'Damn it!' Judge cursed in his mind. He had just ordered his troops to Ambri Island, and an assassin had already arrived on his doorstep! Their response was impossibly fast!
Judge's mind raced. He quickly pasted a sincere look on his face and said, "A misunderstanding! This is all a huge misunderstanding! Whatever that Tesoro fellow paid you, I'm willing to pay double! No, triple!"
Takero chuckled. This guy actually thought he was some kind of hired killer. He shook his head, his smile turning cold. "Have you ever considered the possibility that Ambri Island is already my territory? And that for you, there's only one way this can end?"
"No..." Despair washed over Judge's face, and he shrieked hysterically, "Soldiers! Get in here! Protect your king!"
Takero merely raised a hand. A small, dark-red ball of energy formed at his fingertip and shot forward like a tiny meteor.
"Boom—!!!"
A violent explosion engulfed everything. The twisted metal door, the thick castle wall, and the clone soldiers who were just rushing through the doorway were all vaporized in a flash of dazzling light.
Judge stared in horror at the demonic figure before him. In that moment, he felt a profound sense of regret. His knees gave out, and with a loud thud, the great scientist who dreamed of conquering the North Blue fell to the ground. He abandoned all pride, crying and begging for his life.
"Please! Don't kill me! I was wrong! I swear, I'll never bother you again! You can have all of my wealth, all of my technology! Just let me live!"
Takero raised an eyebrow. The scene reminded him of Doflamingo. But compared to that arrogant birdman, Vinsmoke Judge was far more pathetic. Before Takero could say anything, the "masterpieces" standing behind Judge finally spoke up.
"What are you doing?! Get up!" shouted the red-haired youth, Ichiji.
"You are the King of Germa! How can you grovel before the enemy like this?!" the blue-haired Niji added, his eyes filled with contempt and disappointment.
The green-haired Yonji said nothing, but a small smile played on his lips as he watched his father's pathetic display. Only the pink-haired girl, Reiju, remained silent, her expression complex as she watched everything unfold.
"See, Vinsmoke Judge?" Takero's smile was full of mockery. "Your 'masterpieces' have more pride than you do. Then again, after you die, everything here will be mine anyway."
With those words, the hand that was resting on Judge's head suddenly clenched.
"Crack."
A sharp, sickening snap echoed in the quiet room. Judge's head twisted at an impossible angle. The light in his eyes vanished like a snuffed-out candle.
"My... my dream of conquering the North Blue..." Before he could finish his last words, the underworld overlord fell to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut, dead.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for defeating the Elite Unit "Vinsmoke Judge." Reward: Power Level +10, Universal Capsule Technology!]
Takero's brow raised in slight surprise. He hadn't expected the system to classify someone as weak as Judge as an "Elite Unit." Not only did he get a 10-point boost to his Power Level, but he also received an unexpected bonus: [Universal Capsule Technology].
'Universal Capsule Technology?' The name struck a familiar chord deep in his memory. Wasn't that the core technology developed by Bulma? This was an incredible prize. It could compress anything—from food to houses and even spaceships—into a tiny, pocket-sized capsule that could be deployed instantly. It was the perfect tool for travel, smuggling, or anything else, really. For Takero, the value of this technology was far greater than the small increase in his Power Level. With his massive Saiyan appetite, being able to carry a mountain of food with him would be a game-changer.
'Not bad at all,' he thought with satisfaction. 'When I get back, I'll have Tesoro start working on developing this.'
His thoughts returned to the present, and his gaze fell upon the golden-haired queen on the bed. The shock of her husband's violent death and the thick smell of blood in the air made Sora's face seem even paler than before. Her frail body trembled, giving her the fragile appearance of a white rose about to wither in the wind.
Takero's lips curved into a playful smile. "My apologies," he said teasingly. "It seems I've accidentally made you a widow."
At that moment, the reality of the situation finally hit Sanji, who had been hiding in his mother's arms. His father—the man he both feared and, in some small way, respected—was dead.
"Waaah—!!" Overwhelming fear and confusion washed over him, and he began to sob loudly. "Fa... Father... Father!"
His grief was met with chilling indifference from his brothers.
"Tch, what a crybaby," the red-haired Ichiji said, crossing his arms in disgust.
"What's there to cry about?" the blue-haired Niji added, his voice dripping with contempt. "Father was weak. He deserved to be killed. The weak don't have the right to live."
"Exactly," the green-haired Yonji chuckled in agreement.
Takero looked at the three boys with surprise. They were even more heartless than he was. What a fine example of family loyalty. Only the silent, pink-haired girl, Reiju, seemed to possess a maturity beyond her years, reminding him of Nico Robin.
Amidst the strange atmosphere, Sora finally spoke. She coughed violently, her voice as faint as a flickering candle, but her words were clear. "Cough, cough... This... this is not your fault, sir." Her condition seemed to be worsening, and each cough brought a sickly flush to her pale cheeks. She looked up at Takero, her eyes showing not hatred, but a calm sense of relief. "From the day I married Judge, I knew... this day might come. When you do too many evil things, retribution will eventually find you."
"Oh?" Takero said, intrigued. "You're quite sensible." He found himself liking this woman. She didn't scream or beg, and she had a clear understanding of the world.
And so, he made a decision, announcing it in a tone that was casual, domineering, and left no room for argument. "Since Vinsmoke Judge is dead, you belong to me now." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the cold, luxurious room and the vast steel kingdom outside. "And so does this country. From now on, you're in charge of it."
His words were a clear declaration of ownership.
"?!"
Sora's heart hammered in her chest. A blush spread across her pale face, brought on by the sudden and utterly absurd "confession." She stared at the young man in disbelief. He was young enough to be her son's age!
"I... I... our ages..." she stammered, trying to find the words to resist.
Before she could finish, Takero cut her off, his voice light and casual, but his words carrying an unmistakable threat. "Madam, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your children, would you?"
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