Chapter 48: Invitation From World Government

"Damn Chiba, stinky Chiba, don't come and save me!" Peacock shouted, her voice echoing around the research room.

Just then, Chiba approached, and the moment Peacock saw him, her expression changed. "Good Chiba, you're finally here! Put me down quickly!" she pleaded.

Chiba looked up at her and smirked, "Didn't you just call me a dead Chiba, a stinky Chiba? Now I'm a good Chiba?"

Fuming, Peacock opened her mouth to retort, but then thought better of it. Instead, she adopted a more pitiful tone. "Good Chiba, it was my fault just now. Please let me down! I've been hung up all night. Your kind heart is so good; you're not really going to let me suffer like this, are you?"

Chiba chuckled. "You're not a weak woman; you frightened a dozen Naval Headquarters Vice Admirals. You're stronger than some Admirals."

Peacock's face flushed with anger, but she managed to suppress it. Tears welled in her eyes as she said, "Well, you have no heart! I've given you all my love, and you treat me like this!"

"Alright, alright, I'll let you down." Chiba couldn't stand the sight of her crying. He grasped the black flagpole with both hands and released his Armament Haki.

The flagpole shattered, dispersing the energy of the Cage-Cage Fruit, and Peacock fell from mid-air, only to pounce on Chiba.

Chiba dodged to the left, and she stumbled forward. "You heartless man! Sooner or later, the World Government will capture you to work as a coolie. Then I won't be there to rescue you!" she shouted, half-jokingly.

Chiba paused, intrigued. "Peacock, have you heard any news?"

With a sly smile, Peacock straightened her hat and dusted herself off. She raised her pale fingers to her cheeks and said, "Kiss me, and I'll tell you."

"Forget it; I'll just ask Marshal Sengoku. He must know more than you." Chiba turned and walked toward the marshal's office.

"Stinky Chiba! Do you know that the person who wants to be trained by a slave can circle around Marineford three times? You're in the blessing and don't even know it!" Peacock yelled after him.

As Chiba approached the Marshal's office, he encountered Sengoku's guards. Upon seeing him, they saluted. "Master Chiba, a representative from the World Government is here and wants to see you specifically. Please proceed to the marshal's office."

Chiba nodded and walked into the office, where he noticed Sengoku seated at the head of the table, flanked by Vice Admiral Tsuru, Sakazuki, Aokiji, and several unfamiliar faces—likely representatives from the World Government.

As Chiba entered, all eyes turned toward him.

"Sakazuki, move over and make room for Chiba," Sengoku ordered.

Sakazuki's expression darkened. He felt humiliated being asked to yield his seat to Chiba, an alternate Admiral with no real accomplishments. He resolved to get back at Sengoku once he became a full Admiral.

Chiba smiled as he took Sakazuki's seat. "You're not upset that I took your spot again, are you?"

Sakazuki remained silent, closing his eyes and sneering inwardly, "When the World Government is here, your good days are numbered."

"This should be Marine's new candidate Admiral, Mr. Monkey D. Chiba," Sengoku introduced, indicating Chiba to the World Government officials.

"That's correct," Chiba replied, sizing up the young man who had just been introduced. He wore a white outfit, a white top hat, and a white dove perched on his shoulder. The aura he exuded suggested a sense of aloofness.

"This is the new deputy chief of CP0, Rob Lucci," Sengoku explained.

"CP0... Rob Lucci?" Chiba recognized the name. He had heard much about him. CP0, or CIPHERPOL-AIGIS0, was known as the strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons and the most elite division of the CP organization.

Rob Lucci had built a reputation as the strongest member of CP9, regarded as the most powerful in 800 years before ascending to his current position.

In the hierarchy of the World Government, Marines served as their watchdogs, while the CP organization managed their more clandestine activities. Thus, the CP members, especially those in CP0, often looked down upon the Marines.

Rob Lucci's visit was significant, indicating the World Government's serious interest in Chiba and his activities.

"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Chiba. I didn't expect the legendary Marine to be so young," Rob Lucci said, his smile warm yet calculated.

Sakazuki's expression shifted, confusion and annoyance playing across his features. "When did the World Government and the CP organization become so chummy?"

As the atmosphere in the room thickened with tension, Chiba felt the weight of the upcoming conversation. The World Government held considerable power, and his interactions with them could shape the future of his endeavors.

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𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗕𝗼𝗴𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗝𝗰1202' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗵 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗼-𝗙𝗶 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 35+ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:

𝗞𝗼-𝗙𝗶.𝗰𝗼𝗺/𝗚𝗼𝗱𝗢𝗳𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿