Huff... Huff...
With its enormous wings flapping, it manipulated the surrounding air currents, riding the vortex as it flew high in the sky, looking down at Marineford on the ground.
"Is this the general plan of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters? It's very orderly and meticulous, but I wonder if it will be able to completely defend against Whitebeard's full-force attack fueled by rage..."
High in the air, taking in the entire scene below, he recalled the story where Whitebeard, grieving the loss of Ace, unleashed his fury and sank Marine Headquarters Marineford, the so-called Iron Fortress, with a few punches from him. This huge contrast left him speechless, yet also Whitebeard's true strength.
"High-altitude flight is not permitted here. Please land immediately, or our navy might shoot you down as an enemy..."
Just as he was feeling sentimental, a pleasant female voice suddenly spoke to him.
"Hmm... this is... it's her. Sengoku was right, has she been transferred back too?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen was immediately taken aback and turned around to look in the direction of the voice. He saw a tall, graceful woman with a charming figure standing on the roof of a high-rise building not far to his left, smiling as she looked at him.
Luo Chen paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and then flapped his wings and flew towards her.
Huff... Huff...
clatter!!
"It's an honor to see you here, Gion Vice Admiral. Did you also rush back after completing your mission?"
Luo Chen landed not far in front of her, scanned her entire body, and then looked away and asked.
"Hehehe... What, can't I come back? This place is my second home, after all. To prepare for the Whitebeard incident, headquarters has ordered all powerful officers stationed overseas to return, and I'm no exception!!"
But what's wrong with you? Are you just bored and want to wander around the airspace above headquarters? That won't do. Our navy will treat you as a suspicious person, consider you an intruder, and shoot you down. It's best not to wander around aimlessly; it'll be better for both of us!
Although this was only their second meeting, and their last encounter was as enemies, Gion spoke to him now as if they were longtime friends.
"Really? Well, thank you for reminding me. As one of the Navy's prospective Admiral, to be so humble and concerned for a lowly pirate like me is truly an honor!"
Luo Chen replied in a tone that suggested they were old friends.
"Hehehe... Small pirates? If a pirate crew that even the World Government and Marine Headquarters find so troublesome is considered a small gang, then no one in the world dares to call themselves a big gang!!"
To be honest, I originally planned to go back to my place to rest, but I ran into that idiot and it ruined my mood, so I decided to come out for a walk. I didn't expect to bump into you here, and it just so happens that I have something I wanted to ask you...
Gion smoothed the stray strands of hair from her head and spoke to him softly.
"Oh, so there's someone else who can make you, a substitute Admiral, feel bad. Let me guess, is it another substitute Admiral, Chaton? Rumor has it he's quite fond of you, and I've also heard about your rejected marriage proposal."
And you said you wanted to ask me other things, could it be about Catherine?!
Luo Chen nodded and then spoke to her.
"Heh, it seems that guy's affair has really become common knowledge. Although it doesn't really concern me—at most, I just have to refuse his request—I still feel ashamed for him."
"Alright, let's not talk about that idiot anymore. You're right, I did want to ask how Catherine is doing lately, whether she's been doing better since leaving here, and whether any of you companions have been bullying her. Please think carefully before you tell me..."
Afterwards, Gion's expression turned serious. She took a few steps closer to him, almost pressing her face against his, and questioned him.
"Yes, you're getting too close, Miss Gion. Don't worry, Catherine is doing very well here, much better than here in your navy. There won't be any more strenuous work or anyone coercing her. We treat her as our best comrade. How could the situation you described possibly happen?"
Seeing that Gion's body was so close that it was almost touching her, Luo Chen couldn't help but remind her. Then he walked to the corner of the eaves, sat down in a clean spot, and said to her.
Tap... Tap...
After seeing Luo Chen find a seat, Gion followed and sat down beside him, her beautiful eyes looking at him, and her red lips parted slightly.
"Really? I could tell from your expression that she's doing well. Now that you've said that, I'm completely relieved."
That's right. Someone like her shouldn't be in the navy, a place where she has no control over her own destiny. Although it seems incredibly glamorous to outsiders, everyone knows that the navy is merely the face of the government, and we have no say in many things. Her strong sense of right and wrong, and her hatred of evil, shouldn't be here. It's her good fortune to be with a captain like you.
I hope you can treat her well. Ever since her brother, the man the Navy Headquarters considered a next-generation Supernovas, passed away, that child has become even more withdrawn. If it weren't for me, her older sister who grew up with her, perhaps no one could have entered her closed-off heart. But now, from your words, I understand that she's doing well and I no longer need to worry about her. That's good.
Although you have accepted the invitation to become Shichibukai, our positions remain unchanged. We will still be enemies when we meet again. So please tell her that we will be enemies when we meet again, and that I will do my best to capture her. I hope she will not hesitate to attack me with all her might.
Alright, that's enough for now. We've been out for a while, it's time to go. You should head back too, don't wander around here aimlessly. The other marines won't be so lenient with me. See you later!
Gion spoke, Luo Chen listened silently to her words. After she had poured out all the things she wanted to say to him, she stood up again, looked at the distant sea and watched the sunset slowly sink into the sea. Then she calmly said to him, and then leaped into the air, using Geppo to walk on the air and gradually disappear from his sight.
"Is this what you really think? I'll tell Catherine. As a reserve Admiral, I'm also very much looking forward to our reunion. After this war, it will be our real showdown, and I hope you won't hold back then... Hehehehe."
As Luo Chen watched Gion's figure slowly disappear from his sight, he stood up and murmured to himself, gazing at the now deserted scene.
Having said that, he turned and headed towards his private room, which the headquarters had assigned to Shichibukai. After talking with Momousagi, he had no further intention of sightseeing. Now he needed to go back and conserve his energy so that he could unleash his full power when Whitebeard appeared in a day and a half.