Vice Admiral Gion descended the gangway. Her hair was tied in a bun, a Justice coat draped over her shoulders, a rose-red tunic underneath.
Her left leg was bare, inked with the black silhouette of a spider.
She was radiant—spirited, alluring, dangerous.
A long-legged queen, with a blade in hand. Beauty laced with menace, the kind that drew in the bold.
"Vice Admiral Gion!"
Enru snapped to attention and saluted. The officers behind him followed in unison, posture sharp.
Gion smiled lightly. "With the year ending, I've come on behalf of Headquarters to offer respects to Commander Enru for his long service."
Though she outranked him, she spoke with courtesy. After all, he was a veteran, of the same generation as Garp and Sengoku. A measure of respect was due.
Enru bowed his head. "Grateful, grateful!"
"The Fleet Admiral often speaks of you," Gion said.
"He says your merits deserve promotion to Vice Admiral. Were it not for your repeated refusals, you'd have been transferred to Headquarters long ago."
"Ah, you overpraise me!" Enru waved it off, though his chest swelled. "I only did my duty. The true credit belongs to those of you still fighting on the frontlines. I'm old. Let the younger men take the Vice Admiral posts."
For all his modesty, Gion's praise left him glowing. It was face, prestige.
"By the way, Vice Admiral Gion—this is my deputy, Colonel Onoran. In recent years, when my energy has flagged, he's managed much of the work."
Onoran stepped forward, chest high. "Vice Admiral Gion!" He saluted crisply.
He was in his thirties, broad-shouldered, square-jawed, his Justice coat draped properly. Righteous in bearing—on the surface.
But Gion's eyes saw deeper. Beneath that straight gaze, a flicker of greed, of desire.
Not a man content to serve.
In a breath, she had judged him.
Her smile was faint. "Colonel Onoran—young and promising."
He flushed, stammering, "Compared to you, I'm nothing!"
Enru chuckled. "The dock winds are cold. I've arranged a banquet in your honor. Please, Vice Admiral Gion, this way."
In the office building of the new Bounty Hunter Guild, Jin met with Crocodile.
"All went smoothly?" Jin asked.
"Capone Bege made a fine bargaining chip," Crocodile replied. "He holds too many secrets, offended too many people. They were glad to see him fall. He tried to escape several times, but Mr. 1 keeps him under lock in the docks."
"Good." Jin nodded.
"Tonight there's a banquet at the naval base," Crocodile added. "They're hosting the local elites to welcome Gion. The command handover is the real matter."
"So," Jin mused, "Enru wants his son to inherit Lunair. Turn the port into their family's kingdom?"
"More or less."
Jin smirked. Did people think nepotism existed only among pirates? The Navy had its share of 'second-generation heirs.'
In fact, by this stage, piracy itself was practically a game of "Who's your father?"
When Teach was rumored to be Rocks' son—
When Buggy's lineage was questioned—
And Whitebeard? He'd filled his decks with the sons of legends: Roger's boy, Rocks' boy, all calling him "Pops." A twisted satisfaction in hearing those familiar faces cry out that name.
"The guild rose so fast thanks to Enru and his son," Crocodile said. "We paid, they obliged. But if Headquarters replaces him with a hawk, stubborn and hostile, our work could suffer. You know me—still one of the Seven Warlords. Gion won't like my presence." He glanced at Jin. "So…"
"You want me to sound her out. Learn what she and Headquarters intend," Jin said smoothly.
Crocodile inclined his head. With the sharp, few words were needed.
"Fine. I'll meet Vice Admiral Gion."
The Bounty Hunter Guild was his investment too. He wouldn't leave it exposed.
"One more thing…" Crocodile produced a fine wooden box. Inside—an extraordinary Devil Fruit.
"The Kilo-Kilo Fruit."
"Oh?" Jin arched a brow. "The same one Miss Valentine held?"
Indeed. Mikita's fruit let her adjust her weight from one kilogram to ten thousand at will. Weak, on the surface. A mere ten tons of pressure? Pirates could lift warships; Kaido had lifted Onigashima itself.
But Jin's eyes gleamed. No, it couldn't be so simple. A fruit named for weight—surely it had no true ceiling, no real floor. Mikita's limits had been her own weakness.
"Good. I'll take it."
Just two more fruits, and the Demon Carrier would evolve again. What new powers would it gain?
Satisfied with Crocodile's work, Jin smiled. "Old Crocs, do you want a second fruit ability?"
Crocodile froze. "A second…? That's impossible. Anyone who eats two fruits dies."
His mind turned to the carrier—the ship already bore multiple abilities. Jin was still gathering fruits. His expression sharpened.
"Don't tell me… you've found a way to eat two fruits?"
His eyes blazed. A single fruit was already power beyond reckoning. But two? A natural fruit paired with a Zoan, or a Paramecia complementing it—devastating combinations sprang to mind.
"I don't know how to eat two fruits," Jin said. "But I can grant you a second ability."
Crocodile leaned forward. "Can I choose?"
"You can. But the options are limited."
Jin listed them: Fungus-Fungus, Candy-Candy, Hell Red Serpent, Silence, Bomb-Bomb, Earth-Earth, Spring-Spring, Bronze-Bronze, Kraken, Castle-Castle, and the new Kilo-Kilo.
The Munch-Munch was his alone. The Triceratops, he had given Kuma.
Crocodile frowned. None seemed perfect. His Sand-Sand needed something to sharpen its destructive edge.
"Think on it," Jin said. "If you have a target fruit in mind, tell me. But I'd say Bomb-Bomb pairs well. Imagine your sandstorms—every grain exploding."
Crocodile's eyes flickered. The image had power. "I'll wait. I want the best fit."
A man offered a second fruit's ability could afford to be greedy.
Night fell.
By Crocodile's arrangement, Jin entered the naval base for the banquet welcoming Gion.
He brought Reiju as his partner.
Law was male. Robin carried a bounty. Maya was too young.
Reiju would do nicely.
Kuma?
Leaving aside the bounty on his head, just his size alone would overwhelm most women. Too heavy a taste.
Reiju, by contrast, was perfect. Her age, her identity—an ideal partner for the evening.
And with her Germa royal education, her elegance and noble bearing surpassed Jin's own by far.
As expected, the moment she entered in her flowing gown, she drew every gaze of the gathered nobles.
Soft pink hair framed a delicate, graceful face.
Her skin was pale, smooth as porcelain.
A long dress of light rose cinched her slim waist, outlining curves that swelled and dipped in perfect rhythm.
Her long legs gleamed above heels the shade of pale blush.
She smiled sweetly, brows curved, every movement poised like a princess.
Which she was—the princess of Germa.
Jin attended under his real name. He wasn't a pirate, and in a high-class gathering there was no need for masks.
In fact, it was Enru and his son who bent themselves to flatter him, along with minor nobles eager to curry favor.
A king of a World Government nation, and a Germa princess? Their presence gave the banquet face. Prestige.
It was like hosting a feast in some provincial town, only to have the mayor and the tycoon's daughter attend. Suddenly, the event was elevated.
The banquet was Western style, buffet tables laid with dishes—
Golden pork cutlets, buttery matsutake, fattened foie gras.
Wine and champagne flowed.
Though the night's star was Gion, Enru still came over with warm courtesy to Jin and Reiju.
Onoran hovered nearby with his glass, smiling his polished aristocrat's smile—hollow, false.
He had already learned that Drum Island's population numbered under a hundred thousand. He dismissed Jin's claim to kingship, and his eyes lingered instead on Reiju.
Lunair, by comparison, had three hundred thousand permanent residents, and forty to fifty thousand transients daily. Surely that made him more of a king than Jin?
One day, Onoran thought, this port will be mine.
He and his father had ruled like warlords for two decades. Why should they ever hand it over?
Today a naval base—tomorrow, the Kingdom of New Lunair.
Enru, at least, was genuine. He understood how power truly worked. To turn assets into a dynasty, one needed support from above. A king at the Reverie to speak on one's behalf—that mattered more than territory or population.
Even Cobra of Alabasta, by virtue of his seat, was worth cultivating. So too this Drum Kingdom's king and Germa princess.
When Gion entered, Enru excused himself, pulling Onoran with him to greet her. Nobles moved in to keep Jin and Reiju entertained.
But Jin and Gion still locked eyes across the hall. The aura of strong figures, unspoken recognition.
At this time, Gion was not yet "Admiral Candidate." According to Hina, she soon would be. Every two years, ranks were reassessed. Seniors retired, new posts opened. Gion's promotion was on the horizon.
Beside her walked a young female commander—strawberry-blonde hair, green eyes, sensual features. A Justice coat draped over a strapless dress, seabird insignia set in her cap.
Enru introduced them.
"This is Jin."
Gion's eyes flickered, a glimmer of surprise, though her smile stayed smooth.
So this king wasn't simple. He had played the fool well. Enru almost missed it.
"Truly modest. Colonel Hina has mentioned you before—she spoke highly," Gion said, her tone casual, but her words probing. "And this young lady is…?"
Reiju's eyes narrowed. Hina? Another woman? A hint of scandal?
"Princess Reiju of Germa," Jin said calmly. "And yes, it's been a while since I've seen Hina. I miss her."
Gion's smile deepened. "She's finishing her training. The Aska Island base is nearly complete, waiting for her command."
As the women spoke, the young commander's eyes darted. She clearly wanted to chime in but held her tongue. The circle of female officers in Headquarters was small. Secrets were scarce.
Enru, seeing Gion lingering with Jin, grew restless. Wasn't he the host here? He pulled her away to introduce her to other officers.
Reiju leaned close, whispering, "So. This Colonel Hina—what's the story?"
Jin smirked. "What do you think?"
"Men!" she huffed.
"Careful. Don't forget—you're my maid now. Or are you… jealous?"
The words struck her. She froze. She was a prisoner, bound to him, a maid in name. She had no right to care. And yet—why did her chest ache at his teasing?
Jin saw her expression falter and realized he had cut too deep. He pulled her close, his hand circling her waist, lips brushing her ear.
"Of course," he murmured, "the forever kind."
Reiju's eyes widened. Was that… a confession?
Her mind went blank. His arm held her firm, his scent filled her lungs. Her heart thundered. Her legs weakened.
Her cheeks burned scarlet. "Idiot! There are people here—don't hold me so close, they'll see!"
Jin whispered, "So, when no one's watching… it's fine?"
"Y-you—what are you saying?!" Reiju stammered, her face aflame.
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