"Daren-onii-san, can I marry you when I grow up?"
The crowd around them burst into warm laughter, taking it as a child's innocent way of showing affection for a handsome big brother.
Everyone, that is, except Vinsmoke Judge—whose forehead veins twitched as his face darkened. He was clearly struggling to hold something back.
He hadn't forgotten.
He hadn't forgotten the humiliation, nor the title "King of the North Blue" that Rogers Daren had earned.
He, Vinsmoke Judge, the one burdened with the honor of the Vinsmoke family, the one who was supposed to revive Germa 66's glory, had been forced to bow his head before a mere Marine brat's dominance.
The mighty Germa 66—reduced over the past two years to the North Blue Navy fleet's biggest arms supplier.
To Judge, that was the ultimate disgrace.
These days, Germa 66 was waging wars all over the world under the guise of mercenary contracts, rapidly growing in strength. Outwardly, it looked like a quest for profit—but in truth, Judge was using those conflicts to train his troops.
His ambition had never changed.
To rule the North Blue.
Every battle was just preparation for the ultimate showdown—against Daren's powerful and mysterious Northern Fleet.
That fleet was the true enemy of Germa 66.
And the soldiers he had built through Lineage Factor modification—his very own children—were the weapons he intended to use to defeat Daren.
Only monsters can defeat monsters.
That was the lesson Judge had learned the day he suffered a crushing defeat at Daren's hands.
But now… now his daughter, Reiju, was showing affection for that same man!?
A faint milky scent drifted through the air as Daren laughed softly.
He scooped little Reiju into one arm, gently pinched her rosy cheeks, and smiled playfully.
"Of course you can—but that means you've gotta grow up fast, Reiju-chan. If you take too long, big brother Daren will be an old man."
"No, you won't!"
Reiju-chan hugged his neck tightly, her big eyes gleaming with innocent resolve.
"Even if you turn into an old man, you'll still be a handsome one!"
Nearby, Tokikake clutched his head in despair, looking utterly broken as he mumbled,
"You monster... You're even going after kids now..."
But thanks to the lighthearted exchange, the tension in the air eased considerably.
"Honored guests, thank you for your patience..."
A procession of turtle cars rolled up just then.
The Turtle Prime Minister of Ryugu Castle eagerly stepped down from one of the cars, wearing a wide, welcoming smile. He bowed deeply to the assembled guests.
"The wedding ceremony is about to begin. Please, esteemed guests, board the turtle cars to Ryugu Castle. His Majesty Neptune is already waiting for you."
…
The banquet hall of Ryugu Castle was adorned with lanterns and streamers, while balloons and ribbons twirled through the air in a dazzling display.
Beneath the shimmering crystal chandeliers, young and graceful mermaid singers sang softly, their melodious voices enchanting all who listened.
The wedding feast was set up as a buffet, with tables on either side of the hall laden with delicacies. Thanks to Fish-Man Island's unique location, the spread included rare deep-sea cuisine that was nearly impossible to find elsewhere.
A vivid red carpet stretched through the grand hall, leading to a circular platform at the far end.
"Pretty low-key..."
Daren ignored Vinsmoke Judge's murderous stare, holding little Reiju in one arm as he followed the Turtle Prime Minister's respectful lead into the hall.
He gave the setup a quick glance and formed a rough impression of Queen Otohime's taste—elegant, but unpretentious.
"Hey, Daren! This stuff is great!"
Kuzan's voice came from behind. Daren turned to see him grinning with excitement, holding a massive porcelain plate piled high with grilled meat and sashimi.
Daren's eye twitched. This guy really was just here for the food.
And it wasn't just him.
Behind Kuzan, Garp and Tokikake were just as bad, shoveling down food so fast that the poor servers were running ragged trying to keep up.
"..."
Daren sighed and shook his head. He picked up a small cake for Reiju and found a seat, quietly waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Less than two minutes later, the music softened.
The lights dimmed.
And from the raised platform, King Neptune—known as the "Great Knight"—appeared.
Then, with a flash—a spotlight pierced the darkness and lit up the grand entrance of the hall.
As elegant music swelled, the heavy doors creaked open, revealing a gentle figure in a snow-white wedding gown.
Her golden hair was styled into a graceful bun, and her deep blue eyes sparkled like the sea under the lights.
The tiara adorning her head added a regal touch, and the simplicity of her gown accentuated her slender frame. The long train behind her rippled along the red carpet like a flowing tail with each step she took.
"So beautiful…"
"They say Queen Otohime is stunning, and now that I've seen her in person—it's true…"
"She's got such a noble presence too…"
Whispers of genuine admiration spread through the crowd. Even the queens and noblewomen—normally the first to get jealous—wore kind smiles and offered warm glances of blessing toward the radiant bride.
"Queen Otohime's still got it, huh…"
Tokikake had somehow made his way to Daren's side, muttering through a mouth stuffed full of food.
Daren glanced at the huge plate of raw oysters in his hands and rolled his eyes.
Then Tokikake elbowed him and leaned in, lowering his voice with a lewd grin.
"Hey, Daren... Neptune and Otohime—they're pretty different in size, right? You think Queen Otohime can handle it?"
Daren was just about to fire back with a sarcastic jab—but then paused. As if something clicked in his mind, a knowing, amused smile curved at the corners of his lips.
"She'll be fine."
"Huh? And how would you know..."
Tokikake scoffed, but then caught the look on Daren's face—and froze.
A certain memory suddenly flashed through his mind, and his expression began to twist.
"I'm done eating!"
With a frustrated yell, Tokikake threw the oysters back onto his plate.
Daren smiled and narrowed his eyes.
...
"Now, we would like to invite someone incredibly important to Fish-Man Island to serve as witness to the marriage of King Neptune and Queen Otohime!"
From the stage, the Turtle Prime Minister's excited voice rang out.
"Please welcome Vice Admiral Rogers Daren from Marine Headquarters!"