Assured that Orion wasn't there to cause trouble, the Celestial Dragons in the hall gradually relaxed.
Leading figures like Mjosgard even seized the opportunity to ingratiate themselves with Orion.
"Fleet Admiral Orion, allow me to introduce myself!!"
Summoning his courage, Mjosgard stood up and walked over to Orion, removing the bubble helmet from his head and holding it in his arms.
He then spoke politely, "I am Ethanbaron Mjosgard, a member of the Ethanbaron family from the Holy Land!" (Not the Donquixote)
"A member of the Ethanbaron family? Quite an illustrious lineage!"
Orion looked at Mjosgard in surprise.
Much like Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Warrior God of Finance, this Celestial Dragon appeared far healthier in both physique and spirit compared to the majority of the fat figures seated around them.
Of course, Orion didn't attribute this to the uprightness of the Ethanbaron family's traditions but rather to the racial genetics of their lineage.
The so-called World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, were not a homogenous group—this was evident from their varied physiques.
Some among them were short in stature, others had unusually long arms and a few even sported elongated necks, clearly indicating diverse racial origins.
"Fleet Admiral Orion, you flatter me!"
Mjosgard laughed awkwardly.
Their lineage was indeed illustrious.
For eight hundred years since the founding of the World Government, they had resided in the Holy Land as descendants of gods, enjoying every privilege imaginable.
No worldly order, law, or even the Marine's justice could remove their authority.
Yet, all of this had been shattered with Orion's rise.
In the eyes of this iron-fisted Fleet Admiral, they were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter.
"Mjosgard, what do you think you're doing?"
At that moment, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
The Celestial Dragon named Augustus stood up angrily and began berating Mjosgard.
"As a Celestial Dragon, you dare grovel before a mere Fleet Admiral? Do you have any idea what Elder Ethanbaron would do to you if he found out?"
"Augustus, I've had enough of you!"
Mjosgard spun around, clutching his bubble helmet as he stormed over to Augustus.
"What do you mean by 'grovelling'? That is Saint Orion, whose status and authority are equal to the Five Elders! How dare you repeatedly disrespect Saint Orion in his presence!"
With that, Mjosgard raised his bubble helmet and smashed it down hard onto Augustus's head.
Caught completely off guard, Augustus had no time to dodge and could only watch helplessly as the helmet loomed larger in his vision.
BANG!
A sharp crack echoed as the bubble helmet shattered against Augustus's head, the force of the blow send him sprawling into the ground.
"AHHHH—!"
The moment he hit the ground, Augustus let out a piercing scream before panicking and wailing.
"Help me! I—I can't breathe!"
Mjosgard, still seething, showed no mercy.
Seeing Augustus reduced to such a state over a mere broken helmet, he wasted no time in swinging the already shattered helmet down again and again in a frenzied assault.
Ryokugyu, standing beside Orion, watched the scene unfold, his expression gradually stiffening.
The Celestial Dragons he had once staunchly defended… seemed no different from anyone else after all.
However, the thought of the task Orion had previously assigned him immediately sent his mood plummeting to rock bottom.
Getting the Celestial Dragons to cough up money to sustain the Marine Headquarters' operations for the next decade? That was simply an impossible mission.
With this in mind, Ryokugyu cautiously asked, "Fleet Admiral, shouldn't we intervene?"
"Why should we?" Orion tilted his head to look at Ryokugyu. "With such a lively action, wouldn't stopping it ruin everyone's fun?"
"Enough!"
At that moment, a cold shout suddenly rang out, stopping Mjosgard as he raised his bubble helmet again, ready to smash it down.
Following the voice, they saw a man no taller than 1.5 meters, who looked like a kid, standing on a chair.
He glared at Mjosgard and said coldly, "Mjosgard, know your limits. We are all Celestial Dragons. We should stand united against outsiders, not take sides because of certain people!"
"Hmm?"
Mjosgard turned his head to look at the speaker.
When he recognized the man's face, his eyes flickered with unease.
He tossed the already tattered bubble helmet aside and, still unsatisfied, kicked Augustus once more while growling.
"For Manmayer Ross's sake, I'll let you off today! If you're not happy, we'll settle this back in the Holy Land!"
Seeing this, the so-called "kid" Manmayer Ross immediately turned his gaze to Orion, who sat at the head of the table and said gravely.
"Orion, why have you invited us from the Holy Land to Sabaody Archipelago? Don't say it's to clear up misunderstandings. We're all smart people here."
Orion looked at the speaking 'kid' with interest and replied leisurely.
"The Manmayer family? One of the Celestial Dragon families that participated in the God Valley hunting game? Interesting. You dare to challenge Mjosgard of the Ethanbaron family here? Is it because the Manmayer family stood out during the God Valley?"
"So what if it is?" Manmayer Ross met Orion's gaze unflinchingly, his aura was sharp.
"I just want to know why you've called us here!"
"There is indeed something to discuss with all of you!"
Orion nodded with a smile, then gestured to Ryokugyu beside him and introduced him.
"This is the newly appointed Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Aramaki, codenamed Ryokugyu. The reason I'm introducing him to you esteemed Celestial Dragons is that he not only strongly upholds the World Government's rule but also a staunch supporters of you Celestial Dragons."
"That's why I've brought him here—to let you guys meet him, so you'll recognize him in the future."
"Next, let him have a few words with you."
Hearing this, all the Celestial Dragons turned their eyes to Ryokugyu in unison.
Some looked bewildered, others as if they were staring at an insect, but most wore expressions of disdain.
Unlike the Celestial Dragons' reactions, Ryokugyu's heartstrings tightened the moment Orion told him to speak to them, his heartbeat pounding like the drums of liberation.
At that moment, he finally understood why Orion had ordered him to halt his officer training and come to Sabaody Archipelago.
Possessing the power of the Forest-Forest Fruit, a Logia-type Devil Fruit, what he needed was not combat training but mental and willpower conditioning.
Orion had brought him here not only to temper his spirit and resolve but also to test his ideological understanding.
After a brief silence, Ryokugyu took a deep breath to himself, then stepped forward, slowly raised his head, and spoke with a serious expression.
"Honorable Celestial Dragons, the only reason I can stand here today is entirely due to the Fleet Admiral's deliberate favor!"
"To be frank, the reason I have come is mainly to hope... to hope that Your Excellencies might generously contribute funds to support the Marines—"
At this point, Ryokugyu hesitated, too afraid to continue.
But upon seeing Orion's encouraging gaze, he steadied his breathing once more and continued.
"I believe you have all heard—the Fleet Admiral originally planned to expand the Marines by only 600,000 recruits. Yet unexpectedly, the number of applicants reached an astonishing 1.5 million! Such a massive force naturally requires an astronomical sum to maintain. Therefore, I humbly request Your Excellencies to generously provide the necessary funds to sustain the Marines' operations for the next decade!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryokugyu felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, nearly causing him to stumble.
Asking the Celestial Dragons for funding?
Without Orion by his side, even standing here would have felt like an act of disrespect towards the Celestial Dragons, let alone making such a request.
The moment Ryokugyu's words fell, the grand hall plunged into a deathly silence.
After a brief seven or eight seconds, the hall erupted in uproar.
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