The armory lay silent. Saint Marcus Mars rose, his face etched with shame. "He is right," he whispered. "We have failed him."
Warcury nodded, massive frame slumped. "indeed, We forgot our purpose."
Nusjuro adjusted his robes, hands trembling slightly. "His judgment is sharp. We became liabilities."
Ju Peter murmured, sorrow thick in his voice, "Every word true. We failed our Lord."
Saturn stared blankly. "Our incompetence necessitates his direct action."
The others nodded, united in their resolve. They left with a burning need to prove their worth to the their Lord who had justly humbled them.
North Blue, Germa Kingdom
The purple light faded, leaving Imu, Gunko, and Shamrock standing in the heart of Germa Kingdom. Imu took in the sight, recalling the history now etched into his mind. Germa 66. Named for their infamy. 300 years ago, the Vinsmoke ancestors conquered the entire North Blue… and held it for exactly 66 days. A brutal, fleeting reign that birthed a legend of terrifying efficiency. The name itself was a boast, a reminder of their ruthless ambition.
The kingdom wasn't built on land. It floated. Massive platforms, shaped like the colossal shells of giant snail-like creatures, formed the very foundation. These platforms shifted and moved individually, docking together like pieces of a grim puzzle. The "borders" of Germa were fluid, ever-changing, a nation perpetually on the move. Below, the North Blue sea churned against the metallic undersides.
The architecture was a jarring contradiction. Externally, it resembled a medieval nightmare fortress: towering brick walls, conical spires, imposing turrets, and battlements bristling with cannons. Yet, peeking through reinforced glass windows or glimpsed in open archways were the telltale glints of advanced technology polished metal corridors, humming energy conduits, and sleek, futuristic labs seamlessly integrated within the ancient castle shell.
They strode through the bizarre fusion of past and future, the sounds of their boots echoing on metal grating and ancient stone. Finally, they reached the massive doors of the Throne Room. Guards in black-and-white Germa 66 uniforms snapped to attention, hands flying to their rifles. Before they could challenge the intruders, Gunko moved. A subtle flick of her wrist sent an invisible pulse of Haki. The guards crumpled silently to the floor, unconscious.
Shamrock pushed the heavy doors open, revealing the Floating Throne Room. It was as imposing as Imu recalled – vast, dominated by the crystalline throne where Judge Vinsmoke sat, radiating arrogant authority. The eagle emblem, the skull motifs, the "66" banner all screamed military might and scientific hubris. Judge looked up, his eyes narrowing as he took in the three figures standing unannounced in his sanctum. He rose slowly, his white and orange coat rustling.
"Who dares to come here without my permission?" Judge's voice boomed, amplified and filled with icy fury. "Identify yourselves! How did you penetrate Germa's defenses? Speak, or be eliminated!" His hand instinctively went to the control panel on his throne's armrest.
Imu stepped forward, a wide, utterly disarming grin spreading across his face. He clapped his hands together with childlike excitement. "Oh my gosh! Judge Vinsmoke! In the flesh! It's really you!" He practically bounced on his heels. "This is amazing! I'm your biggest fan! Seriously, your work on lineage manipulation? Revolutionary! And the clone army? Genius! Pure, unadulterated genius! I've read all about your achievements well, you are idol to me i always wanted to become like you and let me tell you, your approach to bio engineering is 100 years ahead of Vegapunk's! no....no it should be 1000+ ahead of Vegapunk No offense to the old guy, but you? You're the future of sceintifc community! I always wanted to be a scientist, you know?"
"But then, life and the situation around me nevel let it happen, and here I am" Imu said this with a said expression
Gunko stood rigidly beside him, her expression a perfect, frozen mask of cold indifference. Imu sama… what is this madness? she thought, a single, microscopic twitch near her eye the only sign of her internal turmoil. Feigning adulation for this… this scientific brute? It is beneath us. Utterly beneath us. Yet… he has a plan. He always has a plan. I must endure this indignity. She subtly shifted her stance, radiating an aura of lethal readiness that contrasted sharply with Imu's fanboy act.
Shamrock, behind his mask, was equally bewildered. Fan? Of Judge Vinsmoke? The thought was so absurd it almost short-circuited his usually sharp mind. Imu sama is employing psychological warfare of the most baffling variety. Is this to lull the target into a false sense of security? Or is it… genuine? No. Impossible. He forced himself to remain still, his hand resting near the hilt of his own weapon, ready to react at Imu's slightest signal. The sheer, unexpected ridiculousness of the situation was almost paralyzing.
Judge stared. His magnificent mustache twitched violently. His face, usually a mask of arrogant confidence, cycled through shock, disbelief, and finally, incandescent rage. The sheer audacity of being addressed like a celebrity by an intruder in his own throne room, after his defenses had been breached so easily, was beyond insulting.