Felsek Island.
Snow-capped ranges unspooled to the horizon like the spine of a colossal white dragon.
At the mountains' foot, a grandstand had been thrown together in haste yet draped in gilded banners, its rough edges masked beneath a veneer of opulence. The World Government's flag snapped in the wind, the cloth loud with borrowed majesty.
The elite Celestial Dragons slated to compete were already assembled, hands resting on exquisitely crafted weapons that gleamed with a cold, predatory light against the snow.
Darren stood off to one side, watching, the chill in his eyes only deepening. He drew a pocket watch, checked the time, and slipped it away.
A low rumble swelled—a grind of wood and iron rolling over frozen earth.
Through the laden brush came a chain of bare-chested slaves, wrists shackled, straining to drag heavy flatbeds. Blood striped their bodies; their feet, purple-black with frostbite, stumbled as the wheels cut furrows through the snow. Even survival would cost them dearly—some would lose their feet.
Each cart bore a huge black iron cage. Inside, young faces quivered, eyes blown wide with terror as they stared at the mass of Celestial Dragons hungry to begin the "hunt." The prisoners shook; the bars rattled.
Slave traders and Government officials rode the carts, iron whips cracking as they goaded the chained men on.
"Hahahaha! Excellent, excellent!"
"And entertainment, too!"
"So these are the prize 'rabbits'?"
"At least the game will be interesting now."
Laughter curdled the air as the Celestial Dragons, dressed in hunting livery, peered into the cages as if choosing fine hounds—or softer prey.
"Excellency Babos!"
A slave trader in a top hat, fingers flashing with gemstone rings, scuttled forward and dropped to his knees before the red-haired Celestial Dragon. His smile was all grease and calculation.
"This humble servant has gathered exceptional game for Your Excellency—all from the Amazon Lily Empire."
Darren's brow tightened.
Babos had been ready to dismiss the vulgar display, but he had been watching the Vice Admiral closely and caught the man's faint shift.
Babos's mouth curved. "Bring them over. Let's have a look."
Flushed with excitement, the trader barked an order.
A guard arrived with three young girls in manacles.
The moment they emerged, a hush rippled through the crowd. Throats worked; eyes fixed.
The two behind were pitiable with fear, but the black-haired girl at their fore held a startling beauty. Though she looked seven or eight, her sculpted features already promised a peerless face to come—bright eyes, clear skin, and a severe princess cut that made her stand out against the snow.
"Dammit!"
"I want her!"
"Babos! Hand her to me! I'll trade you anything!"
"Out of my way—she's mine!"
Greed flushed their cheeks as voices snarled and tangled, possessiveness blazing in their eyes.
As "gods" with unchecked authority, they lived to press the limits of their appetites, to chase ever-sharper thrills. They had seen every manner of rare toy the world could offer—yet this black-haired child stilled even jaded faces.
Darren stiffened—not at her beauty, but at the shock of recognition.
Six months prior, he had set Stussy's network combing for news of this very girl.
The future captain of the Kuja Pirates. The Empress of Amazon Lily. A future Shichibukai—the "Pirate Empress," Boa Hancock.
How had she been taken? How had she ended up here?
No—despite the mature lines that made her seem eight or nine, he knew she was only five or six at this point.
"All of you, quiet."
Babos's sneer cut the shouts short.
"This gift is for me. Do you truly wish to make enemies of the Figarland family?"
He flicked a glance at Darren, a cold smile touching his lips, then stepped forward and tipped his rapier beneath the girl's chin. She met his stare without flinching.
His eyes flickered; his tone cooled with a private hunger.
Such beauty...
He swallowed and nodded to the slave trader. "Excellent. I'm very pleased."
"Collect your reward from my steward."
Beaming, the trader cast one last, lingering look at Hancock and hurried off.
"As for these three..." Babos's smile turned sly as he cut his eyes toward Darren. "Let's make them prizes for the victors of this grand Hunting Competition."
Silence struck like a clap. Then the room breathed again, blades tightening in white-knuckled grips, eyes turning hot.
"Absolutely!"
The Celestial Dragon serving as referee seized the microphone, face flushed.
"Rules!"
"Eight Super Rare Rabbits—ten thousand points each!"
"Three hundred Rare Rabbits—two thousand points each!"
"Ordinary Rabbits anywhere on the island—a clean kill earns five hundred points!"
"The champion will receive a lavish prize! In addition to a Devil Fruit, the winner will be admitted to the Holy Knights as a trainee, entering their reserve ranks!"
"One hour from now... the hunt begins!"
He thrust the microphone high, laughing as his voice boomed:
"Do you hear me?"
"Fifty thousand commoners of Felsek—every last one of you is prey in this Hunting Competition!"
"Run! This hunt will last one week!"
"If you survive the week, the great Celestial Dragons will grant you freedom—a new life!"
His words, relayed by Visual Den Den Mushi hidden across the island, rolled through every street and valley of Felsek.
To be continued...