After playing games for a while, Ashveil felt a bit hungry.
"Hey, Urouge, go find me something to eat and drink," Ashveil said lazily to Urouge, who was standing outside with Hancock.
"Yes, Captain Ashveil. What would you like to eat today?"
"Hmm… get me some beef jerky, deep-sea carp, volcanic sausage, foie gras, a bottle of Dressrosa red wine, and a pot of hundred-fruits tea," Ashveil listed casually. He never ate the same thing twice in a row.
"Yes, Lord Ashveil!" Urouge replied respectfully before dashing toward the kitchen that the Whitebeard Pirates had built specifically for Ashveil. Everyone knew that when he said he was hungry, the food had to appear within five minutes—no exceptions.
Urouge sprinted as if every second were his last.
When the food finally arrived, Ashveil ate while continuing his game, muttering under his breath, "Such a shame there's no internet in this world. All I can do is play these single-player games—and I've already cleared them all in half a day."
He sighed and leaned back. "It'd be great if I could connect to the internet in the Pirate World someday."
Of course, Ashveil understood that relying on Caesar alone wouldn't be enough to achieve that. To build a network like that here, he'd need the scientific might of Germa 66 and even Vegapunk himself. It would take enormous resources and manpower—something he could only attempt after ruling this world entirely.
He paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Still, I wonder… isn't that old fellow Imu bored after ruling for so many years? Spending centuries watching your back, worrying about betrayal and power—what a miserable way to live."
"Imu, you're truly a dull creature," he murmured, shaking his head before returning to his food and game.
---
At the Marine Headquarters, Vice Admiral Garp and Commander-in-Chief Kong finally returned, riding in mechanical carriages produced by the Marine's science division.
The entire base was overflowing with power. Among the Four Emperors, Kaido and Big Mom had arrived, accompanied by their most fearsome subordinates—King, Katakuri, Cracker, and Queen—as well as Kaido's Zoan-infused army and Big Mom's Homies.
From the Seven Warlords, there were heavy hitters like Shiryu of the Rain, Sanjuan Wolf, and Whitebeard Jr. Even the CP Organization, though small in number, radiated terrifying strength.
Within the Marines themselves, with the return of Kong and Garp, more elite officers had gathered than ever before. The sheer number of world-class fighters assembled in one place was unprecedented. Former enemies now stood side by side with one goal—to destroy Thorne Ashveil.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally came to greet Garp, noticing that although his old friend carried fresh injuries, his spirit remained as fierce as ever.
"Sengoku, I've finished everything you asked," Garp said with a grin. "Everyone's been captured except for the Red Count—he's a slippery one. But the rest? All behind bars!"
Many of those names—Shiki, Douglas Bullet, Byrnndi World—were criminals Garp had once caught and sent to Impel Down himself. Their escape had been a stain on his record. Capturing them again brought him great satisfaction.
A rumble echoed through the plaza as mechanical carriages rolled forward, each topped with reinforced cages. It was Kong's idea; before sending the prisoners back to Impel Down, they would be paraded through Marineford to boost morale.
The first to appear was the Golden Lion Shiki, seated inside a cage lined with Sea-Prism Stone, his body wrapped in nearly a hundred chains of the same material. Dealing with the man who had once escaped Impel Down required extreme caution.
The Marines erupted into cheers as they caught sight of the legend.
"Look at that! Do you know who that is?" cried an old veteran. "That's the Golden Lion Shiki himself!"
"The flying pirate who once attacked Marineford single-handedly?" gasped a younger officer.
"That's him—the only man who ever fought Roger to a standstill!"
Even Kaido and Big Mom turned their attention immediately.
"Hey, Kaido, look! Isn't that really the Golden Lion?" Big Mom said, her wide-painted eyes gleaming.
Kaido's expression hardened. "It is him. Back in the Rocks Pirates days, his strength was second only to Captain Rocks himself."
The two Emperors strode forward to see their old comrade.
Sengoku's eyes glinted behind his glasses. "You caught the Golden Lion? Excellent! If that man had joined Ashveil, our entire operation would've been jeopardized."
Kong nodded. "According to our intel, he did intend to side with Ashveil. He refused to cooperate with us even under threat of death, so Garp and I bound him ourselves."
Sengoku stepped closer to the cage. "Golden Lion Shiki, join the Marines," he said evenly. "I can petition the World Government for a full pardon. Be wise—know when to submit to reality."
For a man of Shiki's stature, Sengoku still hoped to negotiate. Recruiting him could turn the tide against Ashveil.
"Join us, Shiki," Kaido added, gripping his kanabō tightly. "Let's fight together again, like in the old Rocks days."
"That's right, Lion," Big Mom said, baring her massive teeth in a grin. "Forget your ridiculous dreams. Staying alive should be your priority."
"Pah!" Shiki spat. "You two disgust me. Even you have sunk so low as to serve the Marines? The world truly has rotted!"
Though bound and shackled, the defiance in his eyes hadn't dimmed. Kaido and Big Mom's faces darkened instantly.
"You arrogant fool," Big Mom growled. "Then rot in Impel Down! You won't be escaping this time!"
Kaido grunted in agreement, slamming his club against the ground, cracking the stone beneath him.
Sengoku sighed quietly. "Still the same prideful beast… He won't listen to reason."
He waved his hand. "Take him away. Send him to Impel Down immediately."
At once, a towering Giant Vice Admiral stepped forward, gripping the cage with both hands and hauling the imprisoned Golden Lion away.
And as the mechanical carriage rolled out of Marineford, the air seemed to tremble. Even chained and powerless, the name Golden Lion Shiki still carried the weight of legend.
______
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