Soon, all the soldiers of the Germa Kingdom were subdued, leaving only the Judge family at the center of the battlefield.
The Vinsmoke family, once a symbol of glory in the North Blue, was completely overrun by the Neo Navy in less than half an hour.
"Three admirals and vice admiral Garp, was that really necessary?"
Judge looked at Gion and the others, his expression full of frustration.
He didn't understand what cosmic law he had violated to deserve this level of suppression.
"I'm sorry, but this is the first official operation of the Neo Navy, so it's only right for it to be formal," Gion said with a smile.
Borsalino yawned. "After all, Supreme Commander Caelan is watching the battle in person. We have to perform well."
Caelan is here too?"
Judge was even more stunned, not sure whether to cry or laugh.
Why would Caelan personally lead four admirals to come and suppress him?
You have to understand, during something like the Battle of Marineford, Caelan had gone alone.
"Well, I'm here."
Caelan walked over slowly to Judge and the others, finding the colorful family lineup rather amusing.
Judge had golden blonde hair, Reiju had pink, Yonji green, Ichiji red, and Niji blue.
The five of them together could be called a rainbow team.
He couldn't imagine how Sora, with platinum blonde hair, and Judge, with golden hair, had come up with such a colorful combination.
"Supreme Commander Caelan, it's our first time meeting. Hello," Judge said, forcing a smile uglier than a cry. "Actually, we never intended to be enemies of the Neo Navy. We just wanted to display our strength to get better treatment after joining you."
Faced with Caelan, who had come to the North Blue with four admirals, he had lost all spirit.
Dreams of ruling the North Blue or reaching for the world? That was over. His only wish now was to preserve the legacy of the Vinsmoke family.
But if Caelan didn't agree, then all he could do was resist to the death.
Judge looked at Caelan standing so close and considered the odds of a surprise attack.
With his powerful battle suit and modified body, the odds of success were… zero.
So, if he didn't have to fight, he wouldn't.
"Oh, so you wanted me to recruit you. I get it."
Caelan nodded calmly.
"It's good that you understand. Don't you think so?"
Judge probed cautiously.
Caelan wanted to pat Judge's shoulder, but the man was 2.7 meters tall.
Judge bent down willingly so the 2.2-meter-tall Caelan could pat him.
Caelan patted his shoulder with satisfaction. "Do you know why I didn't attack the Big Mom Pirates or the West Blue, but came here to the North Blue?"
"I don't know."
Judge shook his head honestly.
"I came for you, the Vinsmoke family," Caelan said with a smile. "Your weapons manufacturing is one of a kind and very important to the Neo Navy right now."
The Neo Navy had recruited a large number of new soldiers, but lacked weapons.
With their strong production capabilities, the Vinsmoke family naturally became a target.
Whether it was shipbuilding, firearms, or powerful battle suits, they were all useful.
Even the rockets they had just fired were more advanced than those used by the Marines.
"Thank you for your appreciation, Supreme Commander Caelan. The Vinsmoke family is willing to serve you."
Judge smiled.
It was good that their weapons capabilities were being recognized. But what truly comforted him was that, from Caelan's tone, it seemed the family wouldn't be wiped out.
"Since you're so cooperative, this will be easy." Caelan nodded slightly. "From today, the Vinsmoke family will be under the Neo Navy. Just stay in the research institute and focus on developing new weapons for us."
"Supreme Commander Caelan, isn't that going too far?"
Judge's smile froze.
It was obvious Caelan wanted to absorb his entire family's power and turn him into a worker.
He had hoped to become a vassal and still live freely in the North Blue.
"Given the crimes your family committed in the North Blue, and your audacity to resist the Neo Navy, I could kill you ten times over and it wouldn't be enough," Caelan said indifferently. "If not for your unique value in weapons manufacturing, I wouldn't be this merciful."
"Accept my terms or die. I'll give you the choice."
A hero's body was the greatest reward for contributions, and the greatest punishment for enemies.
Although Judge wasn't deserving of the greatest punishment, his talent in research was undeniable. He far surpassed Caesar, who only copied others without true understanding. Judge was worthy of becoming a Heroic Spirit to guarantee eternal rest.
Of course, that wasn't something to be announced publicly.
After bringing Judge to the research institute, Caelan would process him accordingly.
Suddenly, Judge felt a wave of killing intent wash over him, making his hair stand on end.
"I agree! I agree to everything!"
He was a coward. If he weren't, he would've gone to the New World long ago instead of clinging to the North Blue.
He was ruthless to the weak but extremely submissive to the strong.
"Good. As long as you work hard, I'll make sure you live long enough to wish you didn't."
Caelan patted his shoulder again, meaningfully.
"You're joking. I'll definitely want to keep living."
Judge laughed dryly.
Caelan ignored him and turned to Gion and the others. "The first and most important battle of our North Blue campaign has been won. Next, you'll split into teams and take over the rest of the region as quickly as possible."
"No problem," Gion said confidently. "The strongest in the North Blue, the Vinsmoke family, has already fallen. The others are no threat."
"We'll pacify the entire region in three days."
Borsalino stepped forward, eager to perform.
After that, Gion and the others led different squadrons of warships and headed off in all directions across the North Blue.
Only two warships remained in the Kingdom of Mok to oversee the weapons production work of the remaining 20,000 modified humans from the Vinsmoke family.
Since these cyborgs obeyed Judge without question, there was no need to leave many people behind.
At this time, Judge brought Reiju to Caelan, who was still waiting for updates from Gion and the others.
"Supreme Commander Caelan, this is my daughter, Reiju," Judge said, grinning. "I've heard you're a hero and a romantic. If my daughter were to serve you, perhaps you could be a bit more lenient with us?"
Naturally, he hoped to regain control of the Vinsmoke family through the status of a father-in-law.
Maybe, by using this opportunity, he could improve his standing within the Neo Navy.
He really wanted to rise.
"Oh?"
Caelan looked at Reiju.
She had pink hair, a stunning figure, and was undeniably beautiful.
According to what he remembered, she was also the kindest member of the Vinsmoke family.
"Are you willing to serve me?"
Caelan lifted Reiju's chin, asking playfully.
After spending nearly a week enjoying himself on Dressrosa's beaches with his wives, he wasn't exactly starving. But if the meat came to him on its own, he could still open his mouth.
"I am."
Reiju blushed, her expression full of embarrassment and helplessness.
She had no choice. Even if Caelan hadn't conquered the North Blue, she likely would've been used for political marriage anyway.
Serving Caelan was her best possible outcome right now.
"Alright. From today on, stay by my side."
Caelan pulled Reiju into his arms without hesitation.
Judge looked at him eagerly. "Supreme Commander Caelan, as for me…"
"I'll give you one chance to avoid death. You can escape death once."
Caelan gave a generous reward.
Reiju was already his prize. Even if Judge hadn't brought her, Caelan would have taken her.
Trying to bribe him with something that already belonged to him? Ridiculous.
"Huh?"
Judge was stunned.
He wanted to rise in status, to regain some autonomy for the Vinsmoke family, not some chance to avoid death.
"What, not leaving yet?" Caelan's tone grew cold. "Do you want to use up your chance now?"
"I'm going, I'm going, I'll leave right now."
Judge snapped out of it and quickly fled the room.
Damn it. If he had known this would happen, he never would've brought Reiju.
Now Caelan was satisfied, Reiju was safe, and he was the only one who had lost.
As Caelan watched him leave, a new idea popped into his mind.
The death-free pass was quite handy. It sounded grand but was practically useless. In the future, if he ran into someone hard to reward, he could hand them a gold medal of escape from death.
"Hahaha."
Reiju watched Caelan's antics and couldn't help but laugh in relief.
But she quickly stopped and blushed.
Because the Caelan holding her began to tighten his grip slowly.
(To be continued.)