As Is's words fell, the group quickened their pace and followed after him.
"Madara, how about we team up against Is when we get back? We didn't win a single round against him on the ship," Acnologia suggested as he walked beside him.
Madara glanced at him.
Perhaps traumatized by how badly he'd been dragged down earlier, he immediately shook his head.
"Find Tatsumaki for that."
"I'm not interested," Tatsumaki replied instantly. "I can barely keep my eyes open right now."
"You lost that many rounds and you can still sleep?" Acnologia asked.
"Yes."
Both Madara and Tatsumaki answered at the same time.
"…But if I keep playing with you, I can't guarantee that," Madara added.
"…."
Acnologia looked at the two of them, speechless.
"I've already mastered the strategy. I'm guaranteed to win!"
"Win my ass. This game is seventy percent luck," Is shot back from the front without even turning around.
Laughter broke out among the group.
Watching them disappear through the gates, the captain of the guards couldn't help but sigh with envy.
"…I really wish I could serve under Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is."
"Captain, what are you saying? You want to work for a Celestial Dragon?" one of the guards couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah, didn't you always say that was a high-risk job? You told us you saw guards get killed just for making small mistakes!"
"Shh! Lower your voices—do you want to die?" another guard hurriedly warned.
The captain glanced at them, then smiled faintly.
"Yes, I did say that. And it's true."
His voice lowered.
"But didn't you see it just now? Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is… he's different from all the other Celestial Dragons."
"He genuinely treats the people around him—his subordinates, even his slaves—with respect."
"To serve a man like that…"
"…would be an honor."
The surrounding guards seemed to come to a realization.
"…You're right. Compared to the others, Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is really is… different."
Soon, even those who had never interacted with Is began listening with interest.
"Now that you mention it, I kind of want to work under him too… Too bad I'm not qualified."
"Same here. I've only seen him a few times, but hearing this… he really does sound like someone remarkable."
Of course, Is and the others knew nothing about this discussion.
Before long, they returned to their castle.
As for the attack—
Is didn't pay it much mind.
After all, it was happening on the opposite side of Mary Geoise.
If anyone wanted to reach his area, they would first have to get past the Marines.
And under normal circumstances—
They would cause some destruction and retreat.
Just as he had predicted.
More importantly, Is had no intention of getting involved.
Above him were the Five Elders.
Above them was Im.
If even they weren't making a move—
Why should he, as a mere Celestial Dragon, bother?
So after returning, Is went about things as usual—
Eating, drinking, relaxing.
The attack didn't affect his mood in the slightest.
But just as he thought everything would pass quietly—
Suddenly—
Boom!
A figure crashed straight down from above, smashing through the roof and leaving a massive hole.
Dust spread through the hall.
Is's brow twitched slightly as he looked over.
As the dust gradually settled—
The figure became clearer.
A few seconds later—
Is froze.
"…Well, well."
No wonder he looked familiar.
It was none other than the Celestial Dragon who had suffered at his hands before—
Saint Charlos… no—Saint Karl Dean.
But now—
He looked utterly miserable.
His face was swollen like a pig's head.
Yet somehow, he was still conscious.
"I… Is… Saint…!" Karl Dean mumbled incoherently.
Is walked over, glanced at the shattered ceiling, then back at him.
"…What is this? Trying out a human cannonball?"
He had to admit—
Even with a hole blasted through the ceiling, the fact that Karl Dean was still conscious enough to speak was impressive.
"S-save… me…"
It took him nearly thirty seconds just to say those three words.
Even Is was getting impatient watching him struggle.
Just as Is was about to ask what happened—
A voice rang out from above the hole.
"Heh… didn't expect to meet again so soon."
"If I remember correctly… your name is Is, right?"
Is looked up.
A familiar face entered his sight.
Not a stranger—
But someone he had seen before.
A trainee of the Rocks Pirates—
Kaido.
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