That night.
After another round of heart-pounding "personal instruction," Gion straightened her messy collar and, blushing, prepared to leave.
Watching the girl's graceful silhouette, Tatsuki lightly tapped the desk with his fingers, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
'Leaving already?'
Initially, he had merely adopted a perfunctory attitude of "since the system judges this as harassment, I might as well rack up some points." But he had to admit that after these three days, he had developed a taste for it.
Watching this Admiral Candidate, who was usually heroic and spirited and would one day shake the seas, transition from initial stiff resistance in his arms to later blushing, gasping, and even proactively adopting various embarrassing positions to accommodate his "teaching"...
This immense contrast, and the sense of conquest from slowly influencing Gion, brought Tatsuki a long-lost pleasure.
'To only treat her as a point-farming machine would be a terrible waste.'
Tatsuki rubbed his chin, his gaze gradually deepening and becoming aggressive.
'Top-tier figure, exceptional talent, and most importantly... those eyes filled with almost overflowing adoration when she looks at me.'
If such an obedient and useful, top-quality soldier were given to someone else, or if she grew wings and flew away later, he would feel heartache.
Thinking of this, the corner of Tatsuki's lips curved into a gentle yet dangerous arc.
"Wait." Tatsuki called out to her.
Gion turned back in confusion, only to see Tatsuki retrieve the long wooden box from under the desk and slowly walk towards her.
"Rear Admiral Tatsuki?"
"Open it and take a look."
Gion paused, then opened the wooden box as instructed.
The next second, her eyes couldn't look away.
It was the instinctive thrill of a swordsman seeing a peerless blade. The exquisite cherry blossom patterns and the perfect curvature of the blade seemed to be calling out to her.
"This... what is this?" She reached out with a trembling hand, gripped the hilt, and gently drew the sword.
Clang!
A clear, resonant clang, like the cry of a phoenix, echoed in the office.
The cold light illuminated Gion's stunned face.
"One of the 21 Great Grade Swords, Konpira." Tatsuki's voice rang out calmly, carrying an undeniable certainty.
"I've been observing you these past few days. Ordinary swords have limited your potential. Only this blade is worthy of your talent."
"A Great Grade Blade?!"
Gion was so startled she almost dropped it. This was an invaluable treasure, priceless on the market.
"No! This is too precious! I can't accept it!" Gion frantically tried to put the sword back.
"Rear Admiral Tatsuki, you must have gone through great lengths to..."
"Take it."
Tatsuki interrupted her, stepped forward, and gently pressed his hand onto her hand, which was attempting to return the sword.
The distance between them instantly closed.
Tatsuki's deep gaze locked onto Gion's eyes. His expression instantly shifted and became deep and solemn, as if he were gazing upon the most precious treasure of his life.
"Actually, this isn't just a sword, it is also my family's heirloom."
"Huh?" Gion was stunned.
Tatsuki's voice became low and magnetic, as if recounting an ancient secret. "The ancestral motto says that Konpira chooses its own master. It has been waiting for someone who can resonate with my soul and truly understand the meaning of 'Justice'."
He extended his other hand and gently smoothed the stray hair near Gion's ear, his fingertip brushing her burning cheek.
"Gion, watching you practice your sword these past few days, seeing you grit your teeth and persist in my arms time and again to become stronger... I can feel it cheering. The person it's been waiting for is you."
"Therefore, for you, I am willing to disregard even the family motto that states, 'This blade may only be given to the partner with whom I will spend my life.'"
Gion's mind went "buzz" and completely blanked out.
Heirloom... soul resonance... partner for life?
These words exploded in her mind like a nuclear bomb, shattering her rationality and turning into a sky full of pink bubbles.
So... in Rear Admiral Tatsuki's heart, am I such a special existence?
Not only did he teach me without reservation, but he even even gave me his family's most important token. Is this a veiled marriage proposal?
Looking at the man before her who was willing to break ancestral rules, Gion's eyes instantly turned red, and hot tears streamed out uncontrollably.
"Tatsuki!"
She could no longer control the surging emotions in her heart. She suddenly threw herself into Tatsuki's arms, clinging tightly to his waist, weeping profusely.
"I swear! As long as the sword is here, I am here! I will absolutely not let down your feelings! Whether it's this sword, or... or you!"
Tatsuki took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her trembling shoulders, holding her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, and gently stroking her long hair.
From the angle Gion couldn't see, the affectionate look on Tatsuki's face faded, leaving only a smile of successful deception.
[Ding! Fabricated false family history, successfully achieved deep emotional binding with Elite Marine Gion.]
[Achievement unlocked: A Lie for Life.]
[Ding! Established a long-term "under-the-table" relationship, activated continuous Violation Points income. Violation Points +100/day.]
Listening to the wonderful system notification sound and feeling Gion's unwavering devotion in his arms, Tatsuki was in excellent spirits.
A pilfered sword exchanged for a future Admiral Candidate as a wife, plus stable welfare income every day.
More importantly, on the long Marine path ahead, whether in the office or on the battlefield, he would no longer be lonely.
This deal is a massive profit.