More than ten minutes passed before Guernica returned to the palace.
"Saint Ross, it has been handled! Your new furniture will be delivered within an hour."
"Good." Ross leaned back on the sofa and casually asked, "What major events have happened at sea recently?"
Having just transmigrated into the world of the Pirate King, he needed to understand the current situation.
His memories contained absolutely nothing about what was happening at sea, only scenes of him pitting crickets against those of other Celestial Dragons. He had never been particularly interested in such matters.
Spending too much time playing with other Celestial Dragons would really ruin a person.
If there were no pressure to survive, Ross truly would not have minded playing around until he died of old age.
But if he did nothing, he would definitely be purged in twenty years. That was troublesome.
And this was not something that could be resolved simply by killing Luffy. Who knew what Joy Boy and Nika were? What if they randomly appeared and awakened once the time came?
To be safe, Ross had to prepare for trouble before it came, lest everything end after he had only enjoyed himself for a few years.
Besides, if he truly wanted to indulge himself, Ross did not think much of the things other Celestial Dragons played with.
Now that he was a Celestial Dragon, he should hunt the strongest slaves and taste the fiercest women. That was what true exhilaration was.
What was the point of bullying ordinary people? It barely even produced any rewards.
"Saint Ross, ever since Pirate King Roger was executed, no major events have occurred recently. Everything remains under the World Government's control," Guernica answered respectfully.
"That's it?"
Ross frowned slightly at that answer.
His first thought was that Guernica was concealing something.
The Great Pirate Era had already begun in full force two years ago. How could there be no news at all?
Considering how the other Celestial Dragons lived as if they were being kept in pens, it was not strange for him to think that way.
But when he saw Guernica's matter-of-fact expression, he understood somewhat.
From the perspective of ordinary pirates and even Marines, the Great Pirate Era seemed like the dawn of a new age.
But in the eyes of the World Government, and in the eyes of CP0, the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield, the Great Pirate Era might have been nothing much.
If Guernica had not been so arrogant, he would not have recklessly involved himself in Kaido's battle.
"What major pirates are currently active at sea?" Ross changed his question.
"'Red of the Lonely,' Patrick Redfield; 'Whitebeard,' Edward Newgate; 'Pluto,' Silvers Rayleigh; 'Beasts,' Kaido; and 'Big Mom,' Charlotte Linlin."
"Saint Ross, all major pirates possess Conqueror's Haki. It is difficult to capture them as slaves," Guernica added.
"Hm?"
Ross glanced at Guernica. Had he said he wanted to capture them as slaves?
"My lord, I deserve death! I beg Your Highness to punish me!"
Guernica shuddered and abruptly slapped himself. His clownish face rapidly swelled red, becoming even more comical.
How dared he presume to guess a Celestial Dragon's intentions...
C-rank Defeat Complete! Strength +10,000 Special Reward: C-rank Martial Arts
That counted as a defeat?
Even if it was a downgraded C-rank reward, this was far too generous.
Host: Ross Strength: 10163/30000 (D-rank, Captain-level Strength) Skills: E-rank Gun Technique, C-rank Martial Arts
Feeling the power filling his body, Ross's eyes lit up.
In only a few hours, he had gained Captain-level Strength. The future looked promising.
"Don't let it happen again."
Ross waved a hand casually. Guernica was being so tactful that he naturally would not blame him further.
If you like this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.
Was this the taste of power?
It really made one want to fall into depravity...
Returning to business, Ross had more or less grasped the situation at sea through Guernica's explanation.
It was now Marineford Era 1500. Redfield had yet to fight Fleet Admiral Kong, Golden Lion had entered Impel Down, Roger was already dead, Whitebeard was in the limelight, and Kaido and Big Mom were beginning to make names for themselves.
This was the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, the most chaotic period in nearly a century. The future structure of the Four Emperors of the New World had yet to take shape, and pirates seeking Roger's treasure filled the world.
"It really is a fine era."
There were so many pirates that he could not kill them all. It was more than enough for him to grow quickly.
The corners of Ross's lips curled upward as he slowly walked toward the enormous fish tank. Swimming leisurely within were the mermaid slaves he had purchased from the Sabaody Archipelago.
The moment he approached the tank, the once-quiet underwater world instantly came alive. As though they had sensed his arrival, the mermaids all swam closer and began to dance gracefully, like spirits of the water.
Ross knew perfectly well that the mermaids were not dancing willingly. They had merely been trained too well.
But still, there were four mermaids with vividly colored hair, breathtaking beauty, and figures each possessing their own distinct charm, dancing for him.
It truly was a pleasing sight.
At the same time, while he admired the swimming fish, Guernica behind him knelt like a loyal servant, his expression respectful without the slightest hint of abnormality.
Guernica was neither tall nor burly, but Ross had no doubt that he could easily wipe out a non-Allied Nation.
Anything CP9's Lucci had once been able to do, every member of CP0 could do as well.
Yet such a powerful person could only kneel before a Celestial Dragon, slap himself for a verbal slip, and consider himself inferior.
Unfortunately, all of that privilege came solely from status. Ross could not neglect his own strength either, or else he would be no different from Guernica when facing higher-ranking Celestial Dragons in the future.
"Guernica!"
"Saint Ross! Please give your orders!"
"My slaves died before, and I need a new batch. I want a list of Marines from Headquarters, as well as a list of prisoners in Impel Down."
Ross gave the order calmly. To fulfill his ultimate vision of pleasure, he needed more assistants.
"Understood!" Guernica accepted the order.
"When can you get them to me?"
"Your Highness, the task will definitely be completed within an hour!"
After receiving the order and confirming that Ross had no further instructions, Guernica vanished in an instant.
With his departure, the palace returned to silence, leaving behind only the sound of water rippling as the mermaids swam.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Ross tapped on the fish tank, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
The mermaids had finished dancing and stood timidly in a line, wearing extremely deliberate, ingratiating smiles.
The previous Ross had gone too far with his cricket fights and had played most of his slaves to death.
The four ornamental fish before him were his only remaining "pets."
Ross had kept fish before, but this was his first time keeping mermaids. It felt remarkably novel.
Compared to fish, creatures that had no brains at all, mermaids were far more obedient and intelligent.
In his previous life, he had always claimed that he had several fish at home capable of backflips.
Today, that claim had finally come true.
Watching the four ornamental fish perform synchronized backflips, Ross smiled in satisfaction and pressed the green button beneath the tank.
A bag of feed poured down from the top of the tank, scattering countless tiny pearl-like pellets throughout the water.
Overjoyed, the mermaids rushed toward the feed in delight, opening their mouths to bite the little pearls one by one.
"It really does feel like keeping fish." Ross became even more satisfied.
His feed was no cheap product. The price of one bag alone was greater than the combined cost of all the food an ordinary mermaid would eat in her lifetime.
Expensive goods had their advantages. This mermaid-exclusive feed produced in Mary Geoise could make mermaids fair, tender, and radiant, further improve both their looks and figures, and even resist aging.
Besides cricket fighting, beauty contests were also one of the Celestial Dragons' daily activities.
But Ross was a selfish person and did not particularly enjoy sharing.
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