Cassian flexed his wrists and watched Imu’s expression darken with frustration.
The sight filled him with satisfaction.
“What, not locking me up anymore?” he said with a grin.
“I haven’t had enough fun yet.”
He tilted his head slightly, his tone turning playful.
“How about we try something else?”
“You people love torturing slaves, right?
Go on, bring out all eighteen methods.”
His eyes swept across the surroundings before locking onto a red-hot branding iron nearby.
“Branding irons, nail boards, chili water, tiger benches, bring everything.”
“If I even twitch an eyebrow, I lose.”
He pointed directly at the glowing iron.
“That one.
Bring it here.
Let me show you a little teppanyaki.”
Cold sweat poured down the Gorosei’s faces.
Not a single one of them dared to move.
This was practically suicide.
Had they not already seen Imu bleed from reflected damage?
If that branding iron touched Cassian, Imu might not survive it.
Imu clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Her gaze locked onto Cassian like she wanted to tear him apart.
“Do you really think I would not dare to kill you?”
Cassian burst into laughter as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
“Then do it,” he said casually.
“Go on.
Kill me.”
“Have them do it if you want.
One clean strike.”
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with provocation.
“I promise I will not even blink.”
He paused deliberately, letting the tension build.
“But…”
His gaze swept over Imu slowly.
“Whoever drops first loses.”
Then he did something even more outrageous.
He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue slightly, mimicking the motion of biting down.
“Tell me something,” he continued, voice calm.
“If I bite off my tongue right now, will your mouth fill with blood too?”
“And if I gouge out my eyes…”
His fingers rose toward his face.
“Will those eyes of yours go blind as well?”
“Stop!”
Imu’s voice rang out sharply, a trace of panic slipping through despite herself.
She was not afraid of death.
But being controlled like this, threatened through someone else’s self-harm, was something she could not tolerate.
She knew without a doubt that this man would actually do it.
Cassian saw her reaction and laughed even harder.
“What, scared now?” he said mockingly.
“You should have said that earlier.”
“If you do not dare act, then stop pretending.”
He patted his stomach casually.
“I’m hungry.
Get me something good to eat.”
“A whole roasted lamb, a few bottles of fine wine, do not be stingy.”
He gave her a knowing look.
“Otherwise…”
A sudden wave of hunger struck Imu.
Her stomach tightened violently, her vision wavering.
It had been years, no, decades since she had felt something like this.
And now, it was unbearable.
Even hunger could be transferred.
Her mind trembled at the absurdity of it.
“What kind of ability is this…”
She forced the words out through clenched teeth.
“Prepare food for him.”
Her voice dropped lower.
“Bring him the finest food in Mary Geoise.”
Cassian nodded with satisfaction.
“Now that sounds better.”
His gaze shifted to the side, landing on the three sisters locked in the cell.
Boa Hancock, along with her sisters, stood frozen in shock.
Their expressions were filled with disbelief as they stared at Cassian.
To them, he looked less like a man and more like something incomprehensible.
Cassian pointed at them casually.
“Those three.
Release them too.”
“And remove their slave collars.”
Imu frowned.
“They are slaves of the Celestial Dragons.
They cannot be released so easily.”
Cassian raised an eyebrow and slowly flexed his fingers.
“What, you are refusing?”
He smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
“Then I will do it myself.”
He glanced at his hands.
“I am a bit clumsy though.
If I accidentally hurt myself while removing those collars…”
He chuckled softly.
“If a few fingers snap off, that would be awkward, wouldn’t it?”
Imu fell silent.
She had already realized reasoning with him was pointless.
After a brief pause, she gave the order coldly.
“Unlock their collars.”
The guards rushed forward immediately.
They opened the cell and carefully brought the three sisters out before using specialized tools to remove the collars from their necks.
The moment the restraints fell away, the sisters stood there in a daze.
Freedom felt unreal.
Hancock stepped forward slowly and stopped in front of Cassian.
She looked at him carefully.
There was something unruly about him, something dangerous, yet strangely reassuring.
Her lips parted slightly.
“Th… thank you.”
Her voice was soft, almost reluctant.
For someone as proud as her, those words were not easy.
Cassian waved it off casually.
“No need.”
His eyes scanned her briefly before he grinned.
“Though I do happen to need someone to serve me.
You can stay.”
He shifted his gaze to her sisters.
“As for the two of them…”
He nodded toward them.
“I will have this old woman send you home.”
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged glances, both stunned.
Going back home was something they had dreamed of every single day.
Sandersonia hesitated before asking, “Are you serious?”
Cassian tapped his chest confidently.
“Of course.
I keep my word.”
Then he turned back to Imu.
“Old woman, arrange it.”
“Send them back to Amazon Lily on the fastest ship.”
“When they arrive, have them report back.”
His tone turned colder.
“If anything happens to them along the way…”
He did not finish the sentence.
Imu closed her eyes briefly, suppressing the rage building inside her.
“Do as he says.”
With that settled, Cassian’s attention returned to the food.
Soon, servants arrived carrying lavish dishes.
Roasted whole lamb, grilled meat, seafood, fruits, and fine wine filled the table.
The display was extravagant even by Celestial Dragon standards.
Cassian did not hesitate.
He grabbed a piece of meat and started eating immediately.
“Mmm… not bad,” he said between bites.
“Way better than what I used to eat.”
He glanced at Imu with a smirk.
“You want some?”
Imu ignored him completely.
Her mind was focused on one thing.
Solving this problem.
She turned to the Gorosei.
“Move him to a residence near my palace.”
“Prepare the most luxurious room.”
Her tone sharpened.
“Post guards around him at all times.
No, not guards, protection.”
“No one is allowed to harm him.”
“And he is not allowed near anything dangerous.
Ensure his safety at all costs.”
The Gorosei were stunned.
This level of treatment surpassed even the Celestial Dragons.
Still, none of them dared question her.
“Yes, Lord Imu.”
Cassian laughed.
“Now you are starting to treat me properly.”
He wiped his mouth and gestured toward Hancock.
“Come on, Little Maid.
You are with me.”
Hancock bit her lip slightly.
She disliked the title.
But remembering what he had done for her and her sisters, she held back her protest and followed silently.
As Cassian walked away, completely at ease, Imu watched him with an icy gaze.
Her voice echoed into the air.
“God’s Knights, protect him closely.
No harm is to come to him.”
She paused briefly before continuing.
“Dispose of everyone in the dungeon.
Guards and prisoners alike.”
“Today’s events must never be exposed.”
Acknowledgments came from the shadows.
The orders had been received.
Imu turned and walked toward her palace, her expression hidden beneath the mask.
“I will find a way to break this…”
Her voice was cold, filled with restrained fury.
“And when I do…”
“I will make you wish for death.”