Marineford, Marineford family quarters, at the entrance of Gern's home.
A gentle breeze swept past, slightly lifting Gion's long hair.
At the same time, she looked down at the rabbit-eared girl in front of her, her eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of imperceptible hostility.
"Who are you looking for?" Libo tilted her head, her pink eyes full of confusion: "Is there something wrong?"
"My name is Gion." Looking at Libo, Gion slightly narrowed her eyes, her tone cold: "So, you're the rabbit Gern brought back?"
"I have a name, I'm Lippo Hope, not 'rabbit'." Libo frowned, her droopy ears twitching slightly, clearly displeased with the address.
"Lippo Hope." Gion snorted softly, her gaze instantly sweeping over Libo's entire body, especially her chest.
"This figure is not inferior to mine, it seems Kaji said less..." Gion thought to herself, then continued in an unfriendly tone:
"So, you are Rear Admiral Gern's adjutant?"
"That's right!" Libo blinked, seemingly completely oblivious to the barb in Gion's words, instead revealing a bright smile.
"I am Gern's Justice Partner, the new adjutant, Warrant Officer Lippo!"
Looking at Libo's personality, Gion was also choked by her innocence, her brows furrowing even tighter.
"Justice Partner? Heh, since when did Gern like such a childish title?"
She remembered very clearly that during their fifth blind date, Gern had personally told her that he liked her aloof, mature sisterly demeanor, and even believed that her charm should be like that.
But what about this lively, cheerful, cute, and well-figured rabbit in front of her?
Although 'cute' was nothing compared to 'hot', this fellow possessed both attributes.
Both cute and hot.
Just as Gion was guessing, Libo suddenly took a step closer: "Sister Gion, are you also a Marine?
We have the same rank, why don't I have a cloak?"
"Sister?" Gion was startled, clearly not expecting the other party to address her that way.
"That's right," Libo nodded, her expression completely natural, "Gern said that one should be polite to seniors.
And it looks like you knew Gern before Libo, so it's fine for me to call you sister, isn't it?" (Mokomo Dukedom residents' custom of address)
Libo took it for granted, but Gion's expression subtly froze.
The cold words she had prepared were now stuck in her throat by Libo's "sister."
"Wait!" Gion took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure: "Do you know what it means for you to call me 'sister'?"
This time it was Libo's turn to be stunned. She blinked, staring earnestly at Gion, thought for a moment, and then suddenly realized:
"Gern and Zephyr both said that pirates are very hateful and cruel beings. Could it be that Gion's relatives were... by pirates?
Is that why she reacted so strongly when I called her 'sister'?"
Thinking of this, a hint of pity flickered in Libo's eyes, and then she continued: "Don't worry, Sister Gion.
I know what I mean; from now on, you are my sister!"
Gion: "..."
Watching this scene, Gion suddenly felt her hostility was like a punch hitting cotton.
Just then, Libo, seeing Gion not speaking, thought she was remembering her deceased relatives.
So she quickly stood on tiptoe, reached out and gently stroked Gion's head, and said softly: "It's okay, you are my sister, and I will always be your little sister."
"Always 'little'..."." Gion suddenly took a step back, her cheeks slightly flushed.
As the famous "Rear Admiral To-ka" of Marineford, when had she ever been treated like this?
What's more, the other party was a fluffy rabbit!
But Libo's eyes were so pure, without a trace of impurity, completely without any intention of competing.
Instead, she had a docile look of "you be the big one, I'll be the small one."
"Does she know she can't win against me, so she's proactively taking the junior position?" Gion's originally tense nerves slightly relaxed.
There was even a moment of trance—had she misunderstood something?
Gion took a deep breath, trying to suppress the strange feeling in her heart, and said coldly: "Don't touch me."
Libo immediately withdrew her hand, her droopy ears hanging down, looking a little wronged: "Sorry, Sister."
Gion: "..."
She suddenly felt a sense of guilt, as if she was bullying a child.
The atmosphere between the two fell into an awkward silence for a moment.
Gion's prepared questions and displays of dominance were now completely shattered by Libo's natural clumsiness.
She even began to wonder if she had misunderstood something.
This rabbit didn't seem to have any ulterior motives at all.
Just then, footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
It was Gern, carrying a stack of documents, walking back. Seeing the two at the door, his steps paused: "Gion? When did you get back?"
Gion turned to look at Gern, still a little angry, and said coldly: "It seems I came back at the wrong time?"
Gern raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping between the two, seemingly sensing something, and the corners of his mouth slightly curved upward: "How could that be? It's a good time to introduce you two."
He walked to Libo's side and rubbed her head, "Libo, this is Rear Admiral Gion, my..."
Libo's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded: "We've already met! Right, Sister Gion!"
Gern: "Sister?"
"That's right, I'm the big one! Any objections?" Gion coughed lightly, her earlobes slightly red.
Gern looked at Gion, then at the innocent-looking Libo.
Wait, what exactly happened? Why did Libo look at Gion with pity, and Gion looked at Libo with a 'I won, I'm the boss' feeling?
What are these two rabbits up to?
Gern was about to say something, but he sighed instead: "Never mind. Don't just stand there, come in and sit."
Gion wanted to refuse, but Libo directly pulled her inside.
Once inside, Libo enthusiastically poured Gion a cup of tea, and even specially added a carrot-shaped stirring stick.
"Sister Gion, try it, Gern brought this back from outside, it's so delicious!"
Gion took the teacup, looking at the floating carrot decoration inside, her mood complicated.
She took a sip; the sweet taste made her frown slightly, but seeing Libo's expectant eyes, she still reluctantly nodded: "It's okay."
Libo happily shook her droopy ears and turned to run into the kitchen: "I'll go get some snacks!"
After she left, Gion immediately put down the teacup and looked coldly at Gern: "Explain?"
Gern spread his hands: "As you can see, Libo is my adjutant, and also my partner."
"Partner?" Gion sneered, "A partner who lives together?"
Gern helplessly: "She's young and just arrived at Marineford; it's convenient for her to stay here temporarily so I can look after her."
Gion snorted softly, clearly not quite believing him.
But before she could question further, Libo had already returned with snacks.
"Sister, these are carrot juice cookies that Lina from Zephyr's house taught me how to make!"
Libo pushed the plate in front of Gion, her eyes sparkling, "Try them!"
Gion looked at the crooked carrot-shaped cookies on the plate, silent for a moment.
She picked one up and took a bite; the sweet carrot taste instantly filled her mouth.
"Not bad." Gion still said reluctantly.
Libo immediately beamed: "That's great! I was afraid Sister Gion wouldn't like them!"
For the rest of the time, Libo acted like an enthusiastic little hostess, constantly introducing the house's layout to Gion.
She even took out her treasured carrot doll to show her.
Gion, from her initial coldness, gradually became infected by Libo's simplicity, and her expression softened a lot.
In other words, she, Gion, suddenly!
It seems... she was completely handled by this rabbit.
...
【Please give me free small gifts!!】