The next day, a news report came out of the Germa Kingdom, a World Government Member State.
"Yesterday, Germa 66 held a public military exercise in the waters near the Yadis Kingdom in the North Blue, in cooperation with the North Blue Marine fleet. During the exercise, both sides demonstrated formidable military capabilities..."
"...The King of the Germa Kingdom and commander of Germa 66, Vinsmoke Judge, expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of Colonel Darren, the North Blue Marine commander, and promised to sign a long-term friendship and cooperation agreement to jointly maintain peace, security, and prosperity in the North Blue."
In the office of the Branch 321 base commander, Gion and her partner stared, dumbfounded, at the freshly printed newspaper in their hands.
"How is this possible?!"
Beside the report was a photograph of Darren and Vinsmoke Judge shaking hands beneath the seagull flag. They looked so friendly that the two could hardly believe their eyes.
The day before, they'd been fighting tooth and nail, nearly wiping out Germa 66. And now, in less than a day, they were "cooperating as friends"?
Looking at the familiar, kindly, enthusiastic smiles on Darren and Vinsmoke Judge's faces in the photo, you'd think they were long-lost brothers!
This... was like a dream!
"How is it not possible? Mr. Vinsmoke Judge is a reasonable man. After my patient explanations and advice, he soon understood the North Blue Marines' position and our determination to uphold justice and peace..."
Darren glanced at Gion and her partner, who were still staring in shock, and leisurely lit a cigar.
"He also recognized the mistake of starting a war and decided to set things right. Isn't that perfectly reasonable?"
Gion's partner nodded as if he understood.
"Yeah, that does sound reasonable..."
"Like hell it does!!"
He gritted his teeth.
Given Vinsmoke Judge's cruel, domineering, arrogant nature and ambition, how could a few words from Darren possibly have changed his heart?
You're a Devil Fruit User who controls metal!
You're not a Devil Fruit User who inspires people!!
"Darren, what did you do? Did you threaten him?"
Gion gritted her teeth, her face full of disbelief.
"You caught me..."
Darren raised both hands, wearing an expression that said, "You caught me."
He smiled.
"Actually, I didn't do anything. Just as I told Admiral Sengoku, I simply made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"I just didn't expect Vinsmoke Judge to be so reasonable."
Gion and her partner: ...
Seeing Darren smile without saying a word, they knew they probably wouldn't get anything else out of him.
They didn't know what he'd done to make Vinsmoke Judge give in, but the outcome was pretty much perfect.
They'd prevented a war.
Hundreds of thousands of Yadis Kingdom's citizens had been spared from being caught up in the fighting.
The Germa Kingdom had dropped its demands for the North Blue Marines to be held responsible.
Gion had received several embroidered banners from the royal family of the Yadis Kingdom.
Gion's partner now had several crates of fine wine and cigars at his residence.
Everything seemed to be moving toward a happy ending... as if!
Gion looked at Darren's relaxed, confident smile, as if he had everything under control, and seethed with frustration. She felt like she could claw her own hair out.
Threats and inducements, deception and extortion, violence and bloodshed, keeping superiors in the dark...
These were all awful things, utterly unrelated to the "justice" she believed in. Yet in the hands of that bastard Darren, they'd become the best means of successfully governing the North Blue.
It went against everything she'd ever been taught.
It had completely turned her worldview upside down.
"Buru-buru... Buru-buru..."
Just then, the Military Den Den Mushi began to ring.
Darren picked it up and answered.
"This is Darren."
Admiral Sengoku's hearty laughter came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Hahahahaha! You little brat, Darren! You really are worthy of my trust. You handled this beautifully."
Gion and her partner rolled their eyes in unison, their faces dark with disbelief.
They clearly remembered Admiral Sengoku losing his temper over the Den Den Mushi just yesterday.
"All glory belongs to justice. I have you to thank for your guidance, Admiral Sengoku."
Darren replied modestly.
Sengoku chuckled, pleased.
"I knew I hadn't misjudged you. It seems sending Gion and her partner to the North Blue was the right decision."
"Those two are such a handful. Your partner is lazy and greedy, always trying to sneak over and steal my cigars. And Gion? She's just like her sister—far too idealistic..."
As he listened to Sengoku complain, Darren glanced at Gion and her partner, whose expressions were growing darker, and a strange look crossed his face.
"...Anyway, those two are still green. When you have time, show them the ropes and help them broaden their horizons."
Sengoku hadn't realized how serious the situation was, and he grew more animated with every word.
"Ahem..."
Noticing Gion's increasingly icy stare and the murderous aura beginning to radiate from her, her partner couldn't help coughing.
Sengoku: ...
Silence fell over the Military Den Den Mushi.
"Admiral Sengoku, I heard you're... not very pleased with me?"
Gion spoke to the Den Den Mushi without changing expression.
Sengoku: ...
"Hello? Hello? I can't hear you... Huh, the signal seems to be bad... I can't hear anything... Darren, you little brat, did you hear what I just said?"
"Take good care of Gion and her partner! They're the future of the Marines, the hope of justice!!"
"Hello? Hello? The signal... it's... not... connecting..."
"Click."
The Den Den Mushi fell asleep.
The call... had ended.
Gion: ...
Her partner: ...
Darren: ...
The three of them stared at one another.
Momonga, who'd been standing quietly to the side, covered his forehead with a pained expression.
That acting... was just too awful.
But less than a minute later,
the Military Den Den Mushi rang again.
Darren answered once more.
"Admiral Sengoku."
"Ah, Darren, I almost forgot to mention something. There's an important mission." Sengoku sounded serious, as if nothing had happened just moments ago.
"Go ahead, Admiral Sengoku," Darren said.
Sengoku's voice turned grave.
"Several days ago, Byrnndi World attacked a World Government vessel. The Celestial Dragon Saint Childers aboard was caught in a shipwreck and washed ashore on Batia Island in the North Blue."
"Marine Headquarters has received orders from the Government. I'm already on my way to the North Blue."
Darren furrowed his brows.
He remembered the news he'd seen in the paper two days earlier: "The 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi World sinks a World Government vessel! The Celestial Dragons are furious; a bounty of 200 million Beli is offered! The World Pirates may become the Government's greatest threat!"
"Admiral Sengoku, what do I need to do? Pursue the 'World Destroyer,' Byrnndi World?"
Darren exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon and narrowed his eyes.
Sengoku shook his head.
"No. Your strength is impressive, but you're still a long way from matching Byrnndi World."
"Bringing down Byrnndi World is my mission."
"Your mission is to leave immediately for Batia Island and protect Saint Childers."
"Cipher Pol has already sent agents to escort him, but until they reach Batia Island, the Government needs the nearest Marine forces to protect Saint Childers."
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