Holy Land Mary Geoise
The World Government's headquarters is situated atop the Red Line, which divides the Grand Line into two.
It is also the meeting place of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, and is heavily guarded by the world's strongest military forces.
By the time Kojin's entire group arrived at Mary Geoise, a month had already passed.
Hidden amidst the clouds, the sprawling city-fortress complex loomed majestically, its massive, imposing gates standing like the jaws of a colossal beast.
As Kojin and Cobra stepped into this holy land, they were struck by awe and shock.
An endless vista stretched before them, the horizon vast and unobstructed. In the distance, fortress cities rose, and the ground was paved with moving platforms.
"Your Highness," Igaram explained, "simply standing here will transport us to the heart of the Holy Land."
He whispered this, careful not to raise his voice even at the entrance. As the center of global power, this place boasted the highest concentration of nobles in the world, with countless others yearning to relocate here.
Kojin nodded with a somber look on his face. Gazing down at the moving floor beneath his feet, he could vividly imagine the slaves toiling beneath it, their backs drenched in sweat and their bodies stained with blood, their cries of pain echoing in the darkness. These so-called 'moving floors' and 'passages' weren't feats of advanced technology, but rather the result of slave labor, fueled by the blood and sweat of countless souls.
Cobra clearly understood the grim truth behind these floors as well, remaining silent and grim-faced throughout their journey.
As the group gradually approached the city's fortress-like buildings, they caught their first glimpse of the opulent palace complex, presenting a scene of unparalleled prosperity and extravagance. The pristine streets were spotless and lined with rare trees and exotic flowers.
Hundreds of meters away, the moment the servants spotted them, they knelt in terror, pressing their foreheads against the ground and trembling violently all over.
This sight caused Kojin's pupils to contract sharply.
Behind him, Eveya's eyes widened in shock and fear.
Ahead of them, a Celestial Dragon wearing a bubble helmet strolled leisurely down the street.
The opulent palace was eerily silent yet radiated an oppressive sense of authority.
"So this is the epicenter of power," Kojin murmured.
Here, one's own strength seemed infinitely diminished. A weak, flabby Noble could condemn a Pirate with a bounty of a hundred million Belly, a notorious figure who once commanded the seas, to a gruesome death with a single word.
Even the most formidable Marines had to tread carefully here, daring not to show the slightest hint of defiance.
In this so-called Holy Land, the very concept of power consumed everything.
As they continued forward in silence, the group soon saw a Celestial Dragon stop in front of a maid kneeling by the roadside.
"Her figure is quite appealing," The Celestial Dragon said with a leering grin. "Take her back. My Goldfang needs a female companion."
The Celestial Dragon's words sent a chill down the spines of the other members of his entourage. They knew all too well what 'Goldfang' referred to.
It was a fiercely savage beast by nature!
Recently, it was in its mating season.
"Devils!"
"You're all devils!!"
Ahead, a Fish-Man bound by chains roared furiously, straining against his restraints and making a huā lā lā sound.
"Shut your mouth, you slave!" The Celestial Dragon flew into a rage and lashed his whip forward ruthlessly.
Crack!
The sound echoed crisply as fresh welts bloomed across the fish man's already scarred back, drawing a tortured cry from him.
"Kill me! If you've got the guts, kill me!" The Fish-Man roared in fury.
The Celestial Dragon sneered. "You're just an expensive toy that I bought, and you'll only die when I've finished playing with you."
Just then, a group of figures approached from ahead. The Black-Clothed Person, who had been about to abduct a woman walking by the roadside, froze in surprise.
"Hmm?"
The Celestial Dragon looked up, his gaze fixed on the approaching group.
"They're nobles from various nations attending the Levely," Someone whispered from behind.
"Hmph, just a bunch of lackeys relying on us Celestial Dragons," The Celestial Dragon scoffed.
Soon, the two figures ahead reached him. One of them towered over him, easily twice his height.
"Insolent wretches!" The Celestial Dragon suddenly roared, his whip lashing out ruthlessly towards the taller figure. "How dare you not greet this holy one!"
The whip snapped taut and coiled before lashing out again with brutal force. But the next moment, the Celestial Dragon froze in shock.
The whip in his hand had been seized by the other figure's massive palm.
"Audacious! How dare you defy Donquixote Saint Mjosgard?!"
Before the Celestial Dragon could respond, his black-clad guards sprang into action, surrounding the group ahead.
Kojin looked up and yanked the whip from the guard's hand.
Crack!
Thunderlight flashed, and the whip disintegrated into ash.
In the crowd, Eveya's heart pounded. She stared at the Black-Clothed People surrounding them with fear flickering in her eyes. To a commoner like her, the Celestial Dragon seemed like a born god, someone she instinctively dared not defy.
Panic rippled through the group.
Titi hugged Vivi tighter with one arm while gripping Cobra's arm in front of her with the other.
Taking a deep breath, Cobra spoke in a deep voice: "Honorable Saint Mjosgard, we are the Nefertari family. We have come at your invitation to attend the Levely."
"Nefertari?" Saint Mjosgard froze, taken aback.
"Indeed, I am Nefertari Cobra, King of Alabasta. This is my younger brother, Prince Nefertari Kojin!" Cobra forced a faint smile as he spoke.
"They're Celestial Dragons, too!" The black-clad guards recoiled in shock, a flicker of fear crossing their faces.
Someone immediately rushed to Saint Mjosgard's ear and whispered a rapid report.
"So you're the family who abandoned the Holy Land? How utterly foolish!" Saint Mjosgard scoffed.
Yet the malice on his face had softened somewhat. As they were fellow Celestial Dragons, he couldn't attack them outright. His gaze swept over the approaching group and, when he spotted Eveya's terrified expression, a glint of delight lit up his face.
"As a gift to resolve the recent conflict between our clans, hand her over to me, would you?"
"I never imagined the Nefertari family had a taste for Marine slaves," Saint Mjosgard said, his voice tinged with excitement. "This truly opens my eyes to a whole new world."
In his twisted logic, slaves were disposable commodities, to be traded or executed at will. As a mere disturbance to his entourage, punishing them was perfectly reasonable.
Surely they wouldn't be so foolish as to refuse him, he thought.
Cobra fell silent, his fists clenching slowly.
Igaram's face betrayed his worry, while Titi sighed quietly and gently covered Vivi's eyes.
Eveya's mind went blank.
'I... I've been chosen by a Celestial Dragon!'
'It's over!'
Behind her, nine Marines lowered their heads, with a flicker of ferocity and rage in their eyes.
Their education at the Ohara Marine Academy had instilled in them the fundamental truths of freedom, democracy, resistance, and struggle. They had also developed a precise understanding of justice.
The scene before them completely subverted and betrayed the very meaning of 'justice.'
"Just give the order, Vice-Admiral!"
"We'll take his head right now!"
The Marines roared inwardly.
Time seemed to freeze, and not a sound seemed to escape.
The Fish-Man, bound by iron chains, struggled to lift his head. When he saw the towering figure looming just inches away, he narrowed his eyes and felt his heart jolt.
It's him?!
Across the street, the trembling maid, who had been singled out by name, dared to glance up and witness the scene.
'Vice-Admiral Kojin?!'
Her eyes widened in shock, too.
Whoosh!
A sudden breeze stirred, ruffling the hair of the powerfully built, three-meter-tall figure who stood like an iron tower.
"You dare lay claim to one of mine?" A cold, deep voice shattered the stillness, tearing through the tense silence.
An inexplicable chill immediately filled the air, causing Saint Mjosgard, who was standing opposite him, to shiver involuntarily.
"She joined the Marines at fifteen, rising to the rank of colonel. She's captured over fifty-six notorious pirates. She has earned countless merits for the Marines and the West Blue."
The calm yet icy voice reverberated, causing the precious trees on either side to tremble.
"Most importantly... She's my right-hand woman! And you dare demand her?"
"Unbelievable!"
Kojin glared down at them, his face looking gloomy, icy, and menacing.
"You've got a death wish!"
His bone-chilling voice rang out and, in an instant, he vanished.
"What?!"
The black-clad guards trembled, disbelief flooding their eyes.
"Wait, I remember now! He's that legendary Vice-Admiral from the Marines!"
"Kojin! It's Kojin!" The Black-Clothed man's pupils contracted.
Earlier, they hadn't associated him with the Marines at all due solely to his noble attire.
At that moment, Kojin appeared before Saint Mjosgard, his right fist clenching with a bone-cracking snap.
"What's he going to do?"
"No way!"
Cobra; Saint Mjosgard, the Fish-Man who had turned his head; the maids lining the street; and the Black-Clothed man guarding the area all widened their eyes in horror and disbelief.
BANG!
A sickening crunch echoed through the air. The force of Kojin's punch visibly caused Saint Mjosgard's nose to cave inwards, instantly spurting blood.
His squat, corpulent body was sent hurtling backwards like a cannonball, howling through the air.
"Oh my God!"
"This has got to be a joke, right?"
"He actually dared to do something so audacious here!"
The Black-Clothed man froze. Eveya's tears streamed like a waterfall. Vivi gently pulled her mother's hand away and blinked at the towering figure ahead.
"This guy! Does he have a death wish?" The Fish-Man's pupils trembled violently.
(End of Chapter)
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