"Y-Your name?"
Gion suppressed her unease, trying to sound as steady as possible.
"Marsh."
The same name too?!
How could this be?
A thousand thoughts raced through Gion's mind.
Could someone from her dreams appear in reality?
Or she still dreaming and haven't woken up?
Or worse, could he really be the same scoundrel from her dream?!
Either way, she couldn't ask all these questions now.
"I'm in need of a personal guard. You'll be by my side from now on."
"Huh?"
Now Marsh was taken aback.
He'd been hoping to stay as far away from Gion as possible, but the plot had taken a wild turn!
"Huh? The lieutenant commander is giving you a chance to be her personal guard! Thank her already!" Kiri slapped Marsh on the back of the head, his jealousy barely hidden.
Damn it.
So this world really is all about looks!
He slave away tirelessly every day, and she never spares him a second glance. But this guy, with just a pretty face, becomes her personal guard!
Does this mean he'll be with her all day?!
"Well...thank you, Lieutenant Commander." Marsh, seeing no way out, reluctantly nodded.
"You, come here." Gion waved over a woman with curly blonde hair, bangs covering her eyes, and wearing white candle-shaped earrings. The Navy woman quickly ran over.
Whoa!
Impressive!
Marsh tried to look away, but it was hard to ignore such an impressive sight!
He had thought Gion's build was already exaggerated, but this woman took it to a whole new level!
"Lieutenant Commander!" The woman saluted, her movements sending waves with every motion.
Huh?
She looked strangely familiar.
Marsh looked at her blonde hair, thinking hard.
"Sadi, get him an outfit, a bath, and find him a room." Gion pointing to Marsh. "You can rest today. Tomorrow, report to my office, and I'll assign your duties."
Sadi?
Isn't she the chief guard in Impel Down?
Why is she serving under Gion here?
Confused as he was, Marsh saluted Gion and Kiri, albeit a bit clumsily, and then followed Sadi out.
...
Returning to her quarters, Gion didn't even have the mind to open the chest Kiri's team had retrieved at great risk.
"What exactly is going on?"
His appearance, voice, even his name were identical to that scoundrel from her dream.
But somehow, his presence was oddly comforting.
Are dreams the opposite of reality?
Impossible! He must be acting!
He must still be the same vile person at his core!
Still, as a Navy officer sworn to justice, she couldn't condemn someone based on a dream!
Evidence is everything!
...
A little while later, a knock came at her door.
"Enter."
The person who entered was Sadi, who had taken Marsh to rest earlier.
"Report, Lieutenant Commander! The task is complete!" Sadi saluted.
"Understood." Gion nodded, then asked casually, "What do you think of this...Marsh?"
Because Sadi's eyes were hidden under her bangs, Gion couldn't see her expression.
But she could feel Sadi's hesitation.
Sighing, Gion added, "Don't worry about gossiping. He's my personal guard, so I need to know a bit about him."
"Yes!"
Sadi saluted again and replied in a clear voice, "From what I observed, Recruit Marsh has steady steps and controlled breathing. His moves are powerful and precise, showing that he's mastered at least Geppo and Shigan from the Rokushiki techniques."
"He's an uncommon talent from the civilian ranks!"
Gion rolled her eyes. "I'm not asking about that! I mean his character!"
"Ah?"
Sadi was puzzled.
"Character! Like his personality, temperament, that kind of thing!"
"Understood! From what I observed, Recruit Marsh seemed genuinely concerned and reluctant to part with Lieutenant Kiri. This suggests he's a compassionate and loyal person!"
"And he seems eager to help others too!"
"Helpful?" Gion raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!"
"How so?"
"He noticed my shoulder injury and offered to help me with some massage therapy once I was off duty!"
Upon hearing this, Gion stood up abruptly, pacing the room with her hands behind her back.
'I knew it! Old habits die hard!'
'This Marsh really is the villain from my dream!'
'Turns out I had a prophetic dream!'
"But I refused his offer!"
"Refused? Why did you refuse?" Gion slapped her hands on the desk, looking displeased.
"Um..." Startled by her reaction, Sadi stammered, "As a Navy officer, my duty is to serve continuously without breaks!"
"Ugh." Gion slapped her forehead.
"Sadi!"
"Yes, Lieutenant Commander!"
"I'm granting you a night off. Go find that Marsh!"
"Huh?"
"That's an order!"
***
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