Marine Headquarters.
With the public execution of Edward Weevil and Miss Buckin scheduled for tomorrow, everyone from the Admirals down to the foot soldiers was busy preparing in an orderly manner.
As an execution platform rose from the ground and stood tall in Marineford Square, the preliminary preparations were officially completed.
The night was deep. The soldiers on duty completed their shift handover, and officers of all ranks returned to their homes or barracks. Only the light in the Fleet Admiral office remained on.
Seated at his desk, Orion finished reviewing a document and handed it to Gion, who stood across from him.
"Fleet Admiral, let me handle these documents" Gion said as she took the files and held them in her arms. She had lost count of how many times she had reminded him, but she spoke up again.
"It's late now. You should go back and rest!"
As if he hadn't heard her, Orion picked up another document and began reviewing it while saying.
"I'm planning to reform the century-old system of the Marine Headquarters! Especially the position of the Three Admirals—I'm going to add three more spots!"
"You've been in the Admiral candidate position for so long. It's time for you to be promoted. When that happens, your army will be named after your codename—how about the 'Pink Rabbit Army'?"
Hearing this, Gion shook her head and smiled.
"Fleet Admiral, are you asking for my opinion, or are you just informing me? If you're asking for my opinion, I'd rather stay by your side than be promoted to Admiral and lead the Pink Rabbit Army. Being the Fleet Admiral is different from being a Vice Admiral. Back then, you only had to manage your own responsibilities, but now, you have to make decisions on major matters for the entire Marine Headquarters and its branches. Without me, you'd definitely be overwhelmed!"
"Of course, if you've already made up your mind and are just notifying me, I'll naturally obey without hesitation. I'll lead the Pink Rabbit Army and clear the path for you, Fleet Admiral!"
Hearing this, Orion put down the document and looked up at Gion, who had stood firmly by his side all these years. To him, Gion was both a mentor and a friend. If he had to choose the person he trusted the most out of everyone, Gion would undoubtedly be at the top of the list.
However, he didn't want to keep her by his side as an assistant. Gion was responsible, carried true justice in her heart, and was among the strongest of all Vice Admirals. Keeping her as an assistant would be a waste of her talents.
After locking eyes with Gion for a moment, Orion suddenly smiled and said.
"Admiral Momousagi, could you pour me a cup of coffee?"
"Still want to drink?" Gion blurted out instinctively. "If you keep drinking, you won't get any rest tonight!"
"I never planned to go back and rest!" Orion shrugged helplessly. "You have no idea how chaotic my house is right now. Since Mihawk is staying at my place, Hancock refuses to go to the guesthouse. And where Hancock goes, Gunko follows. Now, the two women are constantly at each other's throats at home. One keeps saying that any mistake she makes will be forgiven, while the other is ready to wrap her up in bandages and hang her like a mummy."
"Mihawk couldn't take it anymore and sneaked off to the guesthouse! With all that going on, do you think I dare go back?"
Seeing Orion exasperated expression, Gion couldn't help to cover her mouth and laugh. But she quickly stifled her laughter and gently reminded him.
"Since you can't go home, why not stay at Vice Admiral Tsuru place for the night? She's at the Holy Land headquarters right now, busy helping Commander Kong integrate CP9 into CP0 after the death of their highest-ranking officer."
At this, Orion mouth twitched slightly.
"Are you serious or just pretending? If I stay at Vice Admiral Tsuru place tonight, I guarantee the Marine HQ will be buzzing with rumors tomorrow, and they'll start spreading stories about me and Kujaku again!"
"True" Gion blinked and finally offered the best suggestion.
"Then come to my place. Ever since you were investigated by the inspection team, my mother has been worried about you. Even though everything has been settled now, she still asks about you almost every day."
"Let's not disturb the elderly at this hour!" Orion waved his hand. "I'll just finish up these documents and make do in the office."
Just as Gion was about to speak, the Den Den Mushi on the desk suddenly rang. Seeing this, Gion quickly stepped back and immediately switched to work mode.
"Fleet Admiral, this is Noah!"
As soon as Orion picked up the Den Den Mushi, Rear Admiral Noah voice came through.
"I have brought the two Warlords, Hanafuda and Jinbei, to the Marine base on Sabaody Archipelago. They will depart early tomorrow morning with Vice Admiral Bastille and Doflamingo."
"Report complete! Loyalty!"
Orion chuckled and said. "Why do I sense a hint of resentment in your tone? Is it because these three Warlords are so cooperative that your charm has nowhere to shine?"
"Ah... you noticed that?" Noah voice carried a hint of embarrassment.
"There is a bit of resentment. Hanafuda and Jinbei were very cooperative when I picked them up. Doflamingo did have a scuffle with Vice Admiral Bastille, but it was just a light spar."
"Fleet Admiral, what's going on? When Fleet Admiral Sengoku was in charge, these Warlords were so arrogant, especially Doflamingo. During the last Warlord meeting, he even used his Devil Fruit powers to control two soldiers right in front of Sengoku."
"I was hoping he'd keep up his arrogance this time so I could team up with Vice Admiral Bastille and take him down! But to my surprise, he backed off!"
Listening to the endless chatter from the Den Den Mushi, Orion couldn't help but laugh.
"You're just itching to pick a fight with anyone, aren't you? Is it because Mihawk once helped me, and you can't take revenge on him for your former superior, so you're venting your frustration on the other Warlords?"
"Not at all!" Noah didn't hesitate for a moment. "From the moment I pledged my loyalty to the Fleet Admiral, my personal honor and disgrace became insignificant!"
"What a line—'personal honor and disgrace are insignificant'!" Orion praised then continued.
"Don't worry, once this matter is settled, I'll make sure Mihawk gives your former superior an explanation. While I always repay kindness, I can't let my brothers suffer any injustice. That's it, see you tomorrow!"
"LOYALTY!"
Noah shouted the slogan, then reluctantly ended the call. If Orion hadn't said "see you tomorrow," he could have chatted all night with this Marshal, who was around his age but far more imposing and domineering!
Especially when Orion said, "I can't let my brothers suffer injustice," the word "brothers" made him wish he could rush back to headquarters and stand in front of Orion to shout "loyalty" at the top of his lungs.
Standing quietly nearby, Gion almost couldn't hold back her laughter as she watched Orion chat so happily with a subordinate.
After all, when Orion had mentioned Hancock, Gunko, and Kujaku earlier, his tone and expression had been filled with helplessness and frustration. But when talking to his subordinates, he was full of energy, even caring about what they were thinking—it was just so typical of him.
Laughter aside, Gion deeply understood Orion behavior. Over the years, it was precisely this way of interacting that had won the hearts of countless officers and soldiers. His radiant charisma had earned the admiration and loyalty of almost every officer and soldier at headquarters.
...
At the Navy base on Sabaody Archipelago.
After finishing his call with Orion, Noah felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, and the smile on his face grew increasingly unrestrained.
"HAHAHAHA—"
"HAHAHA..."
After laughing heartily for a while, Noah turned to face Bastille and Strawberry, who had just returned from Grove 13, and boasted.
"Guess what the Fleet Admiral just said to me, Vice Admirals?"
"What?!" Bastille looked at Noah as if he were an idiot.
"The Fleet Admiral said, 'I can't let my brothers suffer injustice!'"
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, Noah burst into another round of boastful laughter.
"Brothers... the Fleet Admiral called me a brother... HAHAHA... cough... huh?"
Suddenly, as he laughed himself into a coughing fit, Noah turned sharply to see Doflamingo, who was also looking at him with the same idiot-staring expression and grinning wickedly.
"Doflamingo, if you keep grinning like that, I swear I'll kill you right now!"
"I feel terrifyingly strong right now!"
The moment these words left his mouth, Doflamingo grin froze, and his eyes behind his sunglasses nearly popped out of his head!
He didn't do anything wrong! What the hell is going on with the Navy these days? Is laughing against the law? This is insane!
Before Doflamingo could react, Jinbei and Hanafuda, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, turned and left without hesitation, moving in perfect sync.
"They've gone mad!"
"From the officers to the soldiers, everyone at Marine Headquarters has lost their minds!"
"Did you see those soldiers just now? They looked at us like cats spotting mice, their eyes glowing green…"
After quickly putting distance between themselves and Doflamingo, Hanafuda lowered his voice and complained.
"The Marines weren't like this before! Why does it feel like they're the pirates now?"
Jinbei remained silent, only nodding vigorously.
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