"How could that possibly be a gift, waaaaaah~~~!!!"
The moment Jinbe finished speaking, the shocked little Shirahoshi immediately let out a five-note trembling wail.
Crying, Shirahoshi timidly looked toward Gion.
"Sister Rabbit, did I ruin your mood, sob..."
"No! The one who ruined our mood was Vander Decken IX. What does that have to do with you?!"
As Gion wrapped an arm around Shirahoshi, she indignantly spoke to Gawain.
"My lord, Vander Decken IX has gone too far. Shirahoshi is only an eleven-year-old child. How could he bring himself to do this?!
Now that Jinbe is protecting you, my lord, please grant me some time. It is time for me to do what a Marine should do!
I'm going to hunt down that bastard!"
"Heh."
Faced with Gion's request, Gawain smiled and shook his head.
"Don't be rash, Gion. Have you forgotten what Neptune said?
For five consecutive years, the Fish-Men of an entire nation have been unable to find Vander Decken, who is hiding in the depths of the sea.
Do you think you know these waters better than the Fish-Men do?!"
"But..."
Gion felt somewhat dejected. During their exchange over the past hour or so, she had genuinely come to like Shirahoshi, this pure, childlike girl who was like a blank sheet of paper.
Watching such a girl constantly threatened by weapons flying in from nowhere, Gion truly could not bear it.
As for Gawain...
After thinking for a moment, he turned to look at Dabai, who was curled up beside Gion.
Facing Shirahoshi's enormous eyes, from which giant teardrops continuously fell, Gawain hesitantly said to her.
"I already felt that merely giving you a few paintings as gifts was a little too insignificant. So, would you like me to make it up to you with a few