In Zone 13 of the Lawless Area, inside Shakky’s Rip-Off Bar, the atmosphere was unusually calm as Shakky organized the items Roy had requested.
Spread across the counter were various intelligence materials, and she tapped her finger lightly as she reviewed them.
“Hm… now all that’s missing are the secret manuals for Haki training and the Six Powers.”
Her words were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Shakky paused.
“…Who is it?”
When she opened the door, she found a middle-aged man standing there.
He had short golden hair, a long katana strapped at his waist, and a vertical scar cutting through his left eye.
His presence alone carried quiet pressure.
“Rayleigh…?
Why are you here personally?”
He didn’t answer immediately, instead stepping inside calmly.
“Let’s go in first.”
Without hesitation, he walked behind the counter, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and took a heavy drink before exhaling slowly.
“I heard from your call that you’ve been talking about an interesting kid.
We’re staying nearby Sabaody, so I got curious.”
Shakky exhaled smoke and glanced at him.
“So you actually came because of that?”
Rayleigh nodded slightly and reached into his jacket, placing two thin booklets on the counter.
“I brought what he needs.”
At that moment, Roy currently monitoring the Celestial Dragon movement had no idea that a casual conversation in a bar had attracted the attention of a former legend of the seas.
Through Observation Haki, Roy felt it clearly.
The auction had ended.
People were leaving.
He stood in the shadows of a narrow alley, Tesoro breathing heavily beside him, tension hanging in the air.
Roy slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the exit of the auction house.
Three CP agents were escorting Saint Rugumark, carrying treasure chests while maintaining formation.
At the center, the Celestial Dragon casually held Stella’s chain as if she were nothing more than property.
Tesoro’s voice trembled.
“Boss… should we”
“Calm down.”
Roy’s tone was sharp but controlled.
“Stella is still in their hands.
You want to abandon her now?”
Tesoro clenched his fists.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then stay focused.”
Roy placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Act exactly as planned.
Don’t improvise.”
In the next instant, Roy’s figure blurred and vanished deeper into the alley.
Tesoro took a deep breath… then turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Saint Rugumark walked down the street with arrogant satisfaction, laughing loudly while civilians immediately dropped to their knees, refusing even to look at him.
“Hahaha!
Two Devil Fruits and a slave!
That idiot Charloss will be jealous when I return!”
Behind him, the three CP agents maintained a strict triangular formation.
For a while, everything remained quiet.
BOOM!
The ground ahead exploded violently.
Dust and debris filled the air, forcing the procession to halt.
“What’s happening?!”
The CP agents instantly reacted, shielding the Celestial Dragon.
As the smoke cleared, Tesoro stood alone in the middle of the street, holding a bomb with trembling hands.
“Release Stella!”
Saint Rugumark staggered back in fury before regaining his balance.
“You filthy commoner… how dare you attack a Celestial Dragon!
I’ll kill you!
I’ll make your entire family my slaves!”
He pointed forward angrily.
“CP agents!
Capture him immediately!”
Without hesitation, two agents rushed forward while the third stayed back to protect the Celestial Dragon.
Tesoro threw the bomb, but before it could detonate, it was knocked aside mid-air.
A CP agent closed the distance instantly and struck him with a devastating blow.
*BAM!*
Tesoro was sent flying into a wall.
“You think you can challenge a Celestial Dragon with that level of skill?” the agent said coldly.
“Know your place.”
From the shadows, Roy observed everything through Observation Haki.
The moment the two CP agents committed forward, the formation broke.
That was all he needed.
Roy stepped out silently.
His body blurred.
In an instant, he appeared behind the remaining CP agent.
*THUD!*
A sharp elbow strike to the back of the head dropped the agent instantly.
Before the others could react, Roy already had a pistol pressed against Saint Rugumark’s head.
The two remaining CP agents froze.
“Don’t move.”
“Kid… do you understand what you’re doing?” one agent warned coldly.
“Attacking a Celestial Dragon means annihilation.”
Saint Rugumark finally realized what was happening.
Instead of fear, he screamed in rage.
“How dare you point a weapon at me!
I am a Celestial Dragon!
I will have you executed!”
Roy sighed.
“…You really don’t understand the situation.”
Then he drove a knee into the Celestial Dragon’s face.
*THUD.*
Saint Rugumark immediately rolled his eyes and collapsed unconscious.
“Finally quiet.”
Roy exhaled and looked toward Tesoro, who was still struggling to stand.
“Hurry up.
Are you planning to stay on the ground forever?”
Tesoro forced himself up, shaken but determined.
The CP agents remained still, unwilling to act recklessly.
They understood the situation clearly—if the Celestial Dragon died, they would be punished.
But if they acted and the hostage died, the consequences would be even worse.
One of them spoke carefully.
“Please do not harm Saint Rugumark further.
State your demands.”
Roy tilted his head.
“…So polite.”
He gestured slightly.
“Hand over the slave collar key.”
“It’s with the unconscious agent you knocked down.”
The two agents glanced at their fallen comrade with frustration.
Sensing their emotion, Roy’s eyes showed faint disdain.
Too slow.
Too weak.
Still, he didn’t waste time.
Stella finally regained awareness, her eyes trembling as she took in the situation.
When she saw Tesoro clearly, something inside her shifted.
“Stella!
I’m here to save you!”
“Now’s not the time for reunion,” Roy interrupted calmly.
“Get the key and move.”
Tesoro quickly retrieved it and rushed to Stella, unlocking the collar with shaking hands.
“Stella… you’re free!”
“…Thank you.”
The moment the collar fell, a fragile sense of relief filled the space.
The CP agents spoke again.
“Now that the woman is released… release Saint Rugumark.”
Roy shook his head slightly.
“Not yet.”
He pointed toward Tesoro.
“Once my companions are out.”
Without hesitation, Tesoro grabbed Stella, picked up the dropped chest, and ran.
Roy watched them leave, then smirked faintly.
“Alright then…”
He lightly tossed the unconscious Celestial Dragon toward the agents.
“Goodbye.”
And in the next instant, his figure vanished.
The CP agents caught Saint Rugumark mid-air and checked his condition.
Still alive.
Only unconscious.
One of them clicked his tongue.
“Do we pursue?”
“No,” the other replied sharply.
“Secure Saint Rugumark first.
I will report to the World Government immediately.
The Marines will handle the rest.”
Their eyes narrowed as they looked toward the direction Roy had vanished.
“…Those kids won’t escape for long.”