Chapter 169. 169. A Single Gaze Makes a Major GeneralKneel, The Seventeen-Year-Old Tsuru! (Please Subscribe!)
Before long, more than twenty flattened bodies of Marinenewcomers, fluttering in the wind like clothes, appeared on the clothes rack.
Tsuru watched the group speechless. So many Marinenewcomers had been poisoned, meaning more than half of their fighting strength was wasted. Even if they encountered trouble now, they couldn't help for the time being.
"A ship is coming!"
A Marine newcomer shouted on the shore.
Tsuru looked back, watching the sailboat approaching on the distant sea, and checked the mast.
There was no Pirate flag on it.
Tsuru stopped paying close attention.
She picked up her flintlock and continued practicing shooting at a distance.
Soon after.
The sailboat docked in the shallow sea area. Eustassstood on the edge of the boat and dropped the anchor into the Water.
The sea around the uninhabited island in front of them was relatively shallow and full of reefs, so the ship could only anchor in the shallow area.
Eustass anchored the ship, jumped directly into the shallow Water, and walked toward the island through the seawater, completely ignoring the warship nearby.
Eustass arrived on the island, glancing at the beautiful girl practicing marksmanship nearby, and the Marinenewcomers fluttering on the clothes rack in the distance.
Then, looking at the fruits on the ground, Eustass's mouth twitched slightly.
Are these guys idiots? Why did they eat the fruits randomly before finding out their names?
Eustass shook his head and walked straight into the woods to hunt and prepare for dinner tonight.
On the warship.
Captain Major General Biweis looked suspiciously at Eustass's retreating figure entering the woods. He felt that this person was slightly familiar.
He quickly flipped through the bounty posters he had but found no information. He immediately ordered his subordinates to go to the data room to find the bounty posters for pirates of the Grand Line.
"Captain, I found it!"
A Major handed the bounty poster to Captain Major General Biweis.
"Oh no!"
Major General Biweis exclaimed, looking at the name and the bounty amount on the poster.
Eustass Mola, bounty 3 billion Berries!
"It's the pirate who defeated the Fleet Admiral!"
Major General Biweis felt immense pressure. He quickly waved his hand, "All Marines land and gather to prepare for battle! Newcomers must leave immediately by boat and request aid from Marine Headquarters!"
As soon as Major General Biweis finished shouting, he quickly had his subordinates inform the newcomers about Eustass's situation.
The Marine newcomers were in a state of panic, while the veteran Marines escorting them on the ship followed the Major General ashore, standing ready for Eustass to appear.
Major General Biweis knew that he was no match for Eustass. He only wanted to use his sacrifice to increase the survival chances of these young talents.
Before long.
Eustass walked back, holding a giant wild boar he had hunted, preparing to start a Fire and cook.
Some creatures in the Pirate World are extremely large, and Eustass had hunted a giant wild boar as tall as a two-story house directly in the dense forest.
Just as Eustass walked out of the dense forest, ready to make dinner, he saw a group of Marines surrounding him, staring at him with serious expressions, standing ready for battle.
Meanwhile, on the beach, Marine newcomers were running towards the ship, carrying other Marinenewcomers who had been flattened by the Wash-Wash Fruit.
Hearing the noise, the Marine newcomers all looked over, staring at Eustass in terror.
Eustass completely ignored this group of idiots, walked around the Marines, and headed aside to start a Fire and roast meat.
"die!"
A Marine Colonel roared, wielding a sharp sword and slashing towards Eustass.
Eustass reached out a hand, snatched the sharp sword from the opponent's grasp, and then kicked him back.
Eustass began preparing the ingredients.
All Marines:???
"Isn't—isn't he a pirate? Why isn't he attacking us?"
A Marine Lieutenant Colonel asked in confusion.
"I—I don't know. Also, why isn't his ship flying a pirate flag?"
The Marine Major holding a gun nearby also looked confused.
"He is roasting meat."
"We see that."
"Does he have time to roast meat but not do bad things?"
"Is he even a pirate?"
On the ship, the Marine newcomers were chattering endlessly.
But the impression Eustass gave them, besides being extremely powerful, was simply that he didn't resemble a pirate.
Eustass was too unlike a pirate!
What pirate is this relaxed!
Eustass glanced at the group and continued roasting his meat.
A bunch of rookies; he couldn't be bothered with them.
"Why haven't you left yet!?"
Major General Biweis roared angrily, looking at the Marine newcomers who remained on the ship.
"Major General, we don't think there should be any danger. This person doesn't seem like a bad guy..."
The youngest Marine newcomer in the crowd said weakly.
"You idiots! He's a pirate who has killed a Marine Vice Admiral! And you're telling me he doesn't seem like a bad guy!?"
Major General Biweis shouted furiously.
"Correction: That Marine Vice Admiral, whatever his name was, provoked me first. He used the Celestial Dragons to pressure me, so I had no choice but to send him to die. This has nothing to do with justice."
Eustass said, sprinkling seasoning onto the roast meat.
He wouldn't take the blame for something he shouldn't!
Clearly, that Vice Admiral was trying to attack him, and even whispered a threat to him before leaving.
It was perfectly normal for Eustass to take care of him.
He wouldn't accept the crime they were pinning on him.
"Hmph! You're twisting words!"
Major General Biweis retorted angrily.
Eustass released his Conqueror's Haki, precisely controlling the Haki to put pressure solely on Major General Biweis. Under the terrifying Haoshoku pressure, Major General Biweis's face changed in alarm, his legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on the beach.
"If you are willing to be a slave to the Celestial Dragons, then go ahead and be one."
Eustass smiled, looking at the opponent.
"You bastard, it's not like that! We Marines are not slaves to the Celestial Dragons."
"Right, now you are my slave. You just changed where you kneel, so stop talking so much."
After mocking him, Eustass shot a large number of threads towards Biweis, attempting to shut him up.
Major General Biweis's mouth was immediately wrapped up by Eustass's threads. Eustass increased the release of his Haoshoku, and Major General Biweis instantly passed out.
Eustass glanced at the Marines present, and a female Marine among the crowd, then continued roasting his meat.
Tsuru looked at the unconscious Major General Biweis, knowing deeply in her heart that they could not defeat this pirate purely by force.
Tsuru walked over, ignored everyone's attempts to stop her, and sat down opposite Eustass.
"Why do you hate the Marine so much?"
Tsuru asked, ready at any moment to find an opportunity to capture Eustass. She wanted to use her Devil Fruit Ability to wash his heart and cleanse the dark thoughts within him.
"I wouldn't call it hatred."
Eustass waved his hand and glanced at Tsuru.
Unexpectedly, Vice Admiral Tsuru, decades in the future, was currently a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and a heroic spirit.
Chapter 170. 170. Carmel, The Vicious Woman, and the Celestial Dragon Who Came to Provoke! (Please subscribe!)
The evening breeze blew, and on the Marine warship, the more than twenty poisoned Marine recruits were still hanging like flattened clothes, swaying in the wind.
They watched their goddess Tsuru sit opposite that great pirate Eustass, chatting with him, and tears welled up in their hearts.
Their goddess, for their safety, actually fed herself to the tiger. Oh, the pain, how touching!
Soon after.
Eustass finished his meal, sat on the beach, enjoying the sea breeze, looking at the dimming night sky, and the twinkling stars above.
Tsuru sat beside him, chatting with him. She didn't ask Eustass why he became a pirate, nor was her attitude particularly harsh. She just chatted gently and warmly, trying to become friends and confide in him.
Eustass smiled and glanced at Tsuru beside him. He hadn't expected that Vice Admiral Tsuru, who would be old decades later, was now a peerless beauty of only seventeen years old.
She had long, dark blue hair and a beautiful face. Tsuru was tall, standing at two meters and four centimeters, only slightly shorter than Eustass.
She had a pair of deep blue eyes, profound and pure like an unblemished lake, and her whole person exuded a heroic spirit.
"Just say what you want to say."
Eustass said.
"We just talked. You don't rob, kill, or bully civilians for no reason. You also helped the people of Elbaf stop Charlotte Linlin's attack before.
Logically, you really don't need to be a pirate."
The young Tsuru said.
"It's not that I want to be a pirate, it's your superiors who deliberately assigned me this identity."
Eustass sneered.
Isn't that how the World Government, the Marines' direct superior, operates? They recruit anyone who might be a threat, and if they can't recruit them, they put a bounty on them.
It's just their basic operation to eliminate dissenters.
"As long as you join the Marines and complete some missions, it should be possible to have the bounty removed, right? You were recruited before."
Tsuru looked at him in confusion and asked.
"I refused precisely because I didn't want to work for the World Government, which is why the World Governmentbecame angry and put a bounty on me. Are you telling me to go back and beg them to revoke the bounty?"
Eustass couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Hahaha, a bounty order, to me, is nothing more than after-dinner conversation~!"
With that, Eustass got up and walked back to his sailboat, returning to the cabin to rest.
Tsuru silently looked at the sky. She understood.
For a moment, Tsuru felt somewhat lost.
Such a powerful person like Eustass had never provoked the Marines or the World Government before.
Yet, a scoundrel in the Marines, a minion of the Celestial Dragons, tried to use the Celestial Dragons' power to suppress Eustass, only to be rebuffed by Eustass.
The other party then threatened to arrest Eustass, threatened to put a bounty on him, and later even followed through.
Eustass killed the other party.
The Marines then found an excuse, saying that Eustassattacked an Admiral and a Vice Admiral, and put a bounty on Eustass.
This was nothing more than anger and humiliation after failing to recruit him.
'Justice, what is justice? Eliminating dissenters? How ridiculous...'
Tsuru's loyalty to the Marines suddenly began to waver.
The next day.
Early in the morning, Eustass got up, exercised for a while, and then left by boat.
The young Tsuru stood at the bow, watching Eustass sail away... Two weeks later.
New World.
Elbaf, the Land of Giants.
Eustass arrived in the village, met Elder Yoruru and others, and chatted with them for a long time.
However, the giants remained tight-lipped about anything concerning Charlotte Linlin.
There was nothing they could do; that child Linlin was too terrifying. Everyone truly detested Charlotte Linlin to the extreme.
"Although the children of Lambs House have lost the care of the Nun, our village is responsible for providing food. The children usually take care of themselves, so their lives are acceptable, and they have learned to be self-reliant."
Elder Yaruru said.
"Hmm, that's good too. The environment in this era is really too bad. There's constant fighting overseas, and pirates are emerging like locusts. Children will have to go out to sea sooner or later; they can't always live under the protection of adults."
Eustass nodded. He didn't tell the giants and the children of Lambs House the truth about the Nun.
On the surface, the Nun was an extremely gentle woman who stopped wars, saved giants, and then saved many orphans.
In reality, she was an extremely cruel and inhumane human trafficker behind the scenes.
Nun Carmel's appearance when the Marines were executing the Giant Warrior Pirates' giants, saving the giants, was actually an act between her and the World Government.
The Nun made a grand entrance, persuading the Marines to let go of their grievances, cooperating with the World Government and the Marines in a play. This way, she could help the World Government and the Marines persuade the Giant Race, making some of them serve the Marines.
At the same time, she could also gain the friendship of the Giant Race, live next to the Giant Race's village for protection, successfully open Lambs House, and take in homeless children from around the World.
Nun Carmel adopted orphans from her youth until old age, for decades.
Every month she would adopt more than a dozen children, and every month she would send away more than a dozen children who had stayed at Lambs Housefor a while, selling them to the World Government.
Those children were either sent by the World Government to be trained by the CP Organization or sent to the Marines as recruits.
She could sell over a hundred, nearly two hundred children a year.
In ten years, that's nearly two thousand children. In these sixty-plus years, Nun Carmel sold at least over a hundred thousand... What do you call inhumanity and a vicious heart? This is it!
This is why the World Government was willing to cooperate with Nun Carmel.
The children Carmel trafficked were indeed a major source of manpower for the CP Organization and the Marines... After all, the Marine environment in this era was even worse than in later generations, and the World Government's conscription propaganda was not effective, so conscription was not as smooth as in later generations.
Since Nun Carmel was so good at abducting people, the World Government was more than happy.
If Eustass told the giants and the children of Lambs House such a terrible truth, their minds would probably collapse.
It's even possible that the giants would regret it so much they'd smash Carmel's grave overnight.
Eustass hadn't stayed in the Giant Village for many days when a World Government ship arrived at the coast.
A high-ranking World Government official, escorted by CP0s, made his way to Elbaf village and found the two Elders, Yaruru and Yoruru.
Yaruru and Yoruru sat on a giant tree stump, looking down at the small World Government official, Macas Elthurgon.
"Ahem, this is an agreement we signed with Nun Carmel. Please take a look, Elders. We need to take the children from Lambs House as per the agreement."
Chapter 171. Eustass Viciously Beats Up a Celestial Dragon! (Requesting Subscription!)
"What's going on?"
Yaruru was stunned. What contract? He had never even heard of it.
"Who are you?"
Yoruru asked, confused.
Although he recognized the CP Agents standing nearby, who were wearing eye-catching white greatcoats and ostentatious masks.
But he was still puzzled about the man in front of him. Who was he?
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Macas Conrad Saint, Vice Minister of the World Government Department of Legal Affairs."
Conrad Saint said with a smile.
"You're a Celestial Dragon?"
When the Giant Race children nearby heard this, they all looked at him with disgust.
"Yes. Please hand over the children, or else you must be prepared to face the consequences."
Conrad Saint said with an arrogant expression. However, compared to the useless Celestial Dragons pampered by the higher-ups, he was much stronger.
Most Celestial Dragons the world sees are like spoiled idiots, demanding this and that, acting recklessly.
But those are merely the lower tier of Celestial Dragons, raised to ensure the purity of the bloodline. The true elites among the Celestial Dragons undergo strict education and training from childhood.
After growing up, they also take up positions in the World Government.
Otherwise, relying solely on those five slackers wouldn't be enough to sustain the World Government's eight-hundred-year-long rule.
"Wait a moment. I need to find someone to look at this agreement. Your agreement is too small; I can't read it without a magnifying glass."
Yoruru took the agreement and immediately ran toward the edge of the woods.
Given the Giant Race's height of several dozen meters, looking at human writing was like looking at tiny ants; they simply couldn't make out what the agreement said.
But they were afraid of provoking the World Government. After all, the Giant Warrior Pirates had disbanded, and they didn't want to bring war upon Elbaf.
Of course, if these people intended to harm the children, they would be the first to refuse. Even if it meant starting a war, they wouldn't hesitate.
After all, those children were once cared for by Nun Carmel.
Nun Carmel had been kind to them, so they had to look after those children.
"Don't make us wait too long, or else, hmph, the consequences won't be something you can bear, you big, blockheaded fools."
Conrad Saint said contemptuously. Yaruru glanced at Conrad Saint with disgust and clenched his fists.
The CP0 Agents were caught in a dilemma. On one hand, they tried to appease Conrad Saint, hoping he would say less, as they certainly didn't want to see a Celestial Dragon die here.
Conrad Saint had received training since childhood, and his strength was no less than that of a Marine Vice Admiral. But this village was home to a large number of Giants, who could easily beat them to death by ganging up.
On the other hand, the CP0 Agents apologized to ElderYaruru, hoping to gain his forgiveness, lest they worsen relations between the Giant Race and the World Government and Marine.
After all, the World Government and the Marine had always wanted to improve relations with Elbaf.
But they didn't dare to advise or dissuade Conrad Saint. It was true that he was an elite among the Celestial Dragons, but his personality—arrogant, haughty, seeing everyone as his slave—was exactly the same as the others.
If they tried to dissuade him, they might be shot dead by him immediately afterward.
Yaruru watched speechlessly as this group of lackeys struggled, caught between two sides, muttering to himself, "What'strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons'?'Strongest lackeys' is more like it."
Shortly after.
Eustass walked over with Elder Yoruru, reading the agreement Elder Yoruru had handed him as they went.
Eustass had been staying here for several days, living in a small hut in the woods.
Training during the day, resting at night, he spent all his time deep in the dense forest and rarely came out.
"How could it be him!?"
Conrad looked at the approaching Eustass with a shocked and somewhat ugly expression.
"Why can't it be me? Also, who are you?"
Eustass looked at the other party, confused.
This guy wasn't wearing the bulky clothing or a helmet, so Eustass truly couldn't tell that he was a Celestial Dragon.
"Hmph, I am Macas Conrad Saint, an elite among the Celestial Dragons and a high-ranking official in the World Government. Eustass Mola, let's keep to ourselves. I'll pretend you were never here, and you should stay out of my business!"
Conrad Saint snorted coldly and said.
Although Eustass was very strong, he knew he had the backing of the World Government and the Marine, so Eustass wouldn't dare do anything to him.
"Another idiot child from the Macas family."
Eustass teased, recalling that the Celestial Dragon who was killed by Linlin back on Sabaody Archipelagoseemed to also be named Macas.
It seemed he was a descendant of one of the 20 Kings.
"How dare you insult my family! I am a Celestial Dragon, a descendant of the Creators! Aren't you afraid of the Marine surrounding and annihilating you, you reckless Pirate!"
Conrad Saint roared furiously.
"No, I'm not afraid. Alright, I've read the agreement. Nun Carmel took your money and promised to send you a few CP and Marine prospects, right?
But you never sought the children's consent; this constitutes Human Trafficking.
Therefore, you should leave. You absolutely cannot take these children!"
After Eustass finished speaking, he ripped the agreement to shreds.
How could he explain that there were so many Human Traffickers in the Pirate World? It turned out the World Government was leading the population trade.
"Hmph, can you represent Elbaf!?"
Conrad Saint roared angrily, looking at the two Elders, Yoruru and Yaruru.
As well as the King of Elbaf walking over from afar.
"As Elbaf's benefactor, Eustass can represent us,"
King of Elbaf Ansel said seriously.
"I see. In that case, don't blame me for being impolite!"
After Conrad Saint finished speaking, he suddenly waved his hand, "You lot, go and seize those children and bring them onto the ship!"
"Th—Yes!"
The CP0 Agents hesitated for a moment, then quickly turned and ran toward the Lambs House.
Celestial Dragons have only one requirement for CP0.
Obey orders!
If they don't obey, they have no reason to exist. They wouldn't be good doggies~
"How dare you!?"
Yoruru said, ready to run over and stop them.
"Hmph, come on, you low-caste Giant Race of Elbaf with huge limbs and simple minds! If you have the guts, hit me! If you harm me, let's see which one of you survives!"
Conrad Saint said coldly, standing in front of the people, blocking the road, and relying on his status to pressure the Giant Race.
"Don't be foolish. They are just a few human children; they aren't worth your pity!"
Conrad Saint looked at the Giants' cautious demeanor and couldn't help but laugh arrogantly.
"How truly annoying."
After Eustass spoke, he instantly used Soru and appeared before Conrad Saint.
Conrad Saint, perceiving Eustass's charging aura with Observation Haki, quickly used Rokushiki to block the attack.
"Tekkai!"
As Conrad Saint spoke, his body became as hard as iron.
Eustass punched him, causing Conrad Saint to spit out a mouthful of blood as his Tekkai defense was breached.
Chapter 172. 172. Killing a Celestial Dragon! (Please subscribe!)
Conrad Saint's eyes bulged, and his body bent backward. He cried out in pain and was sent flying directly.
Conrad Saint rapidly flew backward like a kite with a broken string, knocking down several CP0 members before finally rolling a long distance on the ground.
Footsteps slowly approached.
Eustass stepped on Conrad Saint's head, looking down at him.
"Elite Celestial Dragons are no different from those idiotic Celestial Dragons."
Eustass mocked him. Conrad Saint was furious; he tried to stand up and hit back, but with Eustass stepping on his face, he couldn't rise at all.
Conrad Saint's breathing was ragged. When he exhaled, his breath blew away the dust on the ground; when he inhaled, he sucked in a noseful of dust, causing him to cough incessantly.
"You... *cough cough cough*, you human, *cough cough cough*, just wait, the World Government *cough cough cough*, won't let you off!"
Conrad Saint kept cursing, but the dust he continuously inhaled through his nose and mouth choked him, making him cough non-stop.
"You don't even consider yourself human anymore. You really are a strange bunch. As for the World Government, what are they? Heh, I've never taken them seriously."
After Eustass finished speaking, he continued stepping on Conrad Saint's head. "Human Traffickers, I hate them the most."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Eustass exerted force suddenly.
*Crack.*
Conrad Saint died.
[The host has defeated the Celestial Dragon high-ranking official, Conrad Saint!]
[Reward obtained: Lifespan +15!]
Eustass then looked at the other CP0 members, bound them with White Thread, and threw them to the Giants.
The Giants surrounded the CP0 members one by one, clenching their fists and grinning maliciously.
In the next instant, the Giants' fists swung down, blocking the sunlight above the CP0 members' heads.
"Aaaah—!"
Screams rang out, and Eustass simply walked away.
Glancing back at that Celestial Dragon, Conrad Saint, Eustass pondered for a moment and decided it would be necessary to visit Sabaody Archipelago sometime in the future.
He never expected the Drop Rate for Celestial Dragons to be so high!
Whether he could live long enough to survive until the start of the storyline now depended on the Celestial Dragons!
Two months later.
Eustass packed his bags early in the morning, preparing to leave Elbaf and visit Sabaody Archipelago in the Paradise section of the First Half of the Grand Line.
Over the past two months, Eustass confirmed that the World Government hadn't come looking for trouble with Elbaf, and only then did he prepare to depart.
After all, he was the one who killed the Celestial Dragon, and he couldn't stand by and watch the innocent children of Elbaf suffer the consequences.
"Big Brother Eustass!"
"Big Brother Eustass!"
The children of Lambs House all ran out of Lambs Houseand chased him all the way to the seaside. They surrounded Eustass, continuously calling him Big Brother.
Among these children were abandoned fish-man racemembers, abandoned Longarm Tribe members, and even Impoverished Princes exiled from defunct kingdoms... The children hugged Eustass's legs one by one, looking at him with reluctance.
No matter how viciously the outside World portrayed Eustass, in the eyes of the children, Eustass was the best Big Brother.
Eustass had saved them, and they would be grateful for a lifetime.
Moreover, through their time together, the children understood that as long as they didn't provoke Eustass, Eustass wouldn't provoke others.
They believed the rumors about Eustass circulating outside were pure slander!
"Big Brother Eustass, please don't leave, okay? We really want to continue training with you."
A fish-man race child looked at Eustass, sobbing.
Eustass never discriminated against him, a fish-man racemember. He even trained them and taught them how to practice their fundamentals to prepare for becoming stronger later.
"Aniki (Big Brother), please stay! When we grow up, we want to sail with you. We want to be your subordinates!"
The Longarm Tribe child quickly said.
"Aniki, stay! When I rebuild my kingdom later, I'll split half with you, okay!"
The Impoverished Prince looked up at Eustass, pleading tearfully.
"Kids, I'm just heading out to sea for a while, don't be like this."
Eustass said, feeling a bit awkward.
He really wasn't very good at dealing with children. Even in the Marvel Universe, his wife took care of his children.
"Aniki, then take us out to sea with you~!"
A blue-haired Little Girl jumped up and said.
"That won't do. You're still too young. Wait until you grow up. Once you're older, how about Aniki takes you to sweep across the four directions?"
Eustass coaxed them with a smile.
"Invincible across the World, Big Brother Eustass is the strongest!"
The fish-man race child shouted quickly.
"Sweeping away enemies in all directions, I want to help Aniki establish the strongest empire in the New World!"
The Impoverished Prince shouted happily.
"Alright, alright."
Eustass smiled, nodded, and rubbed their heads.
They were just a group of kids, the oldest of whom was only thirteen or fourteen. Eustass didn't take their words seriously.
Saying goodbye to the children, Eustass boarded his ship and left Elbaf.
"Goodbye, Aniki!"
"Come back soon, Aniki!"
The children of Lambs House stood on the shore, waving and shouting.
Eustass looked back at them and nodded with a smile.
This World is truly miserable. Everywhere across the World, Pirates appear like locusts, constantly attacking villages and towns.
Although there are righteous individuals within the Marine, there is no shortage of Marines who love money and collude with Pirates or Nobles.
Thus, small islands are constantly being attacked by Pirates.
And across the major seas of the World, conflicts between nations are continuous, and wars are frequent.
The World is too chaotic, which leads to one consequence: there is never a shortage of Human Traffickers in this World.
The children of Elbaf's Lambs House are waifs who have lost their homes and homelands.
And there are only more such people throughout the World... First Half of the Grand Line, Paradise.
Sabaody Archipelago.
At sea.
Eustass arrived here by ship. Along the way, he passed Fish-Man Island and saw too many instances of Human Traffickers attacking Fish-Man Island, trying to snatch Merfolk for sale, and he stopped many of them.
Even so, when those Human Traffickers came to Fish-Man Island, they acted as brazenly as if they were back in their own backyard.
And Fish-Man Island at this time was not protected by Whitebeard. Their domestic defenses were currently weak, and they were frequently attacked by Pirates. Pirates didn't need to sneak around to sell Merfolk; they simply snatched them right in the streets.
This shows their level of arrogance.
But no matter how frequently the Fish-Man Island Guard Squad patrolled, they couldn't stop this outrageous behavior.
Because the source of human trafficking lay with the Celestial Dragons behind the Human Auctioning Placeon Sabaody Archipelago.
Eustass stepped off the ship, glanced at the Human Traffickers nearby who were hiding from him nervously, and then looked at the chain they were pulling, which was attached to a beautiful, purple-haired Merfolkwoman.
"Let her go."
Eustass said coldly.
"Eustass Mola, this—this is going to be sent to the Human Auctioning Place to be sold to the esteemed Celestial Dragon My Lords. You—you had better not poke your nose into this!"
The Human Trafficker, Raikudou Biden, said fearfully.
Chapter 173: 173. Merfolk Tribe Slaves! Sabaody Archipelago! (Please subscribe!)
The Human Traffickers were afraid of Eustass.
But they were even more afraid of the Celestial Dragons.
"Is that so? You seem very brave."
Eustass said with a smile, walking step by step.
The Human Traffickers looked up at him, terrified.
"What do you care if I'm brave or not? Mind your own business, or else the Celestial Dragons My Lord might take you back to Mary Geoise as a slave!"
The Human Traffickers quickly shouted, emboldened.
"Heh heh."
Eustass looked down at the other party, sneering. A silk thread wrapped in Armament Haki flew out, instantly piercing through the other party's heart.
"I hope you'll be just as brave in your next life."
After Eustass finished speaking, he ignored the Human Traffickers who had fallen to the side and walked towards the beautiful Merfolk woman whose neck was chained.
"Run!"
The Human Traffickers scattered, no one daring to use the background of the Human Auctioning Place to scare Eustass anymore.
Because they had come to understand that Eustasswasn't afraid of the Celestial Dragons at all.
But for most people in this World, fearing the Celestial Dragons was their "normal" view.
After all, the Celestial Dragons had ruled the World for hundreds of years. These guys were extremely arrogant, committing all sorts of evil for hundreds of years, and no one could punish them.
Most people, having been oppressed for so long, had long grown accustomed to fearing the Celestial Dragons.
"Close your eyes, it'll be over soon."
Eustass said softly to the Merfolk with delicate features.
"Okay..."
The purple-haired Merfolk quickly nodded and closed her beautiful eyes, but her constantly blinking curved eyelashes still showed that she was afraid.
Eustass grabbed the chain around her neck with both hands, and Armament Haki entered the chain, instantly snapping it.
Eustass threw the chain away.
"Boom!"
The explosives hidden inside the broken chain detonated with a shocking roar as the chain fell onto the sea, splashing huge waves.
The seawater slowly sprinkled down like rain, and Eustass smiled at the purple-haired Merfolk.
"Alright, you can go now."
After Eustass finished speaking, he turned to leave.
The Merfolk girl quickly grabbed his hand, looking nervous, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"What's wrong?"
"I, can I follow you? I can do anything, do housework for you, cook for you, just don't drive me away!"
"I don't lack servants."
"Please, let me follow you. If I leave here, I'll die!"
The Merfolk beauty cried as she spoke, tears welling up, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Is it because of those Human Traffickers?"
"Yes! Our Fish-Man Island is understaffed and poorly defended, so some humans always like to come to Merfolk Island to snatch young and beautiful Merfolk women and send them to the Human Auctioning Place.
And the Celestial Dragons love to keep all kinds of slaves; they love to sell Merfolk for money.
And if I run away, they will pursue me with even greater vengeance!"
The Merfolk beauty looked at Eustass and quickly pleaded.
Currently, Merfolk Island is very weak, and its military strength is also poor, which is why they are being bullied the most.
Even if the other party ran away, she wouldn't survive.
"Okay, then you can follow me. Can you talk to fish?"
Eustass asked.
"Yes, Master!"
The Merfolk beauty said excitedly.
Following a strong person like Eustass, she felt safe and no longer had to live in fear.
"Learn more about navigation. From now on, you'll be my navigator."
Eustass said, glancing at her. "Oh, your name."
"Samantha, my name is Samantha, Master."
Samantha the Merfolk had a ring of bubbles around her waist, floating in the air behind Eustass.
The bubbles on her body were a specialty of Sabaody Archipelago, formed by the expansion of natural resin secreted from the roots of the mangrove tree. These bubbles had excellent buoyancy and could carry a person to fly. As long as they weren't intentionally poked, they generally wouldn't burst.
Samantha the Merfolk followed closely behind Eustass.
Eustass glanced at her tail.
He felt that the Merfolk girl's tail was very beautiful.
If he held a Merfolk girl in the summer, it must be very cool, right?
"Is Master curious about our tails? You can.
Master can touch it..."
Samantha the Merfolk quickly said.
"No need."
Eustass waved his hand and walked towards the island. "Samantha, from now on, you are my navigator. You don't need to call me Master. I don't like that."
"Is, is that allowed?"
Samantha asked cautiously.
There was nothing she could do; the Merfolk's situation was truly terrible.
To survive, she was actually willing to be Eustass's slave.
"Mm."
Eustass nodded and walked towards Area 1.
Sabaody Archipelago has the largest mangrove tree in the World—the mangrove tree.
Because the roots are always exposed above the Water, Sabaody Archipelago was formed.
Sabaody Archipelago is a large area, composed of several major regions and dozens of smaller regions.
Each tree has towns and facilities, and each small area is abbreviated as XXGR, meaning a certain area.
Not long after.
1GR.
Eustass brought his newly recruited navigator all the way here.
Honestly, Eustass thought Merfolk were the most suitable as navigators.
They don't eat fish and can communicate with fish.
Therefore, Merfolk basically never get lost at sea.
So, with the Merfolk girl Samantha, sea navigation would be much more convenient for Eustass.
"Does Master want to buy some slaves here?"
Samantha followed behind. Although she knew buying slaves was wrong, Eustass was her benefactor. Whatever Eustass did, she wouldn't stop him, and would even help him think things through.
"It's Captain."
Eustass said.
"What type of slaves does Captain Master want to buy?"
Samantha asked curiously.
Eustass glanced at her, wondering what tragic experiences she must have gone through to be so scared.
"I'm not buying."
Eustass waved his hand.
He came here to fish.
Sabaody Archipelago is extremely prosperous, and it is very close to Mary Geoise, making it most convenient for Celestial Dragons to come here to buy slaves.
Eustass wanted to see if he could 'catch' a Celestial Dragon here.
"GR 1 to 29 mainly have population auction houses, Human Auctioning Places, and some illegal areas.
GR 30 to 39 mainly consist of Soap Bubble Park.
GR 40 to 49 mainly have tourist areas and specialty shops.
GR 50 to 59 mainly consist of shipyards and coating craftsman shops.
GR 60 to 69 mainly have Marine Base, World Government entrances and exits, and other places.
GR 70 to 49 mainly consist of hotels, taverns, and such."
Samantha followed behind, quickly introducing these to Eustass.
Eustass nodded in satisfaction; this girl knew quite a lot.
"Which area does Captain Master want to go to?"
Samantha asked curiously and helplessly.
"Let's stroll around GR 1 to 29 first, then find a restaurant to eat something when we get hungry."
Eustass said.
Chapter 174: 174. Robbing the Human Trafficking Shop! Fishing for Celestial Dragons! (Please subscribe!)
"Okay, Captain Master."
Samantha nodded happily, her body floating in the air, keeping pace with Eustass. Her fish tail swayed, looking very cute.
The Human Traffickers on the surrounding streets and the owners of the Human Auctioning Place all looked at the beautiful Merfolk Tribe woman, but when they saw Eustass beside Samantha, they all fell silent, their gazes shifting away.
Making money was good, but they still needed to be rational and understand who they could provoke and who they couldn't.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have their lives to enjoy the money.
Eustass and Samantha searched the nearby Human Auctioning Place for a long time, from 1GR all the way to 10GR, visiting numerous Human Auctioning Place, but found no trace of Celestial Dragons.
Eustass regretfully took Samantha, preparing to leave and find a restaurant for a meal.
"How pitiful. I wish they could all be released..."
Samantha said, looking sympathetically at a Snake Head Tribe girl locked in an iron cage in a shop.
Inside the Human Auctioning Place across the street.
In the middle iron cage, a tall girl with purple hair and a pale, snow-white complexion sat there. She had a very long neck, and the shop owner had placed an iron chain around it, leaving marks on her neck.
Hearing her words, she looked enviously at the Merfolk Tribe floating in a bubble on the street.
The Snake Head Tribe is a minority race worldwide, with slender necks like snakes and tall figures that put models to shame.
And like the Merfolk Tribe, the Snake Head Tribe also faced exclusion from humans.
Of course, saying 'all humans' is inaccurate; it should be the Celestial Dragons on Mary Geoise.
Celestial Dragons like to collect all kinds of slaves, which is why they have their subordinates and lackeys help them capture strange races or beautiful women from other kingdoms.
Discrimination?
There was none to begin with.
It was just an illusion created by the Celestial Dragons to facilitate their subordinates in capturing slaves, a conflict deliberately stirred up.
The Pirate World has an extremely high illiteracy rate. The linguistic discourse of this World could be fabricated however they pleased.
"Do you want to save her?"
Eustass asked.
"Yes!"
Samantha nodded quickly.
Those who have been rained on always hold umbrellas for others.
"But, but if it's too much trouble, Captain Master, let's just pretend we didn't see anything."
The Snake Head Tribe girl was stunned. Tears had just welled up in her eyes, feeling touched... How could this Merfolk Tribe big sister be so fickle!
"If you want to save someone, do it yourself. After all, there are too many pitiful people; I can't save everyone."
Eustass said, and a large amount of White thread entangled from his hand, forming a thread sword.
"This... okay!"
Samantha hesitated for a moment, looking at the thread sword Eustass offered, then quickly nodded and took it.
This was a cruel World. If she wanted to survive, she had to try to become stronger and fight.
"You, you... you're going too far, outright robbing us!"
The fat shop owner quickly grabbed a flintlock pistol and aimed it at Samantha, shouting at Eustass.
He was terrified, after all, Eustass was a great pirate who could defeat a Fleet Admiral.
He heard that the other party had previously killed a Celestial Dragon, and his bounty had soared from 3 billion Berries all the way to 4.5 billion Berries.
Even so, the other party dared to openly walk around Sabaody Archipelago, and no Marine came to arrest him.
It was impossible for him not to be afraid!
But this Snake Head Tribe girl in his shop had been reserved by an adult from the Saint Jaygarcia Saturn family.
If Eustass snatched this girl away, he would definitely not live past tonight!
The Celestial Dragons couldn't beat Eustass, but couldn't they beat a mere lackey like him?
"That's right, it's an outright robbery."
Eustass smiled and nodded.
This smile made the shop owner feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his heart turning cold.
But this smile, for the Snake Head Tribe girl in the shop, was like the warm sun of spring, melting ice and snow, filling her heart with hope for life.
"N-no, don't do that... If you let her come any closer, I'll shoot!"
The fat shop owner shouted in panic, retreating step by step. The owners of other Human Auctioning Placenearby saw this and quickly closed their doors, not daring to say another word, lest they invite trouble.
"We are pirates. Isn't outright robbery a perfectly reasonable thing?"
Eustass said with a cold laugh.
"Bang!"
The fat shop owner watched the Merfolk Tribe beauty pressing forward with the White thread sword, and in fright, he quickly pulled the trigger.
Samantha, the Merfolk Tribe, who had no training whatsoever, watched the bullet fly towards her in horror, while simultaneously slashing down with her sword.
Eustass lightly poked his hand, and a Finger Pistol fired an air bullet, instantly deflecting the projectile.
The next instant, a cold light flashed and disappeared.
Samantha's sword pierced through the fat shop owner's body.
Blood slowly slid down the blade, staining the thread sword red.
Samantha's hands trembled for a while, but remembering what these Human Traffickers had done to her, she was no longer so afraid.
Instead, she felt much lighter in her heart.
Samantha let out a delicate cry, quickly rushed to the cage, slashed open the lock with her sword, and led the Snake Head Tribe girl out.
"Thank you for saving my life. My name is Doris. From now on, I am the benefactor's slave, at your beck and call!"
Doris, the Snake Head Tribe girl, quickly knelt down, expressing her gratitude to Eustass repeatedly, tears continuously streaming down her snow-white face, dripping onto the ground.
If she were sold to a Celestial Dragon, a hellish life would await her.
Unless she was tortured to death, the Celestial Dragonswould not let her go.
"First of all, I am not your Master; you should call me Captain."
Eustass said, and the Snake Head Tribe girl and the Merfolk Tribe beauty quickly knelt and nodded.
They seemed to understand, yet also seemed to understand nothing.
"Let's go."
Eustass turned to leave, then looked back at the tears on the Snake Head Tribe girl's face.
"The way to liberate your people doesn't necessarily rely on others or on pleading. In this World, the most reliable things are yourselves and the blade in your hands."
After Eustass finished speaking, he turned and walked away directly.
The two women quickly followed.
Eustass looked around, and after walking for a long time with the two women of the Merfolk Tribe and Snake Head Tribe, he still didn't see any Marine or CP Agent.
He saw even fewer Celestial Dragons.
"Today's Celestial Dragons are like mice, hiding and sneaking around."
Eustass lamented.
Are they hiding from him?
"Ma... ahem, Captain is like the dawn light that reveals the night. The Celestial Dragons are just afraid of Captain."
Doris, the Snake Head Tribe girl, said respectfully.
She hated Celestial Dragons the most.
"You think too simply. The Celestial Dragons are not afraid of me; they have their own confidence."
Eustass said.
If the Celestial Dragons didn't have some trump cards and could maintain their rule for eight hundred years, then the constantly changing dynasties of other Worlds would truly weep.
Soon after.
After Eustass finished eating with the two women, he went to the Human Auctioning Place in 1GR.
Eustass looked around, and the auction house staff looked strangely at him and the Merfolk Tribe beauty and Snake Head Tribe girl beside him, all somewhat puzzled.
Doesn't this guy fear the Celestial Dragons?
After all, this was the place where Celestial Dragonscame most frequently.
"The auction begins!"
The host stood on stage with a microphone transponder snail and shouted.
Eustass sensed everything around him. A large number of CP Agents were protecting a fat Celestial Dragon wearing a transparent helmet, who was rushing over.
Time to go fishing~
Chapter 175 – Killing Another Celestial Dragon: Coins Exploding! (Subscribe, please!)
The auctioneer opened with the sale of a prince from a petty West Blue kingdom, and rich noble ladies from every country drove the bidding sky-high.
"Last time I bought a Fishman boy—simply wonderful."
Took me a whole three months before I got tired of him."
"Really? Lucky you—I only bought a common human last time; didn't last a month."
"So fragile~"
The noble ladies chatted away, their topics utterly obscene.
Eustass sat to the side, ignoring them completely.
Beside him, the Snake-Head girl and the mermaid clenched their fists in anger.
Eustass glanced at them and shook his head helplessly.
This was simply how the World worked.
If they wanted change, a bit of anger in their hearts wouldn't cut it.
They had to steel their resolve and take real action.
"Eight million Berries—sold!"
After repeated confirmation, the auctioneer closed the deal, handing the West Blue prince to staff, who led him on a chain to a waiting socialite.
Next up, the host quickly presented the following lot: a princess from a kingdom in East Blue that had been wiped out.
"Twenty million Berries—she's mine!"
Right then—
a pot-bellied man in bulky clothes, a clear helmet and snot dripping from his fat head, waddled in; a collared slave crawled beside him.
Several CP Agents flanked him as bodyguards.
Saint Jayegolucia Moses of the Celestial Dragonsstepped through the auction house doors; the waiting guards knelt hurriedly.
Moses's eyes lit up at the delicate girl on stage in an aqua princess gown—like a brat spotting a shiny new toy, desperate to own it.
Inside the hall, nobles waiting to bid lowered their heads, petrified into silence.
If Moses wished, even nobles could be dragged home as pets.
Thus no one dared compete with him.
And since Celestial Dragons were rich, generous fools, the auction house had no complaints.
Where items once fetched a few million, a Dragon would casually toss out ten million; the host felt they'd struck gold.
He couldn't thank the Celestial Dragons enough.
"This East Blue princess belongs to Saint Moses—such exquisite taste, My Lord!"
The host led the princess down, knelt before Moses, and offered her chain with raised hands.
"Hm, good. Any other pets worth seeing today? Bring them out one by one."
Saying so, Moses kissed his slave and strolled to the front row to sit and watch.
Just as he reached the front, he glanced back—and froze.
"Such beautiful Merfolk and Snake-Head—they'd make perfect servants!"
Delighted, Moses reached straight for Doris of the Snake Head Tribe.
If they weren't on the block, he could simply take them home.
He was a Celestial Dragon; if they resisted, the CP Agents would deal with them.
"..."
Doris, frightened, scurried behind Eustass.
Fear of Celestial Dragons was only normal in this World.
"Filthy, disgusting pervert Dragon!"
Samantha the mermaid cursed Moses angrily.
She was bolder than Doris, though still a bit scared—
but Eustass's presence gave her courage.
"What? You slaves dare disrespect me? Know who I am, scum? Lowly humans!"
Moses roared.
"You're nothing but trash—baka!"
Samantha shot back.
"I'll kill you!"
With a furious bellow, Moses pulled the golden pistol from his waist and aimed at Samantha.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
Eustass flicked up a finger and caught the bullet.
"Looks like the trash is throwing a tantrum."
he quipped.
"Who are you!?"
Moses glared at him, fuming.
"..."
Eustass studied him in silence.
This waste didn't even read the papers?
Unbelievable.
"Idiot."
With that, Eustass snapped the bullet back, wrapping it in Armament Haki; it shot forth like a streak of black lightning.
A CP Agent beside Moses dove to intercept.
"Tekkai!"
The bullet pierced straight through him and drilled into Moses's body unimpeded.
Using Top-tier Observation Haki, Eustass had foreseen the body-block and fortified the round with his own Armament.
His Armament was so strong that even Tekkai couldn't stop it.
Tekkai… everyone swears by it—no bad reviews.
Because anyone who'd give one is already dead~!
With a scream, Moses collapsed.
[host has defeated Celestial Dragon Saint Jayegolucia Moses!]
[Reward: Lifespan +1!]
Eustass stayed silent only because the foe was garbage.
But if every trash Celestial Dragon gave rewards… ten of them meant Lifespan +10. Stack them up and he'd gain decades.
Seated, he yawned; it was time to leave.
He'd just killed a Celestial Dragon—soon the Marines would show.
Even Kong might not come; fighting Marines held no thrill.
Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, Zephyr—they'd only just entered the Marine Academy; the future big shots were still rookies.
Eustass rose, the mermaid and Snake-Head girl right behind him.
He swept his gaze over the trembling nobles and smiled.
The World Government branded him a pirate?
Then he'd play the part~!
"Kill them."
He tossed each girl a thread sword and strode out.
Samantha and Doris exchanged glances, then raised their blades toward the horrified aristocrats.
"N-no!"
"Stay back, monsters!"
"Damn slaves—get away from me!"
Their screams were useless.
The host lifted his flintlock at Doris; a translucent thread shot from her sword and skewered him mid-motion.
Samantha and Doris brought their thread swords down, slashing through the cowering nobles.
Eustass stepped outside just as a chorus of shrieks erupted behind him.
Chapter 176: 176. Is He Really Not a D? The Celestial Dragons' Fear! (Please Subscribe!)
Soon, the two women from the fish-man race and the Snake Head Tribe stepped forward, each wielding a blood‑stained thread sword.
Eustass glanced at them; neither of them was injured.
But then again, they were just a bunch of aristocrats who only know how to drown in wine and dreams.
Those people's combat power was so weak it was merely an appetizer.
Eustass was only using those weaklings to test his blade on them.
Since they were about to walk a road of no return, their courage could not be small.
"Let's go."
Eustass said, and the two women hurriedly responded, following him closely.
Shortly after,
Eustass took the two aboard a ship and left the Sabaody Archipelago; the Navy arrived only after a long delay... the next day.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Kong had just gotten up early when his transponder snailrang nonstop; answering it, he was berated by Saint Satan of the Gorosei.
Kong hurriedly ran to the Red Line's Mary Geoise, only to be scolded nonstop by the five elders of the Gorosei.
When he asked, he learned that yesterday a little brat from the Satan Saint family, Jaygo Luscia Satan Saint, was killed by Eustass while playing at the Sabaody Archipelago.
The Gorosei were especially angry about this and very dissatisfied with Kong.
But having them team up against Eustass is absolutely impossible~
"After all, he's just a worthless descendant, and we don't even know how many generations apart... 'Gentlemen, Eustass's power is truly terrifying. How about we invoke a Buster Call, with me leading the Vice Admirals of my division, and the World Government dispatching forces to crush him together?'"
Kong suggested.
"Well..."
Macas Mars Saint stroked his beard thoughtfully.
The loss would be huge, huh... "That's unwise."
Topman Vahcy Saint murmured.
He thought it was a tough situation... Eustass fights Konglike he's fighting a kid; a squad of Vice Admirals would be a waste... In the Pirate World, sheer numbers don't always decide everything.
To a certain extent, a super‑strong individual can sweep away an entire enemy force without pressure.
"Let's discuss further."
Shepherd Ten Brite Saint shook his head.
"Fine, you may leave."
Saint Vinsmoke said.
Kong was stunned.
So they didn't have confidence to defeat Eustass, and just used the Fleet Admiral to vent their anger?
As soon as Kong left, Jaygo Luscia Satan Saint sneered:
"Hmph, the Navy is a bunch of trash; they can't even produce someone who can beat Eustass?"
The group fell silent.
If they had someone who could defeat Eustass, the New World would have been reclaimed long ago... If the World Government had subordinates as strong as Eustass, they wouldn't need to delegate power to the kingdoms; anyone who disobeyed would be wiped out, and they'd have helped Lord Imu unify the World.
If they possessed subordinates as strong as Eustass, perhaps they'd already been crushed by the opponent... Eustass's affair would then be over, since it was just the death of a worthless person; there was no need to waste resources on a trashy target... One month later.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Don Quixote Miles Saint left the Sabaody Archipelagoalone, followed by several CP Agents; he looked around, feeling a little scared.
"Good thing, good thing, I heard that Eustass has left."
Miles Saint thought to himself, still fearful of the D‑bearing assassin Eustass.
Charlotte Linlin killed a Celestial Dragon, and the Navy has been chasing Linlin ever since, never giving up.
But Eustass killed a Celestial Dragon, and there was no response from above... This made some Celestial Dragons uneasy, and rumors began to spread that Eustass bore the hidden surname "D".
"Lord Miles Saint, our people have already scoured the area; Eustass's ship never docked at the Sabaody Archipelago!"
From afar, a human‑trafficking henchman rushed over, kneeling respectfully before him.
"Ahahaha~!"
Miles Saint instantly revived, "What a pity! I was planning to behead him and bring his head back to Mary Geoise for everyone to see! I'll let him go this time~!"
"Lord Miles Saint, you are merciful!"
The henchman quickly flattered.
"Hmph, who can deny it? In all of Mary Geoise, I am the most merciful."
Miles Saint said, then mounted the henchman's back, "Ride!"
Henchman:???
Oh no, he only wanted to curry favor and gain some benefit.
Now he's even worse than a henchman—he's become a slave.
"Move aside, or I'll kill you!"
Miles Saint roared.
"Lord, merciful!"
The henchman, crying, struggled forward.
"Hmph, I've already said it, I'm the most merciful~"
The henchman's tears burst... shortly after.
Human Auction House.
Miles Saint kicked the exhausted henchman away and fired a shot at him.
No other reason; the henchman was exhausted and almost fell on him.
"A lecherous dog meets a bad end."
A cold voice came from the front seat.
"Hm?"
Miles Saint looked puzzled, only seeing a silhouette.
A black‑haired man sat in the front row, accompanied by two beauties—one from the fish-man race, one from the Snake Head Tribe.
Miles Saint only saw their backs.
His face lit up, and he hurried over.
The host stood on stage, head lowered in fear.
Miles Saint, assuming the host was afraid of him, felt justified.
When he reached the front row and saw the black‑haired man, Miles Saint screamed in terror.
"Whose little devil are you?"
Eustass smiled at Miles Saint.
Currently, Mary Geoise has 19 royal descendants; the queen of Alabasta did not leave a lineage, so there are 19 heirs.
"You, you devil, are you a D?"
Miles Saint, terrified, raised his golden flintlock pistol.
"So this is a royal descendant? Their mental fortitude is terrible."
Eustass lifted his hand, aiming at Miles Saint.
Finger Pistol!
A gust of air shot out instantly; Miles Saint was frozen in place by Eustass's murderous aura.
A CP rushed forward to shield the Celestial Dragon, but Eustass's thread pierced the attacker.
A crescent‑shaped air projectile pierced Miles Saint's body; Eustass stood up, ready to leave.
[host Defeated Celestial Dragon Don Quixote Miles Saint!]
[Reward Obtained: +1 Life!]
Eustass grinned; even trash gets a guaranteed reward—truly the most despised group among pirates.
Chapter 177 – 177. The Arrival of the Rocks Era! (Please subscribe!)
Afterward, rumors among the Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise grew louder: "Eustass must be a D" and "Is this guy even human?"
The Celestial Dragons ventured out less and less; Lackeys delivered photos of slaves to their doors for selection… Months later, when Eustass finally stopped appearing, they breathed easy again.
On one bright, sunny day, a family of three Celestial Dragons left Mary Geoise together, planning to enjoy themselves on the Sabaody Archipelago and restock the slaves they'd "used up."
Result… they ran into Eustass yet again.
Eustass simply Offed the entire family, netting the reward [Lifespan +3].
Eustass had figured it out: as the most despised group in the Pirate World, Celestial Dragons came with a guaranteed minimum reward—even the trashiest ones yielded [Lifespan].
In short, the Gold-Drop Rate was sky-high!
For the next few years, Eustass kept circling the Sabaody Archipelago with his two little sidekicks, switching ships now and then so no one could tell from the harbor registry whether he'd arrived.
From time to time he'd swing by, harvesting a few Celestial Dragons.
Whenever the World Government sent Celestial Dragonson inspection tours, he'd slip in and lop off a few "little Celestial heads."
Occasionally he'd also chase down Charlotte Linlin for another beating.
Several years passed.
Year 1483 of the Sea Circle, late in the year.
Over those years, Eustass had gained [Lifespan +30] from the Celestial Dragons.
Thanks to the contribution of thirty weakling Celestial Dragons, he'd tacked on another twenty years of life!
Because this was a different Universe, time in the Marvel Universe stood still while Eustass spent decades in the Pirate World; he didn't have to worry about returning to find his kids suddenly grown.
And throughout these years, Charlotte Linlin was still visited regularly by Eustass, who'd show up and beat her senseless.
From her, Eustass also reaped [Lifespan +20], [Strength ×4], and [Recovery ×2].
Eat, sleep, thrash Linlin—turned out to be quite the healthy routine!
With his lifespan greatly extended, Eustass's aging had slowed; even after decades he looked little older, the passing years only adding gravitas to his presence.
Over the years, Fleet Admiral Kong kept seeking Eustassout, hoping to defeat him.
Instead, he contributed bountiful rewards: [Stamina ×4], [Armament Haki Strength ×6], [Observation Haki Strength ×4], [Conqueror's Haki Strength ×6], and [Strength ×8].
Every time Kong limped back to Navy HQ, either a leg or an arm had been broken by Eustass.
A rumor that infuriated Kong soon spread across the sea:
"Why is Fleet Admiral Kong called 'Kong'? Because he's Tempered Steel—every time Eustass Mora snaps his leg, it heals stronger than before~"
Kong challenged Eustass again and again, only to be one-shot each time, with Eustass mocking: "You're so weak~"
He was on track to become the most disgraceful Fleet Admiral in Marine history.
But the most disgraceful title actually belonged to the future Akainu.
The New World.
Off the coast of Elbaf.
Eustass set sail from Elbaf; over the years he'd taken to living here whenever he had nothing else to do.
Simply put, he'd grown too strong—every day, rookie pirates begged to join his crew… those pests were unbearable, so he settled in Elbaf.
With hordes of giants around, the little flies didn't dare approach.
Beside him.
Doris of the Snake Head Tribe, now in her thirties, hurriedly poured tea for Eustass.
Munching on Senbei and sipping tea, Eustass exhaled contentedly.
Merfolk Samantha and Snake-Head Doris had stayed with him for years; in his free moments he'd guide their training.
Doris had become a swordmaster capable of flying slashes and dual-color Haki, while Samantha had awakened all three Haki types and, under Eustass's tutelage, mastered Haki Infusion.
Samantha, worried for her people, was dispatched by Eustass to Fish-Man Island to protect the Merfolk Tribe.
With Eustass's backing, Fish-Man Island's safety had soared; pirates and the World Government hardly dared traffic its people anymore.
After all, no one wanted Eustass knocking on their door to lop off their heads.
In recent years Eustass had been outrageously brazen—hunting Celestial Dragons and thrashing the Fleet Admiral—any single deed was World-shaking news.
And the World Government could do absolutely nothing about it.
Imu and the Gorosei felt much the same: as long as Eustass only culled the trash Celestial Dragons and didn't threaten their rule, they'd swallow their pride and avoid escalating the conflict.
With Eustess treating the Fleet Admiral like a toddler, they truly didn't dare provoke him.
In earlier years, Eustass had handled Admirals like children; later, handling the Fleet Admiral was the same.
A few years back, the Navy joined forces with the CP Organization and deployed over ten thousand troops against him—he still beat them like kids… his strength was Unfathomable… He only killed a few trash Celestial Dragons, and the Gorosei, comfortable for too long, weren't willing to gamble their lives for that trash.
If all five of them moved out and Eustass still handled them like little brat… their old lives would be forfeit.
"I heard Vincent and the others fought Rocks and lost?" Eustass asked.
"Yes, Rocks let them go," Doris replied from the side.
Vincent was the freckled fallen prince; after growing up, he and his crew set sail, with Vincent as Captain and Long-Arms Jim as Vice-Captain.
With Eustass's guidance, though they weren't the top force in the New World, they were still a crew no pirate could ignore.
Of course, they couldn't compare with the Rocks Piratesor the Roger Pirates.
"Their talent's lacking; the road to contesting the seas is still long," Eustass remarked with a chuckle.
"As long as you're here, no force is beyond our reach," Doris said respectfully.
"Nonsense. I've no interest in conquest; everything depends on you lot," Eustass laughed.
Unless someone in this World could make him care, Eustass had no desire to carve out a power of his own—fighting was easy; ruling was a headache.
——
——
[PS: Three Chapters today while I organize notes. Five more tomorrow—the Rocks Era arrives! Rocks, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaidou (rookie), Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Wang Cho, Captain John—all will step onto the stage!
Along with Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Zephyr, and Garp racing toward their prime!]
Chapter 178: 178. The Rocks Pirates and Their Emperor-Tier Cadres! (Please Subscribe!)
New World.
Hive Island.
The weather in the New World changes in an instant. One moment it's pouring rain, the next it's clear skies and scorching sun, with evaporating moisture, making it unbearable, like being in a steamer.
"Go on, kill him, hahahaha!"
"Don't be timid, be like a pirate!"
"Yahahahaha!"
The numerous pirates of the Rocks Pirates sat under the shade, drinking and escaping the heat, while watching two pirates fighting in the open space.
The two pirates were both large, one over six meters tall, the other over five meters tall, covered in strong muscles. They each used their abilities to attack the other.
The battle was exceptionally fierce. The two exchanged blows, one giving a sword strike, the other a mace blow, showing no mercy, as if intending to kill each other.
The Rocks Pirates were exactly like this; they were originally a large pirate group assembled for profit.
Rocks either used promises to deceive his Captains, or coerced them with force, or held pirate games where the losing party had to join them.
But no matter what, the core cohesion of the Rocks Pirates was the promise of profit that Rocks made to everyone, which made them so "loyal" to him.
Survival of the fittest was the Rocks crew's motto.
Only those strong enough could survive and share the profits; those not qualified would be eliminated early!
They were all different pirate crews subjugated by Rocksand brought together. Friendship? It simply didn't exist.
Aside from some camaraderie within their small sub-groups, the entire fleet had little emotional connection; there was only the cold pursuit of profit.
And this was one of the reasons for the future collapse of the Rocks crew.
If Rocks couldn't achieve their ultimate goal, everyone would betray him early.
"What useless fellows."
Under the shade of a tree, a beautiful and charming woman sat.
She wore a black cowboy hat and had long, wavy pink hair.
The surrounding pirates couldn't help but yearn for Charlotte Linlin, yet at the same time, they felt a hint of fear.
Liking beautiful women is a normal thought for every man.
But Linlin's male companions usually didn't end well... Over the years, Charlotte Linlin had many male companions and bore many children. However, each time Linlin gave birth, she would send the child back to one of her islands in the New World for settlement.
As for her male companions... some were killed, others disappeared.
Even if Charlotte Linlin's male companion was a member of the Rocks Pirates, if she killed him afterwards, CaptainRocks would not blame her.
After all, Linlin was a stronger cadre, and Rocks would never vent his anger on his cadre because of a weakling.
"Hmph..."
In the distance.
Bargom Stussy, with golden hair and an orange dress, glanced at Charlotte Linlin and snorted coldly, feeling a little displeased.
Bargom Stussy, who would become the mother of Whitebeard Second, was also the genetic source for the future CP0 clone Stussy.
She was a bit annoyed with Charlotte Linlin. Wasn't it just that she was a little prettier and a little stronger? "Linlin, I heard you knew Eustass My Lord a long time ago. I wonder if anything happened between you two?"
Bargom Stussy said with a smile.
...
Linlin was startled by a reflex when she heard Eustass's name.
She couldn't help it; Eustass had beaten her up from time to time over the years.
She had developed a complex.
"Eustass My Lord, he is the uncrowned king of the sea, a king who can make the world fear and respect him without needing to establish a force."
Charlotte Linlin said with a smile. She decided that in a few days, she would find an excuse to spar with Stussyand eliminate her.
She also wanted something to happen with Eustass, but he disliked her... Bargom Stussy actually said such a thing at this time; it seemed she had to find a reason to get rid of this guy.
"Captain's here!"
"It's Captain Rocks!"
The pirates suddenly shouted, creating a clamor.
Linlin quickly looked over.
In the distance, a tall man with deep red dreadlocks, a fierce expression, and sinister eyes walked quickly. He wore a Captain's hat and a blue-black Captain's robe.
Behind him, the tall, six-meter-sixty-six-tall CaptainEdward Newgate of the Whitebeard Pirates, a subordinate of Rocks, walked with the Supreme Grade Great Sword Murakumogiri.
The young Whitebeard had flowing golden hair and his iconic, exaggerated crescent-moon-shaped Whitebeard.
He walked in a white Captain's coat:
"Gurararara, still as full of fighting spirit as ever."
Whitebeard looked at the two pirates, who were evenly matched and half-dead, but thought to himself, such a pirate crew is truly a failure.
Whitebeard had always wanted a family on the sea, where everyone could be happy and joyful together, not this cruel endless fighting.
"Jie hahahaha—!"
On the other side, behind Rocks, Golden Lion Shiki, with incredibly thick golden hair that was so abundant it resembled a cape, laughed loudly.
Shiki's hook-like eyebrows rose with his laughter; this guy looked quite comical.
However, those who knew him understood that this guy was not as easygoing as his comical face suggested.
Shiki was cunning, cruel, and extremely sinister.
"Such useless fellows should be dealt with directly; the future belongs to strong individuals like us."
Shiki said coldly.
"Did you hear that?"
Rocks said coldly, looking displeased at the two good-for-nothings, "Wastrels have no right to survive in Rocks."
The two pirates, lying on the ground panting and covered in wounds, heard this and immediately lunged at each other again, fighting to the death.
"Useless, not even qualified to be cannon fodder."
Silver Axe, dressed in golden armor and wielding a giant axe, snorted coldly. His figure instantly appeared before the two, and with a flash of cold light, he directly cut off their heads.
"Gugugu..."
Captain John, with white hair and wearing a wine-red Captain's uniform, held a wine bottle in his right hand and tilted his head back, guzzling wine. "Tch, such trash doesn't need to share treasure with us."
"Captain John, could it be that you want a bigger share?"
Charlotte Linlin scoffed.
"Hee hahahaha, I was accidentally seen through, but it's also good to get a bigger share of money, isn't it, EustassMy Lord's defeated foe?"
Captain John said with a smile.
"If you want to die, just say so."
Linlin's expression changed, and she clenched her fists, staring at Captain John.
"Alright, Linlin, come with us. I'm preparing to challenge Eustass Mola. We should make good preparations."
Rocks said.
"Is that so? Do you have confidence?"
Linlin looked at Rocks in surprise.
Chapter 179: 179. Marine Conference, Terrifying Bounties! (Seeking Subscription!)
"Hahaha, I am 100% confident I can restrain him!"
Rocks laughed heartily, utterly arrogant.
'No, rather than being 100% confident in restraining Eustass, it's 100% confidence in restraining all Devil Fruitusers...'
Rocks thought sinisterly to himself.
"Newgate, Shiki, Linlin, Wang Cho, Silver Axe, CaptainJohn, come with me!"
After Rocks finished speaking, he turned and walked toward the towering skull-shaped building in the distance.
Whitebeard looked seriously at Captain Rocks; it seemed a battle between the Rocks Pirates and Eustass was inevitable.
"Kee ha ha ha! Rumors say Eustass Mola is the Uncrowned King of the Seas, a top-tier powerhouse even stronger than the Fleet Admiral. It looks like our Captainis going to step on his body to reach the summit of strength!"
Shiki laughed loudly.
Since Imu hasn't appeared and the Gorosei haven't made a move in a very long time, these pirates naturally believe Eustass and Rocks are among the strongest in the World.
"If we take down Eustass, the Captain will become the Pirate King, unprecedented and unmatched!"
Silver Axe praised, exchanging a look with Wang Cho.
Before Roger, there truly hadn't been a Pirate King.
Although the current era is dangerous, the Great Pirate Era began with Roger's final words when he was executed.
"The King of the Seas, huh? He must have a lot of treasure, hmph hmph~ gugu gu..."
Captain John followed the group, drinking and simultaneously imagining the scene where he steals Rocks' treasure after Rocks becomes the King.
Just thinking about it was pleasant.
...
Linlin followed behind the group, remaining silent.
She didn't have much faith in Rocks; she always felt he would fail... Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the conference room.
A Marine Major General stood before a large screen, explaining the situation in the New World to the Marineveterans present:
"Currently, there are three major powers in the New World."
Having said that, the Marine Major General went to retrieve the bounties.
Vice Admiral Sengoku sat in the front seat, eating Garp's donut and drinking Oolong tea while watching the Major General post the bounties on the blackboard.
In recent years, Sengoku has performed exceptionally well in the Marine Corps, being highly proactive in missions. Fleet Admiral Kong thinks highly of him and intends to mentor him.
Beside him, Garp was picking his nose with his right hand, looking displeasedly at Sengoku.
He clearly had his own Senbei, yet he always stole his donut... Garp glared unhappily at Sengoku, then grabbed a handful of Sengoku's Senbei with his right hand and started chewing.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, draped in a Cloak of Justice, sat gracefully on the other side, slowly enjoying her tea and looking up at the bounty posters being affixed to the blackboard.
She glanced speechlessly at the two men; they were arch-rivals, acting like children when they threw tantrums... but they were also the two closest friends among the four of them.
From the time they joined the Marine Academy together, through becoming Marine apprentices, and then advancing in rank, they had all reached the position of Vice Admiral today.
They had trained together, played together, and fought side-by-side.
"First, the most rampant force recently is none other than the Rocks Pirates!"
The Major General explaining the situation posted Rocks' bounty poster on the blackboard. The poster showed Rocks D. Xebec with an extremely fierce face, dressed in a highly arrogant manner, and sporting a very boastful smile.
"Rocks D. Xebec, Captain of the Rocks Pirates, has recruited numerous powerful pirates as subordinates, making him a terrifyingly ambitious man.
Rocks possesses the strongest physical strength in the entire pirate crew, wields all Three Types of Haki, and can even use the Six King Gun, having learned all of Rokushiki simply by fighting the Marines frequently.
He is a true Prodigy, and so far, he has never revealed his own Devil Fruit Ability.
Rocks D. Xebec, bounty of 4,989,000,000 Berries!
He is the pirate with the highest bounty after Eustass Mola!"
The Major General pointed to Rocks' bounty and said.
Don't think 4.9 billion Berries is a small amount; it is a massive sum.
After all, these are Berries from decades ago, before the severe inflation of the future.
For Rocks to have a bounty of 4.9 billion Berries in this era demonstrates his terror.
As for Eustass, the notorious Celestial Dragon Killer and the man known to possess the strongest physical strength at sea, his bounty has only risen to 6,099,000,000 Berries.
Beside Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Zephyr, draped in a white Marine cloak, sat there, looking seriously at the bounty poster affixed to the blackboard.
A year ago, Zephyr, who was promoted to Vice Admiral, was nicknamed Black Arm, as his strength was formidable and he was highly likely to be promoted to Admiral in the future.
Zephyr, Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru—these four all joined the Marines and were selected for the Marine Academy at the same time.
However, after they all advanced in rank, they acquired their own warships and had many missions, so they rarely met normally.
Zephyr is the youngest of the group, and, aside from Sengoku, the most diligent in executing missions.
However, because of his insistence on "not killing" his enemies, the higher-ups have never liked him much, preferring the more obedient Sengoku instead.
"Next are Whitebeard, Big Mom, Golden Lion, Silver Axe..."
The Major General proceeded to introduce the information on all the Captains of the various smaller ships within the Rocks Pirates.
Then, the speaker briefly mentioned the Roger Piratesand skipped over them quickly.
Because the main focus of this matter was the conflict between the Rocks Pirates and Eustass.
"Eustass Mola, the Most Vicious Pirate in History. Since his appearance, he has repeatedly defeated Big Mom with crushing strength, as well as former Marine AdmiralGreg, and... *cough cough*."
The Major General didn't need to say it; everyone knew who he was referring to.
Namely, the current Marine Fleet Admiral, Kong.
And he had defeated Kong multiple times with crushing force.
"Subsequently, this man became even more rampant, repeatedly assassinating Celestial Dragons for sport. To date, dozens of Celestial Dragons have been murdered.
He is the undisputed Most Vicious Pirate in History, the eternal ultimate enemy of the World Government and the Marines."
While the Major General was speaking, Garp yawned boredly and fell asleep.
A bubble formed and shrank on his nose.
Garp didn't have time to listen to his nonsense.
Assassination? Do Celestial Dragons even deserve it?
Garp also strongly disliked the Celestial Dragons, so in some ways, he admired Eustass, but unfortunately, they belonged to different factions.
"Eustass Mola, bounty of 6,099,000,000 Berries!
He has not taken on pirate subordinates, only having one fish-man race woman and one Snake Head Tribe woman by his side, with bounties of 2 billion Berries and 1.9 billion Berries, respectively.
He is the true Uncrowned King of the Seas. Years ago, tens of thousands of World Government and Marinetroops, led by Fleet Admiral Kong, jointly attempted to encircle and suppress him but suffered a crushing defeat."