Sherwin widened his eyes, staring in astonishment at Judge, who had a face full of deep affection...
Even if BIG MOM didn't have any daughters of the right age under her command, there was no need for him to step up himself, right? Furthermore, it wasn't as if she didn't have any.
Wait... a face full of deep affection?
No, bro! Are you for real?!
Sherwin was shocked at first, then confused, and immediately afterward came to a sudden realization—
It was absolutely the doing of Pudding Memo-Memo Fruit ability!
The Germa 66 wearing their Raid Suits were indeed not weak, and could even contend with some of those who had mastered Haki.
But since they couldn't use Observation Haki, it was simply too easy for Pudding to launch a sneak attack on them.
And Sherwin could roughly guess the reason for choosing Judge...
Unlike the situation in the original manga where they wanted to eliminate the Vinsmoke family and forcibly seize Germa technology, after witnessing the prowess of a top scientist like Vegapunk, BIG MOM obviously couldn't do something so short-sighted as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Thus, to control the entirety of Germa 66, Judge, as the chief scientist and absolute leader, was the best choice for the marriage alliance. The others, whether it was Ichiji or Reiju, ultimately still had to obey Judge orders.
Moreover, making Judge "fall in love" with BIG MOM would also ensure he worked his heart out for Totto Land.
As for why Charlotte Linlin stepped up personally instead of choosing one of her older daughters to marry Judge, Sherwin wasn't entirely sure.
After all, she had just given birth to her 39th daughter, Charlotte Anana, four or five years ago, and was still in her "hale and hearty" period, so wanting to "marry" a new husband was also quite normal.
But no matter who the person Judge ultimately "fell in love" with was, Sherwin still quickly sorted out his current situation. He just didn't know...
He quickly glanced at the wryly smiling Reiju and the red, blue, and green trio who didn't care at all.
Well, it looked like Reiju hadn't eavesdropped on Pudding plan like she did in the original timeline.
Turning his gaze back to Judge once more, a hint of mockery had already appeared in Sherwin eyes.
Judge firmly controlled his own children and those clone soldiers, yet now his own mind was being controlled by someone else. This truly was the turning of the wheel of karma, a well-deserved retribution.
"Sister Reiju, could you come over here for a moment, meow?"
(=ΦωΦ=)
Haibara Meow also waved her little paw at Reiju at this time.
"Mama mama... Since you know Sherwin and the others, Reiju, go and get closer to them."
Obviously, BIG MOM still hadn't given up on the idea of having Sherwin marry into the family. Since seduction by her biological daughter failed, she switched to her stepdaughter.
Reiju was not clear about her stepmother thoughts, but she already had a good relationship with the Felynes, so she naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Long time no see, Haibara, Klee."
Coming to Sherwin side, Reiju smiled and stroked the heads of the two little kittens on his shoulders, then greeted Huamei Meow and the other familiar Felynes, and scooped Sanji Meow into her arms.
"S-Sister Reiju."
Sanji also approached at this time, calling out somewhat stiffly.
As for Reiju, the only relative besides his mother who could make him feel warmth, Sanji still cared about her deeply.
"It so good to see you grow up safe and sound, Sanji."
Reiju smiled at Sanji while stroking the little yellow cat in her arms.
"Hmm? Calling me, meow?"
(=ω=)
Before Sanji could respond, the little yellow cat collapsing in Reiju arms interrupted quite spoil-sportingly.
"Nonsense! Sister Reiju is obviously calling me!!!"
Sanji glared furiously at Sanji Meow...
Then he was struck fiercely on the forehead by Reiju hand chop, "Don't bully little Sanji!"
Meanwhile, Sanji Meow took the opportunity to wrap his paws around Reiju neck, leaning his little head in to nuzzle her cheek affectionately, muttering in a tea-party cat way, "Sister Reiju, your brothers all have such terrible tempers, meow~"
(つ｀3=)つ
"He was clearly quite well-behaved when he was a child. I didn't expect him to become so uncute when he grew up." Reiju said, shaking her head in deep disappointment as she stroked Sanji Meow cat head.
Having long heard about the conflict between the two Sanjis from Sanji Meow, she naturally knew that the little yellow cat was deliberately provoking Sanji.
But...
Who could help it when the cat was so cute? If her own younger brother had to suffer a little loss, then so be it it wasn't like he would lose a piece of flesh anyway.
Sanji: "..."
Luffy, who was picking his nose nearby, nodded his head in empathy. "Grandpa also always treats me and Klee Meow differently... Ah... suddenly I don't really want to go rescue him anymore."
The other members of the Straw Hat crew looked at their captain with faces full of disgust.
Between a cute cat and their own idiot captain, even a fool would know whose side to take.
After cooperating with Sanji Meow to tease her younger brother whom she hadn't seen in years, Reiju finally looked at Haibara Meow with curiosity. "Is there something you called me over for? Haibara."
"Yes, take this, meow."
(=ΦωΦ=)つ
Haibara Meow handed over the item she had taken out a while ago.
Reiju took it in her hand and examined it carefully, finding that what the little kitten had handed her was a strange device shaped like a mechanical pencil.
To be precise, it looked more like an insulin syringe used by diabetics, or a lancet used when testing blood sugar.
"What is this?"
Although the One Piece world didn't have any insulin syringes, Germa 66 was considered a faction on the scientific side after all, so Reiju could still tell that it was likely some kind of syringe.
She just couldn't figure out what exactly was stored inside, and why Haibara Meow was giving her this thing.
"This is the 'Liberation Potion' that I developed based on your Germa database, meow."
(=`=)
With her hands on her hips, Haibara Meow explained triumphantly, "After injecting the medicine inside, that annoying uncle Judge won't be able to force you to do things you don't like anymore, meow!"
Then, the kitten shook her head with regret, "Originally, I planned to give your three younger brothers a shot too, to see if they would still listen to your annoying father without the 'factor chain', but since we have to deal with the World Government together now, we can only try it later, meow."
Reiju froze for a good while before leaning over and giving Haibara Meow little head a kiss.
"Thank you, Haibara."
She didn't ask how Haibara Meow obtained the data from the Germa database. She just jabbed herself with the needle while saying,
"I'm not sure about Ichiji and the others, but I don't plan on betraying my father just like that, nor do I plan on leaving the BIG MOM Pirates."
"Suit yourself! Anyway, I just couldn't stand the sight of that guy Judge and developed it on a whim, meow!"
(`へ=)
The tsundere little Felyne crossed her arms, turned her head away unhappily, and didn't bother to look at this idiot who failed to appreciate a Felyne good intentions.
"Don't be angry. No matter what, he is my father, and I can't just abandon him easily."
Reiju leaned over again to kiss Haibara Meow, explaining softly, "Besides, the Charlotte family treats me very well, and I actually quite like it here."
Sherwin actually believed these words, and he didn't think Reiju memories had been altered by Pudding either.
With Perospero and Katakuri being such sister-coms, they had much more human warmth than Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji, whose emotions had been castrated.
It wasn't hard to understand why Reiju, who possessed normal human emotions and similarly valued family ties, would like it here.
Therefore, Sherwin decided not to tell Reiju about Pudding after all...
Anyway, he saw that Judge seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself too. The status of a Prince of Totto Land wasn't any worse than the King of the North Blue that Judge dreamed of in fact, in terms of deterrent power, the status of a Prince of Totto Land was even stronger and tougher.
And as the saying goes: It is better to demolish ten temples than to destroy a marriage.
He, Lord Hunter, was just kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see others torn apart.