"Damn it—"
"You'll never succeed!"
"You despicable, shameless scum... No one will fall for your trap!"
Hearing Charlotte Linlin's threats, not only were Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru enraged, but every Marine and CP agent present felt the same. Linlin's demand for the Navy's renowned "Trio" to turn on one another was the height of dishonor.
"You can't manipulate me with such crude tactics. Even if I die, I won't be swayed by your demands!" Tsuru, resolute and unyielding, coldly replied, locking eyes with Linlin. She would never betray the comrades she had fought alongside, the ones she entrusted with her life. No desire to survive or regain her youth would cloud her principles.
"Sengoku, Garp, don't fall for her tricks," Tsuru shouted firmly. "If either of you hesitates because of me, I'll take my own life to atone!"
Though it was difficult to accept her sudden transformation into an old woman, Tsuru had no intention of caving in to the pirates' vile threats. She wouldn't make things harder for Sengoku or Garp, nor would she ever allow them to do something foolish on her behalf.
"Tsuru..."
Hearing her words, both Sengoku and Garp were visibly shaken. In truth, Sengoku had been on the verge of offering himself up in exchange for Tsuru, despite knowing there was little chance Linlin would honor such a deal.
"Damn it! There's only one dead Celestial Dragon in the auction house, and the rest are missing!"
At that moment, the furious CP7 squad leader stormed out of the auction house with his team, his face twisted with anger as he glared at Charlotte Linlin, Rock, and their crew. "Where the hell did you hide the other Celestial Dragons?"
Inside the auction house, aside from unconscious guests, staff, and the government agents assigned to protect the Celestial Dragons, they had found only the mangled corpse of a single Celestial Dragon, crushed beyond recognition but still identifiable by his space suit. The others were nowhere to be found.
"Aren't you CP agents supposed to be good at finding things? Go figure it out yourself!" Linlin sneered, glancing dismissively at him.
"Hmph, such righteous resolve for a Navy star," Linlin remarked, observing Tsuru's unyielding defiance. Though slightly impressed, she appeared momentarily unsure of how to proceed. "What a dilemma..."
"Your threats won't work anymore, Linlin," Nef chuckled, stepping forward. In response to the confused and suspicious stares of Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru, Nef leaned in and whispered something into Linlin's ear.
"Oh?" Linlin raised an eyebrow, grinning wickedly. "You always have a way, Nef!"
"What now? What are you planning?" Garp, furious, stomped forward to attack.
"Spin: Iron Body!"
Before he could act, a green blur shot toward him like a bullet, its speed exceeding that of a normal projectile. Garp's instincts kicked in just in time for him to dodge the attack, barely escaping the strike.
'Bang... bang...'
Trees were pierced by the green shadow, leaving gaping holes in their trunks.
"What the...?" Tsuru, Sengoku, and the others looked on in shock. In no time, the green figure grew larger as it appeared before Garp. It was Oars Jr., slightly battered but otherwise unharmed.
"You actually managed to knock me away. You've got almost as much strength as Linlin..." Oars Jr. growled, shaking his head and glaring menacingly at Garp, standing firmly in his way.
"Don't move an inch..." Linlin warned, her gaze locked on Sengoku and Garp, who were poised to charge again. "One wrong move, and I'll have someone cut off the Celestial Dragons' hands and tongues!"
"I want to see the corpse of that Celestial Dragon in the auction house..."
She sneered at the CP agent in charge, baring her sharp fangs. "You CP agents should know by now, we don't make empty threats."
"What!?"
"You wouldn't dare—"
"No one make a move!"
"We must prioritize the safety of the Celestial Dragons!"
Hearing Linlin's threats, the Marines and CP agents were furious but unable to act. The lead CP7 agent, though livid, could only issue orders to stand down, gesturing to Sengoku as well. Reluctantly, they complied.
"Aren't you looking for the Celestial Dragons?" Linlin sneered before pulling out a mirror from her bag. "Barry, bring one of them out."
"Got it!" A voice came from within the mirror, and to the shock of Sengoku, Garp, and everyone else, the mirror began to expand. A figure in white was pulled out—beaten and bruised, without the iconic bubble helmet, but still recognizable in his extravagant space suit and distinct hairstyle. It was unmistakably one of the missing Celestial Dragons.
"Saint Fenix!!!"
The CP7 agent instantly recognized him, crying out in shock.
"Mmmph mmmph..." With a green collar around his neck and a slave collar to match, Saint Fenix could barely contain his fear, but he couldn't speak due to Nef's pet fruit powers.
"My loyal pet, you may speak," Nef said, a hint of amusement in her voice. With her command, the green collar around Fenix's neck glowed, and he began shouting in terror.
"Navy! CP! Save me!" he screamed. "Get an Admiral here now, or your families will all be turned into the lowest of slaves! Capture these vile criminals! I want them ripped apart!"
Sengoku's eye twitched at the outburst, while Garp's fists tightened, his face growing dark. He despised these arrogant nobles who saw others as dirt, yet they were still forced to rescue them.
"We're terribly sorry, Saint Fenix. Please be patient..." the CP7 agent stammered, sweating profusely. "We're trying our best to rescue you."
"Charlotte Linlin, release Saint Fenix and the other Celestial Dragons now. You can't escape," Sengoku declared firmly.
"Now, I order you—stomp on the Celestial Dragon's head!" Nef suddenly commanded Tsuru, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "It's a rare opportunity—you should cherish it!"
"What!?"
Sengoku's face turned pale, his entire body trembling with rage as he glared at Linlin and Nef. "You wouldn't dare—"
For the first time, Sengoku, known for his strategic brilliance, felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The pirates weren't even trying to hide their intentions. This was a blatant scheme, aimed at ruining Tsuru's career and life forever.
The Celestial Dragons wouldn't care that Tsuru was under pressure. The moment she acted against them, her fate would be sealed. Her reputation, career, and life would all be destroyed. There would be no escape from such a cruel fate.