Sabaody Archipelago, Area 23.
The broad street was bustling with people coming and going.
Just then—
"Get out of the way! All of you, get out of my way!"
A rough shout came from the end of the street.
Immediately after, people saw that iconic transparent oxygen helmet and the ugly, pig-like face behind it.
Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth, falling onto the back of the mount beneath him.
A Celestial Dragon.
He was riding on the back of a burly pirate.
The pirate crawled on all fours like livestock.
A collar was fastened around the pirate's neck, connected to reins that were held in the Celestial Dragon's hand.
His eyes were hollow and numb, his face expressionless, as if he had grown accustomed to this humiliation.
Surrounding the Celestial Dragon were four CP Agents in black suits and a twelve-member Garrison squad.
The Garrison came from the Holy Land Mariejois, fully armed with polished armor and long spears, marching in neat formation on both sides.
The civilians on the street turned pale at the sight.
"A... Celestial Dragon..."
Someone gasped in a low voice.
The next moment, everyone dropped to their knees in unison.
Foreheads pressed to the ground, bodies trembling.
Even children who had been running were yanked down by their mothers and pressed against the ground.
The lively street instantly fell into deathly silence.
Only the sound of the Celestial Dragon's mount crawling remained, along with—
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
The Celestial Dragon viciously whipped the pirate beneath him.
The pirate's back was already torn and bleeding, but he only grunted and continued crawling.
"It's all because of those damned pirates!" the Celestial Dragon cursed. "They made them cancel our triennial Human Hunting Festival!"
The angrier he got, the harder he whipped.
"I'm talking about you! You damned scoundrels!"
The pirate beneath him didn't dare resist or even look up.
God Valley six years ago, Domon Island three years ago—two Celestial Dragon hunting festivals, two massacres by pirates.
Not a single Celestial Dragon who participated in those two festivals survived.
Since then, no Celestial Dragon dared to participate in such events anymore.
"Hmph!" The Celestial Dragon put away his whip, straightened his back, and looked at the civilians kneeling on both sides of the street, his anger slightly subsiding.
"It really is better to come out." He laughed arrogantly. "Only outside can I see these lowly commoners kneeling in submission!"
His laughter echoed through the empty street, sounding particularly grating.
The kneeling civilians pressed their faces even lower.
The Celestial Dragon nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue forward—
Suddenly, his smile froze.
Just ahead, about thirty meters away, were two people with their backs turned to him.
An old man with a blade of grass growing from his head.
A young woman with long silver-white hair and a slender figure.
Both were lowering their heads, seemingly engrossed in studying something, engaged in heated discussion.
They—
Had not knelt.
Had not turned around.
There was no response.
They simply had their backs turned to him, engrossed in a heated discussion.
The Celestial Dragon's face instantly darkened.
"Damn it, how dare anyone ignore me!"
He viciously yanked the reins, and the pirate beneath him hurriedly changed direction, crawling toward the two individuals.
"I must teach them a lesson today!"
The guards quickly followed.
The civilians kneeling on the ground trembled, pressing their faces even lower.
They knew the Celestial Dragon was enraged.
Some secretly lifted their heads, glancing at the two oblivious individuals from the corners of their eyes, silently praying for them—
though they also knew prayers were useless.
And those two seemed completely unaware of the commotion behind them.
They were immersed in their own world.
"Dr. Clover, look!"
The young woman—Nico Olvia—excitedly unfolded a yellowed piece of parchment before an elderly man.
The parchment appeared ancient, its edges worn, but the writing on it remained clearly legible.
"I just bought this from a roadside stall for a thousand Belly! Look at these characters!"
Dr. Clover—the head librarian of Ohara's Tree of Knowledge and a world-renowned historian.
He took the parchment, squinting as he carefully examined it.
Nico Olvia stood beside him, her eyes gleaming with fervent light.
She had loved history since childhood.
As she grew older, she became an archaeologist, joining Ohara's expedition team. She was preparing to set sail with Dr. Clover to search for those lost Poneglyphs.
Their goal was not ordinary history.
What they sought was the history strictly sealed off and forbidden by the World Government for anyone to touch—
the Void Century.
This was the greatest taboo and deepest mystery in the field of history.
The World Government had repeatedly issued decrees, forbidding anyone from researching this period of history.
Violators would face the death penalty, with their entire families executed.
But the scholars of Ohara did not comply.
Because they were historians.
Because their duty was to reveal the true history to the world.
"Doctor, I don't know too much yet, but I've managed to translate some of the content here."
Olvia pointed to a section on the parchment. "The content here seems to record a story from eight hundred years ago..."
Dr. Clover did not reply; he was already completely absorbed.
He translated word by word, murmuring to himself:
"Sea Calendar 610... the Great Kingdom... war... twenty kings..."
Olvia listened intently beside him, occasionally nodding or frowning in thought.
The two had entered a state of total absorption.
They forgot about time, forgot about their location, forgot about everything around them.
And they forgot—
the roar coming from behind.
"Hey!! What are you two monkeys doing!!!"
A furious shout exploded in their ears.
Dr. Clover and Olvia both jolted, looking up abruptly.
A man with an oxygen mask and a hideous face stood before them, filled with rage, his eyes almost spitting fire.
Behind him were four CP Agents in black suits and a fully armed Garrison.
And... civilians kneeling all along the street.
"How dare you not kneel and pay respects upon seeing this Saint!!" the Celestial Dragon roared. "You two uncultured monkeys!!!"
Olvia's heart clenched violently.
Dr. Clover's pupils abruptly contracted.
They finally realized what had happened.
Celestial Dragon.
They... had offended a Celestial Dragon.
Countless thoughts flashed through Dr. Clover's mind.
The research on the Void Century, the World Government's prohibition, the capital punishment that would implicate nine generations of kin...
They weren't afraid of death.
They had long been prepared to sacrifice themselves for history.
But if their lives were to end not in glorious dedication to their dreams, but for such an absurd reason—
That would be utterly worthless.
He couldn't accept it.