I Really Admire You

"North Blue Admiral, the highest-ranking naval officer in North Blue, Marine Headquarters Colonel Darren, reporting to Saint Childers. ☺💙  🍮🍪"

The Marine Captain's casual, relaxed, magnetic voice drifted through the eerily silent street.

The bloodied man stared blankly at the tall, imposing figure before him, motionless.

Gion, Gion's partner, and the others were equally stunned. They couldn't help exchanging glances.

Darren... had stepped in to stop that bullet...

He... had stopped a Celestial Dragon from firing.

But for some reason, Gion and Gion's partner both breathed a sigh of relief.

"North Blue... Admiral?"

Saint Childers was taken aback. His spine was slick with sweat, shaken by the Marine's unfathomable presence, but he barked with forced bravado,

"You dare stop me?"

He paused, then suddenly roared in a frenzy,

"You dare stop a Celestial Dragon!?"

Darren suddenly laughed.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and the curve of his lips made him look like a sly fox.

"No, Saint Childers, I didn't mean to stop you."

"I simply thought..."

Darren suddenly turned and kicked out with vicious force.

His gleaming black boot slammed into the man's stomach.

The astonishing force left him unable even to cry out. Like a kite with its string cut, he soared through the air in a bloody arc, flying more than ten meters before landing.

Whether he was alive or dead was anyone's guess.

"Hiss..."

Everyone present drew a sharp breath.

Gion and Gion's partner's eyes were bloodshot. A nameless fury surged through them, and they could no longer hold back. One gripped the hilt of her sword; the other tensed all over, both on the verge of attacking.

But in the next moment, Momonga had already stepped in front of them. His expression cold, he said in a low voice,

"Do you want everyone on this island to die because of your foolishness?"

The icy look on Momonga's face and the severity of his words drenched them like a bucket of cold water, sending a bone-deep chill through them.

Their bloodshot pupils trembled. Their breathing grew ragged, but they forced their taut muscles to relax.

Yes, they understood.

If they dared attack here and provoked the Celestial Dragon, his fury could bring the whole of Batia Island under his wrath.

Then it wouldn't just be the life of some commoner that had to pay the price.

Everyone on this island would die because of their recklessness and impulsiveness!

They gritted their teeth so hard they nearly cracked them.

Saint Childers watched the Marine Captain's actions in bewilderment, unable to figure out what he was thinking.

Darren withdrew his foot and smiled.

"There's no need for you to dirty your hands dealing with trash like him, is there, Saint Childers?"

Saint Childers was taken aback, then a smug smile suddenly spread across his face.

"Ha ha ha ha!! Good!! You really are a loyal watchdog of the Celestial Dragons. You know how to behave..."

Darren replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes,

"Serving the great Celestial Dragons and the esteemed World Government is, after all, the Marines' duty."

From nearby, Gion and Gion's partner listened with fury blazing in their eyes, their faces red and their chests heaving.

Darren stepped forward and leaned close to Saint Childers, lowering his voice.

"Saint Childers, with your status and position, there's no need to waste your time arguing with these lowlifes."

"You've rarely graced North Blue with your presence. We Marines here have prepared a small gift for you. Please don't refuse it."

"This is a gesture of welcome and warmth from the people of North Blue to the great and holy Saint Childers, as well as a little token of my own."

He clapped his hands. Less than ten seconds later, Mayor Hunter came hurrying over with more than a dozen militiamen. They were carrying several heavy chests, and Hunter wore a broad smile.

"Greetings, Saint Childers."

Mayor Hunter bowed and scraped, his face covered in a fawning smile.

Saint Childers didn't so much as glance at him. He merely narrowed his eyes at Darren, then stepped forward and casually opened one of the chests a crack.

A dazzling, multicolored light shot through the gap. The chest was clearly packed with gold, silver, and other treasures.

At last, a satisfied smile appeared on Saint Childers's face.

"Hmm..."

He shut the chest and stared at Darren with approval, laughing heartily.

"Your name is Darren, right? Good. I really admire you."

"With your talent and abilities, being only a North Blue Admiral is a waste."

As a Celestial Dragon, a noble of the World Government, he possessed extraordinary power, yet he still needed money.

The World Government provided every noble with a fortune beyond the imagination of ordinary people. But for the Celestial Dragons, whose lives were corrupt, depraved, and extravagant, no amount of money was ever enough.

Darren smiled and shook his head.

"It's all in service of the Marines and justice. No matter what post I hold, I can put my abilities to use. There's no difference."

"North Blue may not be as exciting as the Grand Line, but I grew up in these waters and feel a deep connection to them."

"Saint Childers, World Government officials arrived at the port two minutes ago. For your safety, I recommend that you set sail for the Holy Land as soon as possible."

Saint Childers nodded.

"That's true... Even the air in North Blue reeks of filth and vulgarity. It's disgusting."

He glanced at the blue-roofed, white-walled buildings around him with disdain and said unhappily,

"And this architectural style is nothing but a shoddy imitation."

Cold sweat beaded on Mayor Hunter's forehead. He smiled ingratiatingly.

"Saint Childers is absolutely right. I'll order improvements at once!"

Without even wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned and urgently called to the militiamen,

"Hey, you... Hurry up and carry all of Saint Childers's gifts to the port!"

Darren gestured invitingly.

"Then... this way, Saint Childers."

Saint Childers smiled and started forward, but suddenly stopped as if he'd remembered something.

"I almost forgot..."

Gion, Gion's partner, and the others turned pale.

He cast a greedy look at the little girl Lia, whose face was white as paper, then turned back to Darren with a smile.

There was a peculiarly suggestive teasing in his expression.

"Take my wife into custody and have her come with me to the Holy Land. Once we get there, we'll be married!"

As the words fell,

Darren's smile... slowly faded.