53
"Huh? A guy from the East Blue?" he muttered with a grin.
Every patron in the tavern went silent, each watching in fearful awe as the mysterious man strode forward, snatching the wanted poster with Tony's face and examining it with interest.
Instinctively, everyone took a few steps back.
"Gyahahahaha, delightful! How delightful!" The man roared with laughter. "So, there's a figure like this emerging from the East Blue? I, the Golden Lion, would certainly like to meet him."
Indeed, this man was none other than the legendary pirate Shiki, known as the "Golden Lion." Captain of the Flying Pirates and a user of the Float-Float Fruit, Shiki was once on par with Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard Edward Newgate. He was also the first pirate in the history of Impel Down to escape from its confines. With swords for legs—named "Oto" and "Kogarashi"—he could unleash devastating slashes with a mere kick.
Shiki strolled into the tavern, settled casually at the bar, and ordered a drink. The trembling bartender placed the glass before him without daring to defy him. Meanwhile, pirates in the tavern, as if seeing a ghost, fled in a frenzy.
"It's the Golden Lion, Shiki! Run!"
It was hardly surprising; after all, Shiki was once a member of the fearsome Rocks Pirates, a crew that eclipsed Roger's in both power and influence, known for its ruthlessly savage members.
Boom!
Shiki slowly extended his left hand, giving a slight tap on the bar counter. In an instant, he lifted the entire tavern into the air, suspending it with his gravity-defying powers. A scar-faced pirate who had just opened the tavern door looked down, realizing they were now hundreds of meters above the ground. Knowing that a jump from this height would be fatal, he slumped down at the door, overwhelmed with terror.
"Gyahahahaha! Hey, hey, you haven't even heard me out yet! Leaving without permission—how disrespectful," Shiki sneered.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Shiki downed his drink in one gulp, the clanking sound of his swords echoing with each step, causing the hearts of the remaining pirates to pound in fear as he approached the scar-faced man. Picking up the wanted posters of Tony and his crew from the floor, Shiki asked coldly, "Do you know where this Tony guy is? Think carefully before you answer… useless information might just get you killed."
At the word "killed," the scar-faced man nearly fainted. The others, too, cowered in the corners, covering their mouths in silence, too afraid to even breathe. Trembling, the scar-faced man answered as clearly as he could.
"…Captain Shiki, that man named Tony left the Kingdom of Alabasta not long ago. If he's headed for the New World, he's sure to pass through here…"
A sinister smile crept onto Shiki's face as he gradually released the tavern, letting it float gently back to the ground. The sight of Shiki's abilities had already stunned the pirates into submission. Many, having never encountered such power, could do nothing but submit.
And so, the Golden Lion Shiki waited on Bass Island, anticipating Tony's arrival.
A few days later, just as the scar-faced man predicted, Tony and his crew sailed toward Bass Island. Planning to push forward into the New World, Tony knew he'd need to pass through this area on his way to the Sabaody Archipelago. With the Marines relentlessly pursuing him, Tony was growing tired of the constant harassment, realizing that the confined seas of the first half of the Grand Line provided little room to hide.
Only by entering the New World's territory could Tony hope to escape the Marines' relentless pursuit. In the New World, each major force had its own territory, and even if the Marines wanted to capture Tony, they wouldn't dare act recklessly—doing so could easily spark an all-out war.
…
As Tony looked toward a small tavern in the distance, he sensed a powerful presence within. "What a surprise… I didn't expect to run into this guy here." Looking up at the clear blue sky, Tony's thoughts became clearer. He turned to the others and said, "How would you like to go to a mysterious place? You'll find things there you're sure to love."
"Like endless gold… and an ancient, historic Poneglyph!"
The moment she heard "gold," Nami's eyes sparkled with excitement; anything involving money was of great interest to her. She eagerly rubbed her hands together, asking, "Really? There's such a place? Tony, don't be lying to me."
"Oh my, that certainly sounds intriguing," Robin added. The mention of a historic Poneglyph had sparked her curiosity as well.
"Hehehe, there is indeed a place like that. But we'll need help from a certain someone." Tony's gaze drifted toward the small tavern. However, he was deep in thought about what to offer in return; he doubted that the Golden Lion would help them without asking for something significant in exchange.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Just then, the powerful figure of the Golden Lion Shiki strode out of the tavern, his commanding gaze fixed on Tony and his crew.
"Gyahahahaha, the super rookie! Finally, we meet!" Shiki roared.
Apart from Tony, Robin and the others couldn't help but shiver, sensing an overwhelming danger from this man. Although they didn't possess Observation Haki, they could still feel it: Shiki exuded a noble, radiant presence, with golden hair like a lion's mane and the fierce aura of a king. His appearance suggested not only untouchable authority but also an ambition and courage that roared across the seas.
Yet Tony showed no fear. Despite Shiki's fame as a pirate who once stood alongside Roger and the current Yonko Whitebeard, Tony knew that there was still a gap in their strengths. Furthermore, Shiki's power had waned after various misfortunes—such as when a storm drove a ship's helm into his head, where it remained embedded for life due to the risk of removing it.
Additionally, during his escape from the Marines' ultimate prison, Impel Down's Level 6, he sacrificed his legs, significantly weakening his abilities. This was one reason he'd been unable to achieve his ambitions; a lion robbed of its fangs has little fighting strength.
Even though he was still formidable to most pirates, Tony realized that Shiki might struggle if faced with multiple Marine vice admirals. An idea for their deal began forming in Tony's mind, and a sly smile played across his lips.
~-------------------------
Support Me:
Buy me a Coffee: ko-fi .com/ dreamer20
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / dreamer20