Everyone knew what kind of existence Kaido was—calling him the most terrifying madman wasn't an exaggeration. To savor the taste of death, he'd provoked and fought practically every powerhouse out there; he'd even shown up at Navy Headquarters multiple times to make trouble… And you want to extort him?
King and Jack were both stunned by Creed's words.
Creed couldn't care less. Since Kaido wanted his Three Calamities to kidnap him for a meeting, he'd simply flip it—kidnap the Three Calamities and make Kaido come to him.
Reciprocation mattered—and Creed had a temper of his own.
Though Kaido was an unknown horror, Creed didn't particularly dread him. In fact, he was eyeing the SSSS-class powers on Kaido's body; if he could use this chance to extract one, that would be perfect.
"Who knows—under Kaido's pressure, I might break through another base attribute and truly step into Yonko-tier."
As Creed was musing, an angry bellow rang from not far away: "Damned lower-class trash! How dare you run wild in Gran Tesoro! W-what have you done to my beloved Golden King Hotel!"
Creed and the others turned. They saw a hideous man pointing this way—fish-dead eyes, a transparent bubble-hood clamped over his head, snot dangling from his nose.
A few men in white suits followed behind him, each emanating a formidable aura.
Others might not recognize him, but Creed did at a glance: wasn't this the Celestial Dragon who got sent flying by Luffy in the original—Charlos?
He was the very picture of a Tenryuubito: twelve wives, and he'd still seize any woman he fancied—boyfriend or not. He liked to collar the women he "owned" and lead them by chains. The moment he tired of one, he'd have his men send her away…or kill her.
Calling him rotten to the core barely covered it.
"Celestial Dragon?!"
King was a little startled. As one of a Yonko's signature lieutenants, even he hesitated at crossing a Tenryuubito—offending them meant offending the Navy Admirals.
Creed and Redfield said nothing for the moment; they wanted to see how this would play.
"Lord Charlos, they're pirates wanted by the World Government! They destroyed my Golden King Hotel to steal the Heavenly Gold—please, you must make this right for me!"
Bloodied head to toe, Tesoro staggered out and jabbed a finger at Creed's group, cursing loudly.
Creed had put the fear into him, but he couldn't swallow this. He decided to use the brainless Charlos as a shield.
After speaking, he retreated at once. He didn't really think Creed—who once rampaged through Mary Geoise—would fear the Celestial Dragons; he only wanted Charlos to stall Creed long enough for him to run.
"Filthy scum! You even dare covet our Tenjōkin (Heavenly Gold)! Men! Seize them all! If they resist—kill them!"
At the words "covet Heavenly Gold," Charlos nearly jumped in rage.
"Young master! That man is Creed—the one our World Government posted a three-billion bounty on. And the three on the ground are the Beasts Pirates' Three Calamities."
The CP0 escorts had sharp eyes. Realizing who stood before them, they hurried to warn Charlos.
Are you kidding? Creed had even chopped down a World Government building; a few of them rushing in would be suicide.
"I don't care—go! And call Navy HQ—have them send an Admiral! No one leaves today! Every last one of them gets captured!"
Charlos, who'd never tasted setbacks, would never let this go. In his mind, aside from the Celestial Dragons, everyone's life and death rested in his palm.
"Young master!"
A CP0 agent braced himself to advise restraint—only to take a slap.
"No living soul defies a Celestial Dragon!"
"…Yes!"
Rage flashed in the agent's eyes, but thoughts of his family back in Mary Geoise forced him to swallow it down. He turned to face Creed and company.
"Hahaha—Celestial Dragons, huh? You're truly disgusting creatures. Worse than maggots."
King laughed and forced himself unsteadily to his feet.
Even if this drew an Admiral, so be it. Being defeated by a stronger Creed—he'd accept death without complaint. But a Tenryuubito who could be crushed with one finger trying to take his life? Keep dreaming.
"Sorry. You're a hostage now. Please don't move around and cause…unnecessary misunderstandings."
Creed stepped forward and stopped in front of him.
"Ching—ching—ching!"
CP0 drew their longswords in unison. Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) sheathed their bodies; Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) spiked to the limit. Facing this great demon, their confidence wavered—but HQ had been notified. All they needed was to stall for time.
Except—
Creed merely glared at them.
Don!
It felt like a colossal hammer smashed their hearts. Pain surged; thoughts scattered; an invisible pressure crushed in from all directions. Their strength drained away all at once.
When awareness returned, they realized they were already on their knees or sprawled on the ground—limbs limp, strength utterly gone.
"Ha… Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki)?!"
"How can Conqueror's Haki be on this level?!"
"This is Yonko-class Conqueror's Haki!"
Only then did they understand what had hit them, souls nearly flying from their bodies. None of them had ever witnessed Haoshoku on such a terrifying scale.
"D-don't kill me! Please!"
As for ordinary human Charlos, he fared worst. He collapsed like mud, a foul stain spreading between his legs, stench choking the air.
Tears and snot streamed down as he kowtowed like a beaten cur—no trace of his earlier arrogance. That single blast of Haoshoku shattered his mental defenses; even if he were carried home today, he'd be a broken man thereafter.
But Charlos wasn't Creed's target. His killing intent had already locked onto a certain someone trying to slip away…
(End of Chapter)
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