Lord Rosward had already returned to Mary Geoise from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Ever since his last encounter with Rosinante, Rosward had felt uncomfortable living on Sabaody. The Nightless City kept getting more splendid by the day, and every new ornament, every new banner made him itch with displeasure.
Truth be told, Rosward liked ostentatious splendor — but after clashing with Rosinante, he certainly wouldn't sully his face by attending the Nightless City's opening. Out of sight, out of mind: he moved back to Mary Geoise.
Back in Mary Geoise, Rosward stewed in resentment, but he didn't dare make trouble for Rosinante. Rumors that Rosinante had slain Golden Lion and annihilated the Flying Island Pirates only made him more cautious.
One day a man who looked like a steward appeared before Lord Rosward.
"You are Lord Rosward, yes?" the steward announced.
Rosward squinted, trying to place the servant — a rare occurrence indeed. Very few servants recall the names of Celestial Dragons; even fewer have the nerve to approach them directly.
"Lord Rosward, my master requests your presence," the steward said with a small bow. The bow was not servile flattery — merely formal courtesy.
Upon hearing the steward's words, Rosward's expression brightened.
"Could it be that great person?" Rosward asked in surprise.
"Please come this way, Lord Rosward," the steward replied, guiding him forward without waiting for permission.
Rosward followed eagerly. Soon they arrived at a vast palace in the Celestial Dragon district of Mary Geoise. After a short visit, Rosward emerged from the palace — and this time he looked elated and radiantly confident. Behind him walked two masked figures.
If you knew the World Government's C organization, you'd recognize them: the mysterious CP0. And these two weren't ordinary CP0 agents — the aura they emitted hinted at power on par with an admiral.
Back at his residence, Rosward immediately sent invitations to other Celestial Dragons he knew. One by one, they arrived, some astonished at how many of their kind had been summoned.
"What is Lord Rosward up to? Even you called us here," one Celestial Dragon murmured to an older peer.
"I'm not sure. I heard he's been having an unpleasant time on Sabaody. He hasn't visited us in a while; perhaps he's calling us together to vent?" the older Dragon replied.
"You mean Rosinante? That brat has been outrageous lately — like his father, Homing. Both of them think they're above everything!" another chipped in.
"You're mistaken — it wasn't Homing, it was Homing who was stripped of his Celestial Dragon status!"
"Yes, yes, my mistake. Ridiculous Homing — he even phoned begging for help!" Laughter rippled through the assembled Celestial Dragons.
Seeing Rosward appear, the chatter died down.
"Everyone, long time no see. You all seemed so pleased a moment ago — care to share the joke and make me laugh too?" Rosward asked, smiling.
"Nothing special. We were laughing about Homing — expelled from the Celestials, he dared to think himself human and actually called for help," said one guest, amused.
Rosward laughed along, but then his expression turned sour. "Homing was ridiculous, but his son Rosinante angered me even more."
"Indeed! Rosinante is even more arrogant — a disgrace to the Celestial Dragons!"
"He's gone too far lately," others agreed.
"You must know what happened: Rosinante humiliated me on Sabaody. He erased our slave market there — Fosfit was killed by him, and our supply of premium slaves is cut off. He even openly said in the Nightless City that Celestial Dragons don't have to kneel there, and forbade capturing merfolk from the Nightless City. Each of those policies seems aimed at defying us!" Rosward said, rage building.
"If this were just a personal grievance, fine — but he's been riding on all of us, and I won't stand for it. I've had enough. I've decided to teach him a lesson," Rosward declared.
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