The Greatest Disgrace in Marine History-Chapter 227 - 129: A... Love Triangle?

"What strange people..."

Watching Gion's dashing back and the utterly devastated Tokikake trailing behind, Toki couldn't help but murmur softly to herself.

She turned back toward the drying rack, gave the freshly washed uniform a few brisk shakes, then carefully hung it up.

A white shirt and black trousers swayed gently in the sunlight and breeze. A satisfied smile appeared on Toki's face.

The doctor had said Mr. Darren still needed proper rest.

He had saved her life. He'd promised to help her return to Wano. For such a kindness... doing what little chores she could—that was the least she could offer in return.

Come on, Toki, let's do your best today, too!

Flushing slightly, Toki clenched her little fists in encouragement.

"Was someone knocking at the door just now?"

A low, gently amused voice drifted from inside the house.

"Ah!" Toki let out a small cry and turned around, bowing politely.

"Good morning, Mr. Darren. Why are you up? The doctor said you needed rest..."

Her cheeks reddened further, and she said awkwardly:

"And... um... why aren't you wearing a shirt?"

She instinctively averted her gaze, though her peripheral vision kept stealing glances at Darren's powerful frame.

Darren is so handsome... And that body... Even with all those fearsome scars, he doesn't look frightening at all.

She repeated the thought quietly in her heart.

Darren gave a helpless chuckle.

He was wearing pants, after all. The weather was just hot, and he was used to training shirtless. He hadn't thought much of it.

He shrugged, then grabbed a Marine cape from the rack and threw it over his shoulders.

"This better?"

If anything, now he looked even more alluring with that half-covered look!

Toki shyly thought to herself, but only replied with a soft, "Mm." Then she answered his earlier question.

"Just now, two young Marine officers came to find you. They said they were from the training camp and asked you to return for training."

"But... I'm not sure why, after I opened the door, their expressions got really weird."

"The man kept staring at me all lustfully, then suddenly dropped to his knees and started bawling, saying something like, 'Damn it all!'..."

"The woman didn't look very pleased either."

"Oh?"

Darren's face twisted at her words.

"Could you describe what they looked like?"

Toki tapped her dimple with one delicate finger, recalling:

"The man... let's see... he was kind of sloppy-looking... gave off a similar vibe to that Rear Admiral Borsalino you've mentioned before, but not nearly as intense..."

After thinking for a moment, she added:

"Oh right, he was wearing a brown..."

"Toki, I know who it is," Darren said, his mouth twitching.

Frankly, the moment she'd said "lustful stare" and "collapsed crying," he already had a pretty good guess.

It could only be Tokikake.

Besides Borsalino, there was only one man in the Marines that could be described as "sloppy."

"And the woman?"

Darren sighed and asked again.

He had a bad feeling about this.

Toki looked at him, pursed her lips, and said softly:

"She was very beautiful... and very graceful. She looked cold on the surface, but I could tell she was warm and gentle inside."

"She had long black hair tied into a high ponytail, was wearing heels, and had a golden longsword at her waist... very tall..."

As she spoke, she stood on tiptoe and gestured her height.

Darren: ...

Dammit, it's Gion...

He massaged his temples with a grimace.

So this... was a love triangle?

Truth be told, he did like Gion.

She'd been tough to deal with back in the North Blue, but that came from her upbringing. After all the chaos they'd been through there, she had matured quite a bit.

And ever since she'd discovered his secret—about saving that mother and daughter—Darren had noticed that although she still acted cold, her gaze toward him during training had changed. It said more than words ever could.

But Gion was proud—too proud to let any of that show on the surface.

Darren didn't mind.

His past flings in the North Blue? Just games.

Mutual interest, no strings, everyone walked away content. He had no regrets.

But Gion... was different.

She was a good woman.

Of course, more importantly—he'd never admit it, but he was absolutely terrified of what would happen if he did mess with Gion.

Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, Tsuru, Kong—they'd murder him in a joint operation.

"Um... Mr. Darren... do you know those two officers?"

Seeing Darren's shifting expression, Toki bit her lip and asked hesitantly.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Back in the North Blue, they were under my command... now we're part of the same training camp."

Still half-distracted, Darren answered casually.

"The sloppy-looking one is Tokikake. Bit of a perv, no sense of shame... but trustworthy, in his own way."

"As for the tall female officer, her name's Gion. Sharp-tongued, bad temper... don't mind her too much, Toki—hm?"

Darren suddenly felt a chilling killing intent lock onto him. His back stiffened. He looked up instinctively—

And froze.

Gion was standing in the doorway.

Her face was expressionless, but her brow twitched, veins bulging. She was holding a fruit basket in one hand and glaring at him like the wrath of heaven.

Tokikake was peeking from behind the wall, his stupid dog face peering out, grinning like an idiot: Hehehe... you're so screwed.

Darren: ...

Didn't they leave?

When the hell did they circle back!?

Dammit!! I should've activated magnetic field sensing!!

But who stays on high alert in their own home!?

His face stiffened. He forced a laugh.

"Uh... Gion..."

Even though neither Gion nor Tokikake were his match, being caught bad-mouthing someone behind their back—even Darren had limits.

"I forgot to give you this."

Gion cut him off with a smile.

But that smile was utterly terrifying to Darren.

She dropped the fruit basket at his feet.

"I heard you were badly injured and drained of energy. Do rest well, Commodore Darren."

With that, she turned sharply and walked away without hesitation.

Tokikake stuck out his tongue, made a face, and trailed after her.

Darren: ...

He opened his mouth.

But couldn't utter a single word.

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To be continued...