"What a delightful shopping trip~"
Galette, holding several bubbles in her hands, wore a radiant smile.
She had wanted to visit this place last year, but due to their mother's demands, she never found the time to come.
Today, she finally got to enjoy herself to the fullest.
"As long as you're happy," Katakuri said.
If his sister was happy, then this trip wasn't in vain.
Even if they didn't find any traces of the Straw Hat Pirates, it was still worth it.
"I just wonder if they've found any leads on the Straw Hat Pirates yet," Galette murmured.
Several hours had passed with no news... Had they not arrived on the island yet?
Or had something unexpected happened on their way to Sabaody Archipelago?
At this thought, a look of concern crossed Galette's face.
"Don't overthink it," Katakuri said. "Let's return to the ship first."
He didn't know whether the Straw Hat Pirates had encountered any mishaps, but... if they couldn't even make it to Sabaody Archipelago, they weren't worthy of marrying into the Charlotte family.
"Alright..."
Galette sighed and turned to follow Katakuri as they left the area.
However, just as they exited the commercial district, they spotted one of their subordinates rushing toward them at breakneck speed.
Galette's eyes lit up with excitement. "Did they find him?"
Katakuri remained silent, simply watching as the man approached. Only when the subordinate stood before them did he speak. "Yes, they found them."
The panting man then said, "Sirs, we've located members of the Straw Hat Pirates."
After speaking, he gave Katakuri a strange glance—how had the man known what he was going to say?
Neither Galette nor Katakuri bothered to explain. There was no need to divulge too much information to low-ranking subordinates who had only recently joined the crew.
"Where?" Galette asked. "Who did you see?"
"Ah, a green-haired swordsman who uses the Three-Sword Style," the man replied. "He must be the Pirate Hunter from the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Must be?"
The man...
Sweat trickled down his forehead as he swallowed hard. "It's definitely him. I couldn't have mistaken him."
After all, the only well-known Three-Sword Style swordsman on the seas right now was that man.
"Next time, be more precise," Galette chided.
She then glanced at Katakuri. "Brother Katakuri, let's go."
"Mm."
Katakuri nodded and followed silently beside Galette as the man led them away.
Other onlookers, noticing Katakuri's imposing approach, instinctively stepped aside to clear a path.
Even if they didn't recognize who he was, they could tell he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
After all... this was a giant standing over five meters tall!
Only after the group had left did the bystanders dare to whisper among themselves.
"Who... who was that?"
"No idea, but he looked terrifying."
"I know, this person is from one of the Four Emperors Crews in the New World—a member of the BIG MOM Pirates," a bounty hunter gulped and said. "Their bounty... is a terrifying 1,057,000,000 Berries."
Hearing his words, the others all wore expressions of horror.
"1... 1,057,000,000 Berries?"
Why would such a terrifying figure appear here?
At this moment, everyone looked terrified. If such a monstrous being were to lose their temper, everyone present would likely die.
Thank goodness they had stepped aside earlier...
"Hey... what if we take a shot at them?!"
One bounty hunter flashed a greedy look at his companions and said, "That's a whole billion right there."
"Go die by yourself if you want. I'm not messing with a Four Emperors Crew."
"Besides, do you really think that billion is so easy to grab?"
With a bounty that high, their strength must be absolutely terrifying.
Even thinking about targeting them?
That's just asking for death!
Hearing this, the earlier man sobered up, his face turning grim as he muttered, "Yeah... you're right."
"Let's just go catch someone else. Weren't there a bunch of Supernovas who landed on this island?"
"Good point. Let's go."
"Hahahaha."
"Honestly, why are you walking so slow, you slave?" Saint Charlos glared down at the slave beneath his feet, angrily kicking them several times.
The kicked slave collapsed to the ground, their face scraping against the stones until it bled. But instead of showing any pity, Saint Charlos only grew angrier.
"You dare lie down?!"
How dare his slave lie down?
Was this some kind of insult?
Furious, Saint Charlos pulled out his weapon, ready to execute the wretched slave beneath him.
"He's done for..."
"Idiot, shut up! You wanna die?" a companion nearby hissed.
The man swallowed hard and obediently clamped his mouth shut.
As the other had said, if a Celestial Dragon caught him speaking now, he'd be executed on the spot.
He didn't want to die.
"I hate slaves like you the most," Saint Charlos sneered, jumping down and pointing his pistol at the slave. "Go and—"
But before he could finish, several medics came running from a distance, carrying a stretcher.
This immediately halted him. Disbelieving, he glared at them. "How dare these lowlifes run in front of me?"
Every other lowly person was kneeling properly—why were these fools standing?
Did they not know that standing in the presence of a Celestial Dragon was forbidden?
Enraged, Saint Charlos stormed forward and blocked their path.
"Stop—right there!"
With a furious kick, he overturned the stretcher, sending the patient crashing to the ground.
"Please stop, Celestial Dragon-sama! This person is about to die!"
"Sir, we need to take him for treatment, or he'll die!"
Glancing coldly at the fallen medics, Saint Charlos scoffed. "So what?"
"Ed, tell them which is more important—etiquette toward me or the lives of lowly commoners?"
"Of course, etiquette toward you," replied the guard named Ed in a calm tone. "Celestial Dragons are supreme."
Hearing Ed's words, Saint Charlos sneered and said, "You hear that, you lowly commoners? How dare you—"
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Saint Charlos noticed the petite nurse sitting on the ground was exceptionally beautiful, and his face immediately lit up with excitement.
"Ahahaha, I see a pretty woman!"
"Ed, I want her," Saint Charlos declared. "I'll make her my wife."
"Yes, understood," Ed replied. "I'll immediately arrange for her to be registered as your wife in the Holy Land."
"W-what?!"
The woman was stunned. "How can this be?"
How could they be so unreasonable, forcing her to become his wife without any regard for her will?
"Please wait!" A man rushed over, pleading desperately. "She's my fiancée, please—"
Bang!
A bullet pierced through his body, and the man collapsed to his knees before falling to the ground.
"Who allowed you to stand in front of me?!" Saint Charlos roared. "You filthy commoner!"
The man struggled to speak, but his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
"Hmph."
Saint Charlos snorted coldly, holstering his weapon before turning back to the nurse. "Enough nonsense. Come with me."
"How can this be...?" The nurse sobbed. "Please, someone help him!"
But unfortunately, no one dared to move—not even lift their heads.
"Are you dissatisfied with my actions?"
Hearing Saint Charlos' icy tone, the nurse immediately covered her mouth, trembling as she wept.
"Truly doing whatever they please..." Apoo muttered. "So this is a Celestial Dragon?"
After seeing one in person, Apoo realized they were far worse than he had imagined.
This was a World Noble?
Disgusting.
"C-Celestial Dragons..."
Standing in the alley, Galette frowned as she watched the scene. "So this is what they're like."
Honestly, this was her first time seeing a living Celestial Dragon, and they were even more despicable than she'd thought.
Calling others "lowly commoners," forbidding ordinary people from standing, slaughtering them at will... And worst of all, it was all legally protected!
"This is why we rarely come here," Katakuri said calmly. "If we encounter them, conflict is inevitable—and that would summon a Marine Admiral."
As members of a Four Emperors crew, they could never kneel before a Celestial Dragon. So, meeting them would inevitably lead to a clash.
To avoid such incidents, the Four Emperors crews seldom visited this place—an unspoken rule between them and the World Government.
Just then, Katakuri paused, his gaze shifting toward the end of the street.
"Hmm?"
"Isn't that..."
Spotting the distinctive three swords, Galette remarked, "That Pirate Hunter?"
They had originally planned to wait until the Celestial Dragon left before crossing the street to find the other party, but... this guy came over on his own?
And while the Celestial Dragon was still present...
"Why is someone else standing in front of me?!"
Seeing Zoro approach him, Saint Charlos' veins bulged on his forehead. What was going on today?
"Huh?"
"What's up?"
Zoro looked curiously at Saint Charlos and asked, "Are you asking for directions?"
Galette:
Galette stared at Zoro in shock—did this guy not recognize a Celestial Dragon?!
At that moment, Katakuri chuckled, as if he had seen something amusing.
"What is it, Brother Katakuri?"
Katakuri didn't answer, merely pointing ahead.
Though puzzled, Galette followed his gesture and looked forward.
The next instant, Saint Charlos raised his weapon and aimed it at Zoro. "Die, lowlife!"
Bang!
In that split second, Zoro lunged forward like a beast, drawing his sword with the intent to cut Saint Charlos down.
"This idiot!"
Bonney dashed over at incredible speed, tackling Zoro to the side while splattering him with ketchup to create the illusion that he had been killed.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Shut up and stay still, moron!" Bonney snapped.
"Huh?"
"Waaah!"
"Big bro, how could you die?!" The now-diminutive Bonney wailed dramatically. "Did you offend the Celestial Dragon?"
"If that's the case, then there's nothing to be done about your death."
"Hmm?"
"Did I hit him?" Saint Charlos glanced at his gun in confusion. He felt like he had missed earlier.
"Whatever, as long as he's dead."
Shaking his head, Saint Charlos led his entourage away.
Witnessing the entire scene, Galette muttered, "Was that guy seriously about to kill a Celestial Dragon just now?"
"Judging by his killing intent, yes."
Katakuri, who had been using Observation Haki the whole time, had keenly sensed Zoro's murderous aura—he had fully intended to kill the Celestial Dragon.
If not for that shrinking woman's intervention, the Celestial Dragon would already be dead.
No wonder this was the Pirate Crew that dared to challenge Enies Lobby—no cowards among them.
"Let's go. The Celestial Dragon has left. We'll find that guy now," Katakuri said.
"Right."
The moment they stepped out of the alley, the group immediately drew attention.
"Hey... isn't that..."
"Yeah, the guys from the Four Emperors Crew..."
"Why are they here?"
Several Supernovas stared at Katakuri, puzzled by his presence.
But they had no intention of picking a fight and quickly left after murmuring among themselves.
"Hey, what the hell were you thinking, you idiot?!" Bonney glared at Zoro and scolded angrily. "Were you trying to lure a Marine Admiral here?!"
She was furious. If this idiot had actually killed the Celestial Dragon, a Marine Admiral would have shown up immediately!
She really didn't want to deal with someone like that right now.
"Admirals..."
Zoro frowned and sat on the ground. "So that guy just now was one of the World Nobles?"
Before setting off, Hachi had indeed specifically emphasized not to attack the World Nobles.
But how was he supposed to know that idiot with the bubble head was a Celestial Dragon?
"Seriously, are all you Straw Hat Pirates just a bunch of lunatics?!" Bonney shouted. "Even thinking about cutting down a Celestial Dragon..."
"Next time, be more careful! If you're going to go crazy, at least wait until we're gone!"
After her outburst, Bonney decisively left with her crew.
Clearly, she wanted nothing to do with such madmen.
Watching their retreating figures, Zoro frowned but said nothing more. Instead, he walked over to the injured man and casually hoisted him onto his shoulder.
"You planning to save him?"
"Yeah," Zoro replied. "If we leave him, he'll bleed to death."
As he spoke, Zoro glanced behind him and immediately spotted a towering figure.
"Huh?"
"And who are you?"
Katakuri didn't answer. Instead, he turned to his subordinates and said, "Take this guy to the hospital."
Zoro frowned at Katakuri. Who the hell was this guy?
"You're the Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, right?" Galette said. "Can you take me to Meiser?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Zoro's expression turned wary. Carefully setting the injured man down, he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Who are you?"
She knew both his and Meiser's names precisely... Was she a bounty hunter? Or an enemy?
"Don't be nervous. I mean no harm," Galette said, looking at Zoro. "I'm Meiser's fiancée. I came here specifically to find him."
"Eh?"
"EH?!"
Zoro stared at Galette in shock, his jaw practically hitting the ground.
"Meiser's... fiancée?"
That guy actually had a fiancée? Why had he never mentioned her before?
Could it be... that guy was actually some noble from a kingdom? Had he been away for so long that his fiancée had come looking for him?
Lost in thought, Zoro fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "You... really are his fiancée?"
"He's a ninja, right?" Galette smiled. "Those eyes of his are a mark of his bloodline."
Hearing this, Zoro lowered his guard. She wasn't wrong—Meiser's eyes were indeed a sign of his lineage, something Meiser himself had once confirmed.
Seeing his reaction, Galette secretly sighed in relief. Her earlier guess had been correct—those eyes were indeed proof of a special bloodline!
"I don't know where he is either," Zoro said. "Maybe you—"
Before he could finish, an explosion echoed from a distant street.
"BOOM!"
The next moment, several figures came running out of an alley, screaming in terror, "The Blood-Eyed Ninja, Meiser, has gone berserk! Everyone, run!!"
Zoro: "..."
Well... that was one hell of a coincidence.
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