Now that Reiju had become Luo Xing's woman, Judge could be considered half his father-in-law.
Even so, Luo Xing showed him no special favor.
He didn't mind returning command of Germa to Judge—
After all, Judge no longer had the ability to betray him.
But there was a condition.
Judge had to prove his worth.
If he couldn't even withstand the side effects of a Demon-level monster cell—
Then he wasn't qualified to discuss anything further.
A strange, purple chunk of flesh was tossed before Judge.
Without hesitation—
He swallowed it.
The next moment—
A scream of agony tore from his throat.
As a scientist who relied on battle suits, Judge's personal strength had never been particularly high.
The same was true for his sons—their power largely came from their suits.
Judge's screams lasted for over ten minutes.
It showed just how difficult it was for him to endure a Demon-level monster cell.
But in the end—
His overwhelming ambition…
His obsession with ruling the North Blue—
Carried him through.
When it was over—
His aura surged dramatically.
His body had grown larger, stronger.
Feeling the unprecedented power coursing through him, Judge trembled with excitement.
He dropped to his knees.
"Thank you, Lord Luo Xing, for your gift!"
Only now did he truly understand how unfathomable Luo Xing was.
Any lingering resentment in his heart vanished completely.
To serve this man—
To stand under the ever-growing might of the Beasts Pirates—
Was, in a way, a blessing.
Luo Xing nodded slightly.
"Since you've endured it, the Germa clone army will remain under your command."
"You are to conquer the entire North Blue as quickly as possible."
"Especially—eliminate all Marine and World Government forces from the region."
Judge's face lit up with wild joy.
"I understand!"
Luo Xing then appointed Reiju as strategist—
Granting her a position equal to Judge's.
After that—
He inspected the newly produced clone army.
Thanks to Luo Xing's modifications, the cloning process had become far more efficient.
Hundreds—sometimes thousands—of clones could be produced each day.
And each one was physically stronger than before.
Over this period of time—
More than forty thousand new soldiers had been created.
Combined with Germa's original forces—
The total size of the clone army had reached eighty thousand.
Eighty thousand soldiers—
Each one enhanced with monster cells.
Each one possessing beast-like strength.
Looking at this overwhelming army, Judge was so excited he could barely contain himself.
With such a force—
Conquering the North Blue would be effortless.
Without delay, he requested permission to begin the campaign by attacking the strongest nations first.
Luo Xing agreed.
Strike the strong first—
That was the best strategy for a conqueror.
Once the strongest nations fell, the weaker ones would collapse in fear and surrender.
Thus—
The war began.
Smoke of battle spread across the North Blue.
Reiju's eyes dimmed slightly.
"So many people will die in this war… is such ambition really worth it?"
Luo Xing wrapped an arm around her waist.
"It's not just ambition."
"It's also about freeing the people who've been oppressed by the Celestial Dragons for eight hundred years."
"Most countries in this world are allied with the World Government."
"They must pay Heavenly Tribute every year."
"The royal families don't produce anything. They take from the people."
"I'm not targeting civilians."
"Only those parasitic rulers."
"As long as the people submit, they won't be harmed."
"More than that…"
"I'll distribute Wano's super seeds and Cybertronian workers to them."
"Food production will no longer be a problem."
Reiju's body trembled.
Her gaze toward him changed—
Now filled with admiration… even affection.
But then—
A hint of jealousy surfaced.
"You're doing all this… for your wife Yamato's dream of letting the whole world eat, aren't you?"
It was true.
But Luo Xing had no intention of admitting it.
He pulled her closer.
"For you too."
Reiju's face flushed red, her thoughts thrown into disarray.
Outside—
War raged across nations.
Inside—
Another kind of battle continued…
…
…
Germa's sudden full-scale invasion of the North Blue—
Naturally reached the World Government immediately.
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Within the Chamber of Authority—
The Five Elders erupted in fury.
"What is Vinsmoke Judge thinking?! Launching a war without warning!"
"He even killed our agents—utterly outrageous!"
"Does he not fear the World Government's punishment?!"
Germa had once been an affiliated nation—
But with this war, that status was immediately revoked.
A CP agent reported nervously:
"According to intelligence from the North Blue… the Beasts Pirates are involved."
"Some even claim they saw the Fifth Emperor, Luo Xing, among them."
"And Germa's clone soldiers… they've all become monstrous."
"They likely consumed the monster cells created by Luo Xing."
The Five Elders' fury surged even higher.
Luo Xing again!
That man again!
Destroying Impel Down.
Seizing Sabaody.
Now controlling Germa—
And attempting to conquer the entire North Blue!
Was he truly planning to take over the whole world?!
Beneath their anger—
Was fear.
Fear of Imu's wrath.
Fear of the rapidly collapsing world order.
The elder with the sword steadied himself and turned to Kong.
"Has the new Fleet Admiral been decided?"
Kong frowned deeply.
"Not yet."
"Akainu and Aokiji refuse to back down. Both are determined to claim the position."
"They've agreed to settle it with a duel."
The elder snapped:
"Then let them fight immediately! Do we have time to wait in a situation like this?!"
"Kong, issue the order—whoever becomes Fleet Admiral must immediately initiate a global conscription!"
"We need more forces to counter Luo Xing and the Beasts Pirates!"
"And you—prepare for total military mobilization!"
"We must be ready for full-scale war at any moment!"
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