After an hour-long "late-night teaching" session, Tatsuki's Violation Points increased by over three thousand.
The tenderness on his face faded, replaced by a seriousness tinged with heaviness and reluctance. "I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning."
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly waking Gion from her sweet reverie. Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up.
"Then... then I'll go with you."
Gion grabbed Tatsuki's sleeve tightly, her gaze incredibly firm.
"I am your adjutant. You gave me this blade too. Where the blade is, I am. Where you are, I am."
Tatsuki said, "But it's very dangerous there. It's full of heinous pirates, and even the colleagues are scum."
"With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."
Seeing Gion's expression of being ready to die, as if she were about to elope with him, Tatsuki was overjoyed.
If I leave you here, wouldn't my point-farming machine stop production? Besides, how could the joy of raising a future Admiral be left halfway?
"Silly girl."
Tatsuki pulled her into his arms.
"Since you're so persistent, pack your bags. Get some good rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll be at sea for a long time."
Holding Gion in his arms, Tatsuki sighed from the bottom of his heart.
This is the life.
—
The next morning.
Marineford Pier 1.
The sea breeze howled, and seagulls circled overhead.
A brand-new special warship, even larger than a typical Vice Admiral's flagship, was quietly docked in the harbor. Its figurehead was a giant seagull with outspread wings bathing in a storm, and the ship's lines were cold and hard, filled with a sense of oppression.
This was the flagship specially approved for Tatsuki by Kong—the Storm.
At this time, although the pier was crowded with people, it was terrifyingly quiet.
The Marines who came to see them off automatically formed a semicircle at the edge of the pier, and no one dared to approach the small core area.
Because the aura of the three people standing at the foot of the gangway was truly terrifying.
"How scary. Is this Tatsuki's warship?"
Borsalino was wearing his signature yellow and white striped suit, draped in a coat of justice, with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the warship.
Although he said it was scary, the expression behind his sunglasses was relaxed, and he even boredly kicked a pebble on the ground with his toe.
Beside him, Kuzan leaned somewhat listlessly against a massive bollard. He was carelessly tossing around a few ice balls condensed from the moisture in the air. Every time he caught one, it made a tooth-aching freezing sound.
"Ara ara... this is too slow." Kuzan gave a huge yawn, his eyes full of resentment.
"If we don't leave soon, the limited-edition bicycle I just got will start to rust."
And the person people dared not approach the most was the man in the dark red suit.
Sakazuki.
He had lowered the brim of his hat and crossed his arms, he was like a living volcano about to erupt.
"Too slow." Sakazuki glanced at the watch on his wrist, his voice suppressing anger.
"That bastard is making all of us wait for him? Is this his style?"
Borsalino said, "Don't be in such a hurry, Sakazuki. Tatsuki is the protagonist, and the protagonist always makes a grand entrance last."
Just as he finished speaking—
Tap... Tap...
A rhythmic sound of leather boots clicking against the ground came from the end of the passage.
The surrounding crowd instantly parted to create a wide path.
Tatsuki had arrived.
He wore a large coat of justice over a well-tailored pure black suit, with the collar open to reveal his collarbone. A cigar was clamped in his mouth, and his hands were in his pockets.
His pace wasn't fast, but every step seemed to tread on everyone's heartbeat.
By himself, his flamboyant and arrogant aura suppressed the combined presence of the three Logia monsters on the pier.
Half a step behind him was Gion, her hand resting on Konpira. She looked heroic and valiant, her eyes watching Tatsuki's back with undisguised admiration and the determination to follow him to the death.
"Sorry for the wait."
Tatsuki walked up to Sakazuki and exhaled a thick cloud of white smoke, blowing it directly into the magma man's face. But there was no hint of apology on his face. Instead, he wore a punchable smirk.
"After all, I had to pack the best tea leaves from Fleet Admiral Kong's office, so it took a little time."
The veins on Sakazuki's forehead throbbed, and a wisp of black smoke rose from his fist, but he ultimately let out a cold snort and held back.
"Board the ship."
Tatsuki didn't waste words. With a wave of his hand, he was the first to step onto the gangway.
The sea breeze whipped wildly, making the coat of justice behind him flap loudly.
Gion followed closely behind.
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan glanced at each other, their lips curling slightly, before following suit and standing behind Tatsuki.
Four Logias.
One potential Great Swordsman.
This was likely the most luxurious, extravagant, and unreasonable Rear Admiral squad in Marine history.
"Men! Hoist the sails!"
Tatsuki's voice rose above the sea breeze and the ship's whistle.
"Destination—G-5 Branch!"
"Let those death-seeking scumbags in the New World feel exactly what the f*ck Justice means!"
The storm's whistle let out a long blast as it slowly departed the harbor.
This day.
Age of Sea Circle, 1495.
The prototype squad of what would later be known as the "Worst Generation Marines" officially stepped onto the stage of history under Tatsuki's leadership.
And the nightmare belonging to the New World had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)
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