"Fleet Admiral William, Admiral Hark..."
"We've just received a report that Vice Admiral Bolte and several other navy officers' Vivre Cards have turned to ash!"
"Also, we've completely lost contact with G-5 Base. There's no way to reach them!"
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, an officer hurried in, stood at attention before Fleet Admiral Hammons William and Admiral Iron Claw Hark, and loudly delivered the report.
"Bang—"
The desk in front of them was smashed into pieces, documents scattering all over the floor.
Hammons William, filled with rage, his face dark and his eyes blazing with fury, said, "That damned Lunarian brat!"
"I didn't expect him to take action so soon, starting a retaliation against the Navy... Should I go there again?" Admiral Hark asked gravely.
"G-5 isn't like G-1. It's much farther away... By the time you get there, it'll likely be too late!" William took a deep breath, trying to calm his fury. "But it's still necessary to go. Make sure to investigate thoroughly what happened!"
"If you encounter the Fallen Angel, El, stall him at all costs... I'll have Admiral Horn from Mariejois come to assist. We must take him down!"
He was referring to another Navy admiral, "Pegasus" Bardel Horn, who was stationed at the Holy Land of Mariejois, responsible for its defense. Due to his special circumstances, Horn rarely left to take on external missions.
"Horn, huh?"
Upon hearing this, Admiral Hark raised an eyebrow, a look of disdain flashing across his face. He clearly didn't think much of Admiral Horn. In fact, the two had a tense relationship, with Hark disliking Horn's arrogance.
Horn's background was special—rumored to be the illegitimate child of a Celestial Dragon and a slave. Although the World Government never officially recognized his lineage, his strength and connection to the Celestial Dragons had earned him the attention of the higher-ups. Even though Horn's strength wasn't quite at the level of a true admiral, he still managed to secure the position.
This "backdoor promotion" had not sat well with Hark or former Admiral Ross, who had been replaced by Kong after his retirement. Both were displeased, believing Horn lacked the strength and qualifications to be an admiral.
"Well, Kong is still on his way back, so the only available admiral is Horn," Hammons William reminded him. "Though his strength may not be on par with yours, he's still useful!"
William was well aware of Horn's background. Though Horn possessed the rare Mythical Zoan Pegasus Fruit, giving him abilities far beyond most Vice Admirals, he wasn't truly admiral-level. But due to political pressure, William had no choice but to promote him.
As a result, Horn had been largely sidelined, stationed at Mariejois to guard the Celestial Dragons. He was rarely given the responsibility of hunting down notorious pirates—tasks left to the other admirals. Occasionally, he would be allowed to take on minor duties, like inspecting naval bases, essentially giving the real admirals a break while Horn handled ceremonial duties.
"Understood, I won't cause any trouble with him," Hark said with a nod.
…
"Is this the auction?"
"Tsk, tsk, a mermaid slave? How disgusting..."
"They're treating people like livestock, selling them off like products!"
"The two Devil Fruits were already bought by that guy with the bubble helmet?"
"So… those are the infamous Celestial Dragons?"
At the auction house on Sabaody Archipelago's Grove 1, Linlin and her group had paid a hefty entrance fee and were allowed in halfway through the event. Linlin, standing a towering seven meters tall with her strikingly beautiful face, immediately drew attention. Meanwhile, Moss, Rock, and the others were draped in dark green cloaks and wearing wide goggles to hide their faces, attracting far less attention.
The grand auction, held every three years by the Black Flag Trading Company, had drawn pirates, wealthy merchants, and nobles from all over, filling the venue to capacity. Linlin's group stayed at the back, standing against the wall, observing the auction, which was nearing its end.
Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, both Devil Fruits had already been sold to a Celestial Dragon, and a beautiful mermaid slave had been purchased for two billion berries. Now, it was time for the final attraction—an auction for a Three-Eyed Tribe girl!
"And now, for the grand finale of today's auction—Lot 20! A beautiful young girl from the legendary and possibly extinct Three-Eyed Tribe!" the auctioneer announced excitedly.
Everyone's eyes widened with anticipation, eager to catch a glimpse of this rare and fabled race.
"Let me go, you monsters!"
The sound of rattling chains echoed through the auction hall as a cage, two meters tall, was wheeled out. Inside was a young blonde girl, around seventeen or eighteen, with striking features, a tall and shapely figure—and most notably, a third eye in the center of her forehead.
Bound by chains and with a cloth gag in her mouth, she could only make muffled sounds of protest. Her face was tear-streaked with anger, fear, and helplessness as she struggled futilely, her movements weak, likely sedated to prevent any resistance.
~~~
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