After Kairo finished his lecture on the Tao Te Ching, Cobra and the others gradually took their leave.
In the end, only Kairo, Robin, Perona, and Princess Vivi remained.
After six straight days of intensive lessons, Vivi was finally reaching her limit.
After all, she was only ten years old.
The fact that she had managed to spend six consecutive days studying the Tao Te Ching—a work so profound that even adults in this world found it incomprehensible—was already a miracle.
So the moment Kairo finished today's lesson, she immediately dragged Perona and Robin off to play.
Over the past few days, Vivi and Perona had grown incredibly close.
The two little girls had become such good friends that they even insisted on sleeping together.
Of course, since both of them had become so attached to Robin, Robin naturally ended up staying in the royal palace as well.
After the three of them left, Kairo was alone in the courtyard.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he immediately spent 50,000 Travel Points to upgrade his Armament Haki to Level 9.
Just like when he had upgraded his Observation Haki to Level 9, he didn't feel any dramatic changes.
However...
The more that was the case, the more convinced he became that only after all three types of Haki reached Level 9 would he be able to enter an even higher realm of Haki.
So he didn't dwell on it.
His next objective was obvious.
Continue traveling until his Conqueror's Haki also reached Level 9.
"Mr. Kairo."
Just after upgrading his Armament Haki, Momousagi, dressed in her Marine vice admiral's coat, walked into the courtyard.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi?"
Seeing her arrive, Kairo looked slightly surprised.
"I didn't expect you to still be in Alubarna."
"If I remember correctly, you said your visit to Alabasta wasn't just to escort the kingdom's delegation to the Holy Land."
"You had another mission, didn't you?"
"That's right, Mr. Kairo."
Gion nodded gently.
"But compared to that mission..."
"...there's something even more important."
"Oh?"
Kairo blinked.
Then he gestured toward the chair across from him.
"Don't just stand there."
"Sit."
Gion hesitated briefly before accepting and sitting opposite him.
"Mr. Kairo..."
"Would you consider coming to Marine Headquarters with me?"
"The reason I've remained in Alubarna all this time..."
"...was to wait for you."
"So that's the important matter you mentioned?"
Kairo blinked in surprise.
"My goodness."
"Has Garp's bad habit rubbed off on you too?"
"I'm just a traveler."
"There's really no need to make such a huge fuss."
"No..."
"This time..."
"...it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku's decision."
Gion smiled helplessly.
"And that's exactly why I didn't know how to bring it up."
"I know you don't want to go to Marine Headquarters."
"But since it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku's direct order..."
"I can only—"
"So those two old geezers finally realized they couldn't do anything to me..."
"...and decided to gang up on Vice Admiral Momousagi instead?"
Before she could finish, Kairo interrupted her with an exaggeratedly fierce expression.
"Fine."
"When I get the chance..."
"...I'll help you get back at those two."
Gion's beautiful eyes widened.
She clearly hadn't expected Kairo to respond like that.
Then she shook her head with a smile.
"Mr. Kairo..."
"You're joking."
"I..."
"...I don't even know what to say."
"In any case..."
"You don't need to worry about my feelings."
"If you don't want to go..."
"I'll report back immediately."
"No rush."
Kairo waved his hand.
Then, his expression became serious.
"Gion."
"I have a question."
Hearing him suddenly call her by her actual name instead of "Vice Admiral Momousagi," Gion's heart skipped a beat.
A faint blush immediately spread across her cheeks.
Unable to meet his gaze, she lowered her head in slight panic.
"M-Mr. Kairo..."
"What... what would you like to ask?"
"When you recognized Robin..."
"You didn't try to arrest her."
"Was that because I saved your life back in West Blue?"
The moment Robin was mentioned, Gion's expression changed slightly.
After a brief silence, she slowly raised her head.
Then she nodded.
"Wearing this Marine coat..."
"...is because of you, Mr. Kairo."
"You saved my life."
"So..."
"I'm willing to do anything for you."
"But..."
"If I were to take off this Marine coat..."
"...that wouldn't be because of you."
"I also want to see..."
"...just how far Robin, the sole survivor of Ohara, can go."
Kairo remained silent.
He simply looked steadily at her.
Under his gaze, Gion gradually became nervous again.
Just as she was about to speak...
Kairo suddenly asked,
"When do we leave for Marine Headquarters?"
"...Huh?"
Completely unable to keep up with his train of thought, Gion froze.
She looked up at him in astonishment.
"M-Mr. Kairo..."
"You..."
"What do you mean...?"
"I'm going to Marine Headquarters."
"I'd like to see what those two old men are plotting."
"So..."
"I'll have to trouble Vice Admiral Momousagi to give me a ride."
Joy and disbelief instantly filled Gion's eyes.
She immediately stood up.
"If you're willing to go, Mr. Kairo..."
"...we can leave right now!"
Kairo agreed to accompany Gion to Marine Headquarters.
Not because he was particularly interested in whatever Garp and Sengoku were planning...
But because of Gion herself.
Although Momousagi had only appeared briefly in the original story, leaving Kairo with little understanding of her...
Things were different now.
He had come to know her somewhat.
There was no doubt that Gion possessed a strong sense of justice.
But that wasn't what mattered.
What mattered was...
Her justice wasn't blind.
If it had been...
She would have arrested Robin the moment she recognized her.
That alone was enough for Kairo to decide that he wouldn't make things difficult for her.
Besides...
To him, visiting Marine Headquarters was simply another stop on his journey.
Yet for that simple trip...
Gion had quietly waited in Alubarna for six whole days.
He couldn't ignore that sincerity.
After giving Robin and Perona a few instructions and saying goodbye to Princess Vivi...
Kairo boarded the Marine warship alongside Vice Admiral Momousagi.
Together, they set sail for Marine Headquarters.
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