Ian's voice was gentle, giving people a feeling like a spring breeze.
However, it was this gentle voice and the warm smile on his face that made Kaya and Merry feel fear; even though the two were trying their best to maintain their composure, they couldn't help but tremble.
Especially Kaya, who was doted on by her parents when they were alive, and after their passing, had a meticulous butler and a loyal servant, Merry; even if Ian told her the butler's true identity, she had been well-protected, at least until now.
So she found it hard to imagine what kind of person could say such chilling words in such a gentle tone.
However, although she had been well-protected since childhood, she wasn't oblivious to the outside world. Her two favorite things to do every day were to read extensively and look at various news publications. She had gained a certain understanding of the Celestial Dragons through books and various newspapers.
She was certain that if she chose to refuse, Ian would make Syrup Village disappear from the map, because the Celestial Dragons, who enjoyed all privileges and were above the World Government, had that ability and power.
After a brief silence, Kaya's voice trembled slightly from excessive nervousness as she stammered, "It is Kaya's honor to follow Saint Ian to the Holy Land."
Not expecting Kaya to make the wisest choice so quickly, Ian nodded in satisfaction, "It seems Miss Kaya is not only beautiful and kind-hearted but also knows how to elegantly choose when to advance and retreat. Well then, from now on, you are This Young Master's woman. When we return to the Holy Land, This Young Master will find the best doctor to treat you and build a villa in the Holy Land, replicating this large house in Syrup Village one-to-one."
Hearing this, Gunko showed a look of surprise and carefully sized up Kaya.
Purely in terms of femininity, Kaya couldn't compare to the several maids around Ian, especially in terms of temperament, as these maids were either noble ladies or royal princesses. However, Kaya had an aura that none of the maids, or even the young female Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land, possessed: clean and pure, like a budding flower.
Of course, none of that was important.
What was important was that she could feel Ian's strong favoritism towards Kaya.
Because until now, Ian had never been so gentle with any woman around him; although his words were still overbearing, powerful, and brooked no refusal, Kaya was the first person to be treated so gently by their young master.
Kaya clearly hadn't expected Ian to not only arrange a doctor for her but also build a large house for her in the Holy Land; this sudden favor completely exceeded her understanding of the Celestial Dragons.
One must know that whenever news reports about Celestial Dragons appeared in the past, it was always about them being tyrannical, murdering people in the streets, or forcibly snatching women, not even sparing married ones.
It was precisely the various privileges enjoyed by the Celestial Dragons that made almost everyone tremble in the shadow of their power.
However, This Young Master of the Nerona Family seemed to be somewhat different from the Celestial Dragons depicted in the newspapers.
Although he was still powerful and overbearing, and even executed the butler of this large house without a second thought, he maintained a 'gentlemanly' demeanor towards her.
After all, with Ian's status as a Celestial Dragon, he could have simply abducted her by force without needing to waste any words.
"Buruburu~"
Suddenly, the den den mushi in Gunko's arms rang abruptly.
Because Ian was currently expanding his harem, Gunko tactfully took out the den den mushi and turned to walk out.
After finishing the call and conveniently disposing of Kuro's body, whom she had instantly killed, Gunko immediately returned to the living room and bowed to Ian, saying, "Young Master, news just came from the Grand Line. Two Admirals from Marineford arrived in time to provide support. The sea battle is now nearing its end, with only a few Revolutionary Army members still putting up a desperate fight."
"That fast?"
Ian blinked and asked, "Which two Admirals arrived to provide support?"
"Admiral Kuzan and Admiral Borsalino!"
Pausing slightly, Gunko continued, "However, the first to arrive was not Borsalino, but Kuzan. It was precisely because Kuzan arrived immediately and used his Devil Fruit ability to freeze the entire sea that the Revolutionary Army couldn't escape and had to fight to the death!"
"From the current situation, it's only a matter of time before the Revolutionary Army involved in this rescue is completely annihilated!"
...On the Grand Line, on a frozen sea, shouts of battle roared, and the sounds of clashing weapons and powerful combatants intertwined into a thrilling battle song. Although the Revolutionary Army soldiers who came to rescue Dragon were in a desperate situation, none of them chose to retreat even half a step, charging one after another towards the five warships also trapped on the frozen sea and unable to move forward.
On the ice near one of the warships, Shamrock, wielding a rapier, single-handedly faced Dragon. Terrifying sword energy and raging hurricanes intertwined and collided, and the shockwaves generated by the collision of black and red Conqueror's Haki surged one after another.
Somaz was also locked in a fierce battle with the Northern Army Captain of the Revolutionary Army, continuously unleashing his Thorn-Thorn Fruit ability to shoot down all the overwhelming Crows.
The easiest one was Kilingom, the Crown Prince of the Holy Land's top lackey, because his opponent was another Revolutionary Army Captain, Lindbergh. Lindbergh, with his flight pack, gave Kilingom no chance to get close, relying on his astonishing flight speed to suddenly fire a beam of light to block Kilingom, then immediately changed direction and joined four other Revolutionary Army cadres also equipped with flight packs, constantly attacking the Marines, who had formed a encirclement around the Revolutionary Army soldiers, with various high-tech gadgets.
"Boom boom boom—"
Amidst deafening explosions, Dragon and Shamrock, who had been in a stalemate, suddenly separated.
"Dragon, give up!"
Before the two could charge at each other again, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind Dragon.
Immediately after, Borsalino, draped in an Admiral's cloak, materialized from a flash of light, lazily observing Dragon, his former colleague. "If it were before, you might still have had a chance to escape. But this time, it's Nelona Ian who wants to capture you. You should be very clear about his way of doing things. If he can dispatch the God's Knights to capture you, he can also have the Gorosei personally come to the battlefield. No matter what preparations you have, this rescue will be for naught!"
"Borsalino, why are you wasting words with him!"
Before Dragon could react, Kilingom, unable to catch up with Captain Lindbergh, decisively changed targets and charged over, ordering Borsalino, "Let's go together! If Dragon escapes, neither you nor I will be able to answer to the Young Master!"
Borsalino tilted his head to look at Kilingom, who was rushing over with a trident, his lazy tone unchanged, "Do we need so many people to capture Dragon? How truly terrifying!"
"It's not that we need so many people to capture Dragon!"
Kilingom arrived in front of Borsalino at top speed, grinning wickedly, "The Young Master said, no matter if the opponent is one person or a group of people, it's always right for everyone to go together!"
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