Chapter 122: Holy Land

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-Holy Land Mary Geoise-

Mary Geoise, the headquarters of the World Government, is located atop the Red Line between the first and second halves of the Grand Line. 

It is the dwelling place of the Celestial Dragons, the world's nobility. The city is heavily guarded, with the most formidable forces stationed there.

A month later, Arashi and his group arrived at Mary Geoise. The colossal castles hidden in the mist, the grand and imposing gates—all profoundly impacted their hearts.

Stretching endlessly before them was an expansive view of castle clusters in the distance, with a moving platform beneath their feet.

"Your Highness, as long as we stand here, it will transport us into the Holy Land," Igaram whispered cautiously. Even at the entrance, he dared not speak too loudly. 

As the center of global power, Mary Geoise was the most coveted area for the world's elite, with countless people aspiring to move there.

Arashi nodded silently, his expression dark as he looked at the moving floor beneath them. 

He could see the bloodied, sweat-drenched slaves below, crying out in pain as they labored.

What was referred to as a "moving platform" or "passageway" wasn't advanced technology but the work of slaves. 

The blood and sweat of countless individuals powered it.

Cobra, too, was aware of the truth behind this so-called moving floor. He remained silent throughout the journey, his face heavy with sorrow.

As they approached the castle clusters ahead, the first thing that came into view was the opulent and luxurious palaces, with spotless streets flanked by meticulously maintained exotic trees and flowers.

When their arrival was noticed from hundreds of meters away, the servants on both sides of the street immediately dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground and trembling in fear.

This scene made Arashi's pupils contract sharply. Behind him, Evea's eyes flickered with shock and fear.

Ahead, a Celestial Dragon, distinguished by the bubble helmet, walked slowly down the street. The silence was deafening. 

Though the palaces were grand and vibrant, an oppressive atmosphere of authority lingered, suffocating all who entered.

"This is the concentration of power," Arashi murmured.

Here, one's strength seemed insignificant. Obese, flabby nobles with no physical prowess could end the lives of pirates with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions with just a word. 

Even the mighty Marines were forced to tread carefully in this place, not daring to show the slightest defiance. The word "power" was the cruelest irony in this so-called Holy Land.

As they moved forward, they noticed a Celestial Dragon ahead, stopping to inspect a maid kneeling by the roadside.

"She has quite the figure," the Celestial Dragon sneered. "Take her back. My 'Big Yellow' needs a new female companion."

Hearing this, everyone in his entourage shuddered inwardly. They knew all too well what the Celestial Dragon meant by "Big Yellow." 

It was a vicious beast known for its savagery, now entering its mating season.

"Monsters!" a shackled fish-man roared furiously, struggling against his chains as they clinked loudly.

"Silence, you slave!" the Celestial Dragon bellowed, raising a whip and lashing it viciously at the fish-man.

Crack!

The sharp sound of the whip echoed as fresh wounds joined the scars already marring the fish-man's back, eliciting a pained cry.

"Just kill me already!" the fish-man roared, his voice filled with rage. "If you've got the guts, kill me!"

The Celestial Dragon sneered. "You're a toy I paid a hefty price for. You don't get to die until I'm done with you."

Just then, a group of figures appeared ahead. The black-clad attendants preparing to seize the maid froze momentarily. Their movements halted.

"Hm?" The Celestial Dragon raised his head to look at the newcomers.

"They are nobles here for the Reverie," someone behind him whispered.

"Hmph, just a bunch of people relying on us Celestial Dragons," the Celestial Dragon snorted dismissively.

Soon, two figures reached him. One of them, towering in height, was at least twice his size.

"How insolent!" the Celestial Dragon suddenly snarled. He raised his whip and lashed it toward the tall figure. "How dare you not bow when you see a Saint like me!"

The whip stretched, curved, and lashed out ferociously.

But in the next moment, the Celestial Dragon froze in place.

His whip was caught firmly by the tall man's hand.

"How dare you!"

"You dare defy Donquixote Mjosgard Saint!" shouted the black-clad guards as they moved to encircle the group.

Arashi raised his head and yanked the whip from the Celestial Dragon's hand.

Crackle!

Lightning flashed, and the whip turned to ashes in an instant.

Behind him, Eveya was trembling, her heart pounding as she stared at the black-clad guards surrounding them. Fear flashed in her eyes.

To someone of commoner origin, the Celestial Dragons were like gods—beings far above them, impossible to resist. Instinctively, she dared not fight back. 

The others in the group showed signs of panic on their faces. Titi instinctively held Vivi tightly, clutching Cobra's arm with her other hand.

"Honorable Saint Mjosgard," Cobra said in a steady voice, taking a deep breath. "We are from the Nefertari family, invited here to attend the Reverie."

"Nefertari?" Saint Mjosgard paused, his expression shifting.

"Yes, I am Cobra Nefertari, King of Alabasta. This is my younger brother, Prince Arashi Nefertari," Cobra said, forcing a polite smile.

"They're also Celestial Dragons!" one of the black-clad guards exclaimed, his face filled with fear. Quickly, someone whispered an urgent report into Saint Mjosgard's ear.

"So, you're the family that left the Holy Land? How foolish," Saint Mjosgard sneered, though some of the hostility in his demeanor eased. 

As fellow Celestial Dragons, it wasn't appropriate for him to act too harshly.

His gaze swept over the group and landed on Eveya, trembling in fear. A sinister smile appeared on his face.

"To mend the tension between our families, why not gift her to me?" Mjosgard suggested, his tone casual yet laced with excitement. 

"I never imagined the Nefertari family would have such a peculiar fondness for taking in Marine slaves. How fascinating. It's opened my eyes to a new world."

To him, servants were nothing more than disposable objects—easily killed, traded, or gifted to smooth over disputes. It was only natural for him to think the other party would comply.

Cobra fell silent, his fists clenching slowly. Igaram's face was worried, and Titi sighed quietly, covering Vivi's eyes with her hand. Eveya, meanwhile, felt her mind go blank.

A Celestial Dragon had noticed her. It was over. Behind her, nine Marines lowered their heads, their eyes filled with anger and ferocity. 

What they had learned at the Ohara Marine Academy—the truths of freedom, democracy, resistance, and justice—clashed violently with the scene before them.

"This... this defies everything justice stands for!" they seethed inwardly.

"If the Vice Admiral gives the order," one thought grimly, "we'll take his head immediately."

The moment seemed to freeze. No sound emerged, and even the air felt still.

The chained fish-man lifted his head with difficulty, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of a towering figure nearby. His heart skipped a beat.

"It's him!"

On the side of the street, the trembling maid who had been singled out also raised her head slightly, her eyes widening as she took in the scene.

"Vice Admiral Arashi?!" she whispered, stunned.

A soft breeze suddenly swept through, brushing against the colossal figure standing over three meters tall, with a build like a steel tower.

"My subordinate? You dare lay claim to her?"

A cold, low voice shattered the silence, cutting through the tension like a knife.

The air around them seemed to chill instantly, causing Saint Mjosgard to shiver.

"She joined the Marines at fifteen, holding the rank of Captain," Arashi said, his voice calm but icy. 

"She has captured over fifty-six notorious pirates, contributing greatly to the Marines and the West Blue."

His words carried an almost physical weight, making the noble trees lining the street tremble as if in fear.

"But most importantly..." Arashi continued, his tone growing even colder. "She's my trusted aide."

"And you dare to demand her from me?" Arashi's gaze darkened, his face becoming grim and foreboding. "You've got to be kidding me."

The sheer intensity of his voice sent shivers down everyone's spine.

In an instant, Arashi's figure vanished.

"What?!"

The black-clad guards recoiled in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"Wait, I remember now!" one of them stammered. "He's that legendary Marine Vice Admiral!"

"Arashi! It's Arashi!"

The guards' pupils contracted in fear. Earlier, they hadn't connected the noble-looking man to the Marines because of his aristocratic attire.

But now, Arashi had appeared directly in front of Saint Mjosgard, his right fist clenched tightly, emitting a bone-chilling crack.

"What's he planning to do?"

"He wouldn't... would he?"

Cobra, Saint Mjosgard, the fish-man in chains, the maid on the sidelines, and even the black-clad guards all stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide with terror and disbelief.

Boom!

A dull impact echoed through the air.

Before their eyes, Arashi's fist smashed into Saint Mjosgard's face, his nose collapsing inward as blood sprayed out instantly. 

The Celestial Dragon's short, rotund body flew backward like a cannonball.

"Oh my god!"

"This... this can't be real!"

The black-clad guards stood frozen in place, their minds blank with shock.

Tears streamed down Evea's face as Vivi peeked from behind her mother's hand, blinking at the towering figure before her.

"This guy..."

"He's insane!"

Even the fish-man's pupils trembled violently, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

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