Elsewhere.
North Blue, Kieff Island.
Kieff Island was a neutral territory in the North Blue, with a small town of a few thousand people and no affiliation to any world government nation. Because of its lack of governance, all sorts of illegal forces gradually converged here.
Thieves ran rampant, mafias operated openly, and pirate ships docked at the crumbling port without a care. Gunshots rang out now and then from the streets.
Darren and Momonga stood silently at the port, both cloaked in long black hooded coats that hid their appearances completely.
The dock buzzed with movement. People pushed through the crowd while arguing, haggling, or dragging cargo across the filthy ground. The air was thick with the stench of rot.
Dead fish, rotting fruit, spoiled spices, human waste, and even body parts floated in the waters along the coast. The smell was nauseating—hell on earth.
"Is everything in place?" Darren asked, eyes narrowed, smoke curling from his lips as he stared at a merchant vessel slowly leaving the harbor.
"Yes. I never showed my face. We handed her off to a merchant crew via one of our mafia contacts. No one will trace this back to us."
"She'll start a new life, far from here," Momonga replied quietly, though his calm exterior belied his rapid heartbeat.
"Relax."
Sensing his unease, Darren turned and clapped him on the shoulder with a smile.
"There were no other survivors on that ship. Even if an investigation is launched, they won't find a single lead."
"To the world, that flower-selling girl sank with the government ship."
Momonga took a deep drag of his cigarette, rolling his eyes. Easy for *you* to say...
Even now, sweat gathered in his palms just thinking about what Darren had done.
A Celestial Dragon.
One of the so-called "gods" of the world, wielding untouchable power and status...
And yet, Darren had killed one.
And truthfully, knowing he succeeded brought Momonga a strange, satisfying thrill.
He couldn't help but recall the innocent, radiant smile of that little girl as they parted ways. Maybe, just maybe... it *was* worth the risk.
"You're right, Darren. That Celestial Dragon deserved to die."
"What about her father?" Momonga exhaled a stream of smoke. "What should we do about him?"
Darren fell silent for a moment.
"Sooner or later, they'll send a team to Batiya Island to investigate. We can't let the father know the truth just yet. He needs to play his part in the act."
Momonga's eyes widened.
"An investigation? But didn't you say they wouldn't find any clues?"
Darren smirked.
"They won't."
Thanks to the power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, he had completely scrambled the surveillance Den Den Mushi signal.
Even if the government retrieved the recordings, they would only find a sudden signal cut.
Their logical conclusion? The entire ship was obliterated in an instant.
That would steer their investigation toward powerful figures capable of such destruction.
No one would suspect a mere Marine Headquarters captain.
"But still, the investigators need something to report back."
Momonga suddenly understood.
"You think they'll keep digging?"
Darren shook his head.
"They won't. The higher-ups lack that kind of patience. More importantly, this 'Celestial Dragon incident' is being kept confidential. Aside from the investigation team and a few Marine elites, no one even knows it happened."
"No public pressure means the government won't pursue it for long."
'This isn't like the Sabaody Archipelago incident,' Darren continued in his mind.
'Back then, Luffy assaulted a Celestial Dragon in front of everyone. With the entire island as witness, the government *had* to respond. A Marine Admiral was dispatched. Kizaru led the operation but ultimately let the Straw Hats escape, settling by capturing 500 unlucky pirates instead.'
'But this time? No witnesses. No leaks. And every trail has been erased.'
'The end result will be a quiet cover-up.'
Momonga couldn't help but marvel.
"How do you even think like this? You were born in North Blue, but your understanding of the upper echelon is frighteningly accurate."
"Still... Tokikake and Gion might suspect something. What if they say something?"
Darren chuckled.
"Even if they guess the truth, they won't talk. They *can't* talk."
He gazed calmly at the grimy, blackened harbor, as though he belonged there.
"They're good people. Better than me, better than you, better than most of the world."
"But they're too pure. Too clean. That purity is their strength—and their weakness."
"I did what they couldn't bring themselves to do. So they'll stay quiet."
"And once they make that choice..."
Darren's eyes gleamed.
"They're already tied to our ship."
Momonga drew in a sharp breath, then let it out with a crooked smile.
"So you're even using them now? You're a real devil, Darren."
"Let me ask you something," Darren replied calmly.
"Do you know what life really is?"
"It's not a fight between good and evil. It's a choice between greater and lesser evils."
"This world is already upside-down. Pure justice has no place in it."
"Most Marines either bow their heads and become watchdogs... or stand by helplessly as evil unfolds, furious yet powerless."
"But me? I refuse to be a dog. I refuse to be a bystander."
He turned to face his loyal partner with a fierce, unyielding gaze.
"One day, all of this will change."
"But until then... I have to be a devil."
A trail of smoke curled from his lips.
"Because we already live in hell."
Momonga stood silent, stunned by Darren's words.
Then, Darren stretched, relaxed, and flicked away his cigarette.
"Come on, let's go greet Admiral Sengoku."
...
Batiya Island.
A colossal, battle-worn Marine warship docked slowly at the port.
The bow bore the image of a giant golden Buddha. Marines with steely expressions lined the deck—clearly the elite of the force.
Civilians and merchants at the harbor stared in shock, instinctively backing away from the ship's overwhelming presence.
It was like a floating fortress of war.
Sengoku led his troops ashore. The masked CP0 agent melted into the crowd.
"This island..."
Sengoku frowned at the blue-roofed, white-walled architecture.
A subordinate leaned in and whispered a report.
"I see..."
Sengoku sighed. He wasn't impressed with Batiya Island's local government, but there was little he could do.
*Thump thump thump...*
The sound of boots on pavement echoed from the end of the street.
Sengoku looked up—and smiled.
Gion and Tokikake arrived at a brisk pace, leading over a hundred Marines.
"Admiral Sengoku!"
The two saluted smartly.
Gasps rang out among the gathered crowd.
This plain-looking man in thick glasses and a strange seagull hat was... a Marine Admiral?
One of the government's strongest forces?
"Good. You've both grown during your time in North Blue."
Sengoku nodded with approval. His Observation Haki told him that their auras had grown considerably stronger since they left Marineford.
"Looks like that brat Darren trained you well."
The mention of his name sparked a flash of annoyance and frustration on their faces.
"Speaking of which, where is he? And Momonga?"
He glanced around.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out from the other end of the street.
"Admiral Sengoku, your arrival honors all of North Blue."
Darren and Momonga, both in uniform, strode briskly toward them.
But as Darren appeared, Sengoku felt something off through his Observation Haki.
The civilians of Batiya Island—they were watching Darren with a strange mix of fear, anger, and silent hatred.
As if they dared not speak.
Sengoku frowned ever so slightly.
---
To be continued...