New companion

The sixth month after the God Valley Incident.

Ginny slammed a document onto Lin Yuan's desk.

"South Blue. A prisoner transport ship. It leaves in three days."

Lin Yuan picked up the document and glanced at it.

"Who are they?"

"Members of an anti-government organization. Seven in all. One of them's a young man called 'Inazuma,' one of Ivankov's people." Ginny pointed to a photograph in the document. "I got the photo from Morgans. It cost three million Beli."

The photograph showed a young man with long purple hair, heavy makeup, and a black cloak. His gaze was sharp, and a faint, contemptuous smile played on his lips.

"One of Ivankov's people?" Lin Yuan put down the photograph.

"That's right. The intelligence says he's Ivankov's second-in-command and holds a high position in the organization. The World Government caught him and wanted to pry the identities of Ivankov's accomplices out of him."

"Did they get anything?"

"No. He's kept his mouth shut. They beat him for three months, and he didn't say a thing. The World Government got impatient and plans to send him to Impel Down."

Lin Yuan fell silent for a moment.

"What's the transport's escort?"

"Two warships and one transport ship. The officer in charge is a Marine rear admiral, and there are two CP0 agents aboard." Ginny turned to another page. "The rear admiral's name is Strawberry. His bounty... no, he doesn't have a bounty. He's a Marine. He's strong and specializes in swordsmanship."

"What about CP0?"

"I don't know. The intelligence only said there were two of them, not who they were."

Lin Yuan thought for a moment.

"Bullet, Kuma. Come with me."

Bullet jumped down from the windowsill and rolled his wrists.

"Finally, something to do."

Kuma silently stood up and nodded.

The South Blue, somewhere at sea.

Three ships sailed in a line—the transport in the middle, with a warship ahead and another behind. More than a dozen Marine soldiers stood on the transport's deck, while two CP0 agents guarded the entrance to the hold. One was a man and the other a woman, both dressed in white suits and wearing sunglasses.

Lin Yuan hovered high in the air, standing on a Micro Door. Bullet and Kuma stood behind him.

"The prisoners are in the lower hold of the transport in the middle." Lin Yuan closed his eyes, and his Spatial Perception spread out. "Seven prisoners. One of them has a very weak presence. He's close to death. That might be Inazuma."

"How do we do this?" Bullet asked.

"I'll open a door. You go into the transport's lower hold and rescue them. Kuma will provide support outside and use his paws to repel anyone chasing us." Lin Yuan opened his eyes. "Leave the two CP0 agents to me."

"You're taking on both of them alone?"

"I'm not fighting them. I'll trap them."

Bullet shrugged.

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door in front of the three of them. The transport's lower hold lay beyond it.

"Go."

The transport ship, lower hold.

It was dark and damp, and the air reeked of blood and mold. Seven prisoners were chained to the walls, their handcuffs and shackles all made of Seastone. The young man at the very back had long purple hair covering half his face. His body was covered in wounds, his clothes torn to shreds, and the skin they exposed was crisscrossed with whip marks and burns.

Inazuma. He was still alive, but his presence was very weak.

Bullet came through the door and frowned when he saw the seven prisoners.

"That's it?"

"Get them out." Lin Yuan's voice came from outside the door. "Quickly."

Bullet walked up to Inazuma and looked at his handcuffs.

"They're Seastone. I can't open them."

"I'll do it."

A small door opened on Inazuma's handcuffs, and the lock sprang open. The cuffs fell to the floor with a crisp clatter. The same thing happened with his shackles.

With nothing left to support him, Inazuma fell forward. Bullet grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up.

"You alive?"

Inazuma opened his eyes and looked at Bullet.

"You... who are you?"

"Someone here to save you."

Inazuma said nothing more and closed his eyes.

Bullet slung Inazuma over his shoulder and said to the other six prisoners, "Can you walk?"

Of the six, three could still stand, but the other three were too badly injured to move.

"Lin Yuan, three of them can't move."

"Got it."

A huge door opened in the floor of the lower hold. Beyond it was a beach on Hachinosu.

"Those who can walk, go on your own. Bullet, carry the ones who can't."

Bullet set Inazuma down, then tucked the three badly injured prisoners under his arms, one in each hand. The remaining three prisoners staggered through the door.

"Go."

Bullet walked through the door, and Inazuma and the other three badly injured prisoners were taken away.

The lower hold was empty.

Lin Yuan came through the door, glanced around the empty cell, then opened another door and prepared to leave.

On deck, the Marine soldiers finally noticed something was wrong.

"There's something happening in the lower hold!"

"Go check it out!"

The two CP0 agents rushed down the stairs and saw Lin Yuan emerging from the lower hold.

"Lin Yuan!"

"The Spatial Ability User!"

Both attacked at once. The man stabbed at Lin Yuan's throat with Shigan, while the woman kicked a Rankyaku at his knees.

Lin Yuan didn't dodge. He opened a door beneath each of them. They stepped into empty air and fell through. Beyond the doors was the sea outside the transport ship.

Splash! Splash!

The sounds of the two hitting the water came from outside.

Lin Yuan clapped his hands, opened a door, and walked through.

On the transport's deck, the Marine soldiers were in an uproar.

"The prisoners escaped!"

"CP0 fell overboard!"

"After him—no, we can't catch him! He opened a door and escaped!"

Rear Admiral Strawberry rushed out of the bridge, his face livid.

"Lin Yuan... you again..."

Hachinosu.

The seven prisoners sat slumped on the beach. Ginny and her people bandaged their wounds and gave them food and water.

Inazuma leaned against a reef, his body wrapped in bandages. His long purple hair was matted with blood, and his face was black and blue, but his eyes were bright.

Lin Yuan walked over and crouched in front of him.

"Ivankov sent me."

Inazuma's eyes lit up.

"Ivankov... he's still alive?"

"He is. He's on Level 5 of Impel Down."

Inazuma fell silent for a moment.

"You're Lin Yuan?"

"Yes."

"I've heard of you. The Spatial Ability User who snatched the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon at God Valley, with a bounty of 1.5 billion."

"That's right."

"Why did you save me?"

"Because Ivankov needs you," Lin Yuan said. "He said it'll be another year before he gets out. Until then, you need to help him hold on to what he has on the outside."

Inazuma stared at him for a long time.

"What things?"

"Your contacts, your intelligence, your abilities." Lin Yuan stood up. "When Ivankov gets out, he'll need someone to help him. You can't wait for him in prison."

"So you want me to stay here with you?"

"Yes."

"What are the conditions?"

"Food and lodging are covered, and nobody will beat you. You can leave whenever you want, but let me know before you go."

Inazuma fell silent for a moment.

"All right. I'll stay."

Lin Yuan held out his hand.

Inazuma shook it.

"Inazuma. Code name 'Inazuma.' My ability comes from the Snip-Snip Fruit."

"Lin Yuan."

They let go of each other's hands.

Ginny walked over with an account book in her hand.

"You're Inazuma, right? Your room's ready. Second floor of the castle, third room on the left. Eat in the mess hall and train at the training ground. Tell me if you need anything."

Inazuma looked at her.

"And who are you?"

"Ginny. I handle logistics." Ginny made an entry in her account book. "You owe me three million Beli for the intelligence. You can work it off later."

Inazuma froze for a moment, then laughed.

"All right."

That evening.

Lin Yuan stood on the training ground, watching Inazuma practice his ability.

The Snip-Snip Fruit. It could cut through any object as though cutting cloth. Using a giant pair of scissors, Inazuma cut a steel plate to pieces as easily as cutting paper.

"Your ability is good," Lin Yuan said.

"But it's no use in a tough fight." Inazuma put down the scissors. "My Armament Haki is too weak. I can't cut through an enemy's defenses."

"Then train."

"For how long?"

"Until you can cut through Armament Haki."

Inazuma fell silent for a moment.

"When is Ivankov getting out?"

"In a year."

"Then I'll train for a year."

Inazuma picked up the scissors and continued cutting.

Steel plates were reduced to pieces one after another, piling up across the ground.

Lin Yuan stood to the side and watched without a word.

In the distance, Ginny stood at the castle entrance, holding two cups of water.

"Lin Yuan, have some water."

"Coming."

Lin Yuan walked over and took a cup.

"What do you think of Inazuma?" Ginny asked.

"He has potential, but he needs time."

"Then why did you save him?"

"Because Ivankov will need someone he can trust when he gets out." Lin Yuan took a sip of water. "Inazuma is his second-in-command. He's the best choice."

Ginny nodded.

"Then what will he do during the year he's staying here?"

"Help us with our work. The Snip-Snip Fruit can process materials—cut wood, steel, and stone. It saves effort." Lin Yuan handed the cup back to Ginny. "Make the arrangements."

"All right."

Ginny turned and walked away.

Lin Yuan stood at the castle entrance, watching Inazuma on the training ground.

The sun sank in the west, stretching Inazuma's shadow long.

His scissors gleamed red in the sunset, like a bloodstained blade.

(End of chapter 48)