Keep Watch at the Gate

But Miming was actually willing to make the trip. And despite the time crunch, he looked confident.

Could it be? Kong's eyes lit up.

"Saint Mjosgard should still be alive." Miming clapped Kong on the shoulder. "You guessed right. I had another dream last night."

As Miming remembered it, Saint Mjosgard's ship had sunk, but Queen Otohime had protected him. The trip had been a close call, nothing more. Even if no one went to rescue him, he would make it back safely on his own. The real problem was that the lake at home needed fish! That was the big issue.

Kong looked overwhelmingly grateful. This was wonderful! He had never expected to gain so much from a visit to Saint Sanming. Saint Sanming was truly dependable!

"Just keep watch at my gate while I'm gone." Miming didn't want any Celestial Dragons coming over to cause trouble.

"Understood!" Kong thumped his chest in assurance, then immediately arranged for the Holy Land's guards to patrol the area every day.

Miming didn't have much else to worry about. Kuina wasn't home, Robin was busy sorting out her library, and Cairns could handle things around the house.

Miming took Chopper and headed to Marineford to find his dear whale, Laboon. Good deeds really did pay off. If he hadn't gone looking for Brook on the whale's behalf, the trip to the Mermaid Kingdom would have been far riskier.

By now, the Island Whale Laboon had become a new attraction at Marineford. The famous Island Whale from Twin Cape had come to Marineford, filling the young marines with pride. To make sure no one dared hurt Laboon, the marines painted the World Government's G-X emblem on his scarred head, marking the whale as a unit directly under Marine Headquarters.

The marines had already