Sitting in the central seat of the hall was a figure whose status needed no explanation: Vinsmoke Judge, the ruler of the North Blue's most formidable force, Germa 66.
Beside him sat his four children: Reiju, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji, each with their vibrantly colored hair.
While Reiju maintained a composed demeanor, the remaining three merely glanced at Carl and quickly looked away. However, Niji and Yonji's gazes lingered on Galette and Stussy, their expressions betraying lecherous intentions.
Reiju spoke up,
"Father, it seems that man has a close relationship with Stussy."
Judge pondered for a moment before replying,
"I've heard some things about Stussy from the World Government. She's not as simple as she appears…"
Pausing, Judge picked up his wine glass and stood,
"Reiju, come with me. This is a good opportunity to make contact with her. It might bring unexpected benefits to the Vinsmoke family."
As he addressed only Reiju, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji remained indifferent, continuing with their own activities.
Judge knew the nature of his three sons all too well. Niji and Yonji were completely unreliable, especially when it came to dealing with women. Ichiji was relatively better—but only just.
This was his own doing, after all, having subjected his children to lineage factor modification and creating these "problematic children."
The earlier commotion involving Drug Peclo had drawn everyone's attention to Zero, the bodyguard Stussy had brought.
Morgans and others approached Stussy for small talk, hoping to pry information about Zero.
However, Stussy saw through their intentions and responded with polite but evasive smiles, deftly steering the conversation away from anything concerning Zero.
Meanwhile, Zero himself—Carl—was preoccupied with Galette, who seemed far more enthusiastic about him than before. Thankfully, she refrained from asking him to remove his mask again.
Because of Galette's constant engagement with Carl, Morgans and the others couldn't find an opportunity to speak with him. Frustrated by Stussy's tight-lipped responses, they eventually left in disappointment.
Shortly after they departed, Judge and Reiju approached.
Upon seeing Judge, Stussy gracefully rose and greeted him. Judge glanced at Carl, who remained seated and motionless, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Stussy and Judge, both prominent figures of the sea, exchanged brief introductions before Judge and Reiju took seats opposite Stussy's group.
During the conversation, Judge subtly brought up the World Government, but Stussy effortlessly deflected the topic, her expression unchanged.
What Judge didn't realize was that his appearance had effectively delivered him to the Reaper's doorstep.
Behind his mask, Carl's eyes glinted coldly, staring at Judge as though the man were already a corpse.
Judge's use of lineage factor modification on his children stirred unpleasant memories within Carl.
'Tomorrow, I'll send him to reunite with his son,' Carl thought grimly.
As Judge and Stussy conversed, the hall grew increasingly crowded. Once most of the seats were filled, Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte family, entered to announce the start of the banquet.
Following him was a young woman with golden twin tails and a chef's hat, directing servants as they carried in the prepared dishes.
When the twin-tailed girl appeared, Carl looked up.
Galette noticed his interest and introduced her,
"She's Charlotte Pudding, the seventy-sixth child of the Charlotte family."
Carl nodded slightly, pretending not to know her,
"I thought she was a chef."
Galette chuckled,
"Well, Pudding is very skilled in the kitchen. She even volunteered to help with the wedding preparations."
As they spoke, the servants placed the dishes on the tables. Judge and Reiju rose to take their seats, leaving Carl to observe the centerpiece: an enormous cream cake surrounded by various desserts—a sugar-lover's paradise but a nightmare for anyone wary of diabetes.
In the dining hall, the guests from outside the Charlotte family found themselves overwhelmed by the sweetness after only a few bites.
Unlike them, Stussy savored each treat with evident delight. Her fox mask, covering only the upper half of her face, didn't hinder her enjoyment.
Carl, however, had no intention of eating. His full-face mask ensured he wouldn't be joining the feast anytime soon.
Galette, undeterred, saw this as her chance. She turned to Stussy with a playful smile,
"Miss Stussy, aren't you going to make sure your bodyguard eats something? Or is he too shy to show his face in public?"
Stussy elegantly dabbed her lips with a napkin,
"Miss Galette, you'd have to ask him. As you can see, my bodyguard has quite the independent streak. I can't control him."
Galette looked at Carl and feigned nonchalance,
"Oh? But if he doesn't eat anything, isn't that an insult to the Charlotte family's hospitality? At least try the chocolate pudding—it's Pudding's specialty. I'm sure it won't disappoint."
With that, she used Carl's utensils to place a piece of chocolate pudding onto his plate, her gaze fixed expectantly on him.
Under Galette's watchful eyes, Carl finally moved.
He picked up his knife, slicing the pudding into several pieces with precision.
Galette hadn't expected Carl to yield so easily. A sense of triumph welled up within her, accompanied by a growing curiosity about the face beneath his mask.
But she was destined for disappointment.
Carl picked up a piece with his fork and offered it to Stussy first. Startled, Stussy blinked before smiling and accepting the bite.
Then, in a blur of motion, Carl's hand shifted. By the time Galette registered what had happened, the pudding on his plate had all but vanished, leaving only a single piece behind.
The slight movement of the mask around Carl's mouth suggested he was eating. After a moment, he nodded,
"It's quite good."
Then, to Galette's surprise, Carl took her fork, speared the last piece of pudding, and held it out to her lips.
"Care for a taste?"
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+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg