Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
Several hours later, Ikki regained his strength.
The first thing he did was gather his crew and tell them about his plan to participate in the war between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Are we really going to take part in that war? Won't it be very dangerous, Ikki?"
Viola frowned as she spoke, her voice filled with concern.
As the princess of Dressrosa, a kingdom located in the latter half of the Grand Line, she knew exactly what the na of one of the Four Emperors represented.
To rescue Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates would undoubtedly mobilize all of their forces and lead their allied crews in an assault on Marine Headquarters.
Even though she knew how powerful Ikki was, she still worried that he might be injured during the Marineford War.
"Ikki-sama, why don't I go with you?"
Kyros stepped forward and looked at him solemnly.
"No, you don't need to, Kyros."
"You need to stay behind and protect this country."
"If you join the war, it could attract the attention of dangerous pirates who might target Dressrosa."
"After all, you won't be sailing the seas with in the future, will you?"
"And there's another issue. Doflamingo is currently stranded outside the country, but he could return at any ti."
"If all of you leave, who will stop him when he cos back?"
Ikki patted Kyros on the shoulder and shook his head.
His words imdiately caused Kyros to frown.
"If Kyros can't go, then I shall accompany you, Captain Ikki."
"Although I'm a mber of the Dressrosa royal family, I'll be sailing with you in the future anyway."
"So my status as royalty doesn't matter anymore."
Viola smiled as she spoke.
"Of course I'm going too. That way I can help if anyone gets injured."
Nojiko, who wielded Minazuki, laughed brightly.
"And too."
"I want to go as well."
"That's right, I want to go too."
After Nojiko spoke, the rest of the Explorer's crew raised their hands, all expressing their desire to accompany Ikki to Marine Headquarters.
Standing off to the side, Sadi-chan pouted.
She wanted to go to Marine Headquarters and fight alongside Ikki as well.
However, rembering the mission he had given her—to return to Impel Down—she could only sigh helplessly.
She understood that instead of thinking about the Marineford War, she should focus on improving her position within the prison.
"Thank you, everyone."
Ikki smiled.
"If I need your help, I'll definitely ask for it."
"For now, make the necessary preparations. I'll be heading to Marine Headquarters alone first."
"But when the war begins, I want the Explorer positioned not too far from Marine Headquarters."
Although he could always leave aboard a Navy warship after the war ended, it was still safer to have the Explorer waiting nearby and ready for departure.
After hearing his instructions, everyone left the room and began preparing supplies for the voyage.
After a brief mont of thought, Ikki walked into the training room next door where Belo Betty, Rebecca, and the others had been practicing.
The mont he opened the door, Belo Betty looked over.
"Is there sothing you need, Ikki?"
Seeing him beckon her over, she walked over curiously.
"I'm planning to leave Dressrosa soon. What are your plans?"
"You should have already mastered Stone Breathing by now."
Ikki smiled as he spoke.
To fulfill his promise to Belo Betty, he had spent considerable ti helping her practice Stone Breathing over the past few days.
"Of course I'll follow you, Ikki."
"After all, I still haven't mastered the power known as the Innate Demon Slayer Mark."
Belo Betty smiled.
In truth, she secretly hoped to accompany him to Marine Headquarters.
She also firmly believed that Ikki would never hand over a mber of the Revolutionary Army to the Navy.
Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office
Tsuru strode forward, pushed open the door to Sengoku's office, and walked inside.
Seeing Sengoku leisurely eating senbei, she raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Sengoku. Did sothing good happen?"
As Sengoku's longti friend, she knew how much pressure he had been under ever since deciding to launch the war between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates.
After all, this wasn't rely a war against the Whitebeard Pirates.
It was also a conflict that would deeply wound their old friend Garp.
The fact that Sengoku could look so relaxed ant that he had received genuinely good news.
"Tsuru, you're here."
"I do have so good news."
"Gion successfully completed her mission. Ikki will be arriving soon to replace Doflamingo after his departure."
Sengoku smiled.
"Oh, so that's what this is about."
"That is indeed good news."
"Gion already contacted through a Den Den Mushi."
"She said they've picked up Ikki and are on their way to Marine Headquarters."
"Given the speed of the warship they're using, they should arrive soon."
"Gion also brought back Hina and Tashigi, who had been training under Ikki. As for Sadi-chan, she took a different ship back to Impel Down."
"Apparently her ship is a bit slower, so it'll take her longer to arrive."
Tsuru walked over and sat in the chair beside Sengoku.
Sengoku handed her a cup of tea before asking,
"Did Gion ntion anything else?"
"I was dealing with other matters when we spoke, so I didn't have much ti to ask about Hina, Tashigi, and the others."
"Did Ikki keep his promise and train them into powerful swordswon?"
Tsuru nodded.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Gion said Ikki used a special enhancent thod on Hina that consud a portion of his own strength, just as promised."
"Hina, Tashigi, and the others all improved trendously."
"Especially Sadi-chan. Since she was the one who provided the famous blades, Ikki gave an excellent weapon to her."
Sengoku's eyes widened.
"Ikki actually gave her a weapon he forged himself? Could it be that he and Sadi-chan..."
His voice trailed off.
Rembering the relationship between Ikki and Gion, Sengoku couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence in front of Tsuru, who treated Gion like a younger sister.
"Just let Gion handle her own affairs."
"Besides, there are already plenty of outstanding won around Ikki."
Tsuru shook her head and sighed.
"Ahem, I see."
"Then do you know what kind of weapons Sadi-chan received? Are they the sa type that Nami, Nojiko, and the others possess?"
"No."
"They aren't the sa as the weapons wielded by Nami, Nojiko, and the others."
"They're the sa type of weapons used by Gion and Empress Hancock."
"I see."
"It seems Ikki has certain principles when it cos to distributing weapons."
"Only those willing to sail with him appear to receive the kind of weapons possessed by Nami and the others."
"We can't really bla him. His Fruit's special enhancent thods seem to have strict limits. It's likely that forging those particular weapons also has limitations."
"So it's only natural that he'd prioritize strengthening his own crew."
Sengoku paused before looking at Tsuru.
"Did Gion tell you there was a limit to his enhancent thods?"
Tsuru nodded.
"She did."
"Ikki originally wanted to keep it secret, but after using his special enhancent on Hina and the others, he explained the thod involving future shadows."
"Although he doesn't know the exact limit, each use appears to consu part of that ability, making it increasingly difficult to use again."
"I see."
"That makes sense."
"An ability that extraordinary would be strange if it had no limitations."
"Still, the fact that Ikki told us this makes feel he has another motive."
"You guessed correctly."
Tsuru took a sip of tea.
"Ikki is clearly reminding us that his special enhancent thods aren't unlimited."
"In future negotiations, the Navy shouldn't expect him to casually provide those thods whenever we ask."
"Is that so?"
"What a sha."
Sengoku could only shake his head in disappointnt.
User Comments
0 comments from readers