"Vice Admiral, what are our orders?"
"Full pursuit of Gol D. Roger. With a chance like this, we don't let him slip."
"Yes, sir!"
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove One.
Outside the auction hall, the Marines had formed a tight cordon. Others were hustling civilians and bidders away from the scene.
"Move, move! Clear the area!"
"He's out! The brat who attacked the Celestial Dragon is out!"
"All units, aim at the suspect who assaulted the Celestial Dragon!"
Dozens of muzzles swung in unison toward the cloaked young man.
A few Marines got a clear look at his face. Their expressions changed.
"Colonel… that looks like the man from the papers. The one the Fleet Admiral personally protected. That's… Rakuya!"
"Rakuya?"
The colonel's eyes sharpened. Others confirmed in hushed voices.
"It's him, sir. No mistake."
"Damn it. How could it be him… why him?"
They had all received the same iron order: no Marine was to provoke Rakuya. Disobey and you would be expelled from Headquarters and hunted down without end.
Yet the one who beat a Celestial Dragon was precisely that man.
Move or don't move?
Act, and you might be expelled and marked for life. Hesitate, and you'd be condemned for failing to save a World Noble.
The entire line wavered.
"Why are you maggots standing there? Kill that brat and get me down! If you're late, I'll have all your heads!"
The Celestial Dragon, Saint Charlos, still floating midair under Rakuya's power, shrieked himself hoarse.
"Sir, but… that's Lord Rakuya!"
"Silence! You refuse my command? Do you want to die? When I return, I'll see every one of you loses his head!"
No one dared be the first to step forward.
"Noise."
Rakuya's eyelids lifted. His fist sank into Charlos's gut.
The noble's face twisted. His limbs jerked.
"If you don't want to die, shut up."
"You "
Thud.
"Aaaah !"
Charlos howled like a slaughtered pig.
The Marines glanced at each other, then at the hovering World Noble, then at Rakuya. No one moved. No one wanted to be the first nail that got hammered down.
The standoff tightened.
A purple-haired man in glasses strode into view.
"Rakuya. Release the Celestial Dragon. Even if it costs me my life, I'll protect you."
"Zephyr."
Rakuya knew that face well. Black Arm Zephyr, the Marine legend. They'd only just parted, and here they were again.
"Let him go," Zephyr urged, anxiety written plain across his face. "What you've done is a capital crime. If you stop now, I'll plead for you before the Fleet Admiral."
Rakuya's gaze softened a fraction.
"I appreciate it, Zephyr. But I've already hit him. I know the consequences. You don't need to persuade me."
"No. If you refuse, you'll end up in pieces. Striking a Celestial Dragon is a death sentence. Hand him over now, and I swear I won't let them execute you."
"Thank you… but that won't be necessary."
Zephyr's concern was genuine. He had seen Rakuya's potential with his own eyes and had even considered taking him as a disciple. Rakuya had declined, but Zephyr's regard had never changed.
"You're set on this path?" Zephyr's jaw tightened. "If you won't release him, I'll have to act myself. Otherwise Sengoku will arrive, and if he takes you in… you'll die."
Rakuya looked past Zephyr at the wall of rifles, then down at the trembling Celestial Dragon suspended at his side. He smiled, cool and fearless.
"Will I?"
To be continued…
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