Night had fallen, and the lights were on in the luxurious dining room at the temporary camp.
"Everyone from the Navy, was today's food to your liking?"
Werther sat at the head of the table, smiling at the others.
They were all senior Navy officers: Aokiji, Sengoku, Momousagi, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and even Commander-in-Chief Kong.
"It was an excellent meal. Thank you for your hospitality. But Mr. Werther, there is something I'd like to ask."
Kong set down his cutlery and looked at Werther gravely.
Even the pressure Werther gave off without meaning to was enough to shake Kong. He wondered just how powerful the Swordsman before him had become.
"Oh? Let's hear it. We're allies now. There's no need to be so guarded."
Aokiji and the others were speechless. Werther had nearly killed them all. How were they supposed to relax?
"Ahem."
Kong cleared his throat awkwardly and signaled to the others to lower their guard. Werther was right: they were allies, in a sense.
"I heard that Mary Geoise was destroyed in an accident and that the Celestial Dragons moved here. But I haven't seen any of them in this Castle. I wonder..."
Apart from a handful of people, no one knew that the Celestial Dragons had been wiped out.
It was not exactly a secret, though. Their deaths might cause turmoil, but handled properly, the news could also win widespread support. The Celestial Dragons were notorious, after all.
"There are no Celestial Dragons anymore. Soon, even the name will disappear."
Everyone at the table froze.
"We killed every last one of them."
Bang, bang! Chairs toppled one after another.
"What?"
"The Celestial Dragons were killed?"
"You... you're joking, right?"
Kong, Aokiji, Sengoku, and the others rose to their feet, staring at Werther in disbelief.
"Do you think