The chaos that had engulfed the seas, however, did not disturb the newfound tranquility of Ambri Island. Ever since the world learned that this was Takero's territory, no one dared to cause trouble here again.
A few days later, that peace was shattered by a rhythmic, mechanical roar from the horizon.
Tesoro rushed to the port, and when he saw the 'giant' slowly approaching, even he, a man accustomed to grand spectacles, couldn't help but gasp. Dozens of colossal snail ships, each one a mobile fortress, were linked by a network of steel bridges, forming a boundless, floating continent of metal. The cold, massive fleet, radiating an aura of advanced technology and war, sailed slowly into Ambri Island's harbor, bringing with it a terrifying sense of oppression that could make any nation tremble.
"This… this is… the Germa Kingdom?!" Tesoro's voice was filled with disbelief.
Of course, he knew of Germa—the infamous 'Scientific Combat Force' of the North Blue's Underworld. But he had never dreamed that this would be the result of his boss's latest trip. After the Buster Call incident, Takero had said he was going out to bring something back. Tesoro never imagined he meant he was going to move an entire country.
"Everyone, stand down! Do not be alarmed!" he immediately ordered over the island's Den Den Mushi network.
Soon, a main ship docked at the port. Takero was the first to leap down, followed by a group of young people in vibrant, color-coded combat suits, each with a different expression on their face.
"Boss! You… you're…" Tesoro hurried to meet him, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Oh, I'm back," Takero said with a casual wave, his tone as nonchalant as if he'd just gone out to buy groceries. "I paid a visit to the Germa Kingdom. Their technology is pretty good, seemed useful. So, I just 'collected' the whole thing. From now on, they're our new 'Scientific Research Department'."
He just… collected a country?
Tesoro's mouth hung open. He felt his own proud business acumen and management skills seem so pale and insignificant in the face of his boss's completely unreasonable, purely violent way of acquiring assets. What could he even say? He could only offer his silent, utmost admiration.
With the official 'incorporation' of the Germa Kingdom, Takero's villa welcomed several new family members of a special status. As a result, daily life became more… lively and chaotic than ever before.
"Hey! You, green-haired woman! Don't you dare touch my meat! I saw it first!"
In the dining room, the green-haired Yonji was baring his teeth at the equally green-haired Monet.
"Hmph! You rude little brat!" Monet shot back, not to be outdone, summoning several sharp ice spikes behind her back as a warning.
Across the table, the blue-haired Niji was attempting to correct Sugar's posture with his so-called 'royal etiquette,' but Sugar simply ignored him and wandered off. The red-haired Ichiji, meanwhile, maintained his aloof demeanor, observing the chaos with a cold, dismissive gaze.
Only the pink-haired Reiju and Nico Robin sat together, a cup of tea before each of them. They were like two elegant spectators detached from the unfolding drama, occasionally exchanging quiet words, and appearing to get along exceptionally well.
"Sanji! You failure! What are you hiding in the kitchen for?! Get out here!"
A roar from Yonji was followed by the sounds of a struggle—ping, pong, crash—from the kitchen, punctuated by Sanji's defiant retorts. The entire villa was now louder than the most raucous pirate feast.
"Sigh…" Robin gently sipped her tea, a helpless sigh escaping her lips as she surveyed the scene. But in her eyes, a faint, subtle smile she hadn't even noticed herself had quietly emerged.
Amidst all this chaos, however, there was another matter that made Monet the most wary and unhappy. She had noticed that ever since the woman named 'Sora'—the mother of the Vinsmoke children—had moved in, her master's behavior had become a little… strange.
Every day, Takero would spend a great deal of time in Sora's private lounge. He had even ordered Tesoro to use all available resources to search the globe for the world's best doctors and rarest medicinal ingredients, all to treat Sora's increasingly frail body. That level of care and consideration was something she, as his 'Maid No. 1,' had never once enjoyed.
"Damn it…" Monet gritted her teeth, hiding outside the lounge and peeking through a crack in the door. She watched as Takero sat inside, talking and laughing with Sora. So what if that woman is a little prettier, or has a slightly better figure?
A frantic sense of crisis began to brew in her heart. If this continued, would there still be a place for her in this home?
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