A Show

Over on the other side.

North Blue, Kiev Island.

Kiev Island was a neutral island in the North Blue.

It wasn't very large, with only one town of a few thousand people, and it fell under no nation's jurisdiction.

Precisely because it lacked any governing authority, all kinds of illegal forces had gradually gathered on Kiev Island.

Thieves ran rampant, the Mafia held sway, pirate ships docked without restraint at the dilapidated harbor, and gunshots rang out in the streets from time to time.

Darren and Momonga stood smoking at the harbor, their black hooded coats almost completely hiding their figures and making it impossible to tell who they were.

Crowds jostled about on the docks, while arguments, hawkers' cries, and the scraping of cargo being dragged across the ground filled the air.

The harbor reeked.

Rotten fish, decaying fruit, spoiled spices, feces, and even pieces of corpses floated along the shore. The stench that invaded their nostrils was nothing short of hellish.

"Is everything arranged?"

Darren narrowed his eyes at the merchant ship gradually sailing out of the harbor, asking as he puffed away.

"Yes. I didn't show my face. We handed her over to the caravan through a Mafia outfit under our control. There's no way anyone can trace this back to us."

"She'll be going somewhere new to start a new life."

Momonga spoke in a low voice, his expression grave. Though his face seemed calm, his heart was pounding wildly.

"You don't need to be so nervous..."

Noticing Momonga's unease, Darren turned and smiled as he patted him on the shoulder.

"She's the only one alive on that ship."

"Even if they investigate, there's no way they'll find any clues."

"To the world, that little flower seller sank into the sea along with the government ship."

Momonga took a long drag on his cigarette and couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Easy for you to say...

Thinking of the unbelievable "feat" this guy had pulled off, Momonga still had sweaty palms.

That had been a Celestial Dragon!!

A "god" with supreme power and status!!

Still, after learning that Darren's "God-Slaying" operation had succeeded, he couldn't deny the indescribable relief he felt.

He couldn't help recalling the innocent, clear smile on the little girl's face when they had parted just moments ago.

Perhaps taking such a risk was worth it for a smile like that.

Darren, you were right.

That Celestial Dragon deserved to die.

"What about her father? What should we do with him?"

Momonga let out a long breath of smoke and asked in a low voice.

Darren fell silent for a moment.

"I expect they'll send people to Batia Island to investigate before long, so we can't tell her father the truth yet. We need him to help us put on a show."

Momonga's pupils contracted slightly.

"An investigation? Didn't you say they couldn't find any clues?"

Darren sneered.

"They won't."

He had used the power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit to cut off the surveillance Den Den Mushi's signal.

Even if the government examined the surveillance footage afterward, all they would find was that the connection had suddenly been severed.

From that, they would conclude that the entire government ship had been destroyed in an instant.

That would naturally shift their investigation toward those powerful enough to accomplish such a thing.

He was just a "mere" captain at Marine Headquarters. There was no way they would suspect him.

"But no matter what, the investigation team has to make a show of it. That's the only way they can give the government an answer."

Momonga understood, but then frowned.

"Do you think the government will keep investigating?"

Darren shook his head.

"Impossible. They don't have that kind of patience."

"More importantly, this 'Celestial Dragon incident' is still classified. Aside from the investigation team and the higher-ups at Marine Headquarters, no one knows about it."

"If no one knows, then the government won't be under much political pressure."

This Celestial Dragon incident was different from the Sabaody Archipelago incident in the original story.

In the original story, Straw Hat Luffy had attacked a Celestial Dragon in full view of the public. Everyone on the island knew that a Celestial Dragon had been insulted and attacked, so the World Government had been forced by political pressure to take severe measures.

A Marine Admiral had been dispatched, but Kizaru's "crusade" against the Straw Hat Pirates had ended in failure. He could only make up for it by capturing five hundred unlucky pirates.

This time, however, was different.

No one knew a Celestial Dragon had died.

He had sealed off and blocked every clue and piece of evidence.

In the end, the investigation would be wrapped up as quickly as possible.

Listening to Darren's analysis, Momonga couldn't help marveling.

"I really don't know how your mind works... You're from the North Blue, yet you understand and analyze the higher-ups so well."

"But if they investigate, Gion and Gion's partner might guess something... Aren't you worried they'll let something slip?"

He turned to look at Darren, his voice tinged with concern.

Whatever the case, to the North Blue Marines, Gion and her partner were outsiders.

And they hadn't thought much of Darren from the very beginning.

Darren smiled.

"Even if they guess something, they won't dare say it. And they won't say it."

He gazed at the grimy, blackened harbor, looking entirely at ease, as if he belonged there.

"They're good people—better than me, better than you, even better than most people in this world."

"They're too pure, too clear. That's their greatest strength, and also their greatest weakness."

"I did what they wanted to do but didn't dare. Naturally, they won't say anything."

"And once they make their choice..."

The Marine Captain's eyes suddenly took on a meaningful glint.

"They'll be on our ship."

Momonga's heart jolted. He drew a deep breath, then couldn't help giving a bitter smile.

"You even used them? You really are a devil."

Darren laughed, unconcerned.

"Momonga, you know what?"

"Life—I mean real life—has never been a war between good and evil. It's about choosing between great evil and lesser evil."

"This world has long been turned upside down. There's no room for pure justice to survive."

"Most Marines either grit their teeth and become the government's watchdogs, or watch crimes happen right before their eyes, powerless to change anything, and then rage impotently."

"Unfortunately, I don't want to be a dog, and I don't want to stand by and watch."

He turned to look seriously at the adjutant, comrade, and partner who had followed him for years, his eyes fiercely defiant.

"One day, all of this will change."

"But until then, I have to be a devil..."

He exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon and added meaningfully:

"...because we've been living in hell all along."

Momonga listened in silence, stunned.

After saying that, Darren's expression relaxed again. He stubbed out his cigarette and stretched lazily.

"Let's head back, too. We should go welcome our Admiral Sengoku."

He said with a smile.

Batia Island.

A huge, battered warship slowly pulled into port.

A statue of Buddha adorned the ship's bow. On deck stood grim-faced Marine soldiers, clearly one of the Navy's most elite forces.

Civilians and merchants at the harbor stared, dumbstruck, at the colossal vessel equipped with oversized cannons and radiating an imposing aura of war. They instinctively backed away, their hearts shaken.

It was practically a fortress floating on the sea.

Sengoku led a group of Marines down from the deck. The masked CP0 agent was concealed among them.

"This island..."

Looking at the blue-roofed, white-walled buildings on Batia Island, Sengoku couldn't help frowning.

One of his guards came to his side and whispered something in his ear.

"I see..."

Sengoku sighed inwardly. He disliked the way the Batia Island city government operated, but could only shake his head helplessly.

Clop, clop, clop...

Just then,

A flurry of footsteps came from the far end of the street.

Sengoku looked up. A gentle smile soon spread across his face.

Gion and Gion's partner were hurrying over, leading more than a hundred Marines.

"Admiral Sengoku!"

The two stopped before him and raised their hands in a solemn salute.

The onlookers around them were stunned.

That unremarkable middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses and a strange seagull hat was an Admiral of Marine Headquarters... the World Government's greatest fighting force!?

"Mm, good. You've grown a lot during your time in the North Blue."

As Sengoku looked at Gion and her partner, admiration gradually filled his eyes.

Through his Observation Haki, he could tell that their auras were far stronger than when they had left Marineford!

"Looks like that brat Darren really has been looking after you."

At the mention of his name, anger and displeasure flashed across Gion and her partner's faces.

"But speaking of which, why are there only the two of you?"

Sengoku looked around and asked,

"Where are Darren and Momonga?"

As soon as he finished speaking,

A lighthearted voice came from the other side of the street.

"Admiral Sengoku's arrival is an honor for the entire North Blue."

Everyone turned toward the voice.

Darren and Momonga, dressed in their uniforms, were striding over.

But the instant Darren appeared, Sengoku clearly sensed through his Observation Haki that the people of Batia Island were looking at him with anger, resentment... and fear.

They looked as if they dared not speak despite their anger.

This was...

Sengoku's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.