"Tokikake, it's my turn now," Raleigh's voice, filled with killing intent, rang out.
No one would be happy in this situation.
He woke up from a nap to see two classmates he hadn't seen in a long time, but before he could even greet them, the beautiful one tried to slash him, and the other attacked without hesitation.
'Did they really think i was a pushover? I was just slacking off! You think I'm weak?'
Tokikake suddenly felt a chill surge from the depths of his heart, the hairs on his body standing on end.
A massive fist loomed large in his vision, striking with lightning speed.
There was no time to dodge.
He could only defend.
Tokikake desperately crossed his arms, but the moment the fist made contact, he felt an overwhelming force.
In his eyes, Raleigh seemed like a demon god.
Tokikake strained his legs, pushing against the deck with all his strength, his face turning red.
Yet, he still couldn't resist the immense power.
In an instant, his defense was broken.
With a strange cry, Tokikake was sent flying like a cannonball.
Under Gion's disbelieving gaze, he crashed directly into the ship's cabin, leaving a human-shaped hole in his wake.
"Raleigh, how about this strike?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Gion's figure had already appeared in front of Raleigh.
"One Sword Style: Cherry Blossom Fall!"
The golden named blade sliced through the air, producing a sharp, piercing sound.
The blade came down fiercely, yet it had no effect.
Raleigh had caught the blade in his bare hand.
The sharp slash, blocked by the coverage of Armament Haki, caused no harm to him at all.
"Gion, would you prefer me to go easy or hard on you?"
Staring at that annoyingly handsome face, Gion felt neither option was appealing.
Raleigh's iron fist shot forth with thunderous momentum, aimed squarely at her face.
The air crackled, the fierce gust stinging Gion's cheeks.
Without a second thought, Gion wrenched her famed sword from Raleigh's grasp, barely raising it to her chest before the punch connected.
Bam!
The iron fist mercilessly struck the blade, bending it into a terrifying arc.
A tremendous force surged through Gion, and she finally understood the power Tokikake had endured.
She felt like she'd been rammed by a frenzied rhinoceros and sent flying.
She skidded across the deck for over ten meters before finally stopping.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Her hands trembled, a burning sensation radiating from her palms.
She didn't need to look to know they were already slick with blood.
The fight was over.
Gion fully comprehended the vast gap between her abilities and Raleigh's.
An eerie silence fell over the warship, as if everyone had lost the ability to speak.
After a moment, the stillness erupted.
"Hey, did you see that? Captain Raleigh was so cool!"
"Taking on two at once, and completely dominating the Headquarters' prodigies!"
"Incredibly strong, just as expected of our Captain Raleigh."
Gion's face flushed crimson with humiliation.
She had thought her training at Headquarters would make her a match for Raleigh.
Yet even combined with Tokikake, they weren't enough.
'What on earth had this guy been doing in the East Blue?'
Raleigh approached Gion casually, extending his hand.
"You alright, Gion?"
Face still flushed, Gion took his hand and pulled herself up.
With complex emotions, she said, "Sometimes I truly don't understand. Someone as strong as you... why are you content to stay in this comfortable nest?"
"You've mastered physical techniques, swordsmanship, and Haki, yet you persistently refuse positions at Headquarters. Raleigh, what exactly are you thinking?"
'What am i thinking? Of course i was thinking about slacking off!'
Though he couldn't say that.
"I haven't really thought too much about it. I just feel this way suits me better. In this environment, I can grow stronger faster."
Raleigh phrased his truth diplomatically, though Gion clearly remained skeptical.
"Fine. Anyway, your easy days are about to end."
Raleigh: ???
'Why did he have a bad feeling about this?'
Gion shot Raleigh an exasperated look before glancing at her hand.
"Could you let go of my hand before you get lost in thought?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I forgot." Raleigh released her slender hand, his mind registering how smooth it felt.
Tokikake was soon rescued from the ship's hold, where medics had wrapped him in so many bandages that only his eyes were visible.
It actually made him look more presentable.
By now, they had reached Raleigh's office.
Raleigh immediately collapsed into his custom-made office chair, propping his feet on the desk.
Gion had grown accustomed to this, so she didn't criticize him.
After all, she couldn't beat him.
Tokikake and Momonga, two brothers in misery, sat on the sofa completely wrapped in bandages, smoking cigarettes.
God only knew how they managed to stuff them through the bandages.
Gion took out the special transfer order and said to Raleigh.
"Headquarters transfer order: Due to outstanding military achievements at Branch 133, where he eliminated multiple famous pirate crews, Branch Commander Raleigh is hereby promoted to Headquarters Rear Admiral and assigned as Vice Adjutant to the North Blue Commander."
The previously relaxed Raleigh immediately panicked.
He tried to stand up, but his legs were still on the table, causing him to fall directly to the ground.
Tokikake stared blankly.
He couldn't understand how someone who had effortlessly dodged his heavy punches could be thrown into such disarray by a promotion.
Raleigh was going crazy.
Why had headquarters set their sights on him? He had been diligently slacking off, afraid that capturing too many pirates would get him transferred.
He had even kicked capable recruits out of Branch 133 under the pretext of not wanting to hinder their futures.
Now someone please tell him—why was he being promoted?!
"Gion, don't joke with me. My achievements aren't sufficient for such an important position, right?"
The flustered Raleigh rushed up to her and asked nervously.
Gion rolled her eyes and handed him the document.
"You have to tell headquarters that Branch 133 can't function without me!"
Gion said impatiently, "Don't worry, Sister Tsuru and Admiral Sengoku have already thought of that. Since you don't usually handle much administrative work anyway, they're promoting Momonga to Headquarters Captain."
"Starting tomorrow, Momonga will be the commander of Branch 133 with the rank of Headquarters Captain."
With that, Gion took another appointment document from her bosom and waved it in front of Raleigh.
Raleigh looked as if he'd lost his soul.
It clearly stated: Appoint Commander Momonga as Commander of Branch 133, promoted to the rank of Headquarters Captain.
"Heaven wants to destroy me!" Raleigh screamed silently in his heart.
Then he glared coldly at Momonga, who was enjoying the show from the sofa.
Momonga was equally confused about how the spotlight had suddenly turned to him, but promotion was certainly good news.
"Raleigh, congratulations on your promotion."
The ill-timed congratulations from Momonga and Tokikake made Raleigh want to curse.
If he were being transferred to the South or West Blue, he wouldn't be this upset.
But this was the North Blue.
Raleigh had originally crossed over from there, and he knew exactly how chaotic it was.
Mafia families, pirates, human traffickers... basically, anyone sent to the North Blue was in for suffering, with no opportunity to slack off.
Moreover, he knew that the current North Blue Commander was Sakazuki.
Trying to slack off under his command seemed nearly impossible.