If Donquixote Doflamingo, who had long been expelled from the Holy Land but still harbored a pathological obsession with the Celestial Dragon identity, were standing here at this moment, upon hearing Satan Saint's words, he would absolutely have gone mad with jealousy on the spot!
Why? To regain that lofty status, Doflamingo had unhesitatingly 'sacrificed' his own father with his own hands. But what was the result? Takero, this vulgar 'commoner' who appeared from who knows what remote corner, this 'villain' who had repeatedly challenged the World Government's authority, why did he deserve this? Why could he obtain all of this so easily?
Meanwhile, Nico Robin and Monet's faces also showed expressions of disbelief. Their genuine reactions revealed just how... tempting this 'condition' truly was! That was the status of a Celestial Dragon! They were the self-proclaimed 'Gods' of this world! They were the absolute 'creators' who could disregard all laws, casually order an Admiral, and wield supreme power!
Satan Saint was very pleased with Robin and Monet's reactions. In his opinion, no 'mortal' in this world could refuse this supreme blessing from 'God'. This was also his final decision, made after careful consideration.
Satan Saint was planning for two possibilities. If he couldn't find any useful information from the research materials and clones that could counteract Takero's power, then he would likely still have to continue digging for those world-changing secrets from Takero's main body. But he couldn't do anything about Takero, this monster. Since that was the case, he could only settle for the next best thing and target his 'bloodline'!
Satan Saint had even thought it all through. Once Takero, this 'newly appointed Celestial Dragon,' took up residence in Holy Land Mary Geoise, he would immediately arrange hundreds of the most outstanding women from royal and noble families around the world for him! He would let him immerse himself in a world of pleasure day and night, and quickly bear children with his bloodline for the World Government! At that time, as long as he could obtain those offspring, all of his subsequent plans... could be smoothly implemented.
"How about it, 'Strange Tail' Takero?" Satan Saint slowly said in his condescending tone, full of 'God's blessing'. "Our World Government is very sincere."
In his heart, he thought cruelly: 'Once this old man uncovers all the valuable secrets from you, this little bug... I will turn you and your lowly descendants into the Celestial Dragons' most loyal... slaves.'
However, after Takero heard his 'grand blueprint,' he laughed.
"Indeed," he nodded in agreement. "It's clear that your World Government is... very sincere."
Satan Saint said, "So... you agree?"
"Hmm, I agree," Takero replied, unusually straightforwardly. "However... I have one small condition."
"Speak," Satan Saint commanded.
"It's simple," Takero said. "I'm not interested in being a Celestial Dragon. But..." A brilliant smile appeared on his face, yet it made Satan Saint feel a hint of unease. "...I might consider being the 'master' of you Celestial Dragons."
"What?!" Satan Saint roared.
"I heard," Takero continued in his matter-of-fact tone, "that you Celestial Dragons love to brand your slaves with something called the 'Hoof of the Soaring Dragon,' don't you? It's very simple. Just have all the Celestial Dragons in your Holy Land Mary Geoise, from top to bottom, regardless of gender, age, or youth, brand themselves with this mark. Then, collectively kneel and acknowledge me as your master. ...And I will agree to your terms."
He paused, then added, as if to display his 'benevolence.' "Oh, and by the way. You... are no exception."
Satan Saint was stunned. For the first time, his old face, which was always filled with 'divine indifference,' showed a pure, incomprehensible... blankness.
Immediately, a black rage, powerful enough to distort space, erupted with a roar!
"Bug... are you... playing with me?!" His voice was like a chilling, bone-piercing wind blowing from the depths of the netherworld!
"How can you say I'm playing with you?" Takero, however, looked sincere, as if genuinely considering the other party. "Anyway, I will eventually become the master of you dogs. So, getting branded with my mark, the mark of your future master, isn't that... a very reasonable thing to do? The only difference is that one, I actively attack Mary Geoise and brand you myself. The other, you yourselves, actively surrender and dutifully brand yourselves."
He even added, quite seriously. "Of course, if you don't like the hoof mark, we can also discuss it and change it to another design. For example, the character 'slave'? Or a cute little turtle? I am always very open-minded and benevolent ." Takero nodded with satisfaction, seemingly very proud of his 'open-mindedness.'
"Brat—!!! You're courting death—!!!" Satan Saint could no longer suppress his god-like fury! He let out an earth-shattering roar!
However, in the next moment, Takero's expression changed even faster than his! The playful smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, indifferent expression filled with pure killing intent!
"I've been annoyed ever since this started ." His voice was not loud, but it struck Satan Saint's heart like a heavy hammer. "Exactly... who allowed you, you bastard, to speak to me in such a condescending tone? Kneel down!"
Before he finished speaking! A terrifying gravity, far more overbearing and unreasonable than before, descended with a sudden roar! Caught off guard, Satan Saint felt as if his body had been directly struck by an invisible meteor falling from the sky!
"Crack! Crack!"
His several huge, incredibly hard spider legs, strong enough to withstand cannon fire, snapped under that terrifying pressure!
"Thud—!!!"
This lofty 'God,' one of the 'world's highest authorities,' was thus miserably and forcibly crushed... to his knees on the ground!
Takero looked at his humiliated and pained expression, and finally, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Hmm, that looks much more comfortable."
"Commoner—!!!!" Satan Saint let out an earth-shattering roar of fury! "I... will... kill... you—!!!"
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