Whenever Celestial Dragons travel, the World Government and the Marines conduct thorough and rigorous inspections of the destination.
In fact, they often spend months beforehand clearing out pirates, gangs and other criminals from the area.
Any factors that might pose a threat to the Celestial Dragons must be thoroughly eradicated.
But this time, the Celestial Dragons' trip to Sabaody Archipelago was entirely unexpected.
The reason left the World Government's reception staff utterly speechless...
"What do you mean they're coming to Sabaody to buy a batch of slaves because there aren't any good ones available?"
"And they said we, who serve as dogs for the Celestial Dragons, are completely incompetent!"
"Ridiculous! After that massive purge, who would dare engage in slave trading on Sabaody Archipelago anymore?"
Two officials serving the Celestial Dragons walked down the streets of Grove 1, which had once been the largest slave trading hub in the entire sea.
But after the previous purge, describing it as sparsely populated wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Back then, nearly all the slave traders and their allied underworld groups had been wiped out by Vice Admiral Gion and her adjutant.
Now, Groves 1 through 29 had even shed their lawless reputation under the Marine's initiative, transforming into resettlement areas for homeless or temporarily displaced former slaves.
They had no fondness for the slave trade.
Though they served the Celestial Dragons, having witnessed too many slaves tortured to death by them, they couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.
After all, who knew if a single word from the Celestial Dragons might turn them from World Government officials into slaves with chains around their necks and brands on their backs?
"But saying that... given the Celestial Dragons' intelligence, they probably can't comprehend why those slave traders were purged by Vice Admiral Gion and her forces, right?"
"Even if they don't understand, it won't stop them from venting their anger on us when they find no slaves to buy."
The two grew increasingly despondent as they spoke.
This was an utterly unsolvable case.
As officials tasked with scouting for the Celestial Dragons, disappearing would bring the CP0—those demons hiding beneath white robes—down upon them.
Just as the two were at their wits' end, a tall figure suddenly blocked their path.
Looking up, they saw a giant albatross...
"Morgans? 'Big News' Morgans, one of the Underworld Emperors?"
Everyone knew that Big News Morgans, the power behind the World Economic Times, was a man solely obsessed with news.
He would never take bribes to report what he didn't want to, nor would he tolerate others controlling his coverage.
"Mr. Morgans, may we ask why you've stopped us?"
"That goes without saying. Stopping someone in the street must have a reason." Morgans said, wrapping his arms around the two World Noble attendants' shoulders and steering them towards Grove 13.
"Come on, let's go. The middle of the street isn't the place for conversation."
Whether they wanted to follow or not, he forcibly dragged them along.
Though primarily a journalist, he wasn't without combat skills.
Being a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, his physical strength was nothing to scoff at either.
Half-inviting, half-coercing, he brought the two attendants to Grove 13, then craned his long bird neck left and right as if searching for something…
Suddenly, Morgans muttered and strode in a certain direction.
The two attendants lifted their heads and saw where he was headed—a somewhat hidden little bar with a sign that read: Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
This was clearly a shady establishment!
What kind of decent person would put "Rip-Off" right on the sign, damn it?!
They only dared to complain inwardly.
Who knew if voicing such thoughts might provoke this birdman's wrath and get them killed on the spot?
Morgans pushed open the door and a crisp chime of wind bells rang out.
Once inside, he shoved the two attendants forward before plopping down at the counter and addressing the woman polishing glasses behind it.
"Shakky, pour me a pure malt beer to steady my nerves!"
"Damn it! I'm a journalist! My hands are meant for risking my life to snap news photos and write earth-shattering headlines! Not for kidnapping!"
"Sure, I've done my fair share of abducting informants, but ever since the God Valley Incident, I haven't gotten my hands dirty !"
The woman he called "Shakky" was none other than the former empress of Amazon Lily, the ex-captain of the Kuja Pirates, who had retired from piracy while still in her prime.
She slid a perfectly poured beer towards Morgans.
"Heh, Morgans. You complain with your mouth, but your body's being awfully honest."
"Of course! If some non-bird freak with wings grabbed you by the beak and threatened you, you'd dust off your old skills too."
Morgans rolled his eyes.
From the corner, a woman clad in the traditional attire of Amazon Lily's empress lifted her head and looked at him.
"Tch. Still as spineless as ever, you damn bird."
Morgans frowned and turned—only to freeze in shock upon recognizing her face.
"After the God Valley Incident… didn't you vanish?"
A former member of the Rocks Pirates and the former empress of Amazon Lily —Gloriosa.
Though no longer young, she was only a few years older than Shakky, still maintaining the peerless elegance of her prime.
"I've always been here, just that no one could find me."
Gloriosa was about to speak again when the back door of the small tavern slowly creaked open.
A man in Revolutionary Army uniform entered, his pristine wings so holy they made one feel unworthy in comparison.
But it was the two men following behind him that made Gloriosa frown deeply.
The pillars who had defeated the Rocks Pirates.
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