Orenfence Port.

Orion stood at the dock while holding Aqua's hand, with Gion and others neatly lined up behind him.

Across from them stood Vinsmoke Judge and his eldest daughter Reiju.

"Fleet Admiral Orion, are you... leaving the North Blue to return to Marineford?"

Seeing Orion's group suddenly appear at the dock after leaving the palace hall, Vinsmoke Judge cautiously asked.

"What about our matter..."

Before Judge could finish, Orion interrupted, "There is no 'our matter' here, nor is there 'your matter.' Considering you came to Orenfence personally, I'll give you one chance to choose!"

"Your dream of restoring the Vinsmoke Family to its former glory will never come true in your lifetime—this is beyond doubt. Because in the upcoming Reverie, I'll conduct a major overhaul of the member nations. As one of them, the Germa Kingdom naturally falls within this scope!"

"However, the Vinsmoke Family's glory doesn't necessarily mean dominating the North Blue. If you're willing to abandon the Germa Kingdom, lead the Vinsmoke Family to submit to me, and cease using your technology for killing or waging war, I promise you this: I will make the Vinsmokes a truly great family!"

"You don't need to answer immediately. Before the Reverie convenes, if you can discern the changing tides of the world, I believe you'll make the right choice!"

A flicker of confusion passed through Vinsmoke Judge's eyes as he probed.

"Make the Vinsmokes a great family? I don't quite understand. Could Fleet Admiral Orion enlighten me?"

Orion didn't hold back and stated plainly, "You once worked alongside Vegapunk and must know secrets unknown to the world. These secrets are connected to the Tequila wolf in the East Blue, where they're building massive bridges linking to the Holy Land. For decades, the Holy Land has been constructing those enormous bridges at sea—not just to facilitate the transport of East Blue's goods, but to prepare for an unprecedented great flood!"

"Huh?" Vinsmoke Judge's pupils constricted slightly.

"A great flood!?"

"Yes, you can understand it as this world facing an apocalyptic catastrophe. The vast majority of islands will be submerged due to rising sea levels. The only places that might survive are the Red Line and the giant kingdom of Elbaf."

"The technology mastered by the Vinsmoke Family holds the potential to play a crucial role in this apocalyptic disaster. Even if the ultimate outcome cannot be changed, the Vinsmoke Family will be celebrated as heroic saviors by the world!"

At this point, Orion suddenly shifted his tone.

"Judge, even without this uncertain apocalyptic catastrophe, there are many ways to lead the Vinsmoke Family to greatness—not just by killing a few kings or launching a few wars. Of course, whether you heed my words or not is irrelevant to me. Because as far as I'm concerned, if the technology of the Germa Kingdom cannot be used where it should be, it might as well be eradicated!"

Hearing this, Judge Vinsmoke couldn't help but shudder.

If anyone else had said these words to him, he would have dismissed them with contempt, flying into a rage—even willing to wage war over it.

But the one who spoke these words was none other than Orion, the youngest and most iron-fisted Fleet Admiral in naval history.

Compounded by the fact that his planned alliance with the Charlotte Family had collapsed—some dead, others pledged loyalty—and Kaido and his Beasts Pirates in far-off Wano Country had been utterly annihilated, all he could do now was remain humble and carefully consider Orion's every word.

Orion wasted no more time.

Picking up Aqua, he swiftly boarded the warship.

As Gion and the others also successfully boarded, the ship immediately set sail, leaving Judge and Reiju standing on the dock as it departed.

"Father, is Orion delivering an ultimatum to the Germa Kingdom?"

Watching the warship fade into the distance, Reiju turned to Judge with a grave expression.

"Submit... or be destroyed?"

Judge nodded faintly, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"I thought coming to Orenfencec would secure a brighter future for the Vinsmoke Family. Yet... I underestimated the sheer dominance and ruthlessness of this Fleet Admiral and overestimated myself."

*****

By the time Orion and his group returned to Marineford, it was already evening.

At the harbor, nearly all officers stationed at headquarters had gathered—among them two unexpected figures: Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter, Kujaku and the Empress of Amazon Lily, Hancock.

"Orion—"

The moment the ship docked, Hancock dashed out from the ranks welcoming Aqua's arrival.

Before anyone could react, she leaped onto the deck, arms outstretched to embrace Orion.

Yet, as if anticipating her move, Orion seized her by the collar and casually set her aside.

Watching this, Gion felt an inexplicable delight, as if asserting her claim, and happily kissed Aqua on the cheek.

"Aqua! Aqua!"

Just as Hancock, interpreting Orion's action as a unique intimacy between them, began to daydream, another pink figure bounded onto the deck.

"KUJAKU! Keep your hands off my man!"

Seeing Kujaku also jump onto the deck, Hancock immediately snapped out of her daydream and stepped forward to stand in front of Orion, blocking Kujaku from making any intimate gestures toward him.

"Idiot!"

Kujaku retorted sharply, then ignored both Hancock and Orion, running straight to Gion with excitement.

"You must be Aqua! You're so pretty, just as I'd expect from my daughter!"

Aqua was so startled by Kujaku's enthusiasm and instinctively leaned closer to Gion, timidly asking.

"Auntie... I'm Aqua, but... who are you?"

"I'm your mom!" Kujaku flashed what she thought was a loving maternal smile.

"Come on, call me Mommy!"

"Kujaku!"

Before Aqua could react, Hancock suddenly snapped coldly, striding over with her brows furrowed in anger.

"Since when is Aqua your daughter? She's the daughter of Orion and me!"

No sooner had she spoken than Hancock clasped her hands to her cheeks, her expression instantly softening into a radiant maternal glow as she cooed sweetly.

"Aqua, my precious girl. Come here, let Mommy hug you—"

"Waaah~"

Feeling Hancock's maternal aura, Aqua's eyes immediately sparkled with hearts, obediently stretching out her arms.

"Huggy."

Witnessing this, Hancock nearly fainted from sheer happiness.

However, before she could embrace Aqua, Kujaku's voice exploded like thunder in her ears.

"Hancock! You're using your Devil Fruit powers on Aqua!"

"Nonsense! I'm naturally this beautiful!" Hancock whipped her head around, instantly reverting to her fierce demeanor.

"If you keep causing trouble, I swear I'll tear your mouth apart!"

The surrounding Marines watched as Hancock and Kujaku started bickering yet again, their facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

During the days Orion had been away in the North Blue, Hancock had suddenly returned to headquarters from Amazon Lily, while Kujaku had just finished her training with the Special Forces.

Though the two had no prior connection, they had clashed when both visited Orion's home to pay respects to Sakazuki mother.

The conflict had erupted when Hancock declared herself as the granddaughter-in-law in front of the Sakazuki mother.

Kujaku, unwilling to back down, had engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated from verbal sparring to physical blows.

Thankfully, Vice Admiral Tsuru had intervened before things got out of hand.

Just when everyone thought they'd calm down, barely a day later, the two had shifted their rivalry from competing for the title of granddaughter-in-law to fighting over who was Aqua's mother.

As the tension between them reached a boiling point, Orion surprisingly didn't step in to mediate.

Instead, he winked at Morgans, who was standing beside him, and made a quick escape.

Seeing Orion slip away, Gion also tried to seize the opportunity to leave.

"Gion, stay right there!"

The moment Gion turned to sneak off, Kujaku and Hancock—who had been at each other's throats just seconds ago—suddenly spoke in unison with eerie synchronization.

"You can go, but leave our daughter behind!"

Hearing this, Gion's lips twitched slightly, and she cast a helpless glance at Luna, who stood frozen nearby.

Luna, however, didn't dare make a sound at such a tense moment.

Without Orion's favor, she was merely the daughter of a fallen noble—far too insignificant to intervene.

However, though she didn't dare join this unconventional battlefield, she still winked at Gion and subtly raised a hand to gesture at Aqua in her arms.

Gion instantly understood and mimicked Aqua's tone.

"Aqua, they're bullying Aunt Gion. What should we do?"

"Don't be scared, Mama Gion. Aqua will protect you." Aqua obediently nuzzled Gion, then lifted her little head to look at Kujaku and Hancock.

"Mamas, stop fighting. You're both Aqua's mamas, so you should get along. Hee~"

HUUUHH?

The phrase "you're both Aqua's mamas" instantly silenced Gion, Kujaku and Hancock.

Before the three could react, Aqua turned her attention to Hina and Gunko, spreading the love equally.

"And Mama Hina, Mama Gunko—love you~"

"Eh?!"

Hina and Gunko both widened their eyes, their cheeks visibly flushing red.