Chapter 22

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Chapter Sengoku2: Protecting The Celestial Dragons

The next day, news came from the Germa Kingdom, a member nation of the World Government. "Yesterday, Germa 66 held a public military exercise with the North Blue Marine fleet in the waters near the Yadis Kingdom of North Blue. The exercise showcased strong military combat capabilities of both parties..." "...King Vinsmoke Judge of Germa Kingdom and commander of Germa 66 stated their willingness to cooperate with Rear Admiral Darren, admiral of the North Blue Marine. They promised to sign a long-term friendly cooperation agreement to jointly maintain the security, peace, prosperity, and stability of the North Blue Seas."

In the office of the base chief of Branch 321, Gion and Kake stared at the latest newspaper in their hands, dumbfounded.

"How can this be!?"

They were especially surprised by a photo in the report that showed Darren and Vinsmoke Judge shaking hands under the seagull flag. It was hard to believe, given that just the day before, they had nearly wiped out Germa 66. Friendly cooperation in just one day?

The photo showed Darren and Vinsmoke Judge with familiar, warm smiles. Anyone would think they were long-lost brothers if they didn't know better.

"It's like a dream!"

"How is this impossible... Mr. Vinsmoke Judge is a sensible person. After my patient explanation and counsel, he quickly understood the North Blue Marine's stance and our determination to uphold justice and peace..."

Darren looked at the shocked Gion with a smile as he leisurely lit a cigar.

"He also realized his mistake in starting the war and decided to correct it. That's quite reasonable, isn't it?"

Kake nodded.

"Well, that makes sense..."

"...Damn!!"

He gritted his teeth.

With Vinsmoke Judge's cruel, domineering, and ambitious nature, how could Darren's words alone have swayed him?

"You control the power of the Devil fruit, not the power to inspire!"

"Darren, what did you really do? Did you threaten him?"

Gion asked in disbelief.

"You got me..."

Darren raised his hands with a look of mock surrender.

"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. Like I told Sengoku, I simply made him an offer he couldn't refuse. I didn't expect Vinsmoke Judge to be so pragmatic."

Gion and Kake exchanged glances, realizing they would get no straight answers from Darren.

While they didn't know how exactly Darren had managed to convince Vinsmoke Judge, the outcome was positive. They had stopped a war. Hundreds of thousands of people in the Yadis Kingdom were spared from the conflict. Germa Kingdom withdrew its claim on the North Blue Marine. Gion received several pennants from the Yadis royal family, and they found boxes of fine wine and cigarettes in Kake's mansion.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. Still, Gion felt disheartened. The methods Darren used - threats, bribery, deceit, violence - were contrary to the "justice" she believed in. Yet, in Darren's hands, they had become effective governance tools. It was a challenge to everything she had learned.

Just then, the call of the military Den Den Mushi rang. Darren picked it up and answered.

"Darren," Admiral of Headquarters Sengoku's hearty laughter emerged from the phone bug. "Hahahahaha, Darren, you brat, you really deserve to be the subordinate that the old man relies on. You have handled this matter beautifully."

Gion and Kake rolled their eyes, with black lines all over their heads. They remembered how Admiral Sengoku went into a rage on the phone bug yesterday. "All glory to justice, thanks to the guidance of Admiral Sengoku," Darren said humbly.

Sengoku smiled with satisfaction. "The old man was right. From now on, it seems that the old man made the right decision to send the two little guys, Gion and Kake, to North Blue. Those two little guys are really a headache. Plus, that kid eats too much, is lazy every day, and always wants to come here to steal the old man's cigars. And what about Gion? She is too similar to her sister, and his ideas are too naive..."

Listening to Sengoku's complaints, Darren glanced at Gion and Kake, whose faces were gradually darkening, with a strange look on his face. "...All in all, those two little guys are still very immature. You should show them more when you have time."

Sengoku didn't realize the seriousness of the matter, and the more he talked, the more excited he became. "Ahem..." Noticing that Gion's eyes were getting colder and colder, and his body began to exude chilling killing intent, Kake couldn't help coughing lightly twice. Sengoku fell silent.

"Admiral Sengoku, I heard that you are... very dissatisfied with me?" Gion said to the phone bug with a deadpan face. 

"Hey, hello? Why can't I hear clearly? Hey, the signal doesn't seem very good. Can't hear clearly... Darren, you brat, did you hear what the old man said just now!? Take good care of Gion and Kake. This old man... they are the future of Marine and the hope of justice!! Hello, hello? Signal... how... not... connected..." The phone bug fell asleep. The communication was interrupted.

Gion...

Kake...

Darren...

The three looked at each other. Flying Squirrel, who had been standing beside them silently, covered his forehead in pain. This acting was too clumsy.

But within a minute, the military phone bug rang again. Darren connected again. "Admiral Sengoku."

"Well, Darren, I almost forgot to mention that there is a very important task," Sengoku acted as if nothing had happened just now, speaking in a serious tone.

"Admiral Sengoku, you said," Darren responded.

"Byrnndi Waldo attacked an official ship of the World government a few days ago. The world aristocrat Celestial Dragons' Shields Saint on the official ship was shipwrecked and floated to Bhatia Island in North Blue. The headquarters has received an order from the government, and the old man is already on his way to North Blue."

Darren frowned when he heard that. He remembered the news he had read in the newspaper two days earlier - "The Great Pirate 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi Waldo sank the official ship of the World government. The world aristocrat Celestial Dragons was furious, and offered a high reward of Sengoku00 million Baileys! The Wardhai Bandits may become the biggest threat to the government!"

"Admiral Sengoku, what do I need to do? Hunt down 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi Waldo?" Darren exhaled dragon-like smoke, his eyes half-closed.

Sengoku shook his head and said, "No, although your strength is good, you still have a long way to go compared to Byrnndi Waldo. Fighting Byrnndi Waldo is the mission of this old man. And your mission is to set off immediately to Bhatia Island to protect Shields Saint. The CP department has sent personnel to North Blue to escort, but before they reach Bhatia Island, the government needs the nearest Marine to protect the personal safety of Shields Saint."