Yuno strolled leisurely around the Sabaody Archipelago. Originally, he had planned to visit Rayleigh for a proper conversation. After all, he had paid for him at the auction—"In a sense, I bought you. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to simply walk away like that?"
Though he hadn't personally handed over the money, he and Doflamingo were allies. Surely Doflamingo wouldn't quibble over a mere ten million berries. Considering Yuno had already contributed one billion, another ten or twenty million shouldn't matter.
But after thinking it through, he decided against it. Judging by Rayleigh's earlier display, the old man's strength may have declined, but not by much. If things turned violent and Rayleigh decided to get serious, it would end badly.
So Yuno abandoned the idea.
After wandering across several islands, he left the lawless groves and entered the bustling commercial district.
Yet, as he walked, the once lively street ahead suddenly fell silent. The chatter and laughter cut off as though someone had pressed pause.
Looking ahead, Yuno saw the bustling crowd split and retreat to the sides. Civilians knelt down with their heads lowered, trembling.
The silence was suffocating. No one dared to breathe too loudly.
Seeing the scene, Yuno chuckled. Those idiots again?
The so-called rulers of the world—the Celestial Dragons.
At the end of the street, a lavish bubble car approached. Inside sat a strikingly pretty female Celestial Dragon with long blond hair tied in a bun, a bubble hood covering her head. Dozens of bodyguards in black suits marched in formation around her.
"I finally made it down from the Holy Land, yet nothing interesting has happened," said Margarita Palace with a bored tone. Resting lazily in her plush seat, she lifted the pistol in her hand.
A displeased expression flickered across her face as she spotted a civilian. Without hesitation, she fired.
The bullet pierced a large man's shoulder, drawing a muffled scream. Gritting his teeth, he quickly bit his tongue to silence himself, collapsing in pain. He knew that if he made too much noise, he was as good as dead.
Around him, the people knelt lower, their bodies trembling. They had seen this scene too many times. Resistance only ever led to death.
The air was thick with fear.
But then—clack… clack…
The steady sound of footsteps echoed. Someone was walking forward, unhurried.
From her bubble car, Margarita noticed the sound and turned her gaze.
There, amidst the kneeling crowd, a lone figure strode calmly. A slender man in a black-and-white mask, moving at a relaxed pace, completely indifferent to the oppressive atmosphere.
Her expression darkened. Her pretty face twisted with fury as she shouted:
"Untouchable! How dare you stand in my presence?! Get down on your knees!"
Gasps spread among the civilians. Someone dared to defy a Celestial Dragon? They peeked up cautiously and finally saw the man clearly—Yuno.
At Margarita's outburst, Yuno stopped—not from fear, but because he had noticed something else.
From the opposite end of the street, another Celestial Dragon appeared. This one wore a grotesque cannon-shaped mask and was also flanked by dozens of bodyguards.
At the same time, countless Marines rushed in, quickly surrounding the entire area.
But when several Marines recognized Yuno, their faces went pale.
"Be careful! That's a pirate! Quincy pirate with a bounty of over 180 million berries!"
Shock rippled through the bystanders.
No wonder he's so arrogant—he's a pirate of that level…
Even the Celestial Dragons froze in mild surprise. But their ignorance was absolute; they hardly understood what a pirate even was.
Margarita snorted disdainfully, "So what if you're a pirate? Do you dare attack us? Lowlife, kneel this instant—or I'll have an admiral capture you and turn you into my slave!"
But before the words settled, the other Celestial Dragon spoke up with irritation.
"Margarita, that slave is mine. I claimed him first."
Upon seeing this incredibly ugly Celestial Dragon, Margarita Palace's eyes flashed with disdain.
"So it's you, you loser—Rolly Richard. Get out of here!"
"What did you say?"
"Need I say it again?"
The two of them spoke as if they had already decided Yuno was their property.
Meanwhile, the nearby Marine tensed. They weren't fools like the Celestial Dragons; they knew how terrifying Quincy could be.
He'd defeated Doflamingo—ruthless didn't begin to cover it.
"Heh…"
A light laugh rose from the crowd, followed by Yuno's calm voice: "I've heard for a long time that the Celestial Dragons are a bunch of idiots. Seeing you now, it's true."
Silence. A sharp, heavy stillness fell over the crowd.
Everyone who heard it was stunned.
They stared at Yuno in shock. He had actually said it—calling the Celestial Dragons idiots—right to their faces. Even if someone carried a bounty over 180 million berries, you didn't just say that and walk away.
As expected, the two Celestial Dragons flew into a rage. Margarita Palace raised her pistol and fired at Yuno.
"Damn you! What did you just say? How dare you?"
With a bang, the bullet whistled toward him.
Yuno tilted his head, letting it slip past, and smiled.
In a blur, he stepped like a ghost and landed atop Margarita Palace's bubble-coated palanquin. He seized her by the neck and hoisted her up. Watching her expression twist with fear, he said slowly, "Good. You dare shoot at me? Celestial Dragons? To others, you're gods; to me, you're ants."
"Quincy, release Lady Margarita at once! She is a Celestial Dragon—a World Noble! If you harm her, the Marines won't let you go, and neither will the World Government!"
A rear admiral, sweating, shouted the warning.
Yuno turned slowly, still holding Margarita Palace. "This is your justice? Are you on the side of justice—or on the side of the Celestial Dragons? No wonder people call you the World Government's lapdogs. They're right."
Though Yuno currently carried Marine credentials, he couldn't stomach this. Justice isn't justice if it favors one side—justice that blurs right and wrong is no justice at all.
From his time among the Marines, he knew many still held a sincere sense of justice, and he didn't despise them. In fact, he wanted them to uphold true justice, not bend to the World Government's will.
But he didn't have the strength for that yet. Step by step—he would get there.
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