After finally hanging up on Admiral Sengoku's interrogation, Ortoren shot Tiger a look that carried clear danger.
A moment later, he let out a helpless sigh and shook his head. "Tiger, if you were one of my subordinates, you'd never eat a three-course meal in your entire life, and you'd never earn an officer's epaulets—let alone a general's."
Tiger rubbed his head awkwardly. "Sorry, sorry…"
"Where's Dragon?" Rayleigh asked when he noticed Dragon wasn't in the room.
Ortoren replied, "He took his Revolutionary Army people to dig a tunnel into the Red Line. Probably doesn't trust me—afraid I'll wipe out the whole Revolutionary Army after this."
That suspicion wasn't baseless. The entire plan had been arranged by Ortoren from top to bottom, so of course Dragon wouldn't feel completely at ease. After Morley arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, Dragon brought him straight to the Red Line to begin digging.
With Morley's abilities, he could carve out a temporary secret chamber inside the Red Line. If anything went wrong with the operation to burn down Holy Land, the Revolutionary Army could escape into that hidden space and retreat safely afterward.
Rayleigh didn't think Dragon's reaction was unusual. If Dragon were truly so naïve that he'd trust whatever anyone said, the Revolutionary Army wouldn't have any future. They wouldn't even last long. Being suspicious and calculating made him a competent leader for an organization.
Rayleigh didn't pursue the topic further. He pointed at the unconscious Shiki on the floor and asked, "So why did you insist we bring him here?"
As he spoke, Rayleigh dropped onto the sofa and reached toward the assortment of fruit on the coffee table. "And why'd you buy so much fruit? Planning to start the celebration early?"
Indeed, the table was piled high with all kinds of fruit. Before Rayleigh's hand could grab any, Ortoren slapped it away. "Don't eat that. I need it for an experiment…"
"What kind of experiment?" Rayleigh asked, confused.
"According to rumors floating around," Ortoren said, his lips curling into a mischievous grin, "if you kill a Devil Fruit user near a large amount of suitable fruit, there's a good chance the Devil Fruit's ability will reincarnate into a nearby fruit, creating a new Devil Fruit."
Rayleigh stared for a moment, then glanced at the unconscious Shiki. "So you're planning to kill Shiki here and see if you can get the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi?"
"That's right. The Fuwa Fuwa no Mi is well-known for its power. If possible, of course I'd want to obtain such a formidable ability and put it to use for justice," Ortoren said as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.
As Ortoren and the others discussed whether the method would work, the unconscious Shiki suddenly twitched twice. He mumbled incoherently, then slowly opened his eyes.
Impel Down's Eternal Hell was eternally dark, cold, and damp.
So when Shiki opened his eyes now and saw a bright, colorful world, excitement flickered instantly in his gaze.
He was out.
After six long years, he had finally escaped that damned hellhole and returned to the world.
"Oh? He's awake!" Tiger said from the bar counter, sitting on a tall stool with a cocktail in hand as he noticed Shiki stirring.
Hearing voices around him, Shiki scrambled up from the floor, eyes sharp with wariness as he scanned the room. The first person he spotted was Rayleigh. He was just about to speak when he saw Ortoren sitting right beside him.
Even though he had only seen Ortoren once in his memory, not a single day of the past six years had passed without Shiki remembering the face of this bastard.
"Damn Marine brat!!!" Shiki roared. His instincts urged him to attack, but his body felt completely powerless.
He glanced down—good grief, not a single Seastone shackle had been removed.
Then it all clicked. He glared angrily at Rayleigh. "Rayleigh! Why are you mixed up with this damn Marine? Have you forgotten who murdered Roger?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't start spouting nonsense! When did I ever murder Roger?" Ortoren snapped back, glaring at him.
"With Roger's strength, how could you have captured him without using some despicable trick!?" Shiki gritted his teeth.
"Ask Roger yourself once you're down there," Ortoren shot back with a cold snort.
Shiki didn't look surprised. Instead, the fury in his eyes slowly faded.
Even before leaving Impel Down, he had suspected something was wrong—there had to be a conspiracy. And now, seeing Ortoren here, everything was clear. Why would they go to such lengths to drag him out of Impel Down? To give him freedom?
Impossible.
At this moment, Shiki fully understood: his death was imminent.
But there was no panic, no regret, no fear. He took two slow steps toward the window and looked outside through the glass.
"Sabaody Archipelago?" he whispered.
Ortoren had been ready to mock him a few more times, but for some reason, when he saw Shiki's profile and the faint trace of acceptance in his expression, all the snide remarks died in his throat.
Rayleigh filled an empty glass with liquor, stood up, walked over, and handed it to him. "Yeah. Sabaody Archipelago. I've been living here in seclusion. This is my tavern. Try the drink—it's pretty good."
Shiki took the glass despite the chains clanking around him. He lowered his head to inhale the scent, satisfaction flickering across his face, then drained the drink in one go. He exhaled deeply and smacked his lips. "Not exactly fine liquor... but right now, it has a special flavor."
Before Rayleigh could speak, Shiki continued to stare out the window. "You people dragged me out of Impel Down—you must have a purpose. Maybe you want to use my name for something... but none of that matters anymore. Just being able to leave that place and see the world again makes everything worth it..."
Otoren walked to the window as well, holding his own glass and studying the scenery. "We're not in a rush. At least before sunset—before dusk comes—if you want to look more, take your time…"
Shiki didn't respond. Emotionless, he simply stood there, gazing out in silence. After five or six minutes, the emptiness in his eyes gradually cleared.
Then Shiki spoke. "No need. Why bother watching the sunset? The sky is perfect right now. Just right for closing one's eyes, isn't it?"
"Yeah… the sky is perfect," Ortoren murmured.
"For the very last moment… give me a cigar," Shiki said, turning away from the window with a flourish. He sat on the sofa, commanding with bold finality.
"No cigars, but have a cigarette." Ortoren smiled, pulling a pack from his pocket, taking one out, and tossing it over.
Shiki snatched the cigarette from the air and inspected it before laughing heartily. "Geh hahahahaha! Never thought the last thing I'd smoke in this life would be from you bastard Marines…"
He placed it in his mouth. Ortoren didn't act like a high-ranking officer—he personally lit the cigarette for him.
Shiki exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, relaxing as he leaned back into the sofa. His body settled into ease. He slowly closed his eyes and whispered, "Do it…"
To avoid leaving visible injuries that might raise suspicion in Mary Geoise, Ortoren planned to handle Shiki's execution himself—cleanly and quietly.
Just as Ortoren's fingertip touched Shiki's temple, Shiki suddenly spoke. "Oh, one last question. You're not from the East Blue, are you?"
"Hahahaha…" Ortoren chuckled, then said, "Come to think of it, I never introduced myself. Benn Ortoren, Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, and… fifth son of Charlotte Linlin, captain of the Big Mom Pirates. So don't worry—I was born in the New World."
"Linlin's fifth son?" Shiki's eyes shot open. He examined Ortoren carefully, then realization dawned. "So it's you… the Beast's cub… Shihahahahaha… I saw you when you were born. No wonder you felt familiar. Turns out you're the son of an old acquaintance…"
After laughing heartily, Shiki closed his eyes again. "To have my life end in your hands… I suppose that's not such a disgrace for me…"
Ortoren said nothing. A spark of lightning flickered at his fingertip.
Sea Circle Calendar Year 1504.
The former king who once ruled the New World—Shiki the Golden Lion—died on the Sabaody Archipelago.
...
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