Ronan's order, "According to the plan," had barely left his lips when a commotion erupted outside the side hall.
"Y-Your… Your Majesty! Bad news!!"
A figure stumbled in and collapsed to the floor.
It was a young messenger soldier, his uniform soaked through with blood, his eyes filled with terror and rage.
"Your Majesty, the port…"
He struggled to lift his head.
"The World Government people… they're killing anyone they see! They don't care who it is! Civilians… so many civilians…"
As he spoke, a violent coughing fit shook his body. With trembling hands, he pulled a bloodstained sheet of paper from his breast.
"Th-they… they're throwing these around… everywhere…"
Beth's eyes sharpened. In a flash she stepped forward, took the paper, and handed it to Ronan.
Ronan accepted it and read.
As his gaze swept over the contents, the anger on his face grew darker and darker.
"A Hunting Tournament, huh? And I'm actually the grand prize this time?"
Ronan let out a cold laugh.
He then held the paper up for everyone present to see.
When they saw what was written on it, every face in the hall went ashen. Even Teresa, usually calm and unshakable, could no longer hide the killing intent on her face.
Ronan had originally thought the World Government's retaliation would be directed at the royal palace, at himself.
He had even steeled himself to fight a brutal defensive war against the World Government within the borders of the kingdom.
But he had still underestimated the shamelessness of the World Government and the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons.
They didn't even bother with something as "proper" as a military operation.
They chose the most direct and most brutal method of all—indiscriminate slaughter of civilians.
This was a massacre.
Of course Ronan remembered the God Valley incident in this world, the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, and how the title of "hero" Garp had spread across the seas from that very battle.
With a dull thud, the messenger soldier collapsed as soon as he finished speaking, expending the last of his strength and falling unconscious.
The soldier was carried away for treatment.
Inside the side hall, deathly silence reigned.
Ronan slowly raised his head. In his eyes, ice-cold light seethed with savage fury.
"The World Government is underestimating us."
Ronan's voice was unusually calm, yet heavy with murderous intent.
No one present had ever seen Ronan wear such a terrifying expression.
"They actually think this Hunting Tournament can wipe out Lulusia."
Ronan swept his gaze around the room.
"This time, I'll use Celestial Dragon blood to teach the World Government one thing: the Lulusia Kingdom is a forbidden zone for Celestial Dragons."
When Ronan led Beth and the others to the port, the scene that greeted them was a horrifying vision of hell.
Broken planks floated at the edge of the pier, mixed with numerous swollen corpses.
On the shore, dead civilians lay scattered everywhere—men and women, the elderly and children alike. Terror and despair were frozen on their faces.
The entire port area was tightly encircled by Marine soldiers.
Weapons in hand, they had formed a solid cordon line, surrounding the Celestial Dragons and shielding them from harm.
And the perpetrators responsible for this atrocity were those dozen or so Celestial Dragons wearing bubble headgear.
They lounged on specially made luxurious seats, watching the slaughter before them like a show, cackling shrilly with laughter.
The arrival of Ronan and his group immediately drew their attention.
"Oh? That's the little king of that tiny kingdom who dared to resist?"
"He looks so small, like a bug!"
"Catch him! Whoever grabs him, the 'grand prize' of this hunt will be theirs!"
The Celestial Dragons, having noticed Ronan, immediately ordered their bodyguards to seize Ronan and his companions.
At their command, the bodyguards brandished their blades and charged toward Ronan.
Kuina was the first to move.
She could not endure any longer.
This girl, only eleven years old, stared at the hellish scene before her, and a surge of uncontrollable rage rushed straight to her head.
"You… you beasts!!"
Kuina drew the famed blade Wado Ichimonji and rushed to meet the oncoming bodyguards.
"Slash! Slash! Slash!"
The sound of a blade ripping through flesh rang out in a rapid, continuous rhythm.
The Celestial Dragons' bodyguards were no match for Kuina at all. With every step she took, a bodyguard fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
Her gaze grew colder and colder—at this moment, she wanted nothing more than to cut down every last one of these animals.
Almost at the same time, heavy, synchronized footsteps thundered from the outer edge of the port.
A clone soldier army of about two thousand had arrived!
Having received their orders, they had rushed here at full speed. Without a hint of hesitation, they immediately joined the battle.
These gene-enhanced war machines, working in perfect coordination and utterly unafraid of death, instantly shattered the numerical advantage of the Celestial Dragons' bodyguard force, throwing their formation into complete chaos.
The tide of battle reversed in an instant.
Screams overlapped one another as the port descended into an even more chaotic bloodbath.
"Useless trash! All of you are useless!"
"What's going on?! Who are those people in black?!"
"Where are the Marines?! Why aren't the Marines doing anything?!"
The excitement on the Celestial Dragons' faces vanished, replaced by fury.
They were enraged that the people of this country actually dared to resist.
In their eyes, these "things" should obediently lie down and wait for death.
A CP0 member suddenly appeared on the battleship where Kizaru stood, his voice shaking with anger as he spoke.
"Admiral Borsalino! What are you waiting for?! Can't you see those rebels are butchering the guards of the World Nobles?! Order the Marines to attack immediately and suppress them!"
Kizaru slowly turned his head, his tone as unhurried and calm as ever.
"My mission is to absolutely guarantee the safety of the Celestial Dragons.
You see, all the honored nobles are currently staying in a safe zone just fine, without suffering any direct attacks.
As for anything else… we Marines haven't received any orders from the World Government."
"You…!"
The CP0 member trembled with rage, but he knew full well that in terms of authority, he could not directly command a Marine admiral.
All he could do was glare viciously at Kizaru before his figure flickered and vanished, returning to the Celestial Dragons' side to deliver a low-voiced report.
Hidden among the chaotic crowds, watching coldly this entire time, Garling's eyes finally flashed with a trace of impatience and killing intent.
The Marines were clearly unreliable.
It seemed the God Knights would have to act personally to end this farce.
Garling's confidence in the God Knights was absolute.
Aside from the heavy blow they had suffered back at God Valley, he was now far stronger than he had been in those days.
And this time, there would be no new Rocks emerging.
"No need to wait any longer."
Garling spoke faintly.
"Erase all those who resist.
Priority targets: Ronan, king of Lulusia, and those women at his side.
Move."
The moment the order was given, several overwhelming auras erupted from a few inconspicuous corners of the port.
(End of Chapter)
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