Chapter 226: [226] : [BONUS] – Destroy Germa 66! Mythical Zoan Kaya! To Fish-Man Island!

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The moment Reiju’s words fell—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

An uncontrollable, terrifying aura roared to life from Sanji’s entire being.

Under this immense pressure, fine cracks began to spiderweb across the nearby buildings.

CRACK!

Conqueror’s Haki!

While Sanji had yet to master Haoshoku Coating, his Conqueror’s Haki was now potent enough to inflict minor, tangible damage on the physical world. He was on the correct path to mastering the power of a true King.

“Conqueror’s Haki??”

Reiju’s pupils shrank as she stared at Sanji in disbelief.

The epic Summit War had been broadcast on Sabaody Archipelago, then reported across the seas by journalists. But the Vinsmoke family, with their advanced technology, had acquired the complete video footage.

Sanji’s performance had astonished his father, Germa 66’s ruler, Vinsmoke Judge, and his three emotionless brothers, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji.

The ’failure’ who was born without successful modifications, like a normal human, had displayed power that completely crushed theirs.

As a genetic modifier himself, Judge knew instantly: Sanji’s modifications had finally activated. Those blue flames—were impossible for a normal human body to withstand.

Only the power of an exoskeleton could endure such fearsome heat and weaponize it.

Sanji’s modifications hadn’t activated at birth, but had awakened sometime later. This discovery made Judge incredibly excited; Sanji had become an invaluable research subject.

The only one who felt true happiness for Sanji was Reiju—the sister who, like Sanji, had retained her emotions after the modifications but couldn’t disobey Judge’s orders.

Judge’s ice-cold words about Sanji’s “research value” filled Reiju with immense disgust. But modified to be unable to resist, Reiju could do nothing…

Fortunately, even knowing Sanji’s current status, Judge was powerless to act. It wasn’t just because of Sanji’s own formidable strength—it was because of the man standing behind him.

An Emperor…

The man now hailed as the Strongest Emperor, the most powerful man of this era. The man with a bounty equal to the Pirate King’s, the highest in the world.

Sky Sovereign Rowen.

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Originally, after seeing the “Black Leg” bounty poster, Judge had suspected it might be his “failed” son. But the initial sketch was too abstract for confirmation.

Using his influence within the World Government, Judge began to investigate while formulating a plan. At the time, the newly-wanted Sanji was, to Judge, a complete failure, and his passion for cooking—something Judge considered a lowly trade—only deepened his disdain.

Such a failure was useless to him… BETTER TO MARRY HIM OFF!

And the marriage partner Judge had chosen was none other than Big Mom’s Children.

Big Mom was known for using her children in political marriages to expand her power. By marrying one of her many daughters to Sanji, Judge believed he could borrow the might of an Emperor and finally realize his lifelong dream:

—For the Vinsmoke Family to once again rule the North Blue!

Just as Judge was indulging in this fantasy, his intelligence network confirmed it: Black Leg Sanji was indeed his son, Vinsmoke Sanji.

But before he could even approach Big Mom to discuss the marriage, the man behind Sanji—Sky Sovereign Rowen—had already become a super-powerhouse that even Germa 66 couldn’t afford to challenge.

After the Summit War, he became the Strongest Emperor.

Judge was no fool. Faced with a Sanji backed by such a man, he immediately abandoned his original plan.

Sanji, though still a source of distaste for him, now had a bounty of 1,335,000,000 Beri. He was a major figure on the high seas and, more importantly, was clearly valued by Sky Sovereign Rowen.

To arrange a marriage between Sanji and Big Mom’s crew without informing Sky Sovereign Rowen wasn’t just leveraging an Emperor’s military power…

IT WAS RISKING THE FURY OF TWO EMPERORS AT ONCE!

The name “Black Leg Sanji” was known throughout the world.

Everyone knew he was one of Sky Sovereign Rowen’s four most valued combatants.

If Judge truly went to Big Mom with a marriage proposal for Sanji, he wouldn’t even need to worry about angering Rowen—Big Mom herself would kill him.

Marry one of Sky Sovereign Rowen’s top commanders to her daughter??

Who the hell does Vinsmoke Judge think he is??

Does he make decisions for another Emperor now??

Knowing this, Judge instantly abandoned the idea and moved to Plan B.

He would use Sanji’s connection and have his daughter, Reiju, marry Sky Sovereign Rowen himself—

The women around Sky Sovereign Rowen were already legendary figures—Nami, Nico Robin, Vivi.

Rumor even had it that the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, was also his woman.

In Judge’s mind, a man with so many women wouldn’t mind one more. If they could successfully form an alliance by marrying Reiju to Rowen, leveraging the power of Germa 66 and Reiju’s good relationship with Sanji, his dream of conquering the North Blue would be within reach.

And so, Reiju had come.

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But she had never imagined that her brother, Sanji, possessed the power of Conqueror’s Haki!

’Thank goodness… my brother didn’t lose his heart.’ Reiju felt a surge of genuine happiness for Sanji.

Just as Reiju felt happy for Sanji, Sanji exploded.

“WHY?? WHY WON’T YOU FIGHT BACK??”

Sanji stared at Reiju, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and fury.

He wasn’t angry that Reiju might marry Rowen; on the contrary, he believed she would find happiness. But for a man who lived by the code of chivalry, what mattered most—was Reiju’s own will.

There were two things Sanji could not tolerate: wasting food, and harming a lady.

And now, that bastard Judge, without even asking for Reiju’s opinion, had sent her here to seek a marriage.

THAT BASTARD… WHAT DID HE TAKE REIJU FOR??

Sanji’s rage was uncontrollable.

“Sanji… you know my situation,” Reiju said softly, looking at her furious brother. She was different from him. Though she retained her emotions after the modification, she couldn’t disobey Judge’s orders.

“I AM HERE! IF YOU DON’T WANT TO, NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU! I… AM YOUR BROTHER!” Sanji roared, his fists clenched tightly.

The Summit War had profoundly affected him.

The bond between Ace and Luffy had shown him the true meaning of brotherhood. Though he still loathed Judge and his other brothers, this sister—the one who had risked everything to help him escape the hell of Germa 66—WAS FAMILY.

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“Well said.”

Hearing this, Ace smiled. He remembered his own brother, Luffy, saying something very similar during the war, and his eyes filled with admiration.

“Sky Sovereign.” Reiju instinctively looked towards Rowen.

“Why look at me? Sanji is my important comrade. His Will is my Will.”

Rowen’s words sent a shockwave through Reiju. Having only ever lived in the emotionless, totalitarian world of Germa 66, she had assumed the legendary Sky Sovereign would be a dictator like Big Mom. It was the only way of life she had ever known. A person cannot imagine what they have never experienced.

“An ’obedience’ Trait? Interesting,” Rowen murmured, looking at Reiju’s Traits with a smile.

“Don’t resist.” Rowen’s eyes narrowed.

“Plunder!”

He directly stripped away the negative trait that prevented Reiju from opposing her father’s commands.

After his Conqueror’s Haki and spiritual power reached a new realm, his use of the Strongest Trait System had also been upgraded. For weak individuals like Reiju, he no longer needed to render them completely unconscious to plunder their traits.

Of course, such a trait was useless to him, but it was a convenient improvement. For stronger opponents, however, he still needed to neutralize their ability to resist.

“I… I can…”

Reiju stared at her hands in disbelief.

The world felt different.

She… she could actually disobey her father’s orders!

Reiju looked at the man before her in utter shock.

Having experienced it firsthand, Reiju now truly understood why this man was called the World’s Strongest…

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“Alright. You can resist Judge’s commands now.” Rowen stated.

Sanji let out a heavy sigh of relief. He said no words of thanks, nor were they needed. His life already belonged to Rowen.

“So, now that you’re free… do you still want to marry me?” Rowen asked, looking at Reiju with interest.

He had to admit, she was stunningly beautiful, with her pink hair, slender figure, and mature features, easily rivaling Nami, Vivi, and Robin.

“Can I… make a selfish request?” Reiju asked.

“Yeah. No matter how selfish the request, I’ll make it happen. And even if I can’t…” Sanji looked at Reiju and gave a confident grin.

“Don’t forget who’s standing behind me. The Strongest Emperor!”

Sanji’s words made Rowen laugh heartily.

“That’s the spirit.” Rowen’s laughter subsided, and he looked at Reiju, his eyes flashing with an astonishing crimson-black light.

“Go on, tell me your selfish request. There are very few things in this world that I cannot do.”

Reiju bit her red lip.

It was true. This was the man who, even before becoming an Emperor, had orchestrated the incidents at Mariejois and Enies Lobby.

For him, what was impossible??

“I want… to destroy Germa 66!”

Reiju’s eyes glinted with a cold, hard light. That emotionless empire, that hell on earth, had no right to exist in this world!

“Granted,” Rowen smiled.

“Sanji, it’s up to you. Decide the extent of the destruction yourself.”

This was a necessary trial for Sanji. To truly master Haoshoku Coating, he had to completely overcome the shadows of his childhood.

A man with a major flaw in his heart could never become a true King.

“Yeah.” Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke.

“Ace, you will command the troops,” Rowen said, looking to Ace.

Sanji plus Ace, two powerhouses who were top-tier even among Yonko Commanders—were more than enough to handle Germa 66.

In truth, Sanji alone could probably take on Judge and the three brothers.

But when an Emperor’s forces made a move, it had to be an act of absolute, overwhelming annihilation. That was how one demonstrated the might of an Emperor.

“Understood,” Ace nodded.

“Let’s go, Reiju,” Sanji said, walking to his sister’s side.

“I still have one more thing to answer for Sky Sovereign,” Reiju said, looking at Rowen.

“The marriage proposal… I’m still willing,” she smiled selfishly, then dragged a stunned Sanji away.

“A selfish older sister type, huh?” Rowen watched them leave, a smile playing on his lips.

“My, my, Rowen, your charm is truly something else.” A gentle, soft laugh sounded nearby.

Swoosh!

A fluffy tail swept against Rowen’s skin.

“How are you feeling, Kaya?” Rowen asked, looking gently at the newcomer.

She had beautiful blonde hair and a gentle, lovely face. Her once pale complexion, a result of her natural frailty, was now rosy and healthy.

It was Kaya, whom Rowen had brought from Syrup Village in the East Blue. Not only was she healthy, but she now also sported a fluffy fox tail.

“Mastering the Devil Fruit is a bit difficult, but I’ll do my best. After all, you gave me a Mythical Zoan, something even rarer than a Logia,” Kaya said, making a cute little fist.

“Keep up the good work.” Rowen affectionately patted Kaya’s head.

—The Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox.

Rowen’s forces had found this Devil Fruit in the New World.

While its full awakened abilities were still unknown, it was far more suitable for Kaya than any ordinary Zoan, and the beautiful image of a nine-tailed fox suited her perfectly.

“Let’s take you to see the sea, Kaya,” Rowen said with a smile.

“Where are we going?” Kaya’s eyes sparkled.

“Fish-Man Island.”

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