Snatching Information, Roster Of Beauties

"You dare to sneak into the World Government's database and remain here after stealing the treasure? What exactly are you planning?"

The old man stood confidently, one hand behind his back, fully assured of his strength.

"Old Saint Green mentioned that you can move through the ground, even bypassing seastone barriers. How do you manage that? Is it a racial ability from some rare lineage?"

He bombarded Arias with questions, not rushing to apprehend him. The old man guarded the database every day, a monotonous existence that made any opportunity for a fight a welcome diversion.

Arias initially had no intention of responding, but noticing the old man's curiosity, he said, "I'm looking for research data on Vegapunk. Do you know where it's stored?"

"Vegapunk's research?" The old man's voice was tinged with surprise, though he quickly masked it. "Vegapunk is a genius, no doubt, but most of his findings aren't particularly useful. Why are you interested?"

The old man moved to a bookshelf, casually pulling out a stack of documents. As he leafed through them, he muttered, "Biological modification technology, island-wide air conditioning systems, ability conversion techniques, artificial Devil Fruit technology, Sea Beast Weapon 14 specifications, holographic projection, unmanned cooking systems… What exactly are you after?"

When Arias's gaze lingered on a specific title, the old man raised the document with a sly grin. "Artificial Devil Fruit technology? It's just a failed experiment. But if that's what you want, here it is. Whether you can take it is another matter."

Arias chuckled inwardly. This old man, bored and powerful, was clearly toying with him. But Arias didn't mind—the old man had just handed him exactly what he was looking for.

In a flash, as the old man turned his back, Arias's puppet extended its razor-sharp claws, aiming for the old man's throat like ten swift blades.

Clang!

Without even turning, the old man blocked the attack with his sword. His mastery of observation haki was evident, as was his formidable skill.

"Good speed, decent strength—but that's all you've got," the old man remarked calmly, turning to face Arias. He slashed downward with his sword, the blade coated in armament haki, moving with the speed of lightning.

Arias dodged, choosing not to engage in a head-to-head battle. His puppet had already sustained damage during the fight with Ancient Saint Green, and he wasn't keen on risking further harm before repairs.

Moving like a phantom, Arias's puppet attacked from unpredictable angles, each strike aimed at the old man's vital points. But the old man remained unfazed, his sword appearing and disappearing with deadly precision—he was undoubtedly one of the world's top swordsmen.

After several minutes of intense combat, Arias had a good sense of the old man's capabilities. He was strong, but not as formidable as Ancient Saint Green. His observation haki wasn't advanced enough to predict the future, and while his armament haki was comparable to Green's, he hadn't displayed any conqueror's haki.

That was a relief.

When the old man's sword came down again, Arias made a calculated gamble. He abandoned all defense, reaching out with one hand to seize the old man's throat while aiming a deadly strike at his heart with the other. The three jewels on his neck glowed, ready to shield him from the sword descending on his head.

The old man, recognizing the danger, hesitated. He wasn't willing to risk a life-for-life exchange. He parried Arias's arm and was forced to retreat, exposing the stack of documents behind him.

Seizing the opportunity, Arias grabbed the documents and stuffed them into his bag. Without missing a beat, he rushed to the bookshelf, sweeping as many files as he could into his bag.

"Stop, you thief!" The old man's fury broke through his earlier calm. His speed increased, and his sword began to glow with a deadly energy. The documents were invaluable—if they were stolen, the World Government would suffer significant losses.

But Arias only grinned. "Sorry, old man, I'm done playing."

He vanished into the ground, diving a hundred meters below in an instant. The old man's sword energy slashed through the earth, but it couldn't penetrate deep enough to reach Arias.

Moving swiftly underground, Arias left the central temple's range. Once clear, he emerged in another part of Mariejois, this time entering the mansion of a Celestial Dragon.

The mansions were vast but sparsely populated. Arias quickly eliminated everyone inside before settling on a luxurious bed to review the documents.

He started with the file the old administrator had handed him. But as he opened it, he cursed under his breath, "That crafty old man!"

The document was titled "List of Beauties from Around the World," a ridiculous compilation of women from various regions, complete with names, photos, ages, and detailed descriptions. It was clearly meant for the Celestial Dragons to use when selecting their captives.

The first entry was Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress. The file noted, "The Empress of Amazon Lily is now a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. It's advised not to capture her for the time being."

Disgusted, Arias tossed the document aside and focused on the other files he had grabbed. Luckily, his hasty sweep had netted several important documents, including annual tribute records, major event archives, CP organization lists, and, most importantly, Vegapunk's research.

He set aside the less urgent files for later and concentrated on the research regarding Devil Fruit conversion technology. The process itself wasn't overly complex, but it required specific instruments that Arias didn't yet possess.

If the World Government's specialists were using these devices, they were likely stored somewhere in Mariejois.

Arias quietly left the mansion and snuck into another Celestial Dragon's estate. His method was the same—eliminate any witnesses and interrogate the survivors. The terrified servants provided the information he needed without resistance.

After gathering what he could, Arias left the villa. Shortly after his departure, a Celestial Dragon arrived, banging on the door.

"Mallen Saint! Come out and see my new toy!"

But no one answered.

"If you don't open the door, I'll break it down!" he shouted, pounding the door repeatedly. Still, no one came to greet him.

Just then, a patrol of soldiers passed by. The captain approached respectfully. "Sir, there are intruders in the Holy Land. Please return to your home for your safety."

The Celestial Dragon responded with a string of insults, ignoring the captain's advice. Frustrated by the silence, he kicked the door a few more times, grumbling, "How can there be no one here? We agreed to meet today!"

Finally, too annoyed to care, he muttered to himself, "Forget it! I'll find someone else," and walked away, completely dismissing the guard captain's warning.