The towering King Neptune was the first to notice the approaching group of people, their oppressive aura rolling toward them like a wave.
The Celestial Dragon leading them was dressed so extravagantly that Neptune's face instantly turned grim.
"Vice Admiral Rorschach!"
He looked nervously toward the man at the front of their delegation.
"Don't worry, Neptune," Rorschach said calmly, "I'll handle this."
He gestured for Neptune to stay put, then stepped forward on his own to meet the oncoming crowd—more than a hundred people rushing forward like a storm.
"This is bad—it's the Celestial Dragons," Cobra muttered grimly, then turned to his retainer. "Bell, bring the gifts and follow me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Bell lifted several beautifully wrapped gift boxes and followed closely behind Cobra as they moved toward Rorschach.
"Neptune, stay here. I'll go too," Popla whispered, waving for the massive Andre behind Sierra to follow.
Andre carried in his arms several golden statues inlaid with dazzling jewels—treasures clearly worth a fortune. He had come prepared.
"Rorschach.""Brother Rorschach."
Among the group, Law and Hibari looked the most tense. Both were terrified that Rorschach might lose control again and cause another disaster—like the incident at Sabaody.
But this wasn't Sabaody. If trouble started here, there'd be no easy escape.
Then came the ugly, grating voices:
"Shirahoshi! My Shirahoshi!""The Mermaid Princess! I want her! None of you better try to steal her from me!""Charlmarco Saint, you're too old for this! You can't handle a mermaid—let me have her! I'm young, I can still play!""Nonsense! With a body that huge, how would you 'play' with her, Sortris Saint? Get out of my way! I happen to like young, big-bodied exotic types!""Freya Saint! What are you doing here, woman? You already have several mermaids in your collection—stop meddling!"
Ahead of Rorschach, several hideous-looking Celestial Dragons rode in on the backs of slaves crawling on all fours. They hurried forward as though afraid someone else might reach Shirahoshi before them.
Even when they saw Rorschach standing in the middle of the road, they didn't stop. It was as if he didn't exist.
Rorschach reined in his killing intent, forcing a gentle, spring-like smile onto his face.
His fingers twitched slightly at his side, and the air at his feet began to stir—flowing and compressing until it became thick and viscous, like water.
Under the mounting air pressure, dust swirled, and the stampeding mass of slaves began to slow down, their bodies growing heavy—as if invisible hands had gripped their legs, dragging them down.
"Useless trash! Run faster!"
The Celestial Dragons, seeing their prize—Shirahoshi—so close, grew impatient.
As the slaves slowed further, the nobles' rage erupted.
One Celestial Dragon grabbed the whip from the slave's back and struck mercilessly.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The barbed whip lashed across the slaves' exposed skin, tearing flesh open. Blood splattered on the white stone ground, blooming like crimson flowers.
Behind them, Shirahoshi's face turned deathly pale. She ducked behind her father Neptune, trembling and unable to watch.
This was the Holy Land—Rorschach knew he couldn't go too far. He merely manipulated the air beneath the slaves' waists, increasing the density to slow their movements until they finally came to a halt a dozen meters before him.
"Honored Lords," Rorschach said smoothly, stepping forward with his polite smile, "may I ask what assistance you require?"
His demeanor was calm and elegant, and his handsome features made three of the younger Celestial Dragons blink in surprise—momentarily stunned.
It was as though Rorschach's smile carried some subtle power that clouded their minds.
In truth, it did.
He had released a trace of bioelectricity, stimulating the endocrine systems in their bodies to trigger hormone releases that subtly influenced their emotions—one of the abilities Rorschach had discovered in his deeper mastery of electric power.
He had once used the same ability back at Branch 177, stimulating adrenaline in wounded soldiers to keep them alive.
Human emotions—desire, fear, attraction—all stemmed from the body's hormones, and electricity could control them.
Now, two of the male Celestial Dragons and one woman were under its influence, their expressions softening as strange feelings stirred in their hearts.
But one—an obese, elderly man seated on a giant slave's back—remained unaffected.
He sneered coldly. "Filthy commoner! How dare you stand before gods without kneeling? What gives you the right to speak to us?"
Rorschach stood tall, unflinching. "I am Rorschach, candidate for Marine Admiral. I have been granted permission by the World Government to stand before the World Nobles without kneeling—honorable Charlmarco Saint."
"Impudent dog!" Charlmarco Saint roared. "I don't care what the World Government says! I order you to kneel! Now move aside—I'm going to capture the Mermaid Princess!"
He kicked the slave below him. The massive giant carried him forward until he stood right before Rorschach.
Charlmarco raised his whip high and brought it down toward Rorschach's head.
Crack!
The whip cracked sharply in the air. Rorschach didn't move—he stood there calmly, letting it strike.
"Heh heh! That'll teach you for blocking my way! I'll whip you to death!"
Charlmarco grinned cruelly—then froze.
The whip had shattered in his hand. Only the handle remained; the barbs and cords had completely disintegrated.
"You—!" The Celestial Dragon's face twisted with fury. Trembling, he prepared to order his giant slave to attack.
But then—
"Charlmarco Saint! Charlmarco Saint! Haha, do you remember me?"
Cobra, smiling broadly, hurried forward, stopping beside the giant slave.
Charlmarco squinted down at him, snorting. "You? Cobra. What is it—are you trying to defend this commoner?"
Cobra smiled deferentially. "No, no, not at all, Charlmarco Saint. How could I? I simply caught sight of your distinguished self and had to come greet you. Bell! Bring the gifts."
He took several gift boxes from Bell's hands and presented them respectfully. "Charlmarco Saint, I heard your wives were fond of perfumes from my Saint Ting Island. So I had the finest factories produce these exclusive, handcrafted violet perfumes—made from the most precious ingredients in the world. I'm sure your ladies will love them."
"Oh? Not bad," Charlmarco said, his expression easing slightly. "My fourteen wives did mention wanting Saint Ting perfumes. You've done well, Cobra. But…"
His eyes hardened again, glaring at Rorschach.
Just then, another round figure waddled forward—King Popla, his face plastered with a fawning grin. Behind him, Andre presented a glittering gold statue, while Popla himself produced a small glass bottle filled with golden liquid.
"Charlmarco Saint! Do you remember me? I'm Popla, King of the Saint Bayang Kingdom! For this World Conference, I brought you a legendary relic—a golden statue from the ancient city of Shandora! And this…" He held up the bottle proudly. "This is the Ultimate Divine Oil, distilled from the essence of countless mighty beasts. A priceless treasure that restores vitality and vigor—fit for a god such as yourself!"
"Ultimate… Divine Oil?" Charlmarco's eyes gleamed, his expression softening.
"Exactly," Popla said with a sly grin. "Just one drop, and you'll be stronger than an Elbaf giant."
"Heh heh… Excellent. Excellent! I like this gift, Popla." Charlmarco chuckled, beaming as he accepted the bottle like a sacred treasure.
Seeing that the Celestial Dragons were distracted, Hibari and the others seized the chance to lead Shirahoshi and Neptune around the walkway, attempting to bypass the group.
Meanwhile, Cobra and Popla kept flattering Charlmarco to keep him occupied, both subtly signaling Rorschach to retreat.
Rorschach nodded slightly, suppressing the bioelectric charge he had been about to release.
He was just about to turn away when Charlmarco, fondling the bottle of Divine Oil with a lecherous grin, pointed at Shirahoshi in the distance.
"Heh heh heh… Perfect. With this divine oil, I'll finally enjoy a taste of that mermaid! Go! Catch her for me!"
Everyone's faces darkened instantly.
Neptune and his sons moved to protect Shirahoshi, trying to hurry her away.
But being merfolk with massive, cumbersome tails, moving quickly on land was nearly impossible.
Though the Holy Land's rules forbade using Devil Fruit powers, Law was already preparing to violate that order—to teleport them all away with the Op-Op Fruit.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground trembled as the giant slave carrying Charlmarco surged forward, dragging several others holding nets and ropes. They charged straight for Shirahoshi.
Rorschach's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand slightly—ready to strike Charlmarco with a precise bioelectric pulse.
Given the Celestial Dragon's gluttonous, degenerate condition, the shock wouldn't kill him—just send his heart into cardiac arrest, leaving him unconscious.
And since bioelectricity existed naturally in the body, no one would trace it back to him.
But just as Rorschach was about to release it, something caught his attention. He paused, lowering his hand, turning toward the distant road leading up to Pangaea Castle.
There, a Celestial Dragon without a bubble helmet was rushing toward them, carried by a one-armed CP agent using Moonwalk to speed across the sky.
In the blink of an eye, they were upon them.
Before anyone could react, the newcomer drew a heavy staff from his waist, gripped it in both hands, and swung it down at Charlmarco's face.
BAM!
The blow shattered Charlmarco's bubble helmet, smashing directly into his pudgy face.
"Charlmarco! You disgusting old bastard! You're as vile as the dead Rozwald family! As long as I'm here, I won't let you lay a hand on Princess Shirahoshi!"
(End of Chapter)
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