The woman wore a light blue, off-the-shoulder dress, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, seemingly unaware of her predicament, a faint smile still gracing her face.
"Bring her out for a look."
Black gestured, and the shop owner, kneeling at the storefront, hurried inside. He returned with the blonde woman, both kneeling before Black.
"What is your name?"
The woman lowered her head, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Celestial Dragon Lord, my name is Stella."
"Stella, huh…"
Black repeated softly, recalling exactly who stood before him.
Though Stella had appeared only briefly in a flashback of the theatrical version, Black remembered her vividly. Her presence had left an impression, even after transitioning from 2D to 3D.
Gild Tesoro had met Stella through music. He had desperately earned money to rescue her from a Slave trader, only to face competition from a Celestial Dragon intent on purchasing her.
Once Stella became the Celestial Dragon's property, she endured inhuman treatment, dying after only three years. Before her death, she told Tesoro she had "felt happy because of his existence."
This tragedy propelled Tesoro toward darkness, eventually becoming the Golden Emperor, ruler of 20% of the world's wealth.
Yet Black's impression of Stella wasn't from Tesoro's story. It was the world-renowned painting she had left behind.
In it, Stella wore a soft blue gown, the skirt flowing like water, pale and melancholic. Her golden hair floated with the breeze, tips tinged amber by the setting sun. A collar encircled her throat, its chain held by a Celestial Dragon, yet her lips curved into a gentle, almost sacred smile. Pain, chains, and humiliation seemed to melt away from her expression.
When Black first saw the painting, its sense of brokenness struck him deeply, and even years later, it remained vivid.
Now, Stella kept her head lowered, expression hidden.
Black spoke slowly:
"This Slave is good. She'll do."
He waved his hand, and a maid stepped forward to negotiate the price with the overjoyed owner. For him, any connection to a Celestial Dragon was an immense opportunity.
"Untie her collar."
A CP agent immediately acted, and the collar clattered to the ground.
Though CP agents often appeared comedic, in reality they were cultivation geniuses—highly trained and capable. A pirate with a bounty over a hundred million might struggle against one in combat.
Their usual opponents were monsters, making them seem like background props.
With Stella secured, Black planned to return to Mary Geoise before dark.
He understood the image of Celestial Dragons in this world. Before reaching the strength of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, he avoided the high seas, feeling too exposed.
Once he reached that level, only figures like the Four Emperors or the Shichibukai could threaten him. And those pirates rarely acted rashly; opposing a Celestial Dragon was clearly a losing proposition.
As Black's sanctuary departed Sabaody Archipelago, Tesoro watched through a floor-to-ceiling window, seeing an unfamiliar Slave take Stella's place.
"Congratulations, Raoul. I didn't expect your Slaves to be so high quality that a Celestial Dragon Lord would come personally."
"Oh, no, no… you flatter me…"
Tesoro's heart sank.
He rushed at Raoul, grabbing his collar.
"What did you just say? Where is Stella?"
Raoul froze, panic rising at Tesoro's bloodshot eyes.
Anger surged. A lowly man dared shout and humiliate him in front of peers.
"Men! Seize him!"
Burly Slave traders rushed from behind, pinning Tesoro to the ground.
Raoul stepped on his head:
"You want to know where that female Slave went? She was purchased by the esteemed Celestial Dragon Lord. You lowly wretch will experience the life of a Slave! Take him away!"
Even without encountering a Celestial Dragon, Tesoro's fate remained unchanged.
Black, back in Mary Geoise, remained unaware. And even if he knew, he would not care.
From past experiences, he held a strict belief in handling only what lay on his doorstep, ignoring the rest. His empathy was weaker than normal, a trait that made him adapt quickly as a Celestial Dragon.
Even after two lives, his core character had not changed.
He only focused on advantage; after the Nika War against Imu, he never aimed to change the world.
"There isn't much that needs changing. It would be perfect if the throne were mine."
Back at his estate, the maid led Stella to brand her with the Slave mark, the "Heavenly Dragon's Hoof." Black enjoyed a hundred-dish dinner while watching song and dance.
Stella remained a subject of interest. In a world of nameless NPCs, a named character drew his attention.
But he waited. Stella always smiled, yet her heart must be uneasy. He would allow her time to settle.
After dinner, Black exercised in the courtyard, instructed guards to house the new mermaids in the pool temporarily, and had artisans prepare giant fishbowl helmets.
He foresaw many mermaids populating his estate in the future.
Once all orders were given, Black returned to his room, lying on the bed.
"System! Activate!"