"So, finally, someone worthwhile shows up," Rosinante said, looking at Shiryu with clear interest. "But like I said... best not to make things difficult for me."
"I don't really have a choice," Shiryu replied as he slowly drew his long blade. "As the Chief Warden of Impel Down, I can't exactly just let an intruder have his way."
"Well, fair enough." Rosinante chuckled lightly. "This body of mine hasn't moved properly in a very long time. A little exercise might be nice."
His smile sharpened.
"But I do hope you people can bear the price... of making me make a move."
"Big words," Shiryu said coldly. "You may just be the most arrogant pirate I've ever met. Let's see if you can still talk like that in a moment."
The instant his words fell—
Shiryu vanished.
In a flash, he appeared directly in front of Rosinante.
His long blade came slashing down in a streak of blood-red light, wrapped in murderous intent so thick it almost seemed tangible.
"Oh? Not bad," Rosinante said with a faintly amused smile.
Then he raised two fingers.
And clamped them around the incoming blade.
The blood-colored slash stopped dead.
No matter how much force Shiryu put into it, that long sword couldn't move forward even a single inch.
Caught between Rosinante's two fingers, Shiryu's blade began to tremble violently, letting out a shrill metallic cry as if it were enraged.
"Too noisy," Rosinante said lightly.
"Quiet down."
The next moment—
A terrifying sword intent that only a true great swordsman could possess erupted from his body, fused together with Conqueror's Haki.
And in that instant, Shiryu's demon blade changed completely.
It was like a servant kneeling before its master.
It no longer dared to make another sound.
Instead, it trembled... faintly, repeatedly... as if in fear.
After decades of war in the world of Naruto, Rosinante had fought countless experts.
He had even clashed with monsters on the level of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Over those long years, his swordsmanship had already reached the realm of a true Great Swordsman.
And toward the very end, he had even begun to faintly touch something beyond that realm.
Under such tyrannical sword intent and Haki...
Even a cursed blade had no choice but to submit.
Cold sweat began pouring down Shiryu's forehead.
He could feel it.
His sword was afraid.
He had never seen this blade afraid before.
This was a demon sword that only ever screamed for slaughter.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
That was all it ever wanted.
And yet now—
It was sending him a very different emotion.
Fear.
How was that even possible?
"Who exactly are you?" Shiryu asked, his expression darkening. "With strength like yours, there's no way someone like you should be unknown on the seas."
Rosinante smiled faintly.
"Don't let appearances fool you. Ten years ago, I was quite famous."
He sounded almost casual, almost nostalgic.
"It's just that over the past ten years, your Marines seem to have hidden all information about me."
He gave a helpless little shrug.
"So now, youngsters like you don't remember I ever existed."
"Ten years ago...?" Shiryu's eyes narrowed.
Then suddenly, as if something struck him, his expression changed dramatically.
He remembered.
Ten years ago, there had indeed been one overwhelmingly famous existence...
One whose information had been forcibly suppressed by the Marines afterward.
Shiryu's cigar slipped from his mouth and dropped to the floor.
His voice turned sharp.
"I do remember... there was someone like that. But as far as I know... he died."
"Died?" Rosinante smiled lightly.
"Who knows?"
"And besides... who says the dead can't come back to life?"
Then his smile became strangely playful.
"Maybe one day... you'll even see the Pirate King himself return to this world."
Shiryu stared at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly—
He sheathed his sword.
Rosinante didn't stop him.
The blade slid back into its scabbard with a clean metallic click.
"Oh?" Rosinante asked with a smile. "Not fighting anymore?"
"If it really is you..." Shiryu said flatly, "then forget it."
He exhaled slowly.
"Just from that one exchange, I've already seen the ending."
His gaze turned colder.
"But don't think Impel Down is so easy to break through. There's still one troublesome bastard deeper inside."
He looked directly at Rosinante.
"Even for you... he'll probably be a headache."
Rosinante only smiled.
"Who knows?"
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"By the way... can you tell me which level Bins is being held on?"
Shiryu's eyes flickered.
"So it really is you."
Then he answered calmly.
"A dangerous figure like the Piercing Knight Bins would naturally be held on the lowest level."
"The bottom floor."
"Thanks," Rosinante said, lifting a hand in casual farewell as he slowly began walking deeper into the prison.
The jailers standing guard stared in complete disbelief.
Shiryu...
Had actually let him pass.
Some of the guards still instinctively tried to step forward to stop Rosinante—
But before they could get close, a tyrannical wave of pressure swept over them.
They were blasted backward instantly, sent flying through the air.
"Chief Warden... are we really just letting him go in like that?" Hannyabal asked, staring at Rosinante's disappearing back with shock and confusion.
Shiryu didn't even look at him.
"Could you stop him?" he asked coldly.
"I-I..." Hannyabal froze.
Right.
If even Shiryu couldn't stop him...
How could he possibly do it?
"But..." Hannyabal said hesitantly.
"Relax," Shiryu replied indifferently. "If you can't stop him, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That man is a monster."
"No one's going to blame you for failing to stop a monster like that."
Then a strange smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Besides... Impel Down isn't that easy to break through."
"We've got a monster of our own here too."
His voice turned low and grim.
"And that bastard's ability... isn't something you deal with so easily."