Sure enough, he caught sight of Gion's equally unfriendly glare.
Gion's eyes seemed to burn with fury, revealing her aversion and hostility toward Lancelot.
Seeing this, Vice Admiral Tsuru's face darkened, as gloomy as a stormy sky.
She lowered her voice and rebuked, "Gion!"
After all, they were on the eve of a life-and-death battle with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Any internal discord could become the spark that leads to the defeat of the entire war effort.
Therefore, no matter what, they had to set aside past conflicts and grievances, unite, and work together to face the impending battle.
So, even though she felt the same as Gion deep down, harboring disgust and dissatisfaction with Lancelot's actions, at this critical juncture affecting the overall situation, personal preferences and emotions had to be set aside.
She couldn't help but feel disappointed in Gion.
After all, she'd always regarded Gion as her future successor, carefully nurturing her!
Yet, given the current situation, Gion seemed to lack a sense of the bigger picture.
Just then, Gion finally awoke to the problem, reining in the hostility showing in her eyes. Unfortunately, despite this, her expression remained sullen, showing no signs of improvement.
Who was she?
She was an esteemed candidate for Admiral, and the highest-ranking female officer in the entire Navy system!
It was no exaggeration to say she wasn't only the aspirational goal and revered idol for all female Navy personnel, but also the dream goddess countless male Navy members yearned for.
When had she ever been treated with such cold indifference? After all, even the other Admiral candidate of equal status—Tokikake—was nothing more than a pathetic lapdog wagging his tail and begging for her favor!
She possessed her own pride, and this pride was by no means unfounded, for she truly had remarkable qualities that commanded attention.
Lancelot narrowed his eyes, casting a cold glance at Vice Admiral Tsuru standing not far away, then casually shifted his gaze toward Sengoku.
The corners of his lips curled into a mocking sneer.
"Heh..."
As if expressing contempt for them.
In Lancelot's view, the so-called Dove Faction led by Vice Admiral Tsuru and Sengoku stood no chance of claiming the coveted position of the next Fleet Admiral.
The reason was simple: Gion, as an influential and iconic figure within the Dove Faction, could largely represent the entire faction's stance through her personal attitude.
Therefore, if Kuzan were to succeed in attaining the position of Fleet Admiral, he'd likely face endless troubles and complications.
Thus, even if Akainu deviated from the original plot and refrained from competing for the position, Lancelot would never allow Kuzan to take that seat.
At this critical moment, Sengoku subtly signaled Garp with a look.
Garp understood immediately—the tacit understanding between these two longtime partners was profound, almost telepathic!
"Ahem, ahem..."
Garp set down the rice cracker he'd been munching on, cleared his throat, and coughed twice.
These coughs echoed like thunder, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Then, Garp turned to Lancelot with a kindly smile and said cheerfully.
"Hey there, Lancelot! You've been at Marine HQ for so long, but you haven't had a proper tour yet, have you? Hahaha... Come on, let this old man personally show you around and help you get familiar with the place."
Seeing this, Lancelot understood—they were offering him a way out!
When Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru handed him a ladder, he had no choice but to take it!
Besides, he had no intention of tearing apart all decorum with Gion in such a setting.
Moreover, the exchange between him and Gion had been nothing more than a brief clash of glances.
If he were to press the issue and make a scene now, it'd only make him appear petty and lacking in grace.
With this in mind, Lancelot nodded in agreement and replied, "Then I'll trouble Vice Admiral Garp. Heh, it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but although this isn't my first time at Marine HQ, I've never taken the time to explore it properly."
Standing nearby, Sengoku smiled at the scene, nodding in satisfaction as he said, "Well, Garp, since that's the case, you must take good care of Lancelot and give him a thorough tour of our Marine HQ."
With that, Sengoku said no more.
He'd noticed the meaningful look Gion had given earlier.
If not for his longstanding friendship with Tsuru, he might've openly reprimanded her on the spot.
However, he was satisfied with Lancelot's tactful and accommodating attitude.
He couldn't help but feel a trace of regret, sighing deeply in his heart.
'Ah, why can't Lancelot become one of our Dove Faction members?'
His gaze swept over the next generation of his Dove Faction, and the first to catch his eye was the present Gion, who lacked strategic vision.
Shaking his head, he thought to himself: 'Let's not mention her for now. While her strength is acceptable, her lack of strategic vision makes it difficult for her to shoulder great responsibilities.'
Next, the image of Aokiji, whom he'd once favored, surfaced in his mind.
However, upon careful consideration, Aokiji didn't seem to be the best candidate for Fleet Admiral either.
After all, his lazy nature remained an undeniable issue. Such a character trait was concerning when placed in a position of leading the entire Marine force.
But he had no better alternatives.
Then he thought of Smoker, who took justice too far.
As a possessor of a powerful Logia ability, he was originally one of the Dove Faction's key cultivation targets.
Unfortunately, he was just like Garp—acting without discipline or restraint.
To the extent that his career development now lagged even behind Tashigi's.
Truly lamentable!
Just thinking about this made Sengoku feel his head swelling with frustration.
At this moment, Garp slowly stood up, stretched his limbs, and took the lead walking toward the door.
Seeing this, Lancelot followed suit.
He didn't forget to glance back at Basil Hawkins and Urouge, saying: "You two, come along as well!"
Though his tone was calm, it carried an undeniable authority.
Basil Hawkins and Urouge weren't blind—they'd naturally witnessed the earlier exchange of glances between Lancelot and Gion.
They certainly wouldn't stay behind to make things uncomfortable for themselves.
...
In the tense atmosphere of the Marine Headquarters hall, Basil Hawkins and Urouge stood to the side—they were far from oblivious.
Every subtle emotional fluctuation in the lightning-fast exchange of glances between Lancelot and Gion had been captured by their eyes.
It was a silent battle.
Not wanting to stay and invite discomfort, the two exchanged a look and turned away in silent understanding, leaving the hall with hurried steps.
The figures of Lancelot, Garp, Basil Hawkins, and Urouge gradually disappeared through the hall's entrance.
The oppressive atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier.
Though Sengoku remained seated, his tall stature still resembled a towering mountain, radiating unquestionable authority.
Now, his face darkened noticeably, as if shrouded by gloom. His gaze toward Gion sharpened, like two gleaming blades piercing straight through her.
Sengoku took a deep breath, making an effort to compose his emotions.
Then he lectured sternly, "Gion, listen carefully! With the great war imminent, the entire world is watching every move our Navy makes. Every decision, every action concerns the lives of countless people and the future of the world.
"Can you control your emotions? Look at how you were just now—driven by your emotions, without any sense of the bigger picture! Tsuru and I have always held high hopes for you, wanting to push you to the position of Admiral. But in your current state, how can you shoulder such a heavy responsibility?
"An Admiral must not only possess formidable strength but also a calm mind and long-term vision. They must be able to make the right decisions at critical moments, not be led by emotions like some impulsive youth!"
Upon hearing Sengoku's reprimand, Gion's face flushed red, her lips trembling slightly as she wanted to retort.
She had her own grievances—in her eyes, Lancelot's gaze and attitude were nothing short of provocation, something she found unbearable.
The anger erupted within her like a volcano.
But just as she was about to speak, she was stopped by a sharp glance from Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Standing nearby, Vice Admiral Tsuru's eyes held both concern and disappointment for Gion.
This time, she sided with Sengoku.
She knew that Gion still had much room for growth. Forget about having a broad perspective; she hadn't even mastered the most basic emotional control.
To sit in the position of Admiral and become the backbone of the Marines, Gion still had a long way to go.
Seeing Vice Admiral Tsuru's look, Gion swallowed her words and lowered her head, filled with resentment and self-reproach.
She might defy anyone, but she'd never defy Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Because she knew that even if the whole world turned against her, Vice Admiral Tsuru would always stand by her.