Gion walked forward absentmindedly alongside the other Marines, her dark eyes clouded with confusion.
Ever since hearing from Momonga about the real way Darren governed the North Blue, everything she saw—this prosperity, this peace—felt almost like a dream.
In that haze, she suddenly remembered something Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru once told her.
> "Gion, we Marines may carry justice on our shoulders... but sometimes, justice is powerless on this sea."
"But why? Aren't we the strongest military force in the world?"
"We are—but this ocean is vast. The light of the seagull flag can't shine into every dark, filthy corner."
"You may not understand this yet. That's both a blessing... and a curse."
Gion looked hollow. Beside her, Tokikake also seemed deflated, forgetting to interact with the citizens entirely.
Soon, they arrived at a luxurious mansion.
It was clearly newly built—blue roof, white walls, trimmed gardens with decorative flower beds.
Outside the estate, a few hundred poorly equipped local militiamen had formed a security line.
"Useless trash!! Can't even handle something this simple!!"
A furious voice rang out from inside the mansion, followed by the sound of things being smashed.
Militiamen began to drop to their knees in waves, trembling and pale with fear.
Then a man emerged from the mansion—a figure draped in white silk, his head encased in a glass bubble, walking with arrogant authority. As he moved, the kneeling spread outward like ripples.
Saint Shaldes was furious.
He never imagined that this pleasure-filled "inspection tour" would end with him encountering that lunatic, Byrnndi World.
What infuriated him more was that some filthy commoner actually dared attack a World Government vessel—his ship, no less!
Most of his accompanying CP agents had died in that apocalyptic disaster at sea. Then a violent storm scattered the wreckage and washed him ashore on this island.
It was the most humiliating moment of his life.
The blond-haired Celestial Dragon gritted his teeth in fury.
He glanced at the two remaining CP agents behind him.
"Move, filth! Don't block my way!"
Annoyed, he kicked aside a kneeling militiaman. As he looked up, he saw a Marine in a white cape walking toward him.
"Saint Shaldes, I'm Momonga—Vice Commander of the 321st Branch of the North Blue Marines. By order of Marine HQ, I am here to ensure your personal safety."
Momonga stepped forward, saluted, and spoke with a blank expression.
Saint Shaldes cast him a sidelong glance and sneered with disdain.
"Oh? So the World Government's obedient little mutts have finally arrived."
"And what's this—just a vice commander? Where's your superior?"
Momonga clenched his fist... then released it. His voice was low and steady.
"Captain Darren is coordinating with the city government to transfer security duties. Until CP reinforcements arrive, the North Blue Marines will ensure your protection."
"Tch... I wasn't expecting much from you mutts anyway. You're barely good enough for guarding doghouses."
He waved a hand dismissively, ignoring Momonga's stiff expression, and looked around.
Then his eyes landed on Gion—and they lit up.
The greed and perversion in his gaze made Gion instinctively step back, her skin crawling with unease.
"Well, well, well... never expected to see such a beauty in the Marines..."
He leered at her, his eyes roaming up and down with open lust.
Momonga's face darkened slightly.
Tokikake's eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward, unconsciously.
They had all heard of the Celestial Dragons' twisted desires—and if he had truly set his sights on Gion...
"What a shame... she's a bit too old. So close, so close... You almost became my eighteenth wife! Hahahaha!!"
Saint Shaldes laughed obscenely, waggling his eyebrows and sneering at Gion.
"Let's go. I want some fun. Staying in this dump the past few days is killing me."
With a self-important stride, Saint Shaldes marched out of the mansion, surrounded by uneasy Marines.
"That damned bastard... He actually dared to lay eyes on you," Tokikake muttered angrily.
"I should be your husband, not him!"
Gion rolled her eyes and released her grip on her sword hilt. Deep down, though, she felt a wave of relief.
If she really had been targeted by a Celestial Dragon, the burden it would place on Vice Admiral Tsuru and the others would've been unimaginable.
"Let's go..." Momonga said grimly.
"Lieutenant Commander Gion, stay far from him."
Gion nodded, silently praying that nothing would escalate further.
The Marines quickly followed behind the Celestial Dragon.
A large procession formed, with Saint Shaldes at the head, strolling down Batiya Island's main commercial street.
Everywhere they passed, lively streets fell into utter silence.
Civilians dropped to their knees in waves, bowing like tidal surges—faces pale, eyes terrified.
For eight hundred years, the World Government had ruled the world like an unshakable titan. Before such "gods," the common people could only tremble in reverence.
A small, innocent voice rang out.
On that silent street, it echoed sharply—like a scream in a tomb.
Gion's face turned white.
Momonga and Tokikake's pupils shrank.
They turned their heads, bodies stiff with dread.
A little girl stood there, her black hair tied up, wearing a simple floral dress. A huge bouquet of flowers rested on her back.
She smiled sweetly, lifting a fresh red rose high into the air with both hands.
"Uncle, would you like to buy a flower?"
In the eyes of Gion and the others, a sense of horror crept in.
On Saint Shaldes's hideous, pockmarked face, a slow, twisted grin began to form.
His expression flushed red with excitement.
His eyes blazed with greed and possessiveness.
It was the gaze of a child who had just found a shiny new toy.
Gion and Tokikake tensed ins
tantly, jaws clenched.
They saw the bloated Celestial Dragon raise a fat, ring-covered finger—his grin feral.