One Piece: Sky Dragon

Cassius's current subordinates include:

Cassius - Basic mastery of Conqueror's Haki

Boa Hancock - Basic mastery of Armament and Observation Haki

Boa Sandersonia - Basic mastery of Armament and Observation Haki; user of the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Anaconda

Boa Marigold - Basic mastery of Armament and Observation Haki; user of the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: King Cobra

Fisher Tiger - Master of Fish-Man Karate

Koala - No practical combat abilities

The five recruits all have significant room for growth, and Cassius himself is focusing on mastering all three types of Haki first.

But naturally, they cannot train here openly. They must find an excuse or a hidden place to practice in secret. Otherwise, who knows what might happen if they are discovered?

"Your Highness Cassius." Ever since Cassius saved Hancock and her sisters, she has shown deep admiration for him. After all, Hancock is still a young girl with little experience in the world. The torment inflicted by the Celestial Dragons contrasted sharply with Cassius's kindness, leaving a deep impression on her.

Although Sandersonia and Marigold also have a good impression of Cassius, it is not as strong as their sister's admiration for him.

Hancock greeted Cassius when he returned, and Cassius greeted her in return before gently addressing everyone in the room. "I went to inquire about the Haki teacher. If I want one, it first needs to be reviewed by Cipher Pol. And if we want to use Cipher Pol, the decision must first go through the Five Elders."

"That is to say..." Tiger responded, hearing Cassius's voice.

"I have to meet the Five Elders and tell them my request face to face..." Cassius said with a gloomy expression. A feeling of fear suddenly surged in his heart. If a person begins to fear, then nothing will be accomplished.

"Your Highness Cassius," Hancock said quietly. Cassius didn't want to make her worry, so he could only reply, "However, it doesn't matter. After all, my identity is clear. I have the Conqueror's Haki." It seemed that the news had spread, and perhaps they would allow him to increase his strength.

Tiger was in a large fish tank, while Hancock and her two sisters were chained to the bed. Koala was kneeling on the floor, wiping it with a rag.

Cassius watched all of this but felt temporarily helpless. If others discovered that he and the slaves were living in harmony, it would be reported, putting everyone in danger. Therefore, everything had to be disguised. In front of outsiders, Cassius could only act harshly. Despite this, rumors began circulating that Saint Bardros's temper had improved considerably. Even his father, Saint Rofield, had visited once. He looked at Hancock, said something dismissive, and then left.

"Koala, you don't have to work when outsiders are away," Cassius said.

Although Koala felt the warmth of a normal human being from Cassius, the trauma of being caught here since childhood had deeply affected her mentally. She never dared to raise her head, and a professional fake smile still hung on her lips.

"Master." Her way of addressing him had not changed. Although Cassius told her she could call him by his name, Koala still insisted on calling him master.

Swoosh!

A person suddenly appeared at the door, and everyone tensed. Cassius looked toward the entrance, where a beautiful woman in a white suit stood. She had short blond hair and striking blue eyes.

Cassius was momentarily stunned by her beauty.

The woman bowed and said, "Saint Bardros, My name is Stussy, I am with CP0. I heard that you are seeking a Haki teacher, and the Five Elders have specifically sent me to invite you to discuss it."

Faced with Stussy's politeness, Cassius was even more surprised by the Five Elders' decisiveness. He had only gone to ask around, and by the time he returned, the Elders had already sent someone over?

"Cassius... Saint Bardros..." Hancock almost let his name slip in front of Stussy, but her worried expression and tone were impossible to hide.

Stussy's face remained expressionless, but she found it quite strange. It was rumored that Saint Bardros was very cruel, so why did his slaves seem so dependent on him?

"Then I'll invite myself, of course. Please lead the way." Cassius calmed down, the tension from earlier fading. Even he didn't know why he felt so relaxed. It was as if meeting the Five Elders was just an ordinary thing.

But he was indeed very confident, because in his subconscious, he saw himself as a king who would one day conquer the world. The Five Elders were just a stumbling block in his path. Why should he be afraid?

With this newfound confidence, Cassius followed Stussy to the Elders' conference room.

Just as depicted in the original manga.

The Five Elders:

The first one wore a black suit, with white curly hair, a fluffy white beard, a flat hat, and a scar on the left side of his face.

The second wore a dark blue suit, had long straight white hair, and a long beard.

The third man wore a dark red suit with no tie, had blond hair, a blond beard, and a scar on his chest.

The fourth was dressed in a dark green suit, was bald, had a splayed beard, and a birthmark on his forehead.

The fifth wore a white Taoist robe, had a bald head, and wore glasses. He was the only one among the Elders who wasn't wearing a suit or sporting a beard, and he held what appeared to be a sword named Shodai Kitetsu.

These are the five of the most powerful people in the world.

However, Cassius, who knew the plot, was aware that there was a mysterious figure, Lord Imu, behind the Five Elders, though they were likely hidden somewhere. Now was not the time to reveal his hand. He needed to accumulate strength in secret and wait for the right moment to make his move.

Cassius didn't bow his head, unsure whether he should or not. He was a Celestial Dragon, and the Elders were also Celestial Dragons, but he had no real power, while they held true authority.

However, facing Cassius, who did not bow his head and exuded confidence, the Five Elders seemed to show pleased expressions, almost as if they were impressed.

Cassius felt that the Five Elders in front of him seemed to be exuding some kind of powerful aura.

Is this... some kind of trial?

Cassius felt a bit nervous, as the previous awakening of his Conqueror's Haki had been fueled by anger. Now, although he was full of confidence, he wasn't particularly angry. He himself didn't know how far the Haki he could release would reach.

At that moment, a vague voice seemed to linger in his ears. "If you lose, Hancock will die, Koala will die, and everyone you know will die in the future."

This voice wasn't coming from any of the Five Elders. Cassius knew exactly whose voice it was.

This... this is my own voice!? But it wasn't coming from Bardros's body, nor was it the voice he remembered. The voice was coming from deep within his soul!

Boom boom boom!

For a moment, Cassius's Conqueror's Haki was fully activated.

The Five Elders immediately responded, unleashing their Haki in unison. The clash of wills erupted, but it was over quickly.

Five powerful Conqueror's Haki collided, and Cassius's Haki was eventually overwhelmed, though he lasted long enough for the Elders to be quietly impressed. While people born with Conqueror's Haki occasionally appeared in the world, it was surprising to see someone wielding such power so soon after awakening it.

"I need a Haki Teacher. I am too weak now!" Cassius's expression was extremely serious, and his tone carried a sense of logic, as if it was the most natural thing to say.

One of the Five Elders said, "No problem, I will meet your request. However, I heard that you won't let your guards get close to your bedroom. Hahaha, that won't do. Since you have the talent, you must make the most of it. We will send someone to be your personal bodyguard, and you have no right to refuse. You may leave now."

Although Cassius entered with full energy, he left feeling a bit pessimistic. While his Conqueror's Haki was still somewhat lacking, it was clear that the Elders were very satisfied with his potential.

It was just that the Elders' tone was firmer than his, and they even agreed to his request. He couldn't refute it, and continuing to reject them might raise suspicion.

As for the person assigned to be his personal bodyguard, it was, of course, Stussy.

Maybe the Five Elders had heard that he immediately found four girls after being struck by lightning, so they sent her here.

Cassius couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.