"Damn you, Darren!! You've betrayed the faith of justice! You're a disgrace to the Marines! A blight on justice!"
An outraged roar echoed behind him as Gion unleashed her fury, but Darren merely laughed heartily as he stepped out of the palace hall.
He wasn't concerned about what others thought of him.
Worrying too much about reputation only shackled one's actions, preventing them from truly wielding their power.
This was a world where the strong devoured the weak—a world ruled by the primal laws of the jungle.
Darren never denied that some Marines genuinely upheld their sense of justice. In fact, he deeply respected those individuals.
They were willing to give their youth, their energy—even their lives—to protect what they believed in.
People like that were admirable. Noble, even.
It was precisely because of people like Gion—foolish, stubborn, idealistic—that this world still held a glimmer of hope.
But Darren knew he wasn't that kind of person.
Because the path of righteousness was far too difficult.
He wasn't blessed with Sakazuki's monstrous talent, nor did he have Gion's prestigious background and elite upbringing.
Ever since arriving in this world five years ago, every step he had taken through the chaos of the North Blue had been one of struggle and danger—like walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff.
He had to be cautious. Meticulous. Always calculating.
Power. Wealth. Influence. Status. He needed to seize all of it—whatever the cost.
And now, it was time to reap the rewards of this latest victory.
With that thought, Darren's pace quickened.
In the capital city of Vilna, the lights of the Kingdom of Yadis sparkled like stars, illuminating a festive night.
Inside the palace's grand banquet hall, nobles, dignitaries, ministers, royal heirs, and wealthy merchants mingled in splendor.
Brilliant chandeliers cast dazzling light over the guests, refracting through their wine glasses into glimmers of crimson and gold.
Everyone was laughing and chatting with enthusiasm.
"Let me tell you, that battle was absolutely terrifying! Germa 66 really lives up to its name as an evil army. Their commander, Vinsmoke Judge, is as powerful as a monster..."
At one side of the hall, Tokikake—now dressed in a brand-new tailcoat—was dramatically spinning a tale, glass of wine in hand, surrounded by a flock of finely dressed noble ladies and young women.
"You wouldn't believe it," he continued, "the weapon he wielded was cutting-edge technology. His spear released currents strong enough to knock out an elephant in one shot!"
Gasps and soft exclamations spread among the crowd of women, hands fluttering to mouths in alarm and awe.
"And then?" one of them asked breathlessly.
Tokikake lowered his voice, injecting a deep magnetic tone as he gave a faint smirk—emulating the very image of Darren in his mind.
"Germa's tech is powerful, no doubt," he said modestly. "But I'm a genius forged by the Marine Headquarters. A man like Vinsmoke Judge was never my match."
"I took one casual step forward—and bam! Sent him flying more than ten meters. And when he tried to resist justice's righteous force, I had to shut him up myself."
The ladies looked at him with sparkling eyes, their admiration near worship.
"You're incredible, Lieutenant Commander Tokikake!"
"A true genius of Marine Headquarters!"
"Germa 66... defeated by you alone! Unbelievable!"
Every compliment felt like a massage to his ego. Tokikake felt like his pores were opening with joy.
The North Blue was heaven!
So many lovely noble ladies, the best wine, premium cigars, and an elegant dance troupe...
No wonder Darren refused to leave this place.
As for whether any of what he said was true?
Well... the battle took place a good distance offshore, with heavy sea fog blocking visibility. Even the royal army barely knew what had happened—let alone these sheltered young women.
Confident in the details of his tale, Tokikake took a thoughtful sip of wine, puffed on his cigar with practiced melancholy, and sighed softly.
"You know," he said, "I've spent my life searching for a worthy opponent. I thought maybe, just maybe, the North Blue would offer a challenge... but in the end, I was disappointed."
"If even someone like Lieutenant Commander Tokikake says that... how powerful must Lord Darren be?"
"Yes! He's so strong... and handsome... and charming..."
As thoughts turned to the highest commander of the North Blue Marine, blushes bloomed on delicate cheeks. The women giggled and swooned, utterly smitten.
Wait, weren't we talking about me?
Why did this suddenly turn into a love letter to that bastard Darren?!
He's not even at the banquet!
His face twitched, cigar trembling in frustration, a storm cloud forming over his head.
He took a furious puff.
"Um... Lieutenant Commander Tokikake?"
A soft, shy voice behind him broke through his frustration.
He turned instinctively and saw a girl in a flowing white lace gown, cheeks flushed, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.
She was beautiful. Innocent. Radiant.
His heart skipped a beat. His eyes turned into literal red hearts.
"I... I wanted to..."
Her gaze flitted up to meet his and darted away again, shy as a startled deer.
"...ask for your Den Den Mushi number," she whispered.
She's asking for my number!
She heard my story—she admires me!
Tokikake almost exploded from happiness. He nodded furiously.
"Of course! I'll give you my personal line right now—"
"No... I wanted to ask if you know how to contact Commander Darren," she said, blushing even deeper.
Tokikake felt something shatter in his chest.
The red hearts in his eyes crumbled to dust.
In silence, he turned away—stone-faced, numb—and shuffled toward the far corner of the banquet hall.
There he crouched, back hunched like a collapsed balloon, motionless.
Tears streamed quietly down his cheeks.
Across the room, in a dazzling pink evening gown, Gion rejected her fifteenth dance invitation. Glancing at the black-aura-wreathed Tokikake in the corner, her lips twitched.
She took a sip of wine, then clenched her fist.
Darren stepped aboard his warship at the port, leaving the festivities behind.