"Celestial Dragons?"
Ronn's brow furrowed as he turned toward the sound outside.
A grotesquely fat man, face hidden behind a resin bubble, was straddling a frail pirate like a living horse.
A squad of armored knights and two bodyguards in black trailed close behind.
And behind them—
a row of beautiful women, chained at the neck, stumbling forward as they were dragged along.
Ronn sighed.
Everyone hates the Celestial Dragons... yet everyone dreams of becoming one.
The luxury was obscene—so blindingly extravagant it could twist any soul into envy.
At that moment, Saint Charlos turned and slapped one of his guards across the face.
"Fool!"
"I am a Celestial Dragon! Who do you think you are to instruct me?"
Yanking the chain, he forced the bloodied pirate mount to crawl forward again. The chained women followed, stumbling.
Creaaak—
The tavern door swung open, and the procession entered in a show of arrogance.
"This wine smells divine!"
Charlos inhaled deeply, wriggling atop his mount like an overgrown child trapped in a body that weighed over two hundred pounds.
But the pirate beneath him, already broken and bloodied, finally collapsed.
The Celestial Dragon toppled forward—
and crack!
The sound of a spine snapping echoed through the tavern.
"Useless filth! You can't even serve as a mount properly!"
"Forget it—kill him outside. Don't stain the floor; it'll spoil my drinking mood."
The guard nodded silently, dragging the dying man outside. A pistol clicked.
Bang!
The gun roared.
The pirate's head burst open like a melon—blood and bone splattering across the stones.
"Tch. Another one gone. I'll just borrow a slave from Father later."
Charlos sighed, then turned toward Ronn with disgust.
"When a great Celestial Dragon enters your tavern, why aren't you kneeling?"
"You filthy commoners dare to look at me? Insolence! Unforgivable!"
He pulled a gold-plated pistol from his side and aimed it at Ronn.
Tohru, Rem, and Ram's eyes turned cold, murderous intent flashing—but Ronn gave a small, calm gesture for restraint.
Then he smiled.
"Forgive me. I was... distracted. Your presence is simply too dazzling."
Killing him outright would be dull.
Ronn had finished studying Shendu's Tome of Sorcery the previous night.
Perfect time to test it.
"Hahaha!" Charlos bellowed, snot flying. "I like you, peasant!"
He waddled to the counter and sat down.
"Very well. If your wine pleases me, you may keep your lives."
"Of course," Ronn replied smoothly.
Moments later, Ram approached with a bottle, her eyes full of disgust.
"Your wine. Enjoy."
Charlos glanced up—and froze.
Her face was delicate and luminous, almost ethereal. Her pink eyes shimmered like gemstones.
Behind her, Rem and Tohru were just as stunning.
Still, Charlos preferred women... fuller, older, with the scent of experience.
Especially if they already belonged to someone else.
But three servants of this beauty?
Worth keeping alive—for now.
I'll say it's terrible, he thought smugly. Then kill the man and take the women.
A flawless plan, in his mind.
After his guards tested the drink for poison, they filled a glass and handed it to him.
"This wine is called Maotai," Ronn said kindly. "You'll enjoy it."
Charlos sniffed the rich aroma, then eagerly took a sip.
Gulp—
His eyes lit up.
The mellow body, the fragrant depth, the silky smooth burn—it was unlike anything he'd ever tasted.
"Delicious!"
"Then I suppose I'm free to live?" Ronn smiled faintly.
Charlos froze, realizing his mistake, and his face flushed a furious red.
"Wrong! You'll still die!"
"And every woman in this tavern belongs to me!"
Guns clicked as his guards aimed at Ronn.
But before anyone could move—
"Ronn~"
"I'm starving. Did you save me any breakfast?"
A lazy, sultry voice floated through the air.
Lucoa.
After their clash two nights ago, she'd slept nearly twenty-four hours straight.
Now, she emerged, stretching, golden hair cascading over bare shoulders.
Charlos froze mid-motion.
Her form—unreal.
Her mismatched eyes shimmered with both warmth and danger.
Her presence was a drug.
His heart pounded. His breath came short.
"I... I want her. I'll marry her today!"
"No woman—dead or alive—can compare!"
He stumbled toward her, drooling.
"Hmm~"
Lucoa tilted her head and smiled toward Ronn.
"I peeked into his memories. They're filthy."
"Ronn~ shall I handle him, or do you want to?"
"You just woke up. I'll do it."
Ronn raised his hand, and a tendril of black mist shot into Charlos' chest.
The guards reacted instantly, pulling their triggers—
—but time froze.
The bullets dropped harmlessly to the floor.
The guards slumped lifeless, tossed from the tavern by invisible force.
It happened in the space of a heartbeat.
Only Lucoa saw it unfold.
Charlos turned, eyes wide, trembling as he realized he was suddenly alone—
save for the two chained women sobbing behind him.
"W-What did you do?!"
"Nothing much," Ronn replied gently, that harmless smile never fading.
"Just killed a few people."
Then—
Charlos' arm fell off, dissolving into black water.
His scream was cut short as the corruption spread—shoulders, chest, legs, organs—until only a faceless head remained.
Its jaw clacked uselessly, as if trying to beg for life.
Tohru and the others tensed—surely that was the end.
But then—
the black puddle on the ground began to flow backward, reshaping, reforming.
Piece by piece, his body rebuilt itself—
as if time itself were reversing.
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