Of the five individuals summoned to the designated location, the first to arrive was Gion, unsurprisingly.
After all, she had spent most of her ti wandering the New World, rarely returning to Marine Headquarters unless absolutely necessary.
Or rather—ever since Luffy had told her about Pure Gold, she had refused to return altogether.
Desperate to maintain her youth and beauty, Gion had relentlessly scoured the seas for any trace of the legendary Lantern Fish.
But after months of fruitless searching, she had found nothing.
She had even made occasional stops at Onigashima, yet she never lingered—staying for a single night at most before departing again.
For a reserve Admiral, Sengoku had largely turned a blind eye to her actions, as long as she continued eliminating pirates in the process.
And to her credit, Gion had captured several notorious criminals over the past six months, further solidifying her reputation.
So when Sengoku finally issued a direct order, she imdiately abandoned her current mission and set sail.
Her priorities were clear.
First, there was the undisclosed relationship between herself and certain individuals involved in this operation.
Second, after half a year of searching with no success, she was beginning to doubt whether Pure Gold even existed.
She had co to consult Luffy—to see if he still believed in its existence or if she should simply give up and wait the few years he had originally predicted for it to resurface.
And just like before, she chose to land at Onigashima.
Onigashima – A Flourishing Port City
Ever since computers had been introduced to the world, Onigashima had undergone a remarkable transformation.
It had evolved from a feared pirate stronghold into a bustling economic hub, its streets overflowing with travelers, traders, and tourists.
If it weren't for the dedicated warship docks, Gion might have struggled to even find a place to park her ship.
Stepping off the vessel, she was greeted by Kujaku, who had co to escort her.
As Gion took in the breathtaking sight of the flourishing city, she couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"You've really outdone yourself," she remarked. "In such a short ti, you've managed to turn an insignificant island into sothing this grand."
Kujaku, ever the mischievous one, smiled modestly and led the way.
"Don't be fooled by the glitter and gold," she said. "It's actually a nightmare to manage."
Gion raised an eyebrow as Kujaku dramatically sighed, clearly eager to vent.
"Those wealthy nobles and royal brats throw money around like it's nothing," she grumbled. "They insist on buying the sa products, so we're constantly running out of stock.
Luffy's practically losing his mind trying to keep up with demand."
At this, Gion paused and blinked.
'Wait… I was just being polite, and now she's trying to one-up with complaints?'
Her eyelid twitched as she realized Kujaku was pulling a humble brag on her.
'Alright, little brat. If that's how you wanna play it…'
Without warning, Gion lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Kujaku's neck in an iron grip.
The sudden chokehold left Kujaku gasping for air.
"G-Gah! What—?!"
The Marines watching the scene gasped in horror, their faces turning pale.
Was Gion about to murder her colleague in broad daylight?!
Kujaku flailed helplessly, her breath hitching as she struggled under Gion's vice-like grip.
"Mmph—! I—I was wrong! I was wrong! Granny Gion, please spare !" she managed to choke out.
Unfortunately, Kujaku had made another mistake.
Sohow, in the midst of her panic, she had picked up one of Luffy's bad habits—running her mouth even when she was at a disadvantage.
And unlike Luffy, Kujaku did not have the strength to back it up.
Gion's smile vanished instantly.
Her grip tightened.
"You called what?" she asked, her tone dangerously low.
Kujaku's eyes bulged.
The last thing she saw before her vision blurred was Gion's fist coming toward her.
Minutes Later…
Kujaku staggered forward, coughing violently, her hand rubbing at her sore throat.
"Ack—! You crazy woman! You really dared to choke ?!"
Gion flexed her wrist and scoffed.
"Little Kujaku," she said with mocking sweetness, "hasn't your sister ever warned you?
'Trouble cos from the tongue.'
If you don't want to suffer, then don't provoke ."
Kujaku glared at her, still gasping for breath.
She wanted to fire back with so sharp remark, but the lingering pain in her throat reminded her of the reality—there was an overwhelming gap in strength between them.
So instead, she simply huffed, turned on her heel, and stord off.
"Heh. You really think you can escape that easily, little brat?" Gion chuckled smugly as she followed behind.
The Marines who had gathered to watch the one-sided beatdown slowly dispersed, returning to their duties.
None of them had noticed two mysterious figures watching from the docks.
At so point, a small fishing boat had appeared in the port, docked quietly among the warships.
Standing aboard it were two figures, one dressed in black, the other in gold—both wearing Marine uniforms.
And yet…
No one recognized them.
Without drawing attention, the two strangers disembarked and disappeared into the crowds, moving with silent purpose.
anwhile, Elsewhere in Onigashima…
Still fuming, Kujaku led Gion into one of the most extravagant restaurants on the island.
Despite its high-class appearance, the restaurant was packed with tourists, nobles, and rchants alike, all enjoying the luxury of Onigashima's new economic boom.
As the two disappeared inside, murmurs spread through the nearby crowd.
A well-dressed middle-aged gentleman, seated beside his female companion, adjusted his monocle and furrowed his brows.
"Hmm… If I'm not mistaken," he mused, stroking his chin, "that woman just now was Miss Gion, the Marine Admiral candidate, known by the codena 'Momousagi.'"
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Marvel : The God Of Punishnt System
I Am Raditz
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