When Gion finished speaking, Sengoku, sitting at his desk, was so moved that he couldn't help but pound the table in excitement. He was genuinely touched.
At this moment, he really wanted to call over Garp, Kizaru, and Aokiji to show them what a true Marine should be like!
As a Fleet Admiral, Sengoku worked tirelessly 365 days a year, waking up early and staying up late to handle various affairs. He even had to clean up the messes left by certain individuals like a grandfather dealing with mischievous children.
But despite all this effort, none of his subordinates made his life any easier. Some even spent their days figuring out how to slack off. Seeing Gion's dedication, Sengoku felt that she was the true model of what a Marine should be!
In fact, it wasn't that Gion was exceptionally diligent or eager to work overtime. What made her different was the influence of a man named Wood, someone she had come to know.
This wouldn't have been an issue by itself. After all, in one's life, the people you meet and truly connect with are few and far between, and those who actually influence your life path are even rarer.
Oddly enough, Wood might have already forgotten about Gion, but she saw Wood as one of those rare individuals who had a significant impact on her life.
This isn't to say that Gion had feelings for Wood. Rather, her intense competitiveness had driven her to remember the display of strength Wood had shown her six months ago.
Gion had already considered Wood a rival, and after their last encounter, while Wood was content to pursue a leisurely and stable life, Gion never forgot her desire to catch up to and surpass him.
Admittedly, Gion acknowledged that six months ago, she was no match for Wood. But in the time that had passed since, she had experienced a great deal and had grown much stronger.
However, knowing Wood's talent and character, Gion was convinced that even if Wood was hiding in some remote corner, his strength wouldn't have stagnated over these six months.
Determined to catch up to and eventually surpass Wood, Gion refused to pass up any opportunity to grow stronger. That's why she decided to decline Fleet Admiral Sengoku's offer to take a break.
Sengoku, unaware of Gion's true motivations, simply admired her high sense of duty. And since he had no reason to refuse a Marine who was eager to improve, he quickly handed Gion another mission file.
"Escorting slaves to the Holy Land, Mariejois?"
As she read the mission details, Gion couldn't help but frown.
Everyone knew that Mariejois was the residence of the Celestial Dragons, the world's aristocracy, and the de facto rulers of the World Government.
In other words, the Celestial Dragons were the Marine Headquarters' ultimate superiors.
However, anyone who had ever encountered the Celestial Dragons had no fondness for these so-called "world nobles." Even the Marines disliked dealing with them.
Having known Wood for two years, Gion had come to see him as a somewhat shameless individual, but compared to the Celestial Dragons, Wood was merely mischievous. The Celestial Dragons of Mariejois were the real scum of the seas—complete human garbage.
Noticing Gion's expression, Sengoku sighed with a look of resignation. He, too, was fully aware of the nature of the Celestial Dragons.
However, the Marines took orders from the World Government, and the World Government served the Celestial Dragons. This left the Marines with no choice but to comply.
The Celestial Dragons were the descendants of nineteen of the twenty kings who formed the World Government 800 years ago. They regarded themselves as "descendants of the creators" and enjoyed every privilege imaginable.
It was said that they were the descendants of those who saved the world, though the truth of this claim was impossible to verify, as that part of history had been completely erased.
However, the Celestial Dragons had been entrenched in power for centuries, with their influence deeply rooted across the seas.
Every Marine's salary, every cannon, and every warship came from World Government funds, leaving the Marines with no ability to defy the Celestial Dragons.
Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr—all of them were true Marines who upheld their own sense of justice. But why did they follow the orders of the World Government?
Because they had no choice! Without money, there could be no war, and individual power alone couldn't suppress the chaos brought by pirates on the seas.
The Celestial Dragons were trash, the World Government was their lapdog, and even the Marines had their share of corrupt individuals.
But it was undeniable that the Marines' presence did, to some extent, curb the spread of evil on the seas.
Garp and Sengoku saw hope in the future of the Marines, so they chose to endure.
As for Luffy's father, Dragon, he saw the World Government as beyond redemption. Rather than waiting for some uncertain future change, he decided to take matters into his own hands, seeking to change the present and forge a new future.
We can't say that Garp, Zephyr, and others like them are wrong. It's simply a matter of different choices. If we had to categorize them, Garp and his peers would be conservatives, while Dragon and the Revolutionary Army would be considered radicals.
One thing was certain, though—both the conservatives and the radicals despised the Celestial Dragons.
This was why Gion frowned when she read the mission file.
She, too, hated the Celestial Dragons, and the mission involved escorting slaves—a practice she found deeply repugnant.
"I know this mission might be difficult for you, but I trust you more than anyone else for this task," Sengoku said.
Originally, Sengoku had planned to assign the mission to Vice Admiral Cadar. Though Cadar wasn't particularly sharp, he was clever enough and knew how to flatter. He probably wouldn't clash with the Celestial Dragons.
However, Sengoku ultimately decided to give the task to Gion because she had handled the recent kingdom's internal strife so well. She was capable and tactful, unlike Garp and others who were prone to impulsive actions.
Moreover, this mission aligned perfectly with Gion's request. The number of slaves to be escorted wasn't large, so the mission required only a few capable Marine officers.
To ensure Gion had the necessary authority for this mission, Sengoku generously offered to let her assemble a small elite team, consisting of any Marine personnel below the rank of Vice Admiral.
"So I can choose any Marine officer below the rank of Vice Admiral to be my subordinate?" Gion's hand, which had been about to put down the mission file, paused upon hearing Sengoku's words.
"Of course. After all, I'm the Fleet Admiral. Putting together an elite team to assist you with this mission is well within my power. Just remember, the personnel you select must be from within the Marines. If you need someone from a special unit, it might take some time."
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 120 at patreon.com/Betek.