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

  Dofmingo, oher hand, was given his own room, as befitting his status.

  Cudius, of course, had no objes to the arra, but Gion was far from fortable with the situation.

  The moment they ehe room, Cudius turned around to shut the dion, whose face was already slightly flushed, was filled with flig emotions. Her mi repying the se earlier when Cudius had btantly grabbed her chest, and now, sharing a room with him only heightened her unease.

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

  Just as Gion began angrily, "You—" Cudius's expression shifted sharply. Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and covered her mouth. The hing 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. Cudius's sudden, forceful a caught her pletely off guard, leaviunned and momentarily uo resist.

  Unbeknownst to her, Cudius wasn't ag out of romantic impulse. His sudden move was born out of caution. This room had been prepared by the Big Mom Pirates, and Cudius didn't trust them not to have pnted surveilnce devices. Charlotte Linlin was infamous for her ing, and Cudius wasn't willing to take any ces.

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

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

  Initially, Cudius had inteo stop the kiss after a brief moment and expiuation to Gion. However, to his surprise, she didn't struggle. Instead, she seemed pletely dazed, as if caught up in the moment.

  Realizing this, Cudius quickly adjusted his mi. 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, determio make it a moment Gion wouldn't fet.

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

  It wasn't long befion snapped back to reality. Feeling the warmth of Cudius's lips, she panicked, her expression shifting to one of arm. She quickly pushed him away with both hands, her voice trembling as she tried to speak.

  But Cudius was faster. This time, he cmped a hand over her mouth aured for her to be quiet, pointing around the room to emphasize his caution.

  Gion, though flustered, wasn't foolish. She immediately uood the unspoken warning. Of course, she thought, this room could be bugged. How could I be so careless?

  She nodded in aowledgment, signaling that she uood. Only then did Cudius release her, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

  Feigning nonce, Cudius said, "That guy earlier was too rude, staring at you like that. He should have realized you're my woman."

  Gion's face turned beet red at his bold statement, but she pyed along, her voice soft and slightly shaky. "Yhness, this is Cake Isnd. Even Master Dofmingo wouldn't dare act presumptuously here. Shouldn't you restrain yourself as well?"

  Dofmingo's status as the King of Dressrosa made it reasonable fion to address Cudius as "Yhness" while maintaining her cover.

  Cudius nodded, casually tinuing the versation while extending his Observation Haki throughout the room. He carefully searched for any hidden surveilnce equipment, using the opportunity to tease Giolessly.

  "Maybe we should strike a few poses," he suggested with a smirk. "Or take a bath together. You know, just to make it ving."

  Gio him, her face practically glowing red, but she had no choice but to endure his antics. Her embarrassment deepened as Cudius tinued making eous suggestions, eaore shameless tha.

  Though his search revealed no signs of monit devices, Cudius seemed to enjoy himself too much to stop. He bed through the room three or four times, all while finding new ways to fluster Gion.

  Eventually, Gion couldn't take it anymore. Cudius's ridiculous ents—such as "Why don't I put you in a Marine uniform and see how it feels to quer the Navy?"—were the final straw.

  Without warning, she delivered a swift kick to his backside, sending him sprawling onto the bed.

  "What are you doing? Do you really think of yourself as a Marine?" Cudius asked, feigning surprise.

  "I am a Marine!" Gion snapped, her voice filled with frustration.

  "Ahem, this is all for safety, you know," Cudius 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 ged the subject. "Listen, Cudius. I'm an Admiral didate, and while I uand the y of this missio me warn you, if you try anything inappropriate, I won't hesitate to make yret it!"

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

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

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

  "On the flion replied hesitantly.

  Cudius snorted. "The flion, 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 isnd?"

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

  "What are you doing?!" Gion excimed, stepping ba arm.

  "I'm taking a bath," Cudius replied matter-of-factly. "I've been wearing this face paint all day. It's unfortable, and I 't sleep like this. Surely even you 't objee washing up."

  Befion could argue further, Cudius 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 pletely shameless? she wondered.