"Interesting," Rhett swirled his glass, his blood-red eyes narrowing slightly. "Was that show for my benefit?"
The golden-masked Cipher Pol 9 agent gave a slight bow. "The Five Elders believe that true nobility does not need to trample on others to prove their worth."
"How interesting. Hearing those words come from a Celestial Dragon's mouth is certainly something new." Rhett lay back on the soft cloud bed. "You have to give it to them, though. These people really know how to live comfortably. No wonder everyone curses the Celestial Dragons, but everyone wants to become one."
Shanks swirled his glass. "Maybe they're trying to prove that not all of them are tyrants?"
"Hah," Rhett laughed coldly. "A tiger that hides its fangs is even more dangerous."
"I want to go for a walk." Rhett suddenly got up from the cloud bed. Blood mist billowed behind him like a cloak.
The golden-masked agent immediately stepped forward. "Lord Mist Lord, your designated rest area has already been—"
"What?" Rhett's crimson eyes narrowed. "Is there somewhere in Mary Geoise I'm not allowed to go?"
The air froze instantly. Shanks silently set down his glass. His hand had already moved to the hilt of his sword.
The agent's throat bobbed. "Of course not... it's just..."
Rhett walked straight toward the door.
It was no exaggeration to say that Rhett knew Mary Geoise like the back of his hand. He had been "enthusiastically invited" through most of its doors before. He had even been given quite a few things that day.
After passing through several ornate corridors, the distant sound of harsh shouting reached his ears.
Heheh!
"Filthy slave! Crawl faster!" A Celestial Dragon wearing a fishbowl helmet — Zabarron Nicchu Steel Plate Saint — was riding on the back of a slave covered in scars, whipping him mercilessly. "I want to go to the hot spring! Who gave you the right to block off the area?!"
When he saw Rhett and his group, his fat face beneath the fishbowl flushed red. "You dogs of Cipher Pol 9! How dare you bring outsiders—" His gaze landed on Rhett and he froze. "Which family's Celestial Dragon are you? I've never seen you before."
Rhett watched this fool with amusement. He turned to the Cipher Pol 9 agents and smiled. "So they did block off the area... That must have taken a lot of effort."
Zabarron Nicchu Steel Plate Saint, seeing that no one was paying him any attention, trembled with rage. "How dare you speak to me like that! Blocking off the area on your own authority? I am—"
"Swish!"
Blood mist instantly wrapped around Zabarron Nicchu Steel Plate Saint's neck and lifted him into the air.
"Have you ever left Mary Geoise? Have you ever seen the outside world? You fool."
"Why would I want to breathe the same air as those commoners?"
"Oh, so you've never left, have you? I thought I was pretty famous. You don't recognize me? Looks like you need a beating."
"You... how dare you...!" Zabarron Nicchu Steel Plate Saint struggled in the air. His fishbowl helmet shattered with a "crack." "My u-un-un-uncle is Zabarron V. Nusjuro Saint...!"
The blood-mist whip cracked several times. The Celestial Dragon's personal Cipher Pol 9 guards didn't even have time to scream before they were sliced into several bloody pieces.
"Do you know who I am?! Celestial Dragons are explicitly forbidden from attacking each other! I'll report you to the Five Elders!!" The man spun in the air.
"Crack!"
The blood whip struck his fat face. Skin split open.
"First lash. No particular reason. I just felt like hitting you." Rhett spoke slowly. Blood mist churned at his feet.
"AHHH!!!" The man screamed like a pig being slaughtered. "I'll have my uncle kill your entire family—"
"Crack!"
"Second lash. And that 'uncle' of yours — all those 'un's — can you even call him that? Illiterate."
This lash struck his back. His ornate robe tore open, revealing pale, flabby flesh. The man twisted and writhed in the air like a fish on a hook.
The golden-masked agents stood still. No one knew what expressions hid behind their masks. But none of them dared to step forward. First, every lash Rhett delivered was not intended to kill. Second, they were not his personal guards.
His personal guards had already been killed by Rhett moments ago.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Three lashes in a row. One on his arm, one on his thigh, one on his rear. The man's screams had already changed pitch. He sounded like a neutered rooster.
"These three lashes," Rhett flicked the blood whip, "are the same as the first. No particular reason. I just felt like hitting you."
"And now... spin, little top."
"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
The man spun so fast he nearly caught fire. He hung in the air, covered in blood, barely able to whimper. Rhett waved his hand. The blood mist threw him to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Get lost," Rhett said, looking down at him. "Tell your uncle, the Finance God of Knowledge—" The blood mist in the air condensed into a grinning face. "Tell him that 'Mist Lord' Rhett sends his regards."
The man was flung across the floor, leaving a long trail of blood in his wake.
Rhett straightened his clothes. Ah. He felt refreshed.
This really was a must-do activity when visiting Mary Geoise. Beating a Celestial Dragon. Rhett recommended it. Highly. The effect was only slightly less satisfying than killing one.
As for why he didn't kill him? That would have been impolite. They were guests here, after all. Mind your manners, mind your manners. Rhett was such a courteous person.
Rhett had been looking for trouble. And the Celestial Dragon, as expected, did not disappoint. His intelligence was still as laughable as ever.
Rhett didn't spare him another glance. He turned to the golden-masked agent. "Now, take me to the Five Elders." Blood mist in his palm condensed into a blood-red blade. "Try any more tricks, and the next one getting whipped will be them."
The agent's throat bobbed. "Yes... yes, sir. Please follow me."
Shanks quickly caught up and lowered his voice. "Big Brother, are you deliberately provoking them?"
Just then, another agent ran up and whispered something to the woman.
"Lord Mist Lord, Lord Shanks, the Five Elders are ready to receive you. Please—"
"Tell them," Rhett interrupted her, "to wait. We'll go tomorrow. Today..." He pointed at the dessert cart that had just been brought in. "I need to try this first."
The woman's mask nearly cracked. "B-But, sir..."
"What?" Rhett's eyes flashed red. "Not welcoming us anymore? When we arrived, I asked why we couldn't see them immediately. You said it was to make amends. Now that I've just finished beating one of your Celestial Dragons, suddenly they're free? No more amends to make?"
"...As you command." The woman bowed deeply and withdrew.
Shanks burst out laughing. "Big Brother, you're going to give them a heart attack!"
Rhett stretched lazily. "What's the rush? Let them wait a little longer. After all..." He looked meaningfully toward the towering Power Tower in the distance. "The main event should always be saved for last."