The slave district of Mary Geoise was even worse than Cassian had imagined.
The air in the dark, damp alleys was thick with a suffocating stench.
Ragged slaves with hollow, lifeless eyes filled every corner.
Their bodies were covered in scars, and they were herded forward by guards like walking corpses.
From time to time, Celestial Dragons rode atop slaves, laughing without restraint as they lashed out with whips, striking anyone within reach for their own amusement.
Screams rose and fell endlessly, blending into a nightmarish chorus.
Cassian frowned.
He had always known how cruel the Celestial Dragons were, but witnessing it firsthand still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Where is Gild Tesoro?”
He glanced at the members of the God’s Knights beside him.
One of them stepped forward immediately and replied, “Reporting to Lord Cassian, Gild Tesoro is skilled in handling gold.
He has been assigned near the Celestial Dragons’ treasury, responsible for cleaning and organizing gold artifacts.”
Cassian nodded.
“Take me there.”
Before long, they arrived at a comparatively cleaner area.
Being close to the treasury, the security here was much tighter.
A tall, thin man with sharp features stood nearby, dressed in relatively clean prison clothes.
He kept his head lowered as he carefully wiped a golden statue.
His movements were precise and practiced, as though the cold metal was the only thing anchoring his sanity.
It was Gild Tesoro.
At this point in time, he had not yet awakened his later abilities.
Still, the faint gloom between his brows and the suppressed resilience in his expression were impossible to hide.
Occasionally, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, revealing both intelligence and unwillingness to submit completely.
Cassian called out, “Hey, you.
The one cleaning the gold.
Come here.”
Tesoro stiffened at the voice.
Slowly, he raised his head.
His gaze landed on Cassian, then shifted to the God’s Knights beside him, and finally stopped on Hancock.
He recognized her.
Among the slaves, the three sisters were well known, treated as “valuable possessions” by the Celestial Dragons.
Rumors said they had even been fed Devil Fruits.
But what shocked him most was that Hancock no longer wore a slave collar.
Had she been freed?
Tesoro’s eyes flickered with confusion, but he quickly lowered his head again.
The man before him was clearly no ordinary figure.
His attire and bearing alone spoke of power.
Tesoro dared not be careless.
He set down his tools and approached with a respectful posture.
“May I ask…
what are your orders?”
Cassian looked him over and nodded slightly.
“You’re Gild Tesoro?”
Tesoro responded quickly, “Yes.”
Cassian’s next question came without warning.
“Do you want to leave this place?”
He lifted his head, disbelief flashing across his face.
But it faded just as quickly, replaced by a bitter smile.
“Sir, please don’t joke with me.
This is Mary Geoise.
How could slaves like us possibly leave…”
Reality had long since crushed any unrealistic dreams he once had.
After Stella’s death, his only remaining goal was to grow stronger and wait for a chance at revenge.
Even then, he knew the odds were slim.
Escaping this place alive had never seemed possible.
Cassian’s tone remained calm.
“I’m not joking.”
“I can let you leave Mary Geoise and give you your freedom.”
Tesoro went silent.
He stared at Cassian, doubt filling his eyes.
Even the God’s Knights nearby were stunned.
They could not understand what Cassian intended to do, but none of them dared to question him.
Hancock also looked at Cassian in surprise.
She had not expected him to actually come here to save someone.
“Why…
why are you helping me?” Tesoro asked, his voice trembling slightly.
He did not believe in miracles.
Cassian shrugged.
“Because I don’t like the Celestial Dragons, and I don’t mind you.”
He paused briefly before adding, “And you seem useful.
If I let you out, maybe you’ll stir up some chaos.
That sounds entertaining.”
Tesoro fell silent.
The reasoning was strange, almost absurd, but none of that mattered.
Freedom was right in front of him.
After a long moment, he clenched his teeth and dropped to his knees.
“If you truly grant me freedom, I’m willing to serve you with everything I have!”
Dignity meant nothing compared to freedom.
Cassian waved his hand dismissively.
“No need for that.”
“Just remember who got you out of here.”
“If you make something of yourself someday, don’t forget today.”
He turned to the God’s Knights.
“Remove his slave collar.
Give him proper clothes.
Prepare a ship and let him leave Mary Geoise.”
“He can go wherever he wants.
No one is to stop him.”
“Also, give him a Den Den Mushi.
Once he’s safe, he reports back to me.”
The God’s Knights hesitated.
Letting a slave go was no small matter.
Cassian raised an eyebrow and stomped his foot lightly.
Far away in the palace, Imu suddenly felt a sharp twinge in her ankle, nearly losing her balance.
Her voice echoed, carrying both anger and a trace of restrained frustration.
The God’s Knights immediately stiffened.
They no longer dared to hesitate and quickly moved to unlock Tesoro’s collar.
The moment the cold metal fell to the ground, Tesoro felt something inside him break free.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
He was free.
Truly free.
He bowed deeply to Cassian three times.
“I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life.”
Then he stood, looked at Cassian one last time, and followed the guards away.
His steps were unsteady, but each one carried strength and hope.
Cassian clapped his hands, clearly pleased.
“That’s one.”
“Next, we find Koala.”
He turned to the surrounding slaves.
“Does anyone know a little girl named Koala?
Around seven or eight years old, orange hair, big eyes?”
The slaves exchanged glances.
Most shook their heads blankly.
Then a thin boy raised his hand hesitantly, his body trembling.
“I…
I know her.
She was in Cell Three with me yesterday.”
His voice faltered.
“But…
she was taken away this morning by Saint Rosward.
He said…
he said he was going to give her a bath…”
Cassian’s expression changed instantly.
“A bath?”
He knew exactly what that meant.
For Celestial Dragons, a “bath” could be anything.
Boiling water, chemicals, or worse.
Cassian’s gaze darkened.
“Take me to him.
Now.”
Hancock’s face turned pale as realization struck her.
“I know where he lives,” she said quickly.
“He likes torturing children.
We have to hurry!”
Without hesitation, she grabbed Cassian’s hand and pulled him forward.
Her grip was tight, her breathing uneven.
Cassian felt the cool softness of her hand in his.
For a brief moment, something stirred in his chest, but he quickly pushed it aside and tightened his hold.
“Let’s move.”
The God’s Knights rushed after them.