One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 225: Volume 2 – - 127: I Heard

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"What a beautiful day..."

Tokikake stepped out of the military academy in a brand-new uniform, a brown round hat perched on his head. Lighting a cigarette, he walked with his hands in his pockets toward the civilian district.

He was in a fantastic mood today!

And not just because it was a day off—no grueling training with that hot-blooded maniac Kuzan, no getting beaten black and blue. Well, no need to "train" with that guy, to put it nicely.

No, today was special for another reason—he had finally awakened Armament Haki!

He was the first among this training camp's recruits, after Kuzan, to grasp Armament Haki!

Thinking back to yesterday, when he successfully used it for the first time and saw the envious looks from Onigumo, Yamakaji, and Strawberry... Tokikake couldn't help but float a little. The sky looked extra blue, and the clouds extra white.

Sure, Kuzan had mastered it a few days before him—but so what?

That guy's a monster. There's no point paring himself to a monster.

"Tokikake, you really are a genius!"

He smiled to himself, blowing a smoke ring as he walked.

Suddenly, something caught his eye.

Up ahead, a tall and graceful figure stood in line at a breakfast stall surrounded by the bustle of morning life. A high ponytail tied behind her head, a gleaming Meito hanging from her waist, and a cool, distant look in her eyes.

It was Gion!

Tokikake's eyes darted. He quickly smothered the sly grin forming on his face, straightened his expression, and casually strolled over with a relaxed greeting.

"Good morning, Gion."

She glanced at him and replied coolly, "Morning."

Tokikake cleared his throat and called out to the stall owner.

"Auntie Rocky!"

The woman in an apron looked up and broke into a hearty smile when she saw him.

"Tokikake! You're here early today. Don't you usually show up later?"

Auntie Rocky beamed.

She had watched Tokikake grow up. He might not have been much to look at, but he had a good heart. Ever since joining the Marines, he'd often looked after this street. They were all close, so their tone was casual.

"What's this? Your face isn't swollen like a pig today... Did you finally win one? What's that kid's name again—the one who always makes you grind your teeth?"

"Cough, cough..."

Tokikake turned red from coughing. He noticed the faint amusement in Gion's gaze and immediately darkened.

"Oh dear, look at me, running my mouth."

Auntie Rocky chuckled, glancing between him and Gion, then quickly changed the subject.

"What do you want for breakfast? It's on me! Steamed buns? Oden? Ramen?"

Tokikake suddenly looked "shocked."

"Auntie Rocky! How did you know I awakened Haki?!"

Auntie Rocky: ???

She stared at him, puzzled, as he kept giving her meaningful looks, scratching her head in confusion.

"Haki what now? I'm asking what you want to eat. I'll make it for you."

Tokikake: ...

He glanced at Gion, who stood calmly beside him as if she hadn't heard a thing. Gritting his teeth, he forced out a line.

"This! Haki! The power only true warriors can master!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, clenched his fist, and gave a soft shout.

Swish!

A dark coating instantly spread across his arm, enveloping his fist in a cold, metallic sheen.

"See that, Auntie Rocky? This is Haki! Once you master it, bullets and blades can't even scratch you!"

Tokikake proudly puffed out his chest, sneaking glances at Gion from the corner of his eye.

"That does look pretty impressive."

Auntie Rocky reached out and touched Tokikake's arm, now hardened with Haki, her face full of surprise.

"So, can you beat that young guy now? What was his name again... Ku-something?"

Tokikake: ...

His mouth twitched. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, muttering,

"...No."

Seeing Tokikake looking so defeated, Auntie Rocky gently forted him,

"Don't worry, you're already amazing, Tokikake."

"There are more and more geniuses in the military these days. Just now, I overheard someone saying a young man named Daren did something incredible in the New World!"

Daren!?

Daren's back!?

Tokikake froze, following Auntie Rocky's gaze.

Inside, a group of dusty and travel-worn Marines had gathered, clearly just returning from a mission.

Their table was covered with various snacks and half-empty beer bottles scattered everywhere.

One of the flushed soldiers suddenly leaned in, lowering his voice and speaking with a gossipy tone,

"Hey, hey, did you hear? modore Daren brought back a total knockout from outside! She's already moved into the military family quarters!"

Just as the words left his mouth, Gion, who had just picked up a bag of steamed buns and was about to leave, abruptly stopped.

She stood there silently, her fair ears twitching slightly.

Another soldier chimed in,

"You don't know the half of it! They say it's that beauty who drained modore Daren dry—that's why he looks so exhausted lately."

"I'm so jealous... I saw her too. She's hands-down the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on."

"Such a shame. I heard modore Daren is a total playboy."

"e on, how can you call a hero like modore Daren a playboy? When a man has the ability, of course he's gonna have more love to give!"

"Exactly, that's not being a womanizer—it's universal love! modore Daren is our role model! Our pride!"

"No doubt about it. This is the guy who managed to escape from the Beasts Pirates' base!"

"Kaidou is such a fool, hahaha! Thought he could capture our Marine 'monster' alive? What a joke!"

"Escape? That's not what I heard. Word is, modore Daren let Kaidou catch him on purpose to gather intel on the Beasts Pirates' hideout..."

"Huh? That actually makes a lot of sense. I mean, a powerhouse like modore Daren getting caught by a pirate? Even Kaidou couldn't manage that!"

"Don't forget, the legendary pirate 'Destroyer of the World' Byrnndi World died at Daren's hands..."

"Right, right. I heard that at the Beasts Pirates' base, modore Daren faced thousands of pirates on his own—and even Kaidou couldn't lay a finger on him. In the end, he carved his way through the entire crew singlehandedly!"

"modore Daren is a beast!"

"Word is, he's about to be promoted to Rear Admiral soon! That's amazing..."

"Not just that—after tearing through the Beasts Pirates, he apparently clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates too!"

"What!? You're kidding, right!?"

"No joke! My uncle's sworn brother's uncle's son works under Admiral Sengoku himself—he heard it firsthand!"

"They say the battle was so intense, Whitebeard unleashed his Devil Fruit power to 'destroy the world'—and sank an entire island into the sea!"

"Hisssss—!!"

"And? What happened in the end?"

"What do you think? The Whitebeard Pirates couldn't even touch the hem of modore Daren's coat!"

"Hahahahahaha!!"

...

Laughter erupted among the Marines, filling the entire breakfast shop with a cheerful buzz.

At the shop entrance, Tokikake stood stunned in the wind.

One thought echoed endlessly in his mind:

—Beauty, fame, promotion... If I'd known, I would've gone too.

"No way. No way..."

He suddenly snapped out of it, gritting his teeth and turning to Gion,

"There's no way this is true. That bastard Daren, taking down the Beasts Pirates and winning over a beauty? Hey—Gion, where are you going?"

Plop!

The hot steamed bun slipped from her hand and hit the ground.

Gion didn't respond.

Expressionless, she unsheathed her golden Meito and stormed off with a terrifying aura.

Tokikake shivered.

"Gion's face... it's terrifying!"

Then his eyes widened.

Because he saw it—A thick, ominous blackness slowly spread across the golden blade in Gion's hand.

Tokikake froze.

He thought back on what he just did. His toes, exposed in his clogs, curled tight.

"Damn it!!!"

He suddenly cursed and quickly chased after her.

"Gion! Wait for me!!"