Chapter 152: The Celestial Dragon Bloodline!
The reward pointer stopped at a thumb-sized prize labeled [Celestial Dragon Bloodline].
Everyone who had been eagerly awaiting the reward now wore bewildered expressions.
"Congratulations. The Celestial Dragon Bloodline holds immense value, granting supreme and unique privileges in the Pirate World."
Fang Yi smiled politely and congratulated Buggy.
This item would be worthless garbage outside the Pirate World—but here, it was priceless.
As the beam of light shined on Buggy, his appearance and outfit began to change.
His blue hair stood up straight, his clown costume transformed into a white suit resembling a space suit, and a transparent bubble helmet appeared on his head.
Even the flag on the Buggy Pirates' ship changed:
aside from the iconic skull symbol, a World Government emblem now adorned the sail.
Finally,
a golden Den Den Mushi appeared—a device with the authority to call for a Buster Call, authorizing Marine HQ to unleash an indiscriminate, devastating attack on a target.
A tool meant to annihilate entire enemies without mercy.
Buggy stood on the deck, bathed in light, exposed for all the world to see.
His expression changed rapidly from hopeful anticipation to dazed confusion—
and then to sheer terror.
"C-C-C-Celestial Dragon?!"
His eyes bulged, mouth open wide enough to swallow a Devil Fruit, and he stammered with fright and disbelief.
In the Pirate World, you could live in ignorance of the Four Emperors or Marine Admirals—
but no one could afford not to know the Celestial Dragons.
They were the highest rulers of the World Government—
"descendants of the creators," who resided in the Holy Land of Mariejois.
They could command admirals at will, and if they were offended, entire nations might be razed in retaliation.
And now...
Buggy was wearing a Celestial Dragon outfit, complete with the bubble helmet and ceremonial garb—
and had officially been awarded the Celestial Dragon Bloodline.
It was the most blatant form of impersonation.
Buggy could already imagine the outcome once news of this spread—
he'd be hunted down by the World Government and become the most wanted man on the seas.
"Captain Buggy, um… Richie's hungry. I'm gonna take him to find something to eat."
Moji was drenched in sweat. He quickly covered his face, distancing himself from the now-Celestial-Dragon-dressed Buggy.
The rest of the crew scrambled into the ship's cabin,
doing everything possible to avoid being caught on the Den Den Mushi feed.
None of them wanted to be associated with this madness.
"This is the reward?"
The audience looked at each other in disbelief.
Given everything they'd seen from the Contract Fruits—
their many strange powers and abilities—
they had high hopes for this spin of the Lucky Wheel.
It had been a major motivation for many to participate in this East Blue hunt.
But in the end?
They watched in stunned silence as the "reward" turned out to be the Celestial Dragon Bloodline—a name both ridiculous and terrifying.
To openly mock the Celestial Dragons like this—
was the Game Merchant not afraid of angering the World Government?
Some pirates stared at the black tower's peak, eager for drama.
The Marines stationed in East Blue, including Smoker, were left clutching their heads in disbelief.
It was absurd, even laughable—and instantly regrettable.
Anything involving the Celestial Dragons meant serious trouble.
No one wanted to get dragged into this.
Only Mihawk looked on with curiosity—
no amusement, no concern—
just interest that such an item as the Celestial Dragon Bloodline actually existed.
Tashigi, fearful of guilt by association, whispered nervously,
"Mocking the Celestial Dragons like this… How evil. How reckless!"
"H-How dare he?!"
On the deck of the Arlong Pirates' ship, the fishman Arlong trembled upon seeing Buggy in full Celestial Dragon regalia.
Though he terrorized East Blue, he could never forget the atrocities committed on Fishman Island—
where fishmen were sold as slaves to the Celestial Dragons like property.
"Zoro, are Celestial Dragons fish? Can I eat one?"
Luffy picked his nose, completely unfamiliar with the term.
Zoro was just as clueless—
only by listening to the whispering around them did he piece together a rough idea of what Celestial Dragons were.
Nami, on the other hand, had heard of them.
She knew they were World Nobles—probably very rich.
Sadly, she'd never seen one in person.
"Idiot. They're nobles! You can't eat nobles!"
"Right. Nobles are for robbing, not eating!"
Zoro scolded Luffy, flailing his arms while Nami nodded in agreement.
Nearby pirate ships began to quietly steer away from the trio's little vessel.
"Execution. He should be executed!"
In the artificial Devil Fruit factory on Dressrosa,
Doflamingo let out a furious laugh.
No one cared more about being a Celestial Dragon than he did.
Seeing Buggy in those clothes filled him with uncontainable rage.
He had killed his own father just to reclaim his Celestial Dragon status—
only to be rejected by the World Nobles and permanently barred.
It was a wound he had never healed.
And now, East Blue had torn it open and rubbed in salt while laughing.
"Unforgivable!"
...
Marine HQ – Marineford
In a spacious meeting room—
Sengoku sat at the head of the table, face dark and thunderous.
"To think this even involved the Celestial Dragons… Truly outrageous."
Flanking him were the Navy's top powers.
Admiral Akainu, Sakazuki, slammed his fist on the table.
Heat radiated outward, charring the thick wood.
"You know what happens if the Celestial Dragons find out—
we'll be blamed for failing to monitor the seas,
letting a Projection Fruit user openly mock the World Nobles.
They'll cut our funding!"
His rage was palpable.
He wanted nothing more than to burn the mysterious figure atop the black tower into ash.
"Maybe... the World Nobles have just gone too far lately? Maybe people are just angry?"
Aokiji muttered lazily, his sleep mask still on as he lay slumped at the table.
"Silence. Don't speak ill of the Celestial Dragons!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru scolded softly.
Though aware of Aokiji's opinions, there were some things you didn't say—
especially not here.
"Such a terrifying man… to dare forge Celestial Dragon attire. Unbelievable…"
Kizaru, wearing his signature sunglasses, mumbled in his usual strange tone.
Unlike his usual feigned weakness,
this time, he meant it.
Anyone bold enough to challenge the Celestial Dragons like this…
was truly terrifying.
Vice admirals like Chaton and Momousagi didn't even dare speak.
The moment the topic turned to Celestial Dragons,
one wrong word could destroy a career.
Akainu's tone was ruthless.
"I propose we capture the Game Merchant and hand him over to the World Government."
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