On the shattered reef.
Magnus and Rona sat facing each other, only a few meters apart.
"I didn't expect you to really dare come alone."
"Why wouldn't I?"
Compared to when she faced the Marines and pirates, Rona was clearly far more uninhibited when it was just the two of them. She even stretched lazily, as though she was not afraid Magnus might suddenly attack her at all.
"Though you're a pirate, your bottom line is higher than that of quite a few Marines. Besides, you're not much stronger than me. Attacking out of nowhere would do nothing but anger us, with no benefit whatsoever."
"Come to think of it."
"This is the first time we've talked face-to-face like this without fighting, isn't it?"
Rona looked at Magnus, her gaze somewhat unfocused.
She had originally thought that if she ever spoke with Magnus like this, it would surely be inside Impel Down, after she had personally thrown him into its great prison.
Yet she had never expected Magnus to force the entire Marine force to bow their heads through sheer strength.
Magnus smiled at Rona's words as well.
"Yeah. Who would've thought that little girl from back then would grow up? You're practically an old lady now."
Crack!
The moment Magnus finished speaking, he felt the atmosphere around them change. A wave of killing intent surged toward him, making him suspect that Rona might disregard her status as a Fleet Admiral and tear all pretense apart with him the next second.
"Just kidding, just kidding."
Magnus hurriedly waved his hands. He did not actually dislike Rona, just as he genuinely admired Kong. He had always respected Marines who faithfully performed their duties and never oppressed ordinary people.
"You can't just make jokes like that around women."
Women.
Magnus thought about