The forces stationed on either side of the Red Line, the Golden Hair Pirates and the Kuja, successively received retreat orders from Dr. Vegapunk. The message stated that Alucard had already returned, providing no further details.
Upon learning this, the Golden Hair Pirates returned to Sabaody Archipelago to await news on Blackbeard. Meanwhile, under Hancock's command, the Kuja eagerly set sail for the Immortal Seas.
"The 'National Treasure' held by the Celestial Dragons? I have indeed heard of it," Dr. Vegapunk said, nodding as he listened to Alucard's recount of the battle within the dim inner halls of the ancient castle. "However, I have never had the chance to understand it in detail."
"You know nothing at all?"
Alucard sat upon his throne at the top of the dais, his voice laced with a hint of suspicion. Who was Dr. Vegapunk? He was the genius scientist most valued by the World Government. Could something of that scale have been built without him being involved in the slightest?
"I truly do not know," Dr. Vegapunk replied with a wry smile and a shake of his head. "If I were privy to something that vital, I would never have been allowed to go to Punk Hazard with Caesar for research. Instead, I would have been kept under permanent lock and key within the Government's inner sanctum."
Alucard considered this and realized it made sense. Given the Government's paranoid nature, having ruthlessly wiped out Ohara with a Buster Call just for researching history, if Dr. Vegapunk truly knew the inner workings of such a secret, he would never have been permitted to step foot off the soil of Mariejois.
Suddenly, a pool of blood rose behind Alucard. The black hound Baskerville emerged, its maw stretching wide as it vomited out eight people. The group looked around in a state of shock, barely realizing where they were.
These were the eight Celestial Dragons Alucard had snatched from the Holy Land, led by Saint Rosward. Five of them were the current heads of the families among the nineteen royal lineages residing in Mariejois.
"Oh, Captain, these are..."
Dr. Vegapunk looked as if he had discovered a rare treasure.
"These fellows ought to know something."
Alucard descended from his throne and placed his right index finger between Saint Rosward's eyes. "What is the secret National Treasure the Government has been keeping?"
The other seven Celestial Dragons watched Rosward. Among them, his son Saint Charlos shouted while wiping snot from his nose, "You can't say it, Father! You mustn't say it!"
"Ugh, how noisy. Take a rest, young master."
Dr. Vegapunk was in a state of high curiosity and found Charlos's interference immensely irritating. He pulled a syringe from the pocket of his lab coat and plunged it ruthlessly into the man's neck. The next second, the world became quiet.
"Ma... Mantra..." [1]
Under the control of Alucard's "Hypnosis" ability, Saint Rosward revealed what he knew. Alucard finally learned the true name of the so-called National Treasure—Mantra.
"Be more specific," Alucard commanded.
But this time, there was no response.
Dr. Vegapunk blinked and looked at Alucard. "Captain... it seems... he only knows that much."
"Useless!"
A look of intense irritation crossed Alucard's face. He drew his white pistol, Casull, and blew Saint Rosward's head apart in a single shot. The remaining six Celestial Dragons erupted into a chorus of screams.
What use was a family head who only knew a name?
He killed him! He actually killed a Celestial Dragon!
Alucard pressed the muzzle of his gun against the neck of Hadilly. This woman, now over fifty, had been the master of Tesoro, more than a decade ago, and she had a slight history with Alucard.
"Hadilly, don't make this difficult for me."
Alucard's tone was calm, but the sight of a gun pressed against her throat did nothing to keep the woman calm.
Hadilly had long since abandoned her habit of hiding the lower half of her face with a fan. She stammered, "I... my understanding of Mantra is... is not much more than Rosward's..."
Seeing Alucard's finger tighten on the trigger, she shrieked in terror, "B-but! Every six months, we Celestial Dragons undergo blood tests! We deliver a specific amount of fresh blood to the Gorosei. Sixteen of the families do this. Only the three families at the very top have never been seen doing so!"
"..."
The blood of the Celestial Dragons?
Indeed, the Celestial Dragons prided themselves on their "Creator" lineage, but what was so special about their blood that it could be traded with the Gorosei?
Alucard did not lower the gun from Hadilly's neck. Sobbing with snot and tears, she begged for mercy, "P-please, let me go! I don't even know what happened... this... sob..."
Watching a wrinkled old woman wail in front of him was not a pleasant experience. However, even if Hadilly and the others knew only this much, Alucard had gained significant intelligence.
Aside from the National Treasure's name, Mantra, Alucard now realized the Celestial Dragon bloodline was not as simple as being "descendants of the creators." Furthermore, these eight he had captured were not the true decision-makers of the World Noble families; they were merely parasites living off their lineage.
The three families at the very top were likely connected to those two old men Alucard had encountered twenty years ago—the Titan Fruit and Swap-Swap Fruit users whose strength surpassed that of an Admiral.
Alucard withdrew his gun. Before Hadilly could rejoice, he called out, "Someone, come here."
Soon, a dozen pirates from the Immortal Pirates, led by Stragus, entered the hall. They froze in shock at the sight of several Celestial Dragons, taking nearly half a minute to snap out of it.
"Vegapunk, aren't you fond of research?"
Alucard sat back on his throne, crossing his legs. He looked at the doctor and said, "Study them well."
Dr. Vegapunk rubbed his hands together, looking at the one dead and seven living Celestial Dragons with excitement. "This is a truly rare set of materials, isn't it? I can't wait to begin the dissections."
Hearing the word "dissection," the seven Celestial Dragons turned pale with terror. Two of the older ones fainted on the spot.
"What are you standing there for? Move them to the Research Department! Don't let the dead one go to waste!" Dr. Vegapunk barked at Stragus and the others.
[1] I know Enel has "Mantra" but its kanji (心綱) means Heart Outline/Principle. The Mantra here (真言) means True Word and are the characters mostly used in Buddhist scriptures.