Chapter 360: Germa’s Request for Alliance!
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Ryuunosuke handed the snail back to Najenda.
"Captain, if we’re going to work with Germa, what should we be cautious of?" she asked, stowing the device with a thoughtful frown. "They’ve dominated a sea region for years—there’s no way they’re just so tech nerds with fancy suits, right?"
Ryuunosuke chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it too much. Go on, enjoy the party. We part ways with them tomorrow."
He didn’t elaborate. With that, he turned and walked over to join Ace and the others, who were already deep into their drinks and laughter.
The celebration stretched deep into the night.
At the bow of the ship, under the starry sky, four brothers sat side by side, the night wind carrying their laughter across the deck.
"Big bro," Sabo slurred slightly, cheeks flushed with drink, "you were already this strong back then, weren’t you?"
"So why’d you pretend to be powerless back in the5 Village?"
Even with his powerful constitution, Sabo felt the alcohol creeping into his senses. His words ca slowly, dragged by mories of childhood—of the ti when they believed Ryuunosuke was the weakest of the four.
"At that ti... you guys were stronger than ," Ryuunosuke admitted calmly.
He didn’t bother to deny it. Back then, he had no special powers—no system or secrets. Just raw training and grit. Compared to Ace, Sabo, and Luffy—three freakishly talented kids—he was ordinary.
"Impossible!" Ace huffed. "You were just hiding your strength! You really sold that act, huh?"
Luffy grinned as he leaned forward, full of energy. "Do you all wanna beco Pirate Kings too?"
The straw hat sat crooked on his head, his excitent barely contained. Today was the happiest he’d been since setting out to sea. The four brothers, finally together again.
"Pirate King?" Ryuunosuke raised a brow and burst into laughter. "You go ahead and chase your dream, Luffy. We’re not gonna fight you for the crown. We’re not that desperate to marry you!"
"HAH! Hahahaha!"
All four of them burst into unrestrained laughter, echoing across the ship. For a while, they forgot about their titles, their enemies, and the heavy burdens they carried. They just talked—about family, about the old days, about nonsense.
---
On the upper deck, Leone leaned against the railing, watching the scene with mild confusion.
"Captain feels like a completely different person..." she muttered. "Is that really our Ryuunosuke? It’s like he’s been possessed."
To her, the captain had always been calm, sharp, and frighteningly competent. But with those three, he looked... silly. Human. Even cracking puns like so goofy teenager.
Tatsumi chuckled beside her. "The captain’s character is solid. Kind, even."
"But that kindness is for his crew and allies. Against enemies..." He exhaled slowly, rembering the captain in battle. "He’s more like a demon in human skin."
Even now, Tatsumi sotis doubted if he could ever truly catch up.
---
By sunrise, the brothers had already gone their separate ways, each returning to their own journey.
As for Ryuunosuke and the Dragon Hunter Pirates, their ship charted a course directly toward the newly nad Jack Island, forrly the G-5 Marine Branch.
After the fierce battle that once reduced it to rubble, Jack Island had been rebuilt from the ashes by Ryuunosuke’s crew. Now, it served as a thriving base of operations and trade hub—especially after Doflamingo helped reestablish comrce routes.
The mont they docked, Ryuunosuke spotted Germa’s ship already anchored at port.
So they really are in trouble, he thought. Didn’t waste a second getting here.
He strode forward with his usual confident air and greeted the tall, imposing figure waiting at the dock.
"Mr. Judge, apologies for the wait. Let’s head inside—talk business properly."
Although much of the island still bore scars from the past, the main compound had been renovated into a sprawling stronghold. It was more secure, better connected, and already bustling with trade traffic.
Judge gave a polite nod. "We arrived just yesterday. I was curious... what are your thoughts on the alliance I proposed, Captain Ryuunosuke?"
His tone was cautious, asured. The young man before him had not only shaken the foundations of the World Governnt but done so with the confidence of soone born for war. Now that he stood face-to-face with him, Judge was struck by how young he truly was—around the sa age as his own children.
And yet, this man now stood at the peak of the pirate world.
Ryuunosuke raised a brow. "Didn’t I already agree over the Den Den Mushi?"
He smiled lightly, but his gaze held weight. "I invited you here so we can go over the details. As allies, I believe I deserve to know what kind of predicant the Vinsmoke family is facing, don’t you think?"
Judge’s heart skipped a beat.
That’s it? You’re not going to make beg?
He had prepared a convincing proposal—a full ten-thousand-word speech morized and rehearsed over days. And now, none of it was needed.
His rhythm shattered, Judge could only nod stiffly.
"I’ve arranged for soone to go over the tech side with you," Ryuunosuke added. "He’s not the strongest fighter, but he’s got a sharp head when it cos to scientific matters."
With that, he turned and walked toward a private courtyard inside the base.
Judge followed, mind spinning.
This captain... is terrifying.
---
Inside the courtyard, a man in a white lab coat walked up with an eager smile.
"Captain!" he greeted.
"Caesar," Ryuunosuke introduced, gesturing. "This is Vinsmoke Judge, head of the Germa family. You’ll be handling the collaboration—he’s here to offer us technology. Talk with him. If you need anything, co find later."
Without waiting for a reply, Ryuunosuke turned and entered the nearby room.
Judge raised a brow. "Caesar...so it is you."
"I know who you are."
Without waiting for Caesar to respond, Judge pulled out a thick stack of docunts and placed them on the table.
"This is the technology we’re offering. Take a look."
Caesar flipped through the papers, frowning at first—then widening his eyes.
"This... is the lower half, isn’t it?" Caesar muttered, stunned.
Judge smirked. "Ah, so you have seen the upper half before."
"You were just a low-tier researcher under Vegapunk, weren’t you? And now you’re a leading scientist for the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
There was no mockery in his tone—just cold recognition of Caesar’s past.
Caesar’s eye twitched. He wanted to snap back, but... Judge wasn’t wrong.
He had worked under Vegapunk, only given access to the basic surface-level research. The true at of the bloodline factor studies remained out of reach.
That’s why he defected, stealing scraps to build a future elsewhere.
"Mr. Judge," Caesar said after a pause, voice sharpening, "you may have misunderstood sothing."
"The one who’ll decide whether you’re qualified to be an ally of the Dragon Hunter Pirates..."
"...is ."
A sharp grin stretched across Caesar Courant’s face—no longer polite.
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