Chapter 380 - 219

Chapter 219: News of the Golden Lion, Heading to the East Blue!Shakky's Rip-off BarThe bar was filled with the scent of tobacco, ale, and seafood risotto, mixed with the familiar laughter of the crew."I didn't call you all here just for a simple gathering."Shakky's lazy voice drifted up like a wisp of smoke.She leaned against the bar, her slender fingers holding a thin cigarette, the gray ash precariously balanced.Everyone's attention was drawn to her.Nami was the first to react, setting down her glass of orange juice: "Shakky, what happened?""I want you to take a look at this."Shakky pulled a neatly folded newspaper from under the bar.Nami took the paper, and the moment she unfolded it, her pupils contracted sharply.The headline was printed in bold black letters, each character looking like a sharp blade: "Legend Returns! Golden Lion Shiki Washes Paradise Island in Blood, Entire Town Evaporates Overnight!"The accompanying image was a blurry long-range photo.The outline of an island lay in ruins within a bizarre vortex, with some kind of unimaginably massive shadow in the sky.Although the image wasn't clear, the destructive pressure felt like it was about to burst through the paper."Golden Lion?!" Nami exclaimed.The laughter in the bar ceased abruptly.Luffy, who had been resting his head on Nami's shoulder, listlessly sipping juice from his cup, looked up at the name.His rubber neck stretched slightly as he leaned toward the newspaper.His brow furrowed in a rare display—not the usual confusion or dissatisfaction, but an almost instinctive vigilance."Golden Lion Shiki?!"Robin gently closed the book in her hands, her voice calm, but a hint of gravity flashed in her eyes.Franky set down his cola bottle, his mechanical arms emitting a faint sound of gears turning: "Super~ A troublesome character has appeared."Chopper hid behind Usopp's legs, only revealing his large, round eyes: "Gol... Golden Lion? That sounds so scary...""Golden Lion, who's that?"The clear voice broke the heavy silence.Uta tilted her head, her long red and white hair sliding off her shoulder like a waterfall, her purple eyes full of confusion.As a relatively new member, she didn't know enough about many legends of the old era.Shakky took a deep drag of her cigarette and then slowly exhaled, the smoke rings spreading in the air as if drawing back the curtain for the story to come."A great pirate who shouldn't have appeared in this era again."Her voice lowered, carrying the weight of history."Golden Lion Shiki, Captain of the Flying Pirates, one of the three legendary pirates who once dominated the Grand Line alongside the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard Edward Newgate."Brook gently plucked a string on his violin, emitting a low chord: "Yo ho ho ho, that is indeed... a name that makes one's bones chill, although I don't have bones anymore.""Twenty-two years ago,"Shakky continued, her gaze seemingly piercing through time and space,"on the very day Pirate King Roger was publicly executed at Loguetown, the entire world was watching that execution of the century.""And Golden Lion Shiki single-handedly stormed the Marineford, the Marine headquarters."Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes sharp: "Alone?""Alone."Shakky nodded."To question the Marines: how could a man like Roger possibly be captured? He claimed that Roger's death was an insult to the pirate era."Zoro finally put down the cloth in his hand, his three swords already resting within reach: "And the result?""Stationed at the headquarters at the time were the marine hero Garp and the wise general Sengoku."Shakky's narration made the bar so quiet that the sound of waves outside could be heard."Legend has it that in that battle, the collision of the three top powerhouses destroyed nearly half of Marineford.Walls collapsed, fortresses cracked, and even the sky was torn apart by their Haki.""In the end, Golden Lion was thrown into the Impel Down, the Great Prison, and locked away in LEVEL6, the Infinite Hell."Nami's fingers trembled slightly. She flipped the newspaper over; the back had a more detailed report and a copy of an old wanted poster.A man with golden hair as wild as a lion's mane, a ship's wheel stuck in his head, smiling with unbridled madness."However, fate is sometimes more bizarre than fiction."Shakky flicked the ash."Just two years later, twenty years ago, Golden Lion Shiki did something that shocked the world.He severed his own legs, broke free from his Sea Stone shackles, and became the first prisoner in the history of Impel Down to successfully escape.""Severed... his own legs?" Uta covered her mouth, her face turning pale.Zoro stared at the photo on the newspaper and suddenly asked: "Is he strong?"Shakky looked at Zoro, revealing a complex smile:"Stronger than you imagine, and his ability is very special.He is a user of the Float-Float Fruit, capable of making himself or any non-living object he touches lose gravity and fly freely in the air.""Floating..."Nami suddenly realized something and looked at the photo of the destroyed island again."Could it be...""Exactly."Shakky's expression turned serious."Golden Lion can make an entire island rise into the sky and build his kingdom in the air.After he escaped twenty years ago, he vanished. Everyone thought this remnant of the old era had left the stage or died in some corner.But now—"She pointed to the date on the newspaper, news from three days ago."He's back. And the moment he appeared, he destroyed an island in Paradise. The entire town, no survivors."Franky struck his signature pose:"That is truly Super~ terrible news!"Robin added softly:"The greatest shame of Impel Down. Until the prison break incident during the Marineford War, Golden Lion's escape was a stain the World Government tried desperately to cover up.His reappearance not only means the resurrection of a legend from the old era, but it may also herald some kind of... shift.""Even so,"Nami broke the brief silence, her long orange hair swaying as she shook her head,"but that doesn't have anything to do with us, right?"Her eyes held the rationality and pragmatism typical of a Navigator, her fingers tapping the bar counter unconsciously."Arresting criminals and maintaining peace is what the Marines should do. We're pirates!"This "we're pirates" was said with righteous indignation, yet carried a certain helpless humor.Sanji laughed softly on the side, adding freshly prepared juice to Nami's glass."That may be so,"Shakky calmly relit her cigarette, sparks flickering in the dim light,"but according to the intelligence I've gathered over the past few days, Golden Lion's movement trajectory is very regular.He is heading in a specific direction."Through the smoke, just as she was about to continue, she was interrupted by a firm voice."The East Blue, right?"Luffy's voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as a drumbeat hitting everyone's heart.He had sat up straight at some point, and the eyes under his straw hat held a rare, determined light.It wasn't just a guess; it was an almost definitive assertion.He finally remembered.Those fragmented memories pieced together in his mind: Golden Lion Shiki, the man floating in the sky, his ambition and madness, and that threat to the East Blue.Shakky's fingers holding the cigarette paused, and the ash drifted down quietly.She narrowed her eyes, surveying the young Captain before her.How did he know?This intelligence was confirmed only through special channels at a considerable cost."That's right,"Shakky slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible surprise,"It's the East Blue."These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the bar."The East Blue?" Chopper's voice trembled. "Isn't, isn't that Luffy's hometown? And Nami's, Zoro's, Sanji's..."Luffy had already jumped off the high stool, the shadow of his straw hat rising and falling with his movements.He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces.Then, he grinned, showing that iconic smile that put everyone at ease."Then let's set sail,"he said nonchalantly, as if merely proposing a casual afternoon stroll,"to the East Blue.""Hey!"Nami almost jumped up, her fist already raised in mid-air,"Why are you doing this again? We're pirates!"Her tone was a mix of helplessness, worry, and a hint of indescribable pride.Even though he was a pirate, this Captain always unconsciously took on tasks that only "allies of justice" would worry about."What's the problem!"Luffy extended his arm, his rubber arm nimbly wrapping around Nami's shoulders, pulling her toward him.This affectionate gesture made Nami's raised fist freeze in the air,eventually just giving him a symbolic tap on the head, so light it didn't even tilt his hat."We're pirates!"Luffy's voice echoed in the bar, carrying the weight of a declaration,"We're... free, undefined by anyone!"He deliberately drew out the word "free," blinked, and his smile was full of unconstrained light.The atmosphere in the bar changed subtly."Besides,"Luffy continued, his voice suddenly calming down, a calmness more powerful than any passionate declaration,"leaving my hometown to be protected by the Marines? I don't have that habit."This was said plainly, yet everyone fell silent.Because they knew this wasn't an empty slogan, but a belief this man had proven with action after action.Protecting loved ones and guarding important places was the core definition of "freedom."Shakky watched this scene and smiled softly.She stubbed out her cigarette, turned around, and took an old logbook from deep within the liquor cabinet:"I'll give you the specific coordinates and predicted route for the East Blue. Also—"Her gaze fell on Luffy, carrying a sort of elder's scrutiny and approval."Golden Lion Shiki's ability is very special; he can make islands float and create his own aerial domain.If he wants to make a move on the East Blue, he will likely use similar methods. You need to prepare for aerial combat."Luffy nodded, his smile still bright, but his eyes had become sharp: "Got it."He turned to his crew and opened his arms: "Then—""Let's go!"Usopp jumped up and shouted, and although there was still a tremor in his voice, his expression had turned into the excitement of an adventure."To the East Blue!" Chopper waved his small hooves."I have to check the flight devices on the sunny in advance."Franky had already begun planning in his mind."If it's aerial combat, I need to adjust the menu."Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, already thinking about the considerations for cooking in high-altitude environments.Zoro picked up his three swords: "Perfect, time to try out new moves."Nami looked at this group, finally sighed, but the sigh was full of laughter.She took out her logbook and began calculating rapidly:"The fastest route from Sabaody to the East Blueis..."Robin said softly:"I remember that detailed information on Golden Lion Shiki's abilities is archived in the Revolutionary Army's files. We can ask Mr. Sabo to help look it up."Brook bowed elegantly:"It is my honor to fight to protect everyone's hometown. Yo ho ho ho~"Luffy looked at his crew, his smile growing brighter.He pressed down his straw hat and walked toward the bar door; sunlight flooded in from outside, outlining his silhouette in gold."Let's go!"He shouted, his voice full of fearless joy."To the East Blue—""And beat that golden-maned lion's ambition into the sky!"The door of the bar was pushed open, and the sea breeze, carrying the salty scent and the taste of freedom, rushed in.Shakky stood behind the bar, watching the backs of the young people leaving, and whispered to herself:"The remnant of the old era and the rising sun of the new era... what kind of sparks will this meeting ignite?"