One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

"By the way, can you tell us in detail about what happened that day? I only heard a small part over the Den Den Mushi," Sakazuki nodded in thanks as he took the lemon water handed to him by the waiter. He looked at the somewhat uneasy child, trying to engage her in casual conversation.

Robin quickly composed herself, burying that trace of confusion deep within her heart. Seeing the three admirals eagerly waiting for her response, she said, "Hmm..." as she tried to recall. "That day, Grandpa Garp suddenly visited Mr. Jonathan's house and said he would take me to headquarters to eat rice crackers. Then I met Uncle Sengoku."

"...I remember Mr. Garp and Mr. Sengoku were..." Kuzan's expression turned slightly odd.

"...comrades from the same era," Gion gently pinched the bridge of her high nose.

"...As long as they're happy," Sakazuki's mouth twitched.

The three highly decorated officers could no longer maintain their calm expressions, and Robin looked at the three of them with confusion, wondering if she had said something wrong.

Sakazuki waved his hand. "And then? Did you go eat rice crackers?"

"Yes, and then Uncle Sengoku asked me to demonstrate my Devil Fruit ability."

Kuzan frowned. "Ah, what does that have to do with push-ups?"

"Listen to the girl!"

"...Oh, sorry, Robin, please continue."

Robin hesitated, unsure whether she should demonstrate her ability to vividly recreate the scene. But considering how excited Grandpa Garp had been at the time, what if these three were just as unreliable?!

"I showed Grandpa Garp my ability, but he seemed inexplicably moved and then wanted me to learn something called the Hyakuretsu Ken... saying I should do push-ups to build a foundation." Robin deliberately spoke vaguely, not wanting the three of them to get the same idea.

"Sigh... that's just like Mr. Garp," Kuzan, who had spent the most time with Garp, scratched his head in frustration. He finally understood why Sakazuki had come over and punched him directly—it was his fault for leaking information.

Sakazuki remained silent for a moment before deciding to share some of his thoughts. He didn't agree with Garp's educational philosophy, but he would still objectively and fairly evaluate Garp's character.

"It's undeniable that Mr. Garp is a kind-hearted man with a strong sense of justice. It's just that, often, he doesn't know how to express his affection for children properly.

I hope you don't come to dislike him because of this." Sakazuki glanced at the girl with concern. If this made her view the Marines even more negatively, she might end up firmly set on joining the Revolutionary Army.

Robin shook her head gently. She looked at Sakazuki and said, "I know. Aunt Tsuru told me the same thing." She gave the three of them a pitiful look. "But I really don't want to learn the Hyakuretsu Ken..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru... Sakazuki suddenly felt a deep sense of gratitude. Kuzan and he weren't exactly skilled in conversation, and Gion's straightforward nature wasn't particularly polished or tactful.

If it hadn't been for Vice Admiral Tsuru's foresight to break down the issue, their conversation today would have been painfully awkward!

He looked at the embarrassed Kuzan and asked curiously, "What exactly is the Hyakuretsu Ken? Without a proper understanding, I can't really judge the practicality of such a technique."

"Ah, it's supposedly a technique that allows you to deliver a hundred strikes in an instant."

"I see. Well, that makes things easier," Sakazuki turned his head to look at Robin. "Each of us has different circumstances. Honestly, there's no need to deliberately imitate someone else's techniques or routines. Because if you don't adapt them to your own situation through actual combat experience, they'll never truly be your own."

He pointed at Kuzan, then at Gion, and finally at himself. "Let me give you an example. Kuzan is a user of the Ice-Ice Fruit, so he doesn't go out of his way to learn Mr. Garp's techniques.

Instead, he focuses on honing his own abilities. Gion is one of the few great swordsmen in the Marines. Her swordsmanship combines basic techniques and brutal battles at sea, forged in blood.

Like Kuzan, I'm a user of a Logia-type Devil Fruit. I can take inspiration from Mr. Garp's techniques, but I would never blindly copy them. If you don't absorb and integrate these things into your own path, they'll always remain someone else's power. War, in essence, is about using your strengths to exploit your enemy's weaknesses. True strength comes from your own beliefs and convictions, Robin."

Robin looked up at Sakazuki and asked softly, "Then are you one of the strong?"

The usually stern vice admiral smiled gently for once. He placed his hand lightly on the girl's head. "Of course I am. And you, in the future, will be among them too. One day, we will grow old, and you will become one of the pillars of the Marines."

The girl hadn't expected the cold vice admiral to have such high hopes for her. She stammered, "B-but... I don't even know my own path yet."

A slender hand gently took hold of her small palm. Robin could clearly feel the calluses on the other person's hand—unlike Jessica's smooth skin, this palm was rough from years of wielding a sword, but it was warm enough. Gion gave Robin's hand a light shake.

Her voice was cool but not overly forceful. "No one is born knowing everything. When we were children, we might not have been as talented as you. The Marines have many excellent techniques and combat skills. Combine them with your Devil Fruit ability, and slowly choose what suits you to integrate into your own system, then refine it through actual combat."

Sakazuki, who was gently patting the girl's head, was breaking out in a cold sweat. Wasn't Gion supposed to be blunt, straightforward, and all about military demeanor? Such a logical, and rational comfort actually came from the same Gion who had once bluntly confessed her feelings to him at supersonic speed?!

The girl looked at the beauty before her and nodded heavily. "Mhm!"

Feeling like all his earlier explanations and examples had been a waste of breath, Sakazuki silently withdrew his hand...

Embarrassing... really... while someone else could resolve things with just a few words, he had rambled on for so long. Maybe he was a fake political officer...

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki," Gion turned to him with a smile.

"Today, you've really given me a different impression," Gion sighed softly.

Disappointed, right? She must be disappointed, right? Beating up a colleague, ordering lemon water in an ice cream parlor, and failing to convince a little girl—Sakazuki felt like all his actions today had been worth it. He could almost imagine Gion's next words: "How can you call yourself a soldier among soldiers?"

The female swordsman's lips parted slightly. "Truly, a soldier among soldiers!"

"Huh...?" Am I going deaf... or are we not on the same wavelength? The old vice admiral, who had been repeatedly proven wrong, widened his eyes, waiting for Gion's explanation.

"On the battlefield, you act decisively and complete your missions with determination. In your downtime, you joke and banter with your comrades. You evaluate your superiors and colleagues objectively and fairly. When it comes to children, you go above and beyond, fearing that you might not fulfill your responsibilities and let them down.

When faced with a child's questions, you don't simply order them to do something but guide them patiently, carefully analyzing the pros and cons."

Gion's eyes sparkled as she concluded her high praise. "A man of iron with a tender heart—truly a soldier among soldiers. I like you even more now."

"..." Facing the dual scrutiny of Kuzan and Robin, Sakazuki could only think... What can I do? I'm just as desperate...

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