CHAPTER 620: CHAPTER 139: JUST HELPING YOU CLEAN YOUR OFFICE

"Looks like she couldn’t wait," Darren mused, a playful smile tugging at his mouth as he pocketed the Den Den Mushi. "I hadn’t even reached out and she’s already sent an invitation?"

A lavish dinner, no less. Practically stripping down and handing yourself over.

Tsk tsk. A freebie.

Women these days... who knows what goes on in their heads.

"Who couldn’t wait?" a cool, haughty voice cut in behind him.

Darren stiffened and turned. Gion stood there, katana at her hip, onyx eyes narrowed, arms crossed—danger radiating off her in waves.

Damn it.

He’d let his Observation Haki lapse again—Magellan’s fault. Suppressing that kid’s poison demanded full focus; vigilance slipped.

Not that anyone keeps Observation Haki active every second, anyway.

"Ahem. Just work," he said too quickly, taking her in and forcing a bright smile. "Gion, what brings you here?"

She’d taken unusual care today. Light makeup with a slight wing to the eyeliner lent mature bite to her airy poise. Under a navy cloak, a black inner layer and lace choker framed the pale line of her neck; simple shorts suggested both readiness and a hint of wildness.

As the Marines’ Flower, she didn’t need makeup to dazzle. But today that cool, noble aura sharpened—enough to make Darren forget the world.

A month and a half in the Isolation Zone, only slipping home to see Toki now and then—he was half feral from restraint.

Gion felt his gaze. Her eyes flickered, then she turned away with practiced calm. "Do I need a reason to visit?"

Tsundere, are we?

He took her hand gently. "Of course not."

For a master swordswoman on the verge of the Great Swordsman’s realm, her palm was shockingly smooth—no callus, soft as fine jade.

In public, the touch shook her composure; color crept up the shell of her ear. She tried to draw back. He didn’t let go.

"No one’s around," he murmured, tobacco-warm breath brushing her ear. A shiver rippled through her. She stopped resisting.

"I heard the Academy has you swamped," she said, face still turned away. "Magellan’s personal trainer now?"

Darren blinked, then sighed with a rueful laugh. "So that’s it. The kid’s a prodigy—every bit as monstrous as Sakazuki and the rest. We can’t waste talent like that. And I promised Zephyr-sensei I’d teach at the Training Camp. Duty’s duty."

Gion nodded, then eyed him oddly. "I thought your... interests had changed."

"Absolutely not," he said through his teeth.

"Really? Because I distinctly heard you’ve been away from your quarters at night. Some say you even slept in Magellan’s dorm."

"Tch." Darren scowled. "I was checking his sleep schedule."

"Magellan’s Devil Fruit is dangerous. He keeps his poison in check when he’s focused, but he still leaks gas unconsciously when he sleeps or eats."

"It’s part of training," he finished, exasperated—then paused. "Where’d you hear that?"

The explanation fit what she’d already guessed—his earlier stare had told its own story—and relief loosened her shoulders.

"Tokikake," she said, smile turning sly.

Darren: ...

Great. Payback for keeping him out of G-5.

"So you’re really not... that way?" she teased, watching his jaw tighten.

"You don’t believe me?" Darren’s eyes darkened. He slid an arm around her waist; the world blurred.

"W-what are you doing?" Gion gasped, heart thundering.

"Proving it," he growled.

"W-where are we going?"

"Tsuru’s at my place," he said—and changed direction midair.

Gion’s eyes widened. That way... Zephyr-sensei’s office?!

"He’s on the Drill Ground," Darren said, grinning. "The office is empty."

"N-no, we can’t—" Heat flushed her face as she pushed weakly at his chest.

"Weren’t you the bold one last time?" He vaulted into the corridor, pushed into the Chief Instructor’s office, set her down, and turned the lock in one smooth motion.

"That was an accident..." she whispered, eartips crimson. "And Zephyr-sensei could come back any minute."

"Then we’d better hurry." He stepped in.

Her mind went white.

Drill Ground shouts rose faintly from outside; the proximity—wrong and thrilling—stole her breath. Heat climbed through her, strength leaving her legs.

---

Half an hour later, Zephyr stumped up the stairs, a cigar clamped in his teeth. "Those little brats... disappointing this old man again."

He reached the corridor and spotted Gion slipping out, hair slightly mussed.

"Gion? What brings you here?"

Her heart tripped. A blush lingered; she pressed her knees together without thinking. "I... I was just helping you clean your office, Zephyr-sensei."

"Hahaha, leave that to someone else," Zephyr said, none the wiser. "No need to trouble yourself."

She nodded, red-faced, and hurried away.

"Good kid," he murmured, smiling warmly after her. If only all my students were as diligent and well-behaved, my job would be easy.

---

An hour later, Darren dropped into the first half of the Grand Line, touching down on an island steeped in raw, ancient wild.

"This should be it," he said, pocketing the Eternal Pose.

Monolithic trees, ten meters tall and more, crowded the forest. In the distance, mountains rose and fell like the segmented spine of a titanic beast. Volcano cones scarred the horizon, coughing white plumes into the sky.

From within came dull booms and guttural roars—life-force so thick he could feel it with Observation Haki.

"GRAAAH!!"

A piercing screech split the air.

A brown Pteranodon swept overhead, wings spanning several meters, its shadow skimming the ground.

"Bingo," Darren said, grinning.

Ancient Island—Little Garden!

To be continued...