Chapter 132 Marine Action
"Yeah, the captain's sense of security is truly reassuring!"
Nico Robin smiled even more happily after hearing Zane's words.
Some people only know how to make empty promises, but others actually get things done.
Zane clearly belonged to the latter.
Whether it was the execution of those two World Government officials back then...
...or his hesitation-free clash with Kuzan just now.
For Nico Robin, who had long suffered under the persecution of the World Government, such actions were naturally the best proof.
She gazed at her captain across from her.
Nico Robin bit her lip and rose from the sofa.
She no longer needed to hesitate or overthink; the man before her was someone she could truly entrust her life to.
Likewise, receiving his protection, how could she not show any appreciation?
Her heart began to race uncontrollably.
Under the influence of her racing pulse, Nico Robin's nostrils flared slightly, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead.
At the thought of what she was about to do, her beautiful eyes couldn't help but mist over.
But these weren't the tears from earlier; they were a reaction born of a different emotion.
She stepped forward.
Her body swayed with her surging emotions, her gait more alluring than usual as she walked right up to the man in front of her.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Nico Robin suddenly stand up and approach him, Zane noticed her unusual blush and misted eyes. He tilted his head, his face showing a look of genuine confusion.
"What's—mmph!"
In his confusion, Zane had been about to speak with concern.
But he had barely started before the words were stifled.
His eyes widened.
As Nico Robin lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and sealing his lips, Zane lost all the ferocity he had shown during his battle with Kuzan, appearing instead like a delicate little flower.
"Hey, Robin, what's come over you?"
"Noth... nothing, I just forgot to breathe."
"You..."
"Don't laugh! I've only read about this in books. I've never actually practiced it, so isn't it normal to make a little mistake?"
"Uh... alright, I won't laugh."
"By the way, Baby 5 is still waiting for me..."
"You're not allowed to go. For tonight at least, you must belong only to me."
"
Thanks to the excellent soundproofing, in the next room, Baby 5—who had scrubbed herself clean—was biting her blanket, still bitterly waiting for her captain to come for her.
*
*
*
"That's the gist of it. Gion's sacrifice was by no means due to her own carelessness or the interference of others. It's simply that Zane possesses strength that stands above hers."
At Marine Headquarters, the newly returned Kuzan went immediately to the Fleet Admiral's office to recount his clash with Zane.
By the end, his usual laziness was gone, replaced by an uncharacteristically grave warning.
Sengoku was not alone in the office.
Tsuru and Garp were also there on the sofa.
"Sengoku, how about I personally go and arrest this three-eyed brat Zane?" Garp glanced at the silent Tsuru beside him and, in a rare move, volunteered for the task.
Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru had joined the Marines at the same time and often carried out missions together in their youth.
Now, all three were at the peak of the Marine hierarchy, and their bond was incredibly tight.
Gion was an Admiral Candidate, but more importantly, she was Tsuru's sworn younger sister, and they shared a deep connection.
Consequently, Tsuru was undoubtedly the most devastated person in the Marines regarding Gion's death.
Though Garp was usually boisterous and carefree, he was clearly reliable when it mattered most.
Sengoku rubbed his aching temples, casting a glance at the silent Tsuru.
"Very well. I'll leave it to you then. Be sure to capture Zane and his crew as soon as possible."
Since even Garp had volunteered, Sengoku could hardly ignore Tsuru's personal stake.
Furthermore, with the Warlords falling one after another, the sea—which had been relatively balanced—was once again descending into chaos.
This was precisely the time when the Marines needed to project strength to the world.
If Garp, the Hero of the Marines, could eliminate the instigator Zane, it would serve as a powerful deterrent.
"Sengoku-san, let me go with Garp-san as well!" Kuzan immediately volunteered himself as well after seeing Sengoku agree.
Garp looked at his star pupil in surprise and laughed. "I haven't seen you this proactive in a long time! What's the matter? Do you want to experience fighting alongside your teacher again?"
"Kuzan, do you think this old man Garp won't be a match for Zane?" Sengoku was also quite surprised by Kuzan's request and asked after a moment of consideration.
Kuzan shook his head and looked at his still-formidable mentor. "I naturally trust Garp-san's strength. However, Zane is a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. In terms of mobility, he's on par with Borsalino. I thought that if we go together, we could better lock down his movements."
"Kuzan, you should stay at Headquarters to oversee things. The sea has been very unstable lately, and we need an Admiral to maintain order," Tsuru, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
The three men all turned to look at her.
"While that child Gion's sacrifice pains me, I cannot allow my personal feelings to disrupt our necessary deployments," Tsuru sighed.
Emotion and duty are often a difficult double-edged sword.
Tsuru naturally loathed Zane for killing her sworn sister.
But she understood her responsibilities even more clearly.
Sending Garp to pursue Zane was already the maximum force the Marines could spare.
If Kuzan went as well, the Marines' ability to maintain global order would be severely compromised.
After all, the other two, Borsalino and Sakazuki...
...needed to be permanently stationed at Mary Geoise and the G-1 Base in the New World, respectively.
Sengoku and the others understood Tsuru's point perfectly.
The three exchanged glances and ultimately accepted Tsuru's proposal.
Although Zane had proven himself to be a major threat...
...the overall stability of the world was undoubtedly more important.
BOOM!!!
Amidst a deafening roar of cannon fire, a pirate ship in the distance was instantly blasted into pieces by the fierce explosion.
"Beautiful!"
"Even though I've seen it several times, this kind of power is still breathtaking."
"The firepower of the modified ship is just too intense. A pirate crew of this size can be sunk with a single shot."
"It's not just the power; the accuracy has also improved tremendously compared to before."
"
On the deck, as they watched the pirate ship sink from a single hit, the members of the Hunting Team showered the ship with praise.