Gion, It's You!

On the warship's deck, Gawain stepped out of the captain's cabin upon learning they were about to reach Marineford, looking somewhat surprised at the distant docks.

In the sea breeze, the hems of more than twenty coats fluttered relentlessly in the strong wind.

Beside him, Vice Admiral Doberman swallowed and smiled.

"Saint Gawain, it is only thanks to your honor that I have the chance to witness a scene like this.

More than eighteen vice admirals, an admiral, and the Fleet Admiral standing in formation to welcome you. It truly is spectacular!

I imagine Fleet Admiral Sengoku must have gathered every flag officer at Headquarters to put together such a welcome.

So... what do you think?"

"I am honored as well."

Gawain smiled, and his words made Doberman let out a breath of relief.

Just moments ago, Doberman had genuinely worried that Gawain would find the reception too sparse. Aside from those officers, there were no other Marines at the docks.

Now that Gawain had raised no objection, he could finally relax.

Accompanied by the roar of the whistle, the warship gradually slowed and then pulled alongside the dock.

Once the Marines handling the mooring lines had thrown them to the shore bollards and firmly secured the warship—

A gangway leading to the dock was opened along one side of the deck.

Gawain looked around, then naturally became the first to walk out. Doberman followed behind him, bearing the pressure as he went ashore alongside him.

As for the other Marines and Lieutenant Colonel Tiago, they had no intention of leaving the ship at all.

Seeing Gawain step onto the dock, Fleet Admiral Sengoku gently adjusted his Marine cap. As he slightly turned it, the afro pressed beneath it rebelliously sprang back up.

Ignoring his hair's feelings, Sengoku finished straightening his cap, stepped forward twice, and gave a slight bow from roughly twenty meters away.

After bowing, Sengoku straightened up. Kizaru, wearing the grin of a lecher, then led the other vice admirals in giving Gawain a slight bow as well.

Gawain could see that few of the bowing vice admirals looked respectful. Besides the veiled helplessness in some of their eyes, several of them were plainly scrutinizing him with dissatisfaction.

Gawain did not care about their dissatisfaction in the slightest. He knew the vice admirals were dissatisfied not with him, but with the Celestial Dragons behind him.

He himself was deeply dissatisfied with that group made up of countless Charloses. How could he blame ordinary vice admirals who felt the same way?

After ignoring a few of those looks, Gawain moved his lips and gave everyone an exceptionally gentle, friendly smile.

In that instant, the expressions in many vice admirals' eyes changed.

When had they ever seen such a gentle smile on a Celestial Dragon's face?

How could they know how long Gawain had worked in the past to attain the perfect smile he now wore?

With just one smile, hadn't those proud and unruly vice admirals already begun to see Gawain differently?

But a smile alone was not enough. Words were Gawain's tool as well.

Still smiling, Gawain waved a hand and said,

"Sorry to have kept you all waiting here."

As his words fell, a trace of apology appeared in Gawain's smile. Then he said softly to Sengoku,

"You are Fleet Admiral Sengoku, correct? This is my fault.

I should have told you not to go out of your way to welcome me.

Having all of you officers waste your time on me—wouldn't that merely allow the pirates to continue running rampant during this time?"

The moment he finished speaking, every Marine present, including Sengoku, involuntarily widened their eyes.

Veteran actors with deep schemes like Sengoku were one thing, but vice admirals with more straightforward personalities, like Onigumo, immediately changed their attitudes toward Gawain.

After Onigumo shifted the cigar in his mouth in surprise, he promptly picked up where Gawain had left off.

"You are absolutely right, Saint Gawain. You truly understand us!

If Admiral Sakazuki hadn't put to sea, then after hearing what you just said, he would probably consider you a lifelong friend! Hahahaha!"

Amid his laughter, Onigumo no longer showed even the slightest arrogance. The way he looked at Gawain was filled with friendliness.

As for Gawain, seeing Onigumo's attitude, he understood.

This Onigumo had to be one of Akainu's men, a backbone of the Navy's hawkish faction!

Suppressing his thoughts, Gawain said to Onigumo,

"Sakazuki? What a pity he isn't here. By the way, what is your name?"

"Saint Gawain, Admiral Sakazuki put to sea two days ago. By regulation, he has to inspect Impel Down.

But although Sakazuki is absent, Admiral Borsalino is still here and ready to act at any time. As for me, I am Onigumo."

Vice Admiral Onigumo introduced himself to Gawain with a cheerful smile.

Hearing Onigumo's words, Gawain nodded and looked back at Sengoku.

Noticing Gawain's gaze, Sengoku immediately stepped forward and said softly to Gawain,

"Saint Gawain, the wind is strong at the docks. If you do not mind, why not come to my office so we can discuss this in detail?

I am very curious about why you have come to Marineford."

"There is no need. That would take too much time. Since everyone is here, I will briefly explain why I have come.

For certain special reasons, it is temporarily unsuitable for me to remain in Mary Geoise. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, I will travel the seas beyond the Holy Land."

At this point, Gawain gently shook his head.

"But this is my first time leaving Mary Geoise, and I am deeply afraid of the sea.

From the newspapers, I can see that pirates are expanding more and more, and their brazen conduct leaves me deeply concerned for my safety.

For the sake of my future safety, I came specifically to Marineford in hopes of finding one or two sufficiently capable officers to serve as my personal guards for the time being.

What do you all think?"

As his words fell, Gawain swept his gaze around. Every vice admiral who met his eyes could not help shrinking back slightly.

The vice admirals had merely begun to see Gawain differently. After only a few words, they were nowhere near willing to volunteer themselves.

Sengoku, beside him, wanted to say something, but Gawain gave him no chance. After looking everyone over, Gawain immediately continued.

"Sigh, although the Five Elders have assigned several Army units to protect me, the Army is far less reassuring to me than having Marines like all of you around.

What do you think?"

With that, Gawain smiled slightly and looked again at the many vice admirals.

This time was different from before. In just a few moments, several vice admirals, including Onigumo, were already eager to make a move!

Onigumo himself could not help taking a step forward.

"Saint Gawain, you are right. The Army, which has been stationed at Mary Geoise and the Red Line for years, has experienced far less warfare than we Marines have!"

"Indeed. When it comes to carrying out justice, they are far inferior to us!"

Beside Onigumo, a vice admiral wearing a metal helmet and carrying a full eight long swords on his back could not help chiming in.

After the two voiced their positions, Sengoku looked deeply at Gawain while extending his right hand toward his subordinates.

"Saint Gawain,"

Sengoku said.

"The Navy would naturally be willing to take on the task of protecting you. Whatever the Army can do, the Navy can do better!"

As he spoke, Sengoku felt helpless. As Fleet Admiral, even if he did not want to, he could not pass up the chance to compare the Navy to the Army in front of his subordinates.

It was just that Sengoku did not know whether Gawain had said this by chance, or whether he had planned all along to use the Army to stir up his Navy vice admirals' enthusiasm.

Even as he thought, Sengoku did not stop speaking. He continued,

"As long as it does not affect the Navy's vital anti-pirate strategy, everyone in the Navy is available for Saint Gawain to choose from!"

Beside him, as soon as Sengoku finished speaking, hawkish vice admirals such as Onigumo and Onigumo immediately took a step forward.

But Gawain did not look at them.

He merely asked softly,

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you mean... anyone?"

"Of course!" Sengoku nodded decisively.

Gawain smiled in satisfaction and walked over to Sengoku.

"Does this 'anyone' include you? You are the Fleet Admiral. With your protection, I would never need to worry about my safety again, would I?"

"Uh..." Sengoku froze. "Saint Gawain, do not forget the condition I mentioned. I must take responsibility for the Navy's overall strategy, so I truly cannot undertake guard duty."

"I understand. Then... what about Admiral Borsalino? Would you like to take a stroll across the seas with me?"

Gawain looked at Borsalino.

Meeting Gawain's gaze, Kizaru tilted his head and gave a lecherous smile.

"I would very much like to accompany you on a trip, you know. That would count as paid vacation, wouldn't it?

But unfortunately, I am responsible for coordinating with Vegapunk. That is an order from the Five Elders. What a missed opportunity!"

"All right, then I will settle for the next best thing. I have heard that the Navy has a legendary hero, Monkey D. Garp. What do you think..."

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Sengoku nearly coughed his lungs out. He hurriedly explained in displeasure,

"Saint Gawain, Vice Admiral Garp is carrying out a secret mission in the East Blue. Even if he rushed back immediately, it would take at least a month and a half. I am afraid you cannot wait that long!"

"Oh?"

After hearing Sengoku's words, Gawain nodded, then pointed toward the most strikingly beautiful figure in the crowd.

"Then what about her?"

"Huh?!"

The vice admiral Gawain had called out froze. She raised a hand and pointed at herself in disbelief.

"You mean... me?"

"Yes. What is your name?"

"I am Gion. Greetings, Saint Gawain.

I currently serve in the Marine Headquarters Staff Office, so I truly cannot take on the task of protecting you..."

"Stop."

Gawain raised a hand and interrupted Gion.

"I have decided. It's you, Gion!"