In the grand hall, Lakeman lounged lazily on the sofa, eyeing the auction managers before him. He gently set down the phone bug he had been holding.
Beside him stood the butler and the chief of the guard. More guards surrounded them, watching the management with wary eyes.
"..."
Hancock was also observing the auction staff, gently rubbing Lakeman's shoulders, her expression one of surprise. These significant figures were reduced to mere sycophants in front of the Celestial Dragon.
Lakeman accepted their subservience as if it were his birthright. Hancock struggled to reconcile the powerful figure before her with the boy who held her to sleep at night. They seemed like two completely different people.
'No, that's not right,' she thought, narrowing her eyes.
'There have been changes.' She couldn't pinpoint when it started, but Lakeman had begun displaying more of an aura of superiority—stern, deep, and domineering. At night, he had gradually become more condescending, and she had unknowingly started obeying this authority.
Lakeman's voice broke her thoughts.
"I'll give you a minute," he said, looking at the management. He picked up the teacup at hand and took a sip. This unique tea, sourced from the sea, had an extremely refreshing taste that he had fallen in love with at first sight.
"Yes!" The leader of the managers was overjoyed.
He wasn't afraid of Lakeman's cold attitude but feared not being given a chance to speak. Being allowed to speak meant there was room to explain. What they feared most was Lakeman ordering the guards to kill them without a word. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not materialize.
'My analysis is correct; this Celestial Dragon is more intelligent and kind! This kindness is exactly what we can take advantage of!' the man thought.
The leading man, a senior executive, straightened his back, adjusted his tie, and showed an extremely apologetic and guilty expression.
"I'm extremely sorry, Master Lakeman! It's all the people below who are so obsessed with money and full of greed that they dared to pay attention to you. Even if they died ten thousand times, it wouldn't be enough to atone for their crime!"
"It's also because we didn't do a good job. Sabaody Archipelago's staff is in disarray, and there are all kinds of gangsters. We didn't check their character before recruiting them as employees, which led to what happened today. It's truly regrettable. I feel deeply sorry!"
The man bowed deeply, the corners of his mouth quivering slightly. These words perfectly absolved them. They admitted their mistakes, but it wasn't them who made the mistake, just the daring employees below. They simply made the mistake of not properly vetting the character of their employees. But this cannot be blamed on them, as the Sabaody Archipelago is a mixed bag; most areas are illegal zones, and even the Marines and World Government can't do much about it.
'This is the perfect speech I prepared!' the man chuckled internally. 'Master Lakeman, with your kindness and intelligence, you can definitely understand my words and my painstaking efforts.'
"To express our apologies, we have contacted the boss." The man raised his head and glanced at Lakeman, only to see that Lakeman's face remained calm and composed. In the man's eyes, this was good news—at least he wasn't angry.
"Our boss is the Black Hemp Kingdom of West Blue, one of the participating countries of the World Government." The man revealed the identity of the boss behind him.
"The Black Hemp Kingdom is willing to dedicate all the auction goods to you, sir. As an apology, please accept them."
After saying that, the man knelt directly on the ground and pressed his head heavily to the floor. The management team behind him followed suit, kneeling and pressing their foreheads to the floor.
Compared with saving their lives and wealth, what did it mean to just kneel down? Even if they had to lick the Celestial Dragon's shoes, there would be no problem!
"..."
Hancock's eyes were wide with shock. 'Do such a group of glamorous elites kneel without hesitation because of their subordinates' mistakes? And they even presented the goods they had worked hard to collect throughout the year! Their attitude is too sincere.'
'Obviously, the franchise country is behind this, paying heavenly tribute every year and being protected by the World Government, but they still came to apologize in person...' Hancock thought, shocked. 'Is this the nobility of the Celestial Dragons?'
For a moment, Hancock felt a bit unbearable. Seeing these people kneeling reminded her of when she was forced to lose her freedom and become a slave of the Celestial Dragons. But she was the only one who felt this way.
The surrounding guards and servants had expressionless faces and vigilant gazes. They didn't even listen to what the man said. It didn't matter whether the management was wrong or not; what mattered was what Saint Lakeman thought.
'A bunch of damn guys!' the housekeeper's eyes flashed coldly after hearing this
. 'You dare to play with words, trying to deceive the master and gently expose the offense to the young master?' The housekeeper's murderous intent emerged, but he said nothing, knowing Master Lakeman would not be fooled. He firmly believed in the young master's sensitivity and intelligence.
"One minute's up," Lakeman finally spoke, and his words caused the kneeling management's expressions to change drastically.
"Lord Lakeman!!" the leading man suddenly raised his head, showing an expression of disbelief.
"Very noisy," Lakeman said, rubbing his ears gently. Immediately, a guard next to him slapped the man hard across the face.
Snapped!
The man spun like a top, his body flipping two and a half times before falling heavily to the ground. He passed out directly.
"..."
The others fell silent, their faces showing horror.
Hancock's eyes widened in shock, unable to understand why things had developed this way. 'Didn't they apologize already? It's not their fault; it's just the private behavior of the employees below!'
She was about to speak to dissuade him but suddenly froze, her heart turning cold.
On the sofa, as if expecting it, Lakeman turned around and glanced at her lightly. This look made Hancock feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave. It was as if her entire being had been seen through, sending chills through her heart.
_____________________________________________________________________
Thank you to our amazing Patrons for your incredible support and contributions to our work! You're all legends!
[Jose Torres]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Colin Hilterhaus]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Copinsa]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Takatchi]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Spooder Man]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Cédric NGOUBY]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Chriddl]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Yomax Aioria]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Purriah]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[hmmmyesss nooomaybee]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Ryan biggins]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Dragonman97]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Cesar Montemayor]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[James Williams]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Red Rabbit]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
🎉 Join the Club! 🎉
Want to see your name up here and get exclusive perks , more advanced chapters and arts?
Join our Patreon family and be part of something special. Your support helps us keep creating awesome content and brings you closer to the action.
Don't miss out on the fun—become a Super Fan, Die Hard Fan Or The Godly Fan today!
You can join us at patreon.com/UchihaRemant.
Thank you, everyone, for making this journey amazing! Let's keep rocking together! 🚀💥
________________________________________________________________________
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
"I…"
Before Hancock could say anything, Lakeman withdrew his gaze and continued to look at the people kneeling in front of him. Her words were caught in her throat.
Beside her, the butler looked at Hancock expressionlessly, as if conveying a silent warning. This made Hancock feel a strong sense of unease, as though she had done something wrong.
"In the chaotic Sabaody Archipelago, it is impossible to run a large-scale auction without sufficient skill and control," Lakeman spoke, his voice gentle, his words slow and deliberate.
"In other words, if you are deceived by your subordinates, it means that your control is not strong enough, which means that your position should have been replaced by subordinates with ambition and ability. But you are not replaced."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "There is only one answer. All of this was done by you in secret. The mastermind behind the deception of the Celestial Dragons is not any of your employees but you yourself."
The air suddenly became as cold as winter. The faces of the management team turned pale as paper.
"No, sir, we…"
Snapped!
Without Lakeman opening his mouth, the guards stepped forward and slapped the speaker away. Another person was beaten to death. These people, usually pampered and full of conspiracies and calculations, had never practiced combat. Now, under the watchful eyes of the guards, they couldn't fight back.
"..."
Behind the sofa, Hancock's face paled slightly. She understood her mistake. Not only had she been deceived, but she also planned to defend the scammers and dissuade Lakeman. She forgot her identity. No matter how favorably Lakeman treated her, she would not change her status as a slave, and a slave had no right to interfere with the master's decision. Lakeman was the only one making decisions here. Even the housekeeper would not say anything at this time.
'It's over,' Hancock thought, her hands and feet cold, a chill shooting up her back and into her brain.
Lakeman's expression remained calm as he continued, "And you still bring up the franchise country, which truly makes me laugh. Does the Black Hemp Kingdom really think that paying heavenly tribute every year gives them the qualification to plot against the Celestial Dragons? Don't you understand who the World Government is? Or do you think I'm young and easy to deceive?"
The managers were breaking out in cold sweats, their bodies shaking. They never expected they would not be able to deceive this young Celestial Dragon.
"Lord Lakeman, we are just working for the Black Hemp Kingdom. We don't know anything!"
one of the management members was shaking like a leaf, begging for mercy with tears streaming down his face. "Please forgive me!"
Snapped!
A guard stepped forward and knocked him unconscious with a slap. The other managers trembled even more. Judging from Lakeman's attitude, he had no intention of letting them go.
"It's really over now!" one of the managers thought desperately.
"Did you hear that, Patriarch?" Lakeman's expression was cold, and he didn't even look at the stunned person. He just spoke to the phone bug placed next to him.
The phone bug, which had been silent all this time, opened its eyes. From it, an old man's voice emerged.
"Since they are working for the Black Hemp Kingdom, that means the Black Hemp Kingdom is the mastermind. There is no need to calculate the value of the franchise countries in front of the Celestial Dragons. Saint Lakeman, you discovered this and made a great contribution. After the Black Hemp Kingdom is cleaned up, I will give it to you as a vassal state, and areas 1 to 5 on the Sabaody Archipelago will also be given to you."
Saint Nusjuro communicated with Lakeman, his voice suppressing his anger.
After discovering the tricks played by the auction house, Lakeman had called the financial god of war, one of the Five Elders, who was the patriarch of his family. He was here to play, not to fight. When it came to killing people, he let the professionals handle it.
Lakeman wasn't willing to do it himself. As a Celestial Dragon, he should give countless orders with one command. It was too cheap to do it in person.
"Do you need me to clean it up?" Lakeman asked.
"Do as you like. I will let the CP agents take action to clean up all the people who have participated in this and shared the benefits!" Saint Nusjuro gritted his teeth.
The kneeling managers' eyes widened with extreme horror. Listening to the conversation, they realized that the Celestial Dragon had no intention of letting them go.
"Escape…" One of the managers suddenly stood up and darted backward like a rabbit. Lakeman didn't even look up, just waved his hand.
Swish!
The surrounding guards immediately rushed forward and subdued all the managers in just one second.
"Take them outside to deal with them. Don't dirty the floor," Lakeman ordered. "Break the bones in their bodies one at a time. Let them die in pain. This is the least they can pay to calm my anger."
The guards dragged the unconscious managers out one by one. As they were dragged away, the hall was filled with the sounds of desperate, pleading cries and the dull thuds of fists meeting flesh. The screams of the auction managers echoed through the corridors, growing fainter as they were taken outside.
In the hall, Lakeman continued talking to Saint Nusjuro with a calm expression and an unchanged tone. "Whether it's the Kingdom or Areas 1 to 5, I don't have enough manpower to manage them."
"I will send the right personnel to you," Saint Nusjuro's tone softened, filled with appreciation for this keen and intelligent descendant who had an insight into scams. "You just need to wait to receive them. After they are sent out, they will only belong to you."
"That's fine." Lakeman laughed. "I quite like auctions. Just give me the largest auction house in the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Well, I will send you someone with relevant experience," Saint Nusjuro agreed without hesitation. "Is there anything else?"
"Not for now."
"Call me if you need anything."
"Okay."
Lakeman nodded and hung up. In an understatement, the fate of a kingdom and five areas in Sabaody Archipelago was decided. It was as simple as discussing what to have for dinner.
Behind the sofa, Hancock looked at Lakeman and felt a deep chill in her heart. 'Is this what Celestial Dragons are truly like?'
Outside the hall, Kizaru was relaxing in the sun on the balcony of his suite when he frowned. He saw twenty-three people in suits and ties, with waxed hair and an elitist demeanor, being dragged out unconscious by Lakeman's guards.
"What's going on?" Kizaru wondered.
The guards dragged twenty-three people out of the hotel. Not long after, the hall was filled with the sound of desperate, pleading cries and the dull thuds of fists meeting flesh. The screams of the auction managers echoed through the corridors, growing fainter as they were taken outside. Eventually, all the life breaths of those twenty-three people disappeared.
"Is this... a lynching by Celestial Dragons?"
Kizaru's eyes narrowed, surprised. "What happened? Saint Lakeman actually let his men kill people?"
________________________________________________________________
Thank you to our amazing Patrons for your incredible support and contributions to our work! You're all legends!
[Jose Torres]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Colin Hilterhaus]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Copinsa]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Takatchi]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Spooder Man]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Cédric NGOUBY]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Chriddl]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Yomax Aioria]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Purriah]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[hmmmyesss nooomaybee]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Ryan biggins]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Dragonman97]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Cesar Montemayor]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[James Williams]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
[Red Rabbit]: A Super Fan - $10 pledged
🎉 Join the Club! 🎉
Want to see your name up here and get exclusive perks , more advanced chapters and arts?
Join our Patreon family and be part of something special. Your support helps us keep creating awesome content and brings you closer to the action.
Don't miss out on the fun—become a SuperFan today!
You can join us at patreon.com/UchihaRemant.
Thank you, everyone, for making this journey amazing! Let's keep rocking together! 🚀💥
________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT