Chapter 256

97. Kuzan's call! News about Momonosuke!

"Bang bang bang!"

Amid the familiar knocking,

Sima Di rose from the white jade "flesh forest," his spiritual sense scanning outside the door—Usopp, holding a newspaper.

What big news now?

【Spotless Clean!】

Sima Di instantly finished his morning routine and stepped outside to open the door.

"Di! Look! The Navy has a new Fleet Admiral!" Usopp excitedly unfurled the newspaper.

The front-page photo,

showed a sky filled with warships forming the headline: "With a Smile, I Apply for Fleet Admiral!"

——《World Conscription Yields Remarkable Results! Mysterious Strongman "Smile" Promoted Straight to Fleet Admiral! Title: "Vine Tiger"! Non-Natural Logia Ability User! 》

Oh?

Smile had directly stormed to the Navy's doorstep and clashed with Sakazuki without a clear victor.

Since it was right outside his own base,

both had held back severely, likely just testing each other's strength before ending the fight.

"What a pity," Sima Di sighed.

"What's a pity?" Robin walked up from behind.

She saw the newspaper and frowned slightly.

"Smile... Smile... In the Rain Banquet Casino in Rainy Alabasta, he was a regular—a blind man who loved gambling, and... I remember you were planning to recruit him back then?"

No wonder she's a scholar—such memory!

Sima Di nodded: "I noticed his extraordinary potential back then and intended to bring him aboard, but..."

But at that time, Robin was attacked by Crocodile; Sima Di turned to rescue her, and Smile vanished.

Who would've thought,

he ultimately chose the Navy.

"Sorry," Robin apologized. "It was my fault for being careless."

He was promoted straight to Fleet Admiral?

Smile's strength is terrifying—if we'd recruited him then, our journey ahead would've been far easier.

"I'm not blaming you," Sima Di chuckled, pinching Robin's cheek. "Now Kuzan and Sakazuki are our allies—effectively, the Navy is ours. If he becomes Fleet Admiral, isn't he still our ally?"

After all this circling,

Smile, you will ultimately not escape my palm!

"Exactly!" Usopp grinned. "The stronger the Navy, the harder it'll hurt when we stab the World Government in the back later! Just thinking about it excites me!"

Hm?

Usopp's reaction surprised Sima Di.

"Aren't you afraid?" Sima Di asked curiously.

The cowardly guy shouldn't have this courage.

Usopp's face froze.

Right!

If war really breaks out...

Wouldn't the Straw Hat Haizeituan Society be the first target?

"Bululu—Bululu—Bululu—"

The Den Den Mushi rang, coming from his pocket.

He reached in and pulled out a white Den Den Mushi—the anti-eavesdropping phone Kuzan had given him before leaving.

So it was Kuzan who initiated?

Or...

Someone was looking for Kuzan?

Sima Di signaled Robin and Usopp to stay silent, then pointed the Den Den Mushi toward the sea so his face wouldn't be visible.

He answered the call.

"Huh? Where are they?" Kuzan's voice came through.

Sima Di turned the Den Den Mushi back—it showed Kuzan's horse-like face.

"Well, if it isn't our newly appointed Navy Admiral," Sima Di teased. "Any news on the Golden Emperor?"

The other side paused,

clearly unaccustomed to such banter.

"Intelligence shows the Golden Emperor's ship, the Grand Doro, is scheduled to resupply in Dressrosa. I've dispatched Sakazuki there—he'll contact you directly," Kuzan said.

Damn!

The Navy Admiral personally delivers intel and sends a Fleet Admiral to support you.

Tell me—isn't that awesome?

Usopp's expression practically screamed "I'm dying of joy."

"Sakazuki... couldn't you send someone else?" Sima Di complained. "His stubborn, backhanded pride makes cooperation unbearable..."

"Hey, brat!" The Den Den Mushi's voice shifted—Sakazuki roared. "I heard that! Who are you calling prideful?"

Uh-oh...

What do you do when you're caught badmouthing someone behind their back?

Then of course...

"Did I say something wrong?" Sima Di retorted stubbornly: "You clearly admitted my philosophy, yet your words don't match your heart. Isn't that tsundere? A sharp tongue but a soft heart?"

"......"

If Sakazuki hadn't been unable to defeat Sima Di, he would most likely have pursued him across a thousand miles.

"Enough, Sakazuki, we have serious matters to discuss." Seeing Kuzan took back the Den Den Mushi and asked: "The Navy intercepted a Den Den Mushi signal from Punk Hazard at the time, but the interference was too strong to get any specific content. I suspect Caesar had contact with Kaido, BIG MOM, or Doflamingo..."

"No need to ask, it's definitely Doflamingo." Sima Di said without hesitation.

He had learned this intelligence when searching memories via telepathy.

"I thought the same." Seeing Kuzan affirmed: "Caesar isn't qualified to speak directly with an Emperor, and a ship under Doflamingo's banner turned back halfway to Dressrosa just as it was about to reach Punk Hazard..."

"Wait!" Sima Di said in surprise: "You said... a ship of Doflamingo's? Could it be the ship carrying children?"

"Most likely."

Oh ho!

I wonder if Momonosuke is on board?

Looks like we must check out that merchant ship.

"Because I'm not certain, I hope you can go take a look." Seeing Kuzan said: "If they really are kidnapped children, please rescue them. You can take them to any nearby island, hand them over to the Navy, or just call me."

Sima Di: "......"

"Seeing Kuzan, are you asking a pirate crew to act as righteous saviors?" Sima Di said oddly.

"Aren't you explorers?" Seeing Kuzan countered.

Beautiful!

That answer.

"I understand, I will speed up and catch up."

"There's one more thing... did you see today's news?"

"Ah, I just saw it. Congratulations on adding another great general."

"You know Ichi?"

"Oh? Why do you ask?" Sima Di asked in confusion.

"The first thing he did upon taking office was to request intelligence on the Straw Hat Pirates. He is very focused on you. Do you have a grudge?" Seeing Kuzan asked again.

Sima Di suddenly realized!

He remembered when he invited Ichi back then,

he had said he would first "take a look," and if he found the Straw Hat Pirates to be mere pretenders...