The training field was already crowded with female recruits.
It was difficult to tell if Gion had been selective about appearances, but it was striking that nearly all of them were attractive. Despite their long hours of drills under the sun, not a single one showed signs of tanning. They stood in neat rows, sharp and disciplined, their presence both valiant and pleasing to the eye.
Yet even among them, Conis stood out. The delicate features of the Sky Island girl, paired with the pure white wings on her back, made her almost impossible to overlook. At this moment, however, her hands fidgeted nervously at her sides, her expression betraying both tension and anticipation.
Before long, Gion returned, bringing Uchiha Chiga with her.
The moment the recruits laid eyes on him, a wave of excitement rippled through the ranks. Many of them had joined the Marines solely because of his reputation. To see him in person left them unable to contain their voices.
"Chiga-sama!" they cried in unison.
Only Conis hesitated, whispering softly under her breath, "Chiga-san…"
Chiga's senses were sharp; he immediately caught the quieter voice. His gaze shifted and landed directly on Conis in the crowd.
Meeting his eyes, a flicker of joy crossed Conis's face. But when she noticed Gion walking beside him, she quickly lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze any longer.
Gion noticed this small exchange. With a faint smirk, she nudged Chiga in the side and whispered,
"Do you know the one with the wings?"
Chiga didn't shy away. He nodded. "Yes. Her name is Conis, from Sky Island."
As they walked, he briefly explained what had happened there—the fall of Enel, and the Sky Islanders' liberation. Gion listened quietly, her brows lifting when he finished.
"So," she said, her tone teasing, "she followed you all the way here to enlist in the Navy. Sounds like someone has captured her heart."
Chiga gave a helpless smile. He remembered that when he left Sky Island, his Tendo puppet had immediately entered standby mode, cutting all contact. For Conis to still seek him out afterward, and even join the Navy, spoke volumes.
"Love's fortune…" he muttered with a faint sigh. Then, under the curious eyes of all the recruits, he stepped forward and walked toward Conis.
The trainees near her stirred in excitement, each secretly hoping he was walking in their direction. But Chiga didn't falter—he went straight to Conis.
"Long time no see, Conis," he said warmly.
Conis froze, stunned that he had spoken to her directly in front of everyone. A mix of joy and pent-up grievance swelled in her chest, making her unable to respond right away.
Chiga leaned slightly closer and waved a hand in front of her.
"What's wrong? Still upset I vanished for two years without a word?"
"No, not at all!" she blurted out, snapping back to herself. She remembered that Chiga had defeated Enel and even left a puppet behind to protect Sky Island. That was already more kindness than she could repay.
Flustered, she explained quickly, "Chiga-san, I was just overwhelmed… I… I missed you very much."
Her words stunned the onlookers. This usually quiet Sky Island girl—boldly confessing in front of everyone? And to the King himself?
Whispers broke out. Some muttered about her connection. Others stared in disbelief, wondering why someone with ties to Chiga was even standing among them as a simple trainee. With such a bond, she could have easily entered as a high-ranking officer.
Gion walked forward and asked curiously, "Conis, why didn't you mention that you knew Chiga-sama?"
Conis's cheeks flamed. She fidgeted with her hands and stammered, "I thought… no one would believe me. And Chiga-sama is already the King… I didn't feel worthy."
Chiga interrupted, "Enough with that nonsense. Worthy or not, you can come see me anytime, Conis. Don't be so silly."
The affectionate scolding eased the distance she had felt. For the first time, she lifted her head and met his eyes. "Thank you, Chiga-san," she whispered.
Chiga leaned closer, his voice low enough for only her to hear. "When this is done, come to my place."
Conis nodded, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Still, Chiga had not come here only for her. He turned and flashed to the platform overlooking the recruits. With a casual wave of his hand, three strange fruits floated into the air before him.
Gasps and whispers filled the grounds. Even from afar, the swirling patterns on their surfaces made it clear—Devil Fruits.
"These," Chiga announced, "are spoils from the battle on an island. The Stone-Stone Fruit, the Ton-Ton Fruit, and the Art Fruit. They may not be the strongest Paramecia, but they are powerful all the same."
Many of the recruits had never seen a Devil Fruit in their lives. To witness three at once made their eyes shine with unrestrained awe.
The fruits hovered lazily above Chiga's hand, gleaming in the sunlight. The crowd erupted into cheers and squeals, their admiration overflowing.
Gion pressed her palm to her forehead. She was beginning to regret bringing him here. Against the raw power of his presence, her authority as an instructor had completely vanished.
Chiga's gaze swept over the group, lingering on Conis for a heartbeat before turning back to the others.
"These fruits are for you," he declared. "But they will not be given freely. I leave them in Gion's care. She will decide who has earned them through their performance."
The recruits gasped in shock. Three fruits, just handed over like that? To them, it was an act of generosity almost beyond belief.
Chiga raised his hand, and the commotion stilled instantly, his quiet authority pressing down over the field. Gion could only shake her head at the sheer ease with which he commanded the crowd.
He continued, "For those who don't want a Devil Fruit, or who already possess one, you may instead make a request through Gion. So long as it is not unreasonable, I will grant it."
The air froze.
Every woman there knew the weight of those words. Chiga's powers were the stuff of legend. Rumors claimed he could restore life to the dead, heal even the gravest wounds. The sudden reappearance of Zephyr's family had only deepened those whispers.
For some, the temptation of bringing back a loved one far outweighed the lure of a Devil Fruit.
Excitement, awe, and longing stirred among the recruits. Each reward, whether a fruit or a wish, was enough to drive them mad with desire.
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