"You know me, but I know nothing about you. Isn't that a bit unfair?" Gion looked down at Stussy and teased.
"Judging from this mission, we'll be spending a lot of time together. You'll get to know what you need to know." The underlying meaning of Stussy's words was clear: what you're not supposed to know, you won't find out.
Gion didn't mind this and continued to survey the tennis court in front of her, pondering how to play the game. But the next second, she composed herself, her beautiful eyes focusing on the three figures emerging from Pangaea Castle.
She quickly dismissed the two maids dressed in black and white skirts.
Her attention was drawn to the leader—a young man wearing a white top hat, white shirt, white trench coat, white pants, white leather boots, with black hair and black eyes.
"Could he be Nerona Saint? But this outfit..." Gion tilted her head and muttered in confusion.
She had seen Celestial Dragons before, with their hair styled high and curled at the ends, which always looked rather ridiculous.
Their clothing was even more bizarre—bulky, wide white coats with round bubbles on their heads.
Honestly, the first time she saw a Celestial Dragon, she almost burst out laughing. Fortunately, she managed to hold it in, or it could have caused trouble.
In comparison, this man in front of her... well, she found him quite handsome, with no trace of the typical Celestial Dragon style.
This was partly because Gion had never seen the Five Elders. If she had, she would have known that high-ranking Celestial Dragons didn't dress so absurdly.
Stussy, who was also observing the man, appeared more respectful and cautious, unlike Gion's blatant curiosity.
She had witnessed more of the Celestial Dragons' terrifying aspects than Gion.
"Honorable Nerona Saint, I am Stussy of CP9. I will be responsible for your personal protection in the coming period."
Seeing Stussy finish her introduction, Gion quickly followed up with her own name and identity. Meanwhile, Imu was also sizing up the two women.
His first impression wasn't about their beauty. After all, he had seen many beautiful women in his previous life, so their looks didn't overwhelm him. Or rather, their beauty wasn't at that level.
Perhaps, in the future, Hancock and Shirahoshi might have that effect.
What stood out more was the height difference between the two. Gion was nearly three meters tall, while Stussy was around 1.8 meters. Standing together, Stussy's head only reached Gion's waist.
However, both had excellent proportions and distinct styles. One had golden hair and a black dress, exuding Western sensuality and charm, while the other wore pink attire with black hair, her gentle features embodying the grace of an Eastern woman.
As for Imu, he stood at around two meters tall, a height he was quite satisfied with.
In this world, two meters was equivalent to 1.8 meters in his previous life—perfect. Any taller, and he would find it exaggerated and odd.
If he were given the standard height of a Marine Admiral, he wouldn't be pleased! So between Gion and Stussy, Imu personally preferred the latter, at least he wouldn't have to look up when speaking to her.
"Do you know how to play tennis?"
After the brief introductions, Imu walked over to the racket stand, casually picking one up as he asked.
Because he was now using his second identity, his expression was no longer as cold and ruthless, but rather softened with a touch of gentleness. However, it still gave off an air of aloofness and arrogance.
"No," Gion shook her head.
"I've learned a bit, but it's been a long time since I last played," Stussy smiled slightly.
"Is that so? Then come play a few rounds with me. Major Gion, you can watch from the sidelines for now. I believe you'll understand after watching for a while," Imu selected a racket and walked onto the court, casually picking up a tennis ball from the ball bucket.
He didn't play often either, but with his extraordinary memory and absolute control over his body, he figured he'd quickly get the hang of it.
Previously, Imu had considered other sports, such as basketball, soccer, table tennis, and badminton. However, the first two required more people, while the latter two didn't feel powerful enough. With his current strong physique, they wouldn't be satisfying. Upon hearing that Gion and Stussy had been chosen as his attendants, he immediately decided on tennis.
"Alright~"
Stussy didn't mind the commanding tone of Nerona Saint. In her view, Celestial Dragons were naturally like this—or rather, this attitude was already quite good.
However, Gion had some reservations and said, "Lord Nerona Saint, isn't it because you're about to travel that you need guards?"
She felt she wasn't here to accompany him in playing. Wouldn't it be better to spend this time practicing her swordsmanship?
"The vehicle for the trip isn't ready yet. Before that, we'll get to know each other, and you'll accompany me in playing tennis. That's your task."
Imu didn't care about Gion's reluctance. If she insisted on not playing with him, he could simply order the Five Elders to replace her. If she couldn't even handle such a small matter, what use was she? As he spoke, he walked to one end of the court, gently tapping the tennis ball on the grass. At the same time, his gaze fell on Stussy, who had picked up a racket and was ready at the other end.
To be honest, playing tennis with a beautiful agent in a black skirt and stockings was somewhat intriguing. This excitement was a welcome change for Imu, who had been bored for far too long.
Finally, something to do!
In the next moment, Imu slowly raised his right hand, lightly tossing the tennis ball into the air. He bent his knees, arched his back, jumped, and swung the racket in his right hand.
His entire serve was smooth and seamless, showing no signs of being an amateur. However, since it was his first serve, he held back most of his strength.
First, he was worried that using too much force would send the ball flying out of the court. Second, he wanted to avoid accidentally killing Stussy on the spot. Third, he didn't want to cause excessive damage.
After all, he just wanted to have some fun.
Whoosh—
Even so, his swing left an afterimage, and with a loud bang, the tennis ball transformed into a yellow beam of light that shot across the net. Visible shockwaves spread outward along its trajectory.
Boom!!
Stussy had no time to react. The beam landed not far away on the court, sending chunks of grass flying into the air. The fierce wind caused her golden hair to whip around wildly.
This scene also stunned Gion, who swallowed her follow-up questions and stared with her mouth agape at the yellow tennis ball smoking in the crater.
"So strong!"
Both she and Stussy on the court were stunned by the ball Imu had just served. They never expected a Celestial Dragon, whom they were supposed to protect, to possess such strength.
"It seems I still need to tone down the power a bit."
Standing on the other side of the court, Imu shook his head in dissatisfaction. He had used too much force. He wanted to have a relatively normal tennis match with Stussy.
"I'll serve a few more balls. See which ones you can return."
"Uh, okay!"
Stussy smoothed her bangs, which had been tousled by the wind, and finally took the situation seriously. At the same time, she wondered who this Nerona Saint really was, thinking to herself, "No wonder he was chosen as the successor to the Five Elders. He's truly different from the ordinary Celestial Dragons!"
The next second, Imu served again from the opposite side. This time, however, the speed of the ball was much more 'normal.' Although it was still as fast as lightning, it was just enough for Stussy to reach the landing point and barely return it.
Stussy rubbed her tingling palm, which had been numbed by the impact of the ball, and cooed, "Lord Nerona Saint, please go a little lighter~~ I can't take it~~"