"Hunting game?"
Jaeger raised an eyebrow, recalling the Celestial Dragons' little "tradition" that came around every three years.
The rules were simple, almost insultingly so.
Pick an island or a nation that wasn't part of the World Government. Release a batch of "disobedient" slaves onto it. Then the Celestial Dragons would hunt them for sport — along with the locals.
When the slaughter was done, they'd plunder whatever wealth the survivors had, claim their land, and ship off any useful people as new slaves.
The winner? They'd get a reward and a bump in status among the Celestial Dragons.
The infamous God Valley Incident in the anime had been one such "game." The victor that time, Figarland Garling, went on to become the "God Knight" of the Celestial Dragons — Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights.
"Excuse me… what is a hunting game?"
Princess Otohime's voice was hesitant, but bold enough to draw all eyes. Perhaps pregnancy had given her a sliver of courage.
"Princess Otohime?"
Saint Saturn — one of the Five Elders — narrowed his eyes at her. The look wasn't friendly. Of course he knew who she was: the naïve queen who dreamed of equality between Fishmen and humans.
A dream he considered nothing more than a joke. In his eyes, Fishmen and mermaids belonged in chains, nothing more.
"I forgot to introduce you, Saturn," Jaeger's voice cut through the tension with a lazy amusement. "Otohime is my woman now."
The Elder froze mid-thought.
"She's pregnant," Jaeger added, a sharp smile curving his lips. "With my child. Understand what that means?"
"Ah! This… this is wonderful news!"
Saturn's entire demeanor flipped in an instant. The icy disdain melted into a warm, almost servile smile. "I came without a proper gift — what a terrible oversight, what a sin! I must make amends at once!"
The abrupt 180 left Otohime stunned. In the space of a heartbeat, one of the most powerful men in the world had gone from looking at her like filth… to bowing his head like a dog begging to please.
It wasn't hard to connect the dots. Jaeger's position in the World Government and among the Celestial Dragons was beyond anything she'd imagined.
Could he actually be… the King of the Celestial Dragons?
Yamato, meanwhile, didn't care about political revelations. The only thing she heard was "pregnant," and her pout was instant.
"That's not fair! I met Jaeger first! I want a kid too! I want one now!"
"…You can't even take care of yourself. How about worrying about your next meal before talking about babies?"
Jaeger rolled his eyes and caught Yamato's wandering hand before turning back to Otohime. He explained the Hunting Game in his usual casual tone.
Otohime's face paled as he spoke. To her, genocide wasn't a "game" — it was the end of an entire race. The idea that, had she not fallen into Jaeger's bed and become pregnant, Fish-Man Island could have been chosen as a target…
The thought alone sent a shiver through her.
Saturn, watching her, raised an eyebrow. "Hoh? Observation Haki… and strong at that. You can sense others emotions? Perhaps even glimpse the future?"
He smiled faintly at Jaeger. "Your Highness, your child with Princess Otohime will surely be a born king."
A "born king," huh? Jaeger almost laughed. The old man didn't know how right he was. Otohime could give birth to a king — a Sea King, in fact. But whether this daughter would become the Shirahoshi of the original history… that remained to be seen.
"Tell me about this Hunting Game," Jaeger said, absently ruffling Yamato's snowy hair.
"Yes, Your Highness. The location this year is snow Island in the North Blue. The population is ordinary humans, no special races, but the island boasts the most beautiful snow-capped mountains and the sweetest grapes in the world.
"The rebellious slaves have already been released there. Several other young Celestial Dragons have arrived, but they're hardly worth mentioning. Once the slaves and natives are wiped out, Snow Island will become part of the World Government and your personal domain."
"My private territory, with snow-capped mountains and world-class grapes?" Jaeger's smirk widened. "I'm interested."
Black lightning crackled around his raised left hand, writhing like serpents.
"Your Highness…" Saturn's smile faltered. "This is the Holy Land, your home as well. Please… don't destroy it on a whim."
"Why the hell would I blow up my own house?" Jaeger shot him a look of mock annoyance. "If you're inviting me to your little game, with the rewards already promised to me, then I'll play."
In the next moment, his Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, and his Observation stretched far beyond the Holy Land — across the Grand Line, across the North Blue — until the entire island of snow lay bare in his perception.
"Hmm… a small kingdom. The queen — emerald hair, elegant, beautiful. Two princesses: one about seven, light green hair, noble features. The other, just a baby in her arms… also with green hair."
Even from thousands of miles away, he saw them as clearly as if they were in front of him.
Saturn's brow twitched. "Your Highness… can your Observation Haki truly cover the entire Grand Line even the Four Seas?"
"It's easy," Jaeger replied calmly. "I could cover the entire planet if I wanted."
That was an understatement. After fusing 150 sun-like stars into his being, his very life level was rising by the minute. His Haki could already span multiple solar systems. Covering a single planet like this one? Child's play.
Saturn knelt fully now, bowing his head. "Magnificent. The royal family you sensed are the native rulers of snow Island — Queen Sijia, her elder daughter Monet, and the newborn Sugar. Princess Monet has eaten the Snow-Snow Fruit, making her worth training."
Jaeger's eyes narrowed. Monet and Sugar. So even in a history altered by his existence, these two still had their fates twisted by the Hunting Game.
The original timeline had them end up under Doflamingo. Without interference, they'd have gone from princesses to pawns.
How had a seven-year-old and an infant escaped a Celestial Dragon purge? And had Doflamingo — another Celestial Dragon — played a hand in it before he died at Jaeger's own hands?
Either way, it only confirmed one thing for Jaeger.
The world was rotten. And someone like him? Clearly, it was his job to "save" it.
"Then wipe out every slave and native on the island but leave Queen Sijia and her two daughters alive. Stussy will personally lead the team to secure the island afterward.
"As for the Celestial Dragons who came here to play hunting games… fighting me would be the gravest disrespect they could commit."
Jaeger made the call as casually as if he were ordering lunch. In his left hand, black lightning writhed like a living dragon before he flicked it lazily into the air.
Zzzzzzt!
The bolt shot out the window and vanished beyond sight in an instant.
"Jaeger-sama… that…?"
Princess Otohime's voice wavered. Even without seeing the strike, she could feel the destructive power radiating from it and knew something terrible was about to happen.
Saint Saturn opened his mouth, but ultimately chose silence. They were only a handful of junior Celestial Dragons. If they died, they died.
Purupuru— purupuru
The den-den mushi on the table rang. Saturn glanced at Jaeger, who nodded for him to answer.
"Saint Saturn! Dead! They're all dead!"
The voice of a panicked CP0 agent poured through the receiver, the snail's face mimicking his terror. "Black thunder fell from the sky like a storm! Every slave, every native and even the Celestial Dragons present — all gone! Not a trace left! I saw it live!"
"…I see. Any survivors?"
The calm question caught the agent off guard.
"Eh? Oh—! According to intelligence, Her Majesty the Queen and the two princesses of the snow Kingdom are alive."
"Good. You know what to do."
"Yes! Understood, Saint Saturn, Saint Jaeger!"
The agent had served the Celestial Dragons for years — long enough to recognize when Jaeger was in the room. CP0 veterans all knew the man's temper.
The only safe response was obedience. "We'll separate the queen and princesses for protection until Jaeger-sama's people arrive."
"You'll go far," Saturn said before hanging up.
When he looked back up, his gaze toward Jaeger was a volatile mix of awe, fear, and reverence.
Across the Grand Line and the North Blue, in less than a second, Jaeger had unleashed divine thunder that annihilated an entire kingdom with surgical precision — sparing only the targets he wished. It was, Saturn thought, the work of a god.
"All the land, wealth, and future tribute of the snow Kingdom belong to you, Your Highness," Saturn said with deep respect. "As for the queen and her daughters…?"
"Station Marines there. Let Vice Admiral Tsuru educate them for a while."
Jaeger's tone was almost bored. "When Monet can take down a pirate worth 100 million, then she can return to Marine Headquarters. Until then, she stays put. Got it?"
"…Yes, Your Highness. I'll personally oversee it."
"Now, about Fish-Man Island."
Jaeger pulled Otohime into his arms. She was still trembling from the instant erasure of an entire kingdom, but his voice was calm and almost amused.
"Proclaim it worldwide: from today on, all mermaids and Fishmen are the personal property of Jaeger of the Celestial Dragons. Anyone who dares capture one will face the same fate as the Rose Kingdom."
"Yes, Jaeger-sama."
Otohime blinked at him, eyes shimmering with a strange mix of awe and gratitude. In her mind, he had just granted her people the ultimate protection.
What a wonderful life…
Saturn noted the look on her face and felt a flicker of something like pity. In truth, nothing had changed — only the ownership of her people. But to her, it was salvation.
Taking Yamato back to his palace, Jaeger spent the night in what could only be described as "multiplayer training," expanding his… combat experience.
Rouge and Otohime abstained, focused entirely on their pregnancies, determined to deliver healthy daughters.
Later, Stussy departed with Olvia aboard a Marine warship, Vice Admiral Tsuru at the helm, bound for the newly claimed snow Kingdom.
"There's only one queen and two little princesses left," Tsuru murmured on deck, her voice heavy. "Exactly the kind of thing Jaeger-sama would leave behind."
For a moment, the veteran Marine wondered how far she'd drifted from the justice she once believed in.
Back in the Holy Land, Jaeger casually pushed Yamato and Gion off his lap and opened the chat group.
Angel Leng: "I've reported to Queen Keisha. Ready to travel."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "I've got leave approved. Hiratsuka-sensei's so responsible it almost makes me feel guilty."
Jaeger: "Good. Let's begin."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Start! Konoha should have fallen by now… we're just waiting for you, Your Highness, to swoop in and 'save' the day!"
•••
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