Invisible chains of air extended hundreds of meters from Rorschach's hand, latching onto the falling Kulikai and lifting him into the air. He was quickly brought to Rorschach's side.
"Marine, thank you for the rescue. Just now… that lightning strike that killed the Hyena Pirates—was that your doing too?"
Kulikai expressed his gratitude.
"It was nothing. By the way, my name is Rorschach. What's your name, uncle?"
Rorschach smiled. A howling wind rose around them, lifting their bodies and carrying them toward the port of Mock Town.
"My name is Kulikai. This is truly an amazing power, Mr. Rorschach…"
Feeling the airflow brushing against his skin, Kulikai looked astonished.
"Just a small trick. By the way, why were those pirates attacking you? Does it have something to do with those golden statues? They looked pretty ancient."
Rorschach suddenly asked.
Kulikai's body stiffened slightly, then he sighed and relaxed. Without hiding anything, he told Rorschach about the golden statues.
"I found those golden statues at the bottom of the sea near Jaya Island.
Every now and then, I'm able to recover a few ancient-looking golden statues from the sea.
But I've never been able to keep them. Hyena Bellamy has always been watching me. Every time I made a discovery, those greedy bastards would steal it from me.
This time, because I salvaged more golden statues than usual, my friends… Masira and the others, tried to help me protect them, but they were murdered by Bellamy."
As he spoke, Kulikai looked at Rorschach's back and said solemnly, "You saved my life. I'm willing to offer those golden statues to the Navy…"
Mid-flight, Rorschach came to a halt, turned his head, and waved his hand.
"I think you misunderstood. I'm not interested in your gold."
Kulikai was surprised to hear this.
He had thought Rorschach, like Bellamy, had set his sights on the treasure when he mentioned the golden statues.
Rorschach's eyes fell on Kulikai's distinctive pompadour, and he gave a slight smile.
"Speaking of which, Uncle Kulikai, your hairstyle always reminds me of a story my parents used to tell me when I was a kid—the story of the great adventurer Mont Blanc Noland and the City of Gold, from 400 years ago."
"The great adventurer…"
Kulikai's eyes suddenly grew moist.
He couldn't remember the last time someone had referred to his ancestor as a great adventurer, rather than a liar.
Four hundred years ago, his ancestor Noland returned from the City of Gold and told the king of his adventures.
The king, thrilled by the tale, led an army to seize the city's vast wealth.
But when they arrived at Jaya Island, there was no sign of the golden city.
The furious king immediately accused Noland of lying and dubbed him the "Liar King."
Upon returning to the North Blue, the king ordered Noland's execution.
From that day on, Noland—once famed across the world for his adventures—was no longer respected. The Mont Blanc family fell into disgrace, branded with shame.
Kulikai had searched for the City of Gold year after year on Jaya Island, determined to prove it truly existed, to restore his family's honor, and to vindicate his ancestor.
"Uncle Kulikai? Are you alright?" Rorschach asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Kulikai shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Mr. Rorschach, you may not know, but I am actually a descendant of Noland. My full name is Mont Blanc Kulikai."
"You're actually a descendant of the adventurer Noland, Uncle Kulikai? That makes us fellow countrymen!"
Rorschach grinned and accelerated, taking Kulikai down toward the port.
"Fellow countrymen?" Kulikai was taken aback.
"That's right. I'm also from the Lvneel Kingdom. Isn't that where Noland was from?"
"Mr. Rorschach is also from the Lvneel Kingdom?" Kulikai was surprised.
He hadn't expected to meet someone from his homeland here.
And this man had saved him—twice.
"Big Brother Rorschach! That guy earlier, the one with the fire powers—was he Fire Fist Ace, the Supernova?"
As soon as Rorschach landed, Hibari hurried over.
"Yeah, that was Fire Fist Ace. He's the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp."
"Huh?" Hibari froze, her small mouth agape. "What did you say? Fire Fist Ace is Grandpa Garp's grandson?"
Rorschach nodded.
"You're kidding, right? Grandpa Garp's grandson actually became a pirate? A Supernova pirate no less—and a Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi user?" Hibari was completely dumbfounded.
This Fire Fist Ace doesn't look much older than Brother Rorschach, yet he's already so powerful.If he had joined the Navy, his future accomplishments would've been limitless.
"What a… shame. I really don't know how Grandpa Garp raised his grandson. He's one of the greatest marines, yet he let his grandson become a pirate."
Hibari couldn't help but feel regret in her heart.
Then, her heart skipped a beat as she looked out toward the rising stream of seawater that was pushing against the current.
The scene of the flames in the sky being suddenly extinguished by the surge of water—everyone at Mock Town's port had seen it clearly.
"Brother Rorschach! That Fire Fist Ace… he was swallowed by the sea—he's not dead, is he?"
"I don't know. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Who can say? I already gave him a choice. What happens in the future, no one knows."
Rorschach shook his head and didn't say more.
Hibari fell silent.
Only then did she notice Kulikai, who had landed at the port together with Rorschach.
She immediately spotted his striking pompadour hairstyle and let out a surprised sound.
"Huh? Brother Rorschach, did you bring back the adventurer Noland?"
Rorschach twitched at the corner of his mouth."Are you stupid? Noland died four hundred years ago. This is Uncle Kulikai, a descendant of Noland."
Hibari's eyes lit up with curiosity as she looked eagerly at Kulikai."Uncle, are you really a descendant of the adventurer Noland? I've been hearing stories about him since I was a kid! Oh, and I'm from the North Blue too! Since you're Noland's descendant, could you tell me one of his stories?"
"No problem, if you've got the time, Miss Marine," Kulikai said with a warm smile.
"How's the situation on the island, Law?"
Rorschach looked at Law, who was walking toward them.
Behind Law, Violet—her hands shackled in sea prism stone cuffs and clearly weakened—was being dragged along by Bepo, who held her by the arm.
The charred and tattered Yonji, with his combat suit full of holes, was being carried like luggage by Pamel.
"The situation is fully under control. All ships in the harbor have been destroyed.The Donquixote Family's operations in Mock Town have been completely wiped out. All members were executed on the spot, per orders—except for this woman, who claims to be a princess of the Dressrosa Kingdom.Also, the Germa troops refused to surrender and were all eliminated."
As Law reported, he handed over a Den Den Mushi."Vice Admiral Gumir is calling for you."
Rorschach glanced briefly at Violet, who was slumped weakly on the ground at the port, her pale neck tilted upward to look at him. He took the Den Den Mushi.
"Vice Admiral Gumir, this is Rorschach."
"Rorschach, how are things on your end?" came Gumir's slightly weary voice.
"Mock Town has been taken. We've arrested one officer from the Donquixote Family and one son of the King of Germa. The rest of the opposition has either been killed or surrendered."
Rorschach's tone was calm, as if he were recounting something trivial. Violet trembled when she heard it.
"How about you? Need me to assist?"
"No need. We didn't encounter as much resistance as expected.Oddly enough, Baroque Works, which used to be active in this chaotic sea, has vanished. Not a single member showed up.This whole operation has gone more smoothly than anticipated."
"Baroque Works?" Rorschach's eyes flickered with interest.
Wasn't that the organization founded by Crocodile?
Crocodile's base was in Alabasta, and yet his organization had extended its reach all the way to the chaotic seas thousands of miles away?
But Rorschach quickly made peace with the idea.
After all, Crocodile was a Shichibukai. His forces ran rampant even in Paradise; it was no surprise that they were spread across such a vast region.
Compared to the Donquixote Family, Crocodile's operation was minor in scale.
The Donquixote Family's industry spanned all four seas, Paradise, and the New World. Among all the Shichibukai, they had the most extensive reach, the deepest coffers, and the broadest network.
"Alright then, we'll talk at the base," Gumir said, preparing to hang up.
"Wait, Vice Admiral Gumir, I need to leave temporarily. Could you send a warship to pick up the prisoners—and Rear Admiral Kadar, too?"
Rorschach quickly added.
Gumir was curious about Rorschach's sudden urgent business, but didn't ask. He simply agreed to dispatch a nearby warship to take over custody of the prisoners at Mock Town.
Violet had been observing Rorschach's every move.
When he finally hung up, she suddenly spoke up, her expression complicated.
"You're that Marine who killed Gladius a year ago, right? I never imagined that in just one year, you'd become this strong. It's unbelievable."
(End of Chapter)
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