Chapter 10: The Difficulty of Separation in the World

The first ray of light in the early morning of Shampoo fell on the top of the No. 66 Yarchiman mangrove, and through the dense branches and leaves, it turned into an irregular spot of light.

Then, more and more beams of light turned into spots of light and scattered on the ground. Here was a sea of ​​light and trees.

"Hey, Lex, remember to call me every day."

Zhiyuan held Lex in his arms and stood on tiptoes to whisper in Lex's ear.

"I can come to Shampoo and Demon often. It only takes one or two days to come here each time. Besides, your patrol mission in Shampoo and Demon will be over next month, so you will go back to Marinford. I will come to see you then." Lex put his arm around Gion's waist and said gently.

"But you're a pirate." Gion chuckled.

"...Didn't I tell you that even though I'm out to sea, I'm not a pirate."

Rex was somewhat helpless. People who knew his identity subconsciously thought that Lex was a pirate, a natural-born pirate king. Could the offspring of a pirate still be a 'marine of justice'?

What's more, he was the Golden Lion, the Red Earl, the successor of Whitebeard - Leon Lex? He was born with a heinous crime and was unforgivable.

Lex continued, "It doesn't matter. For now, only a red-haired uncle and five old men in the government know my identity. But they will never expose me. Instead, they will help you get promoted to general in the future."

"As for the pirates, I rely on my and my master's observation Haki, and not many people know my identity, so it won't be exposed for the time being."

"So what if I'm exposed? Who can kill me, huh?" Lex smiled confidently and rubbed Zhiyuan's head.

"But, when your identity is known to the world, how should I face you? Should I have a secret relationship with you? I know that Lex likes perverted ones. Are you going to sneak into Marinford to bully me in the future?"

Gion joked.

"Hahahaha, don't worry, the World Government is not a monolithic entity. Even old man Kitetsu can secretly cooperate with me, let alone the loyal dog of the World Government. What about the Navy?"

When it comes to Lex's situation, justice and evil are no longer that important, or not that clear. It's just a difference in stance and thinking.

In the words of Doflamingo, one of the future Shichibukai, "Only the victor is justice!"

The world is not so black and white, most of the time it is gray, and it becomes more and more obvious as you reach a higher level.

"Lex, I know you are very powerful, but the more this happens, the more I don't understand the meaning of you sending me to the navy. Even if I become a fighter as powerful as Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Zephyr, or Vice Admiral Garp, I am not indispensable to you, right?"

Gion looked up at Rex's deep blue eyes (a change after the awakening of the Space Fruit).

"Yes, I don't just need a top combat force, nor do I lack a top combat force. What I need is the collapse of the navy's faith..."

Lex spoke softly. He looked like a conspirator at this moment. The light of morning light was shining on his face, and his blue pupils were sparkling. He said this in the sunshine with a smile on his face.

Zhiyuan was stunned. She had never thought that Lex had such ulterior motives in asking her to join the navy. Although it was not a good thing to say so about her man, that was the fact.

"But can I really do it?" Zhiyuan seemed to be asking Lex, but also seemed to be asking himself.

"Even if you don't believe in yourself, don't you believe in me, your man?" Lex hugged Zhiyuan again.

Gion leaned against Lex's chest, feeling incredibly warm.

After the death of Tokigi (Gion's father), Rex was Gion's entire world. He didn't care even if he backstabbed the marines and was branded a traitor.

"Hahaha, how could you be branded as a traitor? Relax, not only will you not become a traitor of the navy, you will also become a true navy hero." Lex said subconsciously.

Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then punched Lex in the chest.

"Asshole, didn't you tell me not to eavesdrop on my thoughts? You are so mean, Lex, humph!"

Gion broke free from Rex's embrace, folded his arms and turned his back.

"Ah? Sorry, honey, I couldn't help it. I couldn't help it."

Lex quickly pulled Gion from behind and explained in a gentle voice.

"Humph, relying on your special observation Haki to eavesdrop on other people's thoughts is the most shameless thing."

Zhiyuan did not appreciate it and opened the arm that Lex stretched out to him.

"Okay, okay, next time I come over I'll bring you all the delicious food in the West Sea, okay? Don't be angry, honey. Girls age faster when they're angry."

Lex said some words to coax a little girl, but Zhiyuan just fell for it and it worked every time.

Maybe it's because Gion only responds to Rex's style, and no one else will work.

"We agreed that you swear to bring me all the delicious food from the West Sea. Oh, yes, and the North Sea, East Sea, and yes, the South Sea." Zhiyuan turned around and said the names of the four major seas in succession.

"Please spare me. No matter how powerful the Space Fruit is, it's too much to ask me to travel around the world to find delicious food for you." Lex looked bitter.

"I don't care. Who told you to bully me first? Just tell me whether you will bring it or not. Bring all the delicious food in the world to Marinford for me."

Zhiyuan had a look on her face that showed she had Lex in her grasp. Although Zhiyuan did not have the ability to read minds like Lex, she could always be sure of what Lex was thinking. In other words, as long as Zhiyuan wanted something, Lex would try her best to get it. This could be considered "reading minds" in another sense.

"Okay, okay, I promise you, but you have to be obedient and practice seriously."

"Know it."

"Then I'll leave. I'll call you when I get to the West Sea." Lex finally said.

"......"

Zhiyuan didn't say anything, but just opened her red eyes wide, and the black mole under the corner of her mouth trembled with her lips. It seemed that in just a moment, her eyes were filled with tears, but she forced herself not to let the tears fall.

It is more painful to have something and then lose it. Every separation is always more hurtful than a reunion.

Lex couldn't bear it, so he took Zhiyuan into his arms and hugged her tightly, as if he wanted to rub her into his body.

Then he loosened his arms and spoke.

"...Okay, it's not like I won't come back. I'll go to Marinford to see you in a few months at most. There will be delicious food from all over the world."

"Lex, I don't know why, but I feel more and more distant from you in the past year. You never left me for more than three days before... Even if you went to the New World to see your uncle and the others, you would come back soon. I always felt that it was natural and that you should always be with me."

Gion finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

"But, it wasn't until last year that I realized that it wasn't like that. It wasn't like that at all. I was so stupid. I always thought that... all the kindness you showed me was... my due, but... it wasn't. I couldn't help you at all.... So, when you told me to join the navy, although I felt bad, I still joined because I thought... that this might help you and make your life... a little easier."

The more Zhiyuan spoke, the more he cried, and his tears could not stop falling. Lex hugged Zhiyuan tightly, patiently wiping the tears that kept sliding down Zhiyuan's face. He listened to Zhiyuan's words without saying a word. He just listened. He knew that no matter what he said now, it would be better to let Zhiyuan cry well, even though he was also heartbroken at this moment.

"Since I was 14 and followed you back to the West Sea, you have trained to the point of being... on the verge of death more than once. I asked you... why, and you just said it was nothing while bleeding. But I know that no one would train to death every day for no reason. You must have great aspirations, but you never told me. I thought you thought I was a burden, and I was depressed for a long time. But when I later learned from... my uncle that you had never told him... I was very happy, but also very sad."

"I don't know what you're pursuing, but... seeing you always bear it all by yourself, and then practice desperately, constantly getting stronger, but never telling others why, I feel very distressed, so I can only practice with you, hoping to become stronger and become your strength."

"But the gap is only getting bigger and bigger. Slowly, I can't sense your aura anymore. Later, I joined the navy just to become a force you can use, but now... I regret it so much, you know? Honey, I don't want to leave you for a moment, I really regret it, but... I am very conflicted. I want to help you and make your life... easier. I don't know what to do, Lex."

Zhiyuan continued to cry, unable to stop her tears. Her eyes were completely red and swollen from crying. After all, she was only 18 years old.

Lex was extremely distressed.

He grabbed Gion's shoulders, and the two of them looked into each other's eyes, only one step away from each other.

Just like in most movies and novels, Lex kissed her deeply.

However, this kiss was more passionate and longer than any other kiss in the past four years.

Zhiyuan closed his eyes tightly and kissed him in ecstasy. His pink tongue unconsciously probed deep inside, but instantly turned from offense to defense and was defeated.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Lex once again embraced Zhiyuan in his arms and placed one hand on Zhiyuan's waist.

"Wife, wait until I come back."

Lex's familiar and gentle voice came to Gion's ears, but where his arms were clasped, there was no one there, only the morning breeze blowing through Gion's hair.

Lex, gone.