“What?”

Judge and Reiju were shocked.

They immediately rushed to the table, grabbing the newspaper and reading it quickly.

Even Yonji and his brothers were startled—why did their father and sister seem even more affected than they were?

“Father, this newspaper must be making things up. The Sun and Moon Pirates are clearly here, so how could they have been fighting Kaido thousands of miles away? This is obviously fake.”

Judge had no time to explain to his son.

His full attention was on the newspaper.

The report clearly detailed the events at the Golden City.

It documented the battle for the Mythical Zoan Daibutsu Fruit.

Kaido’s name was there, along with Yamato, Belo Betty, and the others.

There were even photographs.

Pictures of the battle.

But there was no outcome yet. Since the latest edition had only just been printed, the newspaper could only report that the fight had occurred—the final result was still unknown.

“Father, what’s wrong? Could this actually be real? Then who do you think will win?”

“Obviously Kaido. They’re both Emperors, but the report says that the captain of the Sun and Moon Pirates, Kuke, wasn’t even there—he’s here in Totto Land.”

“That means those three members of the Sun and Moon Pirates are in serious trouble.”

Yonji and his brothers discussed among themselves.

After a while, they noticed that their father and sister were still standing there, stunned.

They had no idea why.

“Everything we just saw was real.”

Reiju was shaken.

The Yamato and Belo Betty in those photographs—she had just seen them with her own eyes, moments ago, in the garden.

She had even seen the Mythical Zoan Daibutsu Fruit herself.

“They actually took it from Kaido?”

Judge put the newspaper down with trembling hands.

He felt an unprecedented shock deep within him.

“His subordinates alone defeated Kaido, an Emperor… and he can instantly summon his people back from thousands of miles away.”

Reiju didn’t know which part was more astonishing.

She was beginning to feel fear.

Fear of her own attitude earlier, when she had not taken this seriously. And yet, Kuke had seen right through her.

She also felt regret.

Regret for her behavior just now. Regret for her insincerity.

“No wonder they’re the Sun and Moon Pirates… mysterious and absolutely invincible.” Judge sighed in awe.

He had heard many stories about the Sun and Moon Pirates and Kuke before.

Back when he was still in the North Blue, he had been skeptical.

But now that he had seen it with his own eyes—

He truly understood how terrifying the world could be.

Judge suddenly turned on Reiju in anger. “Reiju! How could you have displeased Lord Kuke like that?”

“Father, I…”

Reiju bit her lip.

She was full of regret and guilt.

“Father, what’s going on?”

The three brothers were confused as to why their father was scolding their sister.

That had never happened before.

Judge, still furious, told them everything that had happened earlier.

Even the three brothers were stunned.

But since they hadn’t seen it themselves, and being young, they didn’t grasp the weight of it as deeply as Judge and Reiju did.

They still tried to defend Reiju.

“Father, Reiju didn’t actually do anything wrong.”

“The Sun and Moon Pirates may be strong, but we have ties to the World Government. We don’t have to flatter them.”

“Exactly! We are Germa!”

The three sixteen-year-old boys were still filled with pride.

“Silence!”

Judge scolded them. “You know nothing. You have no idea how terrifying the Sun and Moon Pirates truly are.”

Before, Judge had doubted the old rumors.

Now, he believed them entirely.

His respect for the Sun and Moon Pirates had skyrocketed—along with his fear.

Because anyone facing an entity capable of wiping them out with ease would naturally feel fear.

“You don’t understand the power of the Four Emperors. You don’t understand how powerful the Sun and Moon Pirates are, because you haven’t seen them firsthand or lived through the previous era.” Judge’s tone became serious.

They were still in Totto Land.

He was afraid that if Yonji and the others acted disrespectfully toward any member of the Sun and Moon Pirates, it would be a disaster.

He also wanted Reiju to understand.

Joining the Sun and Moon Pirates wasn’t a burden—it was the greatest honor and opportunity she could ever have.

“You all have seen what an Admiral can do, haven’t you?” Judge looked at his children.

Rather than trying to explain how strong the Four Emperors were, which they had never seen firsthand, he compared them to someone they had encountered before.

That would help them understand.

“We have,” the three brothers and Reiju answered.

From the North Blue to the New World, their journey had been long and dangerous.

Even Germa had faced numerous threats.

The greatest threat they had encountered—

Was the Marines.

In the first half of the Grand Line, Sakazuki (Akainu) had hunted down pirates with extreme ruthlessness.

Germa was a half-legal, half-criminal organization.

When they encountered Akainu, his extremist nature led him to treat them as enemies.

At first, Germa had believed that their advanced technology would be enough to resist an Admiral.

The reality was brutal.

Their supposedly invincible technology crumbled before Akainu’s might.

Countless clone soldiers perished, and Yonji and his brothers were gravely injured.

If Judge hadn’t desperately called the World Government for help—

If the Government hadn’t ordered Akainu to stand down—

They would all have died in the New World.

After experiencing Akainu’s attack—

Reiju and her brothers feared Admirals, but they were also proud.

Proud of their family’s connections.

Proud that even a terrifying Admiral had to back off when the World Government intervened.

Subconsciously, they felt that flattering the Sun and Moon Pirates was unnecessary.

Why bother bowing to a pirate crew when they had the backing of the World Government?

“That monster Akainu is strong, isn’t he? But Akainu has suffered countless defeats at Kuke’s hands. And Akainu is just an Admiral—while the former Fleet Admiral, Sengoku, was outright killed by Kuke.”

Judge used Akainu as a reference point, making them grasp just how fearsome Kuke was.

As expected—

Their arrogance vanished.

Reiju pursed her lips.

Her gaze shifted to the window, looking toward the distant garden.

“The World Government is powerful, isn’t it? The Three Elders command the Admirals. But did you know that the World Government used to be controlled by the Five Elders?”

“The Five Elders? Then why are there only three now?”

Reiju, being more mature, thought further ahead.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively covered her mouth. “Father… does that mean the other two were…?”

“Yes. Kuke killed them himself. He personally invaded Mary Geoise. The place you know as Mary Geoise today was actually rebuilt after that incident.”

Judge’s words—

Were like thunder crashing through their minds.

“Do you understand now? The Sun and Moon Pirates didn’t just hurt the World Government—they inflicted irreversible damage.

“And yet, have you ever heard of the World Government or the Marines making any moves against them since?”

The four siblings—

Shook their heads instinctively.

No, they hadn’t.

“And since arriving in the New World, have you seen any Marines at all?”

They shook their heads again.

This had puzzled them.

In the first half of the Grand Line, Marine ships were everywhere.

It felt as if the Navy was the ruler of the seas, while pirates were merely rats, constantly on the run.

But in the New World—

It was different.

There were only pirates.

No Marines.

“The Marines used to have some control over the New World. They even had bases here. But now, even Admirals don’t dare step foot in the New World. Do you know why?

“Because as long as Kuke is here—no Marine will dare come.”

Judge slammed his palm on the table.

“Now do you understand why I am willing to do whatever it takes to gain the Sun and Moon Pirates’ favor?”

The four siblings instinctively shook their heads.

Then they realized—

And immediately started nodding frantically.

After everything was laid out—

Judge looked at Reiju.

She was the key.

She was finally moved.

——

DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep