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"Watch your words, CP0!"
Daichi's gaze turned cold, and a bone-chilling Conqueror's Haki swept through the venue, making the entire fortress tremble.
The outer walls cracked, and windows shattered!
The guests felt a biting chill and couldn't help but gasp, unable to muster any thought of resistance.
"Like a Shura from hell!"
"As expected of the 3-billion-Berry man!!"
"Even someone as strong as a Yonko, their Haki wouldn't be more than this!"
Their exclamations were endless.
"Fufufufu~~"
Doflamingo looked at Daichi, jealousy welling up in his eyes. He also possessed Conqueror's Haki, so his feelings were the most profound.
"His Haki is stronger than before!"
If he were to fight Daichi again, he might not even last a single round.
Just like when he faced Kaido back then!
The power Daichi displayed at this moment made him completely abandon all thoughts. It was a peak he could never hope to reach in his entire life.
The venue fell into chaos.
"Ahhh, Daichi-sama, don't suddenly release your Haki!"
"So many people have fainted!"
"This is a banquet now, please retract your Haki."
"Seriously!"
His subordinates grumbled.
Daichi retracted his Haki, his cold gaze sweeping over the three CP0 agents.
"A slave? How ridiculous!"
"If the Pirate Empress was truly a slave, why did the World Government turn a blind eye for over a decade while she served as a Warlord!"
"You're here for me, aren't you?"
Daichi's gaze was contemptuous, his mockery merciless. "I refused the invitation of the God's Knights, refused to become a Celestial Dragon. Is that so hard for you to accept?!"
Guernica's heart trembled!
There was such a thing?!
"What?!"
The Underground Emperors all stood up, their eyes filled with utter shock.
The World Government actually invited Daichi to become a Celestial Dragon?!
And it was the God's Knights!!!
As industry bigwigs, they weren't as ignorant as newcomers. They were well aware of the God's Knights' existence.
Even among the Celestial Dragons, the God's Knights were leaders, second only in status to the Five Elders, the peak of power.
Daichi actually refused!
Unbelievable!
At this moment, no one was interested in whether the Pirate Empress was a slave anymore. Their hearts were completely filled with shock.
What magnanimity!
"Fufu~~"
Doflamingo covered his face, his over-exerted fingers drawing bloody lines under his eyelids, but he felt no pain at all.
Returning to the Holy Land was once his cherished dream, but Daichi disdained it, which deeply stimulated his inner self.
He remembered the thug Bellamy.
In front of Mr. Daichi, wasn't he also a Bellamy?
The venue was silent.
Guernica suppressed the shock in his heart, his voice hoarse. "Mr. Daichi, we have no intention of targeting you. Regarding the Pirate Empress being a former slave, we have conclusive evidence."
"The Devil Fruit eaten by the Pirate Empress's three sisters came from the Holy Land, as did the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon mark on her back."
"Just verify it!"
To confirm if she was a slave, she only needed to expose her back.
The guests looked at Daichi and Hancock.
The CP0's aggressive attitude made them start to doubt. If Hancock didn't respond directly, and this matter spread, even if it were false, it would become true.
The world's most beautiful woman, unattainable, falling into hell, would become the subject of people's drunken gossip, and even ridicule.
Daichi spoke indifferently.
"Eyes."
"What?"
Guernica was stunned.
Daichi spoke with a cold expression.
"One eye from each of you three!"
Guernica's heart tightened.
He already understood that this was Daichi's condition. If they wanted Hancock to expose her back, they would have to pay a price!
Just one eye was probably due to their past acquaintance. Otherwise, they would have lost half their lives here.
"Pfft!"
Guernica raised his hand and gouged out his left eye!
The two agents behind him, seeing this, hesitated for a few seconds before gouging out their left eyes.
As CP0 agents, they had to complete the mission assigned by the Five Elders, even if it meant death. There was no room for bargaining.
The three held their left eyes, blood continuously flowing from under their masks. The bloody scene sent shivers down the guests' spines.
It wasn't how cruel it was, but Daichi's attitude.
More dominant than the World Government!
"These are just interest. I will settle the remaining accounts with the World Government."
Daichi said calmly, then pulled Hancock into his arms, tearing off a piece of the clothing on her back to reveal the red brand.
The woman made no struggle from beginning to end, burying her face forcefully in his chest, and he could feel a slight dampness.
"There really is a brand!"
The guests widened their eyes, but soon their expressions became strange.
There was a brand!
But it wasn't the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon!
It was a crudely drawn Groudon!
They were already familiar with Groudon.
On both sides of the main entrance of every Hoenn Government building, there were identical murals.
Groudon, the "God of the Earth," who defeated the "Evil Sea God" Kyogre and saved the world, was also the name of Daichi's ability.
This brand indicated that the Pirate Empress was Daichi's woman. Even if she was truly a slave before, there was no way to prove it now.
Daichi pulled off his cloak and draped it over Hancock, his indifferent gaze falling on the three CP0 agents.
"Any other questions?"
Guernica fell silent.
He lost an eye but received such an answer.
From his personal perspective, it was completely acceptable. It was good enough to return alive, and he had a reason to report back.
But from the World Government's perspective, it was a complete failure.
"Apologies, Mr. Daichi!"
"Get out."
Daichi said coldly. "Give the Five Elders a message for me. Tell them that no one stands in the heavens from the beginning, not even gods. The day a god falls into hell will come soon!"
Guernica was speechless.
Such words amounted to a declaration of war!
"Let's go."
The troublesome people left.
The fortress plaza remained quiet.
"I've lost my mood for drinking."
Daichi shook his head and looked at the guests.
"Apologies, everyone. Tomorrow morning, I will arrange a ship to take you all on a tour of the North Blue, to feel how the sea breeze of the North Blue differs from the New World!"
"Good!"
The farce thus ended.
Facing Daichi's arrangements, the Underground Emperors naturally had no objections. They had long been eager to visit the North Blue.
How could they feel at ease without seeing it with their own eyes?
In the corner of the plaza.
All the laborers playing dice together had fainted from the Haki's impact, leaving only Rayleigh conscious.
"He did well, didn't he?"
Rayleigh put down the dice, smiling and shaking his head.
In his opinion, this was the best possible outcome. Even if he had intervened just now, he couldn't have done better.
His view of Daichi had changed once again.
Daichi was indeed very dangerous, but in this chaotic world, perhaps only a dangerous existence like Daichi could contend with the World Government.
"Shanks."
Rayleigh recalled his conversation with Shanks.
"I'm betting it on the new era!"
The man Shanks valued is probably no match for Daichi!