At the G-5 Marine Base residential area, Ortoren, as the Base Commander, naturally had his own residence—a sprawling estate even larger than the courtyard at Marineford.
Rouge and Robin were carrying luggage inside when Ortoren came rushing over.
The moment he saw them, he quickly stepped forward, took the luggage from Rouge's hands, and asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"
Rouge smiled gently, her eyes soft as she looked at him. "You haven't been back to Headquarters for so long. We've missed you, so we came."
Ortoren???
Wait a second, Madam, the way you're saying that is way too easy to misunderstand!?
After those words, Rouge's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She avoided Ortoren's gaze and hurried into the house.
The mansion was vast, its furnishings luxurious, but the atmosphere was cold and messy. It didn't feel like a home at all, just a place to stay—more like a hotel.
Unwashed clothes were scattered across the sofa. Dishes sat dirty on the table. Old newspapers were strewn on the floor. The ashtray was packed full of cigarette butts.
The sight made Ortoren a little embarrassed. He rubbed his nose. "Well, I've been busy. When I get back I'm usually exhausted, so..."
Rouge didn't let him finish. She shook her head with a smile. "I knew you wouldn't take care of yourself here. That's why we came. Don't worry, I'll handle this from now on."
Without waiting for his response, she naturally walked over to the sofa and started gathering his dirty laundry—even his smelly socks—to wash later.
Robin quickly joined her, clearing the dirty dishes off the table, picking up newspapers from the floor, and emptying the ashtray.
Ortoren tried to move and help, but before he could, Rouge said, "You just look after the child for now."
Ace, now a little over three, was playing in the courtyard outside.
When Ortoren stepped out, Ace heard the sound and turned. His little face lit up with delight, and he stretched out his arms, wobbling as he ran toward him, calling in a garbled but cheerful voice, "Daddy... Daddy..."
Ortoren was genuinely surprised. He had hardly been involved in Ace's growth. He hadn't expected the boy to recognize him, let alone call him Daddy.
What he didn't know was that back at Marine Headquarters, Rouge often showed Ace photos of Ortoren, teaching him how to address him. Ace was clever even as a toddler, so he could easily recognize Ortoren from the pictures.
And with his naturally outgoing personality, fear or shyness never crossed his mind.
Little Ace was already adorable enough, but now he came wobbling over, calling out "Daddy," completely melting Ortoren's heart. Smiling, Ortoren bent down and scooped him up into his arms, teasing, "Daddy's right here. Did you miss Daddy?"
"Missed you~" Ace replied in his soft little voice while squeezing Ortoren's cheeks with his tiny hands.
...
Meanwhile, at the base's apartment complex, Momonga and Gion were leading Smoker to his quarters.
"These are the old G-5 buildings. Conditions aren't great, but it'll do for now. We're planning to build a new residential area, and once that's done, all officers at Captain and above will have their own houses instead of squeezing into these apartments," Momonga said warmly, patting Smoker on the shoulder with a grin.
Smoker didn't care in the slightest. He said openly, "Doesn't matter where I stay, I can handle it. Momonga-senpai, as frontline Marines, do we see a lot of heavy combat? When do I get my first mission?"
"No need to rush. Most pirate suppression falls to Issho and Tokikake. By the looks of things, that guy Tokikake should be back soon. When he returns, you can ask him about it. But before anything, you'll need to meet Ortoren first..." Momonga replied.
No sooner had he spoken than someone came running up from behind, calling out. Momonga turned his head—it was Tokikake.
"Well, speak of the devil," Momonga said in surprise. "Here he is already."
Tokikake had just gotten off a warship. As soon as he set foot ashore, he heard gossip from the Marines at the port: the Base Commander's wife had shown up with their child.
That instantly fired him up. Ortoren's wife had come? That meant his chance had arrived!
Gion must be fuming right now. At a time like this, all he needed was to make a move and he could finally win her over!
After asking about her whereabouts, Tokikake rushed straight here. Jogging to where Momonga and the others stood, he stopped abruptly, glanced at Gion's back—her shoulders stiff, aura heavy with pressure—and then at Smoker before asking, "Momonga, I heard Rouge is here?"
"Yeah. Tsk, too bad you're late. Half an hour earlier and you'd have caught a real battlefield—Gion versus Rouge. And get this, even though Rouge looks delicate, when she faced Gion her presence was fierce!" Momonga explained with the look of a man enjoying the show.
That was the confirmation Tokikake needed. Ortoren's wife had really come!!!
Looking at the stormy aura rolling off Gion ahead, Tokikake puffed out his chest and declared, "That scumbag Ortoren is finally getting what he deserves. And I, the most devoted man in all Marine Headquarters, will step up now—comfort Gion's wounded heart, and show her who the real good man is, who she should truly choose!"
Momonga quickly grabbed him. "Wait, brother, after all these years… you still haven't looked in a mirror?"
"What's that supposed to mean? You think I'm ugly?" Tokikake shot him a glare, then turned to Smoker. "Hey, kid, you tell me. Am I handsome or not?"
Smoker???
Is this really something a rookie like me is supposed to answer?
But under Tokikake's piercing gaze, Smoker's face twitched before he finally muttered, "Handsome... just not that obviously, Tokikake-senpai."
"Even a little handsome is still handsome!" Tokikake flicked his hair confidently, straightened his back, and strode forward to catch up with Gion.
But clearly, Gion was in no mood. When she noticed him, her tone was sharp. "I told you not to bother me, Tokikake!"
Oblivious to the tension, Tokikake sighed. "I heard what happened today, Gion. Why keep clinging to Ortoren? He's not worth it!"
"And you are?" Gion shot back with a glare.
"Exactly, I am!" Tokikake thumped his chest. "Unlike that philandering scumbag Ortoren, I—"
Before he could finish, Gion cut him off with blazing eyes. "Tokikake! Don't you dare insult him!"
Tokikake froze. ???
Behind them, Momonga burst into laughter, bracing himself against the wall with one hand while pounding it with the other.
"Pff—hahahaha!" He couldn't hold it in any longer.
Hearing the noise, Gion turned to glare at Momonga as well before snapping in irritation, "Stop bothering me, all of you!"
With that, she quickened her pace and stormed off.
"Seriously, Tokikake, why don't you just go back to Gotham? Batman said he won't beat you anymore..." Momonga shouted after him, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
Up ahead, Tokikake's face stiffened. He cursed under his breath, "Quit mocking me with stories from Ortoren's damn novels!"
Watching the whole scene, Smoker couldn't help but feel both amused and strangely relieved. The atmosphere at G-5... was definitely more relaxed than Headquarters. And he liked it.
...
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