Vic thought for a moment, then gestured to Gion, wanting her to see if fate would choose her.
Gion Kompira had been sheathed, and Rebecca had lowered her guard, while Wendy curiously examined the stone box on the table.
Gion glanced at Vic's messy hair, but instead of grabbing it directly, she covered her entire body with Armament Haki and then picked up the Divine Staff.
The instant she picked it up, Void Thunder and struck Gion directly. She quickly put the Divine Staff back into the box.
There's no need to look anymore; she doesn't represent fate.
Vic laughed beside him; the results were all pretty much the same, and he was quite satisfied.
Vic didn't let Rebecca and Wendy try; neither of them Armament Haki yet, and they would be injured if they couldn't withstand the attack. Besides, the two of them didn't seem like people destined for greatness.
"Look, it seems like we have no chance of succeeding. What do you think we should do?" Vic said helplessly, shrugging at the fat tycoon.
"You can take the Staff of God with you. Do what you want with it. You're the Navy, you'll find a way."
"I can't keep it any longer. I feel it will absolutely bring me destruction. Please take it away!" the fat tycoon said earnestly to Vic.
Vic had the same idea, but he didn't want to force things. Now that he's willingly letting go, it's the best outcome.
Vic always felt that he had a connection with this thing, even though he was also struck twice, he felt that this thing was inexplicable.
Moreover, he felt that the power of the Divine Staff was definitely more than that, but he would need to figure out how to fully control it in the future.
"Alright, I've made the decision. We'll take this. Since you've already taken the Divine Staff as a prize, I'll accept it without hesitation. The rest is none of your business."
Vic replied directly to the fat tycoon, who was relieved and let go of his long-held obsession.
Vic used Life Return to restore himself to his original form, picked up the stone box, and tucked it into his clothes.
He was already prepared to keep it all for himself. This was a mysterious item that didn't even appear in the original story, and it was related to thunder. He wanted to understand its secrets.
Vic stood up, looked around the reception room, and sighed, "They've really been ruined."
"This room can be renovated; it'll be safe from lightning strikes now! Haha! We're leaving."
Vic said to the fat tycoon, then gestured for the three women to leave. The matter was over, and there was no need to stay any longer; the warships might have already resupplyed.
The fat tycoon didn't move, still sitting on the sofa in a daze, and Vic ignored him.
Vic felt that the trip was worthwhile; he had a great meal and even got a treasure, so it was definitely worth the trip.
Gion followed behind, pouting, clearly unhappy that Vic had embezzled the food.
However, as mentioned before, the Divine Staff was a prize, and Vic was the ultimate winner.
Therefore, it's understandable that this item became Vic's personal property, as long as it doesn't harm the Navy's interests.
When Vic arrived in town, Barnett and his group had almost sold out of their goods. Vic told him not to bother and to just deliver them directly to the richest man's villa.
Barnett said there were strange beasts at the villa, right? Vic said that's where he came from; the beast tried to bite him, but he killed it, so now he can go there without worry.
Then Barnett, along with a few others, took all the remaining goods to the villa.
Before long, they returned looking relaxed, clearly having taken care of everything.
" Barnett, we're heading back to the warship now. I'm worried some fools might sabotage our ship. You guys continue shopping, don't worry about us!"
Vic called out to Barnett, and the three women, trying to suppress their laughter, left.
Barnett watched their retreating figures and curled his lip. What a nice excuse. Watching the boat, huh? Tired of playing, going back to rest, huh? A perfectly respectable reason.
However, seeing how free and easy Vic was, he felt that his chances of getting on his ship were greater; Vic was someone who didn't like to meddle.
On the way back to the warship, Gion asked Vic, " Vic, what are you going to do with that Divine Staff?"
"Of course I'll keep it for myself! I feel a special connection with this Divine Staff; it's bound to come in handy."
Don't overthink it. Keep this a secret for me and don't report it. Otherwise, that fat boss might be in mortal danger.
"He trusts us so much, you don't want that fat boss to get arrested, do you?" Vic said to Gion, trying to provoke her.
"Of course not, do you think I'm that kind of person? I'll keep it a secret, and I'll forget about it today, hmph!"
Gion immediately gave his assurance.
Gion is just a young woman in her early twenties, not yet the Admiral candidate she would become, and she doesn't want to leave a bad impression on Vic right now.
"Okay, that's good. Rebecca, Wendy, I obtained this Divine Staff by accident. It has nothing to do with this island. Remember that, don't let it bring disaster to the island!" Vic warned Rebecca and Wendy again.
"Okay, we understand!" the two women said in unison.
The group didn't discuss the Divine Staff any further and returned to the warship. Once back on board, they found everything was normal and nothing unusual had happened.
Vic didn't sense anything unusual anymore; the feeling he had when he arrived had disappeared.
It was an hour later when Barnett and his team returned from purchasing supplies.
Everyone carried large and small bags. After buying the goods, the warship set sail immediately, heading at full speed towards Peace Island.
A day later, Vic and Gion fought again.
Two hours later, the battle ended. Vic was still Gion match for Vic and was completely overwhelmed by Vic!
Vic's stamina was too great, his speed was too fast, and his entire body was covered in Armament Haki, making him both black and hard. Gion simply couldn't handle him.
Gion leaned against the edge of the boat, panting slightly, her face flushed, and she gritted her teeth as she watched Vic's retreating figure.
Vic maintained his domineering Haki. He didn't immediately sit cross-legged, but stayed by Gion's side, gazing absently at the horizon where the sea met the sky.
" Rear Admiral Gion, if one day the World Government decides to abolish the Navy, what would you do?"
Vic looked at the blood-red sunset on the horizon and said to Gion.
Vic's voice was low and deep, as if he were stating a fact.
How could you have such a strange idea? That's impossible!
The World Government needs the Navy to maintain order at sea; it can't be withdrawn. I'll still be in the Navy!
Gion was somewhat puzzled by Vic's question; it was too strange a question that probably no one would think of.
"As you said yourself, they need the navy to maintain order at sea."
What if they had alternatives? Have you thought about that? Like the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, and Uranus!
Vic continued, his voice somewhat ethereal, as if it were trying to travel to the past and the future.
"A substitute? Ancient Weapon? That's impossible. There are too few Ancient Weapon; they couldn't possibly sustain the entire ocean," Gion said uncertainly.
"What if they have advanced science and technology and can replicate these Ancient Weapon?"
Or what if they could develop weapons with power comparable to Ancient Weapon, and even mass-produce them? Do you think the navy would still be necessary?
Vic pressed on, his voice still deep, drawing the listener into that future scenario.
"Then, then... then where should I go? What is the point of all my efforts? Does justice no longer need me? Perhaps I should become a dancing geisha?"
Gion has fallen into a fantasy. The Navy no longer exists, justice has other executors, she can let go of her obsession and do what she loves.
No, it's not that justice doesn't need you, it's that they don't need you.
They don't necessarily represent justice; they might be dictators. Who knows?
"If that day ever comes, I hope you can come aboard my ship, and we will carry out the justice we believe in!" Vic turned to look at Gion and said earnestly.
"Us? Can we do it?" Gion asked, bewildered.
"Of course, the two of us can't do it alone. We can find more like-minded partners and fight together towards this goal until the day we die!"
Vic said firmly to Gion.
"Really? I'm willing to board your ship and fight alongside you!" Gion was visibly excited, as if she saw light in Vic's eyes.
That was indeed light, the red glow of the setting sun reflected in Vic's eyes, representing a terrible future.