Pollock Island, Hallsta City
On the beach, the sea breeze was blowing and the waves were crashing. White seagulls foraged leisurely on the sand. Not far away, a man and a woman sat opposite each other under a large umbrella at an open-air restaurant called Summer.
Wearing a white coat of justice, with a pink v-neck blouse and white shorts, Gion sat with both arms folded. Her slender legs were crossed, and there was a faint anger in her moist, peach-colored eyes.
"You, why do I always have to be the one to come and see you? Can't you take the initiative to come once in a while?"
Hearing that, Sephiroth's hand, holding a knife and fork to cut his steak, paused for a moment. He shook his head and sighed, "Busy! You don't know, I'm so busy every day! Forty-eight hours a day is not enough."
Sephiroth said this from the bottom of his heart. Right now, he was using a bat clone to work at the G-5 Branch, and another clone to do scientific research in the lab. Meanwhile, his main body had to handle national affairs and also arrange a schedule to accompany his girls. One person doing three jobs! Even the best time manager would be ashamed to see what he was doing.
Although the G-5 Branch's job was mainly to sail the seas, and his bat clone was usually in a dormant state, he himself sometimes had to appear in person when he encountered pirates. After all, this was the New World, and most of its pirates were not to be trifled with!
In terms of scientific research and experiments, although he didn't have to be present in person for some experiments, he still needed to use most of his mind to control the bat clones in their daily lives.
After all, the application of Lineage Factor, Artificial Devil Fruits, Ice Killer drugs, and cloning technology—all four projects were important and related to the development of his future strength!
Hearing Sephiroth's words, Gion pursed her lips. She muttered, "The G-5 Branch is recognized as the most laid-back organization among all the Marine branches in the Grand Line. What keeps you so busy all day?"
Sephiroth laughed and said, "Busy being lazy."
Gion: (●? ●?)
Hearing that answer, she felt annoyed. She wanted to ask, "Are you a scoundrel who works in women's beds?" but Gion held it in. Her instincts told her she would only get more angry if she asked.
Sometimes, Gion wondered why she could have been so blind as to fall in love with Sephiroth. "Heart of a Flower"! She was sinking deeper without realizing it. She had once tried to fight back and had successfully driven away a few women who were approaching Sephiroth.
However, because of gossip in the Marines, she heard about Sephiroth's affair with the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock. To confirm, Gion once tried to investigate. It turned out that the scoundrel Sephiroth was having an affair with all three of the Hancock sisters! This cruel fact made Gion feel helpless. If it were other women, she could still compete. But her competitor was the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!
Gion had once met Hancock by chance while on a mission. That woman was very dangerous. Gion, as a woman and a love rival, still felt a little in awe of Boa Hancock.
I will never compete with them again!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Sensing Gion's change in emotion, Sephiroth thought for a moment before offering, "How about you stay the night here? I know an inn with a big, soft bed."
"Hmph! No! I'm just passing by on this mission, and I'll leave after dinner," Gion replied with a sarcastic tone, rejecting the offer.
"Uh! Okay!"
Sephiroth just shrugged. Coincidentally, according to his schedule, he also had to go out on patrol after lunch.
For more than a year, he had been sailing around the G-5 Branch's territory. Sometimes, the warship he commanded even went outside the jurisdiction, and he always used the excuse of hunting pirates.
However, Sephiroth had searched almost the entire sea area of the G-5 Branch, and he still hadn't found his target.
Is that island really not in this world, or was it destroyed by the World Government?
A ringing Den Den Mushi suddenly interrupted Sephiroth's thoughts. He took it out of his pocket, placed it on the table, and answered the call.
"Who is this? Why are you calling me?"
"It's me! Sengoku."
"Hmm!? Fleet Admiral Sengoku, why are you calling me?" Sephiroth frowned, he had already guessed something.
"I've seen your resignation."
"What?! Sephiroth, you're resigning?" Hearing that, Gion frowned slightly, her tone full of shock.
"...Is this a good time to talk?" Sengoku hesitated.
Sephiroth raised his right index finger to his mouth, making a silent gesture toward Gion, motioning for her not to interrupt.
"Hmm! That was Brigadier General Gion. It's just a resignation matter, there's nothing to hide."
"Sephiroth, your reason for resigning... 'The world is so big, I want to see it!' To be honest, it's too rash. If you have any dissatisfaction with your position, you could have just told me, and I would have helped you adjust it."
Sengoku's tone seemed peaceful, trying to show his sincerity. This was because Sephiroth's combat strength was on par with an Admiral. He didn't want such a talent to leave the Marines, so he acted this way. If it were an ordinary Brigadier General, he would have just asked a few routine questions, then signed the application and let the person go.
Zefa was a good example. After his family was killed by pirates, he also applied for resignation. However, Fleet Admiral Kong tried his best to keep him, and he eventually remained at the military academy as the head instructor, while still holding the rank of Admiral. For the Marines, this kind of top-tier combat power was very valuable.
"No need! Isn't it human nature to pursue freedom and dreams?"
Hearing that, Sengoku's voice suddenly became serious, "Freedom and dreams...? Are you ready to become a pirate?"
"Hey! You old geezer, don't talk nonsense! When did I ever say I was going to become a pirate myself?" Sephiroth retorted without mincing words.
Sengoku: "..."
It wasn't entirely Sengoku's fault for misunderstanding. Since Roger started the Great Pirate Era, more and more people, with the slogan of pursuing freedom and dreams, went to sea and became criminals. Under the influence of "inertial thinking," Sengoku's first reaction was: Is Sephiroth going to become a pirate?
"Ahem! Actually, you can pursue your freedom and dreams in the Marines, so there's no need to resign," Sengoku cajoled.
"Do you believe that? Even you, a Fleet Admiral, aren't free, so how can I be?" Sephiroth asked in a contemptuous tone.
It might be possible to be lazy in the Marines, but there was a limit. When it was time for a mission and catching pirates, you couldn't refuse the order! Otherwise, you would be ready for a court-martial.
Of course, if Sephiroth didn't work hard and just went through the motions, no one else could do anything to him.
But, he felt he no longer needed to stay in the Marines! The turbulence of the "inventory operation" had passed, and he had also taken care of the hands he had left behind to help the Umbrella Corporation grow. In addition, to protect the current size of the Umbrella Corporation, even without his internal protection in the Marines, the company could continue to grow smoothly.
Therefore, Sephiroth felt he should retreat from the current and go ashore in peace!
"..."
Sengoku was silent for a moment before speaking, "Alright! Think about it again. If you need anything, you can tell me. I won't approve your resignation application for now."
After that, before Sephiroth could respond, Sengoku hung up the phone. After thinking about it, Sengoku still called Kong about Sephiroth wanting to resign. Although he could now handle Marine affairs with full authority on behalf of the Fleet Admiral, he had not yet become an official one, and some things still needed to be decided by the Commander-in-Chief.
After Sephiroth ended the call, Gion could no longer hold back and asked with a mixed expression, "Are you really going to leave the Marines?"
"Hmm! The Marines are not only restrictive, but they also have no future," Sephiroth nodded slightly.
"With your strength, how can there be no future!?"
"Then why do you think I was transferred to the G-5 Branch with my strength?"
"..."
"I've already received news that Sengoku will take over as Fleet Admiral next month. Given his attitude toward me, there's no point in me staying in the Marines. Besides, I'm also tired of staying in the Marines!"
"..."
Gion stared at him, not speaking for a long time, as if she wanted to confirm the authenticity of his words. After a while, she muttered, "I'm full!"
When she finished speaking, she put down her knife and fork, stood up, and immediately left the restaurant. Sephiroth glanced at the food that was mostly untouched on the table, he could only shake his head and watch Gion leave.
Right at that moment, a party of sixteen people entered from outside the restaurant. Among them were men and women, old and young, with different clothes. The leader of the group was a man dressed like a flamingo, wearing a pink feathered coat, a red suit underneath, and sunglasses on his face.
In addition, there was also an old acquaintance of Sephiroth.
Seeing these two people, the identity of the group was clear... they were the Donquixote Family!
As Sephiroth stared at them, Vergo in the crowd turned his head and stared back at him. Although the two knew each other, their positions were different now, so instead of coming over to greet him, Vergo found a seat and sat down with the others.
Sephiroth turned his gaze away, and after he finished eating, he immediately left for other business.
However.
Bulu! Bulu! Bulu!
The military Den Den Mushi, which he had not put in his pocket, rang again.
In his despair, Sephiroth had no choice but to answer the phone again. He said impatiently, "Who is it! Speak quickly if you have something to say, and hang up if you don't!"
"..."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, there was a moment of silence.
A few seconds later, a heavy voice sounded, "I'm Kong."
Hearing that, Sephiroth immediately scoffed and said with a bit of embarrassment, "Ahem!... Fleet Admiral Kong, is there something I can help you with?"
"You even told me to hurry up. Fine, I won't beat around the bush. You want to leave the Marines? No problem, but you must hand over the Butcher Knife to me. You can leave after that, or we won't talk anymore... That's all!"
Patter!
After saying that, Kong immediately hung up the phone, leaving Sephiroth a little stunned.
Is this old man so stingy?
Sephiroth cursed inwardly, then he pouted. Kong's words were very clear: he could leave as long as he was willing to hand over the Butcher Knife! This "retreat to advance" tactic was quite cunning. Kong seemed to have agreed to Sephiroth's resignation application, and the Butcher Knife was a gift the Marines had given him. If he wanted to leave, he had to return that finest sharp sword.
No matter how you looked at it, it was very reasonable!
However, the Butcher Knife had been refined into a black blade by Sephiroth. Without it, even if he had other finest swords, his strength would drop by at least 10% or 20%! In addition, the Butcher Knife had also eaten the Monmon Fruit, giving him the convenience of travel. He had managed to develop such great power today, and the Butcher Knife had contributed greatly!
If Sephiroth lost the Butcher Knife, it would feel more uncomfortable than being killed!
Thinking of this, Sephiroth couldn't help but rub his chin and murmur in his heart:
How about... I just tear off my face and defect from the Marines?
No, no need.
Only "foolish" young people would act out of anger. As a mature entrepreneur, Sephiroth didn't like causing trouble just because of a fit of pique.
Forget it, when old man Kong's anger subsides, I'll see if I can negotiate with him.
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