The atmosphere was silent for a while.
Kuina wiggled her small bottom and sat opposite Jon, looking up at him.
"Let's not talk about what just happened. Tell me about yourself, Jon-kun."
Look~ Mr. Jon has directly become Jon-kun.
"Me? What do you want to hear?"
Jon smiled, looking directly at Kuina.
"I don't have any special experiences. I just played the hero on Shimotsuki Island once. You probably know the details better than I do."
"Is that so… May I ask your age?"
"Fourteen years old. In another two or three years, I'll be able to venture out onto the sea."
"Huh! Nanda yo (How is that possible)?!"
Kuina looked at Jon in disbelief.
She never cursed, but her eyes at this moment clearly said:
This is fourteen years old, for f***'s sake?!
Jon was already used to such presumptuous gazes. He tilted his head and chuckled:
"Do I not look fourteen?"
"No! Not at all! …I didn't mean to say you look old, but mainly, Jon-kun, you're too steady! You feel like you've lived a lifetime at such a young age, and your strength is so immense."
Kuina didn't even know what she was saying, and on a whim, she blurted out, "To be able to wipe out a great pirate crew at just fourteen is simply too cool. If you become a Marine after going out to sea, you could at least be a Captain!"
"Marine Captain?"
Jon thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Forget it, it's not interesting."
If he had transmigrated a decade or so earlier, he might have actually joined the Marines.
Although order was poor back then, at least there were no major upheavals. Who wouldn't want a stable job?
But now… he was born at the wrong time.
And thinking of the Celestial Dragons' faces, Jon wasn't willing to work for those beasts.
Even if he were to "borrow a chicken to lay an egg" within the Marine ranks, it wouldn't be easy.
The Marine Fleet Admiral and the Three Admirals weren't just decorations; it would be strange if they let him smoothly take people away.
Kuina looked puzzled: "You seem very resistant to being a Marine. Then what do you plan to do when you go out to sea? You're not going to be a pirate, are you?"
"I might have a bounty, but I won't fly a pirate flag."
Jon's tone was calm: "There's no good or evil in this world. I don't need to define myself. If pirates provoke me, I'll wipe them all out. If the Marines bounty me as a pirate, then so be it."
"What I pursue is only freedom, freedom for everyone!"
"While traveling the seas, I'll let the flame of freedom burn across the ocean!"
"All like-minded friends are my companions… You know what I mean, right?"
Kuina: "…"
She inexplicably felt a surge of passion.
The flame of freedom burning across the ocean…
The person her father spoke with seemed to have said something similar!
Sure enough, he and her father were the same kind of people.
Full of justice and concerned for the world.
"I understand."
Kuina nodded solemnly: "But I think you're even more dangerous than being a pirate. You'll provoke both the Marines and pirates. Your bounty will be super high, won't it?"
"Haha, then everyone can get a bounty together."
Jon laughed heartily: "I'll save up enough Beri first. When the Marines bounty me, I'll bounty the Marines!"
"As long as I have enough money, I'll even bounty the Marine Three Admirals!!"
"When the world's Admiral and Emperor-level figures are fighting like dogs, naturally fewer will come looking for trouble with me."
Kuina: "!!!"
Her small mouth gaped in astonishment, wide enough to fit a hot dog.
Bounty the Marines?
Can you even do that?
She had lived for over a decade and this was the first time she'd heard of something so outrageous.
It was simply… too cool!
"Kuina, I want to tell you something."
Jon suddenly leaned closer: "You just saw that I've made Zoro my First Division Captain. But didn't you have an agreement with him to see who would become the world's greatest swordsman first?"
"With him training with me, his growth speed will definitely get faster and faster. You don't want to be left behind by him, do you?"
"How about it, do you want to join my ship too? He's just a division captain, I'll let you join the main ship!"
Huh? Join Jon-kun's main ship?
Wouldn't that mean sailing with Jon-kun?
Kuina stared blankly at Jon's face, images already forming in her mind.
She becomes the world's greatest swordsman, a great sword hanging at her waist, standing against the wind… Jon on the side, holding their child with one hand, and her waist with the other, both smiling blissfully.
Ahhh—that last part was completely unnecessary!
Damn brain, what are you thinking?!
Kuina's face flushed, but her rapid breathing could no longer be suppressed.
She suddenly stood up, her voice trembling: "I agree! I'll go discuss it with my father right now! Even if, even if he refuses, I will definitely join your ship!"
Pfft!
"Sit down. Who said you're getting on the ship now?"
Jon chuckled as he pulled her back onto the stool, pinching her face: "Are you that eager to leave with me? Unfortunately, you're not ready yet. Settle down here and train for a few more years."
"Ugh~ Don't pinch my face."
"Alright, keep this to yourself for now, and diligently train here. I don't have the teaching ability of Koushirou-sensei."
Jon stretched and stood up, smiling: "Don't worry, I value promises the most. When I set sail, I'll definitely come to pick you up first."
The girl didn't speak, just kept staring at him.
He was about to say something else.
Then he saw Kuina suddenly stand up solemnly, her eyes serious.
"I want to confirm something with you… Can I truly become the world's greatest swordsman?"
"Yes! I know what you're worried about. I have a secret technique that allows female swordsmen to break through their physical limitations."
"Really? Can you copy a copy for me?"
"Isn't that a bit too early? How about you practice your swordsmanship first?"
"No! If you don't give it to me~ I'll stick to you! I'll stick to you when you go home, I'll stick to you when you sleep, I'll even stick to you when you poop!"
"…The world's number one should be you."
Kuina: (*￣︶￣) Thanks for the compliment.
Jon: (￢_￢) Was I complimenting you?