Returning to Alabasta

The four entered a Western restaurant. Noki and Ain had been there many times before; the last time had been just days before Noki left for the East Blue.

Although the restaurant was fairly expensive, Noki was now something of a wealthy man. This amount of money meant nothing to him.

Momonga and his girlfriend sat on one side, while Noki and Ain sat opposite them.

Noki handed the menu to Momonga and let him decide. To avoid drawing too much attention from the woman, he decided to become invisible. Nodding and answering "Mm" had become his standard routine.

Momonga did not hesitate at all and quickly finished ordering.

Watching the woman across from him smile, Noki silently praised Momonga for being so well prepared. He had already mastered her appetite and preferences.

While they waited for the food, Ain began chatting with Momonga's girlfriend.

"Faye, I heard you're Chief Staff Officer Tsuru's capable assistant. You must be very busy normally, right?"

"It's not too bad. Chief Staff Officer Tsuru is far more impressive than I am. Documents that take me an entire day to review take her less than half that time. She's truly beyond compare."

As Faye spoke, her eyes shifted to the silent Noki beside her. "Rear Admiral, you must be close with Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, right? I often hear Vice Admiral Gion mention you."

Noki put on an indifferent expression and shot Momonga a look.

Momonga immediately understood and said, "Vice Admiral Gion and Chief Staff Officer Tsuru practically watched Noki grow up. They aren't related by blood, but they're as close as real siblings."

"Oh, no wonder."

Faye studied Noki's handsome face, resting her chin on her hand as she smiled. "What a pity. I never got to see what the Rear Admiral looked like as a child."

Ain smiled. "Faye, do you want to see? I have quite a few photos of Noki from when he was little."

"Really? Then I'll visit your home in a couple of days. Sorry to trouble you."

"It's no trouble at all."

Noki listened to the two women with a gloomy expression. How had the conversation somehow circled back to him again? He had not said a single word!

Momonga shot him a murderous glare.

Noki blinked a few times. The two exchanged a full conversation through their eyes, as though discussing a strategy.

In the end, they reached one conclusion: the sooner Noki left, the safer Momonga would be. Leaving right after the meal was the proper course of action!

So, when the dishes arrived, Noki picked up his knife and fork. For his brother's love, he went all out. Ignoring his image, he wolfed down every last thing on his plate.

"I'm full!"

The other three had not even finished half their meals.

Thinking Noki was still hungry, Ain picked up the menu and wanted to order more food.

Noki grabbed her hand, glanced at Momonga with his beautiful eyes, then discreetly pointed at himself.

"Oh~"

Ain seemed to understand. She put down her utensils and said in sudden realization, "Noki, I almost forgot. Doesn't Teacher Zephyr need us for something?"

"Yeah, it seems pretty urgent."

Momonga followed along smoothly. "In that case, hurry over. There'll be plenty of chances for us to get together later. Don't worry about us."

Faye nodded as well. "Duty comes first."

"Then we're leaving."

Ain took Noki's hand.

When they passed the counter, Noki had intended to pay the bill. After hesitating for a moment, though, he decided to give Momonga that opportunity.

After leaving the Western restaurant.

Ain linked her arm through Noki's, resting her head against his shoulder as she asked curiously, "Are you and Vice Admiral Momonga hiding something from Faye?"

Noki shook his head and told her why Momonga had been dumped by his ex-girlfriend.

Ain could not help laughing after hearing it. "So that's why. Actually, Noki and Vice Admiral Momonga don't need to care so much. If two people truly love each other, how could they separate over something like that? I'm afraid it was just an excuse Momonga's ex-girlfriend used because she wanted to break up."

Noki had truly never considered that possibility. Across two lifetimes, he had never deliberately studied women's thoughts. In his previous life, he had been a proud bachelor, and in this life, there was even less need. He and Ain had grown up together, so they naturally understood each other. As for other women, they were either elders or women lusting after his body and actively pursuing him. He had never needed to concern himself with such matters.

"Ain, we left in a hurry earlier. You're not full yet, are you? Let's go to another restaurant and eat again."

Ain raised her head, her eyes tenderly fixed on Noki's face. She said softly, "I know Noki is tired today, but I want to eat food you make. Is that okay?"

"Sure. Then let's buy ingredients together and go home to make your favorite braised pork." Noki scratched Ain's delicate little nose and laughed heartily.

"Keep it down. I... I don't like such greasy food."

By the time Noki brought plate after plate of fragrant dishes to the table, it was completely dark outside.

Since only Ain and Noki were in the house.

Little Black also rarely shed its identity as a Marine coat, transforming into a snow-white nine-tailed fox and leaping onto the dining table.

Although it was an object and did not need food to sustain its life, it possessed touch and taste. It still could not resist the temptation of delicious, fragrant food.

Ain stroked Little Black's soft fur. It felt incredibly comfortable.

Especially those nine swaying tails. It was a pity Little Black reacted strongly whenever she touched them; otherwise, she would have loved to hold it and give it a good cuddle.

Looking at Little Black, Noki thought, If I could use its transformation ability too, then creating a new force without leaving the Marines would be effortless.

However, the Dog-Dog Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Nine-Tailed Fox Form was not an ability he wanted. He could not risk losing the chance to acquire other abilities by eating it.

Noki was also unwilling to deprive Little Black of its life for that reason.

Therefore, the only option was to help Little Black develop its abilities.

There was no precedent for an object developing abilities.

But an object that had eaten a Mythical Zoan Fruit was also unheard of in centuries.

Who could guarantee it was impossible?

And so.

That night, after dinner.

Noki had Little Black try again.

Unfortunately, it was still all effort for nothing.

Where exactly had they gone wrong?

As Noki pondered it, he suddenly remembered a movie from his previous life involving a nine-tailed fox. In that movie, the fox changed its appearance by wearing a specially painted skin.

That gave him an idea.

Little Black's true body was a piece of clothing. If he wore it, then had Little Black use its illusion ability based on the sensation it normally experienced while transforming, could it work?

No sooner said than done.

Noki had Little Black return to its Marine coat form, put it on, and then told it to try using its illusions.

Ain had just finished washing the dishes and came out of the kitchen. Seeing an identical version of herself standing in the room, she walked over and patted its head. "Little Black, stop fooling around. It's time to rest."

"Did it work?"

"Ain" looked at her fair hands and her raised chest. Noki himself felt no different, but to ordinary eyes, he had indeed changed.

"Ain, it's me, Noki."

Noki spoke in Ain's voice.

Ain's face instantly flushed red. "Y-you... why did you turn into me? Change back already!"

Noki saw through her thoughts at once and explained, "Don't worry. Only the appearance changed. The inside is still the same."

It was not that he wanted to become Ain. Little Black had wanted to do it; after all, Little Black was the one controlling the transformation.

"Oh."

Ain let out a breath of relief, then suddenly realized something and said angrily, "That still doesn't make it okay!"

It was one thing when Little Black usually took her appearance. But now that Noki was the one transformed into her, no matter how she thought about it, it felt strange.

The successful experiment was worth celebrating.

Noki still needed to conduct more experiments with Little Black. Since its illusions could transform freely, could it create a brand-new appearance from nothing based on the traits of different people?

Though it sounded like a simple application, it was extremely difficult for Little Black to carry out due to its limited understanding.

Over the next few days.

Noki had only two things keeping him busy.

One was training with Garp, while the other was returning home to train Little Black.

Neither produced particularly good results.

For the former, it was because reaching his level made improvement far more difficult. He needed to wait for an opportunity.

As for the latter, Little Black's progress was simply too slow.

It was worth mentioning that Burgess often appeared at the training grounds as well. Every day, he challenged Marine Headquarters officers. He lost more than he won, and even his occasional victories were not particularly honorable.

In just a few days, Burgess had become notorious throughout Marine Headquarters.

Sakazuki's bonsai arrived at Noki's home two days later. Noki had no interest in that sort of thing, but he could not simply leave it undone, so he had no choice but to ask Ain for help.

Ain was thoughtful and meticulous, so arranging bonsai came naturally to her.

Kuzan also submitted an application to Fleet Admiral Sengoku to promote Noki to vice admiral at Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku neither approved nor rejected it. Instead, he chose to set it aside for the time being. In his view, Noki indeed possessed both the qualifications and achievements necessary to become a vice admiral.

While protecting the World Nobles, Noki had single-handedly killed four pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million, and he had also brought the East Blue into an unprecedented era of peace since the beginning of the Great Age of Piracy.

Whether in strength or achievements, there was nothing anyone could criticize.

The only issue was his length of service.

Back then, promoting a new recruit like Noki directly to rear admiral at Marine Headquarters had already caused dissatisfaction among World Government officials.

Now, he had been a rear admiral for only a little over a year. Granting him the third-highest Marine rank, surpassed only by fleet admiral and admiral, coupled with Noki's sensitive identity, would likely...

As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku was also one of the few people in the Marines who knew the truth about Rogers back then.

Thus, Sengoku wavered repeatedly between approval and rejection. In the end, he decided to hold onto the application and revisit it after some time.

The Reverie was approaching.

Following his agreement with Kuzan, Noki assembled his subordinates ahead of time and set sail for Alabasta.

The journey was peaceful.

Noki's warship arrived at Nanohana Port.

"Ain, I'll leave the royal family to you."

During the voyage, Noki had already told Ain about the task Kuzan had given him.

Ain could not help sighing.

Those famous figures within the Marines all had some unspeakable secrets behind them.

Vice Admiral Garp had a grandson, Admiral Kuzan had a friend, and even the stern and upright Admiral Akainu had concealed the truth because of his brother.

The Marines looked simple on the surface, but they were truly full of hidden complexities!

Using Moonwalk, Noki shot into the air and headed toward Rainbase, Crocodile's headquarters.

When King Cobra of the Alabasta Kingdom heard that Marines from headquarters had arrived, he hurriedly sent Princess Vivi and Pell, vice captain of the Royal Guard, to welcome them. He instructed them to make sure they invited the officers to the royal palace for a discussion.

Princess Vivi arrived at the docks in a white spaghetti-strap dress, carrying herself with elegant poise.

Ain disembarked from the warship with Tashigi, Dezaya, and the others.

Vivi looked around with her large eyes but could not find the person she wanted to see. "Sister Ain, didn't the Rear Admiral come?"

"Noki has something to deal with and left for now. He'll definitely return before the Reverie," Ain explained.

"Okay."

A flicker of disappointment passed through Vivi's eyes, though her face remained filled with a smile. "Then Sister Ain, please come back to the palace with me. My father wishes to meet you."

Ain nodded. "It would be my honor to meet His Majesty."

"Please get in."

Vivi brought Ain aboard a carriage pulled by camels.

Tashigi, Dezaya, and the others remained behind to command the fleet and await orders.

Noki was extremely fast and arrived in Rainbase before long.

Crocodile had been stationed in Rainbase for around a year by then. His casino had been roughly completed and had just opened.

Noki casually found someone on the street, had Little Black memorize his appearance, then used its illusion ability to disguise himself before swaggering into Crocodile's casino.

An ordinary person's identity made it difficult to enter the casino's inner areas.

With his sharp observation skills, Noki found an isolated employee. Moving too fast for the naked eye to follow, he knocked the man unconscious. He deliberately held back, only making him sleep for a while.

Then, using Little Black's illusions, he took on the employee's identity and climbed the stairs.

Noki knew nothing about the casino's internal layout, so he could only go wherever he could and rely on luck. Even if he was discovered, he was not afraid. With Little Black's ability covering him, no one could know his true identity.

As Noki walked, a slightly husky female voice suddenly came from behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Hit the jackpot?

Noki turned around. Before him stood a woman with wheat-colored skin, high boots, and a purple coat.

This was his target—Nico Robin!

Robin had learned from the personnel monitoring the surveillance room that an employee was wandering around the casino like a headless fly, looking highly suspicious. She had come personally to investigate.

"Who exactly are you?" Robin's dark blue eyes locked tightly onto Noki. Her arms seemed to swing casually at her sides, but she was actually ready to activate her ability at any moment.

Noki spoke mysteriously. "I came looking for you, Nico Robin. Just as that man said, you really are here."

"Who sent you?!"

Nico Robin instantly activated her ability.

Four arms grew from Noki's shoulders and waist, trying to fling him backward, but they could not move him at all.

"Your strength is far too far beneath mine. I advise you not to bring suffering upon yourself, rebellious girl."

Noki flashed in front of Robin and threw a punch, striking her hard in the waist.

Robin was sent flying backward and slammed heavily into the wall.

"We'll meet again next time."

Noki glanced at the surveillance Den Den Mushi mounted on the wall, used Soru, and sped away.

Not long afterward, a man wearing a large black fur coat and smoking a cigar arrived at the scene. "Miss All Sunday, what happened?"

Robin supported her aching body and replied, "He was likely a World Government agent. He was extremely proficient in the Six Powers. For some reason, despite clearly being able to kill me easily or take me away, he did neither."