One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine

"Looks like someone couldn't wait. I hadn't even gotten around to finding her, and she's already rushing to invite me?"

Daren put away his private Den Den Mushi and smirked in amusement.

She even went to the trouble of planning a dinner...

How's that any different from stripping down and delivering herself to my doorstep?

Tch, tch. Just giving herself away.

Women these days—who knows what they're thinking.

"Who couldn't wait?"

A cold, haughty voice suddenly rang out behind him.

Daren flinched and turned around stiffly.

At some point, Gion had appeared behind him, a long sword at her waist. Her obsidian-like eyes were half-lidded, arms crossed over her chest, radiating a dangerous air.

Damn it!

He'd forgotten to keep up his Observation Haki again!

This was all Magellan's fault!

He'd had to go all out to suppress the toxins and couldn't maintain his usual alertness.

But seriously, who keeps their Observation Haki on all day long anyway?

"Ahem, just some military business," Daren said casually, quickly sizing Gion up with a smile. "What brings you here, Gion?"

Today, Gion was clearly dressed with care. Light makeup, slightly winged black eyeliner adding a touch of mature allure to her already refined and striking face.

Beneath her oversized Marine cape, she wore a black inner layer and a black lace halter top that accentuated the graceful curve of her pale neck. Paired with simple shorts, the look was both valiant and wild.

Gion, known as the "flower of the Marines," already possessed stunning looks and a perfect figure. Even without makeup, she was breathtaking. With a bit of polish, her noble and cool demeanor stood out even more—so much so that Daren couldn't take his eyes off her.

For over a month now, aside from the occasional visit home to see Toki, he had been cooped up in the military academy's isolation zone.

He was going stir-crazy.

Naturally, Gion noticed the heat in Daren's gaze. Her eyes flickered, then quickly cooled as she turned away with a frosty tone.

"Can't I come see you even if nothing's wrong?"

Oh? Playing the tsundere now?

Daren chuckled and gently took her soft hand.

"Of course you can."

It was strange—Gion was a powerful swordswoman, just a step away from becoming a legendary swordsman, yet her hands were completely free of calluses. Smooth and delicate like polished jade, they were a delight to the touch.

Caught holding hands in public, Gion's cold expression faltered, a blush creeping up from her ears.

She tried to pull her hand back, but Daren didn't let go.

"There's no one around, don't worry."

His voice brushed against her ear, breath tinged with the faint scent of tobacco. Gion trembled slightly, as if jolted, and stopped resisting.

Turning her face away, she murmured, "I heard you've been busy with the academy lately, training Magellan every day?"

Daren blinked, then let out a chuckle.

"So that's what this is about. Yeah, Magellan's got real talent—definitely on par with monsters like Sakazuki."

"A promising recruit like that shouldn't be wasted."

"Besides, I promised Zephyr-sensei I'd help out at the academy's training camp. I've got a duty to fulfill."

Gion nodded, then gave him a curious look.

"I thought your interests had shifted."

Daren: ???

"Absolutely not!"

He clenched his teeth.

Gion looked skeptical.

"Really? But I heard you've been staying out late a lot... even crashing in Magellan's dorm."

"...That was to monitor his sleep conditions!" Daren said, exasperated. "Magellan's Devil Fruit ability is extremely dangerous. Sure, he's gotten better at consciously controlling it thanks to the training, but when he's asleep or eating, he can still leak out poison unconsciously."

"This is all part of the training!" he added, trying to explain as sincerely as possible.

But he quickly came to his senses and couldn't help but ask,

"Wait a second—where did you even hear that rumor?"

Hearing Daren's explanation, Gion finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Honestly, just from the way he'd been ogling her earlier, she'd already guessed the truth. Now that it was confirmed, her mood lifted considerably.

"Tokikake," she said with a smile.

Daren: …

Of course. That bastard was getting back at him for not letting him transfer to G5.

"So you really aren't... into that?"

Seeing the way Daren gritted his teeth in frustration, Gion couldn't resist teasing him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Damn it!

"You don't believe me?"

Daren suddenly pulled her in by the waist, and in a flash, they vanished from the spot.

"W-What are you doing?!" Gion gasped, her heart pounding as nerves took over.

"I'll prove it to you!" Daren said, jaw clenched.

Gion's face flushed bright red.

"W-Where are we going?"

"Tsuru is at my place."

With a sudden twist mid-air, Daren changed direction.

Gion's eyes went wide.

That way... isn't that toward Zephyr-sensei's office?!

"Zephyr-sensei is teaching right now—his office is empty."

Daren grinned.

"N-No, we can't…" Gion stammered, her face burning as she pushed against his chest.

"Didn't you take the initiative last time?" Daren landed in the hallway, flung open the head instructor's office door, set Gion down, and locked the door behind them in one smooth motion.

Gion's ears instantly turned red.

"T-That was an accident…"

"Besides, Zephyr-sensei... h-he could come back any time!"

"Then we better hurry."

Daren stepped forward.

Gion's mind went completely blank.

Zephyr-sensei's classroom was just over at the training field—not far from the office. She could even faintly hear the new recruits shouting during their drills.

The unfamiliar setting and the intense rush left her breathless. Her body started to burn, turning soft, barely able to stay on her feet.

...

Half an hour later.

"You brats are a real disappointment!"

Zephyr muttered curses around the cigar clamped in his mouth as he walked up the stairs and down the corridor.

"Can't even last thirty minutes with just two tons of weight training… Huh? Gion, what are you doing here?"

He stopped in surprise at the sight of Gion sneaking out of his office, her hair slightly disheveled.

"Z-Zephyr-sensei?!"

Gion froze. Her cheeks were still faintly flushed, and her legs instinctively tensed together. She stammered,

"I-I was just here to clean your office."

"Hahaha! That's the kind of thing you can leave to others."

Zephyr chuckled, not suspecting a thing.

Gion nodded, face red, and quickly left without another word.

"What a good kid…"

Watching her walk away, Zephyr couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

If all his students were as well-behaved and capable as Gion, how much easier life would be.

...

An hour later.

The Grand Line, first half.

An island steeped in a wild, ancient atmosphere.

A figure shot through the sky at incredible speed, landing firmly on the ground.

"This should be it."

Daren tucked away his Eternal Pose and looked up.

Towering trees, each over ten meters tall, filled the dense forest. In the distance, mountains rolled across the horizon, their massive ridges twisting like sleeping dragons—majestic and intimidating.

Volcanoes rose high in the distance, thick white smoke billowing from their glowing craters.

From deep within the island came heavy thuds and shrill cries, registering as surges of life energy through Daren's Observation Haki.

"Rooaar!!"

A sharp screech rang out overhead.

A brown pterosaur spread its wings—several meters across—and soared past, casting a huge shadow over the ground.

"Yeah... this is definitely the place."

Daren smiled.

The ancient island—Little Garden!

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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