His three main stats had increased significantly; in terms of attributes alone, they even surpassed the average level of the Elite Camp recruits.
He wasn't surprised that Sadaharu had awakened two racial talent skills, but… what the hell were the Six Powers?
As if sensing his owner's confusion, Sadaharu proudly lifted his head, gave a woof, pressed his four paws down onto the ground, and then instantly vanished from the spot.
After that… thump, he crashed into the opposite kitchen wall with a yelp.
"Sada—haru—!"
Vice Admiral Chishio's angry voice rang out.
Using "Soru" indoors was clearly not a good idea.
"Grandma just casually taught Sadaharu because she found him smart."
Hina was still angry and didn't even look at Nao. She continued walking forward with her head held high, as if talking to herself. "I didn't expect him to learn so fast. Not just Soru, but now he can even use Geppo (Moonwalk)…"
Nao watched Sadaharu being dragged out of the kitchen by Chishio, lost in thought.
He truly found it hard to imagine a Samoyed flying in the sky.
"You're here."
Chishio spotted Nao, showing no surprise, and said blandly, "Find a seat anywhere. Dinner will be a while. There are freshly washed strawberries on the table; you can fill your stomach with those first."
She still loves strawberries so much.
"I already ate on the ship, Vice Admiral." Nao quickly said, handing over the gifts he carried. "I mainly came to thank you this time, and I even specially prepared a small gift…"
"Just eat when I tell you to; don't talk so much." Chishio said sternly, then glanced at the gifts. "I wouldn't dare accept gifts from you. There aren't any Devil Fruits inside, are there?"
"It's not fruit, Vice Admiral… I promise there really isn't this time."
"Just put it down over there. I'm too busy cooking to look at it."
"I can help you…"
"Just rest. Last time I asked you to help make some fish soup, Hina drank it and immediately threw up and had diarrhea. It took her half the night to recover. Did you forget?"
This truly sounded exactly like talking to one's own child. Nao inexplicably felt like it was Chinese New Year's Day 2 in his previous life, visiting his grandmother's house.
He chuckled awkwardly, no longer offering to help, and sat down obediently on the sofa.
There wasn't much to do sitting there. The feeling of visiting relatives was there, but unfortunately, there was no TV opposite the sofa…
In this world where the technology tree is skewed, the people truly lack entertainment, Nao grumbled inwardly. Bored, he picked up a newspaper from the coffee table to pass the time.
After many days, the excitement from his defeat of William had subsided; it was rarely seen in the newspapers anymore.
The front-page headline of this particular newspaper read: Warlord of the Sea Crocodile and Whitebeard engage in a fierce battle.
Nao glanced at it a few times, feeling that the word "fierce battle" was really giving Crocodile too much credit. Because that guy didn't even last half an hour against Whitebeard before being heavily injured, spitting blood, and fleeing in a pathetic state, currently unaccounted for.
"Good thing he challenged Whitebeard," Nao mused. "If he had fought Kaido, he'd be slapped with Seastone shackles and be a brick-moving king for ten or twenty years…"
The editorial section at the back of the newspaper discussed whether the strength of pirates invited to become Warlords of the Sea was justified, given that two Warlords of the Sea had been defeated in succession.
It even began to question the rationality of the World Government's plan to balance the great sea situation with the Warlord system.
Nao had also thought about this issue. After all, among the past Warlords, excluding the rare one or two who significantly raised the bar, the average strength of most of them, in his opinion, probably wouldn't even qualify them as a Calamity or an All-Star under a Yonko…
A hand suddenly reached out and poked his waist.
"Hm?" Nao's thoughts were interrupted. He turned to look at Hina, who was still pouting, and said helplessly, "What is it?"
"Even though Hina is still mad at you."
The little girl turned her face away and snorted, "But Hina thinks it's necessary to remind you that you're not the only guest eating here tonight…"
What does that mean? Nao looked at her strangely. Why would she specifically tell him that? He was just freeloading a meal anyway. What did the number of guests have to do with him?
No.
He suddenly realized, abruptly stood up, went to the entryway, and after scanning the shoe rack, he indeed found a pair of light-colored high heels, clearly the kind only young women would wear, and they looked strangely familiar…
"Hahaha, I absolutely love you, Hina!"
Nao was overjoyed. He immediately rushed back to the sofa, ignoring Hina's exasperated cries of "I'm not a child anymore, put me down!", lifted her high, spun her around, and then dashed towards the stairs.
No one downstairs, so she must be on the second floor!
Thump-thump-thump…
The sound of footsteps going upstairs gradually faded. Vice Admiral Shiba, still washing vegetables in the kitchen, glanced toward the stairwell as Nao's silhouette vanished from view, and couldn't help but shake her head with a quiet chuckle.
Although he's a bit impatient, still… youth is wonderful.
...
In front of the Study Door
Nao, who had rushed upstairs in just two seconds, didn't hesitate at all and directly pushed open the wooden door closest to him.
With a creak, the light from the desk lamp streamed through, illuminating half of his vision.
Behind the desk sat a tall, elegant woman draped in a white Justice coat. She was focused on a thick book in her hands.
She looked up, startled by the noise—just in time to meet those deep, dark eyes peeking through the open doorway.
Outside, night blanketed the sky. Inside, the soft glow of the lamp flickered.
For a moment, time stood still.
"Rear Admiral…"
Nao gazed into those peach-pink eyes as surprise bloomed into joy—confusion fading into radiant brilliance like a flower in full bloom.
He couldn't hold back anymore.
He strode forward, crossed the desk, and pulled Gion into a tight embrace.
The delicate scent of gardenias—so familiar—filled his nose.
With her soft, warm body in his arms, Nao looked down at her beautiful face and beamed like a kid getting candy.
"Rear Admiral, didn't you say on the phone last time that you were still in the South Blue and wouldn't be able to reach Headquarters until the end of the month? How did you get back even before me?"
Well, she was sitting and he was standing, so for once he was technically taller. Nice change of pace.
"I also just got back this morning. The journey was smoother than I expected…"
Gion's cheeks, flushed from his embrace, struggled to break free. She stood up from behind the desk and looked at Nao, saying exasperatedly, "And, how did you forget again? You should be calling me Vice Admiral now, brat…"
Great, now I have to look up again.
Damn it, those cursed auxiliary potions, why is their amplification so weak…?
"It's just habit. 'Rear Admiral' sounds more familiar."
Nao looked at those alluring red lips directly above him. He held back, and held back again, but ultimately couldn't. He pushed aside the strands of hair from Gion's forehead with one hand, supported her slender waist with the other, and as he slowly moved downwards, he subtly closed his eyes and kissed her.
"Don't…" Gion's face flushed with panic as she realized his intentions. She pushed him away forcefully. "Stop fooling around! Don't you see where we are…"
"It's fine, Rear Admiral."
Nao moved his hand back, smiling carelessly. "Vice Admiral Chishio is cooking, and Hina is still on the sofa. Neither of them will likely come up for a while. Dinner's still a ways off; we have plenty of time…"
"That's not what I meant…"
Gion struggled to speak, but before she could finish, her lips were already sealed.
Her eyes suddenly widened, staring at the handsome face so close to hers, her complexion as red as a fiery cloud.
That's more like it.
We're practically an old married couple already, just missing that last step. It's just a kiss, what's there to be so shy about?
The kiss lasted for a long time before they reluctantly separated. Looking at the blushing little rabbit, Nao was satisfied. Just as he was about to press his advantage.
Plop.
A sound like something falling suddenly came from behind him.
Nao instantly froze.
Gion pushed him away exasperatedly. Nao stiffly turned his head and looked towards the corner of the study.
"Why did you stop?"
From the sofa in the corner, Tsuru spit out a few watermelon seeds, took another bite of the red flesh in her hand, and said expressionlessly, "Go on. I didn't say anything. You really don't need to mind an old woman like me."
PS: I've thought long and hard about the issue of Observation Haki. While there are examples like Enel and Fujitora who can monitor an entire island, it should ultimately be distinguished from "spiritual sense" in cultivation novels. Let's assume it activates automatically when danger is present, and is generally off when not actively concentrating. If knowing Observation Haki meant constantly hearing everything like a cultivator, there would be too many plot holes in the One Piece manga. Scenes where the Straw Hats hide a few meters away, listening to enemy conversations, without being discovered, are probably familiar to everyone…