At the edge of Mokomo Dukedom, the night wind gently brushed, and starlight sprinkled on Zunesha's massive body, coating the land with a silver glow.
Rear Admiral Gern stood at the edge of the cliff, feeling the sea breeze, a slight smile on his lips, and suddenly asked, "Hmm, where's my partner in justice?" His tone carried a hint of teasing.
"I didn't think you'd find me," Lippo Hope skipped out from the shadows, whistling, pretending as if nothing had happened.
She was wearing a dress, a small backpack with a carrot pattern on her back, and her droopy ears swayed gently with her steps.
Rear Admiral Gern stood at the edge of the cliff, Moonlight casting shadows on his well-defined profile.
Then, he looked down at Lippo Hope, his mouth twitching slightly, and with his arms crossed over his chest, he looked at her sternly: "You..."
"I don't care!" Lippo Hope suddenly shouted, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
She was afraid Rear Admiral Gern would reject her just as he had rejected Pedro.
So she suddenly jumped up, grabbed Rear Admiral Gern, her pink eyes wide and round, as if afraid he would disappear the next second.
"You said you were coming to find me from the start! And we even high-fived!" She spoke rapidly, her droopy ears twitching with her excitement.
"I'm already a partner in justice! And I'm very easy to take care of!
I only need carrots and carrot juice, and for sleeping, I can just squeeze in with you!"
Lippo Hope spoke faster and faster, finally almost stamping her foot as she shouted, "Anyway, you can't get rid of me! Hmph!"
Rear Admiral Gern was stunned.
The night wind blew, rustling their clothes.
Lippo Hope stared at him, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breathing, her fingers still tightly gripping his clothes.
After two seconds of silence...
"Pfft." Rear Admiral Gern looked at her, finally unable to hold back his laughter.
He reached out and ruffled Lippo Hope's head, the soft touch of her droopy ears making him happy: "I didn't say I was going to get rid of you."
"Eh?" Lippo Hope blinked, her ears instantly perked up, "Really?"
"Really," Rear Admiral Gern nodded, a hint of slyness in his eyes, "However, I must warn you, it might get a little exciting next."
"Exciting?" Lippo Hope tilted her head, not yet reacting.
Rear Admiral Gern suddenly bent down, picked her up by the waist, holding her in the crook of his arm like a package.
Then, he leaped, plunging straight down from the edge of Zunesha's back, a thousand meters high!
"Wh—Waaaaah!!!" Lippo Hope's scream instantly pierced the night sky.
The strong wind howled into her ears, blowing Lippo Hope's droopy ears straight.
She tightly closed her eyes, instinctively clutching Rear Admiral Gern's arm, her heart pounding.
The wind howled in her ears, and the feeling of weightlessness made Lippo Hope's body tense.
However, the anticipated sensation of falling did not last too long.
She secretly opened one eye and saw that Rear Admiral Gern's feet were stepping on circles of pale white shockwaves, and the two of them were slowly descending as if stepping on invisible stairs.
"How is it, exciting?" Rear Admiral Gern looked down at Lippo Hope in his arms, his smile deepening.
"Rear Admiral Gern—you big idiot!!!"
"But..." Lippo Hope's cheeks were flushed with excitement, she released her tight grip, waving her hands excitedly: "That was so much fun! Let's do it again!"
"Next time," Rear Admiral Gern chuckled, his gaze turning to the distant sea.
A Marine warship was quietly anchored there, its deck lights particularly conspicuous in the night.
"Is that your ship?" Lippo Hope looked around curiously.
"Yes, the place we're going next is much more dangerous than Mokomo Dukedom," Rear Admiral Gern's tone became serious, "Are you sure you want to follow me?"
Lippo Hope nodded without hesitation, her pink eyes full of determination: "Of course! I'm your partner in justice, Lippo Hope!"
Rear Admiral Gern looked at her, a warm current flowing through his heart, and without saying more, he steadily landed on the Marine warship's deck with Lippo Hope.
The Sergeant, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly stepped forward and saluted respectfully: "Rear Admiral Gern, everything is ready."
His gaze swept over Lippo Hope, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"This is Lippo Hope, my aide-de-camp," Rear Admiral Gern introduced briefly.
"Ai-aide-de-camp?!" The Sergeant's eyes widened, but he quickly realized his gaffe, and hurriedly lowered his head, "Welcome, Miss Lippo Hope."
Lippo Hope waved with a cheerful smile: "Hello! Please take care of me from now on!"
The Sergeant chuckled dryly, thinking to himself: Rear Admiral Gern's aide-de-camp... is actually a rabbit?
And Ensign Gion has recently taken on the name "Rear Admiral To-ka"! Isn't this a rabbit on top of a rabbit?"
"What are you thinking about?" Rear Admiral Gern patted the Sergeant's shoulder, interrupting his wild thoughts: "Set sail."
"Yes!" The Sergeant immediately turned and loudly relayed the order.
The Marine warship slowly sailed away from Zunesha, the sea breeze brushing against their faces, and Lippo Hope stood at the bow, excitedly looking around.
This was her first time leaving Mokomo Dukedom, and everything before her felt new and exciting.
"Rear Admiral Gern, the sea is so vast!" She spread her arms, as if to embrace the whole world.
"Yes, it's vast," Rear Admiral Gern stood beside her, his gaze distant: "But also very dangerous."
Lippo Hope turned her head and winked at him: "It's okay, with you here, I'm not afraid!"
Rear Admiral Gern smiled slightly, not answering. He looked at the distant horizon, his thoughts drifting.
"Partners in justice, set off!" Lippo Hope suddenly raised her fist, imitating Rear Admiral Gern's signature move, and shouted loudly.
The Marine soldiers on the deck were infected by her vitality and all smiled.
Rear Admiral Gern shook his head helplessly, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.
...
Meanwhile, just as Rear Admiral Gern took Lippo Hope and jumped off Zunesha, rustling sounds came from the bushes not far away.
Wanda and Pedro secretly poked their heads out.
"Pedro, Lippo Hope sister went with Rear Admiral Gern."
Wanda blinked her big eyes, her fluffy tail gently swaying, thinking to herself: "Be happy, Lippo Hope sister."
"It's okay."
"Because, a hero of justice... won't let his comrades get hurt."
Pedro touched the cloak of justice draped over his shoulder, then took out the private Den Den Mushi Rear Admiral Gern had left for him, a warm smile gracing his lips.
From then on, young Pedro carried an added responsibility.
So much so that later, when Roger brought Oden, Nekomamushi, and Inuarashi to Mokomo Dukedom, they encountered resistance.
Fortunately, with Pirate King Roger's charisma and friendliness, the misunderstanding was successfully resolved.
But the subsequent demand by Nekomamushi and Inuarashi for the Mink Tribe to pledge allegiance to the Kozuki Oden family and for the two of them to become retainers caused strong rejection throughout Mokomo Dukedom!
And Pedro was the main instigator of this rejection!
The reason given was Mokomo's "Justice"!
...
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