Golden Lion's Ambition
Loguetown Marine Branch Training Ground
Under the scorching sun, the air on the Training Ground still carried the smells of sweat and gunpowder.
Just as everyone's eyes were on Roy, waiting for him to reveal the answer—
Roy spoke in a low voice, yet casually uttered, "These things... were all caused by Golden Lion."
The scene fell into a deathly silence.
Even the sound of the wind seemed to have been sucked away; the entire Training Ground was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Just two seconds later--
"Boom!!"
Smoker's anger exploded instantly, Smoke erupted from his body, and his pupils blazed with fury!
"Who did you say?! Golden Lion??? Shiki?!"
Kuina and Zoro's expressions changed drastically almost simultaneously, their eyes revealing shock and wariness.
Tashigi adjusted her Glasses, her breath catching in her throat. "H-How is this possible... Didn't he disappear without a trace long ago?!"
Sanji and Usopp, standing to the side, looked completely bewildered.
Usopp scratched his messy hair, completely bewildered. "Golden Lion? It's just a... lion, what's there to be afraid of?"
Sanji, cigarette dangling from his lips, scoffed, "Yeah, it's just a feline."
"..."
The entire audience remained silent for three seconds.
Tashigi slapped out her notebook and explained seriously, "Shiki, nicknamed 'Golden Lion,' is the legendary captain of the Flying Pirates, the admiral of the Golden Lion Pirate Fleet, and is known as the 'Sky-Pirate.'"
He is a user of the 'Float-Float Fruit,' which allows him to levitate and manipulate inanimate objects, and even make islands float in the sky.
He is also considered one of the three strongest Pirates, alongside "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger and "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate!
"Most importantly—he was the first great Pirate in Impel Down's history to successfully escape!!"
"Varied--?!!"
Sanji and Usopp's eyes widened instantly, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.
"You managed to escape from a place like Impel Down?!" Usopp was almost in tears after hearing that.
"So this guy is still causing trouble in the East Blue???" Sanji was stunned. "Are you kidding me?"
This week's special training wasn't just about physical fitness and combat skills; Tashigi also took the time to cram them with information on the world situation and important intelligence.
They are no longer the ignorant youths of the East Blue!
Roy slowly walked to the center of the Training Ground, crossed his arms, and his expression was more solemn than ever before. "Shiki's ability is the 'Float-Float Fruit,' which allows him to manipulate objects to float in the air and even change the terrain."
"And the 'Rampaging Behemoths' of the East Blue all possess a size and strength far exceeding that of ordinary creatures..."
"This is absolutely not a natural mutation, but a man-made modification!"
Smoker gritted his teeth. "So, you think he's hiding in the East Blue conducting some kind of biological experiment?"
Roy nodded. "After all... what could make the 'Golden Lion' suddenly take action after years of dormancy is no small matter."
"To be precise," Roy said coldly, "It's preparation for some 'Grand Plan'."
Upon hearing this, Zoro's eyes blazed with an unprecedented fighting spirit. "Hmph... the legendary great Pirate, huh?"
"He's got the knives drawn!"
Kuina said softly, "If it's the Golden Lion, given his cruelty in his early years, we can't let our guard down."
Sanji stubbed out his cigarette, took a step forward, and his gaze sharpened like a blade. "Golden Lion or Silver Lion—if they dare to run wild in the East Blue... and affect the restaurant's business!"
"I'll show him what it means to 'Sky-Splitting Kick'!"
Although Usopp was sweating profusely with fear, he gritted his teeth and raised his new Sniper Rifle: "I... I'm terrified... but this time, I'm going too!!"
"I can't let him affect Miss Kaya... Even if the opponent is a legend, I won't back down!!"
Roy watched as the boys' resolve gradually hardened, and a relieved smile finally appeared on his lips.
"Very good."
Just then, Smoker slammed his fist into his palm, his expression resolute. "Hey, Roy, what you just said..."
"You knew all along that Shiki was behind all this, didn't you?"
"Stop playing games with me, I want to go too!"
For a moment, everyone turned to look at Roy, the atmosphere heavy.
Faced with his old friend's ardent gaze, Roy remained silent for a moment, then laughed heartily.
"Okay, let's go together then."
He looked at Usopp and Sanji, his tone not harsh but meaningful:
"That's perfect... it lets you experience the oppressive aura of one of the world's top experts beforehand."
Usopp and Sanji exchanged a glance, their eyes burning with an unwavering intensity.
"Yes!" the two replied almost simultaneously, their voices clear and strong.
At the same time, in the East Blue, High-Altitude Archipelago
Above the clouds, a massive cluster of Floating Islands drifts in the sky, resembling a divine aerial fortress.
The main hall on the island was filled with the smell of medicine mixed with tobacco.
Wearing a strange blindfold, Indigo chewed on a fluorescent capsule while respectfully reporting:
"The 'IQ Rampaging Beasts' project is progressing smoothly, with adjustments and physical responses steadily improving."
"However... the navy has been reacting too quickly lately, and every time an experimental unit goes out to sea, it is wiped out shortly after, which hinders the collection of combat data."
"The cover period needs to be extended--"
Before he could finish speaking, he was silenced by an invisible killing intent.
In the Head Seat, Golden Lion Shiki exhaled a deep puff of smoke, his golden sideburns fluttering in the wind, but his eyes were sharp as knives.
He didn't look at Indigo, but slowly turned his head, fixing his gaze on the four figures standing in the dim corner of the hall—
Blamenco, Rakuyo, Blenheim, Namur.
"You four..."
The Golden Lion's voice was deep and dangerous, "Weren't you supposed to be guarding Newgate's house like a tortoise? Why are you suddenly coming to see me—"
"It shouldn't be for catching up with old friends, right?"
"You... you're not qualified."
The four of them shuddered simultaneously; as a captain-level officer of the Whitebeard Pirates, they felt as if they were facing a cold, sharp blade!
Blamenco suppressed his fear and stepped forward with difficulty. "We... are here to discuss cooperation!"
"Brother Jozu and Brother Vista are still struggling to hold on, but the entire New World is already in chaos!"
"Brother Marco has also been secretly imprisoned by the Navy..."
"Cooperate?"
The Golden Lion's eyes narrowed, abruptly interrupting him, a cold smile spreading across his lips. "You guys???"
"Boom!!"
An extremely terrifying Conqueror's Haki burst forth, like a thunderbolt from the heavens, instantly causing cracks to appear throughout the entire hall!
The four men immediately knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat!
The Golden Lion stood up, his eyes blazing with anger. "I've advised Newgate countless times! Stop playing house!!"
"With his abilities, if it weren't for you useless guys dragging him down..."
"How could he possibly be defeated by the Navy?!"
With each word he spoke, his Haki intensified, causing even Indigo to involuntarily take a few steps back.
The last sentence was almost roared out in a rage!
Blamenco and his three companions gritted their teeth, their gums bleeding, but they refused to back down an inch.
Thinking of Whitebeard 'Pops tragic death, Marco's imprisonment, and the only chance...
He suddenly raised his head, bracing himself against the Golden Lion's imposing presence, and roared, "If you can help us rescue Brother Marco!!"
"We are willing to follow you, and we will give you all of Whitebeard's territory!!"
Inside the main hall, the air seemed to freeze.
He pondered, his gaze sweeping across the four men like a sharp blade, his mind rapidly weighing the options:
--Marco, Vista, Jozu... their combat strength is decent. If they can be recruited, they will be the strongest spearhead supporting the plan.
--And if I could completely take over Whitebeard's territory, supplies, intelligence network... it would be a huge help to my plans!
A chilling glint flashed in Shiki's eyes, and he sneered, "You bunch of trash couldn't even defend it."
"Rather than watching them crumble little by little..."
"I might as well take them all!"