Before Lucci could finish, Borsalino's expression turned cold, his eyes behind his sunglasses carrying a hint of chill.
"No one acts on their own without my command. Right now, do nothing. Pretend you haven't seen the Devil Child. The most important thing is completing the mission to capture Teach!"
Then, seeing Lucci bow his head, his tone lightened again; he whistled and shrugged. "I don't want to start a war with those guys here. Hah, that's a terrifying guy!"
"I understand, Admiral Kizaru!"
Lucci seemed to understand, and he let out a sigh inwardly, though his face remained serious. "I will inform them!"
"Go! And make sure they hide their identities properly!"
"Understood"
After Lucci left, Borsalino lay back on the sofa and spread his arms behind his head. "Are they really just here for shopping?"
After a moment of contemplation, he let out a long sigh, stood up again with hands in his pockets, and said in a helpless tone: "Looks like this time, I really have no choice but to act."
...
"Mr. Ian!"
Ian: "..."
Hearing the person in front of him, the most ambitious man of the seas, the future yonko in the original story, the son of Rocks, call him this, Ian felt somewhat pleased.
Especially now, with Garp's grandson, the son of the King of the Pirates, also calling him Mr. Ian, it made him feel even more comfortable.
Looking at Teach in front of him, goofy and grinning, Ian did not say much. He waved his hand and said in a meaningful tone: "Brother Teach with boundless righteousness?"
"An empty title, just an empty title."
Hearing Ian's words, Teach quickly showed a silly smile. "I never expected such a title to spread. Compared to the God of Sun, my little reputation is just a joke."
For some reason, he felt that Ian's gaze was strange. Could it be that Ian had his sights set on him?
A glint flashed in Teach's eyes, but considering the current situation, he didn't dare expose anything.
He kept a cheerful, silly smile. "I have long admired Mr. Ian, the God of Sun. My father also really wants to meet you, saying that you would do anything for your family, a truly remarkable father!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the bar owner, looking a bit dazed, had already brought the drinks over.
Ian took the drink without saying anything further.
After glancing at the bar owner, he drank it all at once, stood up, and with a slightly strange look in his eyes, addressed Teach and Ace: "I still have to take the kids to play. I believe you two brothers have things to talk about, so I won't disturb you."
"Eh, Mr. Ian, aren't you staying for a drink?"
Seeing Ian stand, Ace scratched his head in confusion, then grinned: "Actually, I don't have anything much to talk about. I just want to have a drink with Brother Teach!"
Teach: "..."
Nothing to talk about? Damn it, just get lost!
Hearing Ace dare to invite such a terrifying guy to stay for a drink, Teach's face twitched.
But seeing that the terrifying guy indeed wasn't here to look for him, he relaxed a bit and said cheerfully, "Ace is right. It's my honor to drink with Mr. Ian!"
"No, no, maybe next time! And... Be careful."
Teach: "...?"
Careful? Careful about what?
Teach froze for a moment, but before he could say anything, Ian had already taken his family and left.
Watching Ian's back, Teach squinted slightly, then quickly recovered, grinning as he looked at Ace.
Next, it was time to deal with this troublesome guy!
But... How to deal with him?
Before Teach could think of a solution...
"Boss, hurry up with the drinks! Today I'm going to drink heartily with my brother!"
Ace, wearing a cheerful smile, had already instructed the bar owner to serve the drinks.
"Come on, Brother Teach, let's drink! I originally wanted to wait in the Kingdom of Alabasta to drink with you. Luffy was there too, but I didn't expect you to not go there. Luckily, I followed Mr. Ian to Water 7."
With a bold tone, he continued: "If I can't properly drink with you, Brother Teach, that would be such a shame!"
Teach: "..."
I don't want to drink with you. No, I don't even want to see you!
Of course, Teach did not say this internally. He kept his cheerful, silly smile and raised his cup while saying, "Come on, let's drink! Ace, we'll finish this together!"
...
At the same time, while Ian was accompanying his wife and children, riding Water 7's exclusive transportation, Bulls, down the clear and beautiful waterways of Water 7, suddenly...
"Eh, Ian, what are you doing here too?"
Hearing someone call behind him, Ian turned his head. He saw Luffy, also sitting on a bull and holding the bull's head while grinning at him.
A flash of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly recovered. "You guys are here too?"
"Hehehe, because the Going Merry broke down and Usopp couldn't fix it, we came here to find a shipwright."
Luffy looked at Ian curiously, then seemed to remember something. "By the way, Ace? I saw Ace's ship. Is he here too?"
"Ace did come, but not here."
Ian smiled. "He's drinking with Teach at the bar!"
He pointed toward an alley. "In the bar that way!"
"Eh, Teach, he's there too? Great!"
Hearing Ian's words, Luffy's face lit up with excitement. "Let's go find them quickly, Nami, Zoro, Sanji!"
After saying this, he stretched out his hands, grabbing Nami and the other two, and with Nami and the others' screaming, they flew straight toward the alley Ian had pointed out.
Ian looked at the alley, and a slightly meaningful light appeared in his eyes.
The son of Roger, the son of Rocks, the grandson of Garp... who would have thought one day they would sit together and drink!
…
Although this kind of once-in-a-century meeting was indeed quite intriguing, accompanying one's family was still more important.
Riding on the Bulls and going downstream along the inner waterways of Water 7, Ian enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Water 7 together with his family.
They were very lucky; today seemed to be one of Water 7's special festivals.
The entire city was holding a mask carnival, and as a result, it was extremely lively.