Daren casually picked his ear, completely ignoring Momonga's complaints.
This trip to Sky Island had gone far better than expected. Not only had there been no real obstacles along the way, but the haul had exceeded even his most optimistic estimates.
First, he'd found the Goro Goro no Mi inside a long-abandoned temple. Then, heading straight to the legendary golden city of Shandora, he used the Jiki Jiki no Mi to clean the place out, moving all the gold away in one sweep.
As for the other Sky Island specialties, like weapons made from Impact Dials and the like, Daren couldn't care less.
To the strong, they were practically useless—and as military gear for the North Blue Fleet, there simply weren't enough of them to matter. Too niche, too limited.
For an army, only standardized, mass-producible equipment had real value.
Which was exactly why he'd set his sights on modifying the Navy Science Division's laser cannons.
When it came to critical military tech, you couldn't afford to be at someone else's mercy.
Otherwise, every time a laser cannon ran out of juice, they'd have to go crawling back to the Science Division for a recharge. It was a pain—and a risk.
As for solving the recharging problem after the modifications? That used to be a headache.
But now that Momonga had the Goro Goro no Mi, that issue was basically off the table.
"Besides that, we can start upgrading the warships even further."
Daren narrowed his eyes as the thought struck him.
"Upgrade the warships? You mean switching the keels to metal? The North Blue Fleet's already been doing that."
Momonga blinked in surprise before answering.
The North Blue Fleet, in collaboration with Germa 66, had long begun reinforcing their ships. They were replacing the traditional wooden keel structures with alloys—lightweight, some even with shape-memory properties. The result wasn't just tougher defenses, but also synergy with Daren's Devil Fruit, enabling a full-blown airborne fleet.
Sure, the process was expensive. Each ship, with all its upgrades, heavy artillery, and advanced tech weapons, was costing upwards of 300 million Belly. But every coin spent was worth it.
Daren's blueprint for the North Blue Fleet wasn't just about ruling the seas—it was about ruling the skies too.
"No."
Daren shook his head.
"That's part of it, but what I want to upgrade now is the propulsion system."
"The propulsion system?"
Momonga stiffened. A creeping sense of dread welled up inside him. His mouth twitched as he said, half in disbelief,
"Don't tell me you're planning to…"
Daren grinned.
"Electrification is the future. Switching to electric power means a massive speed boost—at least double that of conventional warships of the same size, maybe even more. It'll give the North Blue Fleet a serious combat edge."
"Plus, we can scrap the old propulsion systems entirely—get rid of masts to reduce weight... That'll make the fleet more nimble, more responsive. I don't need to spell out the tactical advantages, do I?"
Momonga: …
His expression wilted like a frostbitten eggplant. He looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"You're a devil..."
Sure, he'd eaten the Goro Goro no Mi—but that didn't make him some kind of living battery!
At this rate, he'd end up spending day and night powering the entire fleet by himself!
Just imagining that kind of brutal, inhumane routine made him want to curl up and die.
Still, he had to admit—Daren's vision for the North Blue Fleet was nothing short of brilliant. It was bold, ambitious, and packed with potential.
"Why do you think I gave you the Goro Goro no Mi in the first place...?"
Daren smirked, unable to hold back a laugh.
...
North Blue, Rubeck Island.
Flowers and balloons filled the pristine harbor as ships flying all kinds of flags slowly pulled in.
The entire island was lit up with decorations, lanterns swaying in the breeze, and the atmosphere was festive and vibrant. Shops along the main streets flaunted "50% OFF" signs, and crowds surged through the alleys in waves.
Leaders and representatives from major trade caravans had arrived early. Even royals and nobles from various nations had sent their envoys to attend the birthday celebration of Donquixote Doflamingo, the young head of the North Blue's Donquixote family.
"What a spectacle... Who would've thought a kid barely in his teens could build up such a massive force..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down. You got a death wish?"
"Don't be fooled by his age—Doflamingo's strength and tactics are top-tier in the North Blue. I heard his fleet and influence have already spread into the Grand Line..."
Small groups of people huddled together, whispering in hushed voices.
Some were impressed, some scoffed, others mocked, and a few even idolized him...
But suddenly, a distinctively shaped ship sailed into view, drawing all attention in an instant.
It looked like a floating fortress, with turrets and towers lined up on its deck. A flag bearing a bold "66" flapped in the wind.
"That's... that's Germa 66's ship!"
"The Vinsmoke family's here too!?"
"Damn it! Stay out of their line of fire!"
"..."
The once-bustling crowd quickly parted, cautiously clearing a wide path.
Soon enough, Vinsmoke Judge, golden-haired and clad in armor, disembarked with a squad of genetically enhanced soldiers in sleek black suits.
"That brat Doflamingo... he's actually done a decent job managing this place."
Judge ignored the wary, fearful looks from the crowd, casually sweeping his gaze across the streets before curling his lips into a cold smile.
"Lord of the Vinsmoke family, my young master has been expecting you. This way, please."
A low, composed voice echoed in front of him.
Judge paused, surprised, as a refined young man with slicked-back hair and a gentlemanly demeanor slowly "rose" from the ground.
"I'm Senor, an officer of the Donquixote family."
Wearing a sharply tailored suit and a neatly folded pocket square, Senor gave a graceful bow.
Judge's eyes narrowed subtly.
He hadn't sensed this man's arrival.
Not bad...
"Hmm. It's been a while since I've seen your young master."
With a faint, insincere smile, Judge raised a hand. Behind him, a few black-suited soldiers stepped down from the ship, carrying a large, heavy chest.
"A birthday gift from the Vinsmoke family."
Senor returned the smile.
"Thank you for the Vinsmoke family's gift. On behalf of the young master, I accept it."
"This way, please…"
He gestured forward.
Judge gave a small nod, lifting his foot to move—only to pause and lower it again.
"No rush. Looks like more guests are about to arrive."
He slowly turned, eyes narrowing toward the distant sea.
From that direction, a massive, heavily armed warship was cutting through the waves, heading straight for Rubeck Island.