I Really Wanted to Get Ahead!

"Naval officers... And that so-called big shot..."

After hearing this information, Will looked thoughtful. Then he suddenly asked:

"What's your name?"

"My name?" The Bald Man was taken aback, not immediately understanding the question.

The slaves on the bridge had no right to have names of their own.

The Overseer Soldiers either called them slaves or trash.

Or they simply whipped and cursed at them.

After recalling his name, the Bald Man slowly replied, "Shet. My name is Shet."

"Shet?!" Will raised his brows and couldn't help saying, "That's quite a... special name."

"Huh?" The Bald Man blinked, looking slightly surprised.

And in the instant he blinked—

The next moment—

Someone gently patted the Bald Man on the shoulder.

"Shet, huh? Haha, thanks for the information."

Will came to his side and murmured, then couldn't help chuckling.

After that, he put his hands in his pockets and headed toward the back of the bridge. With a pointed reminder to the people behind him, he said:

"As a thank-you, I'll tell you something, too."

"This bridge will probably descend into chaos very soon."

"If you want to escape, make the most of the opportunity."

"Remember, the world is vast. If you want to survive out on the sea, you'll have to rely on yourselves."

Hearing these words,

the Bald Man and the other slaves turned to watch the figure gradually disappear into the snow. A flicker of emotion rose in their eyes.

After learning the general situation on Bridge-on-the-Nation,

Will didn't stay in the Construction Area and waste any more time.

He became a blur, darting back and forth among the crowd and building materials.

Whenever he encountered an Overseer Soldier in a padded uniform with a vicious expression, he dealt with him on the spot without making a sound.

Aside from the snowflakes occasionally scattered by the air as he passed,

Will's figure was almost completely invisible to everyone around him.

The slaves who saw the overseers suddenly collapse and die were a little surprised, but none of them bothered to pay it much attention.

Some didn't even look, while others stared blankly for a moment before turning back to their daily labor.

They were just like emotionless robots.

And the slaves didn't seem worried that they would be punished because the overseers had died.

Many of them might even have hoped to die because of it. That wouldn't necessarily have been a bad thing—it might have been a kind of release.

Meanwhile,

in the Consolidation Area on Bridge-on-the-Nation,

the middle of the bridge, which should have been piled high with building materials, had been specially cleared to make a very wide road.

A middle-aged man in unusual white clothes walked down the center of the bridge, arrogant and unhurried. He had an odd hairstyle, a bulky build, small eyes, and a square transparent bubble helmet over his head.

At his side walked a tall, burly man in a black suit, his face expressionless.

Many attendants followed behind the two of them, carrying all kinds of personal belongings and supplies.

Two of them even held up a large umbrella together, carefully shielding the middle-aged man from the snow falling from the sky.

In front of the middle-aged man, two muscular slaves crawled along the ground, seemingly clearing the way for the people behind them.

Both slaves wore special collars around their necks, attached to chains.

The other ends of the chains were gripped tightly in the middle-aged man's right hand.

The group walked down the middle of the road with an imposing air, making it clear they were not to be trifled with.

Meanwhile,

the two Marine Headquarters Commodores in charge of guarding the entire Consolidation Area

were following closely behind the middle-aged man with more than a hundred Marine soldiers armed with rifles.

Many of the Marines kept watch on both sides,

afraid that the slaves, who had already been driven to the edges of the bridge, might accidentally offend the big shot ahead.

Just then, one of the Marine Headquarters Commodores, Frat, suddenly quickened his pace and moved ahead of the others.

Braving the pressure of the burly man's gaze, he bent toward the middle-aged man and said with utmost respect:

"Honorable Saint Charlos."

"Would you like me to go to the Construction Area on the bridge ahead of time and have them clear a road there as well?"

"That way, it'll be ready whenever you wish to go and enjoy yourself, my lord."

Frat had said this because he knew perfectly well

that, to the Celestial Dragons who looked down on everyone else, Bridge-on-the-Nation was nothing more than a playground in the East Blue.

Every year, Celestial Dragons came here from time to time and wantonly killed slaves for their amusement.

Or they would make up strange rules to torment the slaves on the bridge.

The Celestial Dragon before him was one who particularly liked coming to the East Blue.

And whenever he came here, he liked to have a road cleared down the middle of the bridge.

Then, while the slaves watched in fear, he would slowly tour from one end of the bridge to the other.

Though Frat didn't know why the Celestial Dragon enjoyed doing this,

that didn't stop him from using it to please the man.

Because he really wanted to get ahead!

But when Saint Charlos heard this, his expression immediately darkened.

He raised the scepter in his left hand and struck Headquarters Commodore Frat hard across the face, berating him in a low voice:

"What are you, to dare call me by my name?"

"And where I go is none of your concern. Do you think you can tell me what to do?"

His actions made it seem as though the so-called Marine Commodore was no different from the slaves in his eyes.

After Marine Commodore Frat was struck, he didn't show the slightest anger. Instead, he dropped to one knee in terror and apologized:

"I'm terribly sorry! Saint... Celestial Dragon!"

"I said too much! I ruined your mood! I truly deserve to die!"

"Hmph."

Saint Charlos pursed his lips and snorted, his expression still haughty.

Then he ignored the man kneeling on the ground and continued walking forward on his own.

Seeing this, Commodore Frat immediately felt relieved. He hurriedly shuffled aside on one knee, afraid of blocking the group's path.

A short while later,

after the Celestial Dragon had gone some distance, Frat slowly stood up. His expression was clouded and difficult to read.

Just then, the other Marine Headquarters Commodore, Konooh, happened to come over. Seeing Frat's miserable state, he sneered with disdain:

"Hah. A fool who knows nothing but groveling."

"I can't believe the Celestial Dragon didn't just have you executed. What a shame."

"Hmph."

Frat snorted at that, but didn't say anything more.

With a dark expression, he turned and headed toward the Marine soldiers under his command.