Caelan arrived at the entrance of the experimental base. The heavy steel doors were sealed shut.
Swish!
Without hesitation, Caelan drew Shusui and swung it.
Boom!
The half-meter-thick alloy door shattered like paper before Caelan's slash.
As everyone stepped into the base, a sudden voice rang out.
A flurry of snowflakes surged forward like a blizzard.
A beautiful, green-haired girl in a white coat, with delicate features and snow-white skin, took form from the snow and ice.
At this moment, she had not yet been transformed into a harpy, and appeared as a normal human woman.
It was Monet, rushing over. She intended to stop Caelan at the entrance.
"Caelan, please stop!"
Monet spoke in a low, serious voice.
However, in the very next instant—
Her neck was instantly seized by Caelan's large hand, clad in Armament Haki.
"Tell me, who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Gion stepped forward and questioned Monet sternly.
The appearance of patrols on the island had already raised Gion's suspicions. Now that a woman like this had appeared, her concerns were confirmed.
This place had clearly been taken over by a secret organization, and it was clearly a vital base of operations.
In that case, there was a real chance Caelan could find a Devil Fruit here.
Which meant—she might lose the bet.
Gion sneaked a glance at Caelan, only to find him looking right back at her with a cryptic smile.
Monet ignored Gion and looked directly at Caelan.
"This is the territory of Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Behind him stands Kaido!"
"Even if you're the newly crowned emperor of the seas, you still have to consider the consequences of your actions!"
Monet's face was flushed, her voice strained from the grip on her neck.
"You think mentioning those two will scare me into backing down?"
Caelan tossed Monet to the ground and replied with a playful grin.
Monet, who had felt humiliated and was about to retaliate, suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
She had just remembered… This was the God Slayer. The lawless, new Emperor of the Sea.
He had already taken down two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Challenging another one wasn't exactly out of character for him.
"I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn!"
Monet bowed her head and apologized sincerely.
"Save the small talk…" Caelan patted her cheek lightly. "Take me to Caesar Clown."
Apologize? Too late.
He still remembered the grudge he had with Doflamingo. A man with wealth and capable subordinates like that? No way was he letting him off the hook.
Monet looked at the man in front of her with mixed feelings. "Everyone, please follow me."
She hadn't wanted to lead the way. The fact that the God Slayer directly named Caesar made it obvious he was here for the artificial Devil Fruit.
That fruit was a critical bargaining chip between Doflamingo and Kaido.
But even if she didn't guide them, Caelan could easily find it himself.
Better to bring him there directly and see how the situation developed.
Before long, Monet, despite her reluctance, was forced to obey and lead them through the base.
They moved through several corridors, turning left and right.
Eventually, Caelan and his team arrived at the surveillance room, where Caesar Clown was waiting.
Caesar had goat-like horns on his head, an ugly, sinister face, purple-black lipstick smeared on his lips, and a white lab coat.
He looked like a true mad scientist.
"Caelan-sama, I've heard so much about you!"
Caesar stepped forward with a forced smile, acting as respectfully as he could.
He was extremely wary of this newly crowned emperor.
"You're not being very honest."
Caelan narrowed his eyes and said coldly.
The next moment, his fist, coated in jet-black Armament Haki, slammed forward.
Boom!
Caesar flew backward and crashed into the wall.
The alloy wall bent inward under the tremendous impact.
His attempts to secretly withdraw oxygen and release sleeping gas were all instantly nullified—by brute force.
Caesar clutched his chest and stared at Caelan in horror. Blood flowed from his mouth, and sharp pain radiated through his chest and abdomen.
That one punch had broken several ribs and caused serious internal injuries. Any more force, and he could've died on the spot.
"You don't seem to understand the difference in strength between us."
Caelan looked down at Caesar with indifference, his tone laced with mockery.
He had seen through Caesar's little tricks from the start.
Drawing Shusui, he coated the blade in Haki.
Then, he placed the sharp, jet-black blade right against Caesar's neck.
"If you can't behave, you can die right here."
"Yes, yes, Caelan-sama!"
Feeling the icy blade at his neck, Caesar trembled through the pain and dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.
Only then did Caelan put Shusui back into its sheath.
Caesar touched his neck and saw a thin line of blood.
He exhaled heavily in relief, but remained kneeling like a dog.
"Thank you, Caelan-sama, for sparing me! If you have any requests, please say the word. I will never hesitate!"
Now, he was completely obedient.
There was an absolute gap between him and Caelan.
If Caelan had been thousands of meters away, maybe he would've dared to play some tricks.
But now that Caelan was right in front of him?
Forget it.
One wrong move, and he was dead.
(To be continued.)