CHAPTER 288 FISHING
In a certain New World sea region, a fleet drifted slowly forward. Every ship in this fleet was a genuine Navy warship—naturally far more massive than mainstream vessels at sea.
On the deck of the largest warship among them, a certain individual currently lay on a beach chair, lazily sunbathing. He had fluffy black curly hair, wore an eye mask, and appeared completely asleep.
The surrounding Navy personnel showed familiar indifference to this sight. The three active admirals all possessed somewhat problematic personalities.
Admiral Akainu was always meticulous, couldn't tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes, distinguished justice and evil with utmost importance. Admiral Kizaru, who got along well with him, seemed like a veteran slacker—always maintaining ambiguous attitudes, neither radical nor conservative. Finally came Admiral Aokiji, whom nearly all Navy personnel considered most approachable among the three admirals—generous, merciful, affable—just somewhat too lazy.
Yet regardless of which admiral, all were Navy pillars—the spines supporting the Navy's advance in this era.
The Navy's spine rolled over, smacking his lips, dreaming of who-knows-what.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps across the deck interrupted the admiral's pleasant dream.
"Admiral Kuzan! News!" A messenger rushed over, unable to worry about disturbing his superior's sleep. "Message from Headquarters—we have NEO Navy information!"
"Ara ara ara, really—dream only half-finished," Aokiji lazily pushed up his eye mask, yawning as he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "So what intelligence was obtained?"
"CP discovered NEO Navy traces on Acryl Island, approximately six hundred nautical miles from these waters!" the messenger hurriedly reported. "Admiral Sakazuki already sent word—he said to arrive as quickly as possible."
"I see," Aokiji nodded. "Then let's depart immediately."
"Seriously," he lay back down on the beach chair, "stop playing hide-and-seek, Zephyr-sensei. Let's end this quickly."
"I really don't want to stay on the same ship with those two bastards anymore," he muttered.
Just as he was about to re-enter dreamland, the messenger came running again.
"Kuzan-san! Kuzan-san!" the messenger called loudly. "Distress signal received!"
"Ah? Distress?" Aokiji pushed up his eye mask again, somewhat surprised.
"Yes," the messenger nodded repeatedly. "From nearby Nicosia Kingdom—they're under attack by Bloodaxe Joseph! Currently requesting rescue!"
"Bloodaxe Joseph... I recall his bounty is around four hundred million?" Aokiji reminisced. "Quite formidable. As for Nicosia Kingdom—"
"They're not a government-affiliated nation," the messenger quickly explained. "Originally under Charlotte Family protection, also one of several nations that recently accepted NEO Navy protection."
"I see," Aokiji scratched his head somewhat helplessly. "Because of Zephyr-sensei, they no longer receive Charlotte Family protection. Now because of us, NEO Navy also cannot protect them."
Such was the helplessness of non-affiliated nations—especially in the New World. Without protectors, anyone could run rampant before them. Encountering slightly powerful pirates, such nations would be plundered completely, even destroyed entirely.
"Let's make a trip," Aokiji said.
"But Kuzan-san—" the messenger still hesitated, "Admiral Sakazuki's instruction was not to delay, proceed directly."
"How far is Nicosia Kingdom from here?" Kuzan asked.
"Approximately thirty nautical miles," the messenger replied.
"Won't take much time then. Let Sakazuki's group go ahead. We'll rendezvous with them afterward," Aokiji said.
Though a non-affiliated nation, in a sense, they'd lost protection because of Navy actions. Having received their distress signal, how could they ignore it?
"Understood," the messenger nodded, immediately reporting to Akainu's group.
"Oh, truly worthy of Kuzan," Kizaru smiled appreciatively upon receiving the news.
"Tell that guy to move quickly," Akainu didn't particularly mind Aokiji's decision. "That bastard Brett might rendezvous with the old man. Kuzan's power is indispensable."
Thus naturally, the two Navy fleets split this time. Akainu and Kizaru's side headed directly toward the target. Admiral Aokiji's fleet proceeded to Nicosia Kingdom for rescue.
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Nicosia Kingdom—a non-affiliated nation common anywhere at sea. Weak, poor, narrow—all labels attached to non-affiliated nations could apply here.
Today, this impoverished nation suffered a pirate attack after long absence. Pirates now occupied the port town, all residents driven from their homes.
At the dock, a pirate ship flying the Bloody Battleaxe pirate flag moored quietly.
The man called Bloodaxe Joseph currently sat boldly on a barrel at the port. This plundering operation proceeded extremely smoothly—encountering no resistance, pirates had bloodlessly occupied this town.
Yet beneath such smooth operations, this pirate captain's body trembled slightly, cold sweat drenching his forehead.
"B-Brett-sama, I... I've done as you instructed," Bloodaxe Joseph's voice dropped very low. He nearly seemed ready to cry. "Please, can you spare me?"
Behind him stood two men wearing disheveled clothing, their original appearances nearly unrecognizable. Though "nearly"—careful observation revealed their identities.
Joseph felt utterly unfortunate. Sailing peacefully at sea, suddenly two monsters appeared. He silently vowed—if escaping alive this time, he'd never be a pirate again. This profession was truly too dangerous.
Brett stood behind this great pirate, smiling. "Zephyr, you're something else—actually conceiving such a method."
Zephyr sighed. "Sakazuki and Borsalino won't know, but that kid Kuzan will definitely come."
That's why he'd said it was somewhat underhanded. Though underhandedly perfect.
Brett turned around. In the distance, warships were already clearly visible across the sea surface.
Checkmate.
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