With Garen and Reiju working together, Judge, Ichiji, and Niji—who had originally been facing life-and-death separation—soon reunited as father and sons, gathered together to enjoy the warmth of family.
If not for the fact that some were standing while others were kneeling, it would have been quite a heartwarming reunion.
Despite being shackled, Ichiji and Niji remained remarkably calm.
They had been born without emotions, and their identities were merely tools rather than masters. Naturally, they would not be depressed over losing their freedom and inheritance.
The two brothers wore cold expressions as they were forced to kneel stiffly before their enemies, staring straight ahead without a word. If not for their faces, swollen like pig heads from Garen's beating, they might have looked rather like composed generals facing danger.
But Judge was different.
He glared furiously at Garen and Reiju standing side by side before him, gritting his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
As a biological father with uniquely enlightened child-rearing principles, Judge still could not understand why his daughter, who had always been so obedient, would defect so ruthlessly to the enemy's side.
Overcome by grief and fury, Judge's scolding and questioning of Reiju had never stopped.
But Reiju seemed to have fully adapted to her new identity. No matter how Judge yelled at her, she ignored him.
"Shut up!"
Garen stepped forward, blocking Judge's devouring gaze from Reiju, then looked down at him arrogantly.
"Instead of wasting time insulting your daughter, you should accept reality sooner."
"Now, you have only one path left."
"Impossible!"
Judge cut off Garen's attempt at persuasion without hesitation and cursed through gritted teeth.
"I am the king of Germa, the head of the Vinsmoke Family, the former overlord of the North Blue. How could I endure such humiliation and bow to