Sabaody Archipelago, and Three Reckless Celestial Dragons

Really, what could two children as weak as them change? Even if they did cause trouble, the Captain and Vice Captain were there. Worrying would accomplish nothing.

They might as well enjoy themselves.

...

Elsewhere, on the shores of Sabaody Archipelago, another ship had arrived.

Caius went ashore with Lia, Gunko, Julia, and Viana.

He had spent years in this world without visiting these famous islands. He had to admit that was a shame.

Sabaody was far more prosperous now than it would be in the future.

The streets bustled with people, and Marines patrolled regularly. Pirates were here too, but they kept a low profile. As long as the smaller crews stayed out of sight, the Marines rarely bothered with them.

The dissolution of the Rocks Pirates had already allowed pirate numbers to rise, though they were still nowhere near the absurd levels to come. When that happened, the Marines stationed here would have a miserable time of it.

The five of them soon attracted plenty of notice as they walked down the street. Caius and his beautiful companions ignored the stares and headed for Grove 1.

It was part of Sabaody's lawless zone, dangerous enough that even Marine patrols rarely ventured there.

They had come to the human auction house to see whether it offered anything interesting.

A few obscure pirates had come to watch too. They did not even have seats and could only stand.

"You all know what goes on here, I take it?"

Caius directed the question to Gunko and the others.

"Yes, Master. We're familiar with all of it. This place exists because the Celestial Dragon families in Mary Geoise wanted their amusements. That's how it began."

Gunko answered seriously.

"Fish-men are especially popular. They're one of those families' favorite peoples to buy."

"The other captives have their attractions too. But if you want any, Master, there's no need to buy the filthy things here. You can simply have CP0 capture them."

Julia added her own explanation.

None of this interested her. She had no taste for such diversions. The only indulgence she wanted now was the one her master could offer her.

Caius smiled and shook his head.

"I'll pass. None of them could be as sweet as you four. I've already got my favorite pets, haven't I?"

He stroked each woman's head.

Gunko and the others responded with eager delight, almost ready to kneel and beg for his attention.

"All right, behave. Let's go inside and look. We're not in a hurry. We have time for this."

He started toward the entrance with them.

A voice from behind brought them to a stop.

"You there! Stop! I've decided I want you. You look like good slaves, at least from behind. Turn around and let me see your faces. I'll have collars put on you."

The arrogant command came from Saint Mitel.

Saint Max and Saint Roselle stood beside him, watching with interest. Neither made any attempt to stop him.

To them, everyone outside the Celestial Dragons was a pet, theirs to treat however they pleased.

Unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong target today.

"I've just had a thought. Those three should be part of the auction. What do you think?"

Caius asked the women beside him.

"Of course, Master. Trash like that has no right to call itself Celestial Dragons."

"Yes, Master. Insulting you is reason enough for them to die."

"Insulting our master means insulting us. We should just kill them. Or we can take it up with the Five Elders afterward."

Lia was furious.

"Then it's settled. We'll put them up for sale."

Still smiling, Caius turned toward the three nobles.

"Were you three pigs talking to us?"

No one could mistake the threat behind his smile.

"What? You filthy insect! You dare insult us? I've changed my mind. You there, seize them! I want to make them suffer before I kill them."

Mitel flew into a rage. Someone had called him a pig. He would torture the offender to death for it.

He failed to notice that every CP0 agent had frozen the moment Caius turned around. Their superiors had explicitly warned them never to provoke this man.

Even without that warning, there was little they could have done.

This was Caius, the legendary pirate, ruler of Wano, and strongest man in the world.

None of them had expected him to appear here.

Max and Roselle were just as stunned when they recognized the four women who had turned with him.

Gunko, Julia, Viana, and Lia had all left Mary Geoise recently. And now they were standing at Caius's side. That meant...

Both nobles went pale.

Mitel had dragged them into a disaster.

Caius had nothing more to say to them. They had crossed his path, and now they could wait for the consequences.

He brought the three nobles into the auction house and told the man in charge to put them up for sale.

Once the manager recognized everyone involved, fear made him remarkably efficient. He began the auction immediately.

Caius was looking forward to it when a voice rang out overhead. The roof shattered, and a figure appeared amid the dust.

He frowned at first. Then his Observation Haki identified the intruder, and he smiled.

"Jihahahaha! Listen up! This place belongs to Shiki the Golden Lion now. Any objections?"

Shiki hovered in midair, laughing arrogantly.

"Shiki? Run! Get out of here before it's too late!"

"Why? First Caius, now Shiki? Why do people like them keep showing up here?"

That caught Shiki off guard.

"Caius? The kid's here too?"

"Jihahahaha! Even better. Haven't seen him in ages."

He swept the dust out of his way and prepared to get on with his business.

"Shiki, have you lost every bit of common sense? I'm starting to wonder whether your Observation Haki works at all."