In the waters surrounding the G-17 branch, invisible undercurrents surged beneath the calm surface.
Several "ordinary merchant ships" that seemed completely unrelated were scattered in different directions about ten nautical miles from the fortress, bobbing with the waves.
They kept a subtle distance from one another—neither interfering with each other nor letting their guard down.
On the decks, sailors in civilian clothes took turns holding high-powered binoculars. They stared fixedly at the black steel beast perched on the coastline.
Some were spies, others were eyes sent by New World pirates, some were observers from the Revolutionary Army, and there were even secret agents from the World Government's CP organization.
The news of the Golden Lion's fall was like a heavy bomb that shook the entire sea. Everyone wanted to know the current state of the Marine who had managed to kill him.
Was he dying from heavy injuries? Or was he more powerful than ever?
"It's too quiet—"
On a ship flying the flag of a West Blue trade guild, a spy disguised as a first mate lowered his binoculars. He wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
"Even though the final battle happened far out at sea, that man came back after killing the Golden Lion. Logically, G-17 should be on full alert or celebrating wildly right now.
But instead—that fortress is like a sleeping beast. There isn't any movement at all."
"Maybe it's relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside," the person next to him analyzed in a low voice.
"After all, the opponent was the Golden Lion. Even if he won, he's probably heavily injured. This peace might just be a cover for his weakness."
In the exclusive suite for the base commander at the top of the fortress.
Morning sunlight peeked through the gaps in the curtains, hitting the wide bed.
Aiden was buried in soft pillows, sleeping soundly. Lately, Aiden had grown fond of sleeping in.
He blamed it on the massive amount of energy he had used during the fight with the Golden Lion.
"Phew—"
Just as Aiden rolled over, planning to continue enjoying his time in bed.
Tap, tap, tap.
A slight but rhythmic tapping sound rang in his ear.
It sounded like a small bird pecking at something.
"Mmm—"
Aiden frowned. He didn't open his eyes.
He just instinctively waved his hand, trying to drive away the annoying thing disturbing his dream. Then he pulled the blanket over his head and kept sleeping.
However, the sound did not disappear.
Tap, tap, tap!
Seeing that Aiden didn't react, the little thing became even bolder.
Aiden felt something sharp persistently pecking at his forehead.
One, two, three times—it didn't hurt, but the sensation was like someone knocking on a wooden block. It was maddening.
"Which bastard—"
Aiden finally reached his limit. He suddenly threw off the blanket and opened his eyes, feeling irritated from being woken up.
"Smoker! If this is your prank, I'll stuff you into—"
His voice stopped abruptly.
Floating in front of him wasn't Smoker, nor was it some lost seabird.
It was a pink paper crane.
The paper crane was only the size of a palm. It defied gravity, hovering right in front of his nose.
Its paper wings even flapped realistically. Seeing Aiden wake up, it actually backed up a little in a human-like way, then accelerated into another dive—
Tap!
It pecked Aiden hard right between the eyebrows.
Aiden: ( Ⅱ—Ⅱ )
Aiden froze for two seconds. Then he sighed and reached out to catch the "arrogant" paper crane.
The crane struggled twice in his hand, then lost its power and turned into a normal piece of pink stationery.
Aiden unfolded the paper. There was only one line of elegant yet sharp handwriting:
[Wake up, lazybones. The view in the sky is nice. Come up and help me practice my fruit ability. — Gion]
"The Float-Float Fruit... can be used like this?"
Aiden looked at the paper crane in his hand, and a smile appeared on his face.
To be able to control the fruit's power to such a fine degree that she could give "life" to a piece of paper meant Gion was adapting to her new power faster than he had imagined.
"Honestly—she won't even let a person rest in the morning."
Aiden complained, but the sleepiness in his eyes was gone.
With speed comparable to a lightning bolt, he finished washing up and changing. He went straight through the window and shot into the sky.
Above the clouds.
Clang!!!
A crisp sound of clashing metal rang out, shattering the surrounding clouds.
Two figures separated immediately after the strike.
Aiden wore his coat, with his lower body turned into lightning as he floated in the air. He held a standard Marine sword.
He looked at the figure moving freely through the air opposite him with a hint of admiration.
"You're adapting very quickly."
Opposite him, Gion wore her Justice coat. She had nothing beneath her feet, standing in the void while defying gravity.
Her famous blade, Konpira, was not drawn. Instead, it stayed in its scabbard.
Under her mental control, it flew around her like a swimming fish.
The Float-Float Fruit.
This power that once made the seas tremble now showed a completely different brilliance in Gion's hands.
"It feels wonderful."
Gion took a deep breath of the thin high-altitude air. Her face had a slight flush of excitement, but her body was still a bit stiff.
"Before, when I swung my sword, I was always limited by my footwork and gravity. But now—the entire sky is my support point."
"Don't get too excited."
Aiden's body flickered, and he instantly appeared behind Gion. He reached out and gently supported her lower back.
"Your center of gravity is still too far forward. If you were on the ground, that would be a good posture for charging. But in the air, it will make you a sitting duck."
"Ah!"
Gion was startled by the sudden touch. The balance she was maintaining broke instantly, and she uncontrollably leaned backward.
"Steady."
Aiden didn't let go. Instead, he held her more firmly.
His voice rang in her ear with a hint of a smile. "The Golden Lion's way of flying was very forceful. He used brute strength to command the air to lift him. But that doesn't suit you."
"Try to feel the airflow rather than fighting it. Imagine yourself as a feather."
Under Aiden's guidance, Gion slowly relaxed her tensed muscles. She closed her eyes and felt the flowing wind around her.
Her body gradually regained balance. She was no longer hovering stiffly but rose and fell slightly with the currents.
"That's it."
Aiden let go and stepped back a few meters.
"The flight that suits you should be lethal."
Gion opened her eyes and looked at Aiden. There was a trace of shyness in her eyes that was hard to notice.
She glanced down at the seemingly calm sea below. To hide her previous flustered state, she deliberately changed the subject.
"Aren't there a bit too many 'flies' down there? They've been circling there for several days now."
Though they were separated by clouds, the Observation Haki of both had long since covered the entire area. Those poorly disguised spy ships were as obvious to them as torches in the dark.
"Don't we need to deal with them?" Gion asked.
"No need."
Aiden put away his practice sword and casually brushed back his hair, which the wind had messed up.
"If they want to watch, let them watch."
"You really are... as thick-skinned as ever," Gion said, shaking her head.
"Don't worry about them. Come on, Gion! Let me see your current strength!"
"That's exactly what I want!"
Gion refused to be outdone. She controlled Konpira, turning it into a streak of light as she charged forward.
Clang, clang, clang—!!
Above the clouds, lightning and sword energy intertwined once more.
The two were in no hurry to end this training. They circled, chased, and collided high in the sky.
They fought from the clouds down to the sea surface, then charged back up again.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that the two stopped their weapons, feeling they had done enough. They slowly descended toward the fortress.
"Speaking of which—"
During the descent, Aiden glanced at Gion.
"Did the orders from Headquarters arrive?"
Gion was silent for a moment. Her previously excited expression dimmed slightly.
"Yes. The ship coming to pick me up might arrive today."
She sighed, her tone holding a bit of helplessness. "Originally, according to Vice Admiral Tsuru's arrangement, I was supposed to be stationed here for three months as a special inspector.
But this time—things became too big."
"The Golden Lion fell, and I ate the Float-Float Fruit. Either of those two events is enough to keep those old men in Mariejois awake at night."
Gion looked at Aiden and gave a bitter smile.
"Fleet Admiral Kong personally issued the order for me to return to Headquarters immediately to report. They need to assess my combat power—after all, this is a legendary fruit ability."
"As expected."
Aiden wasn't surprised by this.
"Then go back," Aiden said calmly.
"You are a future Admiral candidate. You shouldn't be trapped in this small branch."
"You guy—"
Gion felt a bit annoyed. Couldn't this guy say something to ask her to stay?
Just then.
Aiden's eyebrows suddenly twitched. His Observation Haki captured a slight movement on the sea.
"It seems there really are people who aren't thinking clearly. They think we're pushovers right now."
Outside the G-17 branch.
A huge pirate ship flying a black skull flag with a figurehead shaped like a ferocious wild boar was charging straight toward the fortress like a mad bull!
"Is that... the 'Rock Crusher' Pirates?!"
The observing spies recognized the ship's origin at a glance.
This was a subordinate pirate crew under Kaido of the Four Emperors. Although they weren't core members, they were quite infamous in the "Paradise" waters of the first half of the Grand Line.
The captain, "Rock Crusher" Baal, had a bounty of 120 million Berries.
This guy was a well-known brute. Just last week, relying on his monstrous strength and this specially reinforced pirate ship, he had forcefully rammed and sunk a Marine Headquarters escort ship.
He was at the peak of his arrogance.
"Men! Charge!!"
Baal stood at the bow, waving a massive two-handed axe. The fat on his face shook, and his eyes were full of fanaticism.
"That Aiden just finished fighting the Golden Lion! He must be heavily injured! Now is G-17's weakest moment!"
"As long as we rush into the harbor, even if we just cause some damage, our names will ring across the sea! When that happens, Boss Kaido will definitely promote me to a Headliner!"
"Ohhhhhhh!!!"
The pirates let out beast-like howls. They were blinded by their recent victories and completely believed their captain's judgment.
The cannon ports were adjusted, and the black muzzles aimed at the silent black steel fortress.
"Fire!!"
Boom! Boom!
Two heavy solid cannonballs whistled out, carrying an ear-piercing sound of breaking air as they smashed into the outer wall of the fortress!
Clang—!!
There was no spray of bricks or collapsing walls as expected.
When the cannonballs hit the fortress wall—which was cast entirely from steel—a metallic ring like a tolling bell echoed out!
Sparks flew!
The solid cannonballs were bounced away by the recoil, falling into the sea and kicking up splashes.
The smoke cleared.
The black steel fortress still stood majestic. There wasn't even a white mark left on the wall.
"What... what kind of wall is this?!"
Baal's eyes almost popped out. His main cannon could even blast through the armor of a warship!
On the fortress plaza.
Smoker, who was training, had his face turn dark instantly.
"Bastards—"
He looked at the wisp of smoke that hadn't dispersed from the wall. Although he knew the defense wasn't broken, for G-17, this was a blatant slap in the face.
"Everyone! Prepare to fire!"
Smoker waved his hand, about to order a counterattack. He even planned to turn into smoke and rush out to crush these suicidal flies.
Suddenly, two figures were seen hovering above the fortress.
"Since you're leaving—"
Aiden stood with his hands in his pockets. He looked at the pirate ship below, which was reloading and looked incredibly ridiculous.
He spoke to Gion beside him. "Let's show those rats watching this place the new user of the Float-Float Fruit."
Gion looked at Aiden, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Fine."
She didn't use any extra words.
The next instant.
Gion's figure disappeared.
On the sea, Baal was still roaring. "Keep firing! Blast that turtle shell open for me!! I don't believe this!"
Suddenly, he felt the light above him dim.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
They saw a beautiful figure wearing a Justice coat hovering at the top of their mast like a valkyrie. The word "Justice" on the back of the coat shone brightly in the sunlight.
Before Baal could react.
Gion had already made her move.
Whoosh!
Her figure vanished into thin air.
Pirate Captain Baal felt his vision blur. A pink afterimage moved like a ghost, weaving rapidly around his ship.
The deck, the mast, the hull—
The figure was incredibly fast. In a single breath, Gion seemed to turn into a gust of wind, passing through most corners of the pirate ship.
When Gion's figure appeared again, she was hovering directly above the pirate ship. Her right hand reached into the air, then—she gently lifted it.
At that moment, the entire pirate ship that Gion had touched seemed to be granted some irresistible magic.
Creeeeak—!!
The massive ship actually broke free from the shackles of gravity in an instant!
It was forcefully "lifted" a hundred meters into the sky by an invisible force!
"Ahhhh! We're flying?!"
"Help!!"
The pirates screamed in the air. The loss of gravity made them hit the deck like headless flies.
Even Baal couldn't grab the railing and floated up in terror.
Next.
Gion slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her famous blade, Konpira.
"Disperse."
Ching— Along with the sword being drawn, a clear hum of the blade echoed through the sky.
Countless pink sword-light slashes erupted instantly, merging into the controlled airflow.
The airflow turned into tens of thousands of "cherry blossom petals" as sharp as knives. They swirled and cut wildly around the hovering pirate ship!
Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh—!!!
In just three seconds.
The reinforced pirate ship that had been so arrogant a moment ago, along with the hundred pirates inside, disintegrated and shattered silently in the air like tofu in a meat grinder.
When Gion lowered her hand.
Wood chips and iron fragments filled the sky like a rain of cherry blossoms, scattering over the sea.
Compared to the Golden Lion's brutality and destruction, what Gion showed was precision and lethality.
On the plaza, thousands of Marine soldiers stared blankly at the scene. Their mouths were wide enough to fit an egg.
It wasn't until the "cherry blossom rain" ended that thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd!
"Rear Admiral Gion!!"
"So strong!!"
They knew that besides their base commander Aiden, the Navy had another powerhouse capable of deterring the sea!
Half an hour later, at the naval port.
A warship sent by Headquarters was ready to depart.
Gion stood on the deck, the sea breeze blowing her Justice coat.
She didn't look back at the cheering soldiers. Her gaze only fell on the man standing alone on the pier.
Aiden didn't salute, nor did he say any formal words. He just looked at her quietly, like he was seeing off an old friend.
"I'm going back to Headquarters."
Gion looked at Aiden. A trace of reluctance flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by firmness.
"After I go back, I probably won't see you for a while."
Gion's lips curled into a bright smile. That smile held expectations for the future and absolute confidence in Aiden.
"Don't turn this sea upside down while I'm not here."
"Don't worry."
Aiden waved his hand, his face still holding that confident expression.
"When we meet next time, don't let me leave you too far behind, Rear Admiral."
"Hmph, what a big talker."
Gion gave a light huff, turned around, and didn't look back again.
"Set sail!"
With the order, the warship blew its horn and slowly sailed away from the port.
Aiden stood in place until the warship completely disappeared over the horizon before he finally withdrew his gaze.
To Be Continued
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