Navy Headquarters.
"Seriously, what on earth is the Government thinking?"
The man codenamed Ryokugyu lounged against a railing, watching the rows of Navy soldiers lined up in several long queues in the plaza below.
The World Government had suddenly notified the Navy to select an elite unit, with the specific requirement that no Devil Fruit users could be included.
However, it had not explained what this special unit would be used for.
Naturally, the Navy could not oppose the Government's decision, so it immediately began selecting personnel.
From Vice Admirals down to the lowest-ranking seamen, Navy Headquarters began a rigorous selection process.
It was only natural to be curious about it.
"Probably some secret operation they can't let anyone know about."
The man speaking to Ryokugyu looked utterly ordinary. He was fairly tall, but somewhat hunched over, and his face was nowhere close to handsome—if anything, it was rather ugly.
He wore a brown hat, with clothes and trousers of the same color. A cigarette hung from his mouth, wooden sandals on his feet, and his smile had a carefree air to it.
Hearing the man's words, Ryokugyu could not help but chuckle. "Hahaha, Brother Kaki, you can't just say things like that. If the people from the Government hear you, it could get troublesome."
"True enough, hahaha."
The man called Kaki scratched his head and said with a laugh, "Just pretend you didn't hear that—hmm?!"
Suddenly, his previously narrowed eyes flew wide open.
He spotted a familiar figure among the Navy soldiers lined up below!
"Gion!!"
Kaki burst into delighted laughter. "Oh! Gion is back too!"
"Hahahaha, Brother Kaki, are you going to confess again?" Ryokugyu roared with laughter. "No good, no good! A confession should be a victory anthem, not the horn sounding the charge."
"Hahaha, Gion is