"It's a battleship!"
"The Marines are here!"
"That dog-headed battleship… Garp's flagship!"
"They actually sent him as a representative?"
"Wait—what's that ice sculpture on the deck?"
…
As the representatives of World Government member nations mingled near Fish-Man Island's harbor, a startled cry went up, fingers pointing toward the approaching ship.
Reactions rippled through the crowd. Stussy, unflappable in most rooms, paused mid-smile and eased herself back into the press of dignitaries.
A uniquely designed warship slid in, a veil-like shimmer peeling away to reveal the figures on deck.
"Bwahahaha! What a lively crowd!"
Garp's laughter boomed across the water even before the ship had fully docked. Wearing his signature dog-headed cap, he vaulted from the bow with ridiculous ease and strode up to greet old acquaintances like King Cobra and King Riku.
On deck, Tokikake hung over the rail, eyes bulging as he stared at the mermaids playing below. His face flushed crimson, drool at his chin, his whole body trembling like a struck tuning fork.
"Heaven… This is paradise!"
Watching the lecherous display, Darren's mouth twitched. He drifted a few paces away and glanced at the nearby ice statue. "Kuzan, stop sulking. We're here. Time to log back in."
He tapped the sculpture with a knuckle.
Hairline cracks spidered outward at once.
With a crisp cascade, the statue fractured and fell away. Cold mist unfurled, and Kuzan stepped out, looking a shade depleted.
"You good?" Darren asked, eyes flicking—pointedly—downward. Tokikake had sworn those little blue pills were potent. One kept you going all night.
Kuzan—who had swallowed nearly ten—blinked, then lit up. "Hahaha! Darren, you do care about me! Ready for a duel anytime! …Wait—what's that?!"
His gaze snapped sideways. His face, so quick to beam, went scarlet.
Darren followed his line and saw several bikini-clad mermaids watching them curiously, their tails flicking iridescent ripples through the water.
Darren turned back—and Kuzan had vanished.
In his place stood a brand-new, perfectly lifelike ice statue.
This time, one particular detail was… conspicuously emphasized.
He'd logged out again.
Darren: …
So the pills worked.
A headache bloomed beneath Darren's brow as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Young Darren! Come meet some old friends!"
Garp's voice rolled back from the quay. Darren shook his head and moved to comply.
As he stepped off the gangplank, eyes latched onto him as if pulled by a tide.
There wasn't a soul present unfamiliar with the name Rogers Darren, Marine Vice Admiral: King of the North Blue; the man who shattered the Flying Fleet; raided the Beasts Pirates' stronghold; blitzed Totto Land; rivaled Roger; felled Golden Lion; commanded G-5. The legends were loud, but the person standing before them was louder still.
His features looked carved, his presence both untamed and regal. Tall and powerful without a trace of bulk, the crisp lines of his uniform only sharpened the impression. Hands tucked casually into his pockets, a faint smile at ease on his lips, he walked like a storm bottled. Queens, princesses, and titled ladies felt their throats go dry.
"So this is Vice Admiral Darren, the King of the North Blue," murmured Queen Nefertari Titi of Alabasta, sapphire hair glinting as she watched, momentarily spellbound. "His presence is… extraordinary."
Beside her, King Cobra—caught a heartbeat earlier admiring a particularly lovely mermaid—stiffened. Unease prickled along his spine. He fixed Darren with a wary glare.
"Come on, Young Darren!" Garp bellowed, blissfully unaware. "This is King Cobra of Alabasta."
Darren's smile brightened. He offered a hand. "Your Majesty."
Cobra narrowed his eyes and eased his wife behind him as he clasped Darren's hand with a taut grin. "Vice Admiral Darren, you certainly live up to your reputation. Your presence is… noteworthy."
Darren chuckled. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I've long admired your rule. To ascend so young and still lead Alabasta into peace and prosperity—your governance is brilliant."
"Me?" Cobra pointed at his own nose, nonplussed.
"Of course." Darren nodded, earnest. "I admired you even as a boy. Now that we've met, I see your excellence extends beyond politics. You're not only a wise monarch—you're exceptionally handsome."
"For an ancient desert kingdom as storied as Alabasta, for millions of citizens to have a king like you… it's the honor of their lives."
Silence fell. Even Garp stared, jaw ajar.
Cobra froze—then, a second later, smiled sheepishly as his cheeks bloomed like chrysanthemums. "Oh, you rascal! Laying it on thick!"
"Excellent! Garp-san, Vice Admiral Darren truly is the Marines' brightest star. What impeccable insight!"
The crowd could only stare.
Buoyed by praise, Cobra squared his shoulders and basked shamelessly.
Garp gestured to the queen beside him. "Young Darren, Queen Nefertari Titi of Alabasta."
Darren looked up—and paused. Isn't that Princess Vivi? No—the regal poise, the serene smile told him this was Vivi's mother. He recovered smoothly. "Your Majesty is breathtaking. If I may—one would never guess you were past twenty."
"Giggle—Vice Admiral Darren, what a joker," Titi said, eyes dancing. Flushed and pleased, she extended a slender, impeccably manicured hand.
Cobra's eyelid twitched. He lunged first and seized Darren's hand with a grin too wide by half. "Vice Admiral Darren, you're far too kind."
Darren: …
This old fox… truly insecure.
Maintaining his smile, Darren kept the pleasantries flowing.
Tokikake slid up at his shoulder like a bad idea. "Hey, hey, Darren…"
"What?" Darren asked around a lazy pull of his cigarette.
"That Queen of Alabasta…" Tokikake rubbed his hands and grinned. "…she's still got it, eh?"
Darren: …
Bold little fool.
He shot Tokikake a withering look—and then something tugged at his awareness. He scanned the crowd.
A graceful figure flinched and vanished like a startled fawn.
"Well, well," Darren murmured, a mischievous glint kindling at the corner of his eye. "What a coincidence…"
Suddenly—
"GARP!! You damn bastard!!!"
A hoarse roar detonated nearby, followed by a crackling surge of black-red lightning.
To be continued...