15 15. World Nobility, Celestial Dragons
"Are all the Straw Hat Pirates monsters?" Capone Bege's eyes widened with fear, no longer showing the indifference he had moments ago. Initially, he thought these supernovas weren't much stronger than him. And indeed, neither Kid nor Urouge, nor the one named Kira behind them, had given him much cause for concern. But the actions of the two Straw Hat crew members sent shivers down his spine, leaving him unable to resist.
"Is the ship ready?" Capone Bege couldn't help but ask. Truth be told, this island already felt dangerously hostile to him.
"Boss, even with the fastest coating, it'll still take three days. We've only been here for two," his younger brother in a black suit and sunglasses replied.
"It's really bad luck. Stranded on an island with such lawless monsters. I have a feeling that if we don't leave soon, something terrible might happen," Capone Bege lamented.
He wasn't the only one with that feeling. Everyone present felt it upon seeing Luffy and Zoro, who seemed like monsters themselves. The other supernovas, who had been itching for trouble, now contemplated staying silent.
The overwhelming strength of the Straw Hat Pirates instilled a sense of frustration in these supernovas, who hadn't encountered such power in a long time.
"You're incredibly strong, Luffy," Camie remarked admiringly as she met them.
Luffy shrugged off the praise. "Nah, it's just that they're too weak."
Luffy scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled.
"Let's go. Next time we meet, it'll be in the New World," Law said, his expression serious as he rose from the barrel.
Hawkins, standing nearby, wore a grave expression. "The next encounter foretells a major disaster. The likelihood of an event threatening my life is ninety-five percent."
"Such a high chance of danger! Captain Hawkins, we should run!" his younger brother exclaimed nervously.
Hawkins' predictions were usually spot-on. But this time, the exceptionally high probability signalled imminent peril.
"It's too late. This is fate. Fate is absolute and unchangeable," Hawkins stated calmly.
"What could pose a threat to a supernova's life?" Luffy's heart raced with worry.
But just then, the people on the nearby commercial street suddenly dropped to their knees in unison. Panic rippled through the crowd.
"The Celestial Dragons are approaching!" A cry of fear echoed from afar, spreading like a tidal wave.
"Celestial Dragons? What a bother. Let's steer clear of them," Capone Bege muttered, flicking ash from his cigar as he stood up and made his way toward a dark alley.
Meanwhile, Apoo leaped energetically, landing on a rooftop behind a concealed chimney.
Even Kid's younger brother, overcoming his fear of the Straw Hat crew, swiftly moved forward. He dragged the unconscious Kid and Kira to safety, hiding them in nearby buildings.
"What are they up to?" Luffy glanced around suspiciously.
On the commercial street, the crowd parted, clearing a path as they all knelt down. Meanwhile, the supernova pirates hid in the shadows.
"Celestial Dragons?" Despite being warned that provoking them could summon Admirals, Luffy didn't seem too concerned. His disdain for nobility, coupled with his confidence in his newfound strength, made him eager to confront Admiral-level opponents and prove himself.
Not only him, but Zoro stood beside Luffy in the middle of the road while the other supernovas hurriedly evacuated.
As the Celestial Dragons came into view, Law, who had been hiding nearby, observed Luffy and Zoro's puzzlement. They showed no signs of avoiding the situation.
A dreadful possibility crossed his mind. He exchanged a serious glance with Hawkins, both realizing the potential danger. The Straw Hat Pirates, especially these two, were known for their defiance of authority.
"What's going on, Zoro?" Luffy asked, perplexed by the kneeling crowd around them.
Zoro shrugged. "Dunno," he replied casually, still holding a bottle of wine.
Having been away from Shakky's bar and unaware of the Celestial Dragons, Zoro was as clueless as Luffy.
The Celestial Dragons approached ominously.
There stood a corpulent man with a round face, curly black hair, thick lips, and a perpetually runny nose, eliciting sincere disgust from those around him. Despite this, no one dared to show their revulsion. Fear gripped them all, forcing them to bow their heads in submission, unwilling to meet the Celestial Dragons' gaze.
On Sabaody Archipelago, the presence of Celestial Dragons could easily summon Marine Admirals if things went awry.
"Please, Celestial Dragons, spare us," whispered the kneeling crowd, their unease palpable as they listened to the slaves of the Celestial Dragons shuffling nearby.
Encounters with these moody and powerful beings always left everyone on edge. Their whims could lead to the death of anyone present without consequence.
Yet, amidst the tension and fear, an unexpected voice rang out on the quiet street.
"Hahaha, Zoro, check out that guy! He's dressed so oddly, with soap bubbles on his head! How amusing!" Luffy stood in the middle of the road, pointing and laughing at the Celestial Dragons.
The sight of the bloated figure, adorned with soap bubbles atop his head, amused Luffy to no end.
"Indeed, quite intriguing. Perhaps it's a local custom here on Sabaody," Zoro remarked, taking a sip of wine. "Like some sort of street performer or a festive parade costume?"
Nami, hidden in the shadow of the alley, couldn't help but feel angry at the two fools openly mocking the Celestial Dragons in the midst of the street.
"Disaster," Usopp and Chopper exclaimed, horror written plainly across their faces.
They understood all too well the recklessness of their captain and the two fools, Zoro included. With them here, the fate of the Celestial Dragons was all but sealed.
The arrival of Admirals on this island seemed inevitable now.
The surrounding area fell into an eerie silence, punctuated only by the cold sweat dripping down the faces of those kneeling on the ground.
It had been years since anyone dared to show such blatant disrespect to the Celestial Dragons in public.
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