"Blegh... you worthless snake bastard! How dare you throw my head into... blegh!"
Saint Charloss lay sprawled across the ground, his pale face twisting as he dry-heaved nonstop.
Cero had already suppressed his Devil Fruit ability with Haki, allowing his head to reconnect to his body.
Although the guards had wiped the filth from Saint Charloss's face, the disgusting smell seemed permanently embedded in his skin, constantly reminding him of the humiliation he had suffered.
"Blegh..."
"Lord Saint Charloss, please stop talking!"
The nearby Celestial Dragon Guards looked terrified as they nervously glanced toward Admiral Cero, whose faint smile felt strangely unsettling.
"Please settle down first."
One guard gathered his courage and carefully leaned closer.
"Lord Saint Charloss, there must be some misunderstanding. Admiral Cero surely didn't throw you in there intentionally..."
"Misunderstanding?!"
Saint Charloss immediately exploded in rage.
"What misunderstanding could there possibly be?! Cero, you filthy bastard, you deserve to die!"
After retching several more times, Saint Charloss raised his head and glared hatefully at Cero, who stood in the distance with an expression of obvious disgust.
"Trash like you are still commoners in the end! Even Marine Admirals are nothing more than obedient slaves serving the Celestial Dragons!"
Saint Charloss pointed viciously at him.
"I'll make you pay for this, Cero!"
"That's true."
Cero casually smiled.
"So what if I'm an Admiral? Aren't the Marines just watchdogs raised by the Celestial Dragons? That's the privilege your kind enjoys in this world."
"I am a descendant of the creators! A descendant of God!"
With the guards helping him stand, Saint Charloss sneered arrogantly.
"We Celestial Dragons are born superior to all of you filthy commoners. Don't think becoming an Admiral allows you to stand among us."
"Our status is beyond your reach! You will forever remain beneath us!"
He bared his teeth viciously.
"We command, and you obey!"
"You dared humiliate me like this. Even as an Admiral, you must be punished!"
As he ranted, Saint Charloss angrily shouted toward the Den Den Mushi being held nearby.
"Saint Figarland Garling, a Marine Admiral dared humiliate me like this! You must seek justice for me!"
"..."
The Den Den Mushi, styled with crescent-shaped hair, glanced coldly at Saint Charloss before shifting its gaze toward Cero.
"Cero, do you understand your crime?"
The voice coming from the Den Den Mushi was calm, yet carried overwhelming authority.
Whoosh!
The moment they heard that voice, every Celestial Dragon Guard immediately dropped to their knees, bowing deeply in submission.
Zzt!
"..."
The guard holding the Den Den Mushi stared blankly at his now-empty hand.
In a single flash, the Den Den Mushi had already appeared in Cero's grasp.
"You! You!"
Saint Charloss pointed at Cero furiously, his entire body trembling.
"How dare you snatch the Den Den Mushi while I'm speaking with Saint Figarland Garling?!"
"Relax, Saint Charloss."
Cero leaned casually against the wall.
"The person this gentleman wants to speak with is me."
"Cero..."
The Den Den Mushi stared at him indifferently.
"Yeah, it's me."
Cero smiled lazily at the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"Oh? Saint Garling himself. What an honor. Now tell me, what exactly is this so-called crime?"
"..."
The Den Den Mushi narrowed its eyes coldly.
"I dislike your tone. Is this how Akainu manages his Admirals?"
"Oh? Using the Fleet Admiral to pressure me?"
Cero chuckled mockingly.
"I'm terrified."
His mocking voice traveled clearly through the Den Den Mushi.
"The Marines have grown far too arrogant. You've forgotten your place."
Inside a luxurious chamber within Mary Geoise atop the Red Line, Saint Figarland Garling sat in an ornate chair dressed in elegant knight attire.
One hand slowly polished a longsword resting across his lap while his legs remained crossed.
"It is not the Marines who possess the authority to govern this world."
His cold voice echoed through the room.
"The Celestial Dragons granted the Marines the authority to maintain order on our behalf."
"And now, you dare disrespect your masters. That is treason."
A capital offense.
"Cero, remember your position."
"To us Celestial Dragons, even Admirals are merely powerful guard dogs."
Schwing!
A sharp flash of light reflected from the polished blade.
Garling's arrogant and emotionless face mirrored across the sword's surface.
"Do you think this is a negotiation?"
His voice turned colder.
"I am giving you an order."
Click!
With a clean motion, Garling sheathed his sword and slowly stood up.
Looking down at the Den Den Mushi on the table, he spoke indifferently.
"Cero, are you planning to betray your masters?"