In the days that followed, Darren's schedule became packed to the brim.
By day, he was "beating"… no, guiding Tokikake and the others through hellish special training. At night, he carved out time to give Gion additional "lessons," dragging her to different terrains—the seaside, the forest, the cliffs—for practice in all kinds of battlefield environments.
In between, he would sit with Zephyr-sensei to discuss his own training path and analyze the future state of the seas.
His days were exhausting, but remarkably fulfilling.
Before he knew it, three days had passed.
---
Late at night, the sea wind was cold and sharp. Waves surged and crashed against the shore.
"How are things in the North Blue?" Darren asked.
He stood at the edge of the island, cigar between his fingers, as Momonga's excited voice crackled from the Den Den Mushi.
"Relax, everything's unfolding exactly as we predicted," Momonga replied. "The vast majority of people in the North Blue are strongly in favor of independence. After all, we've been running operations there for years. For most folks, the 'Marines' they know have long been the North Blue Marines providing their protection…"
"As for the citizens of the Member States, they're even more ecstatic. They don't have to pay the Heavenly Tribute anymore, which means they can finally keep most of what they earn."
"Increasing household income, improving nutrition, raising kids, covering medical bills… it'll even give a huge boost to the birth rate."
"According to the statisticians Headquarters hired, now that the North Blue has declared independence and stopped paying Heavenly Tribute, economic activity across those waters will surge like crazy. The standard of living for most citizens will go up by at least fifty percent, industries will boom across the board, and crime rates will hit unprecedented lows."
"If it keeps up like this, in a few years the North Blue's economy will rocket ahead of the other seas and become the richest of the Four Blues!"
Momonga's voice—already distorted by the Military Den Den Mushi—barely concealed his excitement.
Even now, as a high-ranking officer commanding the entire North Blue Fleet, he was still just a man in his twenties. This was the prime of his life: sharp, spirited, and burning with ambition that time had yet to dull.
Wielding military power was every man's dream.
But protecting the people—that was his standard for Justice.
Now, watching with his own eyes as peace and prosperity took root and spread across the North Blue he guarded, seeing it march steadily toward a brighter future, even the usually reserved and steady Momonga couldn't hide his pride.
Darren blew out a long plume of smoke, a faint smile curling his lips.
"Lower the tax burden and people have more money to spend. Consumption grows, industries flourish, jobs increase, crime drops. Give it time, and pirates will be wiped out of the North Blue."
"However, we don't get to celebrate yet."
"I'm not worried about the common people—they're always the most honest and straightforward. What worries me are the bureaucrats and royals in the Member States."
"Momonga…"
His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping, cold and heavy.
"Every transformation faces resistance. That's a law that never changes."
On the other end, Momonga instinctively straightened at the shift in tone, brows knitting.
"You think there are going to be problems inside the Member States themselves?"
"I'm only speculating," Darren said coolly, "but we can't rule it out."
"The rot caused by the Heavenly Tribute system doesn't begin and end with the Celestial Dragons."
"It's a systemic corruption that runs through the entire Member State apparatus, top to bottom. The World Government might officially demand three billion berry in Heavenly Tribute, but by the time that number reaches the people, the burden could easily be four or even five billion."
"So tell me, Momonga… where do you think the extra goes?"
Momonga froze. His pupils contracted.
"I understand," he said at last, drawing in a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was like a blade in the North Blue winter. "We'll arrange a simple purge. But we'll keep it relatively clean… politics is the art of compromise."
"Good." Darren's reply was brief. He didn't linger on the topic and moved directly to the next issue.
By now, Momonga had grown from a newly promoted Headquarters officer into a true commander who could bear responsibility alone.
Darren had deliberately cultivated that side of him, entrusting him with training and managing the entire fleet.
With Momonga shouldering those duties, Darren could act with far fewer restraints.
"…How's Vinsmoke Judge behaving?"
"No major problems so far," Momonga answered. "I've already passed him the design blueprints for Zephyr-sensei's prosthetic arm. It should be completed within a few months."
"But he's clearly becoming more unhinged. His human experiments have reached the point of stripping emotions from his own children, turning them into soulless weapons."
Darren shook his head with a cold chuckle.
"He's always dreamed of restoring Germa's former glory and dominating the North Blue."
"But now that the North Blue Fleet has stepped into the light, the pressure crushed what little balance he had left. He can't stand it anymore."
"I'll keep a close eye on him," Momonga said.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Any progress on the Gorosei's 'Undying Body'?"
Darren frowned and shook his head. "Nothing yet. I asked Zephyr-sensei, but he's never seen or heard of such a thing. More importantly, he never once saw the Gorosei display that kind of exaggerated regenerative ability with his own eyes… It means the Government never truly trusted him as an Admiral in the first place."
"As for Roger… I'm pretty sure he knows something. But if he doesn't want to talk, there's no way to force it out of him."
"In any case," he added quietly, "I still have to go to Wano."
"…I have a feeling you're going to drive Kaido insane," Momonga muttered, lips twitching.
Darren chuckled, traded a few more jabs with him, then hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Zephyr-sensei was at the brink of founding the NEO Marines, and the North Blue Fleet was developing steadily. With everything in place, Darren could finally act without holding back.
He took a final drag on his cigar, then stubbed it out.
Only then did he slowly turn around, facing the tall figure who had quietly appeared behind him.
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Gion asked.
She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed instead on the restless, surging sea. Her voice was cool and aloof.
Darren chuckled. "Yeah. Time waits for no one."
Gion bit her lower lip. "Then… I need one last training session."
Under the moonlight, she finally turned to face him.
Her delicate features glowed faintly in the silver radiance, but her eyes blazed with battle intent.
As her words faded, her appearance began to change.
The high black ponytail at the back of her head slowly unraveled, those ink-dark strands gradually turning a soft sakura pink. A vivid crimson glint burned to life in her eyes, while fine pink fur spread across her pale skin. From the small of her back, a snow-white tail unfurled and swayed.
The moon rabbit, slender and lethal, golden Meito in hand, radiated a strange duality—both enchanting and merciless. Under the night sky, her beauty took on an almost otherworldly brilliance, like a being from some ancient legend.
Staring at the breathtaking Gion in front of him, Darren felt his throat go dry.
"Uh… one training session might not be enough," he said.
Gion: ???
She froze, then immediately realized what he meant. Color flooded her face.
"I meant real training!" she snapped.
"Yeah, yeah. Training. I get it, I get it."
"…You jerk!"
Clang!
Boom!
A pale pink sword aura exploded skyward.
To be continued...