North Blue.
After Kizaru left, everything on the Germa Kingdom's warship returned to its previous calm.
Kaku went back to overseeing the ship's modifications.
Enel, on the other hand, kept wandering around the several warships, casually patrolling.
Takumi took on the task of watching out for approaching Marines. He set up a small stool at the bow of the Germa Kingdom's main warship, where he kept watch while occasionally fishing.
That evening, when he was about to put away his fishing gear, Reiju, who had been hiding behind the warship's castle and silently observing Takumi, hesitated briefly before stepping forward. She approached him and asked, "Do you really look down on me that much?"
Though it seemed ridiculous even to herself, she had no choice.
After Kizaru's departure, Judge had given her strict orders to try and win over Takumi's favor. Although Reiju did not wish to comply, she could not disobey her father's command.
Moreover, it was a critical time for Germa Kingdom. They had entirely lost the support of the World Government, and now their fate was in Takumi's hands. If Takumi abandoned them, Germa's ambitions to dominate North Blue would be over.
Reiju personally had no interest in conquering North Blue, but Germa Kingdom was her home. Even though human warmth was almost absent in this place, Judge was still her father, and Ichi and Yonji were still her brothers. She couldn't just stand by and watch them die.
So, after much thought, she could only approach Takumi.
Takumi gave her an indifferent glance.
Truth be told, Reiju was attractive, and her demeanor was not bad.
But so what? What did it have to do with him?
Should he marry her just because of a few words? Why?
"Yes, I do look down on you," Takumi replied bluntly, picking up his half-filled bucket of fish and bypassing Reiju without a second thought.
After a moment of silence, Reiju turned and called out to Takumi as he walked away, "If you don't intend to marry, then we don't have to get married. You only have three people on your ship, right? I could serve as an assistant."
She said this partly because she couldn't refuse Judge's command, and partly because she saw this as a chance to leave Germa Kingdom.
However, Takumi was not swayed. He simply responded, "No need," and quickly disappeared from sight.
Reiju clenched her fists tightly, releasing them only to clench again.
Judge, who had been watching not far away, couldn't hear the conversation between Reiju and Takumi since he lacked Haki, but from the looks of it, the outcome did not seem favorable.
"What happened?" Judge walked over with a grim expression. "What did that brat say?"
Reiju shook her head, "He rejected me."
"Damn it!" Judge roared. "Is that kid really going to let Germa Kingdom be destroyed?!"
"Father," Reiju stared at Judge, her face serious. "Germa Kingdom is beyond saving. The World Government will never let us go. Once Takumi's ship is ready, we should leave and find a place to live quietly."
Upon hearing this, Judge slapped Reiju across the face. "What nonsense! Germa Kingdom will not fall! I don't care what you have to do, but you must win Takumi over!"
"Father, stop being delusional. Takumi and his crew have been using our technology from the start. They never intended to save Germa Kingdom. No matter what I do, it won't change their minds!"
"Stop making excuses!" Judge yelled. "Are you defying my orders now?!"
"No, I won't defy you. I'm just telling you what I truly think."
"Then do as I say!"
With that, Judge stormed off, his robes flaring in his anger.
Reiju, helpless, had no choice but to continue trying to get close to Takumi as Judge demanded.
In the following days, Reiju only managed to approach Takumi for the first two days. After that, Enel always conveniently intercepted her before she could reach Takumi.
Over a week later, a brand-new ship, almost entirely made of specialized metals, larger than the original and with an advanced, high-tech appearance, was finally completed.
The completion of the ship meant that Takumi's crew was ready to leave.
Looking at the sleek, high-tech vessel hovering on the water before the Germa Kingdom's main warship, Takumi wasn't sure whether he liked it or not.
He did prefer more low-key ships, but there was something intriguing about the advanced technology on this one...
"Yahaha! This is incredible! The power system is far superior to our old ship," Enel stood on the new ship's deck, his excitement evident. "And the startup speed is so much faster!"
"The people from Germa helped upgrade all the ship's systems," Kaku said with pride. "I personally oversaw the modifications. In terms of performance, this ship is leagues ahead of our previous one."
"Not bad, not bad," Enel said, satisfied. "It was worth the wait of over a month. Takumi, the ship's ready, shall we set sail?"
"Captain," Kaku glanced at Judge and the others. "What about them? Leave them or finish them off?"
Upon hearing Kaku's words, Judge's face turned deathly pale.
Takumi answered nonchalantly, "Leave them. We're leaving."
With that, Takumi used Moonwalk to easily reach the deck of the new ship.
Enel, in control of the ship, was just about to set off when...
From afar, three fully armed Marine warships were speeding towards their location.
On the lead ship stood a man wearing an Admiral's coat, dressed in a dark red suit, with a Marine cap on his head and black gloves on his hands. His stern gaze was locked on the advanced ship in front of the Germa Kingdom's main warship, his brows furrowed tightly.
It was none other than Akainu, who had chased them all the way here.
"Admiral, should we launch an attack on the Germa Kingdom and Takumi's ship?" A Marine stood beside Akainu, straightening up as he respectfully asked.
"Heh, helping Takumi build a ship... Seems like Kizaru's report was correct," Akainu sneered. "Since it's confirmed that Germa is involved with Takumi, launch the attack."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine acknowledged the order and quickly went to relay it to the others on the warship. They readied the cannons, awaiting Akainu's command to fire.
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