𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 ➳ 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚 (one piece fanfic)

Chapter 27

Tsuru sighed reading the reports before throwing them at a sleeping old man. "Another one of yours..."

Garp yawned as he caught the papers, skimming through them before jumping up as his eyes bulged, "Luffy?" He finished reading the report and fell back on his couch, seemingly aging a few years. "How am I going to cover all of that?" His arm covered his eyes as he mumbled in desperation. His son and grandson appearing before a marine ship on which a celestial was.

"It is only a matter of time before the World Nobles send a complaint," Tsuru commented, frowning at the thought of the troublesome matter. "They already moved that girl's bounty," she pointed to Konan flying above the broken ship, "far beyond what she should have because she angered a celestial..."

Garp looked at the bounty, not caring too much about the unknown figure. "She did seem to be protecting Luffy according to the reports... I wonder what that's all about."

Tsuru pondered on the matter too without much results, few were actually focused on the children when a looming threat was attacking them. "Ask your grandson!"

"Good idea, I'm leaving tonight, tell them I went to protect that celestial!" He beamed at his genius idea, ignoring the glare of his old friend. "That reminds me, that was Smoker's division, wasn't it?"

Tsuru sighed once again before confirming. "Yes, I'm afraid they will have to suffer for a bit..."

"Nanko will have to lay low for a bit to not attract the World Nobles' ire." Garp complained about the matter, feeling it was unfair to hinder his career with such 'trifling' matters.

"They are already quite pissed off with the appearance of that newspaper. Everyone's on edge..." Tsuru commented, a grin slipping through despite herself.

At the mention of the new apparition, Garp couldn't help but laugh, fully enjoying the turmoil it caused upon its appearance. Even though he couldn't do anything against the World Nobles due to his position he couldn't help but enjoy watching them suffer a blow. And he wasn't alone in his amusement as the prideful World Nobles were generally hated by everyone.

Masked Truth or MT as people started calling it, appeared overnight and spread all over the world mysteriously, no one knew its origin nor purpose but it did manage to cause chaos everywhere. Since then, all were in pursuit of its anonymous publisher for various reasons. The Marine and World Nobles of course wanted to get rid of this new enemy. The people wanted to confirm its veracity. The journalists felt threatened by the arrival of a newcomer that could potentially overthrow the current news economy as it was freely delivered. While some others wanted to use it to control the population. Numerous factions saw the opportunity in a government-free paper that could reach the whole world. In the wrong hands, it could cause some serious damages.

But Garp thoroughly enjoyed the light it shed on commonly hidden truths so he wasn't searching to destroy MT, instead, he felt it wouldn't be so bad if it thrived and continued spreading information.

However, on the other side of the same building, another person was very much fuming. His office was broken down, traces of magma dripping down the walls. On his now broken desk, a golden letter was peacefully resting, innocently infuriating the man.

When Nanko and Smoker laid feet in the headquarters again, the atmosphere was heavy, a few pointed glances sent their ways, along with whispers and quiet chuckles. Though they were quickly shut by a rock sent their ways, creating craters on the walls.

"Calm down, let these cowards be," Smoker calmly said, smoking without care.

Nanko glared at them one last time before obediently following down the corridors. He soon started whistling, filling in the silence of their shoes clapping against the pristine floor tiles.

The peace was soon interrupted by a storming man, from which smoke could be seen emitting. Even from afar, waves of hot air hit them, making them still.

"What are you looking at?" Akainu growled as he passed by them, his feet leaving the tiles broken due to the pressure.

When he was out of ear-reach, Smoker shook his head and commented unimpressed, "I heard the World Nobles sent him on a mission to kill the authors of Masked Truth."

Nanko looked at the shadow of the pissed-off man and laughed quietly, "He's in for a long while in that case..."

Smoker hummed in agreement, "And he was just about to get that promotion he so deeply yearned for, what a pity." Sarcasm dripped off his voice as he smirked. "Though we shouldn't laugh too much..."

They stopped in front of the door to their superiors, now it was their turn.

"For failing to protect a World Noble, you're lucky you aren't sentenced to death. Fortunately for you, the daughter of that Noble pleaded for your safety," their superior reported, looking at the man who seduced a World Noble before shaking his head, at least that meant he wouldn't have to lose such a promising recruit.

Smoker glanced discreetly at the cause of such mercy, the handsome man beside him that looked utterly unimpressed by their so-called 'mercy'.

"The higher-ups have decided to send you both to correct your failures. Capture the Paper Angel, alive or dead, we'll make an example out of her. Leave now."

Nanko raised a brow, a hint of ridicule in his eyes. "Righttt. Of course... Will do." What a brilliant idea, to arrest herself. As if.

That just meant vacations for him.

It seems like Smoker had the same thought as when he left, he had a hint of a smile beneath his cigar. "I guess we should prepare our suitcases!"

Nanko opened his dorm room only to recoil at the appearance of girly stuff, some underwear put here and there while the whole room had been redecorated, leaving his side of the room bare and minimal. He could easily guess who the uninvited guest was, as he had given his room key to only one person.

"Nanko!" Hina surged from the bathroom, a single towel to cover her. "You're finally back." She smiled at him, waving toward the sweets conveniently placed on the desk waiting for him. And she disappeared back into the bathroom to change. "I was getting tired of my roommates always partying and waking me up in the middle of the night so I moved here, hope you don't mind!" She distantly explained, her voice muffled by her movements and the door.

Nanko hummed in answer, not minding one bit as he tasted the little cakes. 'Peace offerings' as Hina liked to call them.

Both knew Nanko wasn't sexually attracted to neither genders so Hina felt at ease sleeping in the same room. Their boundaries were clearly set, so their friendship was stable and comfortable.

"Smoker and I are getting sent to capture the Paper Angel," Nanko commented while munching on a cake.

Hina resurfaced dressed in her nightgown. "You're going to be away for a while..." She affirmed, knowing how long these kinds of hunts could be, some never-ending. "Stay safe." She knew how strong her junior was but the seas held a thousand stronger entities, and she didn't want to lose her one and only best friend.

"Don't worry," Nanko smiled gently, enjoying the implicit care she showed, "Take care of our room!" He glanced pointedly at the mess stretched across the floor.

"Shush, of course, I will." She bumped his head before hugging him. "I'll see you later blue brat."

"Yes, princess," Nanko teased back, before leaving for an undetermined period of time.

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Dedicated to that one reader who gave me the idea of a pissed-off Akainu ~ x_Astrif_x