Fisher Tiger was, after all, the one responsible for the infamous attack on Mariejois in the original story—the very man who set the Holy Land ablaze.
Although he only burned a small portion, it was enough to make Kaguya wary. What if he suddenly decided to torch her home on a whim?
Should she eliminate him preemptively to prevent any future problems?
Kaguya stroked her chin, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, an emotionally moved Fisher Tiger remained oblivious to the mortal peril he was currently facing.
Upon investigating, Kaguya discovered that the number of slaves rescued from Rosward's dungeon was shockingly high—over a thousand. Among them were not only humans but also Fish-Men, giants, Longarm Tribe members, and various other races, resembling a grand zoo.
As for Rosward's treasure trove, it was overflowing with gold and jewels. However, Kaguya had no interest in such wealth. Her own family's riches were even more extravagant—one glance at their castle-sized vault proved that. For now, money was the least of her concerns.
After all, she was technically a Celestial Dragon now. The World Government provided the Celestial Dragons with enormous annual funds, ensuring they could indulge in lavish, idle lifestyles.
Kaguya even suspected that this was part of the World Government's plan—to corrupt the so-called Celestial Dragons, turning them into powerless figureheads while allowing the Five Elders to control everything from behind the scenes. It was akin to a constitutional monarchy.
Had it not been for her current mission, Kaguya might have also succumbed to a life of leisure and indulgence.
However, something in Rosward's warehouse caught her attention.
On the table lay a selection of fruits. At first glance, they seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, their surfaces were covered with intricate patterns. Each fruit was unique in design and shape.
These were Devil Fruits.
Kaguya picked up a peach-like fruit and examined it.
So, this is a Devil Fruit?
Since arriving in this world, she had encountered several Devil Fruit users, but she had never actually seen the fruits themselves.
They looked nearly identical to regular fruits, with the exception of the elaborate swirls decorating their surfaces. However, those patterns alone made them appear unappetizing—as if they would taste absolutely vile.
It was said that Devil Fruits tasted so disgusting they resembled excrement, nauseating to the extreme.
Yet, their powers were undeniably alluring, which was why so many people still consumed them despite the horrendous taste.
Using a Devil Fruit encyclopedia as a reference, Kaguya began identifying the fruits one by one.
Bug-Bug Fruit: Wasp Model, Sonic-Sonic Fruit, Candy-Candy Fruit, Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit...
Why are these all so useless?
Kaguya was disappointed—not a single Logia-type fruit, and not even a strong Paramecia or Zoan-type. They were all completely mediocre.
It made sense, though. Logia-type Devil Fruits were incredibly rare, the least common of all types, and universally acknowledged as the strongest. Even in the original story, only eleven had ever been introduced.
Just as she was about to give up, her eyes landed on a strawberry-shaped fruit.
Kaguya froze.
Love-Love Fruit.
If Kaguya remembered correctly, the Love-Love Fruit was the Devil Fruit possessed by Boa Hancock in the original story. She hadn't expected to find it here.
Then again, according to the original timeline, Hancock was captured by the slave traders a few years later and was then forced to eat the Devil Fruit.
Since Hancock had yet to be captured, it was natural that she hadn't consumed the Love-Love Fruit yet.
For most people—or for Hancock in particular—the Love-Love Fruit was an invaluable asset. However, for Kaguya, whose beauty was already unparalleled, it wasn't of much use. Besides, she had no desire to rely on charm-based powers in battle. That wasn't her style.
Kaguya set the Love-Love Fruit aside, intending to give it to Hancock in the future. After all, only with the Love-Love Fruit could Hancock truly become the Boa Hancock she was meant to be.
As for the rest of the Devil Fruits, they remained scattered across the table. Kaguya casually picked up a pineapple-shaped fruit, her eyes narrowing.
By the time she emerged from her room, all the Devil Fruits on the table had been absorbed. However, despite the process, she didn't seem to have gained any new abilities. If it weren't for the system notification, she might have thought these Devil Fruits were counterfeits.
Previously, Kaguya had assumed that absorbing Devil Fruits would grant her their abilities. Now, it seemed things weren't so simple.
Yet, she had a feeling that Devil Fruits held deeper mysteries.
At that moment, Tiger approached her and reported, "The ship and supplies are ready. We can set sail whenever you wish."
"Mm," Kaguya nodded. "Inform the crew that we depart tomorrow, barring any unforeseen circumstances."
Tiger hesitated. "Are you certain about going there? The environment is harsh, full of dangers, and the route is plagued by Sea Kings."
"My decision is final. You already agreed to my terms," Kaguya interrupted. "Just follow my instructions."
Seeing that her mind was made up, Tiger had no choice but to comply with her orders.
Once Tiger left, Shirley approached with concern. "Master, are you really planning to go? If you leave, then this place..."
Kaguya, sensing her worries, reassured her, "Don't worry, I won't be gone for too long. I should return soon."
"Understood," Shirley responded softly.
Kaguya suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and I've already informed the World Government. Someone from the royal faction will be sent to protect you all. If any Celestial Dragons dare cause trouble, just call me, and I'll deal with them myself. Understand?"
"Yes, Master," Shirley nodded but then hesitated. "What about Lady Shalria?"
"Shalria?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
Then, it clicked.
Though Shalria was technically Kaguya's slave, she was still a Celestial Dragon. If Kaguya left, Shalria's status would become uncertain. Would others listen to her? Or ignore her?
That was Shirley's primary concern.
Kaguya leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
Shirley's eyes widened in surprise. "Master, will that really work?"
Kaguya smiled. "Trust me. Just follow my plan."
Early the next morning, Kaguya's fleet set sail from the harbor, embarking on their journey.
As she was about to leave, Head Maid Shirley hesitated before gathering her courage to ask if she could accompany Kaguya, offering to take care of her daily needs. However, Kaguya refused.
This wasn't a leisurely trip—there was no need to bring unnecessary people along.
Besides, the Grand Line was full of dangers, and unpredictable events could occur at any moment. While Kaguya herself had nothing to fear, these delicate and powerless girls wouldn't stand a chance if something happened. If even one or two of them died, Kaguya would feel responsible.
Seeing that Kaguya had made up her mind, Shirley had no choice but to give up, albeit reluctantly. The other maids also seemed reluctant to see her go, and little Shina's eyes turned red with unshed tears.
This wasn't an act.
Celestial Dragons were known for their arrogance and cruelty. They never saw their servants as people—if they were in a bad mood, they could beat or kill them on a whim. The number of innocent lives lost to their whims was countless.
The maids had heard countless terrifying stories about the Celestial Dragons. When they first learned they were being sent to serve one, they had been paralyzed with fear, dreading the slightest mistake.
However, after spending time with Kaguya, they realized she was nothing like the Celestial Dragons they had feared. Not only was she not cruel, but she also treated them kindly. As long as they didn't anger her, she was unexpectedly easygoing. What surprised them most was that she even said "thank you"—something unheard of among the Celestial Dragons.
After all, in the Celestial Dragons' dictionary, "thank you" simply did not exist. To them, everything was theirs by right.
Compared to the heartless Celestial Dragons, having Kaguya as their master was nothing short of a miracle.
...
Meanwhile, out at sea.
As expected of a Celestial Dragon's fleet, the ships were not only luxurious but also incredibly sturdy. They were constructed from the world's strongest timber, "Adam." Both the Pirate King Roger's ship, the Oro Jackson, and Luffy's Thousand Sunny had been built from the same material.
As she stood on the deck, the salty sea breeze hit Kaguya's face, causing her to frown and cover her nose.
She had always hated the stench of the ocean.
At that moment, Tiger approached her with a grin. "At this speed, we'll reach Sabaody Archipelago soon. Once we find a coating specialist there, we can head straight for Fish-Man Island."
For years, Tiger had harbored deep resentment toward humans, especially the Celestial Dragons who had enslaved his people.
However, after Kaguya had saved his fellow Fish-Men, his perspective was beginning to change.
"Mm," Kaguya nodded.
Her destination this time was Fish-Man Island.
During the last World Conference, there had been discussions about the Fish-Men. Queen Otohime had attended and pleaded for her people to be allowed to live on the surface alongside humans, advocating for peaceful coexistence.
Predictably, the proposal had been shelved. Humans had never taken the Fish-Men seriously, and it was no surprise that their request was ignored.
Kaguya's objectives for this journey were twofold: first, to win the trust of the Fish-Men and establish her own influence; and second, to retrieve the historical documents hidden in the Sea Forest. The mystery of the Void Century intrigued her.
At that moment, Kaguya couldn't help but think of Robin. If that girl were here, things would be much easier.
Upon arriving at the port of Sabaody Archipelago, a large contingent of Marines was already waiting. However, unlike before, they weren't there to cause trouble. On the contrary, due to Kaguya's Celestial Dragon status, they were there to provide protection.
Even though they had been informed beforehand, the Marines were still shocked when Kaguya disembarked.
The person they had previously fought was actually a Celestial Dragon?
In their minds, Celestial Dragons were nothing more than spoiled parasites living off the world's wealth. But the silver-haired girl before them was entirely different—she neither wore a glass bubble on her head nor dressed in the ridiculous spacesuit-like attire of the nobility. More importantly, she possessed overwhelming strength.
Whether it was her defeat of five vice admirals in Ohara or her battle against the legendary Hero Garp at Sabaody, she had displayed unfathomable power. Even now, the remains of three colossal broken trees stood as silent witnesses to that fierce fight.
With this in mind, when the Marines looked at Kaguya again, their gazes were no longer just those of subordinates showing forced respect to a Celestial Dragon. Instead, they carried genuine reverence—and in some, even admiration. After all, a young girl possessing the power to challenge an admiral was nearly unheard of. Even the Pirate King Roger, in his youth, might not have reached this level so soon.
If such an individual were an enemy, they would be a source of nightmares for the Marines. But now that she was on their side, a feeling of security washed over them.
After all, everyone wanted a strong ally.
Due to Kaguya's previous battle with Garp, much of the nearby town had been reduced to rubble. The destruction had been so severe that even after more than half a month of reconstruction, many areas still lay in ruins.
Fortunately, the World Government had intervened, compensating the town's residents with a large sum of money. While it couldn't fully restore what they had lost, it at least provided some comfort. However, in the eyes of the townspeople, Kaguya's reputation had taken a hit.
As Kaguya walked through the town, she was surrounded by a grand entourage, a scene befitting a Celestial Dragon.
If it were Shalria, she would have loved such a spectacle. She enjoyed parading through the streets with a large entourage, basking in the attention and intimidation it brought.
But Kaguya had no such interest. She preferred peace and quiet.
Upon hearing that a Celestial Dragon had arrived, the townspeople panicked, immediately dropping to their knees in fear. Showing even the slightest disrespect to a Celestial Dragon was a grave offense—many had lost their lives for much less.
Just then, a small child suddenly ran out from an alley.
The guards immediately raised their guns, aiming at the child. "Halt! Who are you?!"
The child froze, his whole body trembling. Upon realizing he was facing a Celestial Dragon, his face turned pale with terror.
When Kaguya got a clear look at the child, her eyes narrowed.
Suction cups on the arms, a long mouth, white hair resembling a sea star—if she wasn't mistaken, this child was...
Before she could react further, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared from the street. With incredible speed, they dashed toward the child in an instant, moving faster than the eye could follow.
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