As Darren clapped his hands, the ornately decorated side hall doors swung open.
One by one, soldiers of the Yadis Kingdom, dressed in standard military uniforms, carried in large wooden crates.
In less than a minute, dozens of crates had been stacked upon the marble floor, forming a small mountain.
"Darren... this isn't what I think it is, is it?"
Gion stared at the obviously heavy crates, a sinking feeling rising in her chest.
At that moment, a man dressed like a butler entered, his face plastered with a flattering smile as he bowed and said:
"Lord Admiral Darren, I am the Minister of Finance of the Yadis Kingdom..."
He gestured toward the crates on the floor.
"This is a small token of gratitude from our kingdom. We hope the North Blue Marine Fleet, the upholders of 'justice,' will kindly accept it."
As he spoke, he ordered the nearby soldiers to open the crates.
In an instant, Gion and Tokikake's eyes widened, their mouths forming perfect O-shapes.
A dazzling radiance burst forth from the crates, lighting up the entire side hall in a cascade of brilliant color.
Clatter...
Piles of gold and silver treasures, thick stacks of colorful banknotes, rare jewels, premium cigars, and luxury liquors spilled from the overflowing crates like liquid mercury, flooding the air with the thick scent of wealth and indulgence.
"Th-this... this..."
Tokikake stammered, utterly dumbfounded by the mound of treasure before him. His bruised, pig-like face contorted in sheer disbelief.
How much was this worth?
He couldn't even begin to count!
Growing up in Marineford, he had never seen this much money in his entire life.
Darren smiled with satisfaction.
"His Majesty is too kind. Protecting member nations is the solemn duty of the Marines—we're merely doing what's expected of us."
The finance minister chuckled, bowing again.
"But of course. Who in all of North Blue doesn't know of our esteemed Admiral Darren—selfless, incorruptible, and utterly devoted to the safety of our people and their property?"
"To be under Admiral Darren's protection is the greatest blessing to the people of the North Blue."
"But we simply can't allow the Marine warriors to come all this way for nothing. Hospitality is a tradition of the Yadis Kingdom. Please, Lord Darren, don't refuse."
He sure knows how to talk... no wonder he's the finance minister, Darren mused, about to nod.
But Gion suddenly stepped forward, her lovely face stern and angry as she gritted her teeth.
"No! We cannot accept this money!"
She spun around and glared at Darren, her voice sharp.
"We Marines must not accept funds from unofficial sources! Darren, this is a bribe!"
"If you dare take it, I'll report you to HQ myself!"
Beside her, Tokikake jumped in with equal enthusiasm:
"That's right! I'll file a report too!!"
His overly animated reaction tugged at his swollen face, causing him to wince in pain as he seethed inwardly.
If it weren't for that bastard Darren, I wouldn't have gotten one-shotted by Vinsmoke Judge and embarrassed myself in front of Gion...
Hearing their outbursts, the finance minister's smile froze.
He cautiously turned to Darren, asking respectfully:
"Lord Darren, these two are...?"
Darren took a leisurely puff of his cigar, smiling casually.
"Oh, they're from Marineford HQ—Lieutenant Commander Gion and Lieutenant Commander Tokikake... my adjutants now."
Direct from HQ?!
The finance minister instantly picked up the hint in Darren's tone.
He hadn't earned his title by being clueless. He quickly turned and bowed deeply to Gion and Tokikake.
"So you're the esteemed Marines from HQ! I was truly blind—my sincerest apologies for the oversight."
Gion's expression remained solemn as she addressed him directly.
"Sir, let me make something very clear."
"We Marines uphold justice and peace. Protecting civilians is our duty. We do not ask for compensation."
She pointed toward the glittering riches, her voice resolute.
"We cannot accept this money. Doing so would be a grave insult to the very justice we stand for."
"Of course, of course... Lieutenant Commander Gion speaks the truth."
The finance minister nodded gravely.
"However, since you've come such a long way and fought valiantly, the Yadis Kingdom has prepared separate gifts for you both."
"Lieutenant Commander Gion, you strike me as a skilled swordswoman. As it happens, our royal treasury holds a piece of refined steel perfect for crafting a fine scabbard."
"And for Lieutenant Commander Tokikake, we have a selection of premium cigars..."
Gion: "..."
Tokikake: (★w★)
"I already said—we're not taking anything!!"
Gion snapped.
The minister blinked, then smiled again.
"Of course, of course. In addition to the gifts, we've also prepared some well-deserved rewards for your contributions in battle."
"Our treasury holds many exquisite blades for Lieutenant Commander Gion to choose from."
"And for Lieutenant Commander Tokikake, our royal performers have prepared a special show."
Tokikake: (☆▽☆)^o^
"Really?!"
His eyes lit up.
BANG!
Before he could finish, Gion sent him flying with a single kick, his head embedding into the wall, legs flailing helplessly.
"Minister... I meant to decline, not negotiate for more," Gion said through gritted teeth, her face pale with fury.
The finance minister was stunned, eyes full of confusion.
Isn't the refusal just part of the bargaining process? You mean... it wasn't enough?
At that point, Darren couldn't take it anymore. He sighed and spoke up.
"You've worked hard, Minister."
"We're grateful for these gifts. Please extend our deepest thanks to His Majesty from the North Blue Marines."
The finance minister visibly relaxed and smiled again.
"In truth, this was all organized by the people. The enthusiasm was overwhelming—they gathered these donations to express their gratitude."
"And tonight, the royal family has prepared a banquet in your honor. We sincerely hope you will attend."
With that, he gave a polite bow and quickly exited the room.
As the doors closed, Gion could no longer suppress her frustration. She turned toward Darren, who was once again sitting with his legs crossed, and yelled:
"Darren—!"
Before she could continue, Darren waved his hand dismissively.
"Gion, you saw how awkward the minister was. If we don't accept this money, he won't be able to report back."
"This is just how things work in the North Blue."
"To them, if you don't take the money, they won't be at ease."
"That idealistic sense of justice doesn't apply in these waters."
In a way, it was like giving a red envelope to a surgeon before an operation back on Earth.
If the surgeon didn't take it, the family would worry all the more.
It wasn't about the profession.
It was about human nature.
Seeing Gion still poised to argue, Darren shook his head.
"That's enough. Go get ready. We've got a banquet to attend."
---
To be continued...