Tonight, the Moon Is Beautiful

Seeing Gion agree so readily, Gawain smiled in satisfaction. His choice had indeed been the right one.

Both were Admiral candidates, but someone like Chaton—sleazy like Borsalino, lazy like Kuzan, yet less obedient than Sakazuki—would never have been as easily moved as Gion.

But moved or not, it did not change the fact that the moon already hung high in the sky. After one last look at the moonlight, Gawain snapped his fingers.

Snap!

At the crisp sound, Gion looked at Gawain in confusion. In her eyes, Gawain spoke with utmost gentleness.

"Let's call it a day. First, I caused you trouble in Marineford, then I dragged you out to drink quite a bit.

"It's late. You should rest."

For a moment, Gion froze. Never in her life had a man urged her to rest!

Lowering her head slightly until her chin nearly touched her chest, Gion softly murmured in agreement.

"Mm. Please choose your bedroom, Saint Gawain. I will find a place to rest closest to you and keep watch over your safety with Observation Haki at all times."

"Haha, no need. This is the Sabaody Archipelago. Not even the Four Emperors would attack a Celestial Dragon here.

"Since you've come to Sabaody, just get some proper rest."

Gawain waved with a smile, then circled around the banquet hall through the courtyard and headed toward the distant treehouse under the servants' guidance.

Gion followed behind him, earnestly reminding him as they walked.

"My lord, you must not think that way. Whether it is the three... no, the Four Emperors, or any other ambitious figure.

"They are indeed unlikely to deliberately harm a Celestial Dragon.

"But not needing to worry about important figures does not mean there are no insignificant people willing to take desperate risks.

"There are so many Devil Fruits. No one can be sure that some Devil Fruit suited for assassination has not fallen into the hands of some minor figure who does not understand the identity or significance of Celestial Dragons.

"In short, my lord, you can rest easy, but that is because you have me—not because you believe the surroundings are especially safe!"

At that point, Gion's tone grew somewhat heavier.

"My lord!"

she emphasized sternly.

"Please remember this well: there is no truly safe place anywhere on these seas. Even with me, do not underestimate the people of the world!"

Hearing Gion's words, Gawain suddenly stopped. Gion did not fall into the clichéd scene of absentmindedly bumping into him. Having turned Observation Haki into an instinct, she stopped in sync with Gawain.

Gawain turned around and looked seriously into Gion's eyes.

As their gazes met, Gawain's eyes softened.

"I didn't expect you to tell me that. I can feel your recognition of me, Gion."

After speaking, Gawain took a deep breath, then turned around and started walking again.

As he walked, he continued.

"What you said really did remind me of something. Not everyone knows me, not everyone knows I am a Celestial Dragon, and not everyone understands the status of Celestial Dragons.

"Likewise, not everyone is incapable of threatening me.

"King Yemma is easy to pass, but little devils are hard to deal with. Fortunately, I have you by my side.

"That kick you gave the table earlier was pretty good."

"Wuh~?!"

This time, Gion's face truly turned a little red. She had thought Gawain had not noticed.

And Gawain—

after speaking, he happened to walk into his room, disappearing from Gion's sight.

Once Gawain was out of sight, Gion took a deep breath. She believed in her judgment more and more.

The lord she now followed was definitely the most unique person in the world. There could never be another!

While sighing to herself, Gion leaned sideways against the windowsill and sat down.

She rested against the window and looked up at the sky.

"Heh... the moon is beautiful tonight~"

Mary Geoise, within Pangea Castle, inside Shalria's castle.

Shalria was continuously berating her slaves.

"Not this one. This one is far too crude!!

"Change it. That one will do. Gawain should like a cleaner mount like this.

"What is his name? The Red Sea Overlord? And there's even a Red Sea?

"A bounty of 540 million, with a little reputation in the New World?

"He'll do!"

Shalria briskly grabbed the shackles, mounted her slave, and led the Red Sea Overlord, whose bounty exceeded 500 million, out of her castle.

With a group of servants in tow, Shalria swiftly made her way through the streets and arrived at Gawain's residence.

Outside the Gawain Family estate, Winslet, captain of the Army's personal guard, stood watch with a resolute expression and an earnest posture.

One second, he was an unyielding Army guard; the next, as Shalria approached—

Thud!

Winslet dropped sharply to one knee.

"Greetings, Shalria. Are you looking for Lord Gawain?"

"Stop wasting words and move aside. Is Gawain awake? Did I come too early?"

"Wait, Shalria. Saint Gawain is not at the estate. He left Mary Geoise with Saint Mjosgard yesterday afternoon!"

"What?!!"

Shalria had been about to climb down from her slave mount's back, but Winslet's words left her unable to move at all.

After sitting back down on the slave's back, Shalria muttered blankly to herself.

"It must have been Mjosgard's doing. He wants revenge on me, so he took my Gawain away!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shalria turned around and drove her slave into a swift crawl.

Under her constant urging, she soon arrived before the Bubble Gondola.

Just as she was about to board it, several Cipher Pol agents suddenly approached from the side.

They called out to Shalria from afar.

"Please wait, Shalria!"

"Get lost!"

Shalria ignored them and charged straight into the Bubble Gondola. Seeing that shouting was useless, the Cipher Pol agents exchanged glances, and their captain continued calling out.

"Shalria, what we need to discuss concerns Saint Gawain!"

"Damn it, get into the Bubble Gondola already. I'll reluctantly allow you lowlifes to ride in the same gondola as me!"

Only moments later, the Bubble Gondola's doors opened again, and the Cipher Pol agents followed her inside with visible relief.

When they saw Shalria sitting atop the exquisitely crafted sofa inside the gondola, the lead Cipher Pol agent knelt on one knee and spoke softly.

"Shalria, before Saint Gawain left, he did not leave behind his Vivre Card. That is precisely why we are leaving Mary Geoise.

"We hope you will temporarily permit us to serve as your guards. That way, we can meet Saint Gawain with you instead of repeatedly disturbing him."

"Gawain actually forgot to leave his Vivre Card. That is truly dangerous. Fine, stay with my slaves for now!

"I really can't be bothered with you, but as the future mistress of the Gawain Family, I cannot let you affect Gawain's mood. When I see him later, I'll tell him about the Vivre Card for you. Hmph!"

Shalria turned away disdainfully and ignored the Cipher Pol agents from then on, closing her eyes and recalling Gawain's every smile and expression.

Grove 72, Sabaody. Feeling the sunlight on his face, Gawain happily climbed out of bed.

Ring~~~!

As he rose, a pleasant bell rang in the distance, while several rows of footsteps sounded outside Gawain's door.

Outside, Gion, who had been resting with her eyes closed on the windowsill, gripped her sword. Looking at the more than twenty maids gathered at the door, she could not help rolling her eyes.

Only at times like this did the lord show a little of what a Celestial Dragon should be like!

The door opened, and the maids filed in. Then the door closed again.

Outside, Gion kept releasing Observation Haki and vigilantly monitoring everything, her face turning red.

Ahem. It was all for the lord's safety. It was only for the lord's safety!

After waiting with a flushed face for several minutes, Gawain left the bedroom to the maids and came out alone, fully dressed.

The moment he stepped outside and saw Gion, Gawain was genuinely taken aback.

"You... woke up early?"

"My lord, I do not require much sleep. There is only me by your side, so naturally I must remain sufficiently vigilant."

"So you stayed outside my door all night?"

"It is my duty!"

Gion's voice was full of pride. Whether in the Navy or anywhere else, Gion believed she was absolutely the most qualified one.

As for Gawain, after hearing Gion's answer, he fell silent for a moment.

Then, after giving it some thought, he spoke.

"From now on, I'll only sleep in bedrooms with an adjoining room. There will be a bed for you in there, along with any dolls you like, if you like dolls."

"Wuh~?!!"

Gion was stunned. Was that really something a lord would say to her?

Did she like dolls? Those people in the Navy whom she had beaten from lieutenant officers all the way up to Admiral candidates had never dared chat with her about such nonsense!

"My lord, you must be joking. How could I like dolls? My sword is enough for me!"

Gion patted the hilt of Kompira somewhat nervously. For some reason, she felt that the hilt was a little uncomfortable in her hand today.

Beside her, Gawain chuckled softly after teasing her, then walked past Gion toward the treehouse exit.

As he walked, he spoke to the Gion following behind him.

"Let's take a simple stroll. First, we'll try some Sabaody specialty snacks, then we'll sit down at an interesting tavern.

"Gion, have you ever been taken for a ride?"