On the last day of the week, Judge stood in the center of the laboratory. Behind him was his meticulously crafted "masterpiece." He rubbed his hands together. His eyes sparkled with the passionate light unique to scientists. The expression on his face had shifted from initial resistance to extreme pride. There was even a hint of showing off.
Rhett felt that this kind of thing was probably like wearing women's clothing. There were only two states: never, or all the time. If the first time you looked in the mirror wearing a dress, you thought, "Hey, not bad," then it was over. You became Schrodinger's brother.
"Lord Rhett! Feast your eyes!" Judge threw off the dust cover, revealing a sleek, silver-white baby crib.
The crib looked ordinary at first glance. But of course, Rhett didn't think so.
Follow the camera as it pans left.
Judge's grin had already spread to his ears. He pressed a button on his wrist controller. Four floating devices extended from the bottom of the crib, lifting it steadily half a meter off the ground.
"First, the basic features —" Judge introduced them as enthusiastically as a salesman. "Bulletproof, fireproof, lightning-proof. The material is a special alloy from the North Blue. Even if hit directly by a cannonball, it can repair itself instantly!"
He snapped his fingers. A semi-transparent energy shield unfolded from the top of the crib, crackling with energy.
"The temperature control system is an improved version of the 'climate control' technology that Vegapunk studied in his early years. It's not as strong as a battle suit, because battle suits require Lineage Factor modification. But desert heat? Extreme cold? Deep sea pressure? None of them are a problem! In short, this is one of my greatest recent inventions."
Rhett raised an eyebrow. The blood mist swirled slowly around his throne. He seemed very interested in Judge's enthusiastic performance.
Judge grew more and more excited. He had even forgotten his initial reluctance. He waved his arms as he demonstrated. "And the self-defense system you requested —"
He slammed another button. Two rows of small missile launchers popped out from the sides of the crib. The teddy bear on the headboard lit up its red eyes and said in a sweet, mechanical voice, "Threat detected. Initiating elimination~"
Moria: "Kishishishi... That bear has something going for it."
Enel: "...This god suddenly wants to test it with a lightning strike."
Rhett raised his hand to stop the eager Thunder God. He gestured for Judge to continue.
Judge took a deep breath. The smile on his face gradually turned unhinged. "But! That's not all!"
He pressed the final red button.
"Transform! Combat Mode!"
The entire baby crib suddenly let out a mechanical roar. Panels flipped. Parts reorganized. In just three seconds, a three-meter-tall miniature robot stood in the center of the laboratory. A dragon head emblem — the symbol of the Blood Dawn Pirates — was printed on its chest.
"Hahahaha!" Judge pointed at his creation. "This is the true masterpiece! It can serve as a baby crib, a battle vehicle, and even transform into a combat robot! Its power system is electric. Its battery life is comparable to a warship! It also uses Germa's most advanced artificial intelligence."
The robot's head turned toward Rhett. Its mechanical eyes flashed twice. It said in an adorable electronic voice, "Good night, baby~"
The laboratory fell into strange silence.
Rhett: "..."
Moria: "Kishishishi... Is this thing supposed to put a baby to sleep?"
Judge completely missed the atmosphere. He was still immersed in self-adoration. "I also added a lullaby feature!" He pressed play. The robot's speakers immediately blasted deafening heavy metal rock. "Sleep sleep my dear baby——"
Reiju silently covered her ears.
Rhett rubbed his temples. The blood mist swirled around his fingertips. "Judge."
"Yes! Lord Rhett!" Judge snapped to attention, his face full of expectation.
"I asked for a baby crib." Rhett spoke slowly. "Delete the music."
Judge's smile froze on his face. "B-But..."
"However —" Rhett's lips curled up. "I like the rest of it. Quite a lot."
Judge's eyes instantly lit up.
"But," Rhett's blood mist swirled, "change the paint job."
Judge nodded frantically. "No problem! What color would you like? Pink? Blue? Or —"
"Gold. Same style as the Golden Emperor's." Rhett lounged back lazily on his throne. "Also, change the lullaby to classical music."
Judge: "...Yes."
Lena looked at Rhett and said softly, "Lord Rhett!! Classical music isn't suitable for children either."
She turned to Vinsmoke Judge and gave a slight bow. "Mr. Judge, please install a recording feature. We will record the lullaby ourselves."
Vinsmoke Judge stepped aside. He knew who the real king was.
Moria came over and patted Judge on the shoulder. "Kishishishi... My friend, you have fallen."
Judge looked at the "baby crib robot" he had built with his own hands. He suddenly fell into deep thought.
"How did I go from conquering the North Blue... to painting baby cribs?!"
But when he caught the rare look of satisfaction in Rhett's eyes, he inexplicably straightened his back.
"I can have it finished in one night!" He promised with certainty.
Rhett waved his hand. The blood mist floated a cup of hot tea to Judge. "Good work. If you need funding, go to Tesoro. No limit. But I want results. I'll work with you. You write the code."
Judge held the teacup. He suddenly thought —
When it came to scientific research, did it matter who you worked for? At least this boss... was quite generous.
Outside the window, the sun was setting. Germa's steel castle was painted in warm gold. In the laboratory, Judge hummed a little tune as he started painting the robot.
"Would Lord Rhett like this... Maybe some glitter would make it cooler?"
"You can count on me. Don't worry."
---
The next day, counting the days, they had been away for three months. It was time to go back. One Emperor and four Emperor-commanders were escorting this baby. With that kind of power, naturally, no mistake was allowed.
The setting sun cast its last rays over Germa's harbor. The Blood Dawn ship slowly set sail. Reiju stood on the dock, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt as she watched the tall figure on the deck.
"Lord Rhett..." Her voice was very soft, almost carried away by the sea breeze.
Rhett turned his head. The blood mist swirled around his fingertips. "Hm?"
Reiju opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. The tightness in her chest was unfamiliar. In Germa, she had never been allowed to feel "reluctance."
"I..." She looked down at her shoes. "Can I come with you?"
The deck suddenly fell silent. Moria raised his eyebrows suggestively. Enel pretended to look at the clouds. Even Judge stopped his painting work and pricked up his ears to listen.
Rhett chuckled. The blood mist formed a giant hand and gently ruffled Reiju's pink hair. "Call me uncle."
"...Uncle?" Reiju looked up, confused.