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Chapter 120is out!!!! +40 advanced chapters monthly
Smoker, Momousagi, and Chaton had left one after another.
Only Bai Shui intended to stick around for a few more days. Garp had already departed with Momousagi's group.
Thanks to Bai Shui's relentless efforts over the past year and a half, there was no longer any need to worry about Impel Down housing prisoners capable of threatening him. Even Magellan was full of praise for the young Marine.
When Bai Shui had first arrived, his strength hadn't been particularly outstanding. He ranked just above Smoker, but fell notably short of Vice Admiral candidates like Momousagi and Chaton. Now, however, he had thoroughly caught up to—and even surpassed—both of them. Even the notoriously icy Momousagi had begun to look at him in a new light.
Why stay behind?
There was no grand reason, really. He just wanted to linger for another couple of days. After all, he had bled, sweat, and trained in this hellhole for a year and a half; he'd developed a strange sense of attachment to the place.
While he was locked away, however, the outside world had been churning with turbulent storms.
The biggest headline of the era was undoubtedly the clash between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Beast Pirates.
Rumors said that Edward Newgate and Kaido had fought hard enough to shatter the heavens and sunder the earth, physically sinking several islands in their wake. It was an apocalyptic display of power.
The war ultimately ended with Kaido's retreat. Whitebeard's crew swallowed up a significant chunk of territory that had formerly belonged to the Beast Pirates. However, this ever-expanding Whitebeard crew was making it hard for the Marines to breathe. The mere existence of Whitebeard was a massive, looming threat.
Aside from Whitebeard, the other Yonko were also frantically expanding their territories. The battle for supremacy in the New World was fiercely contested. From top to bottom, Marine Headquarters remained on high alert, deeply paranoid about any unexpected crises breaking out.
In comparison, the 280 million Berries bounty placed on "Fire Fist" Portgas D. Ace seemed almost inconspicuous.
Over this year and a half, the Shichibukai system had become deeply ingrained in the minds of the global populace. People reacted differently, of course—some cursed it, some accepted it, and others grew numb to it. But notably, no one rebelled against it.
Because they couldn't.
Meanwhile, there was one minor event worth noting: the Green Fruit Kingdom in the East Blue had successfully joined the World Government, earning a seat at the upcoming Reverie.
The time was July, Sea Circle Calendar 1519.
Exactly five months before the original protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, would set sail.
On this particular day, a Marine Captain arrived at Impel Down. His orders were to escort Bai Shui back to Headquarters.
As for why they sent a mere Captain? Probably because anyone with a lower rank would have crumbled under Impel Down's oppressive, terrifying atmosphere. Especially when standing face-to-face with the likes of Bai Shui and Magellan.
"This way, please. Major Bai Shui is down on Level 5. Please wait a moment; he should be coming out right about now."
Accompanying the Captain was a jailer who frequently delivered food to the wardens, making him a familiar face to Bai Shui.
"Hmph. Understood," the Captain replied lightly. He closed his eyes to rest, radiating an aura of unapproachable arrogance.
Seeing this, the jailer immediately felt annoyed. Damn it, I brought your ass all the way down here and I don't even get a 'thank you'? Who do you think you are?
Even powerhouses like Bai Shui would offer a polite smile and a "thank you." You're nothing special.
But the jailer was no match for a Marine Captain, nor could he voice his complaints aloud. He shot the man a resentful glare and took his leave.
Major Bai Shui, huh? the Captain sneered inwardly. Let's see what kind of big shot you really are.
He was incredibly irritated that a mere Major was making him wait.
Damn it. I'm a Marine Captain, and you're just a Major. Who gave you the right to put on airs?
In his eyes, combat power was an illusion; military rank was absolute. No matter how strong you were, when faced with a gap in rank, you had to bow your head. This was the golden rule he had lived by during his decade-plus of service. It had never failed him.
To his mounting frustration, two whole hours passed without a single sign of Bai Shui. He was starting to lose his temper.
Just as his patience reached its absolute limit, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance to Level 5, immediately catching his attention.
He hastily straightened his uniform, adjusted his collar, and composed his expression, trying to look as strictly authoritative as possible.
He had heard the rumors. They said Bai Shui was an easygoing optimist who frequently ignored the strict hierarchy of the Marines. Today, the Captain resolved to teach Bai Shui a harsh lesson. He was going to show this upstart that the etiquette of the Navy was not to be trampled on.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The footsteps grew closer and clearer. But as they did, the Captain's complexion rapidly drained of color.
A terrifying aura washed over him. It felt like a prehistoric beast was bearing down on him, radiating a suffocating, nightmarish pressure. Every footstep seemed to stomp directly onto his own beating heart, leaving him paralyzed with dread.
H-How is this possible?!
It wasn't that he hadn't experienced the aura of strong fighters before, but he had never felt anything this overwhelming. It was asphyxiating. He felt as though an invisible hand had wrapped around his throat, choking the air from his lungs.
He stumbled backward several steps, his eyes wide with horror, swallowing hard.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The footsteps approached, and the oppressive weight of the aura multiplied.
To the Captain, it truly felt as if an apocalyptic monster was stalking toward him. He stumbled back a few more steps, completely unable to bear the invisible weight pressing down on his shoulders.
Gulp.
He could clearly hear the frantic hammering of his own heart, the sound of his own swallowing, and even the rush of blood through his veins.
The surroundings plunged into a dead, suffocating silence. It was as if all ambient noise had been erased from existence.
The air grew incredibly thin, the temperature plummeting, yet the Captain was drenched in a cold sweat. His face was a sickly, waxen yellow.
Gradually, a blurry silhouette emerged from the gloom.
The figure wasn't particularly tall, yet he seemed to carry the weight of the very heavens and earth upon his shoulders. Steady. Immovable. Before this figure, the Captain felt smaller than an insect.
And walking right alongside him were beasts that made the Captain's scalp go numb: Snow Wolves. A quick glance revealed at least fifty of the massive predators trailing obediently behind the figure, creating a scene of terrifying grandeur.
H-How?!
The Captain's eyes bulged in absolute shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Those were the Snow Wolves! The legendary, ferocious beasts native to the Freezing Hell of Level 5! They were notoriously proud and savage. How could they possibly walk so peacefully alongside a human?!
Yet here they were, pressing affectionately close to Bai Shui's heels.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
As the footsteps drew closer, the Captain found his back pressed flat against the stone wall of Level 5. He had nowhere left to run.
He could only watch helplessly as Bai Shui approached, devoid of any will to resist.
The arrogant thoughts he'd harbored just a minute ago vanished into the freezing air. Assert his dominance? Teach Bai Shui about the Marine hierarchy?
The mere concept was now utterly laughable.
He finally understood. He finally knew why his colleagues had given him such strange, almost pitying looks when he bragged about putting Bai Shui in his place.
So that's why... They already knew he was bound to fail, that he would only make a massive fool of himself.
Unfortunately, it was far too late for regrets.
"Time to say goodbye, Great Underwater Prison," Bai Shui murmured as he stepped through the gates of Level 5.
The Snow Wolves stopped, giving him a long, deep look, before turning and vanishing back into the swirling blizzards of the Freezing Hell.
"Let's go," Bai Shui said flatly, casting a brief, dismissive glance at the Captain plastered against the wall in sheer terror.
How did trash like this ever make it to Captain at Marine Headquarters? Bai Shui wondered. Sengoku is way too lax with promotions these days.
"Warden Magellan, it's time for me to take my leave. Thank you for taking care of me these past eighteen months. I'll come visit when I have the time!"
Bai Shui politely bid his farewells, exchanging warm hugs with Magellan, Hannyabal, Sadi, and Domino before finally boarding the Marine warship, officially embarking on his journey home.
"Phew. A year and a half. Went by in a flash," Bai Shui sighed nostalgically, closing his eyes and stretching his arms high into the air.
Crack! Pop!
His joints erupted into a symphony of pops and cracks, echoing loudly with an almost rhythmic cadence.
Puru puru puru puru!
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on Bai Shui's person began to ring. He quickly pulled it out and answered the call.
Before he could even speak, a panicked, tearful female voice cried out from the receiver. "Bai Shui! Sob... Please, you have to come save me! We're being attacked by pirates!"
The moment those words registered, Bai Shui's expression instantly darkened.
Nearby, the Marine Captain felt the air around them suddenly thicken. It was as if gravity had multiplied tenfold in a split second, causing the Captain's face to contort in sheer terror.
"Where are you?! I'm on my way right now!" Bai Shui demanded urgently.
Only one person could make Bai Shui sound like this: Aqi.
"I-I don't know where I am! Sob... I'm so scared! The Marines can't stop them at all!"
Aqi's frantic response made Bai Shui's blood run cold.
He didn't even have the luxury to ask why she was being attacked in the first place—wasn't she supposed to be safe at Marine Headquarters?!
"Don't panic. Deep breaths, Aqi," Bai Shui forced his voice to remain steady, trying to calm her down. "Look around. Do you see any obvious, distinct landmarks? Tell me what you see, and I'll be right there!"
Simultaneously, he snatched up a massive world map, unfurling it across the deck as he waited for her reply.
"L-Landmarks... Let me check!" Aqi stammered. "Ah! I see something! Not far from here, there are three islands connected together... and they're completely covered in blooming cherry blossom trees! Is that enough?!"
"Sokia Island!"
Before Bai Shui could even process the description, the pale-faced Captain blurted out the name.
"You know it?!" Bai Shui whipped around, his piercing gaze locking onto the Captain.
"I-I'm not entirely sure," the Captain stammered nervously. "Ask her if there's a towering stone monument on the island. If there is, then that's definitely it!"
"Aqi, look again! Is there a really tall stone monument on the island?!" Bai Shui didn't care if the Captain was right or wrong; he had to confirm it immediately.
"Yes, yes, yes! There is! How did you know?!" Aqi replied instantly, her voice trembling with urgency.
"Hold on tight. I'm coming right now."
Bai Shui slammed the Den Den Mushi shut, his eyes burning as he turned back to the Captain.
"Where is it?!"