Only then did Ace lift his head, somewhat surprised.
"Leno? You mean… 'Fallen One' Leno?"
Hearing the title Fallen One, the others exchanged glances.
"That bastard already got himself a title so fast?!"
"Just what you'd expect from that monster!"
"That's right! Him! You know him? Hurry up and tell us!"
The criminals urged.
Instead of answering, Ace asked in return, "He… walked out of Impel Down too?"
He only knew that a powerful rookie named Leno had suddenly risen on the seas.
He didn't know the details.
All his attention before had been focused on hunting down Blackbeard Teach.
"Brat! We're the ones asking you!" a hot-tempered prisoner roared.
Though no Conqueror's Haki was released, being stared down by so many vicious old monsters with overwhelming auras—
Ace still felt immense pressure.
He hadn't learned how to consciously release his Conqueror's Haki.
And the others weren't using theirs to oppress him either, so it didn't trigger his own in response.
Seeing Ace like this—
The prisoners of Impel Down shook their heads in disappointment.
"Tch, boring. This newcomer's nowhere near as good as Leno."
"Not everyone's a freak like Leno."
"Yeah, when that kid first came in, that Conqueror's Haki of his… tsk tsk. He could withstand the clash of several old monsters' Conqueror's Haki and still stand tall!"
"That bastard's strength was terrifying—and his improvement speed was even more frightening!"
"Yeah, wonder what earth-shattering thing he's done out there now."
"Sigh, when he broke out last time, we should've risked it all and rushed out with him! Missed a golden opportunity!"
"…"
Listening to them compare him with a Leno he had never even met—
Hearing the disdain toward himself and the reluctant admiration for Leno—
A surge of anger rose in Ace's chest.
But he glanced at the cold Seastone shackles around his wrists.
All that anger turned into helplessness.
In the end, he said nothing, only lowered his head silently.
…
Meanwhile—
The news that Fire Fist Ace had been captured and would be publicly executed at Marine Headquarters, Marineford—
Spread across the entire world!
In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick—
"Gurarararara…!"
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, let out a cold laugh as he ripped off all the IV tubes and medical equipment attached to his body.
He stood up, and a terrifying aura swept across the ship!
The clouds: We understand. We're splitting.
"Marines… well played!" His voice was icy.
His eyes brimmed with killing intent. "Sons!"
All the commanders and crew of the Whitebeard Pirates had already assembled.
Every face burned with fury!
"Let's go bring our family—home!!"
"OOOOOOH!!!"
A sky-shaking roar resounded as the Whitebeard Grand Fleet turned their ships—
And sped toward Marine Headquarters at full sail!
————
————
Leno received the news as well.
However, they had long since left the Sabaody Archipelago.
His objectives there had already been achieved.
His curiosity about Shakky was satisfied, and he had successfully lured Bonney aboard.
He docked at a remote island not far from Marine Headquarters.
Waiting for the Paramount War to begin—
So he could join in the fun.
And conveniently train his crew.
The top priority—
Was to brainwash—ah no, educate—the new member Bonney.
And further strengthen Domino, Kalifa, Robin, and the others.
The Paramount War wouldn't be long in coming.
They needed the ability to protect themselves—and even to participate in battle.
And combat was the fastest way to grow stronger.
As for Bonney's Age-Age Fruit, its development potential was enormous.
Of course—
First, he had to change the object of worship in Bonney's heart—the so-called Warrior of Liberation.
A mere Nika wasn't worthy.
Leno wanted her to become his shape—cough—to admire him instead.
This couldn't be rushed.
During a break in training, Leno sought Bonney out.
Ready to dye her in his color.
"Bonney, you need to understand. On this sea, trusting anyone is inferior to trusting your own strength," Leno said.
Bonney, who had grown up listening to Kuma's stories about the Warrior of Liberation, immediately tried to argue. "But—"
Leno cut her off, looking at her calmly.
"You see, the liberation Kuma kept talking about—did it liberate himself?"
"He was transformed into that state. Did the Revolutionary Army save him? They had time to liberate other countries—did they liberate him?"
Bonney opened her mouth, stunned.
Leno continued pressing, "Back at Sabaody, you were targeted by a Marine Admiral. You nearly lost your life."
"Other than me, did that so-called 'Warrior of Liberation' you were waiting for—or the Revolutionary Army—come to save you?"
Bonney's face slowly turned pale.
His words were like knives, piercing the fantasy she had always clung to.
"I don't believe in some vague, illusory warrior of liberation."
Leno's voice carried unwavering confidence.
"I only believe in the power I hold in my own hands. If you don't even believe in yourself…"
He paused, his tone softening with a subtle, coaxing persuasion.
"Then you might as well believe in me."
"At the very least, believe that when you're in danger, I'll come save you—just like I did earlier."
Those words crashed heavily into Bonney's young heart!
Instinctively, she wanted to refute him—to defend Kuma and the Revolutionary Army.
But every word Leno spoke was fact!
Whenever she had fallen into desperate situations, no so-called "Warrior of Liberation" had descended from the sky!
The only one who saved her—
Was this man labeled a "Fallen One" by the World Government!
Her convictions wavered, her eyes filled with confusion.
Seeing her like this, Leno knew the first step was complete.
The best way to shatter illusions was comparison.
And what happened at Sabaody was the perfect catalyst.
The seed had been planted.
Next came careful watering, until it grew into a towering tree.
Let her shift the object of her admiration—from that illusory "Nika" or unreliable legends—
To himself.
Even if she ended up admiring only him, that would be better than admiring someone else.
"Slowly but surely… she'll take my shape."
After that, Leno began strict Haki training on the island.
He personally guided them, hand in hand, at close quarters—
Teaching through real punches that struck solidly.
They trained until they were miserable, drenched in sweat every day.
But under real combat sparring and Leno's pressure, their strength rose rapidly.
Occasionally, Leno would walk alone to the shore, absorbing the Conqueror's Haki he had previously obtained.
Refining it, strengthening it further.
He could feel it—
Once the Paramount War erupted, his three forms of Haki would likely advance even faster!
This wasn't an anime or manga.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would use Haki.
And even if they didn't—
Leno would make sure they did.
"The Paramount War… how exciting."
————
————
Because of Leno's interference—
Luffy not only failed to strike a Celestial Dragon,
He also wasn't sent flying to Amazon Lily by Kuma.
Instead—
He appeared at the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, Baltigo.
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