When a Celestial Dragon travels, everyone in their path must kneel.
Even pirates heading to the New World through Fish-Man Island would usually avoid them.
Because they all knew one thing.
Touch a Celestial Dragon, and an admiral from Marineford would arrive.
Even the most ignorant pirates would understand the power of the Marines' highest combat force after passing through the first half of the Grand Line.
Of course, Luffy did not count.
"Honorable Saint Samit, the female mermaid slave you requested has been prepared. We have been waiting for your arrival."
A red carpet stretched toward the trafficking shop.
On both sides, civilians were forced to kneel.
At this hour, most people avoided Celestial Dragons entirely. Yet now the street was filled with kneeling figures.
Samit Saint was clearly pleased.
"You are a good lowly creature. You always remember that I do not walk the same ground as filth. And you even have a mermaid. Very good."
He licked his lips impatiently.
"The last one was too fragile. Died after just a month in the tank. I hope this one lasts longer. I should show it to Holton when I return. Such a rare slave."
The shop owner walked off the carpet.
Even the guards, members of CP, stayed off it.
Because in their eyes, everyone else was beneath them.
The shop owner seized the moment.
"Capturing mermaids has become increasingly difficult. This one was only possible thanks to someone… but he has been captured by the Marines. I heard it was Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"Hm?"
Samit stopped.
Inside the bubble helmet was a middle-aged man. His understanding of life was shallow, but he understood the implication.
Then he shrugged.
"The Marines? They are just dogs we raise. Serving us is their purpose. A mere vice admiral? I will have them release him."
He paused.
Then looked at the shop owner.
"But you understand the consequences of deceiving us, don't you?"
"That man is good at catching mermaids, yes? When this one dies, you will provide another."
Sweat poured down the shop owner's face.
Taking shortcuts always came with a price.
Celestial Dragons were his greatest backing.
And his greatest threat.
Auction houses in the lawless zones could survive because Celestial Dragons needed them.
They paid well, even if they occasionally killed staff.
But someone like him…
Could be killed at any moment.
Without resistance.
Samit walked faster, his expression growing twisted.
The memory of the last mermaid he tortured to death excited him.
Too fragile.
It died before he was satisfied.
Creatures that died before pleasing him were sinful.
This time…
He would try something new.
The tail.
Maybe cut it off.
Or make her eat it.
His breathing grew heavier as he imagined it.
Then,
He stopped.
A figure stood ahead, calmly stepping on the red carpet.
"A filthy human dares to stand before me!"
Rowan, cloaked, raised his head slightly.
His eyes were just as excited.
"I've been looking for a big one all month. Looks like all my luck came together today… Saint Jeygorucia Samit."
Hearing his full name, Samit froze for a moment.
Then he raised a golden pistol.
"You may die now."
"Bang!"
The bullet shot out.
It missed.
"Still using that gun."
Rowan's voice came from behind him.
The guards reacted instantly.
Gunfire erupted.
None of the bullets hit.
"Shave!"
A CP agent rushed forward, finger gun ready.
"Crack."
His head was grabbed.
His finger snapped.
With a slam, Rowan smashed him into the red carpet.
The skull shattered.
"Stop him!"
The command rang out.
All CP agents attacked.
They knew.
If the Celestial Dragon died, they would too.
Black Armament Haki coated their attacks.
Their speed increased.
Still, They were slapped away.
Attacks struck Rowan's back.
Blocked.
Finger guns that could pierce stone failed to penetrate.
"You've gotten too comfortable. You can't protect him."
Rowan's hand swept forward.
A throat was cut halfway through.
Blood sprayed across the carpet.
He moved again.
And again.
Each flash of movement dropped another CP agent.
Soon, the red carpet was soaked in blood.
Rowan wiped his hand.
Then looked at the shop owner.
"Oh right. You too."
The man collapsed, scrambling backward.
"You'll die! You'll definitely die! An admiral will come! The signal has already been sent!"
Rowan stepped forward.
Gunshots rang out again behind him.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Samit's face twisted.
"You human! How dare you not kneel!"
Rowan paused.
So even now…
That was what he cared about?
As Saint Saturn once said, their perception was entirely different.
They did not see humans as the same species.
They called them humans because they believed themselves to be gods.
Inferior.
Different.
That was how they saw everyone else.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, the shop owner lunged.
A dagger coated in Armament Haki stabbed toward Rowan's back.
"Die!"
It missed.
Rowan grabbed his neck from behind.
"Ambition awakened your haki. But as a dog of the Celestial Dragons, you were never going to amount to anything."
"To run the largest trafficking shop here, you were never ordinary."
He twisted.
"Crack."
The neck snapped.
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