Chapter 352: Germa, Reiju's Warning!
North Blue · Germa Kingdom
Under a leaden, gray sky, a massive fleet of iron-gray warships sat clustered together like a sprawling archipelago of steel. This mobile kingdom, stitched together from dozens of giant vessels, resembled a cold, slumbering beast of war lurking in the North Blue.
The heavy metallic hulls shimmered with a frigid light in the biting wind, radiating a constant, bone-chilling killing intent.
Along the "shores," rows of Clone Soldiers stood in perfect, rigid formation. Clad in uniform battle armor, their movements were identical, their expressions hollow, and their eyes devoid of life. They were like walking corpses, yet they emitted an oppressive aura of absolute military discipline.
This was the place that made the world tremble at its mention—Germa 66.
A nation without land, a military empire built on the foundation of war and supported by the pillars of high technology. Its ruler, Vinsmoke Judge, was once a genius scientist on par with Dr. Vegapunk. In their youth, they were part of an illegal research group where they collectively unlocked the "Lineage Factor."
Later, Vegapunk was absorbed by the World Government, becoming the supreme authority of the Marine Science Force, while Judge chose to flee. He took their research back to Germa and continued his developments in the shadows, eventually constructing a massive factory for clone soldiers. These mindless, obedient "tools" became the very bedrock of the Germa Kingdom.
...
A small boat slowly drifted into the harbor.
Sanji looked up at this massive, frigid "homeland," his expression dark and his gaze complex. He hadn't returned in years, yet this floating island of steel remained as cold and cruel as ever, lacking even a shred of human warmth.
The cigarette between his fingers glowed a deep crimson. "A kingdom of science... a clone army... lineage factors..." he muttered with cold indifference.
"What a truly disgusting 'Kingdom' this is."
The moment his boots hit the deck, he felt the air grow heavier, as if the entire kingdom were watching him through a thousand icy eyes.
In the center of the port, a graceful figure was already waiting. Long pink hair fluttered slightly in the sea breeze, a smooth lock of hair veiling her right eye. She was tall and elegant, with a prominent "6" tattooed on her outer thigh like a brand. Her lips were curled into a faint, enigmatic smile—a look that carried both a trace of tenderness and an unpredictable sense of danger.
—Vinsmoke Reiju.
Known as "Poison Pink," she was the eldest daughter of the Germa Kingdom and Sanji's only sister.
Seeing her brother walk off the small boat with heavy, reluctant steps, a flash of complex emotion crossed her eyes, though it quickly settled into a calm smile.
"Yo—"
Her voice carried a familiar warmth laced with a hint of teasing, as if nothing had changed. "It's been a long time, Sanji."
Sanji stopped in his tracks. His expression darkened further as he shot her a cold glance. Under the flicker of his lighter, he took a deep drag, exhaling a slow puff of white mist.
"Cut the crap," his voice was ice. "This political marriage with Totto Land... what's the story?"
The smile remained on Reiju's lips, but her eyes dimmed slightly. She lightly brushed back her pink hair and spoke in a low, measured tone. "Years ago, the fall of the Warlord Doflamingo... left the underworld of the North Blue without a leader."
"Father seized the opportunity. Using the Germa soldiers, he directly swallowed up the majority of those territories. Now, the North Blue is almost entirely under our control."
Sanji froze, his brow furrowing as he let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Isn't that wonderful then? He's finally realized his pathetic dream of 'ruling the North Blue'?"
Reiju fell silent for a beat, then shook her head with a grim expression. "But expanding too quickly has attracted some... formidable attention."
Sanji's eyes sharpened instantly. The smoke stalled between his lips as his voice turned like a blade. "The Big Mom Pirates..."
Reiju didn't answer directly. She turned and began to walk, her high heels clicking rhythmically against the metal deck, the sound echoing through the empty corridor. Sanji bit down on his cigarette and followed in silence, the atmosphere between them growing suffocatingly heavy.
Suddenly, Reiju let out a soft chuckle, her tone seemingly casual. "But honestly, I was quite surprised to hear you'd actually become a Marine~"
"I thought you'd still be hiding away in that little restaurant~"
Sanji snorted, exhaling another cloud of smoke. "Since you know I'm a Marine, you still had the nerve to call me back?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll lead a fleet of warships here and sink this pile of scrap metal?"
Reiju's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
She slowly turned around. Her pink hair fell over her shoulder as the smile vanished from her lips, replaced by a look of unprecedented gravity.
"Sanji."
She looked directly into her brother's eyes, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you know the truth behind Vice Admiral Roy's disappearance?"
"...?!!"
Sanji's pupils constricted violently. The cigarette fell from his fingers, landing soundlessly on the floor.
"Roy-san... disappeared?!"
Details flashed through his mind like lightning—Roy's sudden "extended leave," Fleet Admiral Sengoku's vague excuses, the rumors within the Marines that everyone seemed to avoid... and Big Mom's unusual focus on Germa.
A chill ran down Sanji's spine, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Is a Yonko... trying to use me as bait to track Roy-san's whereabouts?"
"Or—to test whether he's alive or dead?!!"
The coldness traveled up his spine to the crown of his head. Sanji lunged forward, grabbing Reiju's shoulders with frantic anger. "What the hell have you people gotten mixed up in?!!"
Reiju's expression was pained, but she gently pried her brother's hands away, her voice hollow. "Father tried to form a partnership with Big Mom. He wanted to trade Germa's technology for the protection and territory of a Yonko."
"And the first condition Big Mom set was—"
She stared Sanji in the eye, emphasizing every word. "To confirm if Vice Admiral Roy is truly dead."
BOOM—
Sanji's head spun. He stumbled back until he hit the cold metal wall, his chest feeling as though it had been struck by a sledgehammer.
"I see..." he whispered, his face twisting into a grimace. "Germa... is just a pawn."
"The one Big Mom truly wants to test is Roy-san!"
Reiju sighed softly, a look of helplessness in her eyes. "Sanji, it's not too late to leave. Germa is already a sinking ship. There's no reason for you to be dragged down with it."
Sanji remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a sharp scoff as he relit a cigarette. The smoke rose before his eyes, but it couldn't obscure the growing resolve in his gaze.
"Don't flatter yourselves."
"I didn't come back for Germa."
He blew out a perfect smoke ring, his voice turning steady and lethal. "I am a Marine."
"And I will not allow a Yonko to run wild in the North Blue."
The anger and disgust in Sanji's eyes had been tempered by a newfound steel. Reiju blinked in surprise, then allowed a bittersweet, relieved smile to touch her lips. "You really have changed..."
Sanji took a deep drag. "Yeah... after all, I finally found comrades I can actually trust."
Silence fell over the corridor. Reiju gazed at her brother for a long time before finally turning away, her footsteps resuming their clatter against the metal floor.
"Let's go. Father is waiting for you in the main hall."
Their figures gradually vanished into the depths of the icy vessel.
Meanwhile...
On the distant horizon, a massive warship flying the Marine flag was cleaving through the waves at full speed.
On the bow of the ship, Enel and Ace stood side-by-side. Both wore dangerous, excited grins, their eyes burning with an impatient battle intent. They remembered the voice coming from the Fleet Admiral's Den Den Mushi before they departed, and their hearts nearly burst with anticipation.
Ace clenched his fist, flames dancing between his fingers.
"Ha! Finally, we get to cut loose and cause some real chaos!"
Enel picked his ear, a wild, arrogant smirk on his face as lightning crackled around him. "Exactly what I was thinking~"
Beside them, Law stood in silent composure, his face as cold as frost. Usopp stood nearby, fine beads of sweat on his forehead as he stared at the distant steel fortress. His eyes were full of worry, but he whispered a silent call in his heart:
"Sanji, hang on... we're coming for you."
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