"Who is responsible?!"
"Are you all mute?!"
"Tell me which Admiral is handling this!"
"That worthless excuse for a person can't even manage something like this!"
"Useless! Completely useless!"
Charlos raged, cursing nonstop, while those around him didn't dare move. One side was a Celestial Dragon, the other was a Marine Admiral neither could be offended.
Sentomaru trembled as he watched Ezra D. Vale stride forward.
"Admiral Flame! Please, wait!" he shouted.
He knew Ezra's mood was terrible. If Ezra got to the Celestial Dragon, it could easily end in disaster possibly even death.
Suppressing his own fear, Sentomaru stepped in, blocking Ezra's path with his broad frame.
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Sentomaru, what are you doing?"
Swallowing hard, Sentomaru stammered, "Ad-Admiral Flame! Please, don't go!"
Ezra tilted his head and realized the fear in Sentomaru's eyes. He waved dismissively.
"Step aside. I won't lay a hand on him."
Sentomaru froze but didn't move. Clearly, he didn't trust that Ezra could fully control his anger.
Ezra's lips twitched slightly. "Step aside, or do you want me to hit you instead?"
Sentomaru shivered violently and backed off reluctantly.
Ezra walked up behind Charlos, who was still cursing and venting loudly.
"Charlos," a calm voice interrupted him.
"Who… who dares speak my name?!"
Already furious, Charlos' rage intensified at the audacity of a commoner addressing him directly. He gripped his handgun and turned to aim at Ezra.
But then, his expression froze in utter shock and fear.
He saw those crimson eyes.
"Y-Young… master…" Charlos whispered, attempting to speak, but caught himself. He remembered the Five Elders' warning not to reveal Ezra's identity here, in front of others.
Seeing that Charlos did not address him with his title, Ezra let out a low snort.
"Let's find somewhere to talk."
"Master Charlos!"
The tone, and the word "master," made Charlos feel dizzy. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, he could be in serious trouble.
Ezra ignored Charlos' internal panic and walked toward the nearby auction house. The building had just been cleared of people by the Straw Hats' earlier commotion, and Marines were stationed outside.
Charlos swallowed hard and barked orders to Sentomaru: "Do not follow! No matter what happens inside, do not interfere!"
Sentomaru, obedient, nodded: "Yes, Master Charlos!"
Meanwhile, CP0 agents from Mariejois had arrived. Charlos gathered them around.
"Ezra D. Vale is inside. Ensure no one interrupts."
They nodded, trembling.
Charlos exhaled sharply, forcing down his fear, and entered the auction house. Once inside, he ran up to Ezra and dropped to his knees without hesitation.
"Master! I deserve to die! I deserve to die! I cursed you! Please, forgive me!"
Ezra lightly tapped Charlos' shoulder with Ryujin Jakka, a playful glint in his crimson eyes.
"Charlos, do you know how unpleasant you've made my day?"
Charlos trembled and, placing his hood aside, slapped himself across the face.
"Master! I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"
The burning sting on his face intensified, but his eyes stayed locked on Ezra, whose expression remained icy and indifferent.
Gritting his teeth, Charlos slapped himself repeatedly.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The sharp sounds echoed through the empty auction house. Even the CP0 agents stationed at the door could hear it, though none dared intervene, pretending not to notice.
Sentomaru, however, could hear everything. Though he wasn't using Observation Haki, the unmistakable sound of Charlos being beaten was clear. But watching the frozen CP0 agents, he had no idea what to do.
Just then, Sentomaru's Den Den Mushi rang.
"Hello, this is Sentomaru."
"This is Sengoku," came the reply.
Sentomaru snapped to attention, remembering that Ezra had hung up Sengoku's call earlier.
"Admiral Flame!"
Sengoku didn't bother with formalities. "How's Ezra? Is the Celestial Dragon unharmed?"
When Ezra had hung up earlier, Sengoku felt his heart stop. If Ezra had harmed the Celestial Dragon and defied the Marines, Sengoku would regret it for the rest of his life. This mission had been entrusted by him.
Sentomaru glanced at the auction house door, listening to the muffled cries inside, lips twitching.
"He… Admiral Flame should be fine…"
Sengoku asked, confused: "Sentomaru, what happened?"
Sentomaru relayed the private conversation between Ezra and Charlos.
Sengoku's brow furrowed. Though he didn't know Charlos' temperament exactly, he could guess Celestial Dragons were notoriously emotional, often reckless, and without much reasoning.
He suspected that Ezra, who loved the Marines deeply, was enduring Charlos' insults, possibly even being slapped, all to avoid leaving the Marines.
The thought made Sengoku uneasy.
"I have to contact the Five Elders immediately," he thought.
"Sentomaru, once Ezra comes out, you must stabilize his mood!"
Sentomaru blinked. "??? Sengoku, what are you planning?"