Chapter 41 The Marines Arrive at the Goa Kingdom

Morgans soon learned about the theft of the Goa Kingdom’s treasury.

This old bird immediately arranged for his subordinates to draft a press release, preparing to publish this shocking case in the latest issue of the “World Economic Journal.”

“This is big news!

The headline shall be ‘Ghost Thief Raids Goa Royal Palace at Night, Priceless Treasures Vanish Into Thin Air’!”

Morgans immediately called the East Blue branch, telling them to keep a close eye on the Marines and the Goa Kingdom.

As a member of the World Government, the theft of the Goa Kingdom’s treasury was clearly not the work of an ordinary person.

There must be a hidden secret behind this.

Morgans flapped his wings excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed.

He keenly sensed that this case might involve a mysterious power and could even shake the prestige of the World Government.

Not only Morgans thought so; Sengoku at Marineford thought the same.

After Sengoku put down the phone, he had someone call for Garp.

“Puhahaha!

Sengoku!

Are you going to treat me to senbei?”

Garp burst in laughing, a half-eaten senbei still in his mouth.

Sengoku rubbed his throbbing temples.

“Garp, now is not the time for jokes.

You should have heard about the theft of the Goa Kingdom’s treasury, right?”

Garp sat on the sofa indifferently.

“I heard.

It’s just some lost treasure.

Those nobles spend all day squeezing the people dry; they deserve it!”

“Is Dragon in the East Blue right now?”

Sengoku got straight to the point.

Garp’s chewing stopped abruptly, and his gaze sharpened.

“You suspect the Revolutionary Army did it?”

Garp swallowed the rest of the senbei in one gulp.

“I don’t know where that boy Dragon is lately, but he definitely wouldn’t go stealing from some treasury.

If he really needed money, he would definitely liberate the Goa Kingdom while he was at it.

He wouldn’t be so sneaky.”

“You sound quite proud!”

Veins popped on Sengoku’s forehead, but he soon sighed again.

“But you’re right; it really doesn’t fit Dragon’s style.

But besides the Revolutionary Army, who else in the East Blue could achieve this?”

Meanwhile, in the orange grove of Cocoyasi Village, Nami was humming a little tune while pruning branches.

Sunlight dappled her shoulders through the leaves; no one would associate this sweet-smiling girl with last night’s shocking case.

“2997, 2998, 2999, 3000!”

“Boom!”

Kaguya finished his weighted squats for the day and dropped the barbell on the ground.

The dull thud of the barbell hitting the soil startled the birds in the treetops.

“Nami, it’s your turn to train.”

“Coming~”

Nami ran out of the orange grove.

“Where did my sister go?

How come I haven’t seen her since we finished eating?”

“I sent Nojiko to the sea to get familiar with her abilities.

That form of hers is too eye-catching on the island.”

Kaguya picked up onikiri and began to swing the blade.

Even though he could now easily perform a Flying Slash, he still insisted on the basic training of swinging the sword ten thousand times every day.

“Hey, have you guys heard?”

Genzo suddenly ran into the orange grove in a hurry.

“The Goa Kingdom’s treasury was stolen last night!

The whole East Blue is talking about it!”

Nami, who was actually lifting the barbell for squats, paused, an innocent expression on her face.

“Really?

That’s big news!”

Kaguya’s sword-swinging motion didn’t pause for a second, though the corners of his mouth curled up imperceptibly.

“It seems the East Blue is about to get lively.”

“Every time I see Nami lifting such a huge barbell to train, I feel like I’m dreaming.”

Genzo wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the seemingly delicate girl in a bit of a daze.

“Mr.

Genzo, do you want to give it a try?”

Nami winked mischievously and gently placed the barbell on the ground, which immediately sank into a large pit.

“Spare my old bones!”

Genzo waved his hands repeatedly.

This barbell was specially made by Kaguya and weighed ten tons.

Kaguya had long since discarded that giant rock; he had originally wanted to continue using rocks for weight, but larger rocks were not easy to handle, so he switched directly to a barbell.

Nami smiled as she lifted the barbell again and continued her squats.

“By the way, why haven’t I seen Nojiko?

Did she go out?”

Genzo looked around and asked curiously when he noticed Nojiko wasn’t training with them.

“Yeah, she went to the seaside and will be back in a while.”

Nami gave a casual excuse.

“Oh, okay.

Then I won’t disturb your training.”

Kensuke turned and left the orange grove.

Meanwhile, Smoker arrived at the Goa Kingdom with his fleet.

Thanks to her hard training and Kaguya’s financial support, Tashigi’s strength had improved by leaps and bounds.

By now, she had become Smoker’s adjutant.

Her rank had also been promoted to Lieutenant over the past year through her achievements.

“Captain Smoker, is searching for thieves also a duty of the Marines?”

Tashigi pushed up her glasses and asked with some confusion.

Smoker had a cigar in his mouth, his large white coat billowing in the sea breeze.

“Hmph, those noble lords are jumping with anxiety, and the World Government has directly pressured Marineford.”

Smoker stood on the warship’s deck, looking at the luxurious port of the Goa Kingdom in the distance, a flash of disgust in his eyes.

“Tashigi, remember, we aren’t here to please those nobles, but to investigate the truth.

I suspect the person who stole the Goa Kingdom’s treasury this time is the same one who stole the Marine payroll from Loguetown two years ago.

After all, they are both so audacious.”

“Yes!”

Back then, Tashigi had just started her job when she heard that two whole cases of Berries had vanished.

She had even joined the search in Loguetown at the time, but after a year of searching with no discoveries, it could only be left unresolved.

The warship arrived at the Goa Kingdom port.

Smoker led Tashigi and a squad of Marine soldiers off the warship, met by the fawning smile of the Goa Kingdom’s Captain of the Guard.

“Captain Smoker, you’ve finally arrived!

His Majesty the King has been waiting in the palace for a long time.”

The Captain of the Guard rubbed his hands, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Lead the way,”

Smoker said coldly, his gaze scanning the port like a hawk.

The Captain of the Guard led Smoker’s group through the bustling streets.

When the well-dressed nobles saw the Marines, their eyes were full of disdain and dissatisfaction.

Although it was the royal treasury that had been stolen, the nobles were worried that their own property would also suffer.

And all of this happened because of the Marines’ incompetence.

Smoker ignored the arrogant gazes of the nobles and walked straight toward the royal palace.

“This country seems very prosperous; there aren’t even any gaunt-looking commoners on the streets.”

Tashigi whispered.

“Hmph, just a trash heap with a shiny surface.”

Smoker, who knew the truth, snorted coldly but didn’t explain further.

Instead, he said to the Captain of the Guard:

“Take us to the crime scene first.”

…