Sabaody Archipelago — Grove 23, Mangrove Port
Sunlight filtered through the towering red mangroves, scattering dappled patterns across the port. Soap bubbles drifted lazily through the air, refracting the light into shimmering bands of color.
Suddenly, bubbles erupted from the once-calm sea.
A coated Marine warship rose from the depths, breaking the surface. The protective bubble film surrounding the hull burst the instant it touched open air, releasing a series of soft pop sounds.
"We're back again!"Lipo stood proudly at the bow, holding a softly glowing pearl carrot in both hands, her face full of satisfaction.
"Gern, look! The pearl carrot Princess Otohime gave me sparkles even more here than it did on Fish-Man Island!"
She excitedly waved the ornament. Under the sunlight of the surface world, the pearl refracted brilliant rays—far more dazzling than it ever had beneath the sea.
"Mhm. It's beautiful."Gern smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the port. His brow tightened almost imperceptibly.
Nearby, Tezoro stood holding an exquisitely crafted shell gift box. Inside were specialties from Fish-Man Island: singing shells, jewelry carved from bioluminescent coral, and even a rare black pearl.
He gently brushed his fingers over the box, a faint smile forming as an image surfaced in his mind—Stella's expression when she received it.
"Stella's definitely going to love these," he murmured.
Lipo's ears twitched. She leaned over curiously."Tezoro, what did you get for Sister Stella? Let me see!"
The moment he noticed her peeking in, Tezoro immediately hid the box behind his back, his face stiffening."No way. You already ruined one of my gift boxes on the way here!"
"You're so stingy! That bow was way too complicated anyway!"Lipo pouted—then instantly turned around and complained to Gern."Gern! Tezoro's bullying me! Hurry up and make him eat a deep-sea mantis shrimp!"
Tezoro froze."…Make me eat a deep-sea mantis shrimp? You don't seriously think that's food, do you?"
"Alright, alright."Gern rubbed Lipo's head helplessly."Enough messing around. Get ready to disembark."
The moment the three of them stepped onto the dock, Gern suddenly stopped.
His eyes swept across the surroundings.
All around Grove 23's port, hundreds of ordinary Marine soldiers were already in position—faces tense, weapons subtly raised, as if bracing for something.
"That's strange…"Tezoro noticed it too and lowered his voice."I didn't notify G-33 Base that we were returning. Why would they be deployed here?"
"There's another possibility."Gern let out a cold chuckle, his gaze locking onto a ship at the center of the port.
An extravagantly luxurious merchant vessel—its entire hull gilded in gold. The emblem of the World Government was carved proudly into its bow.
Standing on the deck were two figures dressed in ornate finery, their heads encased in transparent bubble helmets.
"They're not here to welcome us," Gern said flatly."They're here to serve those 'noble' Celestial Dragons."
"Celestial Dragons…?"Lipo shrank back slightly and whispered,"Those really annoying people?"
Tezoro nodded, disgust flashing through his eyes."Yeah. Them."
"Whatever."Gern waved dismissively."Let's go. Ignore them."
After all, the Sabaody Archipelago was one of the Celestial Dragons' favorite places—especially because of the slave auction houses.
However, just as the three were about to leave—
A shrill, arrogant voice rang out from the direction of the gilded ship.
"A rabbit woman?! A mink slave just like that one from the Donquixote family! I want her! Father, I want that rabbit woman!"
Saint Roswald turned toward Gern's group as his son, Saint Charlos, shrieked excitedly.
At the moment, Gern's party was not wearing Marine uniforms after returning from Fish-Man Island.
Tezoro wore a casual shirt.Lipo was dressed lightly—a white short-sleeved top and loose shorts, her rabbit ears swaying gently in the sea breeze, looking carefree and relaxed.
Gern himself wore simple black clothes. The black blade Eight Desolations hung casually at his waist.
His steps stopped abruptly.
His eyes turned ice-cold.
At Charlos's shout, many Marines on the dock turned their heads, their gazes landing on Lipo in the distance.
This was nothing unusual in Sabaody.
Saint Roswald—encased in his bubble helmet, dressed in lavish attire—followed his son's pointing finger to Lipo, a greedy smile spreading across his face.
"A mink… and a rabbit mink at that. Far better than the Donquixote family's slave!"
With that thought, he barked an order at the men beside him."What are you standing around for?! Go grab her!"
At the command, several suited agents and armed guards leapt down from the ship and strode straight toward Lipo.
...
Lipo tilted her head, her rabbit ears standing straight up as she followed the source of the noise.
Two Celestial Dragons in bubble helmets were pointing at her, their faces twisted with excitement and greed.
"Gern," she blinked innocently,"are they talking about me?"
"Lipo, they—"Tezoro started to speak, but Gern's voice cut in sharply.
"Lipo. Kill them."
At the exact moment his words fell—
The suited agents and guards surged forward without hesitation.
Their movements were swift, their expressions icy. They completely ignored Gern and Tezoro, reaching straight for Lipo.
For them, a Celestial Dragon's command was absolute.
Lipo looked at the agents charging at her—and at the order Gern had just given.
A cute smile slowly spread across her face.
"Then I'll just have to kill them~"
Whoosh.
A faint flash of light.
Lipo's figure vanished instantly.
The next second, two agents at the front froze—thin red lines appearing across their necks.
Blood erupted.
They didn't even have time to scream before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
"What—?!"The remaining agents and guards' pupils shrank violently.
Before they could react, Lipo was already moving among them like a ghost.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The carrot dagger gleamed coldly.Each strike sliced cleanly across throats, pierced hearts, split foreheads—
Every blow was fatal.
In less than three seconds, every agent and guard lay dead.
Blood flooded the port, staining the ground crimson.
"Ah… ah?!"Saint Charlos—the still-young, half-witted degenerate—stood frozen at the front, eyes bulging wide, his face beneath the bubble helmet draining of all color.
Before he could even process what had happened—
Lipo blinked into existence right in front of him.
She tilted her head, pink eyes glowing with chilling killing intent.
"Your turn~"
"W-wait! I'm a World Noble! You wouldn't dare—"
"I would."
Lipo raised her leg high—
—and brought it down in a brutal, axe-like stomp straight onto his head.
BOOM!!!
The ground shattered instantly.
Saint Charlos's skull was smashed violently down into his neck. His bubble helmet exploded, his face collapsing grotesquely as blood sprayed from his mouth and nose.
In an instant—
The entire port fell deathly silent.