"Excuse me, when you just said 'His Majesty,' do you mean Captain of the Grey Kingdom, Lord Rosinante?" Kaden asked in a low voice, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"What do you think?" Ryan replied faintly.
"Uh… well… this is a misunderstanding! Yes, that's it, a misunderstanding!!" Kaden stammered.
Just as Kaden was quietly sweating buckets, desperately thinking of a way to salvage the situation, the Celestial Dragon behind him suddenly spoke up.
"You say you're people of the Grey Kingdom… which means your 'His Majesty' is Rosinante. Is Rosinante on this ship?" Zashika asked.
"Rosinante, you bastard! You're here, aren't you? Get your ass out here! I'm Zashika, you son of a—! Back when you left Mary Geoise, I was actually heartbroken for a long time. And when you sent your men to assassinate those Celestial Dragon guards and slaves, you even shot my guards and slaves too!
"Fine, fine, guards and slaves die, that's nothing. But you actually did it right in front of me! Do you have any idea that the bullet your men fired flew right past my head?! Rosinante, you bastard, get out here! If you don't give me an explanation today, we're not done! I'm going to settle this with you!" Zashika roared furiously.
Upon hearing Zashika's words, Laden's face turned ghostly pale.
Good heavens… do you even know who you're insulting right now? That's the man who dared lead an army to attack Marine Headquarters… the man who shot all your guards and slaves as a gift!
Yes, he's signed an agreement with the World Government, promising not to take action against the Celestial Dragons anymore.
But this time is an exception — because he didn't provoke you first. It was you who came to provoke him. You tried to seize his luxury cruise ship.
If he decided to do something to you now, he would have a perfectly justified reason. Even the World Government and the Celestial Dragons couldn't say a thing.
Who told you to go looking for trouble with the biggest troublemaker of them all?
Even if, out of respect for the World Government, he decided not to kill you, giving you a lesson would still be more than reasonable.
And as a guard accompanying a Celestial Dragon on this trip, no matter how Zashika ends up injured, he'd still bear responsibility.
If Zashika got taught a harsh lesson, his own fate would definitely be miserable.
Nearby, Ryan and the Bloodsworn Guards' stewards all furrowed their brows.
Even if you are a Celestial Dragon, you can't be this rude to their emperor!
"Hohoho… so that's who it is. Zashika!" A familiar voice came at that moment.
A moment later, Rosinante appeared, walking slowly toward them with Shaxia and the other two women.
"Your Majesty, forgive us for disturbing your rest!" Ryan and the others bowed apologetically when they saw him.
"It's fine. Seems I've run into an old friend." Rosinante said with a faint smile.
Upon seeing him, Kaden hurriedly retreated back to the World Government's ship — partly to protect Zashika, but mostly because he feared Rosinante might strike at him. After all, this was a man who could fight evenly with a Marine Admiral… someone who could arm-wrestle the Fleet Admiral himself.
"You are… Rosinante?" Zashika stared at him for a while, hesitant and uncertain.
"I don't think I've changed that much. But you, Zashika… you've changed a lot. If you hadn't told me yourself who you were, I might not have recognized you at all. Seeing you like this now, I'm honestly grateful for my father's decision back then." Rosinante said, looking him over.
Rosinante had left the Holy Land Mary Geoise when he was around seven or eight years old. Back then, of course, he had a few playmates — and since he was a Celestial Dragon, those playmates could only be other Celestial Dragons.
The pudgy, unpleasant-looking youth before him had once been one of his better playmates.
"Rosinante, you bastard! It really is you! We were childhood playmates, for crying out loud — and yet you showed no mercy! You killed all my guards and slaves! Do you have any idea the bullet flew right past me? I almost got shot!" Zashika roared.
He had completely lost the poise and composure of a Celestial Dragon, instead looking more like an enraged beast howling at Rosinante.
Hearing Zashika Saint's yelling, Kaden's face twisted with terror. It was over. Completely over. This was going to be bad. Really bad.
If Rosinante lost his temper and attacked Zashika, could he even protect him? And if he couldn't protect Zashika, his own life — and the lives of his family — would be forfeit.
But instead of getting angry, Rosinante laughed.
"Haha… sorry, sorry. But back then I was this close to dying at Marine Headquarters myself. Anyway, don't worry — my men have perfect aim. If they didn't aim at you, there was no way you'd get hit." Rosinante said with a grin.
Although his words sounded like an apology, there was not a shred of remorse in his tone.
"Besides… with the way you've grown, who could even recognize you anymore?" Rosinante teased.
"Rosinante, you heartless bastard! Do you have any idea? Among them was my favorite slave!" Zashika snapped, furious at his half-hearted apology.
"Well, let's just say I was wrong this time. Next time I'll make sure they give you special treatment." Rosinante said nonchalantly.
"Next time?! Don't say I didn't warn you — there are plenty of Celestial Dragons who want to see you suffer!" Zashika said, gloating.
"Hehehe… see me suffer? They've been trying for years. If it weren't for my luck, I'd already be dust in the ground." Rosinante replied with a cold smile.
"They only want to capture you alive. Your bounty even says so, doesn't it? The real reason is your brother — he stirred up a huge mess in Mary Geoise. Some Celestial Dragons believe he shouldn't even be alive. You just got caught in the crossfire. If the Celestial Dragons really wanted you dead, do you think you'd still be standing here?" Zashika said.
"So by that logic, I should be thanking you?" Rosinante's voice turned icy.
"Not me. I wasn't involved. Most Celestial Dragons weren't. It was just a few enemies of your family giving the orders. Sure, you've grown stronger, but you don't need to target all Celestial Dragons — that's only going to make you more enemies." Zashika replied.
Rosinante snorted.
He knew Zashika, at that age back then, had neither the chance nor the power to get involved, nor could he voice any opinions in such matters.
"So what you're saying is… some Celestial Dragons really do want to make a move against me this time?" Rosinante's lips curled into a cold smile.
"You went too far this time. A lot of them hate you to the bone. You've humiliated them, scared them half to death. They won't let that slide easily. Still, most of them will just talk — they're afraid you'll attack them again." Zashika said.
"Heh… let's hope they don't come looking for trouble. I've got plenty of fire saved up for them." Rosinante sneered.