#10 The angry God
"Kidnap a Celestial Dragon?!"
Blackbeard's eyes widened in disbelief as he processed Carlo's words. His face twisted in confusion before he managed to ask, "Kidnap that idiot? What's the difference between that and killing him? It would still cause chaos and is too risky!"
Carlo's decision left Blackbeard feeling uneasy. His first mate was impressive, no doubt about that, but his plans were always so bold. Since they started sailing together, Blackbeard felt his heart had grown stronger just to cope with the constant stress.
Carlo POV
"Of course, there's a difference!" Carlo shook his head and then began explaining his plan.
"First, we'd kidnap him discreetly, not in broad daylight. As long as we're careful, avoiding guards and surveillance snails, how would anyone know?"
"Once we successfully kidnap that idiot, the benefits for us would be immense!"
"Teach, you know what the Celestial Dragons are, right?"
"Their wealth is enormous, probably on par with a royal family. Besides treasure, I bet they have rare Devil Fruits!"
"Every year, the Tribute Gold sent to Mary Geoise includes not just treasure but also rare Devil Fruits."
"If we get our hands on these, we can use them to hold a crew recruitment drive!"
"You've seen the pirates on these islands; there are plenty of strong ones. We can choose the best and give them Devil Fruits."
"This way, before we execute our ultimate plan, we can boost our strength, which will definitely help us later!"
Carlo laid out his entire plan and its implications. When he looked back at Blackbeard, he saw that his partner was completely stunned.
Carlo was satisfied with Blackbeard's reaction.
Then, Carlo reassured Blackbeard with the biggest piece of good news, "The only difficult part is capturing that idiot without leaving a trace."
"Don't forget, Teach, your Devil Fruit power is perfect for this!"
Blackbeard POV
'Holy crap!'
Blackbeard was so shocked he couldn't speak, but inside, he felt a storm brewing. This plan was bold, but compared to their future goals, it wasn't that crazy. And Carlo was right: Blackbeard's ability was perfect for stealth missions. This task wouldn't be too difficult for him.
"Let's do it, brother!"
"Before our final plan, let's have some fun. Hahaha, kidnapping a Celestial Dragon? That sounds like quite an experience!"
After a while, Blackbeard laughed loudly, his eyes blazing as he stared at Carlo, excitement written all over his face.
"Teach, I'm not into guys, so watch your eyes!"
Carlo took a few steps back, looking a bit creeped out by Blackbeard's gaze, and warned him not to get any ideas.
"Ah, right…"
Realizing how he might have come across, Blackbeard toned it down, feeling a bit awkward. "Don't worry, brother. I'm not that kind of guy…"
"My narrow-minded thinking aside, a great plan requires bold moves!"
"No wonder you're my first mate, always thinking about our crew. Hahaha, with you by my side, we'll become unstoppable!"
Blackbeard's praise was genuine. He admired Carlo more and more. He had thought he was wild and audacious enough to take on the Four Emperors, but Carlo was on another level!
Blackbeard thought: No wonder he's my first mate, even bolder and more daring than I am. I like it!
With that, the two of them agreed on the plan and decided to kidnap the Celestial Dragon under the cover of night.
Narrator POV
On Sabaody Archipelago, no one would have imagined, or dared to imagine, such a crazy plan was unfolding right under their noses.
The Celestial Dragon, who was to be the victim, least of all expected this…
"Why did Father assign me such useless guards? You're all worthless!"
"What's the point of keeping you if you can't even beat the slave of that idiot Saint Peloclon? When we return, I'll have Father throw you all into the Beast Arena!"
"Only those who survive there are worthy of being my slaves!"
Late at night, on Sabaody Archipelago's Groove No. 3, a luxurious small palace stood.
This was the temporary residence of the Celestial Dragon, Saint Larcher
Though a temporary stop, the palace's luxury rivaled that of some small nations' royal palaces, showcasing the Celestial Dragons' extreme extravagance.
Around the palace, there were only guards, no other figures. Both pirates and civilians avoided the area like the plague, no one daring to approach.
In the quiet of the night, the loud scolding from within the palace was especially jarring.
Inside the main hall, Saint Larcher sat on his throne, angrily yelling.
Below him, two to three dozen armored guards knelt, listening to their master's words without showing any discontent.
Even at the mention of the Beast Arena, the soldiers trembled but didn't dare to utter a word, not even to beg for mercy…
As guards of a Celestial Dragon, their status was only marginally better than a slave.
Earlier that day, at the human auction house, Saint Larcher had his eye on the rare mermaid girl up for auction.
Such a rare race on land was a massive temptation, especially for Saint Larcher , who didn't yet have a mermaid slave. He was determined to get her!
But unfortunately, another Celestial Dragon, Saint Peloclon, also wanted her…
From another family, Peloclon didn't care about Saint Larcher usual dominance. Even in Mary Geoise, Peloclon outranked Saint Larcher!
There was a hierarchy even among Celestial Dragons.
In the end, the guards fought a chaotic battle, and it was clear Saint Larcher lost badly.
Not only did he not get the mermaid, but he also lost face, leading to his current outburst at his guards…
"You vermin roll away! Quick, get out of my sight!"
Finally, having vented enough, Saint Larcher waved them away.
Obediently, the guards curled up and rolled out of the hall like balls, as instructed.
Soon, the hall was silent again.
"When I get back, I'll have Father find me better slaves…"
Saint Larcher descended from his throne, sniffling, muttering to himself as he slowly walked toward the resting area at the back of the hall.