“I understand.”
Norton nodded slightly.
“Take me to your king.”
“I’ll convince him to give up the ship.”
“…Can you really do that?”
The Duke still looked deeply worried.
“Of course.”
Norton smiled.
“Fate is nothing before me.”
The Duke hurriedly warned him,
“Whatever you do…”
“Don’t attack His Majesty on impulse!”
“Otherwise I’ll…”
He stopped mid-sentence.
With Norton’s strength…
If he truly decided to fight…
There wasn’t anyone in the entire kingdom capable of stopping him.
After a long pause, the Duke could only sigh.
“Just…”
“Please don’t resort to violence.”
Norton waved dismissively.
“You’re fussing like an old grandmother.”
“Lead the way.”
“Very well.”
The Duke nodded.
“My lord.”
Sanosuke stepped forward.
“Shall I accompany you?”
“No.”
Norton shook his head.
“Stay here.”
“Keep an eye on the remaining pirates.”
“Don’t let them cause trouble.”
“And don’t let them die, either.”
His words carried an unmistakable meaning.
Sanosuke’s heart skipped a beat.
He immediately bowed.
“Understood.”
The group set off for the royal palace.
After some thought, the Duke also ordered his men to transport the White Pearl there as well.
Just in case.
“Dad!”
“I want to come too!”
Furning hurried after them.
She still wasn’t willing to entrust the White Pearl to someone else.
But if the king demanded it…
She had no choice but to surrender it.
At that moment…
She felt like a mother sending her daughter off to be married.
Except she couldn’t stand the groom.
His Majesty can’t protect the White Pearl.
The last ship already proved that.
After a moment’s hesitation…
The Duke finally nodded.
“All right.”
The carriages departed from the Duke’s castle.
Following the town’s main road…
They soon entered the royal palace.
“…Strange.”
The Duke pulled back the carriage curtain.
“Why are there so many guards today?”
The palace was always heavily guarded.
But today’s security was extraordinary.
There were at least three times as many soldiers as usual.
“Maybe some important guest is visiting.”
Nami casually guessed.
Even the Duke’s carriage was stopped upon entering.
The group was escorted the rest of the way on foot.
When they reached the entrance to the throne room…
A man dressed in a white suit with a dark necktie stood blocking the doorway.
A bizarre black chrysanthemum mask concealed his face.
Norton looked him over.
He seemed vaguely familiar. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“CP0…”
Cold sweat instantly poured down the Duke’s back.
Cipher Pol Aigis 0
The intelligence organization that answered directly to the World Nobles—the Celestial Dragons.
The strongest shield protecting the Celestial Dragons.
The world’s most elite intelligence agency.
Whenever CP0 appeared…
It meant something significant was happening.
A terrible premonition welled up inside the Duke.
“Oh?”
Norton’s smile widened.
“Interesting.”
He could sense the man’s strength.
Far beyond anyone he had faced so far.
I wonder…
Can someone this strong survive one serious punch?
“You wait here.”
The Duke turned back.
“I’ll speak with him first.”
Norton, Nami, and Furning nodded.
The Duke approached alone.
The CP0 agent remained motionless until the Duke arrived.
Only then did he speak.
“You’re the Duke?”
“Did you bring the White Pearl?”
“Yes.”
The Duke nodded respectfully.
“May I ask…”
“His Majesty summoned me.”
“May I enter?”
“Certainly.”
The CP0 agent glanced toward Norton and the others.
“They’re with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may all enter.”
The Duke returned.
After hesitating for a moment, he looked at his daughter.
“Furning…”
“Perhaps you and Miss Nami should wait outside.”
“Mr.
Norton and I can handle this.”
Furning firmly shook her head.
“No.”
“I’m coming too.”
She could already sense something was wrong.
She wanted to stay by her father’s side.
“We’re already here.”
Nami shrugged.
“Let’s all go.”
The Duke sighed helplessly.
Together…
The four of them entered the throne room.
The CP0 agent silently followed behind them.
Walking across the crimson carpet…
The Duke grew increasingly nervous with every step.
Sensing it, Furning gently held onto his arm.
Nami also instinctively moved closer to Norton.
Only Norton…
Still wore the relaxed smile of someone taking a leisurely stroll through his own garden.
Then…
The Duke looked toward the throne.
His expression instantly changed.
Without hesitation, he pulled Furning down to her knees.
Completely confused, she knelt beside him.
“Your Majesty…”
“I’ve brought the White Pearl.”
The Duke lowered his head.
His voice trembled.
“Excellent!”
The king beamed with delight.
“My loyal Duke!”
“Don’t talk while you’re being ridden!”
“It’s no fun at all!”
A whining voice suddenly interrupted.
The Celestial Dragon wearing the bubble helmet sat directly atop the king’s back.
The king was on all fours…
Serving as his mount.
“Do you still want your kingdom to qualify for the next Reverie?”
Saint Ari complained.
The king immediately bowed even lower.
“Of course!”
“I understand, Saint Ari!”
“I’ll perform better!”
Watching the ruler of an entire nation crawling on the floor like a dog…
The Duke’s entire worldview shattered.
He could hardly believe…
This was the king he had faithfully served all these years.
But what terrified him even more…
Was the absolute authority wielded by the Celestial Dragons.
It was impossible to resist.
The Duke remained pressed against the floor.
Fear prevented him from even lifting his head.
Norton, however…
Couldn’t have cared less.
“So.”
He looked directly at the king.
“You’re the king?”
“Hm?”
The king looked up from all fours.
“And who are you supposed to be?”
Norton’s expression remained calm.
“A king who grovels before a piece of trash like a dog before its master…”
“…doesn’t deserve to know my name.”
“You only need to know one thing.”
“The White Pearl…”
“…belongs to me.”
Silence.
The entire throne room froze.
Cold sweat instantly soaked the Duke’s back.
Even if he had a hundred lives…
He would never dare speak to the king that way.
Much less call one of the World Nobles…
Trash.
Heart pounding wildly, the Duke instinctively pulled Furning behind him.
At this point…
Who owned the White Pearl no longer mattered.
All he wanted…
Was to leave alive.
And protect his daughter.
Fate…
This is fate…
Whenever Furning finishes a ship…
Disaster inevitably follows.
It’s the curse carried by the ships she builds.
The Duke was utterly convinced.
Everything that had happened recently…
Had made him believe in fate completely.
The king’s face darkened.
“How insolent!”
“Who let you in here?!”
“Guards!”
“Drag this silver-haired brat outside!”
“Execute him immediately!”
Perched atop the king’s back, Saint Ari pointed at Norton with a runny nose.
“You’re trying to steal my ship?”
The CP0 agent instantly appeared beside the Celestial Dragon.
“Saint Ari.”
“He also called you trash.”
“Shall I eliminate him?”
“What?!”
“He called me trash?!”
Saint Ari exploded with rage.
“Kill him!”