Cold rain lashed against her smooth cheeks, and for a moment, the world fell silent—like a grave deep enough to bury a person’s heart.

Raindrops slid down her back from her high ponytail, sending a chill straight to her bones.

Faced with the terrifying and frigid figure before her, Gion could feel her hands trembling uncontrollably as blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

She was close to losing her grip on her blade.

This man’s swordsmanship was sharp and unrelenting, every strike aiming straight for her vital points, leaving not the slightest room for error—completely disregarding her rank or identity.

Gion had only ever seen such fearsome swordplay from one person before.

No, not a man. More accurately, a boy.

A boy with hawk-like eyes who once claimed he lost an arm to Daren.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk... I never imagined I’d be so lucky—getting to kill the exquisite and beautiful ‘Flower of the Marines’ with my own hands... Just thinking about it makes me tremble with excitement!”

The CP0 agent let out a twisted laugh, his wolfish green eyes glinting with hunger. He stared greedily at the Rear Admiral’s figure, her form even more alluring in the rain, and licked his cracked lips.

“You’re about at your limit, aren’t you?”

“Why bother with meaningless resistance? Just drop your sword... I promise I’ll make it quick.”

“I’ll use the fastest sword technique of my life to gently graze your smooth, delicate throat...”

“I swear, you won’t feel a thing.”

“That way, your perfect face will remain just as perfect... Hahahaha!!”

His laughter grew more deranged, and the scarred face twisted into something barely human.

Pervert.

Lunatic.

Gion’s eyes grew colder as the words echoed in her mind.

She had long been aware of the World Government’s methods in training assassins and agents, but the level of depravity in the man before her was still beyond her expectations.

Raised under harsh discipline, molded through suffering, and denied normal social interaction, these operatives often developed twisted, obsessive desires.

Drunkenness, lechery, split personalities, paranoia, compulsive behavior... Gion had even heard of elite agents who harbored necrophilic obsessions.

And the man standing before her was clearly among the most deranged of them all.

“What’s the matter? Changed your mind?”

Noticing the chill in her gaze, the CP0 suddenly exploded in fury, letting out a roar like a wild beast.

“You think your protection means anything?!”

“That woman in the mansion behind you... she’s Daren’s woman!”

“If the intel’s right, you’re in love with that bastard, aren’t you?”

“Aren’t you jealous?”

“Someone like Rogers Daren isn’t even worth your blade!”

“Open your eyes, Rear Admiral Gion!”

“So what if she’s carrying his child? Didn’t he just coldly abandon her at headquarters to die?”

“If he had even an ounce of manhood, he’d be the one standing here, not you!”

CP0 grinned wickedly, staring hard at Gion’s face, searching for sorrow, disappointment—maybe even despair.

But he found nothing.

In fact, it was the opposite.

That Rear Admiral, a woman of unmatched beauty, presence, and talent, drew a deep breath—then, slowly, her lips curled into a striking smile.

In the cold downpour and shadowed world, her smile bloomed like a dazzling rose—brilliant, radiant, and breathtaking.

“…What are you laughing at?”

The maniacal smile on CP0’s face gradually disappeared.

“Am I wrong?”

Gion slowly exhaled and smiled slightly.

“You’re right about one thing.”

“I am indeed jealous.”

“But what I’m jealous of is that Toki-neesan was able to conceive his child, while I haven’t.”

“But you’re wrong about one thing.”

“The reason Daren isn’t here isn’t because he lacks the responsibility of a man.”

“It’s because he’s probably facing an opponent who’s far stronger and more terrifying than trash like you.”

“Most importantly, unlike you… he deeply trusts us—his comrades.”

Gion raised her head and stared proudly at CP0, whose face was gradually turning pale.

“He firmly believes… that we can protect his wife and child.”

“Even more than we believe in ourselves.”

“So I have no intention of betraying that trust.”

CP0 narrowed his eyes and suddenly grinned.

“Then there’s nothing we can do…”

Whoosh!

His figure vanished like a pale ghost from where he stood.

It was as if a phantom swept across the ground, dragging a curtain of rain in its wake.

In an instant, the CP0 appeared before Gion, his twisted face flushed with madness, driving a blade straight toward her chest!

“…Then I’ll just cut you into piec—”

The smile on his face suddenly froze.

Clang!!

Sparks flew.

A hand—

A hand that didn’t belong to a human being—clamped tightly around the sharp blade.

Slender and long, the claws had razor-like nails, and the back of the hand was covered in soft, fluttering fur.

CP0’s pupils shrank to their limit. He raised his head and what he saw froze him in place.

A black ponytail cascaded like a waterfall, and from the roots, a seductive peach-pink hue began to spread, quickly overtaking the glossy black strands.

The beautiful face of the Rear Admiral began to shift dramatically—her jaw and mouth elongated, her features softened, and her figure grew even more graceful and full, exuding alluring charm.

Peach-colored fur swirled in the rain, and from her tailbone emerged a fluffy, short rabbit tail.

A delicate, enchanting allure sparkled in her blood-red eyes, like a mystical spirit meant to beguile the world!

“Zoan… this ability…”

CP0’s eyes widened.

“My swordsmanship may be inferior to yours. But unfortunately for you, I don’t plan to win with swordsmanship today.”

Gion smiled calmly.

That smile held a beauty beyond description, enough to bewitch all living beings.

Even the CP0 couldn’t help but freeze in astonishment.

In that moment—

Gion’s hand no longer trembled as she gripped her sword.

The Meito Konpira slashed upward, and a pink sword flash burst forth, lighting the world.

Hiss!!

A pillar of blood exploded from the CP0’s chest.

His body was flung backward, pupils dimming, confusion flooding his gaze.

“The Flower of the Marines”…

Tonight, it bloomed in full—revealing its thorns to the world!