Rona saw through Tsuru being an undercover agent at first glance.
Not that Tsuru had revealed any flaws, but Rona remembered her.
Both female Marines. Both are quite beautiful.
Wasn't it normal to take a second look?
So even Marine Chief of Staff Portman Nisen never imagined that Marine Admiral Rona would notice an inconspicuous new recruit.
But Rona knew Tsuru. Tsuru didn't know Rona had seen through her.
So Tsuru boldly carried her meal tray to sit beside Rona.
"I don't know..."
Hearing Rona's question, Tsuru felt uneasy.
Before her former idol, her usual cleverness and alertness seemed ineffective.
Until Rona suddenly said, "You don't want to join the White Wolf Pirates?"
"Of course not!"
Tsuru shook her head vigorously. Joining the White Wolf Pirates was her mission objective—how could she not want to join?
"Hehe, I just think you don't look very happy."
Rona said with a smile.
"If you're unwilling, I can talk to Silas. After all, you're just a trainee who just joined."
"Silas would give me that much face."
Rona looked at Tsuru like seeing her younger self.
But Tsuru's luck wasn't great.
Though Rona had defected from the Marines, after being a Marine for decades, she clearly knew that losing the desire to capture Silas, her personality couldn't continue in the Marines.
So she decided to quit.
But Tsuru was different. Too young and inexperienced to have witnessed the World Government's true corruption, she'd been thrust into this situation while still clinging to her idealistic faith in Marine justice.
"Don't be hasty with your conclusions. What reaches your ears might be lies, but what you witness firsthand—that's where real judgment begins."
In Rona's presence, under that penetrating stare, Tsuru felt utterly exposed, as if her carefully maintained facade meant nothing.
"Sorry, Miss Rona, I have matters to attend to."
Seeing Tsuru leave, even forgetting her meal tray, Rona shook her head with a smile, feeling her junior might go hungry this afternoon.
Regarding Tsuru, Silas naturally paid attention too.
No sooner had Tsuru left than Silas approached.
"Rona, Tsuru just joined my crew and you're already trying to steal her away? What happened to respecting your captain?"
"Captain? Ha!" Rona's eyes flashed with disdain. "You're their captain, not mine. I don't take orders from you."
Her gaze turned cold as ice, studying Silas like he was something unpleasant she'd stepped in.
"Listen carefully, Silas—Tsuru's my junior. If you even think about taking advantage of her, I'll make sure you regret it."
"D'you think I'm that kind of person?"
Silas widened his eyes, feeling extremely wronged.
"Hehe."
Rona glanced sideways at Silas, counting on her fingers.
"Never mind Lily and Ripley—that Wano woman named Toki practically wants to stick to you daily. And that girl called Stussy—tsk tsk, even as a woman I'm attracted to that figure. Dare you say you're not tempted?"
"Hey hey, I'm a pirate and a man—liking beautiful women's normal, right?"
Silas shrugged.
"I neither lie nor force—how can mutual attraction be called being a scumbag?"
"Can you guarantee not disappointing anyone?"
"I guarantee keeping you all well-fed."
"You have that energy?"
Rona wasn't some young girl—naturally she understood what Silas meant.
But counting on her fingers, there were already several. Even if Silas were a bull, he should be exhausted to death.
No, wait. You all?
Suddenly realizing, Rona found Silas had already leaned closer.
"Miss Rona, would you care to join me in my cabin tonight?"
…
Silas was about to leave Sphinx, naturally needing to secure his rear before departing.
The greatest guarantee for his rear was Rona.
As a former Marine Admiral, a top great swordsman, and a standard Admiral-level fighter, one-on-one, even Harald wasn't Rona's match.
Honestly, Silas didn't quite understand Rona's feelings toward him.
Did Rona like him? Seemed so. Did he like Rona? Actually, not quite.
Even if Rona had special feelings for him, Silas lacked decades of obsession with her—only memories of constant pursuit.
Not disliking her was already good—where was there room for liking?
But men were just that shallow.
If ordinary women threw themselves at him, no matter how beautiful, Silas would definitely refuse.
"After all, he was a pirate. The pirate life meant constant movement, constant danger—dying at sea was just an occupational hazard."
Moreover, pirates had many enemies. No pirate dared expose their weaknesses.
Even his former self couldn't escape that cruel reality.
Unless a man possessed a heart of stone—caring for no one, feeling nothing—the pirate's life meant eternal solitude.
He couldn't risk marriage and couldn't dare bring children into this world of blood and vengeance.
Any family he might have would need to remain shadows, hidden away from his enemies' reach.
Such was the pirate's burden: to choose between love and the safety of those they loved."
So former Silas, even seeking women, besides pleasure district types, would try to find those who could keep up with his pace.
Like Lily.
Now, Silas had fewer concerns.
Having even invaded the Holy Land, Mariejois, couldn't he protect his beloved?
So as long as he liked them, even ordinary people didn't matter to Silas.
As for Rona, well, Silas admitted female Marine Admirals were truly irresistible.
Each time was like extracting marrow from bones. Thirty like wolves, forty like tigers.
Rona was fifty!
But mastering Life Return techniques, Rona not only looked young but also had a snow-white body without excess flesh.
Those straight long legs—just a casual squat... How could this old man handle such stimulation?
But as a top physical arts expert plus an awakened Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user, if he couldn't handle it, who could?
So Silas wasn't joking with Rona.
Until the appointed day arrived.
Rona looked at the man sleeping beside her, feeling faint reluctance.
Like him? Actually, whether that emotion was truly liking, Rona wasn't clear.
But like blind dating—I don't dislike you, and you don't dislike me. Then let's try being together.
If not for Silas becoming younger and more handsome, she wouldn't roll in bed with him.
Moreover, she had her ideals. Silas had his own wishes.
They wouldn't be standard lovers, but who could say what time might bring?
Let's wait and see.