"Careful! Get out of the way, quickly!"
A young man with seaweed-like hair rushed over, taking strange steps and looking flustered.
Nero and Hathaway had naturally noticed him earlier, and both stepped aside.
The young man lost his footing and fell between them.
"Sorry! Sorry! I was running too fast."
The young man sat up, holding his head, and then froze when he clearly saw Nero's face.
"Hmm, is there something dirty on my face?" Nero extended her hand to the young man.
"Ah! Ah… no! It's just that your golden hair is really beautiful." The young man didn't take Nero's hand because he was covered in dust.
Nero's appearance struck him as somewhat familiar, but days of continuous work had left his mind hazy, and he couldn't recall where he had seen her.
"Hmm, you certainly have good taste!" Nero didn't mind, retracting her hand and praising the young man's discernment.
"However, there are many troublesome individuals on this island, so you should be more careful when walking next time."
"Hey! Sorry, I'll definitely be careful next time. Oh, right! I have something to do, so I'll be going now!"
The young man awkwardly scratched his head, checked the time, waved apologetically to Nero, and then rushed off again.
"Hmm, what a hothead!"
Nero's smile reached her eyes; she didn't dislike such energetic people. However, as she said, being so impetuous on the Sabaody Archipelago could easily lead to trouble.
But a kind reminder from Nero to a stranger she just met was already enough.
"Hathaway, hurry up! I want to finish this before lunch." Pulling Hathaway along, Nero also quickened her pace.
The two soon arrived at the slave trading district.
"Hmm, I want a slave who is beautiful, strong, at least proficient in two types of Haki, can cook delicious food, knows three or more instruments, and has a chest size of D or above."
Nero leaned over the counter of a slave shop, rattling off her demands in one breath, ignoring the owner's increasingly dark expression.
"That… Lady Nero, I am very sorry! My shop is small, and your demands…" The owner wiped cold sweat, bowing and profusely apologizing to Nero.
How could these business owners not know Nero's reputation? Encountering such a menace and using money to avoid disaster was the luckiest solution.
Otherwise, if she was displeased, death would be in vain. Especially for their kind of illicit business, even their powerful backers would have to bow before a big shot like Nero.
"Hmmph! What do you mean, you fellow? No trade, no harm! Since you've already caused harm, how dare you refuse to do my business? You fellow! Are you looking down on me?"
Nero's capricious side emerged. It's not easy for me to come here, and you can't even fulfill such a small request? Do you really think I, this Emperor, have no temper?
"Hmm, if you dare to spoil my fun, then just wait for me to sweep your grave!!!"
Grabbing the owner's collar, Nero threatened fiercely. These types of people were not good anyway, so Nero felt no pressure bullying him.
Even Hathaway didn't stop her. Letting out her irritable side would make her feel better, and now, that owner could only be considered unlucky.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!!!" The owner shouted, his face beet red. Regardless of whether he could, he knew that if he couldn't meet Nero's demands, he would certainly be finished.
Even if Nero didn't kill him, his boss would hand him over to Nero, and might even personally find someone who met Nero's requirements and send them over.
The owner was in tears internally. He hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home; today was truly the unluckiest day of his life!
"Hmm, I'll go look around at other places. You'd better meet my demands before I return!" Nero threatened menacingly, then left with Hathaway.
This kind of negotiation skill was something she had learned in her youth. As an Emperor, it was perfectly normal to dump troublesome matters onto others.
If he couldn't do it, don't worry! Let him figure it out. If he fails, he can try again in his next life!
Eighty percent of seemingly unsolvable problems could actually be resolved.
Didn't a great person once say that human potential is limitless!
"Excellent negotiation skills, Your Majesty!"
Outside, Hathaway even praised her approvingly. She had grown up hearing the teachings of Grand Duke Livord.
"Mwahahaha, of course! This way, even if that fellow can't find someone who meets my demands, he'll still bring out the best he has."
Nero smirked triumphantly, planning to use the same tactic at a few more places. Otherwise, those slave traders would never bring out their best.
"Hmm, that over there seems to be the clumsy fellow from before."
Nero saw the seaweed-haired young man leaning against a slave shop's display window, singing!
"Hmm, that singing has a vibrant quality to it, but there are still many imperfections. Hathaway, wait a moment! I'm going to give some pointers to a junior in the music world!"
Upon hearing someone sing, Nero immediately felt an itch in her heart. Declaring herself a great senior in the music world, she intended to go and offer some guidance.
"Wait! Your Majesty!!" Hathaway reached out to stop her, but failed.
"Hmm, we meet again! You fellow, your singing is..."
Nero's words trailed off as she stared blankly at the woman behind the bars.
Long golden hair like silk, green eyes—unlike her own emerald pupils, the woman's eyes were closer to the color of a lake. Even her front armor was in no way inferior to Nero's.
"Hmm, Hathaway, I want this one!" Nero beckoned to Hathaway. The gentle demeanor was precisely Nero's preferred type.
"This woman will be mine from now on!"
"This woman will be mine from now on!"
"Hmm?"
"Hm?"
The same words made the person opposite and Nero turn to look at each other simultaneously.
"Oh? You fellow look good too! Let's take both of you back to the Holy Land!"
The middle-aged man opposite, wearing a spacesuit and a fishbowl on his head, eyed Nero with a lewd gaze.
He couldn't really be called middle-aged; he had a tuft of hair on his forehead like an antenna, somewhat resembling a greasy uncle version of a Teletubby.
"You two are really lucky to be noticed by me, a Celestial Dragon!"
The CP Agentss behind him were stunned. This was… Nero Claudius?
They had received notifications earlier, but the Celestial Dragons were unwilling to back down. Were they now walking into a trap?
Upon hearing that this Celestial Dragon actually wanted to take Nero back to the Holy Land, cold sweat instantly covered the CP Agents's entire body.
Nero herself was also bewildered. This ugly thing wanted to take her back to the Holy Land? Just a mere Celestial Dragon? Was he that arrogant?
Does he really think I, Nero, can't lift a blade anymore?
"Hey! What are you standing around for? Hurry up and shackle these two slaves for me!!"
Seeing his CP Agentss so lacking in perception, the Celestial Dragon pulled out a pistol from his pocket and urged them on with displeasure.
Meanwhile, Nero's small face, which had been smiling moments ago, now darkened.
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