Treasure, Gold, Status, Power...

He knew this wasn't Cipher Pol Aigis Zero's fault. Even so, he had nearly lost control of the fury churning inside him and shown the man before him genuine killing intent.

If not for the World Government's reputation, he would have cast everything aside, stormed Carter Island, and wiped out the Silver Hair Crew along with the island itself.

But...

He turned to look at Kuzan.

If he really did that, this Marine Admiral would be the first to object!

After all, Carter Island posed no threat whatsoever to the World Government!

The Marines' justice.

It was not something the Marines bestowed. It was the people who joined them, through their actions and ideals, who gave the Marines their sense of justice.

Only because of such people could the Marines claim to stand on the side of true justice.

He had lived for over a hundred years. He was one of the most powerful Celestial Dragons in the world, and no ordinary Celestial Dragon at that. He was among the rare few with strength and a clear head, unlike those who lived for hollow vanity.

He understood the nature of this world better than anyone.

The nature of this world

was that the strong preyed on the weak.

Only power surpassing every person and every faction was the key to ruling it.

Justice and kindness,

or evil and cruelty—

these were merely ways to rule the world.

So even as a Celestial Dragon, he could not push the Marines' true powerhouses too far unless the matter threatened the World Government.

Otherwise, a Marine Admiral had every right to refuse him.

Carteles looked away, took the pipe from his mouth, and breathed out a cloud of smoke.

"Since the Silver Hair Crew wants to go to Sky Island, let them."

"As