"The top of Marineford's tower houses the offices and conference rooms of the Marine Fleet Admiral, Admirals, and Vice Admirals."
"The rear area contains living quarters and training grounds, primarily inhabited by Marine families."
Vice Admiral Tsuru explained as she walked along the broad corridor. The Marine guards immediately snapped to attention and saluted when they saw her.
From their gazes, it was clear they weren't just respecting Tsuru's rank, but were genuinely impressed by the legendary figure's experience and wisdom.
...
After briefly explaining the headquarters' overall layout, Tsuru lowered her voice when they reached a deserted area.
"The Crime Investigation Bureau is located in the eastern part of the third floor. Griffin, your cooperation in this investigation is classified information that even Vice Admirals aren't privy to."
"After all, you're the rising star Fleet Admiral Sengoku has just cultivated. It wouldn't look good if you became a person of interest in this case."
"The official story is that you're temporarily assigned to the Crime Investigation Bureau to assist with investigating this incident."
"And also..."
Just as Tsuru was speaking, Lucci's pupils suddenly contracted. He leaped forward to shield Tsuru, shouting: "Watch out!"
Crack—
Griffin caught Lucci just as he was about to spring into action, causing another crisp sound from Lucci's still-healing hand bones.
Ignoring the pain in his arm, Lucci urgently whispered: "It's an ambush! Damn it, Marine Headquarters' security is too lax!"
Griffin glanced at him and curled his lip: "Lucci, you don't actually think Vice Admiral Tsuru's perception is worse than yours, do you?"
Hearing this, Lucci's expression froze, but though his grip softened, his words didn't: "Who knows? She is an old woman after all..."
When they looked up, they saw Tsuru's feet had been grabbed by stone tiles that had suddenly come to life, pinning her in place.
Lucci raised his head triumphantly, as if to say: See? This old woman really didn't sense it!
Ignoring the childish Lucci, Griffin turned his gaze toward a pillar.
From behind the pillar came the silvery laughter of a young girl.
"Hehehehehehe!! I caught you, Grandma!!"
A golden-haired girl of about thirteen or fourteen, wearing a pink dress, came bouncing out from behind the pillar, holding a pink whip in her hand.
"Oh dear, little Kujaku caught me. What should I do~"
Tsuru raised her hands with an exaggerated look of distress, making a surrendering gesture.
Griffin shrugged at Lucci, his expression seeming to say: See? She's just playing with her granddaughter. Why are you butting in?
...
The girl put her hands on her hips, not having noticed Griffin and Lucci in the pillar's shadow, and began introducing herself.
"My name is Kujaku! I'm a Whip-Whip Fruit user who can command anything I've whipped, even buildings! Amazing, right!!"
"Hehe! I'm definitely going to become a Marine stronger than Grandma - I'm going to be a Marine Admiral! Hehehehehehe!!"
...
"Yes, very impressive."
Griffin stepped forward, emerging from the pillar's shadow.
As half his face entered the sunlight, his sharply defined jawline and high nose bridge appeared almost cutting.
The other half remained in darkness, his brow bone and eye sockets so deep they seemed capable of swallowing one's gaze.
For a moment, light and shadow carved a boundary on his face like "yin and yang dividing dusk from dawn." The air seemed to freeze, making it impossible to look away.
...
Kujaku stood frozen, not even noticing the whip slip from her hand.
The face plastered all over her room was now standing alive not far away, making her heart constrict violently before racing like thunder!
Her grandmother's calls sounded distant, drowned out by the roaring of blood rushing to her eardrums.
Her lips parted slightly, but no sound emerged.
...
It wasn't until Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her shoulders that her consciousness, which had drifted somewhere unknown, was pulled back.
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked helplessly at Griffin and gave a bitter smile: "I told you, this face of yours would make women obsessed."
She shook Kujaku again and spoke earnestly: "Don't entertain foolish thoughts, child. A battlefield of this level is still too early for you."
From the unnatural flush on Kujaku's face, how could Vice Admiral Tsuru not understand what her granddaughter was thinking?
Having been through it herself, at fourteen years old, it's exactly the age when...
She knew how many women coveted this Marine rising star - her granddaughter wouldn't stand a chance.
...
...
"Shallow woman, falling into functional paralysis just because of appearance. Even if you're a ability user, I could have killed you hundreds of times just now."
Lucci snorted disdainfully, but the next moment...
He sensed a chilling cold that prickled like needles against his back.
Realizing... this chill came from the always amiable Vice Admiral Tsuru he'd been traveling with.
She smiled with eyes narrowed to slits, her voice calm and even: "Little leopard, don't speak so arrogantly..."
"If this weren't Marine Headquarters, those words just now would have been your last."
!!
Lucci instinctively sensed immense danger, but couldn't even muster the thought of escape. His body felt nailed in place, unable to move.
Like an insect trapped in amber!
...
"Haha, just kidding~"
The oppressive atmosphere suddenly lifted as Vice Admiral Tsuru tilted her head with a laugh.
Was it... really just a joke...
Lucci gasped heavily, not daring to wipe the cold sweat from his temples. His gaze toward Vice Admiral Tsuru now filled with wariness.
This old woman was more terrifying than imagined...
Griffin shook his head inwardly.
No wonder she dared to talk back to Fleet Admiral Akainu - arrogant to the point of madness, making her seem quite foolish.
This guy really needs to get punched to behave properly.
Someone who could make a lawless man like Doflamingo flee at the mere sight of her - how could Vice Admiral Tsuru be simple?
...
Griffin approached Kujaku and bent down to pick up the whip she had dropped.
The girl who had made such a dramatic entrance like a little troublemaker was now hiding in her grandmother's embrace, hands fidgeting nervously, face flushed with embarrassment.
Griffin took her hand and returned the whip to her.
When their eyes met, Kujaku pouted, her eyes slightly glistening: "Am... am I very foolish... What does shallow mean? Is it bad..."
Griffin thought for a moment: "Shallow, ah..."
"It means having the courage to face your inner desires, to like beautiful people and things."
"I think shallow yet happy interactions are quite nice. There's nothing bad about it."
...
Griffin reached out and ruffled the girl's golden hair: "Miss Kujaku, I presume? Pleased to meet you."
——
——
After having someone take Kujaku away, Vice Admiral Tsuru continued leading Griffin toward the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
"Hey, Griffin..."
After Lucci entered first, Vice Admiral Tsuru called out.
Griffin stopped and turned: "Is there anything else you need to tell me?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked at him seriously and spoke in a low voice: "My intuition tells me you're a hundred times more dangerous than that Lucci fellow..."
"But throughout this journey, all I've seen is a gentle and just young Marine who's fully capable of shouldering the future of the Navy."
"So... tell me, was that just my misconception?"
...
"Who knows."
Griffin smiled faintly: "No one can predict what the future holds."
"Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, won't we?"
...
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled with relief: "You're right about that."
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