It's been a while since Ann visited this place. This place is where she started spying on the Whitebeard group, and now, here she is, walking hand-in-hand with the heir of the Mafia Group. It's surreal.

Thatch, Haruta, and Izou came with them during their visit to get a few drinks and enjoy a little bit of free time before they go back to their busy schedules. When Ann asked what they were busy with, Marco was the one who answered.

"Some disturbances are happening in our territories, yoi. We have to take care of it." She did not ask for more information because she knew what he was referring to. It was her disturbances.

They walked towards the entrance when they felt that something was not right. Even Ann felt that someone was tailing them. When she looked at Marco, she noticed him frowning, alert to an attack that may come at any time.

They were right because a few seconds after noticing something amiss, they heard footsteps approaching them and a sound of metal clanking against the ground. Soon, they found themselves surrounded by several men holding knives and guns.

Marco's hold on Ann's hand tightened. Without much thought, he stepped in front of her, using his body as means to protect her from any harm that may come their way. Such action made Ann's heart flutter.

"Well, well, well. Look who do we have here? And with no bodyguards? You are all pretty confident. Especially you, Whitebeard's Prince." A burly man stepped in front, revealing his identity as Burgess.

"You have the guts to come back in our territory when I warned you, yoi." The tone of Marco's voice went deeper, almost growling as a warning. But Burgess only laughed.

"You see, I never took any slight without due punishment." His eyes revealed a look of savagery that made Ann want to punch his face. When his eyes caught the sight of Ann, he giggled. "And you're here too. We lost count of how many times we invited you, Miss Ann. Our boss would want to have a woman like you by his side."

Marco's anger soars. The inner devil in him was resurfacing. "Touch even a single hair on her and you will die, yoi."

This kind of protection is different from what Ann felt from her siblings. It's a kind of protection that made her feel safer than she had been.

"Really? Let's see which one of us will die first." Burgess signaled his men to attack. They must have been tailing them from the start because they had to time it well when it was just the five of them. This place might be Whitebeard's territory, but there would be instances wherein enemies will swarm them at any chance possible.

The men attacked using their knives and bats. Marco was quick to defend against three attacks simultaneously.

"Step away Ann, yoi." She stepped back while watching Marco, Thatch, Izou, and Haruta fight against several men. She knew that they had to be good fighters as the commanders of Whitebeard's group, but she never thought how good they were till she saw what was happening at that moment.

Burgess noticed that the four Whitebeard Commanders were preoccupied so he signaled the three remaining men to attack Ann. Noticing this, Thatch was quick to retaliate but it resulted in a gash knife to his arm due to his inattentiveness.

"Thatch!" Ann shouted in worry after seeing blood dripped to Thatch's clothes.

"I am okay! These motherfuckers are asking for it!" He pulled his gun and shot two enemies in a blink of an eye without hesitation.

"Shit," Burgess muttered under his breath. The only reason they did not use guns is to avoid alerting Whitebeard's men. This place is still their territory. No one would want to be surrounded by enemies especially if they find out he was trying to kill the heir. Desperate to get even at Marco, he pulled his gun and pointed it at Ann who was left defenseless. His actions did not go unnoticed by Marco. With four men keeping him busy, he might not make it in time to protect Ann from the impending danger. "Take this!"

Ann saw Burgess' action and was about to dodge but to his surprise, Marco ran after her, leaping off the ground to shield her from the bullet. Ann briefly registered her back hitting the ground with a loud thud. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Marco and felt hot liquid dripping all over his clothes.

Lifting her hand to confirm what it was. Ann felt like cold water splashing into her body. Everything else that was happening around her became nothing.

"Marco!" She shouted.

"Ugh... I am fine, yoi." She was shaking but at least Marco is still alive. Looking around, everything was a mess. Thatch was defending himself against two men, blood dripping on his face while Izou and Haruta pulled their guns to fight back. The noises from their guns alerted their men in the area.

It did not take too long before their backups arrived, forcing Burgess and his men to retreat. Burgess was injured thanks to Izou's shot.

"Help me. Marco is wounded!"

"Let's take him to our base. Ann, are you okay? You're not injured, are you?" Izou asked.

"Why are you asking me if I am okay? Marco just got shot! He should be your priority!" It wasn't the blood that made her hysterical. It was the fact that these high-ranking members of the largest Mafia Groups in the world threw themselves in danger to protect her.

Thatch, Haruta, and Izou mistook her reaction for something else.

"Ann. Marco will be fine. There is nothing to worry about." Izou said.

"Besides, if we cannot protect you, we would be ashamed of ourselves."

Ann still cannot believe them. She felt that their words never made any sense but she kept her silence while following them to their base.

They called the doctors to treat the injuries of the members while two doctors attend to Marco's needs. Ann was unharmed saved for a few scratches on her hand. The base was a villa on the outskirts of the area. There were several faces she had never seen before. This would be the best chance for her to get to know the other members of the Whitebeard Mafia Group aside from the Commanders but she could not find it in her heart to care about the people around her.

Her mind was thinking about several things.

Marco was still inside, being treated for his injuries. Izou was sitting beside Ann, talking to someone on the phone, telling them about the attack and commanding them to be alert against Kurohige.

All could not process all the words she was saying. She was still in deep thoughts about the incident.

"Pops!" Haruta's voice woke Ann from her musings. She looked up to see Whitebeard approaching them. She was expecting him to lash out at her for being useless and putting his son in danger, but instead, what she heard only put her heart into a mess.

"I am glad you're alright. I heard everything that happened. We did not mean to put you in danger." She was too stunned to speak immediately. The lump in her throat made it hard to keep her voice intact.

"But..." She croaked, swallowing the lump and her nervousness. "Marco was injured. He shouldn't have done that! He should have protected himself better!"

"Then, he would have regretted not doing so."

"Still! I am nobody important. You should have been angry at me for putting him in danger!" The confusion was evident in her eyes that all Whitebeard can do is smile with acknowledgment of her emotions.

"Ann, the way I see it, Marco protected you because he wants to. Because you are important to him, far more important than his life. The others did the same because you are not a nobody to us. Remember, there is nothing wrong with protecting your family." Whitebeard just smiled at her, placing his huge hand on her head, patting her down till she calmed down.

She met his eyes and there she saw a familiar look that she was used to seeing - the look of a father lulling his daughter to calmness. A wave of nostalgia hit her while remembering her father and his warm smile. The memory of that faithful day is forever etched into her heart. It was the last smiles of her parents the day before they died. The hand on her head and Whitebeard's smile only reminded her of what her parents are like - loving, caring, sincere.

The guilt she was feeling emerged, overwhelming her heart. Tears started falling down her cheeks and she sobbed from the mixture of emotions she was suddenly carrying.

These people never hesitated to risk their lives to protect her when she was nothing but an outsider. They treated her like what a family would do and there she was, hiding from the shadows, striking at their father figure countless times.

Seeing her crying, Whitebeard can only pat her back and assure her that Marco will be fine.

"Ann, don't worry about Marco. His monicker as the 'Phoenix' is not just for show. He had worse, and he survived just fine." Izou sat beside Ann, joining Whitebeard in consoling her.

A few minutes passed by, Thatch also joined in despite his injuries. He looked fine as if nothing happened. He even had the guts to crack a bad joke that made Ann wipe the tears off her eyes. Just when she began to calm down, the door of the small operating room opened, revealing the two doctors who just finished operating on Marco. Ann was quick to approach them, almost tripping in the process.

"Is... Is Marco alright?"

"He's fine, don't worry. And he was awake. Can you believe he woke up in the middle of the operation? Honestly, we need a higher dosage of anesthesia against that guy." Ann only blinked in confusion while listening to them exchange a few words.

"Oh, you know how Marco is. A few shots of anesthesia won't keep him asleep for a few hours. You need a litter of anesthetics to make sure he's fast asleep." Thatch sounded like he was a little envious of Marco's unique immunity against anesthesia.

The doctor told them they can see him since he was awake anyway but advised them to let him get some rest. Even if his life was no longer in danger, he still needed to recuperate.

Ann was quick to enter the room along with Whitebeard, Thatch, and Izou. Haruta needed to be somewhere else and told them she will visit Marco afterward. The other commanders were informed about Marco's condition, yet from their reactions, they expected a quick recovery.

Seeing Marco awake and well made Ann heaved a sigh of relief. It's as if a huge burden was taken off her shoulders.

"Hey, buddy! Awake again after an hour? I must say I envy your tolerance. Had it been me, I would have been asleep for 12 hours!" Thatch took a small space on the left side of the bed near Marco's foot while Izou stood beside him. Whitebeard sat on the couch near the bed, and Ann took the seat next to the bed, holding Marco's hand and gently squeezing it to affirm he was alive.

Marco was quick to rub his thumbs on her hand, a gentle assurance that he was fine. After they updated Marco about the state in the area of Blue Phoenix Bar, they proceeded with the topic of repaying Kurohige and his men for this offense.

"I've been patient enough to let that bastard live freely." Whitebeard's voice was solemn and angry. Even Ann shivered at the tone of his voice. "He dared touch my family."

"It seems to me that they used Ann's refusals to them to attack us when we least expected it." Thatch said. "That damn pervert."

"We all know what he was after. He wanted the territorial borders between Shanks' and our territory, yoi."

"Let's be real here. He wanted all the territories. That damn traitor. We should have gone after him." Izou clicked her tongue in annoyance. Ann's ears perked up when she mentioned the word traitor.

"Traitor?" She would have stayed silent while they talk, but he cannot help but ask. His question made everyone's face grim. For a second, she thought she asked about a sensitive topic.

"He used to be one of us. Till he revealed his fangs after the death of the Mafia King, yoi." Marco answered. Curiosity was growing in her heart but she figured she should not be asking that now.

"I've gone too soft on that brat. It's time for his punishment." Whitebeard stood up from his seat. "I will leave now, son. Take it easy, alright. And Ann, stay here in the meantime. We can't have you harmed. It's still dangerous outside. Okay?" His eyes and his words felt like they came from a father worrying about his daughter's safety. And that stings Ann's heart. She can only nod as an answer.

Thatch and Izou followed Whitebeard, leaving Ann alone with Marco.

"Hey..." Marco's voice penetrated her ears, but her mind was still a mess evident by how she kept her head down. "Ann..."

"Don't do that again." She finally found her voice and her will to meet his blue eyes. "Please don't do that again." Her eyes reflect the tears that were about to fall.

"Ann, listen, yoi - "

"No. Marco, no matter what happens, please don't do that again." She felt so guilty after what happened. Ann had been on many missions for a long time, deceiving people, pretending to be someone she was not. Betrayals happened all the time and while she felt the tinge of guilt from her actions, it was only momentary. It never felt like a huge rock placed on her shoulders. "You should value your life more."

Seeing her tears made Marco smile. "Ann, your life is important to me, yoi. Even if you ask me several times, I will still do it."

"You almost died!"

"But I am not. And you are safe, yoi. That is all that matters to me." His kind and loving smile stings. Ann can feel her heart clench as she sobbed, letting her tears fall. Their kindness is killing her from the inside.

Marco reached for her cheek, wiping the tears using his thumb before saying: "I am glad you're safe, yoi. I will do anything to keep you safe and by my side."

His words only made her cry even more as she thought: But you are not safe with me around. Because I am the danger.

"I love you." These words came from her heart with no pretenses. It was the emotions she was suppressing all this time.

"I love you too." Ann stood up to kiss him, still feeling remorseful. After a few moments of silence, Marco opened a topic that they had not talked about.

"It's dangerous in your area Ann. Kurohige and his men are lurking. They might come after you, yoi. I can't bear to put you in danger."

"Are you at war with them?"

"We've been at war since that betrayal years ago. He is only alive because he was in cahoots with the World Government, yoi." The mention of the World Government made Ann frown.

"Why did he betray your group?" She would always keep her questions to herself if it was about the Mafia Group to keep Marco from being suspicious. But tonight, she was dying to know the answer.

"He always stayed low within the group. Little did we know, he was feeding information to the World Government, yoi. He was doing it to build his own Mafia Group. He executed his grand plan right after the Mafia King's disbandment. He went after his territories."

Ann froze for a moment. Kurohige was never on their list and hearing this information, she felt like she needed to investigate this man further and what kind of involvement he had with their father's persecution.

"We stopped him from taking over the cities that used to be in the Mafia King's protection. Pops never knew how evil he was till the skirmishes over territories after the Mafia King's death. He was willing to burn cities to the ground, yoi. So many innocent citizens died by his hands." The more she listened to him, the more she was suspicious of something. The only way to find out is to ask.

"Then..." She paused, hesitating for a moment. "Why didn't your group do it?"

"We couldn't dedicate resources in hunting that guy and leave the cities unprotected, yoi. He knew our group from inside and out while we were practically blind about him. All we can do is prevent him from taking over the cities. After things settled down, he established himself as an assassin for hire, hiding behind the other groups and the World Government."

Ann was trying to remember the data they had about the skirmishes after her father's death. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she asked again to confirm her hunch.

"Is that why you took over many territories from the Mafia King? To prevent him from taking it?"

"Pops never wanted it, but we had no choice. Besides, the late Mafia King was friends with Pops. He couldn't just stand there and watch the people in those cities die, yoi."

Ann fought so hard to keep her expressions in check. She cannot let them slip to alarm Marco about the sudden realization that hit her.

Was she wrong all this time? Was she targeting the wrong person? She had to get to the bottom of this.

After bidding her goodbye to Marco, she immediately retreated to a room prepared for her.

She clutched her phone, contemplating whether to call her sisters about this discovery. When the device vibrated, a yelp escaped her lips. It was an unknown number but she knew who that number belonged to.

"Hello? Uncle?"

"Ann. Are you okay? You sounded shaken." It was Rayleigh.

"I am fine. You called. It's been a while."

"Indeed, it has been a while. I called to ask about your well-being. Storms are brewing in Grandline." She knew what he was referring to. Even if things are calm as they are now, sooner or later a war might occur and no doubt they will be at the center of that storm.

"I know." A silence passed. "Uncle... You know I've never asked about my father's enemies. We never did. And you will never tell us. But for once, can you tell me if Whitebeard was one of his enemies?"

Rayleigh never told them anything about the group. Yes, he might have mentioned a few things, but he never gave them more details than necessary. It had something to do with a promise with Roger that should his children seek the depths of Grandline Rayleigh will not be divulging the truth to them. They should find it themselves. After all, the streets are a jungle. It is the survival of the fittest. If the sisters only rely on the old monsters like Rayleigh, they will never be able to survive this jungle for long.

They must learn to navigate the murky waters on their own.

"And here I am wondering when you will ask me about Whitebeard. I may not be in Grandline now, but I know you've been after him. I admit it was funny to see your attempts to assassinate your father's rival."

"Uncle!" Ann protested but was answered with a burst of laughter.

"Alright. Ann, they may have been rivals, but they are friends at the same time. Whitebeard is not the kind of man who will backstab Roger. As early as now, stop your plans in going after him."

The confirmation made Ann bite her lip in frustration. After all this time, not only did she waste her time going after the wrong man, she even betrayed the man she loves.

"I understand, Uncle. Thank you. One more thing."

"What is it?"

"Kurohige. He's an enemy, isn't he?" The sigh that escaped Rayleigh's lips was an affirmation of her suspicions.

"That man is dangerous Ann. Be careful." For Rayleigh to say that meant that Kurohige might be a bigger thorn than the two Emperors, Kaido and Big Mom.

"Thank you, Uncle. We hope to see you soon."

With the call ending, Ann was left pondering her actions.

'What have I done?' She grabbed her hair in frustration. 'Will you ever forgive me if you find out that I tried to kill your father several times?'

She did not want to think of such a thing happening, but she knew it is inevitable. The bombs that she placed in one of the headquarters of the Whitebeard group must be removed. She cannot let that set off and kill them.

Once the bombs are removed, then what? She had no target in this group anymore. The next thing she must do is disappear but the thought of leaving Marco's side felt like a fire burning his heart.

'Ann, you stupid fool.' All she can do is curse herself.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

Kalifa was looking at the photo on her phone wondering what she must do next when Jabra appeared behind her.

"The lawyer?" He was looking at the photo and frowned. "A looker, isn't she?"

"Idiot. She is a dangerous entity."

"Heh~"

"Lawyers can be bought." He shrugged before walking past Kalifa to take the empty couch for himself.

"Not this one. She has another identity." This made Jabra curious. "Blue." The way his mouth gaped and his eyes widened indicate how shocked he was.

"Are you serious?"

"I saw it myself when she took off her masks. I will report this to Stussy. She should know what to do. Unfortunately, she is overseas. Lucci just died so we have to wait for further orders,"

Jabra's eyes shined with ideas at the information Kalifa just provided. Little by little, he started smirking evilly.

"Wasn't she the lover of that Mafia leader named Eustass?"

"Yes. What of it?"

"Hahaha! Kalifa, oh dear Kalifa. Don't you think this is an opportunity?"

"I don't understand what you are talking about."

"Wouldn't it be nice for her to die at the hands of Eustass Kidd? Think about it! Hahaha! You don't have to report this to Stussy when we can do it ourselves. We can use Eustass Kidd to end the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army."

"Are you an idiot?! They've been working together!"

"The question is: does he know that Blue was his ex-lover?" At this question, Kalifa thought about the information they had about the two. Piecing two and two together, Jabra's words made sense. Sab may have possibly been fooling Eustass Kidd all along. "We cannot catch Blue. You know how slippery that bastard is. So, why not we use Kidd Eustass to get what we want? Think about the promotion awaiting for us when get to kill her?"

Kalifa was silent while Jabra was waiting for her answer. He was after Lucci's position for a while now since he died. With this opportunity, he can finally get the promotion he wanted.

The more Kalifa thought about it, the more she thinks that Jabra's plan was better. The sadistic side of her felt the extreme excitement of seeing her enemies tortured to death. What would be the best way to torture the enemies? That is to be betrayed by the people they trust.

From what she knew, there might still be lingering emotions between the two. Had there not been any attachments, Kidd would have killed Sab a long time ago. And Sab, with her experience and power, could have eliminated a threat to her life that may endanger her position as the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army.

"Hmm... That sounds like a good plan."

"I know right? Hahahaha! Let's do this!"