Chapter 535 Conversation with Gion, Part 1

Arthur didn't care. So what if he's useless? It's not like he's useless in front of other people.

How many times has he failed to impress Gion? He himself has lost count.

"Sir!" The CP agents pulled Knives out of the pit, worried about his condition.

"Mission...to complete the mission..." Knives was delirious, suffering from a severe concussion.

He had just said one sentence to his subordinates when he fainted at the dock.

That was a task personally assigned by the Five Elders; if it wasn't completed, there would be no way to explain it when we got back.

Looking at everything before her, Gion felt no longer any stirring of justice within her.

He was imprisoned in Mary Geoise for more than five months and witnessed firsthand how cruel and psychologically twisted the Celestial Dragons were.

These CP agents are their henchmen, doing the most ruthless and dirty things.

In contrast, the boy in front of her, who would beam with joy at her words and had even risked his life to help her several times, was now a different story.

Gion truly felt that kind of selfless dedication, and those stories are being verified little by little in real life, proving that they are real.

Shouldn't such a person be cherished even more?

Prejudice is hard to remove in a short time; she still has to slowly overcome that mental hurdle and adjust her view of the world.

After all, she is only six years old. Even if she has higher education and grows up in a good environment, her mind is only that of a six-year-old.

"You..." Gion stammered, then asked Arthur, "Does your injury hurt?"

"What injury?" Arthur asked, somewhat surprised by the question.

"I've gotten used to the pain of both external and internal injuries. But if you're talking about emotional wounds, those are indeed hard to heal."

“The villagers are panicked. Let’s go somewhere secluded and talk calmly,” Gion said, glancing around and noticing the villagers’ unusual fear.

"I have so many questions I want to ask you."

"I happen to know a great place!" Arthur suddenly pointed to the cliffside plain on the horizon.

"See that? That's my secret base!"

Gion was completely baffled by the sudden childish behavior of the Ice Swordsman in front of her.

The stronger a person is, the more clearly outsiders can sense their composure.

Possessing terrifying Conqueror's Haki capable of destroying everything, one shouldn't be so childish.

Considering how Arthur fought so hard to protect her, Gion found him even more unfathomable.

What kind of stranger could save her in a situation like God Valley?

"Let's go then." Gion said calmly, her heart already quite strong despite her young age.

She is all alone in this world. If she doesn't face life with strength, who will be her support?

"Should we buy something? Something to have as a snack, if we get hungry later?" Arthur led the way, asking for her opinion.

"For example, something like Yatsuhashi sweets? Tea snacks or something, I remember you like them."

"You...!" Gion exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Arthur's expression. "How did you know I...?"

"I knew you liked tea snacks? Sticky rice cakes?" Arthur laughed, hands behind his head.

"How could I not know what my wife likes?"

"..." Upon hearing this, Gion showed no emotional fluctuation and asked, "Then let me ask you, if someone suddenly appeared in your world and said that they came from the future, or that they were your relative or lover, would you believe them?"

“Me?” Arthur replied, “If anyone dared to say that to me, I would treat him like a charlatan and stab him to death!”

Isn't this the same answer that Gion had in mind?

Suddenly a person appears in front of you and says to your face that he comes from the future?

Isn't this insane? Any normal person would believe that.

Undoubtedly, Arthur has proven this to Gion through his actions.

Gion remained silent throughout the journey.

She remained silent throughout the half-hour journey to the cliffside plain.

In contrast, Arthur and Cooper were playing around and having fun, not at all like the ferocious pirates they were rumored to be.

Arthur arrived at the wooden cabin he had built himself, opened the door, stood in front of it, and looked back at Gion, who had been coming all along.

"We've arrived at my secret base."

Gion walked into the courtyard of the wooden house and glanced around.

In front of the wooden house, there is a fertile field of about one acre, where various vegetables and fruits are grown.

Like a paradise, all the noise from the village below the plain disappeared, leaving only the sound of the wind and nature.

"Don't get on my shoulder, you bastard!" Arthur tossed Cooper off his shoulder. "Go and arrange the seating!"

Cooper, who had been thrown to the ground, gave Arthur a look, then slumped into the cabin to set up tables and chairs.

"Cooper!" (He's got a partner and forgot his brothers! Shameless!)

It grumbled a complaint, but reluctantly went to set things up anyway.

"What's wrong?" Arthur came to the left side of Gion, turned his head and looked at her calm appearance, and asked softly, "Is it hard to believe that a ruthless pirate lives in such a peaceful place?"

"Why did that vine ability of Saint Somaz cause you such severe damage four days ago at God Valley...?" Gion asked Arthur, her mind filled with questions.

“That…” Arthur recalled with lingering fear, patiently explaining, “His Devil Fruit ability, that thorny vine, is called the Thorns of Love. The deeper the emotion is on the bound person, the greater the damage.”

Upon hearing this, Gion looked at Arthur with a puzzled expression, seemingly not quite understanding.

"To put it simply, you were bound at the time, right? I forcibly removed the thorns binding me. The deeper my feelings for you, the more pain I felt."

Gion understood this time.

At that time, Gion truly sensed Arthur's inner feelings and only wanted to save her from the monsters of the Knights of God.

His expression shifted from confusion to astonishment. "You said that thing will kill you, is that true?"

"Hehe, of course." Arthur chuckled. "Although I'm not faithful, my feelings for you... well, you haven't accepted me yet, so it's a bit awkward to talk about these things."

“I felt it.” Seeing that Arthur had taken back his words, Gion immediately added with her right hand on her chest, “I definitely felt what you did back then. Thank you, thank you for avenging me in G6, thank you for coming to God Valley to save me.”

I'm not someone who can't distinguish right from wrong, although... I already hate pirates very much, but you're different.

There was no one else around, and nothing to attract attention, so Gion decided to open her heart and get to know Arthur.

Upon hearing these words, Arthur was stunned.

Has the other person finally seen the light? Or has all that painful effort finally paid off?

A very unreal feeling arose in Arthur's heart. According to the course of his life, what things are easy to get through?

"What...what's with that expression? I'm telling you the truth, I...I'm actually very...vulnerable and confused." Gion looked at Arthur's expression, his eyebrows were raised and lowered, and he was grinning and frowning, looking at her with disbelief.

"Cooper! Come out and hit me!" Arthur ran into the cabin. "I must be dreaming! Kick me awake!"