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After Daiki finished speaking, Anos raised his hand in a small, deliberate gesture, immediately signalling Daiki to stop.

There was no need for further discussion on the matter, and the subtle movement conveyed Anos's authority without a word.

Anos turned his gaze towards the stern-looking marine standing before them.

The marine's expression was guarded, showing no intention of warmth or welcome, yet Anos offered a slight, diplomatic smile.

"It's my first time visiting Mariejois," he began smoothly. "I'm not familiar with many of the customs here, so if I happen to make any missteps, I ask for your understanding."

The marine seemed momentarily taken aback. It wasn't every day that a visiting king showed such humility, and Anos's polite tone earned him a hint of favour.

Even if the marine's demeanour remained somewhat condescending. His posture softened ever so slightly, and he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Just remember," the marine said with a thin smile, "once you go up, you'll be in the presence of many Celestial Dragons. Every time you see one, you must kneel and salute. A word of advice if you, an outsider, act recklessly around them, it could cost you your life."

"Thank you for the warning," Anos replied, bowing his head respectfully, his expression unchanging.

Despite the patronizing tone, he knew it was better to remain cordial than to risk unnecessary conflict.

The marine gave a curt nod. "Hurry along, then." With that, he turned on his heel and started walking off, flanked by two others who followed him into another corridor.

Daiki watched them leave, his brow furrowed. His confusion evident, he looked at Anos and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, why are you so respectful towards these marines? They guard this place with such arrogance, and yet you..."

Anos looked ahead, beginning his ascent up the massive staircase leading to the heart of Mariejois. "It's just a few words, Daiki. A bit of humility costs us nothing."

"We're simply going through the motions," he replied calmly. "Right now, the most important thing is to get through this process without causing any trouble."

The steps stretched endlessly before them, each one a testament to the wealth and power that Mariejois represented.

White marble gleamed underfoot, polished to a mirror shine that reflected their silhouettes as they ascended.

"The unfortunate reality is that, if our Kingdom isn't strong enough, we're forced to play by their rules," Anos continued. "But, if one day, we have the strength to stand on equal ground, this place won't hold any power over us."

Daiki fell silent, absorbing his king's words. They echoed a simple truth a painful reality for any nation under the World Government's influence.

"Understood, Your Majesty," he finally said, following Anos up the steps with a new determination.

The steps were colossal, each one a daunting rise that made their path seem almost vertical. It felt as though they were climbing into the sky itself.

As they continued, the landscape below grew smaller, until the ships in the port and the people milling around looked like tiny, insignificant dots.

They were only halfway up, and already, the journey was exhausting.

For the other kings who had to make this trek, it was an act of submission a necessary step for any kingdom that wished to be part of the World Government.

But it was humiliating nonetheless, a reminder of the power held over them by those in the Holy Land.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Suzu, who was not as strong as Anos or Daiki, began to lag behind. Her breaths came in short gasps, her face flushed from the exertion.

Daiki noticed her struggle and quickly moved to support her, offering his arm so she could lean on him as they continued their ascent.

"Thank you," she whispered gratefully, trying to keep pace despite her fatigue. She refused to show weakness, yet her limits were evident.

Finally, after nearly half an hour of climbing, they reached the top of the steps.

Anos and Daiki took a moment to catch their breaths, looking out over the sprawling view below.

From here, they could see all of Mariejois spread out in opulent splendour.

The grand architecture, the gleaming white structures, all built with unimaginable wealth the scale of luxury was staggering.

Suzu, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Daiki, her breaths shallow as she tried to steady herself.

If Daiki hadn't helped her, she would have likely collapsed halfway up.

In front of them stretched a vast plaza, paved with flawless white jade that seemed to glow in the midday sun.

Connecting to it were the massive white buildings that housed the Celestial Dragons, their residences looming like palaces of ancient gods.

Anos surveyed the scene with a critical eye, noting the heavy silence that lay over the plaza.

Despite the wealth and beauty, there was an unsettling emptiness here. "So this is the seat of power for the Celestial Dragons," he murmured. "Half the world's wealth collected here over centuries… it's no wonder these buildings look as grand as they do."

"Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside," Daiki muttered darkly. "This place holds no appeal for anyone who values honour."

Anos glanced at him, his expression thoughtful. "Daiki, control your emotions," he warned. "No matter how much you may dislike this place, keep it to yourself. Any show of defiance here could lead to serious consequences."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Daiki replied, visibly restraining his anger.

"Now," Anos said, turning his gaze back to the buildings before them, "let's see what these so-called rulers of the world are really like."

They moved forward across the plaza, their footsteps echoing against the silent, gleaming jade.

The weather was hot, and only a few people walked around the square. Guards in pristine white uniforms patrolled the perimeter, their eyes sharp as they watched for any sign of trouble.

As they approached a towering building, six or seven stories high, they finally saw more activity.

Marines and other officials moved in and out of the grand entrance, some wearing different uniforms that indicated varying ranks and roles within the World Government.

Anos spotted a marine nearby and approached him. "Excuse me, could you direct us to the World Government Office?"

The marine barely looked at them. "I don't know. Find it yourself," he replied curtly, his tone dismissive.

The blatant rudeness was almost too much for Daiki, who clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white.

But Anos held up a hand, a quiet signal that he should let it go. There was no point in engaging with disrespectful guards when they had a mission to complete.

Instead, Anos calmly activated his Observation Haki. Instantly, the entire scene of Mariejois unfolded in his mind like a detailed map.

He could sense the presence of every individual around them, each movement, each shift of weight. It was as if the entire city was laid bare before him.

"Your Majesty…" Daiki began, his tone uncertain.

"It's fine," Anos reassured him. "Let's head this way." He gestured toward a passage to their left. "It appears we've run into an old acquaintance. What a surprise."

Daiki and Suzu exchanged glances but said nothing, following Anos as he led them through the grand hallways of Mariejois.

Their surroundings grew more opulent with each step, marble and gold adorning every corner, though the abundance of wealth did little to mask the underlying sense of decay.

Finally, they reached a pair of enormous doors, intricately carved with mahogany and accented with golden filigree.

Anos raised his hand and knocked twice. After a moment, a voice from within called out, and Anos opened the doors.

Inside, a gathering of individuals sat in rows, as if in the middle of a council meeting.

They all looked up as the three entered, their faces a mix of surprise and suspicion.

A man closest to the door, draped in the familiar white robe of justice, fixed them with a stern gaze. "Who are you?"

Anos smiled, recognizing the figure seated before them. "Ah, Vice-Admiral Aokiji or should I say, Admiral now. It's been some time, hasn't it? Surely you haven't forgotten me?"

Aokiji, with his usual air of indifference, lifted his gaze to meet Anos's.

He still had that same lazy, half-awake look, his legs crossed in an unbothered stance that contrasted with the tension in the room. His gaze settled on Anos, and a faint spark of recognition flickered in his eyes.

"So, we meet again," Anos said, stepping forward with the poise of a king. "I came here to see what those who claim to stand above the rest of the world are truly like."

The room fell into a tense silence as Aokiji continued to watch him, his expression unreadable.

The rest of the council members exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of the unexpected encounter.

For Anos, the scene was almost surreal a room full of the so-called rulers, all held in a moment of suspense.

In the back of his mind, he knew that every word, every move here would be scrutinized, but he didn't care.

This was his moment, and he intended to make the most of it.

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