The Gorosei's Attention

Saint Jalmack's Son's order was: "Under no circumstances let anyone find out about the Boa Sisters." That was obvious. If people learned that Saint Jalmack's Son had received a revelation in a dream and had consequently become determined to marry a female slave, it would definitely cause trouble. With the Donquixote Family's example before them, they would never get off easily.

"Then what is Saint Jalmack's Son doing now?"

"He fell into a deep sleep afterward," Cairns replied in a trembling voice.

"Are you hiding something?" The Gorosei's eyes burned with scrutiny. They were not easy to fool. Waves of Observation Haki enveloped Cairns, and the slightest lie might be detected.

"Ah, no!" Cairns repeatedly knocked his head against the floor and began spouting nonsense to save his life. "I just thought it was a little absurd. Saint Jalmack's Son had a hallucination at the time! He said he saw some things from the future!"

"What future?"

Cairns swallowed nervously. He could not mention the Boa Sisters. Then what about Nico Robin? No, the Devil's Child and Ohara's destruction were both forbidden topics! That's it!

"He said he saw that he would marry Princess Vivi of Alabasta." Cairns spoke as if he had seized a lifeline.

This was absolutely an appropriate dream for a Celestial Dragon. Fortunately, he actually remembered it.

The Gorosei froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Princess Vivi? Is she beautiful?"

"He said she had blue hair like the sea and was extremely beautiful."

"Alabasta!" The Gorosei's sighs seemed to contain a great deal of information. Alabasta, a superpower, and the Nefertari Family—the only family among the Twenty Kings that had given up moving into the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

"However, that country has no princess. King Cobra has only one queen and no children." The Gorosei shook their heads. A young man dreaming of marrying a wife certainly had good taste. Unfortunately, it was only a dream.

The short, plump CP0 member beside them provided more accurate and important information. "However, Nefertari Queen has been pregnant for some time."

"Is that so? Confirm it again."

"Yes."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Den Den Mushi rang. "Five minutes ago, Nefertari Queen died in childbirth, but she used all her strength to give birth to a princess. She has blue hair, and her name is—Nefertari Vivi! Princess Vivi—!"

At once, the Gorosei and Cairns all widened their eyes.

Everyone could dream, but this time, the dream was real!

"Everyone, leave." Excitement was hidden beneath the calm voice. Everyone except the Gorosei was driven from the room.

"Observation Haki capable of seeing the future. And Conqueror's Haki." The Gorosei's calm voices had begun to tremble. They all looked toward the Robed Elder. "Saint Ichi, there hasn't been a record like this in five hundred years, has there? A Celestial Dragon who awakened Haki on his own!"

"Not merely awakening Haki on his own!" The Gorosei in the dark-blue suit, with white hair and a beard that hung to the ground, was visibly moved. "Conqueror's Haki is nothing unusual, but Observation Haki that can foresee the future—no, this is not the kind that can only see a few seconds ahead! This power rivals the 'Voice of All Things'! No, this is a talent perfectly suited for a king!"

Before today, Saint Jalmack's Son had been nothing more than an inconspicuous brat among the many Celestial Dragons—both incompetent and cowardly. Just a few days ago, he had even caused a minor incident. Yet after that, he seemed to have changed a little?

"He beat up the few little bastards who provoked him earlier." Only now did Saint Ichi notice the report. He grunted, picked up the surveillance Den Den Mushi delivered by CP0, and played the recording. The spy Den Den Mushi's eyes shone brightly, projecting the entire incident onto the wall.

All five of them found it rather intriguing. One against three, and he had quite the imposing air. Though it was nothing more than an untrained brawl between spoiled brats, it felt very unusual.

"Betting his life?" Several of them chuckled. The Holy Land of Mary Geoise had not produced a worthy descendant in several hundred years.

"We must attach the utmost importance to this matter." The Gorosei reached a consensus. "This miracle was also inevitable. It is proof of the Celestial Dragons' bloodline as the rulers of the world!"

"Send a gift to King Cobra of Alabasta and exempt him from one year of Heavenly Tribute."

"Give the order. Alabasta's situation is to receive special attention."

"Why not tell King Cobra directly? Princess Vivi's marriage partner must be Saint Jalmack's Son. If things develop in the ideal direction, perhaps the Holy Land of Mary Geoise will accept the Nefertari Family's return. Tell King Cobra to cherish this opportunity. This is no joke."

In the darkness, Saint Jalmack's Son sat by the window. He had not fainted as Cairns had claimed.

Even the brightly lit Holy Land could not prevent darkness from descending.

The Boa Sisters lay asleep on a soft bed.

Half a year had passed since they were captured. They had crossed the ocean, endured endless torture, and finally been sent to Mary Geoise, where every possibility of escape had been cut off. After becoming slaves, this was the first time they had slept in a bed. Once their bodies were cleaned and their wounds treated, they would soon recover their health. But what about the wounds in their hearts?

Saint Jalmack's Son did not know.

Saint Jalmack's Son gazed at the three sisters sleeping on the bed, his heart utterly calm.

I never thought you would come to my side in this way. From now on, I'll protect you.

However, he did not yet possess the strength or status to protect them. After all, he was not the head of the Saint Jalmack Family. When Saint Ni ran rampant, he could only be held back by the agents and watch helplessly. Lord Donquixote had been able to shelter many slaves and lead his entire family away from Mary Geoise because he was the family head. Even so, everyone knew how horribly he had died.

"Saint Jalmack!" Cairns returned, both excited and worried. "The Gorosei have summoned you! They ordered you to go to Pangaea Castle as soon as you wake up!"

"Those five old fools?" Saint Jalmack's Son let out two cold laughs. "It seems it's time to get serious."

"Then, regarding Lady Hancock..." Cairns rubbed his hands, looking troubled. "Should I handle the procedures for moving her into the Holy Land of Mary Geoise?" If he wanted to change the slaves' status to that of ladies, it would be difficult to arrange. Slaves were different from commoners, and it would certainly cause an uproar.

"No need. Even if I get married, I don't want to do it in Mary Geoise!" Saint Jalmack's Son immediately thought of Saint Charlos's wife's miserable state that day. She was not much better off than a slave. It would not be wise to let people know now that he wanted to liberate slaves.

"Then?" Cairns was a little confused.

Saint Jalmack's Son said, "Do this, and they'll be my exclusive slaves from now on. Send them back. On the surface, keep things as they were before. Find them a better private cell, and don't allow anyone to harm them. Hide them as much as possible and avoid attracting the attention of those idiots."

After considering it from every angle, the best way to hide three slaves was still to conceal them among a large group of slaves.

Cairns breathed a sigh of relief. This made things easier for him as well. He only needed to secretly provide them with some care, and Saint Jalmack's Son would not attract any criticism. He felt that Saint Jalmack's Son seemed to have grown up considerably all at once. He had begun thinking about things more maturely.

Saint Jalmack's Son came before the unconscious Boa Hancock, lifted the hand exposed outside the blanket, and bent down to gently kiss the back of her cold hand.

Hancock's long eyelashes trembled incessantly. She had woken long ago and was only pretending to be unconscious. The soft bed was merely a short, unbelievable dream. His actions confused her, but more than that, they frightened her. Although Saint Jalmack's Son had cared for her in various ways, he was still a Celestial Dragon.

"My beloved Boa, I'm sorry." Saint Jalmack's Son carefully tucked her hand back under the blanket and said in a deep voice, "I will definitely find a way to erase the slave brand you bear. So, until I gain the power to save you, please endure a little longer. You must hold on. I'm going to obtain that power now."