Battle Against Gion

Chapter 127: Battle Against Gion

"Indeed, I can provide you with the Eternal Pointer pointing to Punk Hazard. However, are you planning to cooperate with Doflamingo?" She looked at Rodney with eyes full of wisdom.

Rodney fell silent for a moment and said, "Yes, that guy still has some utility. I need his influence to develop my strength. Vice Admiral Tsuru, I don't want to deceive you, so please don't ask further questions. I can only tell you that what I'm about to do won't harm the Marines, just the pirates."

His expression was earnest. He truly didn't want to deceive them because these two elders had dedicated their lives to the cause of justice. Just because of a few individuals, he couldn't deny the commitment of the entire organization. He couldn't bring himself to do that.

There was no need to deceive them. As long as they didn't interfere with him, everything could be negotiated.

Zephyr and Tsuru fell into silence for a moment. Zephyr was the first to speak, "Let's trust this young man, Tsuru. He didn't choose to deceive us, so there must be a reason behind this."

Zephyr had trained countless Marines and developed a keen sense of judgment. He saw Rodney's sense of justice in his eyes and wished that this young man would join the Marines. It would bring a new generation of leaders to the organization, and with proper training, he might even become an Admiral.

With these thoughts in mind, Zephyr's enthusiasm grew, while Tsuru considered it for a while and said, "In that case, I'll keep my promise. Rodney, we won't interfere with your actions. However, I'll have Vice Admiral Vergo from the G-5 Branch assist you."

At the mention of "Vergo," Rodney instinctively frowned. Zephyr and Tsuru immediately noticed this reaction. Tsuru asked, "Is there a problem?"

After thinking for a moment, Rodney explained, "I don't need the Marines' help, really. It's not that I doubt Vice Admiral Vergo's abilities, but I'm worried he might hinder me. You see, I excel in assassination and ambush tactics, and solo operations are more convenient for me. My crew members are like-minded. I believe you've investigated them already. Both Robin and Perona are suited for assassination, while Brook can handle direct combat. However, I need him to stay aboard the Black Pearl to lead the ship. So, my crew is more of a covert operations unit rather than a formal combat team. If Vice Admiral Vergo joins, it will only impede my actions without providing any real assistance."

Vergo was one of Doflamingo's men, an undercover Marine for many years, and had even risen to the rank of Vice Admiral. He was fiercely loyal to Doflamingo and specialized in gathering information for him. Even if Vergo was far away, he would continue to provide Doflamingo with Marine intelligence.

If that guy came over, he would likely mess up his mission regarding Caesar, and there was a chance he might even attack Rodney himself. Without his Assassination Technique, he couldn't easily defeat Vergo, making things complicated.

Hearing Rodney's explanation, the two elders exchanged a few glances and realized that his concerns were valid. Vergo's involvement might indeed hinder his mission. Tsuru finally said, "Since that's the case, we won't interfere. Gion."

"Understood," Vice Admiral Gion, a beautiful woman with a beauty mark on her lip, handed over the Eternal Pointer pointing to Punk Hazard, and said softly, "Please take it."

"Thank you." 

Rodney graciously accepted the Eternal Pointer.

Glancing at the famed sword, Konpira, at her waist, Gion noticed Rodney's gaze. She smiled faintly, having noticed the two swords he carried at his waist.

"Rodney, could you tell me the names of the swords at your waist?" she asked.

"Of course, this is Kashu, Fifty-One Great Grade Sword, obtained from a pirate hunter in Alabasta. And this one is Shusui, Twenty-One Great Grade Sword, which I received from Dark King Rayleigh." He handed Kashu and Shusui over to Gion and said, "Feel free to take a look."

"Thank you," Gion replied as she graciously accepted the two swords. 

Compared to Shusui, Kashu seemed unremarkable. She currently wielded Konpira, a sword of considerable prestige herself, but she still had a deep appreciation for other famed swords.

"Why did Rayleigh give you this sword?" Zephyr asked.

"I helped him out with a favor, and this was my reward." 

Rodney smiled and took back Kashu and Shusui, securing them at his waist.

Suddenly, Gion requested, "Rodney, could we have a friendly match with our swordsmanship?"

"Ah? I just use them as weapons. I'm not a swordsman or anything."

Gion, undoubtedly one of the world's top swordsmen, immediately saw that Rodney's swordsmanship didn't match his physique. In the later stages of mastering swordsmanship, practitioners developed techniques that suited their own bodies. Rodney's swordsmanship didn't seem like his own.

However, this gave Rodney an idea. Even though he didn't possess Vergo's abilities, he wondered if he could copy sword techniques.

Thinking of this, his interest was piqued, and he said, "Alright." 

He unsheathed Shusui, put Kashu aside, and held the sword with one hand, saying, "Please teach me!"

Gion also drew Konpira and replied, "I just want to see your swordsmanship; there's no ulterior motive."

"Alright, then." Rodney prepared for the match.

Tsuru coughed lightly and reminded them, "Gion, Rodney, please don't damage the ship. We still need it."

Their intense duel had the potential to harm the ship. While both Zephyr and Tsuru were curious about their fight, safety remained their top priority.

"I'm ready. Dance of the Crescent Moon!" 

With a swift move, Rodney split himself into three, attacking Gion from the left, above, and right.

Upon seeing this attack, Gion's eyes lit up. She held Konpira and easily shattered Rodney's two clones, producing crisp sounds of clashing blades. Their eyes met, and Gion noticed that Rodney's eyes had turned completely red, with three tomoe spinning in his pupils.

This was...

Immediately, they separated. 

"Petal Dance!" 

Gion called out. With a low voice, she unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, resembling the petals of a cherry blossom showering down.

Rodney's attack suddenly shifted, transforming slashes into stabs. He sent out countless sword energy thrusts to counter Gion's Petal Dance. The metallic clashing sounds filled the air, creating a symphony of clinks and clangs.

"Wine Bottle Waltz: Chain Strikes!" 

This attack was something Rodney had copied from Brook. Although he couldn't replicate the abilities of the Revive-Revive Fruit, he had successfully copied some of Brook's sword techniques.

"This sword technique... it's not his own. Where did he learn it from?" 

Gion, a top-class swordsman, immediately realized that the sword style Rodney was using didn't match his body. In the later stages of mastering swordsmanship, practitioners developed techniques that suited their own physique.

And Gion, a top-class swordsman herself, could easily discern that Rodney's sword techniques were not his own.

After some exchanges, Gion called out, "One Sword Style: Harmony—One Flash!"

With the inclusion of Wind-attribute chakra, her slash flew out like a gust of wind, slicing through the air. Rodney countered with a technique that seemed much more suitable for him, "One Sword Style: Harmony—One Flash!"

Their blades clashed, and Gion noticed that the eyes locked onto hers had turned completely red. Additionally, three tomoe rotated in his pupils.

This was...

They immediately separated, and Rodney said, "I apologize; it's not my intention to imitate your sword techniques."

Gion was amazed by Rodney's ability to mimic her techniques despite their different physiques. She nodded and sheathed her sword, Konpira. 

"No need to apologize. I was just curious."