Playing With Them! Master and Disciple Spar!

Fortunately, the other flag officers were also here for an extra meal. Commodore Doll, who sat back-to-back with Naito, said with a smile, "Twice. Doflamingo was practically going mad."

"So it's true?"

Binz stared in astonishment.

Then he cheered. "Wow! Naito, you're incredible! He's a Shichibukai! Even among all the pirates in the world, he's one of the biggest!"

That was plenty of emotional support.

Naito finally took a moment out of his busy schedule to look up. "What's so surprising about that? He's just a Shichibukai."

"Haha!"

Rear Admiral Marcus couldn't help laughing. He asked Binz, "Has Naito always been this arrogant?"

"He's being modest right now."

Binz spoke with a perfectly serious expression.

"That's Naito for you."

Ain, who had come with Binz to ask what had happened, sounded a little wistful.

Naito had improved so quickly that all she could do was marvel.

"I think arrogant Naito is pretty cute, don't you? Just like a kitten with its fur standing on end."

So said Doll.

Naito couldn't help turning to look at her, meeting the smiling eyes of the female commodore.

Their eyes met.

"Oh? Doll?"

Rear Admiral Marcus immediately joined in the teasing. "Did Naito make your heart flutter when he played the hero and saved you?"

"Hahahaha, Doll, going after a younger man?"

Rear Admiral Gavin laughed as well. "But Naito really is handsome and strong."

Even Vice Admiral Simon couldn't help smiling and shaking his head. "Ah, youth."

Ain froze slightly and instinctively looked at Naito.

Naito's lips twitched. "I don't want to be too rude, but the woman worthy of me hasn't been born yet."

He looked at Doll. "Give up, Doll. I'm destined to be the man you can't have. Don't think too highly of yourself."

"..."

The corner of Doll's mouth twitched. "Can I take back what I said?"

This guy is so annoying!

Just then, Zephyr strode into the dining hall.

His eyes immediately found Naito. "Headquarters called. Naito, there's good news."

"Huh?"

Naito looked up in surprise.

"Ahem."

Zephyr coughed twice, his face stern. "Naito, headquarters major of the Marine Guerrilla Unit, performed exceptionally in the battle against the Leonard Pirates, personally killing the great pirate Black Axe Leonard. He is hereby granted the rank of headquarters colonel in recognition of his achievement."

The room fell silent for a moment.

"C-Colonel?"

Binz's mouth fell open and stayed that way.

"Naito's already a colonel?"

Ain was also somewhat stunned.

They had only just graduated.

"That's incredible."

Vice Admiral Simon marveled as well. "It looks like we're going to witness the birth of the youngest flag officer."

"There's no comparison. Absolutely no comparison."

Rear Admiral Gavin looked deeply moved as well.

How old had he been when he made colonel?

"Straight to colonel?"

Rear Admiral Marcus was somewhat surprised. "Killing a great pirate with a bounty of five hundred million on his own, of course he deserves a promotion. But two ranks at once?"

"They were actually going to promote him to lieutenant colonel at first,"

Zephyr said. "After all, Naito is still too young and only just graduated. But the Five Elders specifically praised Naito during their call with Sengoku, so Sengoku decided to promote him straight to colonel."

"The Five Elders?"

Doll was a little surprised. "Didn't Naito just defy them?"

"Watch your attitude, Doll."

Zephyr glared at her. "The Five Elders aren't that petty. Even they hold an outstanding marine like Naito in high regard."

"Then I suggest a thorough investigation of Fleet Admiral Sengoku,"

Naito said calmly. "The Five Elders hold me in high regard, yet he won't even make me a flag officer. That's not very respectful to the world's highest authority."

I told you, even the Five Elders have to take a genius like me seriously.

So reflect on yourself, Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"Hahahaha, Naito, you brat!"

Everyone burst out laughing, and Commodore Doll was practically shaking with laughter.

I take back taking it back. Naito really is interesting.

"You brat,"

Zephyr could barely keep a straight face himself. He had to force down the corners of his mouth. "Show Sengoku some respect."

In any case, the Marine Guerrilla Unit continued onward.

Not long afterward.

Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.

"Mama! We've found a lead on that group!"

Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, hurriedly pushed open the palace doors.

Charlotte Linlin, the world's greatest female pirate, had been lazily eating cake. The languid look vanished from her face at once. She sat up, her scarlet lips curling upward.

"Mamamama! They've kept me waiting long enough! So, Perospero, where is the Lunarian Tribe I've been dreaming of?"

Perospero said, "We don't know their exact location yet. All we know is that they attacked the Marine Science Unit, then sailed northeast."

"The Marine Science Unit? Then they must have gotten something out of it!"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes instantly grew brighter. "Mmamamama! An unexpected bonus! How far have Katakuri and the others searched? Tell them to head to those waters at once!"

The same thing was happening on Onigashima in Wano Country.

"Wororororo! They've finally shown up? Then what are we waiting for? Send King over!"

Chapter 35: Playing With Them! Master and Disciple Spar!

"Are you really Stussy?"

Caesar Clown stared at the beautiful woman before him in astonishment.

So the Pleasure District queen Stussy was the fake instead?

"How heartless of you, Caesar."

The tall, beautiful Buckingham Stussy rested her chin on her hand and said teasingly with a smile, "Can't you recognize me just because of the false appearance I show in the outside world?"

"No, the one outside is obviously the real one!"

Caesar's lips twitched. You old hag, still can't face reality?

"What are you talking about? How could the outside world be more real than this one?"

As Buckingham spoke, she waved toward the distant shore, where Whitebeard was playing beach volleyball with Weevil.

"You woman-"

The corner of Caesar's eye twitched.

She's completely lost in this fake world!

You call yourself a scientist?

"Oh, right, Caesar, have you visited your world yet?"

"A genius like me isn't interested in a place like that!"

"Caesar, you're the greatest scientist in the world!"

The big-headed man prostrated himself in worship.

"I, Judge, admit defeat! Lord Caesar, you're my idol!"

The man with the great mane of blond hair prostrated himself.

"Dr. Caesar, I, Sein, am your most loyal follower!"

The enormous fat man with a long braid kowtowed repeatedly.

"Shurororororo! Have you fools finally realized who the greatest scientist in the world is?"

Caesar's ghostlike body was now so enormous it seemed to blot out the sky and sun. He cackled repeatedly in delight.

"This idiot. Doesn't he love it?"

Buckingham Stussy, who had returned to her original appearance now that she was in Caesar's world, snorted.

Looking at Caesar, who was enjoying himself immensely, she couldn't help raising her voice. "That's enough, Caesar. It's time to get down to business. Share the information you have with me. You don't want Lord Night King to get angry, do you?"

"...Uh!"

Caesar, who had been carried away with himself, instantly came to his senses.

Right. If I make that lord angry, I'm done for!

Meanwhile, on the highest level of the Dream World, amid the vast, boundless galaxy, two colossal beings were pummeling each other.

One was Hakimi, who could shatter a galaxy with a single paw.