[A Few Days Later]
[Sabaody Archipelago, Island No. 1, Slave Auction House]
This was the place Rosse selected to meet, meticulously chosen by him.
If he didn't let Zephyr witness certain truths with his own eyes, how could he possibly be willing?
It was a transfer to have him serve as his personal bodyguard. Zephyr would probably not refuse.
Ever since his wife and child were killed by pirates ten years ago, Zephyr had no other weak points left besides his lingering faith in the Navy.
Such a person, even if he protects him, would do so out of duty only. If their values ever clashed one day, Zephyr might even become the one who causes his death.
Rosse didn't want to keep a time bomb at his side. He was planning to settle it once and for all at their very first meeting.
"Lord Rosse?"
Hearing the deep voice from behind, Rosse didn't turn around. He simply pointed casually to the seat beside him, "Sit!"
Zephyr didn't fear the Celestial Dragons too much. Having previously been transferred to the Five Elders' service, he already found them unpleasant, so naturally wouldn't be friendly toward Rosse. He sat down heavily next to him, with a careless air.
There were no special VIP booths at the auction. Per Rosse's request, they were seated in the backmost corner row. The surrounding area was cleared out so that no one would disturb them.
Only after Zephyr sat down did Rosse slowly turn his head, carefully scrutinizing the man in front of him. Admiral Zephyr, still in his prime.
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[Zephyr]
[Overall Rating: S-]
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Short purple hair, a burly physique, bulging muscles, his entire being radiated an unruly and wild air
What Rosse found most intriguing was that Zephyr wore a black suit exclusive to CP0. Strangely enough, there wasn't the slightest sense of disharmony. In fact, it enhanced the "suit-wearing thug" charm.
Compared to the image of Zephyr wearing the cloak of justice, this attire actually seemed more fitting for him.
So, even if he was unwilling inside, as a soldier trained to obey, he still wore the CP0 uniform.
The corner of Rosse's mouth curled slightly. He now had a rough idea of Zephyr's mental state.
As for Zephyr's strength, there wasn't much to say. Even though it was 'only' S-, it was still undeniably top-tier.
According to the system's classification, Emperors and Kings all fell within the S-rank range, subdivided into S-, S, and S+.
While Rosse observed Zephyr, Zephyr too was openly scrutinizing Rosse.
He had first been summoned to the Fleet Admiral's office by Kong, where he was told a Celestial Dragon wanted to recruit him and wished to meet.
In exchange, that Celestial Dragon would take on the public responsibility of commanding the Ohara Demon-Slaying Operation, bearing most of the backlash.
After all, once news of the Navy's island-erasure operation spread, even with the World Government's justification, the Navy would be placed in a bad light.
With the Great Pirate Era just beginning and pirates springing up everywhere, any Navy misstep could fan the flames further.
After hearing this, Zephyr agreed without hesitation. It was just a meeting, what more could happen?
But before he even met the man, he was transferred by the World Government, promoted from Navy Admiral to CP0 Instructor.
From a job function standpoint, it was a promotion.
Recalling Rosse's previous phone call, it became clear that the real purpose was to pull him out of the Navy, to protect a mysterious Celestial Dragon.
No reasonable Navy soldier would agree to such a thing. Let alone Zephyr, who was still an Admiral at the peak of his career.
If not for the tragedy with his wife and child, he'd never have considered stepping down.
Zephyr understood well that even a Navy Admiral couldn't disobey the World Government.
If he didn't want to drag down the Navy, he could only obey the Five Elders' orders.
With their own thoughts hidden, neither Zephyr nor Rosse spoke further. They simply observed the scene inside the auction house after briefly sizing each other up.
Soon after they sat down, exclamations erupted from the auction entrance.
"A Celestial Dragon! A Celestial Dragon is here!"
"Oh my god, there's actually a Celestial Dragon at this auction!"
"We're doomed. With Celestial Dragons participating, all the good merchandise will be picked first."
"Ah! We won't be taken by Celestial Dragons as slaves, will we?"
"..."
A cacophony of startled voices rose. With Zephyr's hearing, he could practically catch every word.
He instinctively glanced at Rosse, a trace of amusement in his eyes.
"A Celestial Dragon has entered!!! Quick, kneel!"
With a panicked shout at the entrance, a fat figure rode in on a slave, dressed in a protective suit with a glass dome over his head, and entered the auction hall.
In an instant, the entire auction fell into silence. Except for Rosse and Zephyr, nearly everyone present left their seats and knelt in unison toward the door.
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[Saint Roswald]
[Overall Rating: A- (Come on, hit me to summon an Admiral instantly!)]
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Seeing Saint Roswald appear at the entrance, a gleam of interest flickered in Rosse's eyes.
'If I defeat a Celestial Dragon, can I get a B-rank reward?'
This wasn't a Celestial Dragon, this was a walking treasure trove of EXP.
"Lord Roswald! Please take your seat at the front," The auction house manager slid forward on his knees, gesturing respectfully toward the interior.
"Mm, not bad!", Roswald looked around with satisfaction at the kneeling masses, feeling that everything was as it should be.
He stepped off his slave and, basking in the crowd's reverence, walked slowly toward the front.
But when his gaze landed on Rosse in the corner, he suddenly paused.
'Someone… isn't kneeling before me?'
But the moment Roswald recognized Rosse's face, his fury dissipated, and he looked away with diminished interest.
"So it's Saint Rosse. Arrogant as ever in the Holy Land, still ended up losing all his slaves. Hmph! This time I absolutely can't let him buy any good ones."
Roswald muttered under his breath and sat at the front row.
Only after he sat did the auction house gradually return to its previous liveliness.
Zephyr raised an eyebrow and suddenly scrutinized Rosse's outfit, "You're not wearing a glass dome? Thought Celestial Dragons wouldn't even breathe the same air as us?"
He didn't bother to hold back. No matter how arrogant Rosse was, he couldn't do anything to him. The Five Elders and the World Government wouldn't punish him over something so petty.
If being rude meant he wouldn't have to be Rosse's bodyguard later, then that would be even better.
"Is there really a difference between the air of Mary Geoise and Sabaody? Some Celestial Dragons need to use such things to display their nobility. But not all of us," Rosse spoke calmly. Even among Celestial Dragons, there were different groups.
The behavior of the idle and the elite differed entirely. Others might not know this, but Zephyr, as a Navy Admiral, surely had a vague understanding.
Without contrast, how could he show he was different?
He had chosen this location precisely to show Zephyr that he wasn't trash like Roswald, that he was different from other Celestial Dragons.
The Celestial Dragon status had its pros and cons, untouchable, yet also unapproachable.
Even the strongest avoided them unless the World Government forced otherwise.
"I see…", Zephyr nodded lightly, saying nothing more.
But inwardly, he instinctively felt a bit more at ease.
At least from their conversation, while Rosse also had that Celestial Dragon arrogance, he was much better than Roswald. Still within the range of acceptability.
If he had to protect someone worse than a pirate, he might as well kill himself.
"Welcome, honored guests, and a warm welcome to the Celestial Dragon lord! Because of your presence, today's auction house is truly graced with glory."
"Without further ado, let the auction begin!"
A spotlight shone at the center of the stage. A man in formal attire stood there, elegantly bowing to the audience, and announced the official start of the auction.
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