Chapter 203: The Vice-Admiral

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'sample'

Author notes -sample-

Disclaimer: One Piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 203: The Vice-Admiral

Vice Admiral warship, right outside Punk Hazard, northwest shore.

"There is a lot of gas leaking, we shouldn't approach further." A marine officer spoke while looking a his superior.

The person he was speaking to, was a very beautiful woman with long black hair and a small mole under her lip. She was wearing a cozy pink suit that protected her against the cold and her Vice-Admiral's white coat hanging over her shoulders.

This was Vice-Admiral Gion, also known as Momousagi (Pink Rabit).

"There shouldn't be this amount of gas here. No one has been allowed to set foot on this island since that incident 4 years ago…well, other than those two, who decided to have a fight here…" She said while observing the area.

"Do you think someone has been using this island, Ma'am?" The officer asked.

"We will know soon. Take that route, between the two ice walls." She commanded.

"There are no signs of the Strawhats. There is no way they would come here. Between the poisonous gas and crazy weather of the island, is almost impossible to enter." A different officer spoke.

"No, they are very likely here."

A female voice came from behind them and the two officers turned around to address her.

"Captain Tashigi. What makes you so sure? There are other routes they could have taken…better routes."

"I and Vice-Admiral Smoker have encountered the Strawhats many times. We have learned a lot about their personalities, especially their Captain, Luffy. He is the kind of man who always chooses the most difficult path. Of the three possible routes after Fishman Island, this one is the worst… and is the one he would choose for sure." Explained Tashigi.

Gion smiled.

"I knew it was a good idea to bring you along. But remember the parameters of our mission, okay?"

Tashigi clenched her fist.

"I understand, Ma'am…"

"Don't be so formal, Tashigi. I already told you that you can call me, Gion, or Older sister if you prefer." Gion got closer to her and placed a hand on her cheek.

"I-I understand Ma-....Gion." Tashigi answered with a light blush.

"Can I call you older sister too?" Asked her oldest officer with hopeful eyes.

"You are like 58 years old! What older sister?!" The vice-admiral smacked him on the head.

The ship followed the route suggested by their officer and they soon spotted something in the distance.

"I see a big building!" someone exclaimed.

"That's Vegapunk's old lab…if that place is being used…I have a bad feeling about this." Gion said with worry.

She had visited this location years back and at that time she was made aware of the research that was being carried in this place by that nasty man…

'Disgusting…'

"Everything okay, Gion?" Tashigi asked with worry at seeing her expression.

Gion forced a smile.

"I'm fine, just thinking about my last visit to this island. I got into an argument with a nasty man who worked here. Nothing to worry about."

"There is a pirate ship on the dock!" The marine exclaimed.

"What's the flag?" Tashigi hurried to ask.

He observed it for a few seconds before answering, not wanting to make a mistake.

"Is a skull with a straw hat, there is no doubt!"

"I knew it, they are here!" Tashigi wanted to jump with joy but contained herself.

As they approached the cold docks, the view of the Strawhats ship became clear.

Gion inspected it using her observation haki and noticed four weak signatures aboard the ship.

'Those could not be the Strawhats…unless they were dying.' She concluded.

She warned her men about this and they approached the ship with caution.

Gion went first to act as a shield for her underlings in case of an attack. She spotted four men tied on the main mast.

"Four unknown men on the deck, be on guard !" She commanded.

The men were still alive and lifted their heads when they heard the Marines board the ship.

"Help!"

The men immediately called.

Gion noticed that the four men were covered with a thin sheet and did not have any other clothes below.

'Looks like they are close to freezing.'

"Free those men and bring warm clothing." She ordered her men.

The four rescued men gave their thanks as they received the clothes and a hot drink.

"Thank you, miss!"

"We thought we were going to die!"

"Those damn pirates took our clothes and left us with a summer sheet!"

"Tell me who are you and what happened with the Strawhats," Gion spoke with authority.

"R-Right…" The man spoke with hesitation. The intense glare from the Vice-Admiral was intense enough to make a better man than him tremble in fear.

"We work in the research facility. We were doing a routine patrol when we spotted some pirates. Next thing we know, the pirates attacked us without provocation and left us here to die!, right?" He looked at his friends for reassurance.

"Yes, of course!. We did nothing wrong."

"They even killed one of our friends in cold blood!."

"Yes, that clown killed Tommy!"

"Clown?" Tashigi made a confused face.

"Really?, So you are all innocent civilians who work on this island? , and you were attacked by pirates with no provocation?" Gion asked the men.

"That's right!." He answered with no hesitation

The marines noticed the change in her mood and instinctively took a step back.

Gion disappeared from her spot and repeated behind the man who had just spoken.

"Bam!"

The Vice-Admiral first connected to the side of his face and was sent flying.

The man was then caught by the marines and they all flinched at seeing his broken face.

"Take him to the infirmary…"

She ordered before turning to face the remaining three men.

"I will ask again…lie to my face one more time…and…" Gion left the threat hanging.

"Scary!" The men trembled in fear.

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