Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"By the way, what are you two doing here?" Ikki asked Smoker and Tashigi curiously. "Do you have some mission assigned by the Marines?"
However, as soon as those words left his mouth, Hina beside them finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Bastard! Can't you see Hina standing right here?" she snapped, stepping forward angrily. "Is Hina so insignificant to you?"
In her excitement, Hina grabbed Ikki by the collar and pulled him closer.
"Hey! Isn't this Hina?" Ikki said with a grin, raising his hand in a casual greeting. "You didn't speak up just now, so I thought you were just some ordinary Marine."
"Damn it, you're really something else," Hina growled in frustration.
In her anger, she activated her Devil Fruit power, locking Ikki up with black iron bars.
Not far away, Nami, Nojiko, and the others who witnessed this scene showed no reaction at all. Knowing that Ikki was just messing around with Hina, Nami and Nojiko walked past the many Marine soldiers and approached Tashigi. The three women immediately gathered together and started chatting.
Smoker scratched his head and deliberately moved away from the three girls' conversation area, coming over to where Ikki and Hina were.
"This is the first time I've seen Hina this angry," he observed with interest, crossing his arms. "You really are something, Ikki."
"What are you talking about, Smoker?" Ikki replied with a smile. "How could I deliberately make our beautiful Miss Hina angry? I just... well, I simply didn't notice her."
He used his left hand to push Zangetsu an inch out of its scabbard. The sword energy that shot out immediately tore apart the iron prison created by Hina's abilities.
"Looking at all of you, it seems like you were waiting for me," Ikki continued. "Tell me, what brings you here to see me? Could it be that your Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants to make a deal with me?"
At this moment, Ikki remembered the conversation he'd had with Gion before she left the Explorer. As long as the Marines could produce the corresponding famous swords, he could give them a certain discount.
After training Gion to become a great swordsman who could master the Demon Slayer Mark and reach the Sea-Breaking Realm, Ikki had expected such a day would come.
As for revealing too much power and making the Marines wary enough to take action against him and his crew, Ikki didn't think the Marines would do something like that unless the World Government intervened directly.
Even if the Marines tried something, Ikki, who had mastered various Zanpakutō abilities, was confident they wouldn't be able to catch him and his crew so easily.
"Hmph," Hina snorted coldly but didn't say anything about Ikki destroying her prison.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has agreed to trade famous swords with you," Smoker explained. "At Impel Down, the former warden Shiryu owns one of the twenty-one Great Grade swords called 'Raiu.' If you're willing to train some Marine soldiers in swordsmanship and ensure they can reach the level of awakening the Demon Slayer Mark, the Marines will hand over this 'Raiu' to you."
He paused before continuing. "In addition, Hannyabal, the deputy director of Impel Down, also holds a famous sword called 'Kessui' in his possession. But for this blade, you'll need to negotiate with Hannyabal yourself. If he's willing to hand the sword over to you, it's yours."
Hearing this, Ikki couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He naturally knew that Impel Down housed these two famous swords.
However, he hadn't expected the Marines to be so generous and willing to hand over these blades.
'Raiu' aside – this sword was currently located in Impel Down. But if he looked at how things would unfold in the original timeline, Shiryu would eventually leave Impel Down with this blade. When that happened, Ikki would naturally have a chance to obtain the sword.
As for 'Kessui,' Ikki felt he need to find sufficient reason to visit Impel Down, or have the Marines bring the sword out themselves. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to get that blade.
"Kessui and Raiu– these two swords are indeed famous blades," Ikki said, holding his chin thoughtfully and nodding. "So this time, Hina, you went out of your way to come here on Smoker's warship to find me. Can I understand that the Marines asked you to come study with me?"
Hina lit a cigarette and looked at Ikki with obvious irritation.
"What, you don't want Hina to study with you?"
"How could that be? I'd naturally welcome a beautiful lady like Hina to come aboard my ship for training," Ikki replied. "Moreover, you've already mastered Fire Breathing techniques, so it'll be much easier to train you."
"You seem to understand the situation. Besides me, Tashigi will also come to your ship for training. She has a good relationship with you, so adding one more person won't be a problem."
"I see, you all showed up together and came up with this plan," Ikki mused. "Whatever – after all, it's for Tashigi and a famous sword. It's not a loss for me to teach two students."
He nodded and looked at Smoker.
"By the way, why don't you also come study with me? I have a feeling that you might be very good at learning Mist Breathing swordsmanship."
Hearing this, Smoker shook his head.
"If possible, I'd also like to practice that Mist Breathing with you. It's just that to truly master Mist Breathing swordsmanship, I'd need to awaken the so-called Innate Demon Slayer Mark. That means I'd need to stay on your ship for a long time."
He frowned, looking resolute. "I still want to hunt down the Straw Hat crew, and I'll leave after escorting you to Impel Down. Besides, your ship is full of women – that would be... problematic."
"That's a shame. It's rare for me to offer a discount," Ikki said with a shrug and a smile. "Forget it, let's decide on this then."
"However, Tashigi and Hina, for you two to reach the level of awakening the Innate Demon Slayer Mark, the time required could be long or short. I can't guarantee when you'll be able to finish your studies and return."
While speaking, Ikki turned his head and glanced at Kalifa and Nico Robin on the deck of the Explorer nearby. Both women saw his look and immediately understood what he meant.
This statement wasn't just for Hina and Tashigi – it was also directed at them. In the coming period, even while aboard the Explorer, they needed to be careful not to let Hina and Tashigi see their true identities.
"Don't worry, we're prepared for this commitment," Hina said. "But you should have a way for us to master it as quickly as possible, right, Ikki?"
Ikki smiled and was about to nod and explain the relevant methods when a slightly odd laughter reached his ears.
"Fufufu, are you Ikki? I finally get to see you in person."
Ikki frowned and turned to look behind him. There, another Marine warship was approaching quickly. On top of the warship, Shichibukai Doflamingo looked in their direction with a wicked smile.