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Mihawk was taken to the ancient castle and treated with hospitality. The Spade Pirates were stunned when they heard their guest was a Warlord of the Sea.
Ace, intrigued, tried to strike up a conversation with Mihawk, much to the hawk-eyed swordsman's annoyance.
He'd known another person just as boisterous…
A peaceful new day dawned, and Noir began to consider the future of his ever-growing crew.
Nearly two thousand people crammed into the massive castle. The most pressing issue was food. Noir constantly sent people out to fish, relying on seafood to sustain them.
The two giant warriors from Elbaf, Nylph and Manlyph, stayed on the ship, helping with construction projects.
Noir watched them work with interest, his gaze falling on a mark below Nylph's neck.
A crimson hoof print, the mark of the Tenryuubito.
All slaves of the Celestial Dragons were branded with this mark, and it was incredibly difficult to erase.
Even the slaves Fisher Tiger had freed had merely covered the mark with another tattoo, concealing it rather than removing it.
Noir scratched his head in frustration. Would he have to find a way to cover their marks too?
But that would still leave a trace. He wanted these marks to vanish, not be hidden.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He actually had a skill that might help.
He'd obtained a special skill from Chopper, a healing ability called Restoration.
However, after a few experiments, he'd rarely used it.
He'd discovered that Restoration wasn't truly healing. It only had a minor effect on external injuries.
It was essentially a fancy, high-end cosmetic procedure...
Noir beckoned to Nylph. "Hey, big guy! Come here for a second!"
The giant lumbered over, his voice booming. "What is it, Savior?"
Noir leaped onto Nylph's shoulder, his feet barely touching the ground. "Relax, I want to try something."
Nylph stood still, obediently. Noir focused on the giant's neck and activated Restoration.
A faint, green glow, imbued with the essence of nature, enveloped the mark. The crimson of the hoof print gradually faded.
Nylph, unable to see what was happening, exclaimed, "Savior, my neck feels warm."
Noir smiled, satisfied. The other former slaves from Mary Geoise stared in disbelief.Â
The Tenryuubito hoof print, so notoriously difficult to remove, was being effortlessly erased by their Savior?!
Seeing that no trace of the mark remained on Nylph's neck, Noir jumped down and announced to the crowd, "Everyone, gather around! I'll erase your marks!"
A cheer erupted as the former slaves crowded around him, eager to be rid of the mark of their enslavement.Â
They had resigned themselves to carrying this mark for life, even after escaping Mary Geoise.
They had prepared themselves to bear this burden of darkness forever.
And yet, their all-powerful Savior had accomplished the impossible. Was there anything he couldn't do?!
As one by one, their marks vanished, their faces lit up with joy, running around with newfound lightness in their steps. The weight that had burdened their hearts lifted.
They were truly free now, and they had found a leader to whom they would pledge their loyalty for life!
By nightfall, Noir had erased the hoof print from every single person, working tirelessly throughout the day.
After dinner, he looked at his brothers and sisters, their faces free from the shadow of their past, and a genuine smile spread across his face.
Mihawk, sitting opposite him, commented, "You care about your crew quite a bit."
Noir stretched, leaning back on the sofa. "The more you invest in your crew, the more they'll be willing to give back. It's worth the effort."
Mihawk scoffed. "That's why I prefer not to have a crew..."
Beside Mihawk, Ace idly spun his hat on his finger before asking, "So, Noir, are you really going to be a pirate now?"
Noir shrugged, a wry smile on his lips. "The Government and the Marines have already labeled me a pirate. Public opinion is in their hands. It's pointless for me to argue."
"I used to be a bounty hunter for convenience, but now, I don't really care about those trivial matters…"
Ace slammed his hand on the table, his face lighting up. "Then join my crew! Be my nakama!"
Noir declined without hesitation. "Nope!"
Ace's shoulders slumped. "Why not?"
Because I don't want to join the Whitebeard Pirates…
Whitebeard could give Ace the fatherly love he craved. Noir...Â
He wanted to offer that same love, but he couldn't…
Speaking of which, Garp treating Ace like his grandson… he's really taking advantage of both Whitebeard and Roger.
Ace, oblivious to Noir's wandering thoughts, continued, "Well, you have your own crew now. What's your pirate crew's name?"
Noir blinked. "I haven't decided yet…"
Ace's expression froze. "And you haven't designed your Jolly Roger either?"
Noir chuckled sheepishly. "Nope."
Ace stared at him as if he were a strange creature. "How can you be a pirate without those things?"
"The Jolly Roger is the soul and guiding spirit of a pirate crew! The crew's name is a badge of honor!"
"These things are not to be taken lightly."
Seeing Ace's sudden seriousness, Noir realized he needed to address this issue soon.
He wasn't like Ace. He hadn't chosen to be a pirate.
The World Government had branded him as one, and his protests were futile.
But Noir wasn't afraid. If they insisted on calling him a pirate, then he might as well embrace it and form a pirate crew. The Government had already abandoned the notion of him being a bounty hunter.
He had some free time now; he might as well get started on designing his pirate flag and choosing a name.
Noir quickly summoned everyone, gathering them in the courtyard for a meeting.
The meeting's official title was "Preparatory Matters for the Establishment of the Pirate Crew, Full Crew Representative Conference"Â
The courtyard was packed, everyone sitting upright, their expressions serious, as if preparing for a difficult battle.
Many even had notebooks and pens ready to take notes.
Mihawk and Ace were present as special guests.
Ace sat with an air of solemnity, as if participating in a sacred ritual.
Mihawk, on the other hand, was utterly bewildered. Are they children? Why am I even here?
Noir stood at the highest point, cleared his throat, and announced through a megaphone,Â
"First item on the agenda: determining the number of crew members in our pirate crew."
His words were met with an eruption of chatter and excited discussions.
Mihawk stared, dumbfounded. This…
They're all so enthusiastic about supporting their Captain?
And what's with that Ace guy? Why is he so excited?
If he didn't know better, he'd think they were planning to overthrow the world...
...
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