As the warships approached, they gradually slowed down.
A moment later, a striking figure appeared on the deck.
She was tall and elegant, with a beautiful face and an imposing presence. Wearing hot pants that revealed a pair of incredibly long legs, she also had a Marine cloak draped across her shoulders, a sword hanging at her waist.
Looking up at the woman standing on the deck and gazing down from the height of the warship, Kairo's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Vice Admiral Gion… Momousagi?"
The woman standing on the deck was indeed Vice Admiral Gion, codenamed Momousagi, who had arrived under orders.
After receiving word from Admiral Kizaru that the red rabbit responsible for killing the Celestial Dragon and the Goa Kingdom royal family had already left the kingdom, Gion had no choice but to change course and begin a carpet search of the surrounding seas and islands.
"Hey!"
Suddenly, a Marine officer standing beside her shouted across the water.
"You over there! Have you seen a red rabbit and a Droopy dog?"
"What rabbit? What dog?"
Kairo looked up, pretending he hadn't heard clearly.
"A red rabbit and a Droopy dog!" the officer repeated loudly.
"A red… belly dog?" Kairo asked back.
"Uh—"
The officer froze, momentarily defeated by the conversation.
Seeing this, Gion shook her head with a faint smile and raised a hand to stop the officer beside her.
Then she leapt lightly off the warship and landed steadily on Kairo's deck.
"Hello. I'm Vice Admiral Gion of Marine Headquarters."
Standing in front of him, she smiled politely.
"We're pursuing a red rabbit and a Droopy dog. Have you seen them?"
"A red rabbit and a Droopy dog?"
Kairo's eyes lit up.
"Oh! Yes, of course I've seen them! Two days ago they even rode on my ship for a bit. Very interesting pair. Especially that red rabbit—when it isn't angry, it's incredibly goofy. But when it gets angry… terrifying!"
He laughed casually.
Gion had not expected that a simple inquiry would actually produce information.
"Did you see them last night, or sometime early this morning?" she asked carefully.
"Yes, yes!"
Kairo nodded repeatedly.
"They showed up on my ship about three hours ago. Said they were looking for their master and asked if I could give them a ride."
"Their… master?"
Gion's heart stirred slightly.
So there might be a mastermind behind the incident?
That thought crossed her mind, but her expression didn't change.
"Do you happen to know who their master is?" she asked calmly.
"Let me think…"
Kairo scratched his head as if trying to recall.
"They mentioned it before, but I can't quite remember… Oh! Right! Their master lives in a village called Cocoyasi. There's a big house near the seaside."
"As for the name… what was it again? My memory's terrible. I really can't recall it."
"Cocoyasi Village?"
Gion lifted her gaze slightly.
Although she was a Marine Headquarters vice admiral, she wasn't familiar with every village in the East Blue.
But that wasn't a problem.
She could contact the commanders of Loguetown and the nearby Marine bases to confirm the location.
With that in mind, she decided not to waste time.
She bowed slightly to Kairo.
"Thank you very much for the information. Also, the seas are dangerous these days. It would be better not to sail alone if you can avoid it."
"Got it."
Kairo nodded, then asked curiously,
"May I ask… did that red rabbit and the Droopy dog do something wrong? When I first met them and heard them talking like humans, I thought they were monsters and nearly fainted from fright! Luckily they seemed very friendly…"
"You already read the news, didn't you?"
Gion glanced at the newspaper lying beside him.
"What?!"
Kairo's eyes widened in exaggerated shock.
"You mean the red rabbit in the news is that one?! Oh no… I had contact with them. Am I going to get dragged into this?"
"Don't worry."
Gion smiled faintly.
"We're the Marines of justice. We won't accuse innocent people."
Seeing Kairo's frightened expression, she turned and leapt back onto the warship.
"Oh—"
Just after landing on the deck, Gion suddenly realized something.
She turned back toward Kairo.
"I never asked your name. Someone willing to sail alone like this… aren't you worried about pirates?"
"My name is Kairo."
He smiled harmlessly.
"I'm a traveler. I'm actually preparing to write a book about the customs of the Four Seas and the turbulent events of the Grand Line."
"As for pirates—this is the East Blue, right? The Marines are here. Nothing to worry about."
"A traveler?"
Gion blinked, then nodded slightly.
"I'll remember that. Perhaps someday I'll read your book."
"Goodbye."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned to her subordinate.
"Full speed ahead. Destination: Cocoyasi Village."
The moment Gion's warship left, the second warship approached.
Then another elegant figure stepped forward, blooming into view like a rose in the morning light.
Kairo recognized her instantly.
Tina, Marine Headquarters Captain, real name Hina, user of the Cage-Cage Fruit.
Standing at the edge of the deck, Tina had light pink hair parted neatly down the middle, her expression cool and distant. A cigarette rested between her fingers.
Kairo narrowed his eyes slightly.
This woman… won't be easy to fool.
Glancing at her from afar, he quickly began calculating.
If Tina came over to ask questions too…
Should he keep the same story he used on Gion?
Or change tactics?
Maybe try a different approach and see if this icy beauty could be tricked as well.
As the warship drew closer, Tina finally exhaled a cloud of smoke and turned her gaze toward him.
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