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Kizaru was likely in a mood, wishing that everyone aboard the Tempest were pirates, so he could attack without restraint.
Anos didn't treat him like a Marine admiral at all, his constant ridicule and sarcasm only added to Kizaru's already sour mood.
Here he was, known for his speed, sent to investigate matters with the Tru Kingdom fleet, only to find that his efforts were in vain.
Yet, facing Anos, Kizaru could only maintain his lazy demeanour. "King Tru, you're too polite. Surely, we'll get a chance soon enough to catch up. After all, I travelled all this way to greet you; we barely had a chance to chat last time, right?"
Anos laughed outright. The last time they'd met was just yesterday morning at a gathering hardly enough time had passed for them to have missed each other.
"Admiral, perhaps you'd like to inspect the ship? Otherwise, we may never shake off suspicion ourselves," Anos said with a wry smile.
This was the advantage of holding back one's strength. Not only did it keep his true capabilities a mystery within his ranks, but outsiders were also none the wiser.
While there were now a few more people aware of his strength, Anos trusted they wouldn't reveal anything.
Kizaru, however, felt a bit trapped. Facing the ruler of a kingdom, he knew Anos wasn't intimidated by his Marine rank.
Even if Anos showed him no respect, Kizaru had little choice but to accept it.
"How awkward…" Kizaru muttered to himself, feeling both helpless and exasperated.
He didn't have much interest in investigating further, but leaving without any action would only raise questions back at headquarters.
Since he was here, he had to do something.
Anos's nonchalant attitude left Kizaru no option but to feign helplessness.
Tempest wasn't particularly large, and with his Observation Haki, Kizaru had already swept the entire vessel.
Although it held plenty of gold and silver, it was nothing compared to the wealth stolen from Mariejois.
"Admiral, if you're not investigating, then it might not be convenient to keep you much longer."
"You have many duties, and we wouldn't want to delay you from tracking down the true culprit behind Mariejois's incident."
"We, too, hope you can catch the offender soon so we can finally be cleared of suspicion," Anos said with a casual smile.
"That's right; it's a complicated situation. Sometimes, I envy you, Your Majesty. To rule a kingdom so young and live so comfortably I wonder when our paths will cross again," Kizaru said with a grin.
"Don't worry. There will certainly be another opportunity. I can promise you that!" Anos replied with a smirk.
"Then, until next time." Kizaru stood, his body transforming into light, streaking away in another direction.
As he departed, the hull of the ship shuddered slightly. Most people wouldn't notice something so minor; at sea, a small wave could easily explain a ship's shake. But if only it were that simple.
"The Pika Pika no Mi is impressive, with unmatched speed, and it looks so cool!" Anos mused, reclining leisurely as he watched Kizaru's light fade away.
"Your Majesty, I didn't expect anyone would catch up after we were so far ahead!" Daiki added.
"A Marine Admiral? Has he risen that high now? Hard to believe! If memory serves, this guy was once a disciple of Admiral Zephyr, and now he's equal to his former mentor!" Abona remarked thoughtfully.
"You're right he's Black Arm Zephyr's former student. However, you're mistaken about one thing. Zephyr left the Marines, and Kizaru only recently took on his admiral position," Anos clarified.
"It sounds like the Marines have seen quite a shake-up over the last couple of years," Abona observed.
"Since you've been in the New World so long, Abona, you must know it well. How about sharing some insights?" Daiki asked eagerly.
"I want to hear too!" Losta chimed in, curiosity lighting up her face.
"Your Majesty, it looks like the admiral may have damaged the hull before leaving. We need to find a place for repairs soon," Barlow interjected, approaching in a rush.
"Is there a problem with the main keel?" Anos asked, and everyone turned his way.
This was no minor issue, especially on the open sea. If the keel were damaged, their ship might sink before they could reach shore.
"Your Majesty, how did you know the main keel is compromised?" Barlow asked, surprised.
"No need for explanations. That admiral likely sabotaged it on his way out. It seems he didn't enjoy our conversation," Anos replied, remaining composed.
"But the main keel is damaged. That means the ship is essentially out of commission. So what's our plan?" Barlow asked.
"We'll press on for now. If we encounter a pirate ship along the way, perhaps we'll secure ourselves a replacement," Anos replied calmly.
Though inwardly angered, Anos knew he could do little. Facing a Marine admiral head-on was not a risk they could afford yet.
But he hadn't anticipated Kizaru would stoop to such petty measures.
On this vast sea, a damaged main keel was no small issue.
With ships of wooden construction like theirs, the main keel acted as a central support beam, forming the structure's backbone.
Other parts could be fixed, but the keel was irreplaceable.
With the full crew onboard, everyone was now grasping the severity of the situation.
Yet, while others began to panic, His Majesty the King remained unshaken, still reclining calmly on his chair, unfazed by the turmoil around him.
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