Whitebeard's captain?
Ivankov's jaw nearly dropped upon hearing this.
A man like Edward Teach—actually a crew member?
Yes…
even the now-famous "strongest man in the world" had once served under someone else.
In that instant, a blurry image flashed through Ivankov's mind.
Before the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger—
the man closest to becoming Pirate King.
The captain of the Rocks Pirates.
Rocks D. Xebec.
Edward Newgate.
Shiki the Golden Lion.
Charlotte Linlin.
Kaido of the Beasts.
Those monsters who shook the seas had all once sailed beneath Rocks' flag.
And that didn't even include Captain John, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, Buckingham Stussy, or the Kuja Empress of the previous generation.
Even the once-unknown Wang Zhi had gone on to dominate Beehive Island for years.
'I'm really losing my mind…'
Ivankov lowered his head and rubbed his forehead, trying to hide his turbulent emotions.
'Comparing a young man to Rocks D. Xebec…'
When he looked up again, his gaze locked onto Whitebeard the Third.
"Teach, is what he said true?"
"Yes."
Whitebeard III nodded firmly.
"Storm is not only my comrade—he is my captain."
The scene felt unreal.
Even Ivankov, usually carefree to a fault, struggled to process it.
But with Teach himself confirming it, there was no room left for doubt.
"Vongola Storm… who exactly are you?"
Ivankov bombarded Storm with questions.
"Why did you come to Impel Down? What's your goal? Infinite Hell—"
"You ask too many questions, Ivankov," Storm interrupted coldly.
"I have no obligation to explain myself to you."
Ivankov rubbed his face, forcing himself to calm down.
Meanwhile—
on the other side, Morley, injected with healing hormones, slowly stirred.
"Your Majesty…"
The weak voice instantly drew Ivankov's attention.
He flashed to Morley's side and gently supported him.
"Watch out for Vongola Storm…"
Morley forced his eyes open.
"He came to Frozen Hell…"
Then he fainted again.
The atmosphere in New Okama Paradise instantly tightened.
Ivankov's guard rose once more.
"Vongola Storm… did you do this to Morley?"
"It was me," Storm answered calmly.
Grief and anger flickered across Ivankov's face.
"You should be grateful, Okama King," Storm continued.
"Grateful for what?" Ivankov replied coldly.
"That you didn't kill him?"
"Exactly," Storm said sharply.
"At least I didn't kill that okama—and had Teach deliver him to you."
Ivankov froze.
As furious as he felt, he couldn't deny the truth.
Storm had the authority to execute prisoners.
If Morley had been left unconscious in Frozen Hell, he would have been torn apart by wolves.
At least—
Morley was alive.
A trace of relief surfaced in Ivankov's heart.
Had Morley encountered Shiryu of the Rain instead, death would have been certain.
After clearing his thoughts, Ivankov let the matter drop.
Storm was a jailer, not a prisoner.
Solitary confinement wasn't true imprisonment.
Escaping his cell would be trivial for someone like him.
The tension in New Okama Paradise slowly eased.
"Vongola Storm," Ivankov said at last.
"You and Teach… are you really planning to recruit subordinates from Infinite Hell?"
"Our target is indeed the prisoners there," Storm replied honestly.
"But I never intended to involve you."
"New Okama Paradise… ha."
Despite Storm's tone, Ivankov felt relieved.
He had no intention of joining such madness.
"Then leave," Ivankov said impatiently.
"I wish you success."
"Okama King."
Storm tilted his head.
"Since when did you get the illusion that you could stay out of this?"
Ivankov stiffened.
"What?"
Storm waved a hand. Whitebeard III obediently stepped aside.
Then Storm stepped forward.
"New Okama Paradise—a lawless zone hidden from Impel Down's surveillance."
White clay sprayed up beneath his feet.
"The moment I stepped in here, your fate was sealed."
"Queen of the Okama."
"Will you go to Infinite Hell with me?"
"Or be sent there by me?"
The tension snapped.
Ivankov's eyes widened—
then he blinked violently.
"DEATH WINK!"
Boom!
The shockwave slammed into Storm.
A deafening roar echoed through New Okama Paradise.
Storm's body tore apart—
but white clay spilled instead of blood.
The ground beneath him assimilated, swelling into a massive clay mass.
"Flowing Clay!"
Waves of clay surged.
Giant hands erupted, grabbing everything in sight.
The okama cried out in alarm.
In moments, nearly everyone was restrained—
including the unconscious Morley.
Only Ivankov continued to evade.
His scalp tingled.
An awakened Devil Fruit.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ivankov shouted.
"I surrender, okay!? You'll destroy all of New Okama Paradise!"
"Surrender?" Storm sneered.
"Then let's go outside and fight.
I'm very interested in your ability."
Ivankov stared in disbelief.
"You want to become a New Human too!? I can help you evolve!"
Silence.
Storm's expression darkened.
A massive clay hand formed—
Smack!
Ivankov was slammed into the ground.
"No way—Infinite Hell!? No way!!"
"HELL WINK!"
Boom!
The clay exploded.
Ivankov burst into the air, her body already transformed into a woman.
She grinned and beckoned.
"Vongola—
let's go outside and play!"
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