Rosinante's words had made the Five Elders grit their teeth in anger.
But as the highest rulers of the World Government, even in a moment like this, they still managed to keep their expressions under control.
"If this is truly all you came for, then we can agree to it. Nightless City will be restored to the way it once was," the long-haired, long-bearded Five Elder said calmly.
"All the fish-men and special races who were captured must be released," Rosinante said.
"We will negotiate that matter with the Celestial Dragons," the round-headed Five Elder replied.
"There's no room for negotiation on this. I'm giving you two choices. One: release all slaves. Two: I kill every Celestial Dragon," Rosinante said flatly.
"Just now, you only said the fish-men and special races," the sword-bearing Five Elder said, frowning.
"I don't like trouble. And I like endless wrangling even less. I know how your so-called politics works. If I start arguing with you over details, then it'll drag on forever. I have no interest in letting you drag my IQ down to your level, then beat me with your so-called experience. So let's settle it in one step. Don't let me see Celestial Dragons keeping slaves ever again. Otherwise, I'll be making frequent visits to the Red Line. After what just happened, you should already understand—you can't stop me. That secret treasure of yours is impressive, but it still can't kill me. Unless..." Rosinante said.
"Rosinante!" one of the Five Elders suddenly interrupted him before he could continue.
"We can agree to it. The Celestial Dragons' slaves can be released. But you know this well—our noble race cannot be without attendants to serve them," the long-haired, long-bearded Five Elder said.
When Sengoku heard that, disbelief flashed across his face.
He had never imagined the Five Elders would actually agree to such a condition.
As a Marine who was still relatively upright, Sengoku naturally found the Celestial Dragons' excesses hard to stomach.
But as someone with sharp political instincts, he knew very well that changing those things was harder than climbing to the heavens.
Even as Fleet Admiral, if he ever showed the slightest sign of wanting to challenge that system, his position would be over instantly.
He might even lose his life.
And yet with just a few words from Rosinante, the long-standing slave system of the Celestial Dragons had been abolished.
Granted, it would probably only change on the surface.
But even that was already unimaginable.
At the very least, on the surface, the Celestial Dragons would no longer be able to casually reduce ordinary civilians to slaves without reason.
"Servants are fine. Slaves are not. Honestly, that kind of inhumane slavery should never have existed in the first place. Don't you five think the so-called values of the Celestial Dragons have become completely twisted? No matter how 'noble' they claim to be, the moment they're overthrown, they become nothing at all," Rosinante said.
"Rosinante, watch your words. Don't forget that, no matter what, you are still one of the Celestial Dragons," the round-headed Five Elder said.
"Don't compare me to those bastards. I am me. Even if I was born among the so-called Celestial Dragons, from beginning to end I've always believed I'm a person, not some so-called god. Maybe you've never heard this saying—when a god falls from the altar, he becomes less than human. My family has lived through the entire process of a 'god' falling from that altar," Rosinante said calmly.
"That's enough. Today ends here. Don't waste my time with arguments, and don't try to play word games with me. I only care about results. If the result doesn't satisfy me, then I'll be making frequent trips to the Red Line. Maybe after I come a few more times... the Red Line itself won't exist anymore," Rosinante said flatly.
As he spoke, he turned, waved his hand, and began walking toward Bins and Redfield.
"Wait. Rosinante—have you never considered taking control of the World Government? With your bloodline and your strength, even a seat among the Five Elders is not impossible to obtain," the long-haired, long-bearded Elder suddenly asked.
"You don't need to test me. You should already know—ten years ago, you exiled my soul to another world. Though only ten years passed in this world, decades passed in that other one. In that world, I built an empire. A nation where my word alone decided everything. Honestly... I'm already sick of being a ruler. So you don't need to fear me overthrowing you. Because I have no desire to tear you down, only to have to deal with the trouble of building a new World Government afterward. If I still wanted power, I wouldn't have returned to this world at all," Rosinante said calmly.
"I see. So you really did go to another world. In that case... at least take this," the long-haired, long-bearded Five Elder said, flicking his hand and sending a card flying toward Rosinante.
"A Celestial Dragon identity card? And a top-level one at that," Rosinante said with clear disdain after catching it and taking a look.
"If you dislike trouble so much, then keep it. At the very least, it will reduce some of it. The World Government and the Marines won't trouble you, and there will always be fools in this world who don't know the difference between heaven and earth. We don't want to keep mobilizing everyone over you every other day," the long-haired, long-bearded Elder said.
"I'd actually welcome it if you came looking for trouble. It might add a little flavor to my life. But fine. This card should be useful for dining and dashing," Rosinante said, casually tossing the card to Bins.
When everyone present heard that, their faces darkened.
That was a Celestial Dragon identity card.
Since when had something like that been reduced to a tool for eating free meals?
But Rosinante didn't pay any attention to the dark expressions around him.
He simply left the Red Line without looking back, taking Bins and Redfield with him.
...