It's not only women who care about their appearance—
some men do too.
Malverick wasn't particularly vain, but having his face scarred?
That was something he absolutely could not tolerate!
Even though, thanks to the power of the Dragon Essence, the wound would heal in no time…
the humiliation still burned in his chest.
"Let me go!"
Gion struggled desperately in Malverick's grasp, his hand tight around her throat.
But his strength far outmatched hers—
no matter how she twisted, she couldn't break free.
As she continued to struggle, Malverick's patience snapped.
He brought his palm down hard across her backside.
The slap echoed sharply through the air.
He hadn't held back, and the result was immediate—
Gion froze, her body trembling as a burning pain flared behind her.
"You—!"
Her eyes flashed with fury, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
Being spanked in such a way—
in front of Tsuru and the entire Navy crew below, no less—was utterly mortifying!
"Behave yourself," Malverick said coldly.
"Or I'll tear that uniform right off you."
His hand slid threateningly to her collar.
"Don't!"
"Stop! Let her go, Malverick!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru shouted from below, panic lacing her tone.
Gion was her protégé—practically her little sister.
If anything happened to her, how could she possibly explain it to Fleet Admiral Kong?
"Hmph. She slashed my face, and you expect me to just release her?
Come on, Vice Admiral Tsuru—it's still daytime. Don't start dreaming."
"What do you want?" Tsuru demanded, her face grim.
"At this point, I'll do whatever it takes to get Gion back."
Malverick smirked. "What do I want? Easy—when I'm no longer angry, I'll let her go."
"Now then… goodbye."
A wave of inky black mist erupted from his body, spreading across the sea like a living shadow.
Within seconds, the entire area was swallowed in darkness—
even light couldn't pierce it.
"Not good!"
Tsuru's heart dropped as her vision vanished completely.
And by the time the darkness lifted—
Malverick and Gion were gone without a trace.
"Vice Admiral! What do we do?!" a young female Marine asked anxiously.
"Contact the North Blue Naval Base immediately!" Tsuru ordered.
"Search every island, every stretch of ocean—find Gion, no matter what it takes!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
At the same time, Tsuru sent a report to Marine Headquarters.
When Fleet Admiral Kong learned that Gion had been captured by Malverick,
he immediately ordered a full-scale operation across the North Blue!
——
"Bastard! Watch where your hands are!"
High above the sea, Malverick was flying with Gion in his arms.
But carrying someone in flight meant close contact—
and his hand had accidentally (or perhaps not so accidentally) brushed against her chest.
Gion's body stiffened in outrage.
She was in her twenties, fit and curvaceous—and very aware of it.
"Move your hand, or I'll cut it off!" she hissed.
If looks could kill, Malverick would've died a hundred times already.
But he didn't move.
His temper from being slashed in the face hadn't cooled yet.
Letting her off easily wasn't an option.
Instead, he squeezed slightly—just to spite her.
"You…!"
Gion's face turned crimson, a mix of anger and shame.
Her beauty, tinged with that flustered fury, made her even more striking.
"Talk to me like that again," Malverick said lazily, "and next time,
I won't bother using my hand… or I won't go through the fabric."
Gion immediately fell silent, her bravado evaporating.
She wasn't stupid—
if Malverick actually went that far, she'd be ruined.
She was the adopted daughter of Fleet Admiral Kong,
and he—a notorious pirate.
If something happened between them… she didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
Seeing her go quiet, Malverick smirked, satisfied.
Soon after, they landed on a small, deserted island.
He tossed a bundle of clothes at her.
"Take off that Marine uniform and put this on."
"Why should I?" she snapped, throwing the clothes back at him.
"I don't want people recognizing that I'm traveling with a Marine," Malverick said flatly.
He was sure the Navy was already combing the North Blue for them.
And with Corazon still badly injured, he needed to stay low and move quickly.
"I'll be back in five minutes," he added as he turned to leave.
"If you're not changed by then, I'll be happy to help you myself."
He walked away, leaving her fuming.
Gion glared at his back, punching the air in frustration before reluctantly changing clothes.
Once dressed, she noticed Malverick still hadn't returned.
Her eyes flickered mischievously.
She took the rank insignia off her Marine uniform and hid it behind a large rock—
a silent message, in case the Navy came searching.
Meanwhile, near the shore, Malverick was speaking to Reiju via Den Den Mushi,
ordering her to have Germa 66 stay hidden for the time being.
He would be returning later than planned.
When he came back, he didn't immediately take Gion into the air.
Instead, he pulled her over his lap.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three sharp blows landed squarely on her backside.
Gion's face turned scarlet.
Her hands covered her burning rear as she lowered her head in humiliation.
That damned man!
He'd spanked her again!
"Did you think I wouldn't notice your little trick?" Malverick said,
holding up the Marine insignia she'd hidden behind the rock.
"Don't try to outsmart me again," he warned coldly.
"Next time, the punishment will be ten times worse. Understood?"
Gion turned her head to glare at him but said nothing.
Smack!
"Did you hear me?" he said, raising his hand again.
"I heard! I heard!" she blurted, almost pleading.
Malverick paused for a moment—
then grinned wickedly.
Smack!
"Sorry," he said cheerfully. "Too slow."
He let her go, laughing as Gion clutched her sore backside and glared daggers at him.
"You bastard," she growled. "I swear I'll make you pay for this someday!"
"Looking forward to it," Malverick said, utterly unconcerned.
He wrapped his arms around her once more.
Dark wings unfurled from his back as he lifted into the air.
"You can try to get your revenge later," he said with a smirk.
"But for now, you don't have a choice."
That evening, they arrived at a small inn.
"Two rooms," Malverick said to the innkeeper.
The man gave him a strange look, glancing between Malverick and the fuming young woman behind him.
"Uh… are you sure you want two rooms?" the innkeeper asked awkwardly.
"Are you deaf? Of course two!" Gion snapped immediately.
Malverick chuckled quietly to himself.
He could guess exactly what she was thinking—
Finally, separate rooms.
Poor girl.
Reality was often crueler than dreams.
~~--------------------------
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