In the office, Sengoku patiently persuaded Kizaru to accept the mission and escort the Celestial Dragon named 'Lakeman.' Although Kizaru agreed, he remained melancholy and depressed.
"My vacation is ruined…" he muttered as he returned to his dormitory dejectedly to pack his luggage.
While packing, Kizaru thought about the situation. He didn't understand why the Celestial Dragon insisted on having him as an escort. Was he, Kizaru, very strong? Akainu and Aokiji, with their Lava-Lava Fruit and Frozen Fruit, were both formidable. If Lakeman liked, he could nominate both of them at the same time. Wouldn't it be interesting to have two worlds of ice and fire?
"So, why me!!" Kizaru became more and more depressed as he thought about it, scratching his head hard. His expression was not as frivolous and casual as usual. He was still in his late thirties, young and less slick than in the future.
"He actually asked the Five Elders to force me to escort him. Is this Celestial Dragon targeting me?" Kizaru scratched his head in confusion. "Why? I've never met this Celestial Dragon! Did I offend him somehow?"
Kizaru thought for a long time but couldn't find an answer. Helplessly, he could only give up thinking. There were too few clues, and thinking was useless. He decided to wait for the day of the meeting; the truth would come out naturally then.
"I almost forgot, I have to tell the people below before leaving," Kizaru said, packing his luggage and setting off for the military camp.
Many in the Marines held resentment towards the Celestial Dragons. This was a manifestation of their sense of justice.
Normally, it wouldn't matter, as long as they didn't publicly publish remarks attacking the World Government. But now, with the task of escorting a Celestial Dragon, they had to be careful with their words and actions. Any emotional outburst that angered the Celestial Dragons could be fatal.
A Warship Departs.
Not long after, a warship departed from the headquarters, heading for the Celestial Dragons' holy land, Mariejois. Kizaru stood on the deck with a rare serious expression. He glanced at the Marines standing in front of him and asked in a deep voice, "Do you understand what I just told you?"
"We understand!" shouted the sailors.
"Very good." Kizaru nodded with satisfaction. No matter what he thought in his heart, he had to appear convinced on the surface. He waved his hand, signaling the Commodore and the Captain to follow him into the cabin.
In the cabin, Kizaru communicated with them in detail, teaching them the code of conduct for dealing with Celestial Dragons. Although this was his first time accepting an escort mission, there were many "predecessors" in the Marines. These predecessors had left behind various unforgettable experiences. Marshal Sengoku had compiled an action guide a long time ago and circulated it internally. Now, this guide was handed over to Kizaru.
"Alright, listen up," Kizaru began, addressing the Commodore and the Captain. "We are escorting a Celestial Dragon, so you need to be on your best behavior. No unnecessary comments, no emotional outbursts. Treat everything with the utmost seriousness."
"Understood, Vice Admiral," the Commodore replied.
Kizaru nodded, satisfied with the response. "We have to handle this mission delicately. The Celestial Dragons are not to be trifled with. One wrong move, and it could cost us dearly."
"Yes, Vice Admiral," the Captain added. "We've read the guide compiled by Marshal Sengoku. We know what to do."
"Good," Kizaru said. "Remember, don't refute or refuse any orders directly. If you need to buy time, delay tactfully. If you can't delay, follow the orders but keep your wits about you."
The officers exchanged glances, then one of them chuckled. "Isn't it just learning from how you usually work, Vice Admiral? It's so easy."
Kizaru's eyes twitched. "What do you mean by that? Do I have a bad work attitude?"
The Captain grinned. "Of course not, sir. We just meant that your strategic thinking and ability to navigate tricky situations are things we've learned from."
Kizaru sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Just make sure you all understand the gravity of this mission. We're dealing with a Celestial Dragon, and any mistake could be catastrophic."
The men nodded earnestly, their earlier levity replaced by serious expressions. Kizaru waved them out of the cabin, feeling a mix of frustration and relief.
Arrival at Mariejois.
A few days later, the warship arrived at the holy land of Mariejois. Lakeman was ready to go and boarded his family's ship. Alongside him were the butler, the three Boa sisters, guards, instructors, servants, cooks, doctors, and other attendants, totaling up to hundreds of people—all serving Lakeman.
Before boarding, Hancock took a moment to privately attend to Lakeman, offering a gesture of devotion. She knelt before him, her eyes filled with both reverence and desire. Lakeman leaned back, allowing her to perform, feeling the warmth and skill she offered. Her touch was both gentle and insistent, bringing him to the edge of ecstasy before he finally released with a groan of satisfaction.
"Good girl," he murmured, stroking her hair as she looked up at him with a mix of pride and submission.
With a final, affectionate glance, Hancock helped Lakeman adjust his clothing, and they made their way to the ship.
"Hello, Saint Lakeman. I am the Marine escorting you to Sabaody Archipelago this time, Borsalino." Kizaru appeared at the dock, expressionless, and greeted Lakeman in a businesslike manner. He didn't intend to have any extra communication with this Celestial Dragon young master. He just wanted to get to Sabaody Archipelago quickly and be done with it.
While talking, the Marines on the warship stood with stern faces, looking like robots, ready to follow orders without any extra words.
"If you are ready, then we can set off now," Kizaru said, preparing to return to the warship. This was just a formality. The people behind Lakeman had no expressions either, boarding the ship in an orderly manner. They weren't interested in communicating with the Marines.
"Master, let's go..." the maid bowed and said.
At this moment, Lakeman made a move that surprised everyone. He stepped out quickly, stretched out his hands, and grasped Kizaru's rough, hairy hands, saying in an enthusiastic voice:
"Oh, finally meeting you, Vice Admiral Kizaru! I have heard of your name for so long!!"
The scene suddenly became quiet. Everyone stopped and stared at Lakeman in a daze, unable to believe what they were seeing. This Celestial Dragon master actually took the initiative to shake Kizaru's hand?
Maid: ???
Boa Sisters: ???
Kizaru: ???
Marine: ???
"I'm very curious about you, Vice Admiral. I heard that the Sparkling Fruit is the fastest and can instantly cross a thousand meters, achieving teleportation, right?" Lakeman seemed unaware of the strange atmosphere and looked at Kizaru with a smile.
"Ah, uh, this..."
Kizaru's mind was in chaos. This Celestial Dragon actually took the initiative to shake hands with him? Was he still asleep?
"You are too polite. My little tricks are not worth your attention at all," Kizaru squeezed out a polite smile, looking at the hand held by Lakeman, and goosebumps appeared all over his body.
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