Chapter 9: House Arresting the World's Aristocracy!

Once the news of Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan’s official promotion to Admiral candidates was announced, the information regarding the three of them immediately drew the attention of countries across the world. The epithets Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji also began to spread across the seas.

If it were an ordinary person becoming an Admiral candidate under normal circumstances, it would not have caused such a great stir or attracted so much attention.

The problem was that, following the execution of Roger and the arrest of Shiki, the Navy was currently at the center of the "spotlight," and its every move was being passively magnified.

Most crucially, all three of them were top-tier Logia-type ability users. This was what people found so astonishing. Furthermore, with each of them standing around three meters tall, anyone with a brain could see that their potential was extraordinary.

In particular, the kings of the various nations under the World Government could easily foresee that within the next few decades, the Navy would possess three Admirals who were all top-tier Logia-type ability users!

West Blue, Ilusia Kingdom.

Two Headquarters-class warships, far larger in volume than branch vessels, escorted a pristine white ship that was opulent to the extreme as it slowly sailed into the country's port. The white sails, imprinted with the World Government’s emblem, rippled continuously in the sea breeze.

At this moment, King Showndalka had already ordered all other ships in the harbor to evacuate, determined to welcome the arrival of the World Nobles with the cleanest and most spacious appearance possible!

Simultaneously, he led all the nobles of his country to wait on the pier, looking on with awe as the ship docked.

Over a hundred of the strongest, most elite soldiers carrying swords stood at their posts with solemn expressions, eyes fixed forward, maintaining order within a radius of several hundred meters.

Not long after, as the luxury ship finished docking, four long, wide wooden planks slid down from the deck and were joined together.

Two attendants immediately laid a vibrant, soft red carpet across the planks, perfectly connecting to the red carpet beneath King Showndalka’s feet. Immediately following, a large number of warriors clad in full plate armor and carrying spears marched off the ship in two lines, instantly taking over the security of the entire pier.

Regarding this, neither King Showndalka nor the other nobles, great or small, had any objections; they simply focused their gazes on the most exalted personage.

A Celestial Dragon!

A yellow-haired man wearing a transparent bubble helmet, a white jumpsuit, and a golden cape allowed the sturdy slave beneath him to carry him as he slowly crawled down the red carpet. Behind him followed two government members in black suits and leather boots.

"Eh, isn't that Captain Onal?" one noble’s expression changed, and he whispered to the person beside him.

"Yes, it's him! 'Black Tiger' Onal of the Tiger Claw Pirates!"

"Didn't he announce with great fanfare two years ago that he was heading into the Grand Line? H-how did he become a slave?"

"I remember his bounty was as high as 43 million Berries..." The nobles who recognized the slave whispered to each other in shock and uncertainty.

"Ahem!"

King Showndalka turned back and glared at them with displeasure, then straightened his attire and hurried over, bowing his head respectfully in greeting.

"A warm welcome to the supreme 'descendant of the creators,' Saint Rosward, for gracing the Ilusia Kingdom with your presence. I am King Showndalka!"

The latter, sitting cross-legged on Captain Onal’s back, glanced at the surroundings and the nobles who had come to greet him, then snorted: "The King is one thing, but since when do low-level nobles have the right to stand in the presence of a Celestial Dragon?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes! This is my oversight!" Showndalka was stunned for a moment, but immediately reacted and apologized profusely. He then turned to the crowd of nobles and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Kneel before the great Saint Rosward!"

The faces of the nobles, both great and small, stiffened; after all, they were used to being arrogant in their own country. Just then, the elderly Duke standing at the very front knelt without hesitation, pressing his forehead against the soft red carpet.

With him taking the lead, the others reacted as well, one after another following the old Duke’s example and kneeling on both sides.

Seeing this, King Showndalka breathed a huge sigh of relief and gave the old Duke a mental thumbs-up.

"Not bad."

Saint Rosward nodded, quite satisfied with the attitude of these nobles, and his favor toward this kingdom rose significantly.

"Let's go. I'm tired of sitting on this ship; I want to eat something first."

"Yes, yes, yes! I have already ordered the best chefs in the country to be ready. This way, please!"

King Showndalka stepped aside and gestured for Saint Rosward to lead the way. The latter did not stand on ceremony, stepped on the back of Captain Onal’s head, and headed toward the royal palace inside the island under the kneeling gaze of dozens of nobles.

[Purupuru, purupuru]

But just as he reached the other end of the red carpet and was about to step onto the clean, flat stone path, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out from behind him. This caused Saint Rosward to subconsciously turn his head, as he knew it was the dedicated line for the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Sure enough, the government member on the right took a small white-gold Den Den Mushi from his suit pocket. As he picked up the receiver and connected, the Den Den Mushi’s face changed, and it began to speak.

"The Five Elders command: All Celestial Dragons currently abroad are to return to the Holy Land immediately upon receiving this notice. No delays!"

"I repeat: The Five Elders command: All Celestial Dragons currently abroad are to return to the Holy Land immediately upon receiving this notice. No delays!"

Saint Rosward’s expression changed, and anger flared. He had only arrived less than two minutes ago, but just as he was about to open his mouth to question it, the Den Den Mushi had already closed its eyes.

For a moment, the entire atmosphere became eerie. Even King Showndalka was bewildered, not knowing what to say or do.

What was going on?

"Saint Rosward, what shall we do?" the CP member holding the white-gold Den Den Mushi asked softly.

"Hiss—hoo—"

Saint Rosward’s face turned livid as he hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, jumped off the slave captain’s back, and strode toward his luxury ship.

"We're going back!"

Although he was a Celestial Dragon, the Five Elders were also Celestial Dragons—and the highest-ranking ones at that. He had no choice but to comply with such a direct order, though he would certainly ask questions once he returned.

Suddenly, he stopped and said to the bewildered King Showndalka: "You can have this slave. You're not bad!"

"Uh... th-thank you, Saint Rosward!"

King Showndalka watched in shock as the Celestial Dragon boarded the ship again. Five minutes later, even the Holy Guard soldiers had cleared out completely. Ten minutes later, the luxury ship and the two Headquarters warships set sail once more.

The Holy Land, Mary Geoise, Pangea Castle, the Room of Authority.

"Im-sama, in accordance with your divine decree, all Celestial Dragons have been ordered to return. Within seven days at most, all Celestial Dragons will be gathered in the 'Land of the Gods'."

Im listened to the report from the Den Den Mushi and nodded coldly.

"From this day forward, without my permission, no Celestial Dragon is to leave the 'Land of the Gods' without authorization. Otherwise, their status as World Nobles will be revoked immediately, they will no longer enjoy any privileges, and they will be imprisoned in the dungeons of Mary Geoise!"

"Yes, I shall strictly obey your imperial will."

The book has been renamed, as you all can see, because the editor said the word "Government" wasn't suitable for a book title. After discussing it with the editor, I changed it to this. Honestly, I'm quite helpless about it, sigh.

(End of chapter)