Orin's tone was calm—it was, after all, a conversation with a great and gentle mother.
Even though Judge had crossed him, Orin was still willing to show Sora some patience.
For many of the people he encountered, Orin still carried over the impressions from his past life when he read the original story. Now, having reincarnated, he naturally held a certain degree of goodwill towards them.
That included Sanji as well—after all, he had been Orin's favorite character to play in his past life.
So Orin didn't go for total annihilation. A single Germa wasn't much to him anyway. If not for Sanji being born here and the memories attached to that, he wouldn't have even bothered coming in person.
"Well? Consider it."
Orin's question was a sharp one. If Judge were here, he'd surely be put in his place, then throw Sanji out without hesitation in hopes of Germa getting through the crisis.
But Sora was different.
She couldn't bear to see any of her children harmed.
Facing the towering man before her, Sora gently patted Sanji's head in her arms. The boy looked up at her with wide eyes and an open mouth.
"Mama..."
She smiled softly, then looked fearlessly into Orin's eyes—eyes of someone accustomed to power—and gently said,
"If you need someone from the Germa family to vent your anger on, then please, take my life instead. Please... don't hurt Sanji."
"Mama!!!"
Little Sanji burst into tears, eyes trembling, mouth wide open as he cried,
"Somebody help us!!! Father!!! Soldiers!!! Ahhhh!!!!"
The scene made Orin's lips twitch a little—he had been about to say something, but Sanji's nonstop bawling was a bit too much...
"Quiet."
As soon as the words fell, Sanji's mouth slammed shut. He couldn't even whimper. He just sobbed silently, shielding his weak mother with his little body.
"If I came here to kill, I wouldn't be talking this much."
Orin shook his head and pulled a slightly yellowed piece of old paper from his coat.
"I have something to say to Sanji, alone. May I, Lady Sora?"
"This..."
Sora hesitated, but Sanji bravely stepped forward to shield his mother. He couldn't speak, but his eyes were firm.
Protecting his mother was more important than protecting any lady.
"Relax~ It'll only take a few minutes."
Orin walked ahead, Sanji followed closely behind. As he did, he sent a reassuring look to his mother.
Step... step...
As Orin walked forward, Sanji hatched a sneaky plan. He tried to ambush Orin from behind—but Orin turned suddenly, and Sanji stumbled.
"Come. Let me show you what Germa is now."
Grabbing Sanji by the collar, Orin vanished with him. They reappeared high in the sky.
"Ahhhh!!!!"
The sudden shift in perspective sent Sanji flailing in panic. Orin sensed the struggle and simply let go.
But to Sanji's surprise, he didn't fall. It felt like something was beneath his feet, supporting him. There was no sense of free-fall.
Then he noticed what was happening below.
It was the battle between Doflamingo and Germa.
Soldiers had split into two factions, weapons clashing. Judge was fighting a pink silhouette—Doflamingo. Another identical figure sat crouched on the windowsill, watching with a wicked grin.
"That's..."
"That's Germa. And those colorful brats lying on the ground over there... those are your brothers, I assume."
Red, blue, and green-armored children lay flat on the ground. Despite their steel-like bodies and monstrous bloodline factors,
Against a fighter like Doflamingo, they dropped in a single blow.
"To normal people, they might be monsters. But in front of a real monster, even steel is easily torn apart."
To Sanji, the scene shattered his worldview.
The once proud and mighty father, and brothers who always overpowered him, now looked so... pathetic.
"Everyone in Germa is at my mercy right now—including your mother. So? Do you want to save them?"
Hearing that, Sanji forgot his fear of heights. He clenched his fists and glared at Orin.
"Your condition is me, right? Fine! Just spare them!!!"
A smile tugged at Orin's lips.
"Then... sign this."
He handed over the yellowed paper and a pen. Sanji took the paper and saw line after line of a slave contract.
Next to the signature line was a name he didn't recognize:
Nico Robin?
Though confused, Sanji still signed it unwillingly.
"This isn't coercion... It's just Germa reaping what it sowed. You're just the one paying the price."
Perfect. Another transaction complete.
Orin tucked the paper away with satisfaction, snapped his fingers—
The next second, Orin and Sanji were back in Sora's hospital room. Sora gasped and pulled Sanji into her arms.
"Sanji, what happened?!"
But Sanji just looked away silently, avoiding her gaze.
He had sold himself.
Orin just smiled pleasantly at Sora's worried face and shrugged.
Then his expression shifted. His eyes scanned her carefully.
"By the way, Lady Sora, your body may not hold out..."
"Orin-san!!!"
Before he could finish, Sora interrupted, raising her voice. Her eyes were full of anxiety and even desperation,
As if she didn't want Sanji to hear the rest.
But Sanji, despite being a child, understood.
He recalled the many days his mother spent bedridden.
"What is it, Orin-san?! What's wrong with my mother's body?!"
Maybe it was because he had entrusted his life to Orin,
Or maybe it was the scene in the sky that cemented Orin's image in his mind—
Either way, Sanji stepped up boldly, questioning him directly.
"Sanji..."
"Yes. Your mother doesn't have long... but I have a way to cure her."
"Really?! Orin-san!!! Please! Please save my mother!!!"
Looking at the little guy clinging to his leg, tears and snot running down his face, Orin ruffled his yellow hair and smiled.
"This is a [medicine] that extends life. As long as she wears it, it'll prolong her lifespan."
"I can give your mother a few decades of use. I believe in you, and I'm willing to see you as my own child. But Sanji... You won't even call me Foster Father."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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