In the end, strength was what truly spoke.
In a world where the gap between individuals' power was so vast, personal might could shift everything.
By now, Don understood this well.
Robin had thought of the same thing.
Of course, when it came to the decisions Don made, she supported him without question.
"Do we keep going?"
Following behind him, Robin tightened her grip around the blade she held.
"Wait. We've got another uninvited guest."
Don's eyes turned toward the distant sea.
"Doflamingo's people?"
"No."
He shook his head. At the edge of his vision, a bizarrely shaped ship was slowly coming into view
A ship shaped like a snail.
"That's a vessel from the Kingdom of Germa."
"The Kingdom of Germa? Why would they be here? Could they have joined forces with Doflamingo?"
Robin asked gravely, narrowing her eyes at the strange warship appearing on the horizon.
"There's only one ship. They must have another purpose."
Don waved dismissively.
"So we wait?"
"Yeah. Let's see what they want."
On Germa's snail battleship, Vinsmoke Reiju, clad in her mothlike battle suit, gazed at the distant island with a serious expression.
The news had come through the World Economic Journal.
But making contact with such a man wouldn't be easy.
After Kizaru was dispatched to find this figure, nothing more had been reported—even the Journal had remained silent.
Perhaps their price hadn't been high enough.
Yet after Kizaru's return, this man still continued attacking Doflamingo's factories. That in itself said plenty.
Perhaps their guess was wrong—Kizaru had never confronted him at all.
But now, with the Navy seemingly halting their pursuit, the whole situation had become even more unpredictable.
Still, her father had decided to reach out.
The goal: recruitment.
And if recruitment failed—there was another plan.
As the battleship drew near the island, Reiju pondered how best to approach this nameless young powerhouse.
Then, on the shore ahead, she spotted two figures waiting.
"Stop here."
She raised her hand, giving the order. The snail warship slowed to a halt. Then Reiju leapt high, spreading her arms like moth wings as she glided swiftly toward the shore.
Don's gaze followed the airborne woman—the distinct eyebrows, the strange combat suit.
Sanji's sister: Vinsmoke Reiju.
His eyes narrowed as she landed in front of him.
Reiju studied both Don and Robin in turn.
"I am Vinsmoke Reiju, princess of the Germa Kingdom."
She met Don's eyes directly and took the initiative.
"So, what do you want?"
"My father, King of Germa, wishes to invite you to join our kingdom."
Reiju stated the purpose bluntly.
"Join Germa?"
Don blinked—he hadn't even considered that possibility.
He had ignored the Navy's invitations. Germa?
Reiju could read his reaction as clearly as day.
"If you agree, you may name any condition. As long as it's within our power, Germa will meet it."
Her tone was direct, filled with apparent sincerity.
"And if I say I want to be King of Germa?"
Don smiled faintly as he asked.
Beside him, Robin nearly rolled her eyes.
Reiju faltered.
Any other condition, perhaps. But to become Germa's king?
Then what would be the point of inviting him at all? That was essentially surrendering the entire kingdom to him.
"Guess that's a no, then."
Don chuckled, turning away toward the ship. Robin glanced at Reiju, then lifted her feet to follow.
"Wait!" Reiju called out quickly as he began to leave.
"What? You're accepting my terms?"
Don turned his head back.
"No. But since recruitment failed, we have another proposal for cooperation."
"Another plan? And why exactly should I cooperate with you?"
Don's tone was half-amused, half-threatening.
"You can at least hear me out first." Reiju didn't flinch, her expression earnest.
"Fine. Speak."
"You intend to continue targeting Doflamingo's factories, don't you?"
She asked cautiously.
"That's right. So what of it?" Don nodded.
"We can cooperate. From here on, we can lend you our strength."
"Lend me your strength?"
Don's gaze sharpened, locking onto her eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"We know these things aren't difficult for you. No one can truly stop you—not even Admiral Kizaru, for example. But the work itself must be tedious. So, let us take some of it off your hands."
She spoke smoothly, casually mentioning Kizaru while watching Don's face closely.
When his expression remained unchanged, her suspicions were confirmed.
This man really had crossed paths with Kizaru—and fought him.
"You're after Doflamingo's factories, then?"
Germa's aim wasn't hard to see.
Without enough benefit, they would never risk this.
This wasn't about currying favor with Don—it was about profit.
The truth was obvious: they had set their sights on Doflamingo's business.
Here in the North Blue, those factories had made him a giant in the underworld. That meant enormous profit. Germa, ever ambitious, was naturally tempted.
Before, perhaps they hadn't dared face Doflamingo directly.
But now—with Don as a disruptive factor—Judge saw an opportunity.
"Don?"
Robin noticed his silence and tried to prompt him.
"Mm."
He waved her off slightly.
"In fact, I do find this work rather tedious. But if I hand such a great benefit to you, what do I get in return?"
Reiju immediately understood that he'd seen through their motives.
"Anything you want. Well—anything except becoming Germa's king."
She quickly added the last part, wary of another demand like before.
"That so? Then here's what I want: I'll be heading to the Grand Line, where I'll form a guild. When the time comes, Germa will provide some men to join it."
Don said after some thought.
"A guild?"
Reiju frowned slightly, but didn't press.
Supplying manpower was simple enough for Germa.
With their cloning technology, numbers were never a problem.
"Agreed."
Whatever this guild was, the transaction was clear: some expendable clone soldiers in exchange for Doflamingo's factories.
Of course, they could seize them on their own.
But if Don kept destroying them, they'd inherit nothing but rubble.
As for Doflamingo himself—now that Don had drawn his attention, Germa had little to fear.
"Then it's a deal."
Turning, Don leapt aboard his vessel. Robin followed close behind.
Flames burst forth, and the small boat surged forward, skimming rapidly across the waves.
Reiju stood by the shore, reviewing her brief encounter and piecing together what she had learned.
"So… a Devil Fruit user. Flame-based—likely a Logia."
Her eyes followed the long fiery wake trailing from the boat, mind filled with speculation.
END OF CHAPTER
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