At the underwater port of the Flower Capital, a large number of naval soldiers stood at attention on both sides, welcoming the gradually ascending warships.

A warship ascended, was pulled into the port via an elevator, and a group of navy officers dressed in similar white uniforms disembarked. The leader, a naval officer with a scar on his left eye and a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at the view of the Flower Capital ahead and sighed, "So this is Wano Country. It's my first time seeing it. It's a really nice place."

This is a Rear Admiral from the Marine Headquarters, formerly a member of Kizaru's faction, now a member of Clow's faction, and naturally, he was invited to Wano Country.

He sized up the marines responsible for welcoming him. They were all giving the standard naval salute, but their uniforms were different. Although the uniforms of each major base starting with G were slightly different, it varied from person to person. Many major bases still wore traditional clothing. However, G-5 had a pirate style, and the previous G-3 was also traditional, but the style changed when they arrived in Wano Country. These marines' uniforms were somewhat similar to the traditional clothing of Wano Country, but when they wore them, they also had a kind of 'wanderer' style from the Land of Flowers.

"My lord..."

Just as the major general was observing, a bird-man with paper glasses on his face landed and said, "Please allow me to lead you to the palace where the general is located."

Is she a real birdman, or a woman?

This woman has no arms, but instead has wings, her legs and feet have become bird claws, and she even has a feathered tail at the base of her spine.

“Smile…”

The rear admiral quickly recognized the woman's trait as a side effect of eating the SMILE fruit. Having fought against the Beasts Pirates before, he was familiar with this type of person.

Now it seems... he's been subdued by Admiral Clow Reed?

"Are we going there?"

The rear admiral pointed to the massive castle tower ahead, whose outline was clearly visible, and asked.

"Yes, please follow me." The woman said, and then flew through the air, carrying the rear admiral and his navy forward.

The warship, meanwhile, docked at the other end of the harbor.

Then, another warship came aboard, and a colonel disembarked. After exclaiming a couple of times, he was lured away by a SMILE ability user whose face was covered with paper glasses.

Ship after ship sailed aboard, only to be taken away by various SMILE users.

Soon, a large warship also came aboard the dock, and a group of sailors stepped off, with three men at the head.

A big mustache, a small mustache, and an old monkey...

"Inspector Borsalino, this is Wano Country..."

The bearded man and his men disembarked from the warship and said to Borsalino beside him, "Mr. Kuro's current location."

"I've been here before." Kizaru stroked his chin, looking around, and said, "However, it's much more lively than before, which is quite surprising."

He had certainly been here before, and even fought Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.

As Kizaru watched, he stepped out of the saluting line. But as soon as he got to the front, he was stopped by a small creature with a paper-covered face, covered in monkey hair, and with a tail. It scratched its head and its hands seemed to be grabbing at something as if it didn't know what to do with them.

"Chirp, welcome! I'm the General's subordinate, here to greet you..."

The SMILE user looked up and saw Kizaru looking at him. He said with envy, "How do you maintain this body? It's amazing. After I ate the SMILE fruit, I was unlucky enough to get this fur. You don't have any fur."

Kizaru smiled and said, "I'm also curious why you have so much hair and a tail. It's really scary."

Cass: "..."

Wilbur: "..."

"Chirp, I'm envious, but anyway, you're guests, right? Come with me, I'll take you to where the General is."

After the little monkey finished speaking, he turned around and walked forward, and they followed him, listening to the little monkey talk all the way.

"Um, if you see the General, could you put in a good word for me? I think you marines are really cool. I'm a rookie pirate and have never seen a marine before, but I think you guys are so cool. I want to join in too, hehe."

"Oh, that's quite surprising."

Kizaru pouted and said, "But if I remember correctly, you're from the intelligence group here, right? Aren't you doing intelligence gathering anymore?"

"Forehead..."

The little monkey scratched its head in distress, "But you look like a sailor, you're dressed like them."

"I am a human being."

"I'm a human being too."

That doesn't seem wrong...

We're all human, we all ate fruit, we're all like monkeys...

They joked and laughed all the way until the little monkey led them to the castle tower, where they said goodbye.

"Oh~ So this has become Kuro's base? That's really scary, it's even bigger than headquarters."

Kizaru glanced at the massive castle tower, pouted, and went straight inside. He reached the fifth floor, but before he could even get there, he heard a sound coming from inside the main hall.

"Since they're all here, make sure they're well taken care of. Tell them that if they want to have fun, take them to the area around the Flower Capital. All expenses will be covered by our shogunate. Just have a big celebration. They're here because of me, so we should definitely treat them well."

Upon hearing this, Kizaru smirked and pulled open the shoji screen.

"Oh~ Kuro, the old man has arrived."

Kuro was lecturing the royalists in the main hall, while Lida sat nearby eating snacks. All three heard the sound of the sliding door opening. Kuro instinctively said, "Who is it? Who dares to push open my door without my permission..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that familiar figure.

"Old man?"

Kuro stood up from the futon and said, "You've finally arrived. I've called you so many times."

He walked up to Kizaru, pulled him to the prayer mat, and made Kizaru sit there while he stood beside him.

"I'm the headmaster of a kindergarten now, I have to take care of those kids." Kizaru smiled like a kind old father: "Besides, here I am, aren't I?"

"Alright, it's good that you're here."

Kuro nodded, then looked at Cass and Wilbur, "It's been a long time since you two have seen each other either."

"Yes, Mr. Kuro!"

Wilbur exclaimed, "I've missed you so much! I'm so glad to see you again!"

"Don't use those 'you's,' just call me normally. Alright, you've met, you two should go and have a look around the Flower Capital, see what's new here." Kuro waved his hand, then said to Kizaru, "Shall we have a drink?"

"Oh~ Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Kizaru asked.

"Can't I drink if I'm not feeling well? It's almost Chinese New Year, and I haven't seen you in a long time. Have some."