"Who's there?!"
Startled, Saint Charloss frantically raised the gun in his hand and aimed it toward the fork in the road behind him.
"Protect Saint Charloss!"
The Celestial Dragon guards immediately rushed forward, surrounding Saint Charloss in the center.
"This man killed someone who fought beside you right in front of your eyes, yet you still choose to serve him like obedient dogs?"
From the darkness at the intersection...
Tap, tap, tap...
A shadow slowly stepped forward, his voice carrying a faint sigh.
"Your lives are truly pathetic."
As the figure emerged completely from the shadows, a tall man wearing a pirate captain's coat appeared before the guards and Saint Charloss. A long nodachi rested casually over his shoulder, and a spotted fur hat covered his head.
"You are..."
The guards stiffened the moment they recognized him.
"A pirate Supernova from the Worst Generation, the man worth five hundred million Berries, the Surgeon of Death, Trafalgar Law!"
"Yeah, that's me."
Law tilted his head slightly and looked at the tense guards with a relaxed smile.
"No need to get so nervous. I'm only here for an appointment. I just happened to pass by and witness an entertaining scene."
"An appointment? Do you really expect us to believe that nonsense?!"
The guards tightened their grips on their weapons, forcing themselves to stay composed despite the fear in their eyes.
"You're a pirate. Entering a place forbidden to pirates can only mean you're plotting something!"
"It really is just an appointment."
Law's grin widened as excitement flickered across his eyes.
"I received an invitation from someone I couldn't refuse, for a very interesting gathering."
His smile deepened.
"From what I heard, quite a few famous pirates have crossed the seas just to attend this banquet..."
Bang!
Before Law could finish speaking, gunshots suddenly rang out.
Bang! Bang!
Hidden behind the guards, Saint Charloss had secretly fired several shots from his pistol.
Pfft!
The bullets pierced through Law's body, and the force sent him crashing violently into the wall behind him. Blood splattered across the stone surface.
"I... I actually hit him?!"
Saint Charloss stared blankly for a moment before bursting into hysterical laughter.
"I killed him! I personally killed a pirate worth five hundred million Berries! Hahahaha! I really am amazing!"
"Is he dead?"
Unlike Saint Charloss, the guards remained wary.
Bang! Bang!
They continued firing at the motionless body lying against the wall.
Experienced as they were, they knew pirates worth hundreds of millions were monsters. There was no way someone like Trafalgar Law would die so easily, especially from ordinary bullets.
"Stop shooting, you idiots!"
Saint Charloss angrily stomped his feet.
"Are you trying to steal my achievement?! That's my prey! I killed him myself! Stop ruining my trophy!"
"..."
"Understood, Saint Charloss."
The guards reluctantly lowered their guns.
"What five hundred million pirate? In the end, he's still nothing more than prey before me!"
Saint Charloss arrogantly pointed toward the corpse.
"Bring his body with us. I want Father and Sister Shalria to see the pirate I killed myself!"
"Yes, Saint Charloss."
One of the guards cautiously approached the body, unease filling his heart.
The corpse remained motionless on the ground, the spotted hat covering its face.
"Is he really dead...?"
The guard slowly used his blade to lift the hat away.
The moment the face beneath was revealed, his eyes widened in horror.
"Poqi?!"
The body lying there wasn't Trafalgar Law.
It was their fellow guard, Poqi.
"Watch out! He's still alive!"
The guard immediately turned around and shouted at the others in panic.
At that same moment, a calm voice sounded from directly behind Saint Charloss.
"Celestial Dragons truly are disgusting."
Saint Charloss froze.
"Nobody move. If any of you twitch, his head comes off."
Shring!
A long blade emitting a chilling coldness rested against Saint Charloss's neck.
The icy killing intent made his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
"Saint Charloss!"
"You filthy pirate! Release him immediately!"
Only then did the guards realize that the man standing beside Saint Charloss was no longer one of them.
At some point, Trafalgar Law had switched places with the guard beside him.
"Y-You damned commoner!"
Saint Charloss's legs shook violently, but he still tried to shout arrogantly.
"How dare you threaten a descendant of the world's creators?! An Admiral is already on the way to this island! He'll kill you! He'll kill you for this!"
"Oh? An Admiral is already coming?"
Law's expression became slightly more serious, though the faint smile on his face remained.
"Looks like your value as a hostage just increased, you disgusting Celestial Dragon."
===
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