Law gripped Merlin's wrist, staring at him in shock. "So, you've hooked up with the evil Germa 66?"
Merlin was speechless. "Can't you say I hooked up with the hero Sora instead?"
Law looked blank. Merlin grinned. "Didn't you know? The hero Sora is actually the wife of the evil Germa commander. They even have five children!"
Law's jaw dropped, his mouth wide open. Then he slapped his forehead, looking utterly disillusioned. "That can't be true, right?"
Law—no, the vast majority of young boys in the North Blue—were loyal readers of Sora, Warrior of the Sea.
Merlin chuckled softly. "I'll introduce you to Lady Sora later. She's a real beauty!"
The corner of Law's mouth twitched violently. He looked at Merlin with tears in his eyes. "Bastard, why is the difference between comics and reality so big?"
Seeing Lami and Sugar beside them also teary-eyed, Merlin was amused and rubbed their heads. "It's all just to trick kids. It's time for you two to grow up."
Having said that, Merlin looked at Law and Lami with a strange expression. "By the way, I forgot to mention, Germa's King, Vinsmoke Judge, is the teacher I found for you two. You'll be studying biological science and technology under him from now on."
The siblings were dumbfounded. Seeing this, Merlin nodded with a smile of confirmation. "Yes, you heard right."
Instantly, Law and Lami looked like they wanted to cry but had no tears, their faces scrunching up.
But they didn't refuse, because they knew one thing clearly: Merlin wouldn't harm them.
Inside the cabin.
"You are Monet? You're so beautiful!"
Yor looked at Monet in front of her with amazement. She had thought Sugar was cute enough. This was their first offline meeting, but she hadn't expected...
Then she looked at the other two highly recognizable girls. "Perona and Baby 5?"
Seeing Yor, Baby 5 smiled shyly. "Are you Big Sister Yor? I often hear Big Brother Merlin talk about you!"
A smile rose on Yor's lips; what a good child. Meanwhile, Perona stared unblinkingly at the spectacular curve of Yor's chest, then looked down at her own, feeling a wave of defeat.
Curiosity in her eyes, Monet also showed a brilliant smile. "Sister Yor, you are even more beautiful, even more than Merlin described. Thank you for taking care of Sugar this past year!"
Yor looked at Monet, smiling brilliantly. "Sugar is very well-behaved. We all like her very much."
Then, holding Monet's hand, Yor smiled gently. "Merlin has also relied on your care this past year!"
Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Monet's face too, and she shook her head. "No, no, Merlin has been taking care of me. He treats me very well."
Yor raised an eyebrow slightly, her smile becoming even more brilliant. "That's true. Merlin has been very mature since he was little, and he's very good at taking care of people!"
At this moment, both their smiles were more brilliant than the other.
Monet could faintly sense a huge threat from Yor, in various senses.
And Yor could also sense the strength emanating from Monet.
Her strength was not trivial.
Perona blinked on the side, watching the faint yet powerful aura appearing between the two, and sweat began to seep from her forehead.
Neither of these women was easy to mess with.
Better to leave first.
She quietly slipped away.
Seeing this, Baby 5 thought for a moment and also left the cabin.
Once on the deck outside, she felt the air flow freely. Seeing Merlin immediately, she trotted to his side, held his arm, and breathed a sigh of relief. Looking up at Merlin, she complained, "The atmosphere between Monet and that Sister Yor is a bit weird! It feels like they're about to fight."
At this time, Baby 5 came over and agreed with a nod. "Vaguely, it feels like there's a smell of gunpowder. Even though I'm the Weapon Fruit user, it's so strange!"
Merlin looked toward the cabin.
Sugar tugged at Merlin's left pant leg, looking up with worry in her eyes. "Brother Merlin, are big sisters really going to fight?"
"Meow—" At this time, San Pao bit Merlin's pant leg. Merlin looked down to see him panting with his tongue out, a silly look on his cat face.
Merlin placed his palm on Sugar's head, his gaze becoming subtle. "Don't worry, they know their limits."
"What limits?"
Yor walked out of the cabin, looking at Merlin with confusion. She came in front of him, helplessness in her eyes, and reached out to smooth the wrinkles on Merlin's shirt. "You, how did your clothes get all wrinkled?"
Speaking, Yor's fair index finger glided over Merlin's collarbone. She looked up slightly, sizing Merlin up, a smile rising on her lips. "Before I knew it, you've grown taller than me."
Smiling with her eyes, Yor reached out to fiddle with a strand of black hair sticking up on Merlin's head, then pressed down with her palm, comparing it to her own head height. She said beamingly, "Big sister is 1.91 meters, and you should be two meters now!"
Merlin looked helplessly at this woman who was only less than ten centimeters shorter than him. Seeing the trace of resentment revealed in her bright eyes, he reached out to pinch her cheek and pulled it outward. "Don't you know you can't touch a man's head casually?"
Hearing this, Yor puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. "What? You dislike me now?"
Merlin rolled his eyes.
At this time, Monet, who had walked over, watched Yor deliberately acting intimate and playful with Merlin. She gritted her silver teeth secretly, thinking, Doing this on purpose in front of me? Are you declaring your sovereignty?
Meanwhile, Baby 5 watched Yor and Merlin play, her lips pursing uncontrollably.
Perona looked at Yor, then at Monet walking up. The corner of her mouth rose unconsciously, instantly ready to watch the drama.
"Merlin, are we going up?"
"That girl Reiju is already waiting up there!"
Seeing Yor look over, Monet had a gentle smile on her lips. "Sister Yor might not know yet, Reiju is the eldest princess of the Germa Kingdom, and she will also be a combatant in our Laplace Pirates from now on!"
Yor blinked and looked to the side, seeing several figures appearing on the edge of the clearing where the snail fleet was docked.
Before long, everyone stepped on the gangplank to board Germa. Judge, along with Sora and the five Reiju siblings, came up to welcome them.
Judge looked curiously at Yor and the group, male and female, big and small, and said with a smile, "Merlin, aren't you going to introduce them to me?"
Merlin smiled, pointing first at Lami and Law. "Sister is Lami, brother is Law. They are the two students I told you about."
Looking at the siblings and thinking of Lami, the Sick-Sick Fruit user, a burning look flashed in Judge's eyes. Then he smiled. "Welcome to Germa. I am your teacher, Judge. From now on, Germa is your home."
Merlin then pointed to Yor beside him. "She is Yor, my important family."
Yor looked at Judge curiously. A gleam flashed in Judge's eyes as he said to Yor, "Hello, Miss Yor."
At this time, Sora stepped forward with a smile, holding Yor's hand. "Sister Yor is so beautiful! I am Sora, Judge's wife. Merlin is my lifesaver. Let's get along well in the future!"
Yor looked at the beautiful lady in front of her in surprise, wearing a gentle smile. "Then I'll call you Sister Sora?"
Hearing this, the smile on Sora's face became even more brilliant, and then she began to introduce her cute children.
In front of Sora, the three scoundrel brothers also became well-behaved. When Reiju was introduced, Yor blinked, rubbing her head and smiling. "What a cute little sister!"
"Hello! Auntie Yor!"
Yor's face froze, repeating somewhat blankly, "Auntie?"
Sora was crying and laughing at the same time, pinching Reiju's cheek, saying helplessly, "Reiju, call her Sister Yor."
Reiju blinked. At this time, the "genius" Sanji suddenly said to Sora, "Mom. Shouldn't Uncle Merlin's family be called Auntie?"
"Uncle?"
Yor was completely confused.
Before long, Yor learned the whole story from Sora and became speechless at this Sanji in front of her. This little guy seemed a bit dim-witted.
Watching their interaction, Merlin smiled, then introduced Sugar and Rosinante. At the same time, he talked to Judge about the plastic surgery.
Judge indicated there was no technical difficulty and it could start anytime.
"Is Pink not back yet?"
Merlin asked Judge.
Judge shook his head. "The ship sending him to Razi hasn't returned yet. Want me to call and ask?"
Merlin shook his head. "Forget it, let's not call. Let's wait a while longer!"
Judge nodded. At this time, Merlin looked at Rosinante and waved to him. "Let's go! Solve your matter first."
Saying this, he looked at Monet. "You take Yor and the others to get settled!"
Monet nodded with a smile.
Not long after, Merlin and Judge were outside an operating room, watching through the transparent glass as two doctors performed surgery on Rosinante.
"He's a Marine undercover agent and Doflamingo's brother. Need me to have someone watch him later?"
Judge said with narrowed eyes. Merlin thought for a moment and shook his head. "No need for the trouble; he can't cause much of a wave alone. As long as he's not stupid, he won't do anything out of line."
"Then are we going to chase Golden Lion now?"
"Mmh, let's chase! I'll provide the direction. Once Pink returns, we'll advance at full speed."
3:00 PM.
At the new ship construction site, Monet found Merlin. "Pink is back."
While speaking, a subtle look flashed in Monet's eyes as she looked at Merlin. "He wants you to be his witness?"
"Witness?"
---
The corner of Merlin's mouth twitched. Before long, he and Monet arrived inside the villa and met Pink, along with a woman around twenty, looking delicate despite some freckles on her cheeks.
Seeing Merlin arrive, a light flashed in Pink's eyes. "Merlin, this is Lucian, my fiancée. We have decided to get married. I hope you can be my witness."
Helplessness in his eyes, Merlin looked at Lucian and smiled. "Hello, I am Pink's good friend."
Lucian looked at Merlin curiously, covering her mouth and laughing. "Hello, I heard Pink talk about you. Indeed, you are a big handsome guy!"
Merlin's mouth curled up unconsciously. "Indeed, Miss Lucian has great taste."
Saying this, Merlin looked at Pink and tilted his head. "Let's go out and talk about your wedding date."
Then, Merlin smiled at Lucian. "Do you mind if I occupy some of your Pink's time?"
Lucian's lips curled into a brilliant smile unconsciously. "Of course, I don't mind!"
Merlin nodded to Monet.
Then, he went outside with Pink.
Merlin asked curiously, "Tell me? What happened between you two?"
Pink's mouth curled up, somewhat proudly. "I told her everything about me. I didn't expect Lucian to not mind my past at all."
Happiness appeared in his eyes as he spoke.
But then, Pink looked at Merlin solemnly. "Doffy contacted me today, asking if Law and Rosinante were with us. I was still in Razi Town then. I... said no. But when I came back here, I found Law had already arrived. What exactly is going on?"
Merlin smiled. He wasn't present when Law called a week ago, so Merlin told him the whole story now.
After listening, Pink's face turned livid, his mouth twitching violently. "So he is a spy?"
"Tell me, what do you think?"
Pink's gaze was uncertain. He lit a cigarette and smoked. After a long while.
Pink looked complicated. "Regarding them, I know nothing. I can pretend I never saw them."
"Decided?"
"Mmh. Since they have left the family, it means the family won't be in danger because of them in the future. On this matter, I can be blind once."
"Why? Because of Lucian?"
"Mmh."
Pink looked complicated. "I want to give her a complete home."
Saying this, he looked at Merlin pleadingly. "If I return to help the family in the future, I hope you help me take care of her. She's safe with you."
"Why not... just leave the Donquixote Family?"
Pink refused decisively. "No, Doffy hasn't wronged me. I won't be the first to betray him."
Merlin laughed and nodded. "Let's take it one step at a time! We'll talk about future matters in the future."
Pink sighed helplessly. But at this time, Merlin patted his shoulder. "Thought of a date for the wedding?"
Hearing this, Pink took a deep breath, a light appearing in his eyes. "Three days later is a good day."
Merlin nodded. "I'll go talk to Judge. Three days later, we'll hold a grand wedding for you. And I'll give you a big gift."
Hearing this, gratitude and a smile flashed in Pink's eyes. "Thanks!"
Merlin patted his shoulder and chuckled lightly. "We are friends."
After saying that, Merlin left.
Since they were at Razi, procuring wedding supplies was very convenient.
In a flash, it was the wedding day.
Noon.
Germa was decorated joyfully. Judge lent his main castle hall for the wedding venue.
Sora, dressed in a gown, led the children happily watching the couple enter.
As the bride and groom arrived, Merlin, dressed in a burgundy suit and tie as the officiant, looked at the couple in front of him.
Pink in a black groom's suit.
Lucian in a pure white wedding dress.
Lami and Sanji as flower children.
The wedding ceremony proceeded quickly. Watching the two exchange rings and kiss in public.
Applause and whistles thundered from the Germa crowd gathered to cheer.
The wedding banquet ended.
As the bride and groom entered the bridal chamber in the West Castle.
A luxurious wedding concluded perfectly.
Night!
Bedroom balcony.
Merlin leaned on the railing.
His gaze slightly thoughtful. Germa's snail fleet was currently sailing very fast.
In Merlin's senses, the floating island turning into a lion was currently somewhere, moving at a constant speed in a certain direction.
As long as the fleet's direction remained unchanged, catching up to him was sooner or later.
"So you are here?"
At this time, as a handful of snowflakes flew past Merlin's cheek, Monet's voice and figure appeared from the ice and snow.
A cool, snowy arm wrapped around the side of Merlin's neck. Monet raised her head, staring with misty eyes at Merlin close at hand, giggling.
Smelling the strong scent of alcohol from her, Merlin patted her head and said helplessly, "How much did you drink?"
A snow-white index finger pressed against Merlin's lips. Monet laughed hehe. "Not much, just a little bit. I'm not like that guy Yor. So capable of drinking!"
Saying this, she stood on tiptoes, her breath laced with alcohol pressing against Merlin's lips unexpectedly.
His eyes widened slightly, while Monet wrapped her arms around Merlin's neck.
A certain longing appeared in her eyes, and she pried open Merlin's teeth.