Even Sengoku and Momonga couldn't help twitching at the same time.
They already knew Darren could be outrageous, but this—this was a different level entirely.
Yet, the more Sengoku thought about it, the more sense it made.
The Marines' authority extended across the entire world. Suppressing information, silencing witnesses, erasing Dragon's involvement from the Battle of Edd War—it was child's play.
And since the battle had taken place in a raging storm, with Dragon's strike swift and fleeting, the cover-up would be seamless.
Once he recovered from the initial shock, Sengoku found himself smiling faintly. The implications were crystal clear:
This version of history cleanly severed any visible tie between the Marines and Dragon, while letting the Marines claim full credit for the fall of the Golden Lion. It was a political masterstroke—one that would solidify the Marines' dominance and swell public confidence in the institution of Justice.
He looked closely at Darren, still sitting there with that infuriatingly calm grin, smoke curling lazily from his cigar.
This kid's sense of political manipulation is downright shameless, Sengoku thought. But... I kind of like it.
A satisfied grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Truly worthy of being the face of the Marines. I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Darren."
Darren smiled lightly. "Admiral Sengoku, you flatter me. I'm only doing my duty as a Marine."
"Hmph." Sengoku nodded, his good mood impossible to hide. The more he saw of Darren, the more he liked him—strong, sharp, adaptable, and most of all, he knew exactly how far to push.
A subordinate like that was worth his weight in gold.
Of course, Sengoku knew full well that Darren's success would also reflect on him. The defeat of Golden Lion would stand as one of the greatest triumphs in Marine history—and it would be Sengoku's name recorded beside it.
Still, the old admiral couldn't suppress a flicker of unease. What if he'd miscalculated halfway through? One wrong move and all this glory could've turned into disaster.
He frowned slightly. It was time to rein this wild young man in—just a little.
"That said, young Darren," Sengoku began, his tone firm but not harsh, "from now on, you'll report to me before undertaking operations of this scale. You carry more than your own name now. Every action you take reflects on the Marines themselves. Especially when it comes to monsters like Golden Lion—you can't keep charging ahead on your own."
"If you coordinate with Headquarters, we can mobilize support faster, prevent unnecessary risks."
Darren nodded obediently. "You're absolutely right, Admiral Sengoku. I was too reckless this time."
He even sighed for effect. "If I'd consulted you beforehand, perhaps the operation wouldn't have been so dangerous."
Sengoku's eyes softened slightly at the humility in his tone—though if he'd looked a little closer, he might have noticed the glint of amusement behind Darren's calm expression.
But if the same opportunity came again... I'd still do it my way.
Darren rubbed his temple and gave a rueful grin. "I suppose I was just too eager to prove myself, Admiral."
Momonga: …
Sengoku: …
Sengoku rolled his eyes skyward. "You really are impossible."
He rose, clapped Darren gently on the shoulder, and sighed. "Just focus on resting, young man. I'll expect your return soon enough."
As he reached the door, he paused. "Oh—one more thing." He glanced back. "I've invited Captain Momonga to the Headquarters Training Camp. You should persuade him to accept. It would be a waste for someone of his potential to stagnate in the North Blue."
Darren's eyes glinted briefly before he smiled. "Really? That's great news." He exchanged a quick glance with Momonga. "I'll talk to him, Admiral Sengoku."
"Good." Sengoku nodded once, satisfied, and left.
Borsalino stretched, yawning lazily. "Well, I'll be going too. I'll leave you two lovebirds to talk."
Before either could reply, his body dissolved into a shower of golden light and vanished.
The room quieted. Only Darren and Momonga remained.
"Finally," Momonga exhaled, his shoulders easing. "We pulled it off."
Then his brow furrowed slightly. "Still… is it really alright to pin all this on Dragon?"
"Of course," Darren said easily. "Sengoku's not going to touch Dragon. He's far too close to becoming Fleet Admiral, and Dragon's a political landmine. The best way to handle a threat like that…" He smirked. "…is to look the other way."
Momonga's lips twitched. "And what if Dragon finds out?"
"Then I'll pay him off," Darren said with a shrug. "A billion, maybe two. He'll live."
Momonga groaned inwardly. Easy for you to say. He still remembered the day Dragon had shown up in the North Blue, flashed that innocent grin, and conned him out of three billion berries.
"Anyway," Darren continued, "are you sure you don't want to train at Headquarters?"
Momonga hesitated. "Tempted? Of course I am. Headquarters has far better resources. But right now, there's no one I trust to command the North Blue Fleet in my absence."
He smiled faintly. "Let's revisit the idea later."
Darren nodded. "Fair enough. But if you ever do decide to train, you can always come to me."
Momonga blinked. "…You?"
Darren grinned. "Who else? You're talking to the man who took down the Golden Lion! People would pay fortunes for my guidance."
Momonga snorted. "Guidance? You mean the kind of training that nearly kills your students?"
Darren smirked. "Relax. I won't be handling you personally. I've already arranged a few excellent instructors for you."
His tone was too casual—too knowing. Momonga's instincts prickled. "Wait… what do you mean by—"
Bang!
The door burst open.
"Husband!"
Momonga froze.
A young woman stood in the doorway, panting slightly, her cheeks flushed. Her long, pale-green hair spilled down her back, and the pink silk of her kimono gleamed softly in the light. She looked radiant—and distraught.
"Toki…?" Darren blinked, startled.
"Madam Toki," Momonga said hurriedly, standing at attention.
But Toki ignored him entirely. Her eyes—red-rimmed from crying—locked on Darren. In the next instant, she rushed across the room and threw her arms around him.
"Thank goodness... thank goodness you're alive…" Her voice trembled as tears slid down her cheeks, glimmering like raindrops.
Darren froze, then gave a low chuckle and patted her gently on the head. "Hey, how could anything happen to me? I'm Marine Headquarters' monster, remember?"
"Really?" she whispered, pulling back just enough to look at him, her eyes wide and uncertain. "But Commodore Tokikake said... you were dying..."
Darren: …
Momonga: …
To be continued...