Ronan was not surprised by Judge's shock. After all, no matter who learned all of this, their reaction would hardly be any calmer than his.
Ronan walked straight over to his seat and sat down, looking at Judge with a faint, relaxed smile.
"King Judge, you've done quite a job hiding yourself too."
"Don't just stand there, please, sit." Ronan gestured as he spoke.
At this moment, Tesoro also spoke up at just the right time. "King Judge, as you can see, His Highness Ronan is the true master of this Golden City. And this meeting was arranged because His Highness wished to see you."
Judge drew in a deep breath, adjusted his mindset slightly, and slowly opened his mouth. "Ronan-san, I don't know why you had Tesoro-san invite me here. What guidance do you have for me?"
Ronan did not circle around the point and went straight to the heart of the matter.
"King Judge, I'm very interested in the scientific power of the Germa Kingdom—especially those clone soldiers you developed."
Judge's heart stirred, though his face remained calm. "Oh? Germa is indeed known for its military technology. Our soldiers are loyal and brave—perfect war machines. I wonder, Ronan-san, what exactly you intend to…"
"Purchase." Ronan cut straight in, concise and direct. "I want to buy, directly from you, a large-scale batch of fully developed clone soldiers."
Judge's brows knit slightly, and he fell silent for a moment.
Ronan did not press him. He simply waited quietly for Judge's answer. The room fell into a sudden hush.
"Ronan-san, it's not that I'm unwilling to sell," Judge finally said, carefully choosing his words. "The problem is that right now, our clone soldiers still cannot be produced at true mass scale. In terms of sheer numbers, we haven't yet reached a level where we can afford to sell them externally."
Ronan understood that this was not just an excuse. In the original story he remembered, Judge had only begun selling clone soldiers to the outside world many years later. Right now, Ronan had no other method to rapidly train troops that could compare to elite Marine forces.
"King Judge, I'm sure you're very clear about Lulusia's situation. After losing our status as a member nation, we're like a piece of fat with its shell stripped off. In the future, we will inevitably face covetous eyes and pressure from all sides. The kingdom's regular army has limited combat power and can't deal with truly serious threats."
"This time, coming to you to buy these soldiers is something I'm doing out of desperation. Danger is closing in on the Lulusia Kingdom. As king, I have to make preparations in advance."
Judge fell silent for a moment. He also understood that what Ronan said was the stark truth.
"But if I sell soldiers on a large scale, it will greatly weaken Germa's own military power…" Judge was still hesitating.
"King Judge, as long as you're willing to sell soldiers, then once the Lulusia Kingdom weathers this crisis, we will help you return to the North Blue." Ronan spoke with firm certainty.
Judge sank into a long silence. The promise of helping Germa dominate the North Blue again was undeniably tempting. To return to the North Blue and restore the former glory of the Vinsmoke family—that was his life's obsession.
Yet deep in his heart, a trace of doubt still swirled.
He raised his head and looked at Ronan, trying to read more from the face of this eleven-year-old boy.
"Ronan-san," Judge said slowly, "your promise is truly enticing. Returning to the North Blue is the goal I, Judge, have pursued all my life."
"But selling clone soldiers on a large scale touches the very foundation of the entire Germa Kingdom. If it's only based on a promise for the future, I'm afraid that…"
Judge paused, as if organizing his words, but also watching Ronan's reaction. Ronan, however, did not rush him and simply waited for Judge's final decision.
At that moment, a bold idea—no, an even more insane thought—sprang up in Judge's mind.
He looked at the boy in front of him. Only eleven years old, yet he dared to openly oppose the World Government that had ruled the world for eight hundred years! Under him were peak-level powerhouses capable of killing Shiki and fighting Hawk-Eye to a standstill. He had also secretly drawn in Tesoro and this Golden City with limitless potential.
The more he thought about it, the more Judge felt that Ronan was anything but simple. And seeing him take such a stance against the World Government, Judge didn't believe Ronan was merely acting on a whim. Clearly, he had already made ample preparations.
Judge wondered: what if the Lulusia Kingdom really survived the World Government's retaliation this time?
A power that could remain standing under the World Government's suppression—so far, only those great pirates entrenched in the New World had that kind of presence.
Judge felt that the Lulusia Kingdom might very well become such a force… perhaps even surpass them.
Thinking of this, Judge's heart began to pound faster against his will.
He thought of the Germa Kingdom's current situation. Despite its formidable scientific might, in the North Blue they had been forced back by the Doflamingo Family all the way to the Grand Line, and had been drifting there ever since.
He wanted to return to the North Blue. He wanted to make the Vinsmoke name resound across that sea again.
But all these years, they had been barely scraping by on the Grand Line. What he needed was not just another business partner—but a much stronger backing.
Judge took a deep breath, as if making some great decision. He looked straight at Ronan, his tone becoming more solemn than ever.
"Ronan-san," his voice was low yet clear, "I have a proposal that may sound presumptuous, but it better suits the long-term interests of both our sides."
Ronan lifted an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
Judge paused for a moment, then spoke with a gravity like he was announcing a monumental decree:
"Germa 66 is willing… to swear allegiance to you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the other three people in the reception room were all stunned. None of them had expected Judge to make such a proposal.
From any angle, it was completely advantageous to Ronan.
After all, Germa 66 had once been the 'army of evil' that ruled the entire North Blue by force. And now, they were proposing to swear fealty to a king who had been publicly stripped of membership by the World Government?
Looking at the man before him, Ronan found him a little hard to read for a moment.
Judge ignored everyone else's shock and continued,
"As long as you can lead the Lulusia Kingdom through this crisis brought by the World Government and prove to the whole world that Lulusia has the qualifications to stand against the World Government…"
"I will lead the entire Germa Kingdom and submit to you unconditionally! At that time, everything Germa has will be at your disposal!"
"And all I ask," Judge's gaze did not waver as he stared at Ronan, "is that in your future dominion, you grant Germa the status it deserves… and that you spare no effort in helping the Vinsmoke family return to the North Blue and reclaim everything we once lost!"
When he finished, Judge simply stared at Ronan, quietly awaiting his answer.
(End of Chapter)
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