Taking In

"Don't cry, you're not an unwanted child!"

Cifer hugged Joni in his arms, gently stroking her little head with two fingers.

"But Joni's mom and dad don't want Joni anymore!"

Joni cried, and Cifer and the others finally understood the truth.

Joni had two siblings; she was the second child. Her birth was an accident, and she was the kind of child her parents didn't love or care for.

Ever since she was a little older, the dirty and tiring chores at home were always done by her and her older brother.

A while ago, her older brother was supposed to go out shopping with their parents and help carry things. But that day, her older brother suddenly fell ill.

Her older brother was the only one who doted on her in the family, so she was naturally willing to go out in his place and work like a little ox or horse.

Who knew that the ship they were on would be attacked by a pirate crew at sea? Her parents, in their panicked escape, didn't pay any attention to her.

Watching the lifeboat drift further and further away from her, she jumped into the sea and swam towards the direction the boat was heading, constantly shouting for her parents to save her. But no one on the boat looked back at her.

That's why she was washed ashore by the waves to Reksenor, ate a Devil Fruit, met Cifer and Akainu, and had her first full meal in her life.

"Joni can work hard! Please don't abandon Joni!" Her teary, sincere eyes looked at Cifer and Akainu.

"We are righteous Marines, of course, we won't abandon little Joni!" Hina's maternal instincts surged after hearing her story.

"The Marines don't lack a pair of chopsticks, right!"

Cifer looked at Akainu. There were only two decision-makers here, and Cifer didn't plan to take a child around everywhere.

"I certainly won't let her become a pirate!"

After all, Akainu had found Joni. She was cute, had Devil Fruit abilities, and had a pitiable background. Akainu naturally wouldn't let her wander around with Cifer.

He'd just raise her like a daughter!

"Joni, you'll follow Uncle Sakazuki from now on. He's a Marine Admiral!" Akainu's answer was as expected, and Cifer wasn't surprised.

"Aren't big brother and uncle together? I want to follow brother."

Joni was curious. They could walk together on such a deserted island; shouldn't they be good friends?

"I am a Marine Admiral! This guy is a notorious Great Pirate!"

Akainu replied unhappily. Whether he was unhappy with Cifer or something else, only he knew.

"Is brother a bad guy?"

Hearing that Cifer was a Great Pirate, Joni's body trembled slightly. The scenes of pirates burning, killing, and looting on the ship were vivid in her mind.

She couldn't believe that the big brother who felt so gentle and polite in front of her was actually a big villain.

"I guess I can be considered a Great Pirate!" Cifer scratched his head, after all, he was one of the Shichibukai. "But this world isn't black and white."

"Pirates represent evil, but not all pirates are bad people. Marines represent justice, but not all Marines are good people. Don't easily believe what you hear, believe what you see with your own eyes."

These principles were too profound for Joni. She was still too young. Cifer believed that when she grew older, she would naturally understand.

This time, Akainu didn't retort. As someone who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, he naturally wasn't as naive as Joni. However, he had to treat the world as black and white.

Only by becoming the whitest himself could he have the chance to deal with all the true darkness.

Joni nodded as if she understood, and Cifer placed her in Akainu's arms.

So warm!

This was Joni's first impression. She had always felt that this uncle looked fierce, but his embrace was much warmer than Cifer's. Cifer looked gentle and polite, but his embrace was cold.

"Let's get this straight, I'm serious. I'm going to train you into the strongest Marine!"

Akainu's expression remained stern.

"Mhm!"

Thinking of the detestable appearance of the pirates who attacked that ship, Joni nodded fiercely. She wanted to become strong and capture all those bad guys!

After Joni confirmed she could stay, the worry in her heart finally subsided. She followed Hina around the warship, filled with curiosity about everything on her first sea voyage.

Jonathan continued to play chess with Wright, while Akainu and Cifer stood at the bow of the ship, talking for a long time.

As the saying goes, they became friends through fighting. After three days of intense battles, both of them had come to respect each other, chatting like old friends who had met after a long separation.

"It's about time I left!"

After another grand meal at G-8 Base, Cifer decided to set sail for Jaya. Joni was stunned upon hearing this, not expecting Cifer to leave so soon.

"Will we meet again, Cifer?"

"Of course!"

Looking at her hopeful eyes, Cifer tugged at the collar of his justice cape.

His original jacket, perhaps because it had followed him or for some other reason, could have been restored by his super regeneration.

However, in the fight a couple of days ago, Akainu had burned it to ashes, leaving nothing behind. It couldn't recover naturally, so he had to take one of Akainu's justice capes from his warship, as his red suit was too ugly.

Akainu initially had some reservations, but after thinking about it, Cifer's justice was not much different from his own. He decided to let him have it, treating it as if a thief had stolen it, as losing Marine justice capes wasn't an uncommon occurrence.

"How long do you plan on having a Marine Colonel follow you?!"

Akainu was naturally displeased with Cifer taking Hina away. A Marineford Colonel staying on a Shichibukai's ship, what kind of image was that!

Furthermore, Cifer wasn't even a Shichibukai yet. This was detrimental to the Navy's prestige!

Cifer covered his face. He knew this was Akainu's old habit acting up, always thinking about the Navy's prestige.

"Then how about dropping me off at Jaya?"

Cifer thought about it. After Jaya, their presence wouldn't be needed for the rest of the journey. He already had other people in mind.

"Once we reach Jaya, send someone to pick the two of them up. I have arrangements for the rest of the journey."

Hina felt a bit disappointed. She had originally thought they would part ways after he became a Shichibukai, but she didn't expect it to happen earlier because of Akainu.

She didn't show her emotions on her face. She knew very well that she was a Marine representing justice and could never truly become Cifer's companion.

Jaya wasn't far from Nabarro Fortress, about a three to four-day journey. Akainu didn't pursue the matter further, and they reached an agreement.

The Little Ul set sail.

"Brother Cifer, when we meet again, I will definitely become an excellent Marine!"

Joni, standing on the shore, had already changed into a brand-new little Marine uniform at the base, looking full of energy.

Akainu stood behind her with his hands in his pockets, silently watching the departing ship.

At this time, on an unknown island in the Grand Line.

"Where's my sister?! Where did my sister go!"

A boy, about twelve years old but nearly two meters tall, roared.

"I told you she was kidnapped! There was nothing we could do! Those were pirates!"

Seeing his parents' perfunctory attitude, his heart turned completely cold. Although they weren't always good to their younger sister, he never expected that even his sister's life meant so little to them.

"It's all my fault! If I hadn't been sick that day, my sister wouldn't have..."

A powerful aura erupted into the sky. The couple eating nearby crashed to the ground.