Let Gion Receive Him

"Of course not!"

Hancock planted her hands on her hips and retorted confidently, "I'm so cute. I'll definitely grow into a peerless beauty someday, and when that happens, he'll be completely captivated by me!"

"Uh..."

Sandersonia and Marigold twitched their mouths.

Was their sister a little too confident?

On the third day.

Junichi bade farewell to Rayleigh and Shakuyaku, then set sail for Marineford.

Marineford was Marine Headquarters.

Therefore, Junichi could not enter immediately and had to register first on an island on the outskirts.

During the process.

Lei Zuo's letter of recommendation spared him many tedious procedures.

In less than half a day.

He was invited aboard a warship bound for Marineford.

At the same time.

Sengoku also received a report that Junichi Uchiha, carrying Lei Zuo's letter of recommendation, had boarded a warship headed for Marineford.

"Hmm..."

After pondering for a moment, he picked up a Den Den Mushi and made several calls.

Before long.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in," Sengoku said leisurely from his office chair.

"Excuse us."

The door opened, and a group of Headquarters commodores and rear admirals entered.

Every one of them was extremely young, with the oldest being under twenty-five.

They had all graduated from the Marine Headquarters Elite Training Camp, earning the rank of commodore upon graduation.

Of course.

Those with outstanding results remained as Headquarters commodores.

Those with average results were assigned to Grand Line branches as branch commodores.

But regardless.

They were certain to become rear admirals before the age of thirty, then be assigned to a branch to build up experience and become vice admirals before forty.

As for admirals, there were only three positions.

Thus, in general, most people could only rise as high as vice admiral.

For example, Garp, the Marine's legendary hero, still held the rank of vice admiral.

"Fleet Admiral, what did you call us here for?" a rear admiral asked.

"It's like this."

Sengoku cleared his throat and said slowly, "An exceptionally talented individual will soon be arriving by warship to join our Marines."

"To show how much we value him."

"I want you rising stars to represent us and welcome him."

As soon as he said this.

The young people present all looked surprised.

They were being asked, the Marine's rising generation, to personally welcome someone?

This person was clearly highly valued by the Fleet Admiral!

"Take a look at his basic information." Sengoku took out a stack of printed documents and handed them over.

The young people divided them among themselves and began reading.

Among them.

A black-haired woman in extremely short shorts, with a long sword bearing a white hilt at her waist, stared intently at the words on the document.

As though she had been startled.

The woman wore an incredulous expression.

"A fifteen-year-old great swordsman?" she could not help exclaiming.

The others reacted the same way.

They all voiced their astonishment.

"He tamed a Supreme Grade Blade-level cursed sword—Demon Eye?"

"And mastered two types of Haki?"

"Is that for real?"

"That's way too outrageous!"

Everyone looked up at the Fleet Admiral in shock, hoping for an explanation.

"The information is indeed rather exaggerated. I was also very surprised when I first saw it," Sengoku said softly. "But many pieces of corroborating evidence confirm its authenticity."

"Turn to the latter half."

"It records that he is close to Rayleigh and may have received instruction from Dracule Mihawk."

"At the same time, he single-handedly and without injury dealt with a pirate crew whose combined bounties totaled five hundred million."

Upon hearing that.

Everyone flipped to the later pages.

After reading the records, their expressions became even more astonished.

The Pirate King's right hand—Rayleigh?

The great swordsman—Hawk Eyes Mihawk?

This fifteen-year-old boy had actually earned the favor of those two influential figures?

Then the information was very likely true.

They trusted the judgment of great figures.

"Gion, I hope you can serve as the main representative and welcome this Junichi Uchiha." Sengoku's gaze fell upon the black-haired woman from earlier.

Everyone else turned their eyes toward her as well.

Gion looked calm, a faint smile on her lips. Her features were gentle and lovely, and she exuded the mature, tender aura of an older sister.

She was the most beautiful woman in Marine Headquarters.

No one was more suitable to serve as their representative.

"I have no problem with that." Gion smiled in reply. After reading the information, she had developed a keen interest in Junichi Uchiha.

She had already been planning to get to know him.

"Then Gion will take the lead, while the rest of you will be responsible for the honor guard. Make sure Junichi Uchiha feels the warmth of our Marines!" Sengoku decided.

"Yes!"

The others all nodded.

Ever since Roger had ushered in the Great Pirate Era, the Marines had been overwhelmed and suffered heavy casualties.

No one would oppose the arrival of a powerful comrade.

"That will be all. Meeting adjourned!" Sengoku said.

Everyone bowed, returned the documents, and left the office.

At noon.

In the Marine Headquarters cafeteria.

Gion ate absentmindedly, her mind filled with information about Junichi Uchiha.

A fifteen-year-old great swordsman!

That accomplishment could only be described as monstrous!

She was twenty-two now and had only just comprehended Cutting Steel, becoming a swordsman.

The path to becoming a great swordsman was still far beyond reach.

I really want to know how he trained, Gion thought curiously.

Around her.

Many male Marines were secretly stealing glances at Gion.

As the most beautiful woman of this generation at Headquarters, Gion drew attention wherever she went.

Nine out of every ten male Marines regarded her as a goddess.

The remaining one was gay.

"What is Miss Gion thinking about? She looks so absorbed..." Among them, a sleazy-looking man with the air of a middle-aged uncle was also sneaking glances at her.

"Stop staring, Kaji. Looking like that, Miss Gion will never be interested in you." His companion shook his head and sighed.

"Shut up!"

Kaji retorted indignantly, "My strength ranks among the best of the younger generation at Headquarters. I'm outstanding too, okay?"

"But your face..." His companion looked at him and sighed again. "They didn't even pick you for the honor guard."

"The honor guard?"

Kaji ignored his companion's attack on his looks. He had long since grown used to his ugly face.

"Oh, a genius is joining the Marines, and the Fleet Admiral asked us to form an honor guard to warmly welcome him."

His companion thought for a moment, then said:

"Gion has the best looks, so the Fleet Admiral personally named her as the representative to receive him."

"What!?" Kaji was stunned, then flew into a rage.

She was the goddess of his dreams.

And she was going to receive another man!

My heart is breaking!

"Hey, hey, isn't that a bit much?" His companion looked at him speechlessly. "It's just an ordinary reception. Why do you look like your dream has been shattered?"

"Besides, Miss Gion isn't interested in you."

"You and her aren't even friends."

Bang!

Kaji slapped the table, cutting off his companion.

He said bitterly, "Enough. I absolutely cannot stand by and watch Miss Gion throw herself into someone else's arms!"

"The Fleet Admiral personally appointed her as the representative, right?"

"I'm going to see the Fleet Admiral right now!"

With that, he stopped eating and headed straight out of the cafeteria toward the Fleet Admiral's office.

His companion watched Kaji leave with an expression that said, What exactly did you imagine?