One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 202: Claudius: Gion, Let’s Sleep Together Today!

With some time left before the tea party officially began, Doflamingo and his group had arrived early. Katakuri had personally arranged accommodations for them on Cake Island. However, there was a minor twist—Gion, for reasons unknown, didn't have a separate room. Instead, she was assigned to Claudius's quarters, possibly due to her role as a "maid."

Doflamingo, on the other hand, was given his own room, as befitting his status.

Claudius, of course, had no objections to the arrangement, but Gion was far from comfortable with the situation.

The moment they entered the room, Claudius turned around to shut the door. Gion, whose face was already slightly flushed, was filled with conflicting emotions. Her mind kept replaying the scene earlier when Claudius had blatantly grabbed her chest, and now, sharing a room with him only heightened her unease.

Her first instinct was to warn Claudius not to try anything inappropriate. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she was interrupted.

Just as Gion began angrily, "You—" Claudius's expression shifted sharply. Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and covered her mouth. The next thing she knew, his lips were pressed firmly against hers.

Gion froze, her eyes wide with shock. What... what is happening? she thought. This is my first kiss!

Her brain short-circuited as she struggled to process the situation. Claudius's sudden, forceful action caught her completely off guard, leaving her stunned and momentarily unable to resist.

Unbeknownst to her, Claudius wasn't acting out of romantic impulse. His sudden move was born out of caution. This room had been prepared by the Big Mom Pirates, and Claudius didn't trust them not to have planted surveillance devices. Charlotte Linlin was infamous for her cunning, and Claudius wasn't willing to take any chances.

When Gion opened her mouth earlier, she was dangerously close to blurting out something that could jeopardize their mission. To prevent any slip-ups, Claudius had taken the most drastic and opportunistic measure available.

Of course, he could have simply covered her mouth with his hand. But when presented with an opportunity like this, who in their right mind would pass it up?

Initially, Claudius had intended to stop the kiss after a brief moment and explain the situation to Gion. However, to his surprise, she didn't struggle. Instead, she seemed completely dazed, as if caught up in the moment.

Realizing this, Claudius quickly adjusted his mindset. If she's going to let this happen, why not make the most of it? he thought. He put all his effort into the kiss, determined to make it a moment Gion wouldn't forget.

Despite being a Vice Admiral, Gion was still a woman. And for all her toughness, she couldn't deny that Claudius was handsome, powerful, and charismatic. Over time, she had developed a faint fondness for him, though she would never admit it aloud.

"Ahem, this is all for safety, you know," Claudius replied, rubbing his backside. He quickly dropped the teasing tone, seeing that Gion was genuinely annoyed.

"Safety, huh?" Gion muttered, her cheeks still flushed. "I think you just enjoy messing with me."

Realizing she had spoken too bluntly, she quickly changed the subject. "Listen, Claudius. I'm an Admiral candidate, and while I understand the necessity of this mission, let me warn you, if you try anything inappropriate, I won't hesitate to make you regret it!"

Claudius chuckled and rolled onto his side. "Relax. We're on a mission, remember? Besides, there's a bed right here. You can sleep there if you want. There's also a bathroom. You can use it if you like. Suit yourself."

Gion frowned. "Shouldn't you be a gentleman and let me take the bed?"

"And where am I supposed to sleep?" Claudius asked, raising an eyebrow.

"On the floor," Gion replied hesitantly.

Claudius snorted. "The floor? Gion, have some perspective. I'm Celestial Dragon royalty. Do you really think I'd stoop so low as to sleep on the floor?!"

Gion rolled her eyes. "What, did someone bring you a bed when you were stranded on a desert island?"

The jab hit its mark, and Claudius coughed awkwardly, momentarily at a loss for words. Without bothering to respond, he began unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing?!" Gion exclaimed, stepping back in alarm.

"I'm taking a bath," Claudius replied matter-of-factly. "I've been wearing this face paint all day. It's uncomfortable, and I can't sleep like this. Surely even you can't object to me washing up."

Before Gion could argue further, Claudius removed his shirt, revealing his toned upper body. He tossed the garment aside and made his way to the bathroom, wearing nothing but his boxers.

Gion stood frozen, unsure whether to be flustered, annoyed, or both. Is this man completely shameless? she wondered.