Bartolomeo and Drake locked eyes.
Both of them saw shock in each other's eyes, which quickly turned into hostility the next second.
A few months ago, they had dealt with each other in Paradise.
At that time, Bartolomeo had just left the East Sea, and Drake was still a Rear Admiral at Navy Headquarters.
He led a fleet to besiege his ship, almost sending him to a watery grave.
"Drake!"
Barto gritted his teeth, "Hey! You bastard, how are you here!"
"Heh, shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Drake's expression was icy, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword, "A villain who attacked a civilian area, yet dares to shamelessly join Lord Xiano?"
"Civilians?"
Barto was stunned, then furious, grabbing Drake's collar, "Bullshit! Those were all damned slave traders, I was just doing what Lord Xiano would do, helping people with my sword, what's wrong with that!"
He looked Drake up and down, his eyes suspicious:
"And you, leaving your nice position as a Navy Rear Admiral, rebelling for no reason, and joining the Endgame, could you actually be an undercover spy?!"
"A spy?"
A cold light flashed in Drake's eyes, "Stop slandering people! Looks like I have to teach you a lesson today..."
Just as they were about to fight, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out:
"Stop it!"
Accompanied by footsteps, a figure came down from the stairs on the second floor. The girl had long blue hair and a well-defined muscular build, with a bit of heroic spirit in her eyes.
Barto and Drake both froze, their movements halted on the spot.
Who is she?
Drake's pupils slightly contracted. The person was wearing the Endgame's distinctive all-black uniform, but without an insignia, meaning she wasn't part of any of the Four Major Armies...
Doesn't that mean she's from Endgame Headquarters?
Barto rubbed his eyes, and after confirming he wasn't seeing things, he was overjoyed, tears of excitement almost falling.
——Hey! It's Senior Nojiko!
This is Lord Xiano's own sister!
Also a founding member from the earliest days in the East Sea, one of his top five idols!
"Causing trouble as soon as you arrive."
Nojiko's gaze coldly swept over the two of them, "Daring to be so presumptuous in the administrative hall, what, you two think being Super Rookies lets you ignore the rules of the Endgame..."
"Senior Nojiko!"
Barto couldn't hold back any longer, tearful, he pushed Drake aside, rushed to Nojiko, and knelt down with a thud, "I'm your most loyal fan! Waaaa, finally seeing a real person... You're even more beautiful than in the photos on the warrant!!"
Nojiko looked down in astonishment.
Staring at this guy at her feet, snot and tears running down his face, looking like he was about to hug her leg, her face instantly turned black, veins bulging on her forehead:
"Hey, you..."
"Interrupting me was one thing, but you're way too close!"
So disgusting!
Bam!
She landed a heavy punch to Barto's face. He screamed, several teeth flying out, crashing into the wall and sliding to the ground, eyes rolling back as he fainted.
"Boss Barto!" The club members cried out around him.
Such terrifying power...
Drake's Adam's apple bobbed, watching with growing alarm.
This is the standard of the Endgame Headquarters. Even an unknown officer could easily overpower them, who just entered the New World...
However.
The next second, something even more shocking happened.
Barto wobbled up, spat out a mouthful of blood, and, rather than getting angry, held his swollen cheek with a blissful smile:
"Amazing! This is Senior Nojiko's fist? As bold as the rumors say! Ahhhh, to have the honor of Senior punching me, I'm so happy!"
He waved his arms, twisting his body as if he'd won a great prize.
"Damn it!"
The surrounding underlings cried tearfully, "So jealous, Boss Barto! How can you enjoy this honor alone? We all want to be punched by Senior Nojiko!"
Nojiko: "..."
Drake: "..."
Everyone else present: "..."
Where did these idiots come from, there's no saving them, right? Absolutely no saving them?
"Fanatic fans? What a headache."
Nojiko rubbed her forehead, taking a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat Barto again, and turned to Drake:
"And you, what's your story?"
Drake immediately straightened up, saluting respectfully:
"Reporting, ma'am! I'm former Navy Rear Admiral Drake. Dissatisfied with the current World Government, I came to join Lord Xiano."
"Oh? A Navy defector?"
Nojiko glanced at Barto, "Then what's your beef with this snotty green-haired freak?"
Snotty green-haired freak?!
Crack! Barto was struck as if by lightning, falling backward, tears of grievance streaming down his face.
"We clashed in Paradise." Drake pondered momentarily and answered honestly, "At the time, I was still in the Navy, ordered to capture this villain."
"Bullshit!"
Barto got agitated, pointing at Drake and shouting, "Senior Nojiko! Don't believe him, this guy is definitely fishy! When he was a Navy Rear Admiral chasing me, he was very dedicated. To be so young and already a Rear Admiral, he clearly had a bright future. It's very likely he's an undercover agent. You need to be careful with him!"