"Captain Darren, Supre Commander of the North Blue Marines, reporting to Saint Shaldes."
The Marine Captain's voice—casual, smooth, and laced with magnetism—echoed across the silent street.
The bloodied man stared blankly at the tall figure before him, frozen in place.
Gion and Tokikake exchanged shocked glances.
Darren had caught the bullet...
He had just stopped a Celestial Dragon from pulling the trigger.
And yet, for so reason, both Gion and Tokikake felt... relieved.
"North... North Blue Commander?"
Saint Shaldes flinched. The cold, suffocating aura of the man before him made sweat bead on his back. Trying to muster authority, he barked:
"You... you dared to stop ?"
Then he snapped, voice rising to a shriek:
"You dared to defy a Celestial Dragon?!"
Darren chuckled.
His eyes narrowed, a sly grin curling across his face like a fox.
"No, Saint Shaldes, you've misunderstood."
"I didn't stop you."
"I simply thought..."
Suddenly, Darren turned, and with a swift, brutal kick, slamd his black military boot into the man's gut.
The sheer force of the blow didn't even allow the man ti to scream. His body arced like a broken kite, trailing blood as he flew more than ten ters through the air.
Whether he lived or died—unknown.
"Tch..."
Gasps rippled through the street.
Gion and Tokikake's eyes filled with bloodshot rage. Their bodies tensed, one gripping her sword, the other ready to leap.
But before they could move, Momonga stepped in front of them, his voice low and ice-cold:
"Do you want everyone on this island to die because of your stupidity?"
That single sentence, filled with grim authority, hit them like a bucket of ice water.
Their trembling eyes widened. Their breaths turned heavy. Their clenched muscles—reluctantly—relaxed.
They understood.
If they acted now, if they provoked the Celestial Dragon, his fury could doom the entire island.
One civilian's life wouldn't be enough to atone.
Everyone would pay.
They clenched their jaws so tight, it was a wonder their teeth didn't break.
Saint Shaldes, anwhile, stood stunned. He couldn't quite figure out what this Marine Captain was playing at.
Then Darren slowly retracted his foot and turned to him with a grin.
"No need to dirty your hands on a lowly commoner, is there, Saint Shaldes?"
The Celestial Dragon blinked—then burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!! Excellent! A proper lapdog of the Celestial Dragons. You know your place!"
Darren's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"To serve the great Celestial Dragons, to serve the noble World Governnt—that is the Marine's duty."
Gion and Tokikake stood off to the side, eyes blazing, their chests heaving in fury.
Darren took a step closer to Shaldes, lowered his voice, and said smoothly:
"With your status, Saint Shaldes, there's no need to waste ti on trash like that."
"You've honored the North Blue with your presence. As a token of our gratitude, we've prepared a small gift. Please accept it."
"It's a modest show of our respect for your greatness... and a personal gesture from ."
He clapped his hands.
Within seconds, Mayor Hunt arrived, leading a dozen militian struggling to carry several massive crates. He jogged over with a greasy smile.
"Saint Shaldes, it's an honor!"
The mayor bowed low, his face a picture of obsequious flattery.
Saint Shaldes didn't even glance at him. He rely narrowed his eyes at Darren, then stepped forward and cracked open one of the crates.
A dazzling flood of gold and silver spilled through the crack, the glint of treasure shining onto the street.
The Celestial Dragon finally smiled.
"Hmm..."
He closed the crate, nodding in satisfaction.
"You're Darren, yes? Excellent. I like you."
"With talent like yours, remaining a re North Blue Commander is a waste."
Though Celestial Dragons wielded absurd power, they were still often short on money.
The World Governnt did fund them with inconceivable sums, but their greed and decadent lifestyles consud wealth faster than it could ever be replenished.
Darren smiled and shook his head.
"I only serve the Marines and justice. It doesn't matter where I'm stationed—as long as I'm useful."
"The North Blue may not match the Grand Line in spectacle, but I grew up here. I care deeply for this sea."
"Saint Shaldes, the World Governnt's envoys arrived at the port two minutes ago. For your safety, I suggest departing for Mary Geoise as soon as possible."
Saint Shaldes nodded.
"You're right... The air here reeks of filth and lowborn stench. It's disgusting."
He wrinkled his nose and glanced at the white-walled, blue-roofed buildings nearby.
"And the architecture? Utterly tasteless imitation."
Mayor Hunter wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a smile.
"Saint Shaldes, thank you for your insight! I'll order renovations imdiately!"
He turned and barked at the militian:
"You heard him! Move faster! Get the gifts to the port—now!"
Darren gestured politely.
"Right this way, Saint Shaldes."
The Celestial Dragon smirked and was about to move—when he suddenly stopped.
"Oh... I almost forgot."
Gion and Tokikake's faces paled.
Saint Shaldes looked greedily toward the little girl, Liya—her face deathly pale—and then turned back to Darren with a sly smile.
"I want my wife brought aboard."
"She'll co with to the Holy Land. We'll hold the wedding once we arrive."
The words left his mouth—
And the smile on Darren's face... slowly vanished.
---
To be continued...
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