Chapter 89: The Tyrant's Return and the Dragon's Fall
"I finally remembered! Where is the wife I had my eye on?!" Saint Charlos's shrill voice echoed through the now-deserted grove. "You useless fools! Why didn't you remind me earlier?! Find her! Find her now!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Celestial Dragon's addled mind had finally recalled the girl, and in a fit of pique, he had ignored all attempts to dissuade him and returned to the scene. But the area had been evacuated due to the nearby battle. Only the cordoning Marines remained.
Frustrated and enraged, Saint Charlos stood in the empty street, firing his pistol wildly into the air. The surrounding Marines watched with tense apprehension, worried the volatile World Noble would try to push past their perimeter. They had strict orders from Major General Ian: if they encountered Celestial Dragons, they were to avoid communication and maintain their distance.
"Saint Charlos, we will find her immediately!" a CP0 bodyguard pleaded, bowing deeply. "But... perhaps it would be best if you returned to your ship to rest? Or back to the Holy Land? Leave the search to us. Major General Ian reported that dangerous pirates are still lurking here. It isn't safe..."
The bodyguard's reasonable suggestion was met with pure fury.
"Are you telling me what to do, you lowly worm?!" Charlos shrieked. "You're the one who lost my wife! And that Navy man, Ian! If he hadn't interfered, my wife wouldn't be missing!"
BANG!
He fired, the shot striking the bodyguard in the shoulder.
"ARGH! Saint Charlos, spare me! Please don't shoot!" the guard cried out, collapsing to the ground and clutching his wound. Even when his life was threatened, he could only beg; resistance was unthinkable for those who served the World Government.
"If you don't find her, the next shot is in your head," Charlos spat. "That goes for all of you! You have ten minutes. I want to see my wife. And tell those Navy men to look too! If they fail, they'll share your fate!" He scowled, his face a blotchy red. "And where is that damn Ian anyway?"
His words dripped with contempt for the base commander. All he could focus on was the "wife" who had slipped through his fingers.
Unbeknownst to him, long before his return, Saint Charlos had already sealed his own fate. Had he just left, he might have lived. By coming back, he had walked directly into his doom.
From the shadows of a nearby thicket, Jock Ian watched, a cold sneer playing on his lips.
"'That damn Ian'... Tsk, tsk, tsk. Let's see who truly deserves to die."
Then, a "gift" for the Celestial Dragon appeared at the end of the street.
"Huh?" Charlos blinked. "Who's that? Haven't all these lowlifes been cleared out? Why is someone standing there? Why isn't he kneeling? Is he looking to die?!"
He noticed a large, dark-skinned figure running toward him, a wide, gap-toothed grin on his face.
The bodyguards sensed the danger immediately and moved to form a protective circle around Charlos.
The man ran closer, his manic laughter echoing down the street.
"ZEHAHAHA!"
Saint Charlos stood there, stupid and oblivious to the catastrophe bearing down on him. From the moment he was born, he had been feared and obeyed. No "lowly human" had ever dared to act so brazenly in his presence. He was a World Noble, a descendant of the creators! To anger him was to invite an Admiral's fleet!
"You filthy lowlife! How dare you run in my presence!" Charlos screamed.
BANG!
BANG! BANG!
He fired several shots at the approaching brute.
A swirling mass of black matter enveloped the large man, swallowing the bullets whole.
If any of Ian's subordinates had been present, they would have been stunned. Because the man charging Saint Charlos was none other than Blackbeard Teach!
This impossible scene was the result of Ian's behind-the-scenes manipulation.
[Dream World]!
Everyone present, including the Marines on duty, had unknowingly fallen under the sway of Ian's illusion. The dead could sometimes be more useful than the living. Ian could have simply killed Saint Charlos and his guards himself, but that would have been reckless, leaving too many questions. The higher-ups in the World Government were not fools.
By using [Dream World], Ian could create an ironclad alibi. Over a dozen witnesses would swear they saw the "murderer" commit the crime with their own eyes!
"HAHAHA! Such pitiful attacks can't hurt me!" the illusion of Teach bellowed, his pace quickening. "You trash, daring to shoot at me? Are you looking for death?!"
The CP0 guards realized the grave danger. This man was insane! He was actually attempting to assault a Celestial Dragon!
"Open fire!" their leader yelled.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
In a panic, the guards surrounding Saint Charlos unleashed a frantic volley at the advancing Teach.
The dark matter surged violently, absorbing every last bit of the onslaught.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The illusion of Teach threw a few casual punches, effortlessly sending the CP0 bodyguards flying back over ten meters.
"You... you lowly human... what are you doing?!" Saint Charlos stammered, finally feeling a sliver of fear. "You can't attack me! I'm a Celestial Dragon! A World Noble!"