The Sea Calendar, Year 1498.
It was a year destined to be written into history.
The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, surrendered himself to the Navy.
Under the command of the World Government, Roger was transported to Loguetown for public execution a grand spectacle meant to terrify the restless tides of piracy across the seas.
Of course, none of that had anything to do with Hilbert Black.
After all, he was one of the Celestial Dragons those so-called "descendants of the gods," born to command and never to serve.
At least, that's what everyone was supposed to believe.
For sixteen years, Hilbert had lived among these self-proclaimed divine beings, and he could feel the arrogance of their way of life slowly seeping into his bones.
When he awoke that morning, even before he opened his eyes, a fair-skinned maid with long legs approached, knelt gracefully, and bowed.
"Lord Hilbert, may I assist you with your morning wash?"
Hilbert grunted faintly, too groggy to respond with words.
The maid bowed again, picked up a silk towel embroidered with golden threads, and began to gently wipe his face. Her movements were delicate, cautious, as if a single rough touch might cost her life.
Though Hilbert wasn't the cruelest among the Celestial Dragons, he had learned well enough that here, kindness was a liability.
In the Holy Land of Mariejois, even a servant's smallest mistake could end in execution. It was no wonder the maids moved like they were walking on shattered glass.
After washing his face, Hilbert felt a little more awake. As soon as he sat up, three other maids hurried over to help him dress.
Even after more than a decade in this gilded cage, he couldn't shake the feeling of being pampered into uselessness.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "if being useless is the price of survival, I'll pay it. There are plenty out there who'd kill for the chance."
With that comforting bit of self-deception, he let the maids finish their work.
Once dressed, Hilbert stretched lazily and said to the nearest maid, "The weather looks good today. I'm going down below for a visit. Call a few CP agents to come with me."
"Yes, Lord Hilbert!" The maid bowed deeply before rushing off.
The CP agents Cipher Pol, the shadowy arm of the World Government were officially bodyguards for the Celestial Dragons. But in truth, they rarely accompanied them inside Mariejois itself; the Holy Land was safe enough, and there simply weren't enough agents to guard every "noble."
Only when a Celestial Dragon decided to descend to the "lower world" would they be assigned a protective detail.
Hilbert, however, wasn't the kind to take chances.
He planned to visit the Sabaody Archipelago today, and he wasn't about to rely solely on a ship full of maids and slaves.
He'd seen what overconfidence did to people.
"Even a so-called 'genius tactician' like Sengoku almost got outsmarted by his own plans," Hilbert thought bitterly. "And in this world, where people are born with superhuman power, stupidity might as well be a universal law."
He chuckled to himself.
Somewhere out there could be another reckless fool like Monkey D. Luffy someone bold enough to throw a punch at a Celestial Dragon just for fun.
Getting slapped around would be one thing. But if he ever revealed his strength in retaliation, and the God's Knights took notice, that would spell real trouble.
Ever since the God Valley Incident, those knights had become far more selective in their "recruitment."
And Hilbert had no intention of being recruited.
He was a man destined to stand above them all not to die protecting their vanity.
Breakfast, as usual, was a lavish affair: a hundred different dishes, each plated like art. He sampled a bit of everything, then allowed a maid to wipe the corner of his mouth before changing into his travel suit an elegant white "spacesuit" complete with the trademark glass bubble helmet worn by Celestial Dragons.
Two masked CP agents awaited him outside. Beside them crouched a small giant nearly eight meters tall serving as his living transport, a golden throne strapped to its back.
"Let's go," Hilbert commanded.
The giant began to crawl forward, each movement slow and deliberate, its chains clinking softly against the marble floor as they made their way toward the Red Port.
It took more than an hour to reach it; Mariejois was vast beyond imagination.
Hilbert sighed. "No wonder those idiots spend all their time finding ways to amuse themselves. This place could bore a saint to death."
No one dared to respond. Silence was the only safe answer.
At the government's private dock, two lines of armored guards knelt as Hilbert passed between them and entered a massive glass bubble tram, which descended from the Red Line down to the sea.
Waiting at the base was a magnificent vessel The Sanctum, his personal ship.
It wasn't just a luxury yacht; it was a floating palace, built when Hilbert first came of age.
After all, what kind of Celestial Dragon didn't have a proper flagship?
Several hours later, The Sanctum anchored off the Sabaody Archipelago.
Area 16, home to the infamous slave auction house.
"Two hundred million Berries," Hilbert said casually.
The auction hall fell silent.
The auctioneer immediately broke into a servile grin. "Congratulations, Lord Hilbert, on acquiring this beautiful mermaid!"
Hilbert ignored him and turned to leave.
There had been no Devil Fruits, no powerful pirate slaves on offer today nothing worth his time.
Still, a mermaid was a rare enough trophy to make the trip worthwhile.
Behind him, his maids negotiated the payment, while Hilbert stepped outside with his CP escorts.
The streets of Area 16 were lined with glass display cases, each containing a living person for sale. Some were strikingly beautiful; others were built like warriors. All of them had the same lifeless, hollow eyes.
The first time Hilbert had walked this street, he'd been nauseated by the sight. Now, he merely observed it with detached curiosity almost amusement.
"Guess I've finally adapted," he thought grimly.
Then, as he passed one of the shop windows, something caught his attention.
A woman with golden hair stood behind the glass. She wore a faint smile too calm, too deliberate.
Hilbert froze.
"Huh? Why does she look… familiar?"