Future chapters (15+) at patreon.com/FFAddict.
Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. If there is any issues, please DM me on Patreon!
Did Vegapunk develop the experimental product so quickly? The laser cannon carried by the pacifist amazed Darren as he watched Borsolino leave the room with his head bowed.
From this point of view, Vegapunk had unlocked the secret of Devil Fruit's ability. This was an unexpected surprise. During this period, the Seven Warlords of the Sea system was far from being established. The pacifist prototype "tyrant" Bartholemew Kuma, equipped with laser cannons, likely had not yet gone to sea. This also meant that the pacifists from the Sabaody Archipelago incident in the original plot probably did not even exist yet.
If it were possible to carry a number of laser cannons on the North Blue fleet, rows of invincible ships would burst through the clouds and descend from the sky, using the most advanced laser cannons on the sea to wipe out all enemies within the target range. Thinking about it for a moment excited Darren. The crushing power of technology...
If this plan were successful, Darren would show the so-called big pirates the power of technology.
At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in," Darren called.
The ward door gently opened, and a tall black-haired figure walked in confidently, stepping on high heels.
"What a rare visitor..." Darren teased as he saw the delightful "Flower of the Marine" standing before him.
Gion glanced at Darren indifferently, then casually placed a bouquet of flowers on the table beside the bed and said lightly, "You're not dead yet, villains really do live long."
Darren shrugged.
A face swollen like a pig's head appeared from behind Gion, grinning. "Not very spirited..."
Seeing Kake's bruised and swollen face made Darren laugh. "Kake, what happened to you? Were you beaten at a custom shop?"
Kake's face turned red. He glanced at Gion in fear and hesitated.
Darren, guessing correctly, twitched the corner of his eye and a few black lines appeared on his forehead. He shook his head and asked, "What's the matter with you?"
Gion responded slowly, "The officer training camp is about to start. Major Kake and I are also members of this training camp. We will go to the headquarters with you for training."
Darren nodded, "I know, I've seen the list."
Given Gion and Kake's strength and status, it was normal for them to get two spots in the officer training camp, even if it was a bit early for them. Considering their significant growth in strength and experience during their time in North Blue, it was understandable for Sengoku Admiral to put them in the training camp early. Of course, this did not rule out that Sengoku, the old fox, wanted to continue to be the "nanny" for these two.
"Congratulations," Darren added.
Gion nodded and turned to leave but then, suddenly, she stopped. After a moment of silence, she said, "Colonel Darren—no, Commodore Darren —I think I owe you an apology."
"Oh?" Darren laughed with interest, "Why?"
Gion whispered, "I take back my previous evaluation of you. Although you smoke, drink, are greedy for money, are lustful, like to kill people, and have a strong desire for power..."
She bit her lower lip with her white teeth. "But you're a good Marine."
"Well, fair enough."
Darren narrowed his eyes with a smile. "It seems that you've discovered something."
Gion didn't speak. On the way out to sea to catch Kake, she saw two familiar figures. It was a small but cozy flower shop. The father and daughter in the shop had changed their attire, hairstyle, and hair color, making them look like different people. But she still recognized the innocent little girl at a glance.
Darren grinned suddenly. "However, I still prefer your rebellious look before."
Gion's face darkened, and she quickly walked out of the ward on high heels. Marine Commodore's hearty laughter could be heard behind her. In the ward, Kake shook his head and watched the scene, his face full of sadness.
"It's really you... I've never seen Gion apologize to anyone."
Darren smiled. "It has never happened, but that doesn't mean it never will."
"Tch!" Kake snorted. "You know how to be cool!"
He thought for a while, then suddenly put an arm around Darren's shoulder and said, dissatisfied, "But you are so unkind... You accomplished such a great feat by killing Byrnndi Waldo, but you didn't take me with you!"
He waved his clenched fist, his eyes bursting with excitement. "You know I stood on the warship in the sky and watched you fight on the island. The boiling fighting spirit in my heart made me tremble all over..."
"Really? I heard from Flying Squirrel that you were so frightened your face turned pale. Your hands were shaking so much that you almost crushed the railing."
"I'm afraid of heights!" Kake blushed and said, "Fear of heights, do you understand?"
"If you had let me go down, I would have been able to fight side by side with you. Maybe Borsolino wouldn't have been needed. If the two of us had worked together, we could have killed Byrnndi Waldo directly!"
There was resentment in his tone. "What a perfect story that would be... The genius Marine from the headquarters planning to attack the legendary big pirate! If this gets out, how much support would I win? I would become Marine's new star, the hope of justice!"
Darren glanced at him. "But I heard this is how you brag to others..."
Kake's tone was suffocated. "I... I... I..." His expression changed, and finally, he sat down hard, picked up the fruit basket next to him, and started to eat angrily. Darren laughed and shook his head. He stood up, put on his military uniform, and pulled off a brand new cloak of justice from the coat rack.
"I'm going out for a while."
"Where are you going?" Kake, who was holding a watermelon and munching on it, asked vaguely.
"Go to the custom shop."
"Hey, hey, take me!"
"Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by Gion?"
"Well, you know, I'm just testing you... A gentleman like me would never go to a place like that."
"Well, initially, I thought about the membership cards that others gave me. There are still a lot I can't use up..."
"Commodore Darren! Such a scourge to the marine ethos should be left to me to destroy. I promise to complete the task!"
"..."