Am I… already dead?
Samit looked down at his hands. His soul had taken form inside this prison, and nothing seemed different.
But one thing was clear. The man in front of him had no intention of letting him go.
Then, everything he had been taught for decades surged back.
He was a descendant of the gods. One of the Twenty Creators. A world noble who stood above all humans in Mary Geoise.
How could a mere human dare treat him like this?
"Lowly human! Do you even understand what it means to kill a Celestial Dragon? You will be executed, and not just killed, you will suffer the cruelest punishment imaginable!"
Rowan watched him quietly until his voice grew hoarse and the shouting stopped on its own.
Only then did he speak.
"Finished? Then continue. You people never considered yourselves human, but pain is the same for everyone."
The black flames ignited again, swallowing Samit's soul. They did not damage the body, but every second of burning drilled straight into his spirit, extracting sin while amplifying the pain beyond what a physical body could endure.
A scream tore through the prison once more.
Rowan turned and walked away.
Before entering this place, he had imagined many things. Breaking him completely, watching him beg, enjoying every second of it.
But now, there was nothing.
Only emptiness.
In their understanding, they had never been human. They believed themselves to be gods, beings above all life. Humans were nothing more than insects.
And no one ever stops to think about the pain of an insect.
On the high platform, Roger stood covering his ears, clearly annoyed.
"How long is that pig going to keep screaming? The others lasted days at most. You said years. His voice is unbearable."
Rowan stood at the entrance of the corridor and focused. In the next moment, the screams disappeared entirely, the cell isolated from the rest of the prison. The remaining cries from other prisoners were still there, but they were manageable.
"Celestial Dragons don't store their wealth personally," Rowan said as he glanced at Roger. "The others do. There are traffickers and World Government agents among them. Get everything out of them and record it. I'll collect it later."
Roger grinned and rubbed his hands. "So this time you really made a fortune. Then how about letting me out? I've been stuck here for almost a year."
Rowan checked the numbers silently before replying, "Not yet."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "You once said the Pirate King is the freest person on the sea, but if you leave here and end up working for me, that freedom disappears. If that happens, will your haki still remain?"
Roger casually picked his ear, completely unbothered. "That depends on what you want me to do. If it's oppressing civilians, I'm not interested. If you want my strength, then let me move freely and call me when needed. As long as it doesn't go against what I believe, it's fine."
Rowan fell silent for a moment.
Then he looked at him.
"No need to wait twenty years."
Roger raised an eyebrow.
Rowan's voice was calm, but carried absolute certainty. "After staying in this place for nearly a year, you should understand what I rely on. At most, I only need fifteen more Celestial Dragons, and I can destroy Mary Geoise by myself."
Roger did not speak immediately.
He had been at God Valley. He knew parts of the truth about the World Government.
But after staying here for nearly a year, he also understood Rowan's potential.
Those treasure chests.
Those unknown abilities.
If one day Rowan gained the power to destroy the world in a single strike, he would not find it strange.
Roger suddenly laughed and struck his fist into his palm. "So that's your stance. Overturn the world and drag them down from their altar. That sounds interesting."
He extended his hand.
"My stance is the same as yours."
Two weeks later.
The news of a Celestial Dragon being killed on Sabaody Archipelago was completely suppressed. Even Morgans received nothing.
But the aftermath had only just begun.
The lawless zones of Sabaody were thoroughly searched. Human trafficking operations were forced into stricter regulation.
A new rule was established. Every slave arriving on the island must first be selected by the Celestial Dragons during a fixed monthly period.
Across the Grand Line and the Four Seas, CP agents began investigating the slaves Rowan had rescued.
But every lead ended the same way.
A white mask.
Or the face of Marine Vice Admiral Kuzan.
At Marine Headquarters, Kong submitted his resignation on the grounds of age, and it was approved.
Everyone understood this was only a formality.
The Five Elders would never allow such strength to go to waste.
Sengoku took over as Fleet Admiral.
But no new admiral was appointed.
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan all remained candidates.
Two weeks later, inside the prison, only Samit remained under punishment.
Two weeks had burned through more than twenty thousand sin value, but over seven hundred thousand still remained.
At this rate, it would take more than a year.
Rowan checked his current total.
Seventy-four thousand.
First a gold chest.
Then save up.
And after that…
A diamond chest.
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