"Captain Darren, Supreme Commander of the North Blue Marines, reporting to Saint Shaldes."
The Marine Captain's voice—casual, smooth, and laced with magnetism—echoed across the silent street.
The bloodied man stared blankly at the tall figure before him, frozen in place.
Gion and Tokikake exchanged shocked glances.
Darren had caught the bullet...
He had just stopped a Celestial Dragon from pulling the trigger.
And yet, for some reason, both Gion and Tokikake felt... relieved.
"North... North Blue Commander?"
Saint Shaldes flinched. The cold, suffocating aura of the man before him made sweat bead on his back. Trying to muster authority, he barked:
"You... you dared to stop me?"
Then he snapped, voice rising to a shriek:
"You dared to defy a Celestial Dragon?!"
His eyes narrowed, a sly grin curling across his face like a fox.
"No, Saint Shaldes, you've misunderstood."
"I simply thought..."
Suddenly, Darren turned, and with a swift, brutal kick, slammed his black military boot into the man's gut.
The sheer force of the blow didn't even allow the man time to scream. His body arced like a broken kite, trailing blood as he flew more than ten meters through the air.
Whether he lived or died—unknown.
Gasps rippled through the street.
Gion and Tokikake's eyes filled with bloodshot rage. Their bodies tensed, one gripping her sword, the other ready to leap.
But before they could move, Momonga stepped in front of them, his voice low and ice-cold:
"Do you want everyone on this island to die because of your stupidity?"
That single sentence, filled with grim authority, hit them like a bucket of ice water.
Their trembling eyes widened. Their breaths turned heavy. Their clenched muscles—reluctantly—relaxed.
If they acted now, if they provoked the Celestial Dragon, his fury could doom the entire island.
One civilian's life wouldn't be enough to atone.
They clenched their jaws so tight, it was a wonder their teeth didn't break.
Saint Shaldes, meanwhile, stood stunned. He couldn't quite figure out what this Marine Captain was playing at.
Then Darren slowly retracted his foot and turned to him with a grin.
"No need to dirty your hands on a lowly commoner, is there, Saint Shaldes?"
The Celestial Dragon blinked—then burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!! Excellent! A proper lapdog of the Celestial Dragons. You know your place!"
Darren's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"To serve the great Celestial Dragons, to serve the noble World Government—that is the Marine's duty."
Gion and Tokikake stood off to the side, eyes blazing, their chests heaving in fury.
Darren took a step closer to Shaldes, lowered his voice, and said smoothly:
"With your status, Saint Shaldes, there's no need to waste time on trash like that."
"You've honored the North Blue with your presence. As a token of our gratitude, we've prepared a small gift. Please accept it."
"It's a modest show of our respect for your greatness... and a personal gesture from me."
He clapped his hands.
Within seconds, Mayor Hunt arrived, leading a dozen militiamen struggling to carry several massive crates. He jogged over with a greasy smile.
"Saint Shaldes, it's an honor!"
The mayor bowed low, his face a picture of obsequious flattery.
Saint Shaldes didn't even glance at him. He merely narrowed his eyes at Darren, then stepped forward and cracked open one of the crates.
A dazzling flood of gold and silver spilled through the crack, the glint of treasure shining onto the street.
The Celestial Dragon finally smiled.
He closed the crate, nodding in satisfaction.
"You're Darren, yes? Excellent. I like you."
"With talent like yours, remaining a mere North Blue Commander is a waste."
Though Celestial Dragons wielded absurd power, they were still often short on money.
The World Government did fund them with inconceivable sums, but their greed and decadent lifestyles consumed wealth faster than it could ever be replenished.
Darren smiled and shook his head.
"I only serve the Marines and justice. It doesn't matter where I'm stationed—as long as I'm useful."
"The North Blue may not match the Grand Line in spectacle, but I grew up here. I care deeply for this sea."
"Saint Shaldes, the World Government's envoys arrived at the port two minutes ago. For your safety, I suggest departing for Mary Geoise as soon as possible."
Saint Shaldes nodded.
"You're right... The air here reeks of filth and lowborn stench. It's disgusting."
He wrinkled his nose and glanced at the white-walled, blue-roofed buildings nearby.
"And the architecture? Utterly tasteless imitation."
Mayor Hunter wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a smile.
"Saint Shaldes, thank you for your insight! I'll order renovations immediately!"
He turned and barked at the militiamen:
"You heard him! Move faster! Get the gifts to the port—now!"
Darren gestured politely.
"Right this way, Saint Shaldes."
The Celestial Dragon smirked and was about to move—when he suddenly stopped.
"Oh... I almost forgot."
Gion and Tokikake's faces paled.
Saint Shaldes looked greedily toward the little girl, Liya—her face deathly pale—and then turned back to Darren with a sly smile.
"I want my wife brought aboard."
"She'll come with me to the Holy Land. We'll hold the wedding once we arrive."
The words left his mouth—
And the smile on Darren's face... slowly vanished.