Chapter 32 The Cute Rabbit
"Don't, don't talk nonsense, I'm a good match for her? How is this possible?!"
Although Vice Admiral Tsuru had once mentored her, and though she now holds the title of Rear Admiral, Gion—also known as "Momousagi"—has spent most of her life in the structured discipline of Marine Headquarters. She has not experienced the chaotic, unpredictable beatings that come with civilian life beyond the World Government's control.
So when she heard Shakuyaku's words, her first reaction was a rare flash of shyness.
Then when she caught sight of Carl grinning smugly beside her, a sudden flush of frustration and unexplained anger surged through her!
"Hurry up, buy me a bottle of wine! Use your money or I'll remember this, and you won't get away so easily next time!"
"Good, good, I see, Boss Shakuyaku, please give this lovely Marine officer a bottle of your finest!"
"Coming right up!"
Shakuyaku nodded, then turned to fetch the wine.
Though she despised the World Government and its Navy from her time as a former pirate alongside Silvers Rayleigh, she disliked Carl even more.
Because of Portgas D. Ace's capture and the looming threat of war that weighed heavily on everyone's minds, both Shakuyaku and Rayleigh were on edge, unable to move too publicly.
For now, they could only tolerate Carl's repeated visits, despite how he seemed to take pleasure in making trouble.
At least he paid for his food and drinks regularly his patronage gave the bar a dependable source of income in these unstable times.
Today, seeing a composed and striking Marine like Gion lifted her spirits slightly.
In her eyes, not every Navy officer was as irritating or provocative as Carl.
"Why do you come here every day? Is the wine really that good?"
Gion blinked as she asked, her expression genuinely curious.
The subtle, elegant way she blinked gave her an unexpectedly cute appearance, but Carl seemed unmoved. He sipped from his glass and shook his head lightly.
"The wine here's terrible but I'm not here for the drink. I come to irritate people."
"Irritate?"
Gion tilted her head slightly, visibly confused.
Shakuyaku returned with the wine, though the corner of her mouth twitched in irritation.
After placing the bottle down, she silently turned away, not saying a single word not even bothering to remain behind the counter.
"Yeah, I'm here just to stir things up. Don't you know that every time the old man sees me, he starts gritting his teeth and glaring?
That look of his, veins popping on his forehead—it's priceless. If I don't see him even for a day, something feels... off in my life."
Carl smiled and answered that Gion still didn't understand, but he didn't push the topic.
"Haha! You brat, is getting on my nerves the only thing you're good at?
If you've got the guts, come out and go a few rounds with this old man!"
Suddenly, a deep but slightly hoarse voice full of vitality rang out from the back entrance.
Shakuyaku had called Rayleigh out otherwise, who knew what nonsense Carl might spout next.
"Yeah? Weren't you just saying this morning that you didn't want to see me? What changed your mind?"
Carl raised his glass toward Rayleigh and downed the drink in one go.
Gion glanced at Rayleigh and found his face oddly familiar.
"Is this Rear Admiral Gion 'Momousagi'? I've heard of you for years. I never thought you'd actually walk into this old shop..."
"It's my bar!"
Shakuyaku quickly cut in with a sharp correction, and Rayleigh coughed dryly, pretending not to hear.
"So this is the Carl you said was always trying to irritate you? If he really manages to tick me off, don't say I didn't warn you!"
Gion responded with righteous indignation, her tone grave but her words made Rayleigh nearly choke on his own breath.
Blame himself if I get mad?
If anything, I'd be the happiest guy here!
Carl opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Gion tilted his chin upward with her gloved hand, her elegance revealing itself unconsciously.
Her large, clear eyes studied Rayleigh closely, as if examining some rare creature at the bottom of the Grand Line.
"What a striking presence... Compared to Hancock, she's not that far behind in grace..."
As a seasoned gentleman, Rayleigh's discerning gaze was as sharp as ever.
But before he could admire Gion's beauty further, Shakuyaku smacked him hard on the back of the head without hesitation.
"You pervy old man—get serious!"
"Ugh—Shakuyaku, can't you be a little gentler?!"
"If you stopped ogling every pretty woman, I wouldn't have to do this!"
Their banter came naturally, like an old married couple—no performance, just genuine familiarity.
"I remember now! No wonder he looked familiar... you're a pirate!"
Gion suddenly stood up, one hand already on the hilt of her saber, prepared for immediate action.
"Hahahaha! That's right, I'm Ray"
"You're Thunder Dog, the vice-captain of the Gutter Pirates!"
Gion cut Rayleigh off abruptly, pulling a folded wanted poster from the inside of her uniform.
It was a bounty notice for the notorious "Thunder Dog," second-in-command of the Gutter Pirates!
His bounty stood at 210 million berries—a serious threat by Marine standards.
And the portrait... was eerily similar to Rayleigh.
Same face structure. Same wrinkles. Even the smile though Thunder Dog's was sinister and stiff, whereas Rayleigh's was bold and warm.
The main differences were Thunder Dog's deep crimson hair and that ever-creepy smirk.
Still, at first glance, Thunder Dog looked like a knockoff version of the real deal Rayleigh himself!
"Hahahahaha! I can't take it, this is priceless!"
"Rear Admiral Gion, you're a treasure! Even I never noticed the resemblance between Rayleigh and Thunder Dog!"
"Hahaha! Stop, stop—my stomach's cramping from laughing!"
Carl slapped the table again and again, howling with laughter until tears welled in his eyes.
Rayleigh and Shakuyaku exchanged glances—the awkwardness in the air was unbearable.
Rayleigh had assumed Gion had recognized his true identity and was ready to act accordingly.
Instead, she had mistaken him for some cheap bootleg of himself.
Rayleigh's pride took a direct hit.
Shakuyaku tried to suppress a snicker on the side.
She knew about "Thunder Dog"—a pirate whose current status was unknown and presumed dead.
The resemblance was comical, and Gion's confident misidentification made it even funnier.
Gion narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing both the wanted poster and Rayleigh more carefully, before scratching her head in visible embarrassment and sheepishly lowering the paper.
"So... it looks like I made a mistake. You're Rayleigh, not Thunder Dog. Even though the resemblance is uncanny... you're not the same person."
"Wait a minute your name is Rayleigh?! As in Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King?!"
Gion, now processing things far too slowly, finally made the mental connection—Carl had called him Rayleigh!
She stared again at the man in front of her, then matched his features with another wanted poster in her memory the legendary former first mate of the Roger Pirates.
Her surprise turned to alarm. In a flash, she drew her sword and took a combat stance!
"So I finally get recognized, huh... took long enough."
Rayleigh shook his head with a resigned sigh, clearly unimpressed.
Now fully convinced, Gion's demeanor turned sharp and professional.
"Carl, I'll keep him occupied. You contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately tell him Silvers Rayleigh is here! Request a full admiral to assist with the arrest!"
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