Chapter 100: Reiju's Outrageous Moves

"Game over!"

After just two or three minutes of fighting, Lucas grew bored of the Vinsmoke siblings' repetitive attacks. With a casual wave, he ended the battle effortlessly.

The gold surrounding the room morphed into a massive hand, surging forward to grab all four of the Vinsmoke siblings. Niji, ever the hothead, rushed forward, releasing powerful lightning from his battle suit to try and disrupt the golden hand's grip.

But it was useless. Lucas's golden construct was reinforced with top-tier Armament Haki. Niji's lightning attacks barely made a dent. One by one, the siblings were captured without exception.

The golden hands that ensnared them quickly melted and reshaped, encasing their bodies in hardened golden shells. Only their heads remained exposed, leaving them immobilized and vulnerable.

"Mr. Tanaka, you can go now."

Lucas shot a dismissive glance at the large, tadpole-like man and unceremoniously issued an expulsion order.

Mr. Tanaka didn't dare argue. He scurried out of the room without another word.

Lucas's Conqueror's Haki flared, its invisible pressure flooding the room. Several nearby Den Den Mushi, each with unique communication functions, instantly fainted under the overwhelming force.

"Lucas, we surrender!"

Reiju's voice rang out, her tone urgent and pleading. "Let us go, and the Kingdom of Germa will give you a sufficient reward."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A sufficient reward? That sounds promising." He smirked. "Alright then. Hand over Germa's scientific technology, and I'll let you live."

Ichiji scoffed, his pride untouched even in defeat. "Don't even think about it! Germa's technology is the foundation of the Vinsmoke family. We'll never hand it over to anyone."

Niji laughed bitterly. "We may be Judge's children, but in his eyes, Germa's technology is far more important than we are."

Yonji sneered. "Besides, we don't have the technology with us. Even if we did, we wouldn't give it to you."

Lucas turned to Reiju, his expression curious. "Is that true?"

Reiju sighed, her eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and bitterness. "It's true. Our father, Judge, values Germa's technology more than his own children. To him, we're nothing but tools."

Hearing this, Pudding and Galette exchanged sympathetic glances. They understood the pain of being treated as pawns in someone else's game. Both were victims of their own family's cold-hearted ambitions.

"So," Lucas mused thoughtfully, "all of Germa's scientific power is in Judge's hands?"

Reiju nodded. "That's right. Each of us controls a part of Germa's territory, and we each have our own snail ships. But none of us have access to the science labs or cloning facilities. Our only purpose is to fight."

Lucas pondered for a moment before summoning a Shadow Clone. "I'll have my clone verify that."

The Shadow Clone disappeared swiftly, heading towards the Germa snail ships.

Moments later, Lucas received the clone's feedback. As expected, the ships were nothing more than war fortresses. There were no scientific facilities, no cloning chambers—just weapons and soldiers.

Lucas turned back to Reiju. "Tell me, where's your father? He's quite the slippery one. My men haven't been able to locate him."

Reiju shook her head, her expression earnest. "Honestly, I don't know."

Lucas's eyes narrowed. "You don't know?"

Reiju nodded. "That's right. Germa is a mobile kingdom, constantly on the move across the seas. It doesn't have a fixed location. Your men can't track him because we're never in the same place for long."

Lucas frowned. "What about a Vivre Card?"

Ichiji chuckled darkly from within his golden prison. "Too bad for you—we don't have one."

Niji grinned, adding, "And there's a simple reason for that. Judge didn't give us a Vivre Card because he's always prepared for situations like this."

Yonji laughed. "If he wants to see us, he contacts us directly, sets up a time and place, and we meet. Simple as that."

Their flippant attitude grated on Galette's nerves. She crossed her arms and scoffed. "Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Ichiji's voice rang out, proud and unyielding. "Unfortunately for you, we're perfect human beings—transformed by bloodline factor technology. The useless emotion of fear was eliminated from us long ago."

Niji sneered. "We're Germa's finest warriors. We don't fear death, and we follow orders without question."

Yonji grinned smugly. "That's right!"

Lucas's patience wore thin. With a simple gesture, the golden shells encasing them shifted, sealing their mouths shut and silencing their arrogant remarks.

Turning his attention back to Reiju, Lucas's tone softened—just a little. "Reiju, how about deceiving Judge for me? Don't worry, I won't kill him. If you help me lure him out, I'll let you and your brothers live."

Reiju eyed him cautiously. "And the price is Germa's scientific power?"

Lucas clapped his hands together, grinning. "Exactly! After all, you invaded my territory. I could've killed you all, but I'm willing to spare you because of Germa's technology. Fair deal, right?"

Reiju fell silent, her expression unreadable.

Lucas leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "I can see into your soul, you know. You can't hide from me. Deep down, you've always wanted Germa 66 to fall, haven't you?"

Reiju's eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. "What are you talking about? I'm the princess of the Kingdom of Germa!"

Lucas smirked. "'Princess of Germa,' huh? Sounds fancy. But you know the truth. You've seen firsthand how cruel your father is. Don't tell me you're still attached to Germa's so-called glory."

Galette watched Reiju carefully, noticing the shift in her mood.

Lucas continued, his voice calm but piercing. "Before you were even born, your father experimented on you, altering your bloodline with drugs and genetic manipulation. You were born with superhuman strength, a body tougher than any shield."

"Judge was thrilled with his results—until he decided to take things even further. He didn't just want to enhance your body; he wanted to rewire your soul."

"Your brothers—those three over there? They're his masterpieces. They've got the same enhanced bodies as you, but their souls were stripped of fear, compassion, and free will. They're nothing more than obedient soldiers, perfect tools."

Lucas's voice softened slightly. "But you? You're different. You've always felt the emptiness in your brothers. You've always known they weren't really human. Especially when you compare them to someone else…"

Reiju's breath hitched as Lucas uttered the name.

"Vinsmoke Sanji."

At the mention of her younger brother, Reiju's face went pale. She stared at Lucas in shock. "What… what did you say?"

Lucas smiled knowingly. "You heard me. Do I need to repeat it?"

Reiju's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of her memories pressing down on her. After a long pause, she exhaled deeply. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll help you deceive Judge." She met Lucas's gaze, her voice steady. "Like you said… it's been my wish to see Germa 66 disappear."

Lucas tilted his head, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Are you sure that's the only reason? Because it seems to me you're also worried about your younger brothers—not just the three here, but the one who ran away from home all those years ago."

Reiju's expression stiffened. "You said you wouldn't hurt them."

Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "When did I say I'd hurt them? You're overthinking things." He gave her a teasing smile. "You're such a good sister. Even though your brothers are complete bastards, you still care about them."

With that, Lucas pushed the three Vinsmoke brothers aside, their golden restraints creaking as they glared at Reiju with eyes full of betrayal. Their silent fury was palpable.

Reiju met their hostile gazes with a complicated expression before turning to Lucas. "Let me out."

With a snap of his fingers, the gold encasing Reiju melted away, setting her free.

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a Den Den Mushi, then glanced at Lucas. "What reason should I use to get him to meet me?"

Lucas chuckled. "How would I know? Make something up."

Reiju sighed in frustration. "What if he sees through my lies?"

Lucas's grin widened. "Then I guess I'll have no choice but to kill all four of you and wait for Judge in Totto Land. Didn't you say he's on his way there to negotiate with Big Mom?"

Reiju's face tightened, and she forced a dry laugh. "As far as I know, Judge has nearly finalized his deal with the Big Mom Pirates. If you try to seize Germa's technology now, they probably won't let you."

Lucas gave her a mocking look, his voice dripping with disdain. "And what if they don't? Do you seriously think the Big Mom Pirates can stop me?"

Reiju's face paled as she thought over Lucas's formidable combat record. The more she considered it, the more she realized the truth—they couldn't stop him.

"Let me introduce you to someone."

Lucas gestured toward the two women beside him. "These are my wives—Charlotte Galette and Charlotte Pudding, daughters of Charlotte Linlin."

Reiju's eyes widened in shock as Lucas continued, his tone casual but confident.

"That's right, I'm married into the Big Mom Pirates."

"Now, if I share Germa's technology with the Big Mom Pirates, do you really think they'll oppose me?" He chuckled darkly. "Don't be naive."

"If Big Mom cooperates with Germa, she'll never get her hands on your technology. But if she cooperates with me, she'll get all of it. What do you think she'll choose?"

Lucas's words landed like a hammer, and Reiju felt the weight of them settle heavily on her chest.

"Fine," Reiju said after a long pause, taking a deep breath. "I'll trick Judge into meeting me."

She activated the Den Den Mushi, its eyes blinking open as it connected to Judge.

Soon, his cold, detached voice echoed from the receiver. "Reiju. What do you want?"

Reiju forced her voice to remain steady. "Father, where are you right now? Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji are injured. They need treatment on your ship."

There was a brief pause before Judge's voice sharpened. "Injured? How badly? Put them on the line."

Reiju quickly replied, "They're unconscious. They can't speak."

Judge's irritation was palpable. "Where are you? I'll send a hospital ship immediately."

Reiju's heart sank. "A hospital ship? Won't you come yourself?"

Judge scoffed impatiently. "I'm on my way to Totto Land to meet Charlotte Linlin. I don't have time to waste on you."

Reiju bit her lip, her chest tightening. Even with his sons injured, Judge's ambitions took precedence.

"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up. I have important work in the lab."

"Wait!" Reiju blurted out before he could disconnect.

Judge's voice grew colder. "What is it? Speak quickly."

Reiju hesitated, her mind racing. She glanced at Lucas, then steeled herself. "Ichiji and Niji took on a mission to attack Lucas's territory."

"I know," Judge interrupted dismissively. "Didn't they retreat?"

Reiju shook her head, even though he couldn't see her. "No. After Yonji and I arrived in the Golden City to meet them, Lucas showed up. He knocked all three of them unconscious."

For the first time, Judge's voice betrayed a hint of shock. "What did you say? Lucas found you, and he knocked them out? How did you escape?"

Reiju hesitated again, feeling the weight of the lie on her tongue. Finally, she murmured, "I didn't escape… Lucas let me go."

There was a long, tense silence on the other end.

When Judge finally spoke, his tone was eerily calm. "Why did he let you go?"

Reiju's face flushed with embarrassment as she delivered the final blow. "He… said he wants to marry into Germa."

At that moment, Galette and Pudding stiffened, their gazes snapping toward Reiju like knives. Their expressions screamed betrayal.

So much for sisterhood, their eyes seemed to say. We thought you were just like us, but now you're trying to steal our man?

To Reiju's surprise, Judge didn't react with anger. Instead, a low chuckle rumbled through the Den Den Mushi.

"Marriage? That's an excellent idea. Lucas is far stronger than Big Mom."

Reiju blinked in confusion. "You… agree?"

Judge's voice was almost gleeful. "Why wouldn't I agree? All four of you are captured. Do I have a choice?"

For a fleeting moment, Reiju felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, her father still cared about them.

But then Judge's next words crushed that fragile hope.

"I could have refused, but the four of you are so useless that you let yourselves get caught by Lucas. If I don't agree, you'll all die. That would be a loss for me."

Reiju's heart sank.

Judge continued, his voice clinical and cold. "Without the four of you, my deal with the Big Mom Pirates would fall apart. As much as you lack talent, you're still important combat assets for the Kingdom of Germa."

Combat assets.

Reiju felt a hollow emptiness settle in her chest. Judge wasn't agreeing out of love or concern—he was simply weighing the pros and cons.

He was right. They were just tools to him.

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