NOVEL NEXT Chapter 248: Chapter 248
"Eh? You ate it all?" Luffy asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Is that your special hobby? Do you like the taste or something?"
Gion chuckled softly, her fingers tracing light circles on his chest as she reminisced about the experience. "Hmm," she murmured, licking the corner of her lips. "I don't know if it's psychological, but it tasted… surprisingly good. Maybe it's the effect of that 'pure gold'."
Still deep in thought, Gion reached for a small mirror from the clothes beside the sofa. Studying her reflection, she noted the faint flush on her cheeks and the slightly more seductive sparkle in her eyes. But beyond that, there weren't any significant changes.
Frowning slightly, she muttered, "Little rascal, I heard your seeds could make me more beautiful. Why do I look the same after all that effort?"
Hearing her words, Luffy's expression shifted from confusion to surprise. "How do you know about that? Did Kujaku tell you?"
Gion raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. Luffy's reaction confirmed her suspicions—Kujaku hadn't lied. His "essence" truly held such magical properties.
As Luffy got up from her lap, he instinctively reached out to wrap an arm around her shoulders but paused midway. Realizing he couldn't reach her towering frame, his face reddened slightly with embarrassment.
Instead, he grabbed one of her hands, his fingers idly playing with hers as he responded. "Sister Gion, don't be so impatient. These things take time. Just like eating healthy food, the changes will come gradually. It's not like some miracle pill that makes you an 18-year-old overnight."
He looked up, his tone softening as he added, "Not that you need to. You're perfect the way you are now—just as you are."
Gion extinguished her cigarette, her expression thoughtful as she leaned closer to Luffy. Picking him up with ease, she placed him back on her lap.
As her lips brushed lightly against his earlobe, she murmured, "Do you know about pure gold, little Luffy? It's said to be a magical substance that prolongs life and preserves youth. Even the Celestial Dragons have been searching for it for centuries."
Luffy smirked inwardly. She took the bait quickly, he thought, amused by how deeply she cared about her appearance.
It was true that Kujaku had used the idea of pure gold to manipulate Gion, but what Kujaku didn't know was that Luffy actually knew where to find it. Though retrieving it would be no small task, his confidence in succeeding was far greater than that of the World Government, which had been searching in vain for 200 years.
"Did Kujaku mention that to you? She must really care for you, even if she pretends to dislike you," Luffy teased, planting a seed of gratitude in Gion's heart.
When Luffy fell silent after that, Gion's patience began to waver. Her hands started to wander again, prompting Luffy to slip free from her embrace and begin dressing himself.
Seeing him move toward the door, Gion's face darkened. She thought he was about to leave without resolving anything.
Just as she opened her mouth to protest, Luffy turned back, his tone calm but firm.
"My other family members don't know about this yet," he said. "If you want to know the truth about pure gold, you'll need to come with me. But be warned—once you come with me, it means you're mine. Not just now, but for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. This identity won't change."
Gion's face lit up with joy. Without hesitation, she knelt in front of him, taking his clothes in her hands and helping him dress.
"I've made up my mind. Please take care of me, dear," she said with a sweet, sultry tone.
Luffy tilted her chin with a finger and smiled warmly. "Welcome aboard, Gion-chan."
After enjoying Gion's meticulous attention, Luffy led her out of the library and toward the restaurant.
When they arrived, the lively chatter inside filled the air. The girls were listening intently as Yamato shared stories of her childhood. Her tales painted a picture of a difficult life under Kaido's oppressive rule, helping the group understand her eccentric personality and distorted worldview.
The conversation took a serious turn as they began to denounce Kaido's inhumane treatment of his own child.
"I'll deal with that bastard Kaido sooner or later," Luffy declared as he pushed open the door, his voice carrying across the room. "But first, we have other matters to handle."
Hearing his voice, the girls turned their heads. Their gazes briefly shifted to Gion standing behind him before Ain quickly stood up to grab clean tableware for the pair and place an order for fresh dishes.
With a nod of gratitude to Ain, Luffy gestured for Gion to sit with the group before moving to his seat at the head of the table.
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