<h4>Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Rosward: Life Is Too Hard!</h4>


    In the Holy Land of Mariejois, outside the World Government headquarters, Stussy stood as usual, waiting for udius.


    Before long, udius emerged from the building, looking rxed. It seemed that his report to the Five Elders had gone smoothly.


    As for Li''s incident, udius hadn''t brought it up, and neither had the Five Elders. Clearly, it was being treated as a trivial, face-saving matter.


    Which made sense, why would the World Government offend a powerful andpetent Celestial Dragon like udius over a minor king from some pirate-gued allied nation?


    As soon as udius stepped out, Stussy greeted him with a smile. She wrapped her arms around his and pressed her lithe figure close to him.


    "Hey, careful! You''re going to hit me with those," udius teased with a chuckle, enjoying the soft sensation against his arm.


    Stussy rolled her eyes yfully and said with a smirk, "What? You don''t like it?"


    "Ahahaha, who in their right mind wouldn''t like this? I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now," udius replied,ughing.


    Ever since the little escapade with Shyarly on Fish-Man Ind, Stussy had been noticeably more confident and enthusiastic in her interactions with udius.


    Not that udius minded. After years of working together, there was genuine affection between them. Stussy''s boldness wasn''t unwee, and udius, who wasn''t exactly shy about such things, had no reason to refuse her advances. If anything, he appreciated her attentiveness.


    Still, udius had his boundaries. He never forced anything, though he certainly wasn''t above letting things happen naturally.


    The bustling activity in front of the World Government headquarters meant that many people saw the two of them together. Observers couldn''t help but feel awed, Mariejois''s own flower, Miss Stussy, was clearly on intimate terms with Saint udius. From that moment, anyone who interacted with Stussy would have to tread carefully and show her even more respect.


    Stussy, still holding udius''s arm, smiled and asked, "So, Your Highness, what''s the n now? Shall we head back for some rest?"


    udius flicked her delicate nose and teased, "Resting during the day? Do you think I''m the type to waste daylight? Or are you suggesting we go apud for love right now?"


    "Your Highness! You weren''t this much of a rogue before. You''re getting worse by the day," Stussy said, pretending to pout as she pressed against his arm again.


    udius felt his resolve waver for a moment but quickly regainedposure. With a light flick to her forehead, he said, "Focus. We''ve got things to do. How about we leave the fun forter tonight?"


    Stussy, seeing that her yful attempts hadn''t swayed him, nodded in agreement. At least she''d secured a promise for an evening together. "So, what''s on the agenda now, Your Highness?"


    "I promised the people of Fish-Man Ind that I''d free every Fish-Man and Mermaid enved here in Mariejois. That''s something I can''t let slide," udius said with a faint smile. "Besides, from what I''ve heard, one of the ves in particr is someone worth keeping an eye on. Even if he doesn''t work for me directly, he could still be useful in the future."


    Instead of returning to his pce, udius led Stussy toward the "House of the Gods," stopping in front of one of the Celestial Dragons'' estates.


    Stussy nced at the residence, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes, and then looked back at udius. "Your Highness, are you nning to pick on someone again? You''re too much."


    udius rubbed his chin, as if pondering her words, before smirking. "It''s not my fault—it''s fate!"


    The estate before them was all too familiar. The gates had clearly been reced, and for good reason. This was the residence of Rosward, a Celestial Dragon udius had "visited" before.


    As fate would have it, Fisher Tiger, the Fish-Man who would one day be infamous, had somehow ended up enved in Rosward''s household.


    Thinking about it, udius couldn''t help but sigh. "No wonder Fisher Tiger hates humans and the World Government so much. With someone like Rosward owning him, it all makes sense."


    Without hesitation, udius walked up to the gates and knocked loudly. "Open the door!"


    Rosward Saint, who had been rxing in the courtyard with his foolish son, Charlos froze when he heard udius''s voice.


    "Father, that demon is here again!" Charlos cried out, his voice trembling with fear.


    "Shut up! Don''t make a sound. Pretend we''re not home!" Rosward hissed, equally panicked.


    As he said this, Rosward felt a pang of despair. How had ite to this? A noble Celestial Dragon, reduced to hiding in his own home, afraid of another Celestial Dragon? Life was truly too hard.


    "That damned udius is back... Maybe I should take a trip somewhere, get out of Mariejois for a while," Rosward muttered. "At least outside, I''m untouchable as a Celestial Dragon. udius might bully me here, but no one would dare outside."


    Meanwhile, outside the gates, udius chuckled to himself. Do you think my Observation Haki is useless? I can "see" both of you basking in the sun.


    "Open up, Rosward! I know you''re in there! You''ve got the guts to enve people, but not to open the door?" udius called out, smirking as he banged on the gates.


    "We''re a civilized organization here at CP-X. Don''t make me break down the door again!"


    "Your express delivery is here!"


    "Time to pay the water bill!"


    udius tried a few more lines, but the house remained silent. Inside, Rosward Saint had resolved to stay quiet, no matter what.


    Growing impatient, udius finally shouted, "Rosward, I''m giving you some face here, but don''t push it. I''m counting to three. If this door isn''t open, I''ll have it sealed up permanently! You''ll turn your house into a prison,plete with 24-hour guards. Let''s see if you can live like that for the rest of your life!"


    Hearing this, Rosward trembled. If anyone else had made such threats, he would''veughed it off. But with udius, he had no doubt it could happen.


    When udius began counting, Rosward panicked and quickly ordered his servants to open the door.


    As the gates opened, Rosward stayed far away, ring at udius from a safe distance. "What do you want, udius? I haven''t provoked you! Isn''t it enough that you''ve already caused me so much trouble?"


    udius smirked. "Didn''t provoke me? You reced the door I so kindly gave you. I''m telling you now, you''ve got three days to put that iron door back up. Are you looking down on my gift? Do you not respect me?"


    Rosward nearly spat blood. You smashed that door! It wasn''t even functional—it was practically a wall!


    "What do you want, really?" Rosward asked, his voiceced with desperation.


    Waving a hand dismissively, udius said, "Rx. I''m not here to torment you. Look at you, acting like a victim. I almost feel bad for you."


    You''re going to drive me to an early grave! Rosward cursed internally.


    "Do you have a red-skinned Fish-Man here? Bring him out. I need him for something," udius said firmly.


    Rosward''s resolve wavered. Knowing udius''s personality, there was no point in resisting. The man was relentless.


    "Go, bring him here," Rosward ordered one of his servants, resigned to his fate.


    udius grinned and said, "See? That wasn''t so hard. If you''d just talked to me like this earlier, we might even be friends by now."


    ***


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