Chapter 429: Chapter 72: That Guy
Dragon left with a rare smile, satisfied with Darren’s answer.
Barely three minutes had passed when the door eased open again. Stussy drifted in like smoke, her black lace dress whispering over the floor, trailing a heady veil of perfume.
"Well, well, well," she murmured, lips curling as she studied Darren. "Keeping secret rendezvous with a Marine deserter... If word got out, not even your current untouchable status would save you from the fallout, would it?"
Darren gave a casual shrug. He’d never intended to hide Dragon’s visit from her. If discretion had been his goal, he wouldn’t have chosen a hotel under Stussy’s control. In truth, he’d made sure she would find out.
"If you’re that curious," he said with a wry smile, "feel free to report it."
Stussy’s sultry poise cracked ever so slightly.
That insufferable bastard... She bit down on her lower lip, hard enough to sting.
Yes, exposing his link to Dragon could cause political ripples. But it wouldn’t sink him. Worse, if she made a move against him, he’d drag her down with him—and with her, Dr. Vegapunk’s precarious safety.
"I’m heading back to Headquarters," Darren said, snubbing out his cigar. Rising from the sofa, he reached for a heavy cloak and swept it over his shoulders. "If it’s not too much trouble, have your New World contacts track the Golden Lion’s movements."
"And what makes you think I take orders from you?!" Stussy snapped.
Darren pushed the door open, paused, then glanced back with a smirk. "Because you have secrets too."
Stussy: ...
Her porcelain features flushed scarlet with rage.
Darren chuckled under his breath as he stepped out of the penthouse suite, leaving the door to slam shut behind him.
A second later, the muffled sound of smashing furniture erupted from within.
By the time Darren arrived at the harbor, Commodore Tokikake’s ship was docked and waiting, the gangway lowered in anticipation.
"Vice Admiral Darren!"
The moment the Marines caught sight of him, they saluted with enthusiasm.
"Wow, Vice Admiral Darren’s sailing with us this time!"
"What an honor!"
"He’s even more dashing in person!"
"His presence is overwhelming..."
Whispers buzzed through the crew like static. They were in the presence of the Marine Monster— the man who had stopped the Golden Lion and stormed Totto Land alone. His battlefield legend and magnetic presence had earned him a kind of reverent awe within the ranks.
"Where’s Commodore Tokikake?" Darren asked, nodding to the men as he scanned the pier. "He’s not back yet?"
A Marine stepped forward, his voice formal. "Commodore Tokikake designated our primary mission here as intelligence-gathering. To avoid compromising the ship, he chose to infiltrate enemy territory on his own. Aside from a small supply team, the rest of us remained onboard."
Darren: ...
That’s one way to ’infiltrate.’
He sighed, shaking his head.
"Commodore Tokikake’s returning!"
"Something’s wrong—he looks awful!"
"Is he hurt?!"
A chorus of alarmed voices rang out as a stretcher was rushed aboard, carried by several cloaked Marines. The man on it was pale, gaunt, visibly drained.
It was Tokikake.
Darren’s eye twitched, a foreboding suspicion already forming.
"Tokikake, you idiot..."
As the stretcher passed, Tokikake cracked open an eye, dark circles heavy beneath them. "I made it through all twenty-eight establishments," he whispered hoarsely, pride glowing in his weary smile.
Darren: ...
The Vice Admiral pinched the bridge of his nose, then gave him a solemn thumbs-up.
"Impressive," he muttered with a sigh.
The surrounding Marines, unaware of the full context, were moved to the point of tears.
"Commodore Tokikake truly is one of the Marine’s Golden Generation..."
"To think he gathered intelligence singlehandedly... worked tirelessly without rest..."
"His commitment is awe-inspiring..."
Darren turned away with a tired expression. "Set sail. We return to Headquarters immediately."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
The crew leapt into action. Sails unfurled, anchors lifted, and the warship slowly pulled away from the Pleasure District harbor.
"I’m going to rest," Darren called over his shoulder as he disappeared below deck. "Unless it’s urgent, don’t bother me."
Now that Bartholomew Kuma had purged his body of all residual fatigue and internal damage, Darren needed time to adjust to the full force of his restored vitality.
The ship eased out of port, a black silhouette shrinking into the horizon.
Back on deck, Tokikake stirred and, with some help, pushed himself to his feet. He tottered toward the stern, gazing at the fading lights of the island behind them, eyes glistening.
"I’ll come back," he whispered, voice hoarse with emotion.
"Miss Asuhana... Miss Ozawa... Miss Matsushima... Miss Hata... Miss Matsushita... Miss Inoue... Miss Mikami..."
He clenched a trembling fist as if swearing a sacred vow.
Then—
Thud! He collapsed backward, unconscious.
The next morning, Darren stepped out onto deck feeling refreshed. The ocean air was brisk, the sun warm on his skin.
And there was Tokikake—shirtless, glistening with sweat, a massive barbell balanced across his shoulders as he did one-handed push-ups.
"Looking lively," Darren greeted, raising a brow.
Tokikake flashed a grin, flipped nimbly, and slammed the barbell onto the deck with a thunderous boom. The ship rocked under the weight, drawing startled gasps.
"Of course! I’m Tokikake—Headquarters’ genius!" he declared proudly, chest puffed.
Purururu...
The Den Den Mushi crackled to life. A nearby Marine answered and immediately went pale.
"Vice Admiral Darren! Commodore Tokikake!" he called out, rushing forward. "We’ve received an emergency distress signal from a nearby island!"
He held out the Den Den Mushi. The snail trembled as a terrified voice crackled through:
"This is Squad 357 from G-11 Base! We’re under attack by a pirate—we need reinforcements!"
"He’s... too strong..."
"Sand—he’s using sand—!"
"People are being swallowed—quicksand—"
"We need backup—please, our coordinates are—"
The voice abruptly cut off, drowned by a choking silence.
The Marines on deck fell still, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
But Darren’s gaze sharpened. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Sand... That must be him.
To be continued...