty and righteousness, he can be relied upon.

Your old man has much more to say to you, but time waits for no one. I have to lead my troops into battle. If I don't return this time, consider this letter my last will and testament. If I survive, you definitely won't see this letter. Your old man will surely write you a better one!"]

"Finished?" Sakazuki asked when he saw Noki fold the letter and put it back into the envelope.

"Mm!"

Noki nodded heavily.

Sakazuki closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Rogers left this letter because he feared you might act impulsively. Looking at it now, though, it seems this letter had little effect on you. You've always been calm. Just as expected of a Marine I trained."

"It was still very useful."

Noki sincerely sighed. Its usefulness was not what Sakazuki meant, but rather that it had let him know he possessed a special constitution capable of eating two Devil Fruits.

From Rogers's few words, he had even learned that his constitution could have a special effect when paired with the Dark-Dark Fruit.

This would have an enormous impact on his future development.

But Rogers had provided too little information, so he still needed time to study it carefully. Before reaching a real conclusion, he had better not rashly eat another fruit. Even if he did, it would have to be a powerful fruit that would be of tremendous help to him.

Sakazuki removed his Marine coat, revealing the red shirt beneath it, patterned with rose petals. He said earnestly, "Noki, you grew up in the Marines. The Marines are your home. Don't abandon the justice you've upheld for so many years over a few trivial matters. You must think clearly about what you truly need and what you truly want."

"Uncle, don't worry. I'll uphold my duties as a Marine from beginning to end."

"Mm."

Sakazuki raised a hand and pointed at an ornamental potted green plant in the office. "In a few days, I'll have someone deliver it to your home. For a young, energetic brat like you who's just starting out, pruning plants to cultivate your character is essential. I'll visit your home from time to time to inspect the results. If you ruin it, don't blame me for punishing you."

Noki gave a bitter smile. "Is that really necessary? Besides, as an officer at Headquarters, I often go out on missions. I'm afraid I won't have much time to care for it."

Sakazuki snorted coldly. "Can a rear admiral be busier than I am? If I can raise it well, why can't you? If you still acknowledge me as your uncle, do as I say!"

"Yes..."

Noki answered listlessly.

Sakazuki lowered his head in thought, then added, "I don't object to you spending time with that little girl Ain. I've thought it over carefully. She's still very different from the woman Rogers encountered back then, and in recent years, she's helped you quite a bit. But you're still young. This is the time when you should be striving hard. Matters of romance should be set aside for now."

Noki looked surprised. It was rare for Sakazuki to say something like that. It was truly a tremendous improvement.

Noki nodded gently, expressing his agreement.

Sakazuki lectured Noki a little more before finally letting him go.

It was still early.

Noki turned and entered Garp's office.

Garp had promised Noki that whenever he needed it, he could train with him. Without another word, he dragged him to the training ground and gave him a long-overdue beating.

After training, the two returned to the teahouse to chat.

Noki had long known that Garp understood the truth, so he did not avoid the subject. He directly shared what he had learned with Garp, naturally excluding the contents of Rogers's letter.

Garp laughed heartily. "So she still met with you. I knew you were a smart kid. If it had been that brat Rogers, he probably would've directly fallen out with the World Government."

From everything in the letter, Noki had already realized that his old man was not exactly reliable. The reason he had managed to build connections in the Marines was probably more due to the help of his cheat and his burning passion.

"So what are you planning to do from now on, kid?" Garp continued.

Noki smiled helplessly. "What else can I do? Keep living in the military. I'm too weak right now. As long as I remain in the Marines, with you old-timers protecting me, can the World Government really just kill me?"

"That's true enough."

Vice Admiral Garp grinned. "Noki, the two favors I owe you... don't tell me you plan to make me rebel alongside you someday?"

"Would you?" Noki smiled sweetly and asked in return.

"Hahahahaha! That depends on whether you're to this old man's liking when the time comes."

Garp grabbed a handful of rice crackers and stuffed them into his mouth. "Speaking of which, my son, Monkey D. Dragon, has recently been pursuing a revolutionary cause. His goal happens to align with yours. You could consider cooperating with him."

"The Revolutionary Army? Vice Admiral Garp, as a Marine Hero, you're advising me to become a Marine spy. Isn't that inappropriate?"

"It is indeed inappropriate. Then just pretend this old man never said anything."

"You old rascal..."

Noki drank with Garp for a while before leaving early. Not long after exiting the teahouse, he passed by the entrance of a restaurant and ran into Vice Admiral Momonga. A beautiful woman stood beside him.

Noki vaguely recognized her. She seemed to be a high-ranking civilian official under Chief of Staff Tsuru.

"No... Noki! Didn't you go escort the Celestial Dragons? When did you come back!"

Momonga was startled. His previous girlfriend had broken up with him after meeting Noki, so he had deliberately learned his lesson. He picked times when Noki was absent for dates and meals, yet he had still been caught.

Noki also realized the situation was bad. He laughed awkwardly. "I just got back today. What a coincidence... um, I have something to do, so I'll be going."

If Momonga's girlfriend dumped him because of Noki again, Momonga would definitely take it out on him.

Thus, Noki did not dare linger. He hurried away without looking back.

After taking only a few steps, a blue figure came into view.

"Hey, Noki, there you are."

"Ain, why are you here?"

"I went to your house and found you weren't there. I figured you had gone to train with Vice Admiral Garp again, so I thought I'd buy some groceries and prepare dinner for you in advance." Ain approached him on her long legs.

The woman beside Momonga smiled. "You haven't had dinner either? Why don't we all eat together? I've long admired Rear Admiral Noki's reputation. It's rare to have a chance to meet you today."

"No..."

Momonga and Noki exchanged a glance and tried to refuse in unison.

Ain wrapped an arm around Noki's and smiled. "Sure! Noki and I haven't eaten at a Headquarters restaurant in a long time either. We know a couples' restaurant. Let's go together."

Since Ain had already spoken.

Noki could only give Momonga a look that said, You're on your own.

Momonga's feelings were complicated for a moment, but matters had come to this. He could only brace himself and go along with it. Fortunately, Noki had brought his girlfriend this time. A man with a girlfriend lost points in other women's eyes!