"Her name is Ginny. She's Kuma's fiancée... Please, Darren!"
Dragon's voice was thick with grief and urgency.
Kuma's fiancée?
Bartholomew Kuma... when did he get a fiancée?
The thought flashed across Darren's mind, but he knew this was no time for idle curiosity. He nodded, his expression turning grave.
"When exactly did she lose contact, and where was she last seen?" he asked. "I'll mobilize our intelligence network right away."
---
Night deepened.
Darren stood alone on the hotel balcony, one hand kneading his temples as a cigarette burned between his lips. His brow was furrowed in concentration.
The ashtray beside him was already overflowing with butts, piled into a small mountain.
According to Dragon's intel, Ginny had vanished somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line.
She was Dragon's newly appointed East Army Commander of the Freedom Fighters, a core officer second only to Dragon himself.
Before that, she and Kuma had been close for years—both survivors of the God Valley incident.
Ginny was a specialist in theft, wiretapping, and communications. During the God Valley incident, she had successfully stolen a batch of Den Den Mushi, used their transmissions to eavesdrop on the tournament prizes, and leaked information about the island to the outside world a full two weeks before the tournament began. That leak drew the Rocks Pirates from Hachinosu to launch their assault on God Valley, setting off the chain reaction that followed.
Before she went missing, Ginny had led a Freedom Fighters vanguard squad to infiltrate and wiretap a crucial World Government intelligence relay point in the Grand Line, gathering key information.
"According to Dragon's intel, Ginny is no lightweight. In combat, she's on par with a Headquarters Vice Admiral, and her expertise in eavesdropping and counterintelligence makes her a nightmare for ordinary Cipher Pol agents."
"But a master spy like that has disappeared without a trace..."
Darren slowly exhaled a stream of smoke, his frown deepening.
Ginny was a survivor of God Valley and likely held critical classified information. She was also a linchpin in the Revolutionary Army's future.
More importantly, Dragon himself had introduced her as Kuma's fiancée—that alone spoke volumes about her importance to Kuma.
Which meant Darren had no choice but to act.
"You should go in person, Husband," a gentle voice whispered behind him.
Darren started and turned. Toki, awakened from her sleep, stood in the doorway.
"Sorry, Toki. Did I wake you?"
He moved quickly, shrugging off his coat and draping it over her slender shoulders. "Get back to bed. It's cold out here."
In the cool, soft moonlight, Toki's small bump had already become clearly visible. Even without makeup, she radiated a natural, maternal warmth.
"I'm fine," Toki said, shaking her head.
"I remember you telling me that Mr. Dragon is a friend you trust," she went on quietly. "When a friend asks for help, shouldn't we do everything we can? Besides, on Felsek Island, didn't Mr. Dragon and Kuma stand by your side and fight with you?"
Darren pressed his lips together.
"I've already ordered the North Blue Fleet to start gathering intel," he said. "I've also pulled every string I can..."
"I can take care of myself," Toki interrupted with a small smile.
"I had a wonderful time today, Husband... but..."
She tilted her head back, eyes shining as she gazed at the man she had chosen, and her smile softened.
"I didn't become your wife because you care for me, love me, or shower me with kindness and company," she said. "Those do matter—but they aren't why I chose you."
"I chose you, Rogers Darren, as my husband—Toki Amatsuki's husband—because you're a man of real stature."
"No matter what happens, he's always my unwavering support. He's not just a devoted lover, but also a true friend, a reliable partner, and a man who takes full responsibility for what he does."
Toki stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head against his chest.
"This is what you're meant to do."
Darren fell silent.
He lowered his gaze, studying the breathtaking woman in his arms, drenched in moonlight, and let out a quiet sigh.
"Toki... do you know that sometimes you're just too good to me?" he murmured. "It makes me feel like I don't deserve you."
Toki shot him a playful look, one eye winking mischievously.
"Only sometimes?"
Darren let out a helpless laugh.
Purupuru... Purupuru...
The urgent ring of a Den Den Mushi suddenly cut through the stillness.
Darren's eyes sharpened. He picked up the Den Den Mushi and answered in a low voice.
"Any news?"
Morgans' mocking chuckle crackled through the line.
"Your opponent this time is no pushover, Darren."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... that Ginny woman is something else, too. The World Government has had its eye on her for a long time, and they've gone all-in this time. Chances are they're using her as bait to smoke out the Freedom Fighters' leader, Dragon."
Darren's heart sank.
"What forces has the Government deployed?" he asked.
"The exact composition's still murky," Morgans replied lazily, "but the Knights of God are definitely in play... Rumor has it their commander, Michael, is there in person."
"They're the most revered and terrifying combat force the World Government has."
"In a sense, the Knights of God's commander speaks for the entire Celestial Dragon class," he went on. "Seems the Government's a bit tied up when it comes to dealing with you directly, so they're striking at Dragon's Freedom Fighters instead."
"Darren, you went to enormous lengths to force the World Government to tacitly accept the North Blue's strategic independence and deterrent power..."
"And now, are you really willing to start a war with them all over again—for a woman who has almost nothing to do with you?"
Darren glanced at Toki. She met his gaze with a calm, confident smile.
A satisfied grin slowly spread across his face.
"No, Morgans," he said. "You've got it wrong."
"I've got it wrong?" Morgans burst out laughing, as if he'd just heard a joke.
"Yeah," Darren said. "You've misunderstood one thing."
"Oh? Then by all means—enlighten me. What did I misunderstand?"
"The war between me and the World Government... has never truly ended."
To be continued...