Aus's tone stayed flat. After all, he was dealing with a great and gentle mother.
Judge had crossed him, sure. But Aus was still willing to show Sora some patience.
He carried baggage from his past life—how he'd felt about these characters in the original story. After rebirth, that translated into natural goodwill.
Even toward Sanji. The kid had been his favorite to play back then.
That's why he hadn't gone for the throat. Germa meant nothing to him. If Sanji hadn't been born here, if there weren't memories attached—
He wouldn't have bothered showing up at all.
"So? What's it gonna be?"
The question cut deep. If Judge were standing here, he'd take his beating, then throw Sanji out without blinking to save Germa's skin.
But Sora was different.
She couldn't stomach seeing any of her children hurt.
She stroked the boy's head. He stared up at her, mouth hanging open.
"Mama..."
Her lips curved upward. Then she met Aus's gaze head-on—no fear, just gentle resolve.
"If you need someone from Germa to pay the price... take my life.
But please. Don't hurt Sanji."
"Mama!!!"
Little Sanji's face crumpled. Tears flooded down his cheeks. His mouth opened wide.
"Someone help! Father! Soldiers! Someone!"
Aus's eye twitched. He'd been about to say something, but—
The kid wouldn't stop wailing.
"Quiet."
Sanji's mouth snapped shut. No sound came out—just muffled whimpers and silent tears as he threw himself in front of his mother.
"If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be talking."
Aus shook his head and pulled out a yellowed piece of paper from his coat.
"I need a word with Sanji. Alone. That alright, Lady Sora?"
"I..."
Sora hesitated. But Sanji stepped forward, eyes blazing despite his silence.
Protecting Mama came before everything.
"Relax. Few minutes, tops."
Aus walked ahead. Sanji followed, shooting his mother one last reassuring look.
Tap... tap...
Aus moved forward. Behind him, Sanji got ideas—he'd strike from behind. But Aus whirled around, making him stumble.
"Come on. Time you saw what Germa really looks like right now."
He grabbed Sanji by the collar. The world blurred.
They reappeared in the sky.
"Ahhh!!!"
The sudden altitude shift made Sanji flail like a drowning cat. Aus felt the thrashing and let go.
Horror flooded Sanji's face—but he didn't fall. His feet stood on something invisible. Solid. No weightlessness.
Then he looked down.
Doflamingo and Germa. Fighting.
Soldiers had split into two groups, weapons raised, tearing into each other. Judge battled a pink figure. Another identical pink figure crouched on a windowsill—
Grinning like a demon as he watched the chaos.
"This is..."
"That's Germa. Those colored brats on the ground? Your brothers."
Three small figures—red, blue, green—sprawled motionless. Steel bodies and monster genes didn't matter.
Against someone like Doflamingo, they were still just kids. One move. Down.
"Maybe they're monsters to regular people. But to real monsters? Steel's just something you rip apart."
Sanji's world tilted sideways.
His imposing father. His brothers who'd beaten him bloody—now they looked so small...
"Every life in Germa's in my hand right now. Your mother included.
So. You saving them or not?"
Sanji forgot about heights. He clenched his fists and glared up at Aus.
"You want me, right? Fine! Just let them go!"
Aus's lips curved.
"Then sign."
He held out the yellowed paper and a pen. Sanji grabbed it. Line after line of contract terms.
Next to the signature line sat another name.
Nico Robin?
He didn't understand. But he signed anyway.
"This isn't coercion. Germa earned this. You're just settling their tab."
Perfect. Another name on the list.
Aus pocketed the paper with satisfaction and snapped his fingers.
Blink. They were back in Sora's room. She gasped and pulled Sanji close.
"Sanji, what happened?"
He hung his head. Wouldn't speak.
He'd sold himself.
Aus just smiled at Sora's worried face. Shrugged.
Then his gaze swept over her, clinical.
"By the way, Lady Sora. Your body won't last—"
"Mr. Aus!"
She cut him off, voice sharp with panic. Almost begging.
She didn't want this said in front of Sanji.
But Sanji understood plenty already. He caught on fast.
Mama. Bedridden. All this time.
"What's wrong with Mama?! Mr. Aus!"
Maybe it was pledging his life. Maybe it was that scene in the sky. Either way, something had shifted.
Sanji stood before Aus now, bold. Demanding.
"Sanji..."
"Yeah. Your mother's dying. But I can fix that."
"Really?! Mr. Aus! Please—you have to save her!"
Aus looked down at the kid clinging to his leg, face soaked with tears and snot. He ruffled that blonde mop.
"This medicine extends life. Wear it, live longer.
I can give your mother decades. I think you've got potential. I'm willing to see you as my son.
But Sanji... you won't even call me father."
(PS: To all you captains three shades handsomer than Aus—word is, five-star reviews are the mark of elite pirates.)
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!