"The Flying Pirate Crew? The one I know?"
"Yes, Golden Lion's Flying Pirate Crew," Rosinante took a deep breath before continuing.
"After his prison break, he completely vanished, erasing all traces of himself from the seas. The only information we had about him was that right after escaping Impel Down, he went to the New World to meet Whitebeard."
"I know that, of course," Michael said, frowning. "But the problem is, after that, he never appeared again—not in the four seas, Paradise, or even the New World. I even thought the old lion had died... After all, that rudder lodged in his skull has been pressing against his brain all this time. Leaving it in means a slow death, pulling it out means instant death."
"True, that's how it is... but don't forget, his Devil Fruit powers are still intact," Rosinante sighed. "So, somehow, he got advice from somewhere and returned to Impel Down again..."
"Wait, you mean..."
"Exactly—he broke into the prison!" Rosinante stated firmly. "This was undoubtedly the bloodiest escape in Impel Down's history. Countless prisoners died, either due to the prison's harsh conditions or Golden Lion's powers."
"But he succeeded... and even rebuilt the Flying Pirate Crew. Who did he rescue from Impel Down?"
Instead of answering, Rosinante pulled out a stack of documents from his coat.
Michael's eye twitched slightly.
This many...?
That old lion really hasn't lost his edge despite his age.
Taking the documents from Rosinante, Michael began flipping through them.
But as he did, he couldn't help but feel speechless.
Ever since arriving in this world—especially after burning the slave ship—most events had unfolded within Michael's expectations.
But this... this was truly beyond his imagination.
Shiryu of the Rain, former head jailer of Impel Down.
Due to his excessive bloodlust and indiscriminate killing, he was sentenced to suspended death and imprisoned in Impel Down's sixth level, the Eternal Hell.
Katarina Devon, also known as "Moon Hunter," is the user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nine-Tailed Fox form.
San Juan Wolf, nicknamed "Colossal Battleship," is a user of the Paramecia-type Inflate-Inflate Fruit.
Sentenced to life imprisonment, his crimes were so heinous that his very existence had to be erased from history.
Vasco Shot, known as "Great Drunkard," wields the Paramecia-type Alcohol-Alcohol Fruit. Interestingly, the abilities of this fruit are actually related to combustion.
Avalo Pizarro, dubbed "Tyrant King," possesses the Paramecia-type Island-Island Fruit. With a pair of horns on his head, his race appears similar to that of Jack or Kaido.
Patrick Redfield, "Solo King" and "Red Count," once rivaled the greatest pirate crews of his era single-handedly... Yet, after witnessing the full might of Whitebeard and Roger, he abandoned his dream of becoming the Pirate King and retreated to Impel Down's Level 6 to live out his remaining days.
Bryndy World, "World Destroyer," with a bounty of 500 million, is a user of the Paramecia-type Moa-Moa Fruit, capable of amplifying the speed and size of any object he touches by one to a hundred times.
Douglas Bullet, "Devil's Heir" and "Successor of the Demon," masters all three types of Haki and wields the Paramecia-type Merge-Merge Fruit.
He holds the record for single-handedly summoning a Buster Call...
Michael gasped as he read through the list.
Honestly, the first few names weren't too surprising—they were essentially half of the Blackbeard Pirates' core members.
But the other three were a different story.
Redfield and Bullet were undoubtedly top-tier powerhouses.
Though "World Destroyer" wasn't as infamous as the others, his ability to amplify speed and size made him the perfect support for these already formidable individuals.
Additionally, many pirates from the first five levels of Impel Down had escaped alongside Golden Lion.
Under Golden Lion's leadership, they had reformed the Flying Pirates.
"After Golden Lion's rampage in Impel Down, he broke out with the people on this list and formed a new Flying Pirates crew..." Rosinante sighed. "The Marines intended to issue new bounties, but the World Government wanted to suppress the news for now. So, aside from some in the New World, this information hasn't spread elsewhere."
Hearing it was the World Government's decision, Michael immediately understood.
This... was standard procedure.
What he couldn't grasp was how Golden Lion had managed it.
With Magellan—the absolute executioner of confined spaces—guarding Impel Down, Golden Lion escaping alone should have been the limit.
But to storm in and break others out as well...
That was absurd.
Did they think Magellan was just for show?
Unless...
"Don't tell me Golden Lion attacked Impel Down right when Magellan was on his bathroom break?"
"That's exactly what happened."
"Damn it!"
Michael smacked his forehead.
Unbelievable!
In other words, someone within the World Government had colluded with Golden Lion!
...
New World.
"So, is our deal settled, Golden Lion?" Spandine rubbed his hands together, grinning obsequiously.
Golden Lion sat on the captain's throne, his sharp gaze fixed on the man before him.
Sleazy, incompetent, obsequious...
The World Government actually sent someone like this to negotiate terms with him.
It was utterly laughable.
"A deal? What deal are you talking about? I don't recall anything."
"You must have forgotten, esteemed sir... We agreed that we'd provide you with Impel Down's schedule, and in return, you'd invade Impel Down, take the selected prisoners, and form a new pirate crew... Then, you'd eliminate the Marine traitor, Michael."
"I'll say it again—I don't remember any such deal." Shiki floated in midair, drifting closer to Spandine as he looked down at him.
"But... I already have unfinished business with that bastard Michael, so... yes, I'll go kill him."
"As for you... leave all the ships outside behind, and then get lost."
"Yes, yes, I'll go, I'm leaving right now."
Spandine nodded frantically before scrambling away in a panic.
"Are we... really going up against Michael?" Shiryu of the Rain, standing nearby, spoke up.
"That's the guy who escaped an encirclement by two Admirals and all the Vice Admirals, then went on to severely wound an Admiral... I may love killing, but I'm not an idiot."
"I will kill Michael," Shiki said with a grin, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
"But... did I say when?"