Whoosh!
A dark shadow shot into the sky.
Boom!
The shadow exploded, hot flames and dark smoke filling the air.
"Why did you save me?" The bald giant touched his smooth neck, then stared blankly at Aeridar.
"Perhaps it's fate, Pirate Captain, Tyris the Ripper," Aeridar grinned.
"Heh, it's been a long time since anyone called me that," Tyris twisted his neck, sighing with emotion. "Those days were a nightmare."
"That's because you were too weak." Aeridar clutched his ice bucket, waving his hand as he walked past. "Go on, if you get caught again, that's just how fate goes."
Tyris stared blankly at Aeridar's receding back for a while before muttering, "That kind of fate will never befall me again."
Minutes later, people arrived on the street.
"Wh-wh-what in the world happened?"
"Are they all... all dead?"
"Hey, hey, am I... seeing things?"
"No injuries at all? What's going on?"
Some people stared at the street full of 'corpses,' so terrified they collapsed to the ground.
...
At Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
Creak!
Aeridar, carrying his ice bucket, pushed open the door and entered. Inside, as soon as Aeridar walked in, he saw the white-haired, bespectacled old man and a young man with a hooked nose having a drinking contest.
"Well, Aeridar-kun, are you done with your business?" Shakky sat behind the bar, smiling at Aeridar as he entered.
"Shakky-basan, long time no see. I'm pretty much done with things on this island," Aeridar replied with a smile.
"It's Aeridar! And he's brought good wine again! Come, come!" Rayleigh turned his head, just spotting the ice bucket in Aeridar's hand, and his eyes lit up as he eagerly urged him on.
"Captain!" Oliver, also spotting Aeridar, simply gave a lazy wave.
Aeridar walked up to the bar and took a bottle of red wine from the ice bucket, placing it on the counter. "Shakky-basan, I brought two bottles of good wine. Let's drink one today, and you can keep the other for your collection."
Shakky took a clean wine glass for Aeridar and carefully examined the red wine on the counter. It was a standard 750ml bottle, glass-bottled, with gold foil wrapping on the label, bearing only a silver and black interwoven throne emblem.
Shakky recognized the wine's origin and exclaimed in surprise, "It's the Rodecon Royal Wine! This is truly too precious!"
Hearing the words "Rodecon Royal Wine," Rayleigh and Oliver's eyes instantly gleamed. They appeared at the bar as if by instantaneous movement, staring intently at the red wine on the counter.
"The Rodecon Royal Wine... I remember the last time I drank this, the Captain stole it from a Celestial Dragon out for a stroll. He got three bottles in total back then. The taste, the aroma, it was indescribably wonderful," Rayleigh reminisced, almost drooling in intoxicated reverie.
"Captain, you actually brought out this wine! Such a waste!" Oliver looked at the red wine on the counter, then at Aeridar, a look of utter frustration on his face. He had asked Aeridar for this wine several times, even tried to steal it, but never succeeded.
Ignoring the frantic Oliver, Aeridar placed the ice bucket on the bar and took out the other bottle of Rodecon Royal Wine from inside, chuckling, "This wine has been in the cellar for a long time, and I haven't even tasted it. Today's a good day to drink one."
The Rodecon Royal Wine was a batch of red wine produced by the world's number one winery in the year 1422 of the Sea Calendar. Its quantity was limited, and due to the finest winemaking ingredients and a special recipe, its aging ability was excellent, and its taste superb.
However, its price was exorbitant, considered a delicacy only kings could afford, and one of the best and most expensive wines in the world.
These two bottles of Rodecon Royal Wine were among the famous wine collection in the royal treasury of the Dasco Royal Family. Later, they became Aeridar's spoils of war and were also stored away until now.
"Good! Good! Good!" Rayleigh clapped his hands, loudly cheering with glee.
Hearing that one bottle was to be drunk, Oliver stopped complaining and waited obediently for his drink.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Thud!
Sengoku slammed his hand on the table, covering his face with the other, distressed. "Damn it, a Celestial Dragon was found unconscious on the street! The Marines just recovered, and something like this happens again. Were they attacked?"
"We don't know, but including the guard knights, and even everyone on the entire street, they all fell unconscious and haven't woken up yet," a Marine officer standing nearby shook his head.
The first to discover the situation were the island's civilians, who then reported it to the Marines stationed on the island. The Marines, seeing that even a Celestial Dragon was involved, were scared half to death and quickly reported it to Marine Headquarters. Luckily, both Celestial Dragons had no injuries, appearing more as if they had been drugged.
"Regardless of the cause, or whoever dared to lay a hand on a World Noble, we can't not act, can we, Sengoku-san?" Kizaru, sitting behind Sengoku and sipping tea, muttered idly.
"Kizaru!" Sengoku turned and looked at Kizaru.
"I'll go then. I'll be right back, don't worry." Kizaru put down his teacup, preparing to stand up.
At that moment, Sengoku waved his hand, "No need for you. Aokiji is just off the coast of Sabaody Archipelago. He's closer."
"Kuzan, huh... That lazy bum, a little exercise would do him good." Hearing this, Kizaru, whose rear had just barely left his chair, sat back down, leisurely picking up his teacup again.
...
Three Nautical Miles from Sabaody Archipelago.
A patch of ice, only a few meters in circumference, floated on the sea, emitting a chilling white mist.
"Celestial Dragons seemingly attacked, everyone on the street unconscious... Alright, alright, I'll go then."
Click!
On the ice, Kuzan, wearing a green eye mask, leaned on his bicycle, his eyes still heavy with sleep, staring at the disconnected Den Den Mushi. He couldn't help but sigh, "Celestial Dragons... such a bother! I was just about to find a place to sleep for a bit."
"Yaaawn~"
With that, Kuzan let out another long yawn, then tucked the Den Den Mushi into his pocket, scratched his messy hair, and reluctantly climbed onto his bicycle.
Creak, creak, he pedaled towards Sabaody Archipelago.
As a Marine Admiral, it was best not to defy the Fleet Admiral's orders, especially when it concerned the World Noble Celestial Dragons. Whenever a Celestial Dragon was in trouble, a Marine Admiral was obligated to deploy all forces, even if it was an obligation he rather disliked fulfilling.
As his bicycle moved forward, the sea surface continuously froze, extending a narrow path of ice before him.
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