#8 A Celestial Dragon arrives

"They're... they're here again!"

"These bastards, why are they back?"

"Shh, do you want to die? Shut up and kneel!"

"If you want to live, get on your knees, keep your head down, and don't anger them…"

As the voice echoed, a group of figures appeared at the end of the street, slowly making their way forward.

The once bustling street fell silent almost instantly.

The next moment, the sound of people dropping to their knees filled the air. Everyone on the street knelt along the sides of the road.

Even those dining in restaurants or shopping in clothing stores rushed outside to kneel, 'welcoming' the newcomers!

Everyone's actions were eerily synchronized. They all knelt on the ground, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

Even their breathing was controlled to the faintest whisper.

No one wanted to risk their life over a small mistake!

The only ones who could inspire such fear, making everyone act so humiliatingly and abandon their dignity, were the Celestial Dragons.

Eight hundred years ago, twenty royal families unified the world, creating the World Government and establishing themselves as the pinnacle of power.

The Celestial Dragons are the descendants of these twenty kings!

"Worthless slave, move faster! If you make me late for the auction, I'll throw you into the beast arena!"

At the end of the street, a Celestial Dragon, dressed like an astronaut with a transparent helmet, whipped his 'mount' continuously.

The 'mount' was a human, treated like an animal, complete with a saddle and various other gear.

This sight infuriated many of the people kneeling on either side of the road!

Most of the people gathered here weren't native to the Sabaody Archipelago but actual pirates!

Anyone daring to set sail in the New World had to be tough. Seeing this scene made their blood boil!

But even the most lawless pirates couldn't do anything against the Celestial Dragons. They had to kneel obediently.

They had no choice. Angering a Celestial Dragon would only bring trouble, and they couldn't afford to fight back!

The Sabaody Archipelago was very close to Marine Headquarters. If anything happened to a Celestial Dragon here, an Admiral could arrive within minutes!

If that happened, everything would be over, and many people would be dragged down with them.

So, even pirates, no matter how unruly, had to follow these unwritten rules. No one wanted to face an Admiral…

"So, it's those idiots again. No wonder there's such a fuss."

At a small roadside tavern, Carlo watched the approaching Celestial Dragons with disgust and cursed under his breath.

"Zahaha, so you don't like these fools either? Neither do I! They're just self-important garbage!"

Across the table, Blackbeard grinned sinisterly, agreeing with Carlo.

Clearly, both of them despised the Celestial Dragons!

"...!"

Their conversation reached the ears of some nearby kneeling residents and pirates, who were instantly shocked!

That's when they realized there were two bold individuals who hadn't knelt like everyone else but were instead sitting at a table, drinking and cursing the Celestial Dragons. How brave could they be?!

"What are you saying? Get down and kneel!"

"Are you two trying to die? Saint Larcher will be here soon! Don't get us killed; just kneel down!"

A pirate not far from Carlo hissed urgently, worried they'd all get dragged into trouble.

They were far enough from the street entrance that the Celestial Dragons hadn't noticed them yet. But if they were seen, there'd be no escape!

"Saint Larcher? Is that the idiot's name? Kneel to such a fool? Don't be ridiculous!"

Hearing this, Carlo scoffed. There was no way he'd kneel to a Celestial Dragon. That was just absurd!

His pride would be shattered all the way back to the 21st century!

'Ding dong, a system task has been triggered by the Celestial Dragon encounter!'

As soon as Carlo finished speaking, a long-awaited system notification appeared in his mind!

'Option 1: Scold and kill the Celestial Dragon—"Who do you think you are, you garbage? How dare a filthy Celestial dog make me kneel!" Reward: Advanced Conqueror's Haki comprehension at Emperor level, Conqueror's Haki infusion!'

'Option 2: Follow and kidnap the Celestial Dragon, demanding rare Devil Fruits as ransom! Reward: Physique Card of the Demon's Heir—Bullet, and Advanced Armament Haki—!'

'Option 3: Hide and escape, stay low and don't cause trouble! Reward: Advanced Observation Haki—Emotion Sensing!'

"Whoa, the system task is triggered even by this?!"

Hearing the repeated system notifications in his mind, Carlo was shocked!

Suddenly, the Celestial Dragons' image in his mind shifted dramatically. These weren't annoying idiots; they were walking moneybags, sweet deals!

However, the system's tasks remained straightforward and brutal…

In the ten days since arriving in the One Piece world, this was only the second time Carlo encountered a system task. He still wasn't fully adapted to this bizarre system's style.

"Brother Carlo, I think we should leave for now. Haha, our real plan hasn't started yet, and it's not worth making such a big scene…"

"But kneeling to those trash? I can't do it either. Let's lay low for now and deal with these fools once we rise to power!"