Eight hundred years ago, the kings of twenty nations jointly established the World Government.
As the creators, these kings brought their families to reside in the Holy Land Mariejois. The descendants of these kings are the Celestial Dragons who now control the world.
They regard themselves as descendants of the creators, enjoying all privileges and revered as the World Nobles.
Whenever a Celestial Dragon is offended, even the Navy's highest combat power must be dispatched for rescue.
...
Those who reside high above in the heavens...
...
"Audience with the World Noble, Saint Luo!"
On the luxurious ship, Griffin stood wearing his Justice Coat, accompanied by nearly a hundred Navy soldiers.
At the bow of the deck, a tall slave knelt, carrying a throne on his back.
Thud—
A scepter landed heavily on the slave's back, and he turned around.
Shepherd Saint Luo, whose family included one of the Five Elders, ranked among the highest even among the Celestial Dragons.
The Navy personnel were not allowed to look directly at the Celestial Dragon and all bowed their heads.
Griffin shifted his gaze to the side, where a five-meter-tall figure in a white suit stood, wearing a Sunflower Mask.
Even without deliberately sensing it, he could perceive the man's formidable strength—a terrifying presence...
Perhaps not inferior to the current Shanks!
A member of Cipher Pol Aigis 0...
—
"I heard Lucci is here. I quite like Zoan-type ability users. It's a shame he couldn't come~"
The Celestial Dragon on the throne spoke slowly and arrogantly, his tone making it sound as if he were looking down upon the entire world.
In his words, Lucci was not some legend of Enies Lobby but merely a kitten to be played with at will.
The deck was so quiet that the sound of him swirling his wine glass could be heard.
After a moment,
"But you seem even better."
"Your reputation has spread even in the Holy Land. Truly worthy of being the Navy's most handsome in 800 years..."
"A rare Ancient Zoan, and such a beautiful appearance~ What a pity you're not a woman."
"Say~ Do you have a way to turn into a woman?"
...
...
Griffin lowered his head, his eyes narrowing, black hair falling to conceal his expression. "If it is your wish, there must be a way to achieve it."
"After all... you are a descendant of the creators, the supreme being."
...
"Hohohoho~ Not only beautiful but also eloquent. I grant you permission to approach for an audience!"
Griffin took a shallow breath and stepped forward slowly.
Thirty meters...
Twenty meters...
Fifteen meters...
"That's far enough."
The tall figure in the white suit with the Sunflower Mask quietly appeared beside him, his voice cold.
"Do not look directly at the master. Disobedience is punishable by death."
...
"Don't frighten our little darling. Tell him what to do."
—
According to the conversations Griffin had eavesdropped on, this Celestial Dragon had descended to pursue an escaped slave and had contacted the nearby Cipher Pol organizations to serve as his guards.
However, Lucci had just been severely beaten by Griffin, and neither his appearance nor physical condition allowed him to undertake this 'glorious' mission.
Thus...
Lucci recommended his own man, Griffin, to the liaison officer.
No sooner had Griffin finished boasting about being the Five Elders' loyal subordinate than he faced the consequences of his lie.
This was absolutely not a good timing - Griffin's envisioned plan to hunt Celestial Dragons couldn't be implemented at all...
Just as he was thinking this, the white-suited agent handed Griffin a photograph.
The photo showed a beautiful woman with pink hair, jade-blue scale-like patterns on her face, and dull, lifeless eyes.
"Former Revolutionary Army cadre, favored by Saint Luo to become a Celestial Dragon's wife - Ginny."
"This is the target of this operation."
...
Griffin tightly gripped the photo, his pupils slightly contracting.
He knew this person.
The mother of the Worst Generation's Jewelry Bonney from the future, Kuma's lover...
But...
Wasn't she abandoned by the Celestial Dragons after contracting an incurable disease?!
Why would the Celestial Dragons still pursue her to the lower world?
His confusion was soon answered.
...
"Quite a beautiful woman, isn't she!"
The Celestial Dragon seated high above chuckled lightly. Unlike the "brainless faction" of Celestial Dragons who spoke only in commands, threats, or bloodline boasts...
"Unfortunately, she's fallen ill and has lost all value for entertainment."
"But she gave me a little surprise~"
"Even when dying, she insisted on escaping the Holy Land. Wouldn't it be easier to just wait obediently to die and be discarded?"
The Celestial Dragon laughed.
"Hehe, we can play one last chase game! Thinking about her panicked expression before death sounds quite amusing!"
"Tearing beautiful things apart piece by piece - this is the art of I, Saint Luo!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the ship.
——
Crack——
The faint sound came from Griffin's knuckles.
Humans love beautiful things, but they love destroying beauty even more.
More beautiful than the Mona Lisa is the Mona Lisa burning.
Celestial Dragons are beings whose every desire has been satisfied since birth - a cruel reality...
They might represent humanity's truest nature.
...
...
It's fine.
Though he didn't know why Ginny was in the West Blue, according to the original timeline, she would return to the South Blue, die in the church where she lived with Kuma, and leave behind Bonney.
It's fine...
And indeed, events unfolded as Griffin anticipated.
...
The Red Line where Celestial Dragons reside encircles the north and south poles like a vertical ring dividing the ocean into two parts.
The Grand Line is a ring-shaped ocean area perpendicularly intersecting the Red Line.
Together they divide the world's oceans into four seas - East, West, South, and North - which are the World Government's primary controlled territories.
Due to the Calm Belt along the Grand Line's edges, non-government personnel from the four seas must cross Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line or reach other seas. This is the starting point for all Pirates chasing after One Piece.
Commoners can apply for permits from the World Government to cross the Red Line via Bubble Gondolas to reach other seas.
Simply put, either risk your life crossing natural barriers or pay the World Government for safe passage.
...
Aside from these two methods, other approaches lack general applicability.
Like Rayleigh who swam across the Calm Belt, or Tiger who scaled the Red Line bare-handed... those belong to exceptionally formidable individuals.
...
...
The reason why Ginny didn't head directly to the South Blue after escaping the Holy Land remains unknown - perhaps there were too many guards in the southern direction at that time.
Saint Luo's ship followed the small boat from a distance, observing the woman's every move through the Surveillance Den Den Mushi.
Clad in a loose cloak, she seemed to be protecting something in her embrace as she curled up in the small boat.
Based on her direction of travel, it was clear her destination was Red Port, the government-controlled transportation hub connecting the four seas.
Given her physical condition and the small vessel she was piloting, it would be impossible for her to cross Reverse Mountain...
...
"Saint Luo, she's about to enter Red Port. Should we arrest her there?"
Haku in his sunflower-white suit bowed his head and humbly inquired.
"No, how boring it would be to capture her now."
"Tell the port personnel to relax their inspections and give her a chance to take the Bubble Gondola."
"I want to know where she's desperately rushing to despite accelerating her own death. If we appear right when she's almost there, just as hope begins to shine in her eyes..."
"It will be absolutely delightful!! Hahahahaha!!"