Realizations

Alex was ordered to walk in all fours as he accompanied the celestial noble on his right. He had a chain around his neck that is controlled by the celestial noble. There was another slave who was a giant on his left who walking upright in a hunchback, but his chain was controlled by a guard. There were seven guards total accompanying them with a few carrying guns and some carrying armor. Five of them were wearing black suits while two of them wore the marine uniform of the world government.

Alex was happy to see the outside world after being stuck inside the dungeon. All that was required of him was to just follow around this great noble on his fours as the noble occasionally stops and points at some people who will either be beaten up or taken in cuffs screaming by the guards. It was a one brutal scene after another but somehow, he was too focused on not angering the noble and thinking of a chance to escape to have any strong feelings toward it.

When they had toured for about half an hour, the giant slave actually attempted to beat the guard that was holding his chain. He was able to knock down the guard in one blow and started running away. He was immediately surrounded by guards on both of his sides but there was no one blocking his path forward.

"No…Let me go! I can't take this anymore!"

However, when he was about 10 feet away from them, his head exploded with a bang. The scene greatly shocked Alex who had been able to stay calm all this time. The noble was nonchalant as he said.

"Hmph. Giants are such weaklings."

The tour continued as if nothing significant happened. After about an hour, the noble was bored and they turned back. His chain was transferred to a guard who let him walk on his two legs. When they reached the entrance of the Marijois, the noble went ahead surrounded by five guards leaving him with two guards. The transponder was with one of the guards while the other one was holding the chain on his neck. There were several guards at the entrance and there was no way he would be able to get away even if he didn't have the collar.

When the guards put him back in his cell, Alex was silent for a long time. He tried to take the scene of the giant's head blowing off out of his mind. He realized he was too naïve. There was no way he could have gotten away with his plan. Even if he had got a hold of the transponder from the guard, he won't be able to run away from the guards. He was simply just too weak.

After this day, he hadn't been called back again to accompany the noble. While in his cell, he would try to do pushups and sit ups to strengthen his body. He knew he must never give up, otherwise he will become like the other slaves who were mentally broken.

Four days after the tour, he was escorted by two guards to see the celestial noble in his room.

"Be grateful slave. The Great Noble Nicholas had allowed you to serve him in his chamber." They didn't put a collar on him this time.

When he reached the chamber, he was greeted by the sight of the noble sitting on a throne-like chair drinking from a golden cup. There were two female slaves and one male slave all in white prison clothes crouched on the ground around him. They all looked down but there was still life in their eyes. When he came in escorted by the guards, the noble spoke up.

"Oh, my new pet. Come and sit down."

"Great Noble! It is my honor to be in your presence. I am truly grateful to be invited into your chamber."

"Hmm. Good..good. You are not bad. Sit."

The three guards in the chamber and the slaves looked shocked at the behavior of Alex but kept quiet.

"Thank you, Great Noble, for your generosity."

Alex took a seat deliberately on the other side of the three slaves setting him a little apart from them. Just as he was about to rain on some more praises at another signal from the noble, someone else entered the chamber. Alex tried to look around with his eyes while keeping his head down.

"Father, you are back."

The man who was dressed in luxurious clothing answered with a smile.

"How have you been, son?"

"Father, it's been pretty boring as always."

"Haha. I am sure you can occupy yourself."

"Right, father, when will you let me go out of Shabody islands?"

"Not now. You can do what you want in the islands. Later I will get a few vice admirals and CP0 agents to accompany you on your trip."

"Father, you keep saying that. Who would dare to attack us in this world?"

"There are many powers in the world, son."

As the conversation went on, Alex and the slaves all had their heads down still in all fours.

"Oh right, father. I got an interesting pet the other day. Look at it."

The noble pointed at Alex to his father.

"Oh, let me see. What's interesting about him? Put your head up, slave."

"It is my honor to be in your presence, Great Noble. This slave is very grateful to be addressed by the Great Noble."

"See what I am saying Dad. He talks funny but I like it."

"Serve my son well and you will be rewarded."

"It is my great blessing to be able to serve the Great Noble. I seek no rewards for this duty…" The old man gave him a smile that stopped Alex's praises. Something about the old man's smile chilled him although it looked perfectly amiable.

After that, he kept his head down as the father and son talked some more. The other slaves and him were completely ignored and they all tried to keep their presence as low as possible. After about a half hour, the noble followed his father and walked out. He was then escorted by the two guards who escorted him at the beginning back to his cell in the dungeon.

Back at the dungeon, Alex still hadn't recovered from his shock at the old man's smile. He tried to figure out what scared him about the smile although it seemed almost benign like you would expect from a kind old man. So far, he had been able to shrug off the insults of the noble and still felt mentally fine after acting like a dog around him. This was mainly because he saw the noble as a caricature character; one created by Oda to depict an evil villain. However, there was also intelligence in those eyes of the old man when he smiled at him. He forced himself to stop thinking and tried to fall asleep by recalling his memories on earth.