The Red Line, Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Sunlight filtered through the meticulously manicured cloud gardens, spilling into the luxurious room where Liltotto was temporarily staying, cutting sharp lines of light and shadow across the gold-trimmed carpet.
She opened her eyes and let out a long, slow stretch, her joints letting out soft clicks. This sleep was certainly much more comfortable than that perpetually dark and freezing hellhole back in the Silbern.
As usual, the maidservants appeared silently like shadows, offering washing supplies. Once she finished grooming, a breakfast large enough to cover a long banquet table was presented. Rare ingredients from the four seas and every corner of the Grand Line were piled up in an almost wasteful fashion.
Liltotto forked a piece of the tenderest ribeye from an unknown sea beast. The moment the fat melted on her tongue, a rich aroma accompanied by potent life energy surged through her limbs. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction; this was the taste of the pinnacle of power...
Simple, crude, and addictive. Being a Celestial Dragon was just too good.
"Go tell the Five Elders I'm heading out in a bit."
She swallowed her food and wiped the corners of her mouth with a silver napkin, her tone as casual as if she were ordering another cup of tea. Though she wasn't used to people serving her while she ate, it was... actually quite pleasant.
"Yes, we shall report it immediately."
Liltotto continued her grand feast, and soon a servant brought over a Den Den Mushi. From the other end came the voice of Saint Saturn of the Five Elders.
"You're going out?"
"Of course. I didn't come here for a vacation, Saturn." Liltotto leaned back in her chair, her fingertip mindlessly tapping the table. "Did you forget? I have a mission this time; I have to at least do a lap around the outside."
"Where are you going?"
"My mission is to investigate the degree of connection between the Giant King and your side. Since he's been performing tasks for the Navy recently, I'm heading to Marine Headquarters."
Her reasoning was perfectly logical, leaving Saint Saturn unable to find a flaw.
"You plan to go just like that?" Saint Saturn asked.
"Don't worry, I'm just taking a look around." Liltotto's voice carried a hint of imperceptible dismissiveness. "I won't go snooping into your secrets."
"..." Saturn thought for a moment and decided it was fine. "In what capacity will you go?"
"Is that even a question?" Liltotto curled her lip. "As a Celestial Dragon, of course. Did you expect me to try and sneak in?"
"Fine. I will notify the Navy of this matter."
"Right..." Liltotto added as if suddenly remembering something. "The one out on a mission besides me is Beltz. You know, the guy who snatched your treasures and Devil Fruits back at God Valley."
!
Hearing this, Saint Saturn immediately barked in anger, "Where is he?"
"How should I know? We're out on a mission, but we aren't exactly tracking each other's movements—otherwise, I wouldn't have come to your place so openly." Liltotto replied. "But let me warn you, Beltz is an expert at infiltration. If you have any important equipment or treasures, you'd better keep a tight watch on them."
"What is his ability?" Saturn asked. "How did he steal those treasure chests back then?"
"It has to do with his special ability; I don't know the specifics, but he seems capable of turning invisible."
"Invisibility? The Clear-Clear Fruit?" Saturn's Den Den Mushi took on a frowning expression. "But he later ate the Azure Dragon Fruit..."
"It's not a Devil Fruit power; it's an innate talent, like the Lunarian tribe's eternal flames," Liltotto explained. "And his invisibility isn't about disappearing physically; it's more like lowering his presence. Just be careful."
She sold out a portion of Beltz's intel for the sake of her own security. This way, if something happened at Marine Headquarters later, it would have nothing to do with her. Furthermore, by focusing their attention on "invisibility," no one would notice anomalies in the shadows.
"We naturally won't let him have his way. When do you plan to depart?"
"After I finish eating."
Liltotto cut another piece of honey-glazed roasted Pterosaur meat. While chewing, she looked up and gestured at her head with a look of disgust. "I don't have to wear one of those fishbowls on my head like those idiots when I go out, do I?"
"..." Saint Saturn went silent for a moment, then said, "As you wish."
"Then I'm not wearing it." Liltotto really didn't want to wear a fishbowl; it looked moronic. She had seen plenty of Celestial Dragons these past few days, and every one of them looked like a snot-bubbling fool.
Finishing her call with the Five Elders, Liltotto devoured the rest of the delicacies like a whirlwind. She then left the massive luxury manor built solely for her. Pushing open the heavy, ornate gilded doors, she was greeted by the overly clean yet invisibly oppressive air of Mary Geoise.
She took a deep breath and stretched her body comfortably. The sun was shining; compared to the eternal night and ice of the Silbern, this place was paradise! As the most important city in the world, Mary Geoise had wide streets paved with polished white stone. One could see Celestial Dragons everywhere in their spacesuit-like outfits and head-bubbles, either riding in luxury palanquins carried by slaves or riding directly on the backs of slaves, brandishing whips as if showing off.
Liltotto watched this with speechless disdain. What was cool about riding a person? Couldn't they develop a sports car? Wouldn't that be way cooler? These people were truly empty-minded and mentally bored.
"Hey!"
Just as she was heading toward Marine Headquarters, she heard a childish voice from behind. A boy of about six was riding on the back of a human slave. He wore black sunglasses, had short blond hair, and wore a somewhat flashy pink shirt with a red neckerchief. He was currently mounted on a physically sturdy male slave with dead, hollow eyes. Several guards in white uniforms followed him; he was clearly a Celestial Dragon.
"Where did this brat come from?"
Liltotto turned and kept walking. The child, seemingly furious at being ignored, roared: "You actually dare ignore me! Guards, seize this insolent woman! I want her as my slave!"
The guards were scared out of their wits and rushed forward—not to grab her, but to practically kneel and plead with the boy:
"Saint Doflamingo! You mustn't! This is Saint Liltotto! She is a noble guest personally mentioned by the Five Elders! We wouldn't dare offend her!"
"What?!" Doflamingo was puzzled. "Saint Liltotto? I've never heard of her!"
Among the Celestial Dragons, men had "Sei" attached to their names, while women had "Gu" to signify their nobility. But Doflamingo had never heard of Liltotto. "Which family is she from?"
The others stuttered, unable to answer, as they hadn't seen much of her either. They only knew that two years ago, the Five Elders ordered them to remember this woman, stating she was a noble World Noble and no one was to disobey her commands.
Seeing them unable to explain, Doflamingo snarled again, "Where did this stinking woman come from, daring to impersonate a Celestial Dragon!"
In Doflamingo's eyes, since he didn't know her, others couldn't explain her lineage, and she didn't even have the head-bubble representing their status, she was clearly someone impersonating the World Nobles! He rode his slave toward Liltotto, shouting, "What are you good-for-nothings doing? Follow my orders and seize her!"
"Huh?"
Liltotto turned back impatiently. Looking at Doflamingo again, she said coldly, "You've been yapping back there... you wouldn't happen to be talking about me, would you?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it pierced the air like an icicle, drilling into everyone's ears and causing a sudden, bone-chilling sensation! Doflamingo stopped a few meters in front of her, his eyes slamming into Liltotto's cold gaze.
Her face didn't hold the fear, fawning, or fury he expected; there was only a pure, condescending coldness, as if he were merely a buzzing insect that had accidentally flown into her line of sight. This total disregard and contempt was something he had never experienced in his life as a Celestial Dragon!
"You...!"
Doflamingo choked on his words, but his pride drove him to yell, "Which family are you from? Why have I never seen you before?"
"Truly foolish."
Liltotto was no longer wearing her Sternritter uniform. Today she wore a cream-colored shirt under a black coat. She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and tilted her head slightly, as if inspecting a defective product, and said flatly:
"Arrogant brat. Thinking you're special just because you're a Celestial Dragon..."
BOOM!
A powerful Reiatsu suddenly erupted from Liltotto. This pressure immediately crushed the slave Doflamingo was riding, causing Doflamingo to tumble off! He fell in front of Liltotto, sprawling on the ground, his sunglasses askew and his expensive shirt covered in dust.
An unprecedented sense of terror gripped his young heart. His vision seemed to lose all color, leaving only Liltotto's cold eyes looking down at him!
So... so terrifying!
It felt as if a pressure as vast as the deep sea was being released from her. She herself seemed like a black hole swallowing everything, or perhaps a giant sea beast with its maw wide open, ready to consume him! His entire world was shrouded in darkness, as if he had already been swallowed into her stomach! He stared blankly at Liltotto, seemingly forgetting to breathe.
"Ah!!!"
"Saint Liltotto! Please stay your hand!" The guards were terrified, falling to their knees in a row and kowtowing repeatedly. "Saint Doflamingo is the son of Saint Donquixote Homing! Please do not take offense!"
"Brat, do you understand how scary I am now?"
Liltotto ignored the others. She just stood over the prone Doflamingo, looking down at him. On her face... there was even a hint of pity? Yes, as if she were pitying his weakness!
!!!
Doflamingo's pupils dilated instantly! What was this? He... he was a noble Celestial Dragon! This person... this person actually dared? Dared to make his noble self grovel on this filthy ground?!
But... he couldn't say a word! Because Liltotto's aura was like a mountain pressing down on him. It was like being ten thousand meters deep in the ocean, and she was the mountain, the endless sea!
"Be careful... or I might eat you."
Liltotto whispered to him. Her voice was very light, but it felt like a venomous snake's tongue flicking against his ear!
!!!
Those words made Doflamingo's scalp go numb, his hair standing on end! Every inch of his skin screamed; the extreme terror meant he couldn't even tremble. He could only gape like a fish out of water, unable to make a sound. He suddenly remembered a phrase used to discipline bad children among the Celestial Dragons.
If you don't behave, a 'D' will eat the bad children...
This person... this person actually wanted to eat him?! Doflamingo was drenched in sweat. Looking at her expressionless face, he realized she wasn't exaggerating—she really would eat him!
"I..."
"I..."
Doflamingo struggled to voice a single syllable, but then suddenly forgot what he was going to say next. Of course, Liltotto had no intention of continuing to play with the child. She straightened up, and that suffocating, terrifying Reiatsu receded like a tide.
The warm sunlight returned to Doflamingo, but it couldn't dispel the chill in his marrow.
"Take him back. Brats really can't handle a joke."
She waved her hand dismissively, signaling the guards to take Doflamingo away. Without another glance at the blond boy who looked as if his soul had been sucked out, she turned, shoved her hands in her pockets, and walked with a light step toward the path to Marine Headquarters.
The sound of her footsteps, tap-tap-tap, reached Doflamingo's ears, filling him with a sudden, overwhelming sense of humiliation! He... he had been so humiliated by this woman? But the moment he thought of that aura she had released, he felt an urge to stay kneeling.
She wasn't joking! She really would eat him! She was a demon! She was the devil!
But... he was a Celestial Dragon! He was supposed to be the most noble existence in the world! He was a God!
Doflamingo watched Liltotto's departing back, and the humiliation, anger, and resentment within his heart exploded like a tidal wave!
"YOU STOP RIGHT THERE!"
BOOM!
From his body, a powerful and invisible force erupted! In an instant, the people nearby who were trying to help him up foamed at the mouth, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed unconscious!
This... was precisely Conqueror's Haki!