"You there, keep the streets clean!"
"Fall in! Fall in!"
"The flowers must be roses, you idiot! Do you want to lose your life over something like this?"
"Whose ship is that in the harbor? Move it immediately!"
"Run, rookie! Don't drag your feet!"
Marineford's harbor was bustling with activity today.
Kuzan pulled up his eye mask and stared with dead-fish eyes, "Ah~ I really want to take a leave of absence! Did Mr. Garp, Sakazuki, and Borsalino all coincidentally run off yesterday?"
He squinted at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who appeared calm but whose fury had clearly reached its max, and Kuzan abandoned the tempting thought.
"Well~ look on the bright side, Sengoku. Nero isn't that kind of wicked person. As a Celestial Dragon and a monarch, she should be more restrained."
Zephyr comforted Sengoku, believing Nero was most likely a prime example of someone who had turned over a new leaf.
As a former Admiral, Zephyr, besides his Black Arm, also had a reputation for not killing. He was always willing to give pirates a second chance to reform.
"Restrained? How could that damned fellow change so easily? She must have a bigger scheme, otherwise why come to Marineford with such fanfare?"
Sengoku clenched his fist. He absolutely did not believe Nero was just here for a casual visit.
Last time, Nero and that scoundrel Shiki caused unimaginable damage to Marineford.
Zephyr seemed to know he couldn't persuade him, so he just patted Sengoku's shoulder reassuringly, "No matter what Nero thinks, she is a Celestial Dragon now, Sengoku. As the Fleet Admiral, you cannot act on impulse."
"I know that… Damn Garp! He's conveniently not here at this time. If Nero causes trouble… damn it!"
Sengoku took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.
Zephyr, seeing his indignant expression, was still a bit worried he might act on impulse, but he soon realized his worries were unnecessary… The golden rose docked in Marineford's harbor.
Nero and Hathaway disembarked.
"Bang—"
Salutes fired, and red rose petals rained down onto the long red carpet.
"Welcome Claudius Palace to Marineford!" xN
Cheers like a mountain and a tsunami erupted. The Marine formations on both sides clapped in unison, warmly welcoming Nero's arrival.
As Nero stepped off the ship, she saw Sengoku and Zephyr standing at the very front, flanked by Kuzan and a group of other Marine generals.
"Hmm, how is it, Hathaway? I told you Marineford is definitely a good place to be right now."
Nero said to Hathaway, listening to the pleasant salutes and applause.
Looking at the smiling Marines, Nero felt as if she had become some kind of Marine hero.
"Because His Majesty is here as a Celestial Dragon this time, the Marines naturally dare not disrespect His Majesty."
Hathaway nodded, delivering a perfectly timed compliment to Nero.
"Mwahahaha! The status of a Celestial Dragon, convenient!"
Nero nodded in satisfaction, her head tilted slightly upward, then looked at Sengoku at the very front, a playful curve on her lips.
"Isn't this the Marine's Strategist, Fleet Admiral Sengoku? It's been a long time!"
'Not good!' Zephyr's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look at Sengoku, but due to the angle, his eyes reflected white light, obscuring his expression.
Zephyr just felt he must be furious, and stepped forward, intending to crack a joke and smooth things over.
But before he could act, Zephyr realized why Sengoku, whose combat strength wasn't the strongest, could emerge from among them to become Fleet Admiral.
"Oh~ Lord Claudius Palace! It's been a long time since we last met. You still look as charming as ever!"
Sengoku stepped forward two paces, revealing a warm, spring-like smile, with a hint of perfectly placed familiarity and nostalgia in his eyes.
"The welcome ceremony was prepared somewhat hastily, please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Not only Zephyr was stunned by his words, Nero was also frozen in place. She scrutinized the person in front of her and asked in a very uncertain tone, "Hmm, are you… Sengoku?"
"Hahahaha, Lord Claudius Palace is quite the joker. We are old friends after all, and I am very happy to see you, so I may be a bit overly enthusiastic."
Nero took two steps back, "Hmm, how about you go back to normal? This is making me a little sick."
"Just kidding, Lord Claudius Palace, I have always been like this."
Sengoku still said with a chuckle, his warm, spring-like smile looking stiff and formal after prolonged use.
"Just call me Nero, like before. Oh, where are Garp and Tsuru-chan?"
"What a coincidence, they both happen to be on missions and are not in Marineford. Your Majesty Nero, would you like to move to the Marine mess hall first? We have prepared a sumptuous feast for you."
"No need. I want to rest briefly in the Fleet Admiral's office first. Sengoku, lead the way!"
"The… Fleet Admiral's office? There's nothing fun there… It's boring, messy, and really not suitable for resting. There are more suitable places here…"
Before he could finish, Nero interrupted him. Seeing Sengoku's reluctant expression, Nero's smile became much more playful.
"It's fine! Hmm, since I've come all the way to Marineford, how could I not visit the Fleet Admiral's office?"
"It's decided then! Sengoku, lead the way!"
Though she told Sengoku to lead, Nero walked past him and stopped in front of Kuzan.
Kuzan, who had been silently chanting 'don't see me,' kept his eyes lowered and looked straight ahead, remaining like a statue even when Nero stopped in front of him.
"Oh my~ oh my~ Isn't this our loli-killer, Admiral Aokiji? I didn't expect you to be here too. After some time, I'm sure you've accumulated many more glorious achievements, haven't you?"
Kuzan could no longer pretend to be a wooden man. Who would have thought Nero would start with a zero-frame attack, and it would be slander from the get-go?
His reputation in the Marine always took a significant hit because of Nero. Before, someone even formally reported him and took him to military court.
This time was even worse; she immediately attacked his human rights. If he couldn't explain this clearly, he might be worse than an insect in the Marine from now on.
With a scowl, Kuzan slightly raised his eyelids, but they still drooped halfway, "Hey, hey! 'Loli-killer' is a bit too much, isn't it?"
"Hmm, have you turned over a new leaf?"
"I never did it in the first place!"
"Then before…" Nero feigned sudden realization, turning her head and 'whispering' to Hathaway, "Is this something we shouldn't discuss here?"
Kuzan: "…"
It's over, I can't explain it again…
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