I Appreciate You

"North Blue Admiral, the highest authority of the North Blue, Marine Captain Darren, pays his respects to Saint Childers."

The Marine Captain's casual, relaxed, and magnetic voice drifted down, echoing through the deathly silent street.

The man, his face covered in blood, stared blankly at the tall, imposing back before him, unable to move a muscle.

Gion, Gion's partner, and the others were equally shocked, unable to help but exchange glances.

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

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

Yet, for some reason, both Gion and Gion's partner felt a long, suppressed breath escape their chests.

"North Blue... North Blue Admiral?"

Upon hearing this, Saint Childers was stunned for a moment. Rattled by the deep, oppressive aura of the Marine before him, which had broken him out in a cold sweat, he put on a show of bravado and snarled:

"You actually dare to stop me?"

He paused, then suddenly roared in a frenzy:

"You actually dare to stop a Celestial Dragon!?"

Darren suddenly began to laugh.

His eyes narrowed into slits, the curve of his lips resembling that of a cunning fox.

"No, Saint Childers, I had no intention of stopping you."

"I simply thought that..."

Darren suddenly turned, his movements sharp and ruthless as he kicked out.

His polished black military boot slammed into the man's abdomen with tremendous force.

The explosive power behind the strike left the latter unable to even let out a wail; he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, tracing a bloody arc through the air before crashing down over a dozen meters away.

His life or death remained unknown.

"Hiss..."

Everyone present gasped in unison at the sight.

Gion and Gion's partner felt their eyes fill with bloodshot veins, an indescribable rage surging into their hearts. Unable to suppress their emotions any longer, one gripped the hilt of her blade while the other tensed his entire body, on the verge of attacking.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, Momonga's figure blocked their path, his expression cold as he whispered:

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

The coldness in Momonga's expression, combined with the severity of his words, hit them like a bucket of ice water, sending a bone-chilling cold through their bodies.

Their bloodshot pupils trembled, their breathing grew heavy, but they were forced to relax their tensed muscles.

Yes, they understood now.

If they dared to strike here, once they provoked the displeasure of the Celestial Dragon, the latter's madness would likely bring the wrath of the World Government down upon the entirety of Batia Island.

By then, it wouldn't just be the life of that one commoner that would be the price.

Everyone on this island would be buried alongside them due to their impulse and recklessness!!

They bit their teeth so hard they nearly shattered them.

Saint Childers himself watched the Marine Captain's actions with a look of bewilderment, unable to fathom the man's true intentions for a moment.

At this, Darren retracted his leg and said with a beaming smile:

"There is no need to dirty your hands with such lowly scum, Saint Childers, is there?"

Saint Childers paused, a look of smug satisfaction suddenly appearing on his face.

"Hahahaha!! Very good!! You truly are a worthy watchdog for us Celestial Dragons, very sensible..."

Darren replied with a hollow, insincere smile:

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

Nearby, Gion and Gion's partner listened with eyes burning like embers, their chests heaving as their vision turned blood-red.

Darren stepped forward, leaned in close to Saint Childers, and lowered his voice:

"Saint Childers, with your status and standing, there is no need to concern yourself with such lowly scum; it is simply a waste of your time."

"Since you have graced the North Blue with your presence, we in the North Blue Marine branch have prepared a small gift for you. I hope you will not refuse."

"This is the welcome and enthusiasm of the people of the North Blue for the great and holy Saint Childers, as well as a small token of my own."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands. Less than ten seconds later, Hunter the mayor led a dozen militiamen over, jogging toward them with faces full of smiles while carrying several incredibly heavy crates.

"Greetings, Saint Childers."

Mayor Hunter bowed and scraped, his face plastered with a fawning grin.

Saint Childers didn't even glance at him, instead squinting at Darren before stepping forward to casually pry open a gap in one of the crates.

A dazzling, multi-colored radiance burst forth from the gap, clearly revealing a massive hoard of gold and silver treasures.

A satisfied smile finally appeared on the face of Saint Childers.

"Hmm..."

He closed the chest, stared at Darren with an expression of deep appreciation, and burst into hearty laughter:

"Your name is Darren, right? Very good, I admire you."

"With talent and ability such as yours, a mere North Blue Admiral is simply a waste of your potential."

As a World Noble and Celestial Dragon, although he possessed extraordinary power, he was still always short on money.

The funds and expenses provided by the World Government to every noble were indeed a colossal fortune unimaginable to ordinary people, but for Celestial Dragons living lives of corruption, decadence, and extravagance, no amount of money was ever enough.

Darren smiled and shook his head:

"It is all in service of the Navy and justice; regardless of the post, one can always put their strengths to use, so there is no difference."

"Although the North Blue cannot compare to the excitement of the Grand Line, this humble one grew up in these waters and holds deep affection for this sea."

"Saint Childers, the World Government officials arrived at the port two minutes early. For the sake of your safety, this humble one suggests you set sail to return to the Holy Land as soon as possible."

Saint Childers nodded upon hearing this:

"That is true... The very air in this place, the North Blue, reeks of filth and baseness; it is truly nauseating."

He cast a look of utter disdain at the surrounding buildings, which were painted with blue roofs and white walls, and complained:

"And this architectural style—it is nothing but a clumsy imitation."

Mayor Hunter, standing nearby, felt cold sweat seep from his forehead and offered a fawning smile:

"Saint Childers is absolutely right; this humble one will order improvements immediately upon returning!"

He didn't even have time to wipe the cold sweat from his brow before turning to the militia, shouting urgently:

"Hey, you lot... hurry up, move all of Saint Childers' gifts to the port!!"

Darren then made a gesture of invitation:

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

Saint Childers chuckled, but just as he took a step, he seemed to remember something and stopped.

"Almost forgot..."

The expressions of Gion, Gion's partner, and the others changed abruptly.

He cast a greedy glance at the little girl Lia, whose face had turned as pale as paper, before turning his head back to look at Darren with a smile.

There was a distinct, playful malice hidden within that smile.

"Arrest my wife and have her brought to the Holy Land with me. Once we arrive at the Holy Land, we shall be wed!"

As these words fell, the smile on Darren's face... gradually vanished.