I Want Her

Gion followed the group of Marines forward, her mind somewhat absent, her dark eyes filled with a sense of bewilderment.

Ever since learning the "truth" about Darren's governance of the North Blue from Momonga, she felt as though the prosperity and bustle before her eyes were nothing more than a dream.

In a trance, she suddenly recalled a conversation Admiral Sengoku and Sister Tsuru had once had with her.

"Gion, although we as Marines shoulder the burden of justice, sometimes justice is quite powerless on this vast sea."

"But why? Are we not the most powerful military organization in the world?"

"That is true, but this sea is too vast. The light of the Justice Seagull Flag cannot shine into every dark, filthy, and gloomy corner."

"You may not understand this principle now; that is a stroke of luck, but it is also a misfortune."

Gion became despondent, and Gion's partner beside her also looked listless, even forgetting to show concern for the civilians.

Soon, they arrived in front of a magnificent mansion.

The mansion was clearly newly constructed, with blue roofs, white walls, and exquisite flower beds arranged throughout.

Outside the courtyard, a security line had already been set up by poorly equipped militia, numbering about a hundred men.

"Damn trash!! You can't even handle such a small task!!"

They heard a violent, angry roar erupt from within the mansion, accompanied by the sound of things being smashed.

Soon, they saw the trembling militiamen from the front row kneeling on the ground one after another, their faces turning deathly pale.

As a figure wearing white silk robes and a glass bubble over his head walked out of the mansion, acting imperiously, the wave of kneeling spread outward like ripples.

Saint Childers was furious.

He never expected that this excursion, which he had embarked upon with such high spirits, would lead to an encounter with that madman, Byrnndi World.

What shocked him even more was that a mere commoner would dare to attack a World Government official ship, to attack his own flagship!

Most of the CP members accompanying him had died in that terrifying, apocalyptic disaster, and then the arrival of a sea storm had washed him onto this island.

This was the most wretched moment since his birth.

"Damn it all..."

The golden-haired Saint Childers gnashed his teeth in rage.

He glanced at the two CP members in black suits behind him.

These were his last two guards.

"Get lost! Don't block my path!!"

In a foul mood, he kicked the militiaman kneeling in front of him, then looked up to see a Marine in a snow-white cape walking toward him.

"Lord Saint Childers, I am Momonga, Vice Base Commander of North Blue Branch 321. I have come under the orders of Marine Headquarters to ensure your personal safety."

Momonga walked over, raised his hand in a military salute, and spoke with an expressionless face.

Saint Childers glanced at him sideways, his attitude incredibly arrogant, and sneered with disdain:

"Oh, my obedient little Marine puppy has arrived."

"Why is it only a Vice Base Commander? Where is your boss?"

Momonga clenched his fists, then quickly relaxed them, saying in a deep voice:

"The Base Commander is currently handing over security duties with the city government. From now on, your safety will be the responsibility of our North Blue Marines until the CP department's official ship arrives."

"Tch... I wasn't counting on a bunch of useless sacks of meat like you, only fit for guarding houses, to protect me. Fine, whatever, the CP department will be here in an hour or two anyway, so you'll have to do."

Saint Childers said carelessly, not caring at all about Momonga's ugly expression, and turned his gaze elsewhere.

Upon seeing Gion, his eyes suddenly lit up.

The greed and lewdness in his gaze made Gion frown, feeling completely uncomfortable, and she instinctively took a step back.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect there to be such a beauty among the Marines..."

Saint Childers looked Gion up and down, his eyes filled with aggression, clicking his tongue in admiration.

Momonga's expression shifted slightly.

Gion's partner's pupils constricted, and he couldn't help but take a step forward.

They had heard of the vile habits of the Celestial Dragons; if he really set his sights on Gion...

"It's just a pity you're too old... If you were just a little younger, I would have taken a liking to you and made you my eighteenth wife! Hahahaha!!"

Saint Childers leered at Gion, twitching his eyebrows and grinning obscenely.

"Let's go, let's go out for a stroll and find some fun. Being stuck in this dump for the past few days has bored me to death."

Under the grim expressions of the Marines, Saint Childers swaggered out of the mansion.

"That damn bastard... to think he would dare to set his sights on you!"

Gion's partner whispered indignantly:

"I am the only one qualified to be your husband!"

Gion rolled her eyes and released her grip on the hilt of her blade, though she felt an inexplicable sense of relief in her heart.

The Celestial Dragons, the nobility of the World Government, possessed supreme authority; if she were truly targeted by one, it would likely bring a great deal of trouble and pressure upon Sister Tsuru and the others.

"Let's go..."

At this moment, Momonga spoke with a grim expression.

"Major Gion, stay further away from him."

Gion nodded, hoping only that no further complications would arise.

And so, the group led the Marine soldiers in quick pursuit of the Celestial Dragon.

The massive procession, headed by Saint Childers, walked down the main commercial street of Batia Island.

Wherever they passed, the once-bustling street fell into instant, deathly silence.

Civilians knelt in droves, spreading out like waves, their faces filled with terror, not daring to draw near.

The World Government had ruled this world as a behemoth for eight hundred years; facing the "gods" who held the greatest power in the world, the hearts of the common people were filled with a profound sense of awe and fear.

But just then, A childish voice suddenly rang out, sounding jarringly sharp in the deathly silent street where one could hear a pin drop.

Gion's expression changed drastically.

Gion's partner and Momonga's pupils constricted.

They stared ahead, their bodies trembling involuntarily.

A little girl with black hair, wearing a floral dress, carried a large bouquet of flowers on her back.

Her face was beaming with a sweet smile as she looked innocently at the man in the glass bubble before her, her small, delicate hand held high, offering a vibrant rose.

"Mister, would you like to buy a flower?"

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Under the desperate gazes of Gion and the others, They watched as that ugly, pockmarked face of Saint Childers gradually began to contort into a flush of excited, crimson delight.

His eyes were suffused with intense greed and possessiveness.

That twisted obsession carried an indescribable sense of agitation.

It was as if a mischievous child had just discovered a fun new toy.

Gion and Gion's partner tensed up instantly, gritting their teeth.

Because they saw that ugly Celestial Dragon slowly extend a greasy finger, adorned with gem-encrusted rings, to point at the innocent little girl before him, grinning hideously:

"I want her!!"