The Strange Celestial Dragon
Neptune stared blankly at the Celestial Dragons, as if struck by Thunderclap, a long-buried memory awakening deep within his mind.
That face, though slightly weathered, still resolute, made him gasp in surprise.
"You... could it be—!"
Saint Mjosgard simply smiled and raised his hand to indicate that he should not say anything more.
That smile was unlike the arrogance and haughtiness of other Celestial Dragons; instead, it carried a hint of calm, even human tenderness.
"This isn't the place to talk," he said softly, his tone tinged with caution. "Let's go somewhere else."
Saint Mjosgard himself led Neptune, Shirahoshi, Garp, Ace, and Luffy's crew through the pristine, towering stone steps of the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
The stone bricks reflected a cold light in the sunlight, and a sense of icy cleanliness permeated the air.
Along the way, the Celestial Dragons who passed by all turned their heads to look at them.
When the Celestial Dragons, draped in white robes and wearing bubble caps, looked at them, their expressions were as if they were staring at mud.
"That's... Fish-Man?!"
"Saint Mjosgard actually brought them in? Has he gone mad?"
"It's so filthy... It feels like the air in Mary Geoise is polluted!"
The harsh comments slipped into my ears like a snake's tongue, carrying venom and arrogance.
Shirahoshi subconsciously lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
Luffy frowned, his fists clenching slightly.
But Saint Mjosgard remained calm, his steps unwavering, as if he were already accustomed to such gazes.
Soon, the group arrived at the Residence of Saint Mjosgard.
It was a classical and serene palace, without any ostentatious decorations or extravagant displays adorned with slaves.
Instead of murals depicting conquest and glory, the walls were adorned with several oil paintings portraying the ocean, sunshine, and coral—the colors warm and serene.
"Please sit down," Saint Mjosgard calm tone, personally ordering someone to serve hot tea.
Shirahoshi remained reserved, but Neptune took a deep breath and said with genuine emotion:
"Saint Mjosgard, it's been ten years... How are you?"
Upon hearing Saint Mjosgard sighed softly, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"Back then, if it weren't for Queen Otohime and you all, I probably would have died in the raging waves of Fish-Man Island long ago."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze passing through the sunlight streaming through the window, as if looking back at that unforgettable past.
"After being rescued by you, I listened to Queen Otohime's teachings. It was then that I understood for the first time that the so-called glory of the 'Celestial Dragons' was nothing but arrogance disguised as divine status."
He paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile, "From then on, I secretly made up my mind—one day, I would repay the kindness of Fish-Man Island."
Garp, unusually, refrained from joking around, simply lowering his head to take a sip of tea, his expression unusually serious.
"You know, doing this is blatant heresy among the Celestial Dragons."
Saint Mjosgard, his expression indifferent.
"It's alright. I'm used to those looks."
"Ever since Queen Otohime enlightened me, I have begun to study many things—about humanity, about slaves, about 'equality'."
He paused, his tone growing increasingly somber. "Sometimes, I feel that my past self, so high and mighty, is more disgusting than any Pirate or any sinner."
The room was filled with the aroma of tea for a moment, and everyone fell silent.
Luffy looked up at him, seemingly understanding but not quite, and asked, "That Otohime you mentioned, is she a good person?"
Saint Mjosgard paused for a moment, then smiled slightly, "Yes, she's a woman to whom even the sunlight bows."
He turned to look out the window, where the deep blue sky met the distant Sea Cloud, creating a play of light and shadow.
"Sometimes, when I see that sea, I think—perhaps Queen Otohime didn't really die."
"Her will is still flowing."
--
The group chatted for a while, and the atmosphere gradually shifted from tense to peaceful.
Shirahoshi finally revealed a slight smile. Ace leaned back on the sofa, listening to Garp and Saint Mjosgard reminisce about the past, occasionally interjecting a word or two.
Luffy, meanwhile, had already leaned against the wall and was dozing off, snoring softly, looking as carefree as ever.
Saint Mjosgard sent them off with the courtesy due to a host.
May your journey be safe.
He spoke softly, his gaze lingering briefly on Shirahoshi and Neptune, as if conveying some unspoken promise.
As night slowly fell, glass lanterns lit up the skies Holy Land Mary Geoise, their light illuminating the clouds.
The once proud and cold sky was now softened by the Flame.
Garp led Neptune, Shirahoshi, Ace, and their group back to their temporary Residence in the Ryugu Kingdom.
The room was dimly lit, and a cool breeze blew in from the window. Shirahoshi, still unsettled, asked softly:
"Father... do people like Saint Mjosgard still exist among the Celestial Dragons?"
Neptune did not answer immediately, but just let out a long sigh, which was mixed with emotion and heavy hope.
"Maybe."
He said slowly, "Just as Otohime said—everyone has light in their heart, but some people... are blinded by power."
Ace leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on the Holy Land under the Flame, the flickering light reflected in his fiery red pupils.
He suddenly turned to Garp: "Old man, so there are normal guys among the Celestial Dragons?"
Garp remained silent for a few seconds, not grinning as he usually did.
He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped on his knees, his gaze seemingly looking beyond the rooftop in front of him, towards a more distant past.
"Ah—" he murmured, his tone much calmer than usual, "Just like the Pirates of yesteryear, there were some truly formidable individuals."
"They did not sail for plunder, nor for fame."
"But rather, people who live with 'will'."
At this point, his expression softened slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up as if he were recalling some heavy past events.
"... Like that guy."
Ace paused, seemingly realizing something, his lips parted slightly, but he ultimately didn't ask.
A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft murmur of the Flame outside the window.
That night, the Flame of Mary Geoise flickered in the wind, and for the first time—it didn't seem so cold.
Meanwhile, countless nautical miles away from the Holy Land—
Night rain shrouded a Deserted Island.
The wind whipped up a tsunami, waves crashed against the cliffs, Inazuma tore through the dark clouds, turning the world a ghastly white for a fleeting moment.
At the top of the cliff, a lone figure stood in the wind and rain, yet the rain strangely could not get close.
Roy gazed silently ahead, his expression calm and profound.
Suddenly, a low laugh came from the depths of the jungle behind them.
"Hahaha... What a surprise, Roy."
With laughter, Teach slowly emerged from the shadows, his cloak billowing in the wind, his smile masking a clear wariness.
"Hey, hey, hey, you're not thinking of killing me in this godforsaken place, are you?"
Roy raised his hand, his tone calm. "Don't worry, I haven't planned on that yet."
Teach's laughter stopped abruptly, his smile freezing on his face.
Roy took a step forward, his footsteps light, yet the air suddenly tensed.
"I'm just here to tell you some things--"
"Those things you thought you knew, but turned out to be completely wrong."
The wind howled, and the waves roared.
An unknown destiny was thus quietly foreshadowed.