"Just finished a battle?"
The crowd froze, eyes flicking to the clone soldiers on deck and the hulking Germa warship. Only then did they notice the grim streaks of blood on armor, hands, even sared along the hull.
Could it be...?
A dreadful thought took root.
Purupuru... purupuru...
Den Den Mushi trilled in waves across the harbor. Royals, ministers, and nobles snatched them up; as they listened, color bled from their faces, shock hollowing their eyes.
"The Sicilian Empire in the West Blue—its entire army of over fifty thousand—completely annihilated!"
They traded looks of raw fear.
Small in land but fierce in spirit, the Sicilian Empire’s standing army rivaled top-tier mber states. And yet an elite host of fifty thousand... gone in a night.
Gulp.
Many swallowed hard, throats gone dry, and edged back from Vinsmoke Judge as if from a demon.
He watched their reaction and smirked, contempt curling his lip. So this was the World Governnt’s peerage—bullies of the weak, cringers before the strong. If not for the Governnt’s threat of sanctions and force, he would have marched Germa 66 across their pathetic kingdoms long ago.
"Heh-heh-heh... Mr. Judge. Been a while."
A lazy voice drifted from the crowd.
Judge’s frown deepened as a man in a brown fedora sauntered out, hands in pockets, a toothpick between his teeth, hair on his legs showing above his flip-flops. With a flourish he tipped his hat to reveal a face he plainly believed dashing.
Tokikake.
"Germa 66 is fearso, sure," he drawled. "But showing up to a wedding on Fish-Man Island blood-soaked and itching for a fight? A bit disrespectful to us Marines, don’t you think?"
Garp’s eyes widened. He fought a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Attention swung to Tokikake. Delegates muttered.
"Who is that?"
"Looks like a Headquarters Rear Admiral..."
"Strong presence..."
"Sha about the face."
"By his tone, he’s crossed paths with Judge before."
...
Under the sudden heat of a hundred stares, Tokikake’s palms sweated inside his pockets. His heart pounded; excitent trembled up his spine.
This is it. Finally, my chance. Tokikake, handso prodigy of Marine Headquarters!
If I put Judge in his place... I’ll steal Darren’s thunder. And then—
The cherry-stem tongue princess.
The queen of perfect splits.
All those noble madams and ladies with... talents.
They’ll line up to squeeze my biceps, eyes shining—
"The Marines?" Judge’s eyes narrowed, a blade-glint within.
Behind him, the pink-haired girl peeked around his leg and pointed. "Father, that old man is so ugly!"
Crack.
Tokikake went statue-still. Color drained from the world—black and white—then shattered.
Snort.
Garp choked back a laugh, clapping a hand over his mouth when Tokikake’s face darkened.
"So who are you?" Judge asked, voice cold.
The words snapped Tokikake back. Rage surged; he ground his teeth. "Forgotten already? In the North Blue, it was this great man who sent your army running with their tails between their legs!"
Judge scrutinized him, then blinked as mory clicked. "Ah. That one."
Tokikake’s grin spread. "Hahaha! So you rember! Now behold the might of—"
"You’re the one I flattened with a single shot," Judge said, bored.
Tokikake froze. Red crept up his cheeks. Pitying looks from the crowd made him want to disappear through the floorboards, toes first.
"Sigh..."
A resigned breath behind him. A gentle pat on his shoulder.
Tokikake turned, face crumpling. "Darren..."
"It’s all right," Darren said, sympathetic. "You’ll get used to it."
Ouch.
Tokikake’s heart twisted.
Darren stepped forward, smiling as he extended a hand. "Long ti no see, Mr. Judge."
Judge studied the young Vice Admiral—changed by ti, almost unrecognizable at a glance. His gaze flickered; he steadied himself, drew in a asured breath, and forced a slightly stiff smile as he shook.
"It’s been a while, Vice Admiral Darren." He tipped his chin at the little girl clutching his leg. "This is my daughter, Reiju. You’ve likely t."
Darren crouched, ruffled the pink hair with a warm smile. "Hey, Reiju. Rember ? I held you when you were just a baby."
Reiju’s eyes grew round. She spun to her father. "Father! This brother is so handso!"
She launched herself at Darren, arms looped around his neck, and planted a loud kiss on his cheek. "Darren-nii, can I marry you when I grow up?"
Judge’s face darkened.
Tokikake’s vision went white—and he toppled backward with a thud.
To be continued...
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