Naval Encirclement Plan, and Roy's Misjudgment

At the highest point of Tenpan City.

There was a platform jutting out from the mountaintop.

Only one building stood on the platform, a white box-shaped house.

At that moment, two people stood outside the house.

One wore a Marine coat with the word "Justice" printed on the back. He looked to be around fifty and had a cigar clenched between his teeth.

He was Vice Commander Hawk of the nearby G-4 Branch.

Standing opposite him was Doro Sarez, the true ruler of Tenpan City.

"Did you build your base here so you could keep an eye on everything happening on the island?" Vice Commander Hawk asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"No. It's just quieter here. I can't hear humans making noise."

Sarez paused, then added, "If you have something to say, say it."

Vice Commander Hawk took a deep drag on his cigar. "Did you know that Admiral Zephyr and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the strategist, will be passing through these waters soon?"

"Why?!"

Hawk pulled out a document from his coat pocket and handed it over.

Sarez took it, broke the seal, and drew out a sheet of paper.

The page was densely covered in writing, but several crucial place names and dates had been prominently circled.

His gaze swept rapidly across the text.

[Top Secret · Headquarters Notice]

[...Rocks D. Zebek, who vanished after the God Valley incident, was confirmed to have resurfaced yesterday.]

[He led his remaining forces in an attack on a secret World Government prison in West Blue, freeing more than three hundred serious criminals...]

[...Rocks publicly declared at the scene that he would reorganize his fleet within one month and retake Beehive Island...]

[The World Government has issued its highest-level wanted order, demanding that Marine Headquarters stop Rocks from rebuilding his forces at all costs...]

Sarez's fingers tightened completely around the paper.

"Now," Vice Commander Hawk's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Other than Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong, who is stationed at Headquarters, nearly every Marine elite who can be deployed has been sent to establish a blockade."

"Your island... is right in the middle of the storm as well."

Sarez slowly folded the paper, slipped it back into the document pouch, and handed it back.

"We do the Celestial Dragons' dirty work, running around for them."

"Who would make trouble for me? Rocks? Or the Marines?"

Vice Commander Hawk accepted the pouch and fixed Sarez with those hawk-like eyes.

"Since the God Valley incident ended, quite a few divisions have emerged within the Marines."

"Some people merely fight without putting in any effort, just collecting a paycheck. That's one thing."

"But some people..." He paused. "On the surface, they obey orders. In reality, what they do is completely contrary to those orders."

"You mean?!"

"That's right. They may not dare openly defy the Celestial Dragons and the Government, but you and your little gang?"

"If they wipe you out while they're at it, who would care?"

Tenpan City, Seventh Level.

Ballroom City Entertainment District.

It was already deep into the night. The wildest hours had passed, and the crowds on the streets had thinned considerably.

A dark figure glided down from the night sky. Its broad wings folded in at the last moment as it landed in an alley behind an inn.

"That's really convenient."

Roy emerged from the alley, his voice full of envy.

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have become a dog. Being a bird would've been so much better. You can go wherever you want."

"What kind of thing is that to say?"

Lin Nuo turned to look at him, his tone sincere. "Dogs are humanity's best friends."

"Loyal, brave, good at guarding homes and protecting courtyards, and they can even be mounts. Though the one you turn into eats a little too much."

Roy's face immediately fell beneath his hood.

"That didn't comfort me at all!"

"But it's rather unfortunate," Lin Nuo said, stroking his chin as he looked Roy up and down. "You almost became a Dragon."

"Huh? A Dragon?"

During their brief rest and exchange of information at the docks earlier, Lin Nuo had finally figured out the origins of the Hellhound Fruit.

He remembered clearly—in the scramble at God Valley, they had seized three treasure chests containing Devil Fruits.

He had opened the first one himself and eaten the Phoenix Fruit. Kuma had opened the second and eaten the Paw-Paw Fruit.

Ivankov's chest, however, had not yet been opened when Kuma slapped it flying during their escape and saved him.

At the time, Lin Nuo had thought that chest contained the Fish-Fish Fruit: Azure Dragon Form.

It was not until Lin Nuo saw Kaido transform into a giant dragon and fight Imu on the God Valley battlefield that he realized something was wrong.

So what exactly had been inside the chest Ivankov took away?

The answer had now been revealed: the Mythical Zoan Fruit, Dog-Dog Fruit: Hellhound Form.

And Ivankov had actually given that precious fruit to a passionate young man with no background whatsoever.

After learning the full story, Lin Nuo naturally extended an olive branch to Roy.

He was quite strong, kind-hearted, and possessed a top-tier Mythical Zoan Fruit. Not recruiting a talent like him would have been unforgivable.

Yet Roy had rejected him cleanly and decisively.

Now, in the alley.

As Lin Nuo looked at Roy, his eyes once again unconsciously took on the same expression he wore when looking at Chopper.

Roy noticed it keenly and widened his eyes.

"Hey! What's with that look again, like you're staring at some rare beast?!"

"Nothing." Lin Nuo looked innocent. "I just didn't expect that, aside from getting worked up so easily in a fight..."

"You're also so... hmm, reactive when chatting normally."

"Isn't it because of you?!" Roy grabbed Lin Nuo by the collar.

"You're always trying to recruit me onto your ship as some watchdog, and you keep looking at me weirdly!"

He let go, and his voice suddenly sank. "Besides, if it weren't for those Celestial Dragons, for all this bullshit..."

"Who would want to be on edge all day, seeing enemies in everyone?"

Lin Nuo said nothing.

Some wounds could not be healed with just a few words.

He reached out and gently patted Roy's back.

The gesture was light, but Roy's body stiffened before gradually relaxing.

"Let's go." Lin Nuo stepped out of the alley first. "It's time to handle business."

The two followed one another into the remaining crowd on the Seventh Level streets.

A few minutes later, they stopped in front of an ornate building.

"Ballroom City Grand Tavern."

"This is the place," Roy said in a lowered voice.

"The last piece of information Ginny left yesterday said that Ivankov and Kuma were being held by Karim, the gang's second-in-command."

"And Karim has a habit of coming here every day to drink and gamble until dawn."

"So Ginny said she was preparing to find an opportunity to sneak in and quietly take the keys and pass he carried with him."

Lin Nuo nodded. "She acted alone?"

"Yes." Roy's voice carried worry and guilt. "She said having more people would make it easier to get exposed, and we needed people on our side to protect the children."

His words abruptly stopped.

Because the women in revealing, tight dresses at the tavern entrance, who had been leaning against the wall and yawning, all suddenly lit up.

Their gazes locked onto Lin Nuo, who had just approached, like a row of searchlights.

It could not be helped. Even in a mixed-up place like Tenpan City, Lin Nuo's appearance was far too conspicuous.

Leaving aside his height, his well-proportioned and upright figure, the sheen of his white short hair beneath the lights...

And those distinctive black wings combined to give him a peculiar aura of both danger and temptation.

To women who spent all year in places of pleasure, a guest like this was either a rare fat sheep or a dangerous star not to be provoked.

But no matter what, they would approach him first.

"Hey there, handsome~ You're new here, aren't you? First time?"

"You're so cute. Want big sis to take you inside? I guarantee you'll feel reeeally good~"

"Don't listen to her. I'm better at it~"

Four or five women swarmed over at once, instantly surrounding Lin Nuo.

Their arms wrapped around him like vines, heavy perfume rushed into his face, and someone even boldly reached up to brush his white hair with her fingers.

Lin Nuo froze.

He had spent most of his time after transmigrating in battle. Being surrounded by women from the pleasure quarters like this was truly a first.

He saw Roy still waiting beside him and quickly gave him a look, telling him not to act rashly.

Roy understood.

Then the expression on his face changed from shock to disdain and fury.

His lips clearly formed the words:

You. Are. The. Dog!

A. Complete. Perverted. Dog!!!

Lin Nuo sighed inwardly.

Little Roy, I'm sacrificing my looks for the mission...