"Don't worry. I slaughter those wastes of flesh like pigs and dogs."
Yato spoke with an easy laugh, not sparing the Celestial Dragons even a shred of respect.
The Celestial Dragons, the so-called World Nobles, were the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government eight hundred years ago.
Perhaps eight centuries ago, those twenty kings had truly been formidable figures, tyrants worthy of the title "Heavenly Dragons." But after eight hundred long years, their descendants had long since rotted away. Most of them no longer deserved to be called Celestial Dragons at all. "Heavenly insects" would be more fitting, parasites hiding beneath the shadows of their ancestors, living comfortably off stolen glory.
Hearing Yato express such open contempt, the Empress could not help but let a glimmer of interest flash through her eyes.
"You're called Shadow Wraith?" she asked, as if confirming something. "You know that sea dragon? He sent you here?"
"You could say that," Shadow Wraith replied with a crooked grin. "He only told me there was business to be done here. That's all."
"I'm an assassin of the shadows known as Dream Phantom. I deal only in death. So tell me, Empress of the Kuja, who do you want killed?"
The Empress fell silent. She could not quite see through this uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared in her bath.
Yato did not speak either. He remained aloof and cold, clearly unwilling to say more than necessary. Words were dangerous. Mystery was far more valuable.
A full three to five minutes passed before the Empress finally spoke again, her voice calm and distant.
"You come from an organization called 'Dream Phantom'?"
"To be precise, a pirate crew."
"You know that sea dragon?"
"More or less."
"He's one of your crew?"
"No comment."
"That bastard really isn't any kind of Guardian Deity!"
As if realizing something, a sharp light flashed through her eyes, and she spoke with absolute certainty.
"He must be one of you."
There was no evidence, only instinct.
Then she asked, "You can really kill a Celestial Dragon? You're not afraid of provoking the Navy Admirals?"
Anyone who dared lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon would be hunted relentlessly by the Navy, pursued by all three Admirals.
"Heh. Forget whether they could even find me," Yato said dismissively. "Even if they did, our officers would handle it."
He clicked his tongue.
"Looks like you have a grudge against the Celestial Dragons. No need to dance around it. As long as you can pay the price, I'll kill whoever you want."
"What price?"
"The head of one Celestial Dragon. One Devil Fruit. Or five hundred million Berries."
Yato named his price without the slightest hesitation.
"A Devil Fruit…?" The Empress frowned slightly.
Five hundred million Berries was understandable. But why a Devil Fruit? Since when had that become hard currency?
"You said earlier you'd give me a fifty-percent discount?" she said after a moment, smiling faintly as she tried to use her beauty as leverage.
"Don't bother trying to tempt me," Yato said, rolling his eyes. "I don't fall for that, woman. That already is the discounted price."
So stingy.
Five hundred million Berries, where was she supposed to get that much? As for a Devil Fruit, if she had known, she never would have let that sea dragon eat one a few days ago.
Feeling somewhat stifled, the Empress said reluctantly, "I don't have five hundred million… and I don't have a Devil Fruit either."
No five hundred million?
Yato didn't quite believe it. No matter how small Amazon Lily was, it was still a nation. As its ruler, she shouldn't be unable to produce that sum.
Then again, perhaps pulling out five hundred million at once would plunge the country into financial crisis.
"So poor… I should've asked for less," Yato muttered inwardly. "Forget it. I'll change tactics. That Celestial Dragon has to die anyway."
Killing a Celestial Dragon was the primary goal. Getting a Devil Fruit from the Empress was only a bonus.
With that in mind, Yato said, "You can take a few days to prepare. After I finish the assassination, you can pay me then."
"That's allowed? No deposit?" The Empress frowned in suspicion. Was there really such an assassination organization in the world?
By now, she had already classified Dream Phantom as an assassination group.
"No deposit," Yato said impatiently, then added, "Consider this a massive discount, all for the sea dragon's sake. Now tell me the name of the person you want dead."
At his words, hatred flickered through the Empress's eyes. She lowered her voice and spoke a name.
Yato smiled faintly.
"Understood. At the soonest, one day. At most, a week. Keep an eye on the world news, you'll see their death announced."
As he spoke, he raised his hand, and his body began to dissolve into smoke.
"Farewell, Empress of the Kuja. Before I return next time, prepare the payment. Otherwise…"
The rest of his words faded away, unheard. Instead, the Empress was left stunned by Shadow Wraith's ghostlike disappearance.
"Dream Phantom Pirates… such a mysterious organization. And judging by his tone, this Shadow Wraith isn't even an officer. Maybe their officers can contend with Admirals…"
A crew whose officers could rival Admirals, only the Four Emperors of the New World could boast such power.
Although the Empress herself possessed strength close to that level, she was still a sovereign ruler. There was no way she would ever join an organization as a mere subordinate.
"…Interesting," she murmured with a faint smile. "Let me see how you plan to break into that heavily guarded holy land."
...
Yato left the palace and only reformed his body once he reached the wilderness beyond the city.
"Next comes the assassination of a Celestial Dragon."
He pondered how to locate his target.
Celestial Dragons resided in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, atop the Red Line. The World Government was based there as well. It was, without question, their headquarters, protected with extreme vigilance.
"No rush. I still have four days left. Once the forced transformation period ends, I'll leave Amazon Lily. I'll settle this before then."
After a brief pause, he muttered to himself, "The Celestial Dragon must die."
Once that happened, he could use the opportunity to spread the name "Dream Phantom" across the world.
The Celestial Dragons had committed too many evils. Their enemies were everywhere, and those willing to pay for their heads were countless.
Yato was certain that once someone dared to assassinate a Celestial Dragon, people across the world would eagerly offer money or Devil Fruits, begging him to kill more.
In truth, even if the Empress paid him nothing, he would still kill the Celestial Dragon, he would simply find another buyer.
This was the plan Yato had carefully laid out over the past three days.
"Celestial Dragons… don't blame me," he murmured softly. "You brought this upon yourselves."
As he spoke, the world spun violently, and he vanished, traversing an immeasurable distance in an instant.
Only his lingering voice echoed through the forest.
"Good and evil are always repaid. The heavens turn in endless cycles.
If you don't believe it, look up, tell me, who does Heaven ever spare?"
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters