On the street outside the casino.
Nao strolled leisurely under the setting sun with his harem group, while Fujitora and the thin old man followed behind.
"Earlier, outside the casino, I already noticed—there was a top-class powerhouse nearby, someone rarely found in this world," Fujitora said with a sigh. "But I didn't expect it to be you, Vice Admiral Nao."
"You've heard of me before, Mr. Issho?" Nao looked at him in surprise.
"Vice Admiral Nao Natsuya's name shakes the four seas. How could I not have heard of it?" Fujitora's expression was serious. "The reactions of those scumbags in the casino just now are the best proof, aren't they?"
Nao only smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Truthfully, he had only entered the casino to get to know Fujitora. Everything else was just a minor interlude.
However, just as Fujitora said, after his identity was recognized by Black Wolf, the atmosphere in the entire casino changed.
Whether it was the bodyguards and thugs or the gambling spectators, all of them went silent, their faces pale, too terrified to even breathe.
As for that handsome young master, Angie, the world spun around him. His vision went black, and in a disgraceful display, he fainted on the spot.
But escaping was useless.
Nao had never been one to show mercy to vermin hiding in the dark. He ordered the Jarre family's casino to be immediately shut down. Every major underworld figure involved, including Angie, was dragged off to prison for questioning.
Black Wolf had done his best to assist with all of this, but unfortunately, his flattery was destined to be a failure with Nao.
Receiving a large amount of bribes, secretly colluding with underground crime organizations multiple times, and extorting and bullying civilians...
This guy had been rooted in Branch 172 for many years. He was indeed capable, but he had also lost his passion for justice and had done many despicable things.
Considering that this guy had at least made a lot of military merits, Nao didn't lose his temper on the spot. He just asked him very gently and kindly.
Did he want Nao to personally escort him to the nearby G-3 Branch for investigation and questioning, or would he go by himself...
Perhaps he was moved by Nao's sincere and amiable attitude.
The moment he heard this, Commodore Black Wolf immediately displayed an excellent sense of self-discipline.
He chose the second option—ordering his subordinates to tie him up tightly, and obediently following the very gangsters he had personally captured, setting off on the road to prison."
Even though what awaited him was likely three, or even five, years of imprisonment, and his future would be greatly affected.
There was no other choice.
A man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
And the name Natsuya Nao was one that resounded across the world. In any Marine branch, it was an unrivaled name, more persuasive than even Sakazuki or Kuzan.
The Marine massacre in the West Blue had not been forgotten—it was still a fresh, bloody memory.
"In any case."
Fujitora suddenly stopped walking, turned, and bowed deeply to Nao and his companions.
"Thank you all so much for your help. Without you, I would have definitely been unable to protect this money."
The blind old man beside them suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, knocking his head against the floor several times in front of Nao.
"Uncle Ange, please don't do that. Get up, get up quickly."
Nao hurriedly helped the thin old man up. Looking at the old man who was filled with both joy and sorrow and was choked with emotion, he didn't know what to say. He sighed softly and turned to ask Fujitora:
"Mr. Issho, I heard you tell Uncle Ange in the casino that this is life-saving money that the village urgently needs for reconstruction?"
"Yes."
Fujitora nodded, his tone tinged with regret. "Uncle Ange is from a small island to the north. Just a few days ago, it was raided and plundered by the Demon Hunter Pirates. The casualties were devastating. I arrived too late, so I could only bring Mr. Ange with me to pursue them along the way, hoping to avenge the villagers. But when we reached this city, we found they had already died at the harbor…"
He suddenly stopped, as though realizing something, his expression flickering with astonishment.
"Could it be… the Demon Hunter Pirates ran into you, Vice Admiral, and you…"
"It wasn't me. But close enough—it was Sadaharu."
Nao shook his head, then added: "Oh, that's the name of my big dog."
Big… dog?
Even the old man beside them was stunned. He and Fujitora exchanged a "look," their faces blank with disbelief.
Wait, what?
Don't tell me… it was that adorable big dog they had seen earlier at the docks, lazily napping in the sunlight?
...
In a street noodle shop.
Fujitora and the thin old man sat across from them. Each of them had a large bowl of ramen. They were eating one mouthful after another, enjoying it immensely. Nao and the others were a bit more refined in their eating, but they were also slurping down their noodles quickly.
One empty bowl after another was stacked up, and they soon formed a small mountain on the table.
The surrounding customers stared in shock. Where did these people come from? How could every single one of them, men and women alike, eat so terrifyingly much?
Gion was the first to finish. She put down her chopsticks and bowl. She rested her chin on her hand and smiled as she looked at Nao's profile. Her mind was replaying the conversation she had with Fujitora on the way.
Her Float-Float Fruit and Fujitora's Gravity-Gravity Fruit actually had a lot in common when it came to their use and development.
Hers could make objects ignore gravity and be freely manipulated, while his could directly control the strength and direction of gravity itself.
Not exactly a superior-subordinate relationship, but the similarity was there.
In Gion's opinion, only Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit and the former Impel Down warden's Cold-Cold Fruit could be compared.
Fujitora had been a Devil Fruit user for a few years now, unlike her, a new user who had just started.
This uncle's personality was frank. He didn't hide his experience in developing his ability at all. Many of his viewpoints gave Gion a new perspective.
After talking for a while, she realized that it was more of a learning experience for her than a discussion.
It was very enlightening and she benefited greatly.
"Burp~"
Finally full, Nao leaned back and patted his round belly with satisfaction.
"Brother Issho, this is your first time in the Spring Queen's City, right? How did you find such a great noodle shop in just a short amount of time?"
Fujitora was a full 16 years older than him, so they weren't in the same generation at all.
Nao was originally going to call him "uncle," but the blind swordsman refused no matter what. He just wanted Nao to call him by his name.
After a bit of back and forth, Nao made the final decision to use a compromise.
"The world's most difficult-to-find delicacies are often not in royal palaces or courts but hidden in small, lively restaurants that are full of life."
Fujitora temporarily put down his chopsticks when he heard that. He looked up, showing the whites of his eyes, and smiled gently. "This is a small amount of experience I've gained from wandering around."
"That's very true."
Nao clapped his hands and laughed. "Just like the most precious and pure justice in this world is not in the government or the Marines. It is often hidden among the unknown folk heroes."
Oh my, so that's what he's planning…
Gion, who was next to him, seemed to have realized something. She looked at Nao with a smile on her face.
Just as she expected.
The next moment, Nao suddenly got up. He placed both hands on the table and grinned slightly at Fujitora, revealing a brilliant smile that could outshine the stars in the night sky:
"Hey, I say, Brother Issho, have you ever considered… trying to become a Marine at Headquarters?"