"So what?! If you were truly sincere about fulfilling this marriage agreement with us, then why didn't you beg Lord Imu for forgiveness for my family fifteen years ago?"
Now you think I might still be of some help, so you come running with the marriage contract, saying you want to fulfill this marriage obligation? Do you really think I'm the kind of woman who would abandon her dignity and beg your family for her future and destiny?
Catherine ran her fingers through a strand of hair in her hair and said...
"Don't be so ungrateful. Saint Orange has already humbled himself and tried to persuade you gently. How can you still be so disrespectful?"
Hearing Catherine's words from behind him, Califo became furious. He felt she was mocking him, so he stepped forward, glared at her, and said...
"Heh, the master hasn't even spoken yet, and the dogs are already barking..."
Catherine shook her head, hinting at something.
"You... you really think that just because you're Saint Orange's fiancée, I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you? You should know that my official rank is far higher than yours..."
Upon hearing those words, Califo could no longer restrain himself and stepped forward, ready to attack.
"Step back... Don't be rude... Miss Catherine, are you really sure you want to refuse this marriage?"
Orange dismissed Califo and asked her again for confirmation.
"Haven't I made myself clear enough? Then I'll say it again: I don't accept this marriage, and you'd better get out of my sight right now..."
Catherine glanced at him and then explained again.
Thump...
"Hmm... What are you doing? Quickly take your hand away, or I can't bear the thought of injuring your noble Celestial Dragons body..."
Just as Catherine was about to close the door, Orange, causing her to shout at him.
"Heh, it seems, Miss Catherine, you really don't want to admit it..."
Orange leaned against the door with one hand, smiled, and shook his head.
"Yes, I just won't admit it, let go..."
Catherine gritted her teeth and said.
"It's fine if you don't admit it, then please go to Mary Geoise and think about this matter carefully!"
Orange completely ignored her thoughts and continued speaking.
"Hmph, this is Marine Headquarters. Do you think you can force me to do this?"
Catherine gripped the door tightly with both hands and looked at Orange as she spoke.
"Hehehe, you're overthinking it, Miss Catherine. You should know that this is a matter between us Celestial Dragons. The Marine Headquarters will never interfere. Give up, and let's go back to Mary Geoise together to fulfill our engagement."
Orange found it amusing to hear that Catherine still wanted to verbally rebuke him, and said to her...
"Impossible, Sister Gion and Fleet Admiral Sengoku won't stand idly by..."
Catherine didn't believe Orange's words and shook her head.
"Then you should take a good look at the people you rely on and see if they've actually come to your rescue. Vice Admiral Califo, please escort Miss Catherine back to the ship..."
Seeing that she still looked unconvinced, Orange ordered Califo to prepare to take her away by force.
"Yes, Your Saint Orange!"
Califo stepped forward, took the order, and walked towards Catherine.
"Miss Catherine, please come back with us. Don't try to resist, or don't blame me for using force to coerce you..."
Califo stepped forward and looked into her eyes.
After saying that, he extended his right hand in an inviting gesture towards her.
Snap...
"Don't try that on me anymore. I've already said I won't go back with him. I need to rest, so don't bother me anymore..."
Bang...
Catherine pushed his outstretched hand away with her hand, and said sternly.
After saying that, he closed the door.
"Ugh... let me go right now..."
Just as she was about to close the door, Califo grabbed her arm with his right hand, making it impossible for her to break free, and cried out.
"You still don't understand, Miss Catherine. Saint Orange has already humbled himself and pleaded with you so earnestly, yet you still won't agree. In that case, we, his men, will have to do it for him..."
Califo grabbed her hand and shook his head, then with a slight pull, he dragged Catherine out of the door.
"Hmph, so you resort to force when verbal persuasion fails? That's just like the typical Celestial Dragons style..."
Seeing that she couldn't avoid the fight, Catherine gave Orange a disgruntled look before speaking sarcastically.
"Hehe, if you could just come back with me, why would I be inviting you in this way? Also, Miss Catherine, please use your words more accurately."
Not 'you Celestial Dragons ' but 'us'. Don't forget, you too have the same noble blood as me flowing in your veins; you can't deny that...
Orange didn't seem to mind her sarcastic remarks, continuing to look at her with a smile and correcting Catherine's inappropriate tone.
"I've said it before, ever since we were expelled by Lord Imu, who was in the Holy Land, we are no longer Celestial Dragons."
"And I don't want to acknowledge that bloodline. If you want to fight, then go ahead. Don't think I'm afraid of you..."
Catherine showed Orange no mercy, replying...
"It's okay if you don't admit it now; you'll accept it once we get back to Mary Geoise."
"Go ahead, Vice Admiral Califo, show Miss Catherine what you truly are capable of as a Vice Admiral..."
Orange's smile remained unchanged, and he replied with his usual noble and polite demeanor. He then instructed Califo to prepare to forcibly take her back.
"Yes, please forgive my rudeness..."
Come with me, Miss Catherine..."
Califo received another order and immediately used his ability. A moment later, a lion-man over 4 meters tall appeared in front of Catherine. He extended his claws and invited her.
" Devil Fruit? And Zoan at that... This is going to be tricky..."
Catherine knew from his transformation that he had eaten Devil Fruit, and coupled with his Vice Admiral strength,
This made Catherine's eyes narrow, and she involuntarily gripped the blade at her waist, looking at him with a serious expression.
"It seems you don't intend to give up the fight and come back with me. In that case, we'll have to do it this way..."
shave!!"
Seeing her reaction, Califo knew that the only way to subdue her was through force.
As soon as he finished speaking, Califo used the Shave technique from the Six Powers to vanish right before her eyes.
"Wow, so fast... Is that a shave?! Where will he appear next...?"
Clang...
Catherine saw her opponent vanish from her sight, his movements so subtle that even her naked eye couldn't perceive them.
He immediately drew his sword and warily surveyed his surroundings.
"Where are you looking? I'm right here!!"
Califo's voice suddenly rang out beside Catherine, and he appeared next to her, then, taking her by surprise, reached out to grab her...