"A lot of new faces will be arriving here soon, some good, some bad. But the biggest name among them is probably this one."
"White Knight Gawain. A man from the East Blue, known as the most righteous pirate."
"He had a bounty of 248 million Belly, and he defeated the former warlord and admiral one after another. His momentum is even stronger than that of Fire Fist Ace, who entered the New World some time ago."
"Some even believe that he is the pirate most likely to challenge the status of the four emperors in recent years."
"Even Zephyr was defeated?"
Rayleigh was stunned.
He was extremely familiar with Zephyr's peak-level Armament Haki, having fought him multiple times in the past, with victories and losses on both sides.
Yet now, such a man had fallen to a rookie pirate.
Rayleigh was shocked, but there was also an indescribable excitement in his eyes: "No one remains strong forever, but there will always be strong ones!"
"As expected."
"This era, created by Roger, will never be boring."
Shakky said casually: "Aren't you going to meet him?"
"Perhaps he is the one you've been waiting for."
Rayleigh shook his head. "If he is the one I'm waiting for, then he will surely come here, just as we once did. And then, he will go to Elbaph and meet Gaban."
Shakky took a slow drag from her cigarette. As she exhaled the gray smoke, her gaze fell on Rayleigh, filled with curiosity: "What exactly did you see in the Laugh Tale?"
"Hahahahaha..."
The only response to her question was Rayleigh's laughter as he walked away.
It took Shakky a while to regain her composure. The cigarette burned between her fingers, and the smile on her face deepened.
"Honestly..."
"He tricked me again."
… … …
North Blue, several floating islands drifted silently in the sky before gradually vanishing into the clouds.
Inside his palace, Golden Lion stood tall, gripping Bepo by the neck. No matter how much Bepo struggled, he couldn't shake off the latter's grasp.
Golden Lion turned his head, excitement flashing across his face as he looked at the young man before him, wearing a white hat with a slightly sinister expression.
"You're Trafalgar Law, the user of the Op-Op Fruit?"
"Yes, I am."
Law's expression was tense, sweat covering his forehead.
The anger in his heart from seeing Bepo captured instantly faded the moment he recognized the identity of the man standing before him.
A chilling sensation crept up from his feet to the top of his head.
Although the old man's face had changed slightly compared to his wanted poster, his signature golden hair and overwhelming presence made it impossible not to recognize him.
Shiki the Golden Lion!
A legendary pirate who once stood on equal footing with the King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger, and the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard!
This is not someone he can fight against.
"What do you want?"
Golden Lion lifted a finger and pointed at the rudder lodged in his head. His excitement was barely contained: "Let's make a deal."
"Help me remove this damn thing, and I'll grant you a request and release your crew."
Law's gaze shifted to the rudder embedded in Shiki's skull. In an instant, he understood the issue: "The rudder has already fused with your brain tissue. Over time, the integration will only deepen."
"It may even accelerate due to emotional fluctuations."
Golden Lion's eyes lit up.
"Correct!"
"Even without the Op-Op Fruit, just based on your insight and medical knowledge, you are already one of the top doctors of this era!"
"I've changed my mind."
"The doctor's position on this ship is still open."
"It's yours now!"
Law gradually calmed down.
At least for now, Golden Lion didn't intend to kill him. That meant there was still room to maneuver.
Looking at the legendary pirate before him, Law's mind drifted back to Corazon, the man who had died at Doflamingo's hands years ago.
With his current strength, he can't yet take revenge on Doflamingo.
But Golden Lion?
A pirate who once rivaled Roger and Whitebeard?
Maybe…
No.
He definitely can.
As he recalled the nightmare-inducing figure of Doflamingo, a twisted expression appeared in Law's eyes.
"I have one condition."
Golden Lion slowly set Bepo down and said indifferently: "Speak."
"Kill someone for me."
"Deal!"
Law froze for a moment, instinctively asking: "You don't even want to know who?"
Shiki laughed wildly.
"It makes no difference to me!"
"Just as arrogant as expected..."
Law couldn't help but admire him. But the more arrogant Golden Lion was, the more confidence Law had in his strength.
After all, he was a legend who once fought Roger for supremacy. He had every right to be this domineering.
"Then we have a deal."
As soon as the words fell, a surge of overwhelming Conqueror's Haki exploded from Golden Lion, sweeping outward in all directions.
A problem that had plagued him for over a decade was now finally about to be resolved.
The excitement in his heart was beyond words.
Especially when he recalled his battle with Gawain in Nanohana.
"White Knight Gawain... Next time, next time, you won't escape!"
"Even if you're a rising star of this era, you are destined to fall before me!"
Several days later.
North Blue, on a floating island.
Golden Lion stood in front of a mirror, slowly and carefully removing the bandages from his head.
"Finally... Finally!"
"That damn ship's steering wheel is finally gone!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
His wild laughter, infused with an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki, instantly swept through the palace, even dispersing the floating clouds around the island.
The animals on the floating island, which had been driven into a frenzy by the IQ plant, immediately halted their actions. Their eyes were instinctively drawn to the distant castle.
Their bodies trembled with primal fear, and within mere seconds, they scattered into the surrounding forest.
For a brief moment, the world fell into silence.
Shiki examined himself carefully in the mirror.
The four wounds on his head, where the ship's steering wheel had been embedded, were still covered in scabs.
Due to years of pressure, the hair follicles around the wounds had died, making it impossible for new hair to grow.
But regardless of that, it was still far better than the ridiculous rooster-like appearance he had before.
"My power has finally returned!"
"Roger is dead, and that bastard Newgate has no interest in ruling the seas. Who else in this world can stop me!?"
Pa!
Golden Lion clenched his fist, producing a sonic boom. The Haki surging through his body made him feel as if he had been reborn.
"Haaa!"
He took a deep breath, and the cigar in his mouth burned down to the butt in an instant.
"Hoo!"
Exhaling a breath of smoke, Golden Lion regained his usual composed expression. Only his slightly trembling hand betrayed the emotions raging within him.
He turned his gaze to Law, who stood nearby and couldn't help but voice his admiration: "Law, you are far more talented than I expected."
"I will keep my promise; I'll kill that brat Doflamingo for you!"
"Yeah."
Law nodded expressionlessly.
He had only agreed to work with Golden Lion because he was forced to. Their relationship was purely one of mutual use.
Besides, he had no interest in helping someone else become King.
One Piece was only meaningful if he seized it with his own hands!
Acting out of professional instinct as a doctor, Law warned: "I've removed that half of the ship's steering wheel from your head. The wounds on the surface have healed, but the bones inside will still take some time to recover."
"No!"
Shiki smirked confidently.
"This is already enough, as long as it doesn't affect my strength!"