Chapter 152: Five Elders' Frustrations

"What's all the commotion? What's happening outside? It's so loud!"

The raucous noise filtering in from Mariejois had the Celestial Dragons in a frenzy. Slave riots, it seemed, were erupting throughout the Holy Land.

The truth behind the pandemonium, however, left them utterly stunned. They couldn't believe history was repeating itself, mirroring the events that claimed Fisher Tiger.

"You useless trash! Move it! Capture all the slaves belonging to this saint immediately!"

The Celestial Dragons were beside themselves with rage. Ever since Luo Ning's raid, most of them had become virtual prisoners within the Holy Land, too terrified to venture outside. After all, Luo Ning wasn't the only one who had dared to target them. On Sabaody Archipelago, a lone individual had staged a suicidal bombing attack, taking a Celestial Dragon down with them. This unprecedented act of defiance, fueled by utter disregard for death, had shaken the Celestial Dragons to their core. Three of their kind had perished in such attacks, turning the faces of the remaining ones pale with fear. Casual outings were now a thing of the past, the constant threat of death looming large.

A small number, however, emboldened by a misplaced sense of courage, had sought refuge with Tesoro. While Tesoro's territory was a melting pot of different races, he at least offered a semblance of security. But the majority, crippled by fear, remained confined within the holy land, their lavish lifestyles replaced by a constant state of paranoia.

The current situation, however, was a nightmare come true. A repeat of the past they had so desperately hoped to avoid.

"Send all your subordinates out at a time like this, what is going on in your minds?"

Just as the Celestial Dragons finished deploying their men, a voice echoed from behind them. The voice sent a jolt of shock through them, prompting them to whirl around swiftly.

"How dare you address me with such disrespect, you... you... L-Luo Ning!"

The Celestial Dragon, who had initially intended to unleash a verbal tirade, faltered the moment he saw Luo Ning. He hadn't forgotten the brutal treatment Luo Ning had previously inflicted on his kind. Now, seeing Luo Ning standing before him, his bravado dissolved, replaced by a crushing sense of dread.

Luo Ning was a terrifying figure amongst the Celestial Dragons. None of them relished the sight of him, and his unexpected appearance here filled them with a sense of utter outrage, an outrage bordering on hysteria.

He desperately wished this were all a bad dream, a figment of his imagination. But then, he witnessed another Celestial Dragon faint dead away right before his eyes.

Luo Ning had no intention of killing them. His plan was to haul these Celestial Dragons back to Impel Down for a second live execution broadcast, an event that was certain to garner significant attention.

One by one, Luo Ning apprehended the Celestial Dragons, this time adding ten more to his collection. After securing them, he departed with his captives. His clone, meanwhile, would transport the liberated slaves to the ship and depart after reaching Sabaody Archipelago.

***

Unsurprisingly, this chain of events triggered alarms for Kong, the Five Elders, and others stationed in Mariejois.

"Damn it, it's Luo Ning again! This time, he actually freed all the slaves!"

One of the Five Elders gnashed his teeth in fury upon spotting Luo Ning's clone. Luo Ning's existence had thrown the World Government into disarray, and everything seemed to be spiraling out of control.

"Stand down and let the slaves pass," another Elder instructed, massaging his temples in weary resignation.

"Are you kidding me? Just let them walk away like this? Has Mariejois become a playground for anyone?"

The Five Elder holding a sword bristled with anger at the suggestion.

"What other option is there? Do you have a way to deal with Luo Ning? Plenty in the New World have tried and failed. You're welcome to give it a go if you think you can stop him. Luo Ning is simply unmatched. Right now, our only choice is to let them leave. Otherwise, we'll just lose more manpower in a pointless fight."

"And who will bear the consequences if we further antagonize him?"

The bald Five Elder posed the question with a grimace, effectively silencing the others. Indeed, if they had the power to defeat him, they would have acted already. The problem was, Luo Ning was simply too strong, too much of a threat to engage recklessly.

The combined forces of all Mariejois might not be enough to overcome him. In that case, why bother putting up a fight?

Better to conserve their strength for what comes next.

"Is this all he does, just pick on us? Doesn't the World Government do anything?"

The irate Five Elder slammed his fist on the table, shattering it completely. Now, he had nowhere to vent his frustration.

"Everyone knows his personality. The World Government has no common ground with him at all!"

The bald Five Elder shook his head. They and Luo Ning were destined to be enemies, a fact set in stone.

There was no changing the past. They had done too many foolish things, things Luo Ning, with his personality, could never tolerate. The World Government was simply reacting to his actions, scrambling to maintain some semblance of control.

But for now, they were fortunate. Luo Ning seemed content to manage his own prison, uninterested in anything beyond his territory. Their true enemy remained the Revolutionary Army.

As for the Celestial Dragons? Let them perish. They held no value anymore.

While the Celestial Dragons were considered highly noble, everyone here knew the truth about them – arrogant, self-entitled brats. Without the facade of the World Government, they wouldn't dare act so haughty.

Losing these "playing cards" was a setback, but not a critical one. It wouldn't bring the World Government to its knees.

In the end, the Five Elders ordered the withdrawal of all guards, allowing the slaves to leave Mariejois safely.

Ships were readily available in the numerous ports surrounding Mariejois. After all, it was a common transfer point for those traveling to the New World.

Only slave traders and pirates dared take the route through Fishman Island below. Pirates, by their very nature, were wanted men, and venturing there would be akin to a suicide mission.

Slave traders, while recognized by the World Government, rarely conducted business across the entirety of the New World and Grand Line. They sold their captives wherever they were caught. That was the general rule.

There were enough ships present to transport the freed slaves and ensure their departure.