Inside the enormous skull-shaped building at the center of Hachinosu, Golden Lion tossed the battered Ochoku onto the carpet of the conference hall.
Back in the day, the Rocks Pirates had gathered here to eat, bicker, and discuss their plans.
"...Cough-cough, cough-"
Ochoku lay on the floor, coughing up blood like a broken bellows. He had been no match for Golden Lion even in his youth, and now he stood even less of a chance.
But he was puzzled, too. Why hadn't Golden Lion killed him? This didn't look like an attempt to recruit him, either.
"...Damn you...Shiki...what the hell are you playing at?"
At his peak, Ochoku had ranked among the Legendary Great Pirates. If not for the monsters among his contemporaries and successors, he might have reached the level of an Emperor of the Sea.
Even with every advantage, Golden Lion had still needed to put in some effort to defeat Ochoku completely and leave him unable to move.
"Jihahahaha-you'll understand soon enough."
Golden Lion had no intention of bothering to explain. He left Ochoku behind and turned to leave.
Most of the pirates in the building had already fled. Even if any truly loyal subordinates remained, they no longer had time to carry Ochoku beyond Hachinosu's boundaries.
"Wait-Shiki..."
Ochoku weakly raised a hand, trying to say something, only to feel two tremendous waves of Conqueror's Haki collide and sweep toward him. In his weakened state, he passed out on the spot.
"...Hmm-was that Redfield?"
Golden Lion furrowed his brow. He sensed Red Count fiercely clashing with another wielder of Conqueror's Haki. And that "unfamiliar" Haki felt oddly "familiar."
"-Buru-buru-buru-"
The Small Den Den Mushi hidden inside Golden Lion's long haori sleeve rang.
He took it out and pressed the answer button. With a click, the Den Den