"Every time I see you, you manage to surprise me, Rear Admiral Griffin."
Vice Admiral Tsuru showed a serene smile: "The justice of the Marines relies on young people like you."
...
That old hag.
What is she saying...
Justice?
Shiryu was absolutely certain—the guy before him was a murderous maniac a thousand times more terrifying than himself!
What does this man have to do with the word "justice"!!
...
Shiryu's gaze swept over the severed Raimei, his heart aching.
No swordsman doesn't cherish their own famous sword.
Only now did he notice what the blade that could cut through Raimei looked like.
This sword...
Before he could take a closer look, Griffin had already sheathed his sword.
Griffin looked toward Hancock and Shakky, who were huddled in the corner.
"Not leaving? Waiting for lunch?"
...
...
"First capturing me, now letting me go... Uchiha Griffin, are you toying with me!"
Griffin frowned: "Don't steer the conversation in a weird direction..."
"Your family paid the ransom for you—a full twelve billion!"
Of that twelve billion, Griffin could take ninety-nine percent; only one hundred and twenty million was to be split evenly between Impel Down and the Marines.
Protesting was useless—this was specially authorized by the World Government!
...
What...
Hancock looked at Shakky.
She knew the financial state of Nine Serpent Island. Located in the Calm Belt and surviving as a pirate nation through plunder, Nine Serpent Island had hardly any savings.
This amount of money would probably empty the entire treasury of Nine Snakes and still not be enough to cover it!
Shakky gently stroked Hancock's long hair, speaking softly: "Don't think about anything. You are the most important!"
She helped the weakened Hancock to her feet. As they passed by Griffin, Hancock gritted her teeth and whispered:
"This debt... I will remember it!"
"We're not finished!"
...
"Then wait until you've saved up twelve billion before you say we're not finished. Welcome back next time."
Mentioning money, Griffin's smile widened.
No helping it...
He was truly scared of being poor since childhood.
Now, he even found Hancock somewhat pleasing to look at, as if gazing at a gold mine.
"You..."
"Don't say anymore, let's go quickly!" Shakky picked up Hancock and fled the prison as if running for her life.
...
Hancock's eyes were filled with hatred. Seeing Griffin still waving at her with a grin, she felt utterly humiliated.
Damn it...
Absolutely not finished! You just wait!!
...
...
"Well then... Warden Magellan, if you can't discipline this guy properly, how about handing him over to me for discipline."
Griffin turned to look at Magellan, his smile becoming a bit more formal.
Magellan slightly furrowed his brows: "Shiryu is a dangerous individual, Rear Admiral Griffin. I still hope you'll consider carefully."
...
What is this old poisoner saying...
Dangerous individual...
Shiryu cautiously avoided Griffin's line of sight, staring at his back.
This guy is the most dangerous one!!
What kind of monster did the Marines recruit?!
...
...
After simple transfer documents were processed, Shiryu officially became a Commodore under Rear Admiral Griffin's command. From Impel Down's Head Jailer to a Marine Commodore—a drop of several ranks.
Still better than imprisonment...
Shiryu could only console himself this way.
And... this suits me perfectly!
I will definitely find a chance to kill you, you arrogant brat!
"You always have moments when you relax your guard!"
...
"Since we're here, should we go see Shanks?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled faintly. "I haven't visited the sixth level for a long time to see those old friends."
...
"No one is redeeming him, so I won't go."
"Haha, after all, he was your rival for several years. Don't you want to talk to him before his execution?"
Griffin turned away.
"I'm not like you, with inexplicable bonds with Pirates."
"Whether he dies or not has nothing to do with me."
"A defeated opponent no longer qualifies to be my rival."
Holy Land - Mary Geoise.
Celestial Dragons' residence, Figarland family palace complex.
On the vast garden lawn, the commander of the God's Knights, Saint Figarland Garling, leaned back on a long chair.
He was tall and imposing, unlike ordinary Celestial Dragons, dressed in a classical black noble robe that trailed to the ground.
His beard and sideburns connected into sharp spikes, with the beard on his chin and his hair forming a forward crescent shape—very distinctive.
Before him, a red-haired man knelt halfway.
It was his son, the current leader of the God's Knights, Figarland Shamrock.
...
"Shamrock... I've said it before, absolutely impossible."
Saint Garling's voice was calm and unemotional.
"The incident with Saint Miya angered Imu precisely because you sent her to track Shanks, leading to this situation."
"If it weren't for your irreplaceable strength and my mediation, you yourself would be in danger."
Shamrock lowered his head, speaking gravely: "I know..."
"This is all my fault, but... Shanks is also your son! Can we really let him be executed by those lowly commoners?"
"Whether from the standpoint of a Celestial Dragon or a father, such a thing shouldn't happen!"
...
"He is not my son."
Saint Garling's voice was icy.
"From the moment he refused the blessing and ran off to that filthy lower world, he ceased to be my son."
"And he is not your brother!"
"He is just a filthy, lowly Pirate!"
...
"But..."
"No 'buts'!"
Saint Garling stood up, his cold gaze impossible to conceal even behind sunglasses.
"Remember! We are the guardians of God, and all our actions must follow God's will."
"You are not permitted to leave the Holy Land before that man is executed. Understand?"
...
"I... understand."
"Commander..."
In Shamrock's lowered eyes, the last trace of emotion faded away.
Just like abandoning Mother back then, are you now abandoning Brother too...
I will never allow such a thing to happen.
Even if it means defying God's will!
Impel Down, Sixth Level - Infinite Hell.
Creak—
With a fleeting flash of black-red arcs, Bullet saw the deformed chains in Shanks' cell.
His expression changed.
"Truly unexpected, your mastery of Conqueror's Haki has reached such a level that even these chains..."
"Hahaha, no wonder Roger said you were special back then. You're almost reaching that tier!"
Many years ago, Bullet was a match for Rayleigh in his prime, unquestionably a top-tier powerhouse.
The Marines mobilized forces equivalent to a Buster Call, with even Sengoku and Garp participating in the capture operation—his strength was evident.
Shanks gave a faint smile. "After this failure, I've grown a bit... If you weren't a Devil Fruit User, these chains wouldn't be able to hold you."
Bullet had eaten the Paramecia-type - Merge Fruit on the battlefield as a child, driven by hunger and exhaustion.
At the time, it had indeed granted him greater power, helping him survive.
But in the long run, this fruit had also limited him.
If he were purely a Haki master, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up like in the original timeline—merging with an island to grow larger, only to be defeated by a group of Supernovas as target practice.
...
"Since you can snap the chains, the prison door here can't hold you. Why not leave?"
Shanks fell silent for a moment before speaking gravely:
"Let's cooperate, Bullet!"
"I can't save my companions and escape alone. I'll help you break the chains, and you help me rescue my comrades!"
...
"I refuse."
Bullet replied without hesitation.
"After you help me break the chains, I'll leave on my own. I won't help you with the foolish task of saving your companions."
"Don't you understand? True strength lies in one's own power. Abandon those useless people!!"
...
"I can't do that..."
Shanks grinned. "Without companions, I can't reach the Final Island."
"Speaking of which... that guy said something similar to you. It was because I lacked strength that I couldn't protect my comrades."
"I can tell—he's like you, believing that one's own strength is everything, turning a blind eye to subordinates in danger."
...
Bullet's interest was piqued again.
"Is that so... So that is the correct way. The idea that one must protect their companions is something only the weak have!"
"It's because you're too soft that you lost to him."
...
"I admit I lost to him, but don't you want to meet him?"
"His growth rate far surpasses mine. He's a monster who can grow rapidly even in battle!"
"Three years ago, he couldn't withstand a single move from me. Now... I'm afraid he's already surpassed you!"
...
"Ridiculous! No one is my match except Roger!!"
In one-on-one combat, Bullet had only ever lost to Roger, and he acknowledged only Roger.
...
"The day after tomorrow, I'll be heading to Marineford to face execution. Even if I break the chains, in this environment, I can't deal with Magellan."
"When the time comes, I'll help you break the Sea Stone chains, and you help me hold him off for a while."
"After that, you can do whatever you want. How about it?"
Seeing Bullet hesitate, Shanks added fuel to the fire.
"If you're afraid of being recaptured by that Marine after leaving, then forget it. I understand."
...
"You've successfully angered me... Shanks!!"
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