The Marine is essentially just a sharp blade in the hands of the World Government.
As long as you are strong enough, and as long as you can still kill for them, then no matter who you like, who you sleep with, or what shady business you conduct in private, they will only turn a blind eye.
Moreover, ever since meeting Lucas, the speed of Gion’s improvement in strength has been nothing short of terrifying.
In just three short years, she soared from a newly graduated recruit to the rank of Commodore.
In terms of actual combat power, she has already surpassed the vast majority of the Vice Admiral personnel at Marineford who are just coasting through life.
Whether it is her teacher Zephyr, or Vice Admiral Tsuru who treats her like a younger sister, they are both happy to see this.
However, where there is joy, there is sorrow.
Tokikake is the one whose hair is practically turning white from all the worrying.
As Gion’s classmate, he fell in love at first sight with this cold and proud young woman from the very first day he entered the elite training camp.
Over these past few years, he has poured his heart and soul into pursuing her, waiting on her hand and foot, and tried every possible method, yet he hasn’t even held her hand.
In the end, the goddess he had been bitterly pursuing for so many years was actually snatched away by some gangster who popped out of nowhere.
How could he possibly swallow this insult?
He had never met Lucas, but from the female soldiers who returned from missions with Gion, he had long since engraved that man’s features into his mind—silver long hair, azure blue eyes.
Therefore, starting half a year ago, whenever it was his turn to be on duty at Red Port, he would deliberately cause trouble for every man with silver hair.
Even if he knew nine times out of ten that he had identified the wrong person, he never tired of it.
This was probably the only way he could vent the resentment in his heart.
Lucas turned around, looking at the Marine officer before him who had a head of messy hair and “I am very unhappy” written all over his face, his expression strange.
He really hadn’t expected that he would meet this romantic rival in such a way.
It must be said that this fellow looked a bit too “rushed” in his appearance; clearly only in his early twenties, yet he looked like a middle-aged uncle in his thirties.
“According to the World Government passenger regulations, I don’t seem to have any obligation to explain these things to you, do I?”
Lucas asked calmly in return.
Tokikake’s expression sank instantly.
He also knew he was being unreasonable.
In the past, when he made things difficult for others, he would at most stare at them for a few minutes, and they would naturally leave out of nervousness.
But for some reason, the calm gaze of the silver-haired youth before him made him inexplicably furious.
The words were already out, and he was stuck in a difficult position, so he could only bite the bullet and say:
“Regulations are rigid, but people are flexible.
I now suspect you of carrying contraband and suspect you of being a pirate spy.
Speak, what exactly are you doing in Red Port?”
“I am going to Paradise to see a doctor.”
Lucas cooperated fully and told the truth,
“My body has some issues; if I don’t get them treated, I might die.”
Tokikake was stunned for a moment.
He looked Lucas up and down.
Although the youth before him had a somewhat pale complexion, his posture was upright, and he didn’t look like someone who was terminally ill at all.
However…
he immediately thought again that the bastard who snatched Gion away supposedly had physical fitness like a monster, able to fight with Gion for days and nights.
The person in front of him definitely wasn’t him.
It seemed he had made a mistake again.
A wave of inexplicable guilt welled up in his heart.
Tokikake scratched his head in embarrassment and waved his hand impatiently:
“Alright, alright, go on then.
Don’t delay your medical treatment.”
Lucas nodded slightly, turned around, and merged into the bustling crowd.
Tokikake watched his retreating figure, frowned, and muttered:
“Strange, why do I always feel like something is wrong…”
After nightfall, Lucas walked out of an inconspicuous small inn.
Black mist surged from his body, wrapping his entire form within it.
This was one of the basic abilities of the Vampire Fruit; on nights without strong light, he could perfectly blend into the darkness.
Of course, this ability was not omnipotent.
When electricity becomes widespread in the future and every street and alley is filled with electric lights, this little trick will be useless.
A pair of huge black bat wings unfolded from his back.
With a gentle flap of the wings, his body rose from the ground as if it had no weight.
He was like a true shadow, flying towards the top of the Red Line.
He could certainly take the bubble lift like an ordinary person; after all, he didn’t have a bounty on his head, but he didn’t want to do that.
As everyone knows, Celestial Dragons are troublemakers whose thought processes are unpredictable; even if there was only a one-in-a-million chance of encountering them, he didn’t want to gamble on it.
It is better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Lucas reined in his thoughts, flew across the Red Line, and with a flap of his bat wings, landed on the Red Port land on the side of Paradise.