NOVEL NEXT Chapter 345: The War Never Stops
"Her name is Ginny. She's Kuma's fiancée… Please, I'm begging you!"
Dragon's voice carried a heavy grief and gravity.
Kuma's fiancée?
Bartholomew Kuma... when did he have a fiancée?
Daren froze slightly at the revelation, but he knew this wasn't the time for gossip. He nodded and asked,
"When exactly did she lose contact, and where was she last located? I'll get my intelligence network on it right away."
...
Night deepened.
Out on the hotel room's balcony, Daren stood quietly, rubbing his temple with one hand, a cigarette resting between his lips, brows furrowed in thought.
In the ashtray beside him, cigarette butts had already formed a small pile.
According to the intel Dragon provided, Ginny had gone missing in a region of the first half of the Grand Line.
She was the Eastern District commander of Dragon's newly formed Freedom Fighters—second only to Dragon himself.
She and Kuma were old acquaintances, both survivors of the God Valley incident.
Ginny was an expert in theft, surveillance, and communications. During the God Valley incident, she had stolen a batch of Den Den Mushi and used her eavesdropping skills to uncover details about the tournament's prize. Two weeks before it began, she leaked information about the island, drawing the attention of the Rocks Pirates who were entrenched in Hachinosu, which in turn triggered the chain of events that followed.
Before going dark, Ginny had been leading a vanguard squad under the Freedom Fighters to infiltrate a major World Government intelligence relay base in the Grand Line, gathering classified information.
"According to what Dragon said, Ginny isn't weak. She's got power on par with a Marine Vice Admiral, and with her intel and counter-surveillance skills, ordinary CP agents wouldn't be able to lay a hand on her."
"But someone like her just vanished into thin air…"
Daren exhaled slowly, cigarette smoke drifting into the night as his brows drew tighter.
Ginny had lived through the God Valley incident and might still hold valuable secrets. To the Revolutionary Army's future, she was a crucial asset.
More importantly, if even Dragon openly acknowledged her as Kuma's fiancée, then her importance to Kuma couldn't be overstated.
Which meant there was no way Daren could sit this one out.
"You should go in person, husband."
A gentle voice suddenly spoke from behind.
Daren paused and turned to see Toki standing there, having woken up at some point and quietly walked over.
"Sorry. Did I wake you, Toki?"
"It's cold out here—go back to sleep."
Daren immediately took off his coat and draped it over her slender shoulders with care.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, Toki's belly was clearly showing now. Without makeup, she radiated a natural maternal beauty.
"I'm fine."
Toki shook her head.
"I remember you once said that Dragon-san is someone you truly trust. When a friend asks for help, you give it everything you've got—wasn't that what you said?"
"And besides, back on Philseque Island, didn't Dragon-san and Kuma-san stand firmly at your side and fight with you?"
Daren pressed his lips together and replied,
"I've already ordered the North Blue fleet to gather intel. I've also mobilized every connection I have..."
"I can take care of myself."
Toki smiled and gently cut him off.
"I really enjoyed today, but, husband..."
She looked up, her gaze intense and unwavering as she stared at the man she had chosen. Then she smiled.
"I didn't choose to be your wife because of how much you care for me, or how deeply you love me. It's not about how gentle or attentive you are—those things matter, but they're not why I chose you."
"I chose you, Rogers Daren, to be the husband of Amatsuki Toki because you are a man who stands tall."
"No matter what happens, you'll always be my greatest support. You're not just a dependable partner in love—you're a true friend, a reliable ally, and a man who takes responsibility for the world on his shoulders."
Amatsuki Toki stepped forward, gently wrapped her arms around Daren, and rested her head against his chest.
"This is what you should be doing."
Daren fell silent.
He lowered his head, quietly gazing at the woman in his arms. Under the silver moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful. He let out a sudden sigh.
"Toki, you know something?"
"Sometimes you're just too good to me. It always makes me feel... like I don't deserve you."
Toki rolled her eyes at him and playfully winked.
"Only sometimes?"
Daren chuckled quietly.
"Brr brr... brr brr..."
Just then, an urgent Den Den Mushi call came through.
Daren's eyes narrowed. He picked it up and answered.
"Any news?"
On the other end, Morgans' low chuckle echoed out.
"Your opponent this time isn't someone easy, Daren."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... That woman, Ginny, she's no simple figure either. The World Government's had its eyes on her for a long time. They're getting serious this time—chances are they're using her to lure out the Freedom Fighters' leader, Dragon."
Daren's expression darkened.
"What kind of force did the government deploy?"
Morgans clicked his tongue and chuckled.
"Details are still murky, but there's no doubt members of God's Knights are involved... Rumor has it, even Michael, the leader of God's Knights, has shown up."
"They're the most elite and revered force under the World Government."
"In some ways, the stance of God's Knights' commander reflects the stance of the entire Celestial Dragon class... It's obvious the government can't touch you directly right now, so they're aiming for Dragon and his Freedom Fighters instead."
"Daren, you went to great lengths to force the World Government to tacitly accept North Blue's independence as a strategic deterrent..."
"And now, are you really willing to start another war with the World Government over a woman who barely has anything to do with you?"
Daren glanced at Toki.
She met his gaze with a smile full of trust.
Daren smiled back, satisfied.
"No, Morgans. You're wrong about one thing."
"I'm wrong about one thing?"
Morgans laughed out loud, as if he'd heard something absurd.
"Yeah, you got one thing wrong."
"Then tell me—what did I get wrong?"
"The war between me and the World Government... never stopped."
...
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