Four giant waves, shaped like the heads of lions, began to circle the ship island at high speed. In the blink of an eye, the immense force of the currents crushed more than half of the island to dust. A massive waterspout, filled with seawater and shattered buildings, formed on the ocean's surface.
Just then, a furious roar erupted from the center of the waterspout.
"BREAK!"
The void trembled violently. An invisible shockwave exploded from the center of the waterspout, blasting the tornado in two. Bellamy leaped out from the wreckage, standing still in the air and watching the Golden Lion with a cold expression.
"The Float-Float Fruit... not bad at all."
"You've got some skill, brat." The Golden Lion toyed with a stream of water, his evaluation of Bellamy noncommittal. No one in the world knew the true power of the Float-Float Fruit better than he did.
"If I remember correctly, you're the user of the Spring-Spring Fruit?"
"That's right."
"An interesting ability."
Since he was already prepared to turn on him at any moment, the Golden Lion naturally paid close attention to Bellamy's strength. But the Spring-Spring Fruit was truly obscure. For all his worldly experience, Shiki couldn't recall much information about it. However, the brief test just now had put him on alert. The kid had shattered his Lion's Threat: Sea Burial with a single punch; his strength was definitely not to be underestimated.
During this time, the Golden Lion's intelligence agency had not been idle. The report of Bellamy attacking Dressrosa and killing Doflamingo had long since reached his hands. While the Golden Lion didn't think much of the so-called Warlords of the Sea, anyone who could kill one in a head-on fight was by no means weak. To take down Bellamy would certainly require considerable effort.
"Call your man over."
The Golden Lion held his new legs, signaling to Bellamy that the operation could begin.
"Before that, shouldn't we discuss my terms?" Bellamy lit a cigar and sneered at the Golden Lion.
"If you want to fight, I'll fight you."
"But I didn't go to all this trouble to find you just for a brawl."
If it weren't for his plan, why would Bellamy be bored enough to seek out the Golden Lion?
"Brat, some things are not up to you."
If it weren't for the Op-Op Fruit, the Golden Lion might have actually helped Bellamy capture someone, just to save face. But with the user of the Op-Op Fruit right in front of him, he would not let him go under any circumstances.
"I know what you're thinking."
How could the Golden Lion's petty thoughts escape Bellamy? He had specifically brought Law to the floating island to bait Shiki's greed with the Perennial Youth Operation.
"Golden Lion, the Perennial Youth Operation requires the user to willingly sacrifice their own life to perform it."
"Even if you capture Law, it will be useless."
The Golden Lion was not actually very clear on the specific details of the operation. Very few people in the world knew this information.
"Are you saying that the user of the Op-Op Fruit must use their own life in exchange for my immortality?"
"Your immortality?" Bellamy scoffed inwardly. Another necessary condition for the Perennial Youth Operation was that the user must perform it of their own free will. In other words, if Law felt even the slightest bit of reluctance, the Golden Lion could never achieve immortality. With Law's personality, for him to willingly sacrifice his life... the Golden Lion could forget about it in this lifetime.
Bellamy, of course, would not tell him this crucial piece of information. He just laughed to himself and began to spin his prepared tale.
"Golden Lion, Law owes me his life."
Law had once promised to do three things for Bellamy unconditionally. If Bellamy wanted to, he could indeed force Law to perform the Perennial Youth Operation for the Golden Lion. With Law's proud nature, no matter how unwilling he was, he would not go back on his word.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Help me capture that person, and afterward, I will force Law to perform the Perennial Youth Operation for you."
"His personality is such that he won't refuse."
Hearing this, the Golden Lion was immediately tempted. Although he didn't know if this information was true, with his years of experience, he was almost certain that the conditions for the operation were real. If that was the case, it seemed he had to agree to this kid's terms if he wanted to live forever.
This feeling of being forced to do something made the Golden Lion extremely uncomfortable. This legendary great pirate had roamed the seas his entire life and had never been coerced like this. Even when he was defeated and imprisoned in Impel Down, he had never bowed his proud head.
But the situation now was different. This was immortality, right within his grasp!
"You should know the consequences of deceiving me."
Even the Golden Lion could not escape the temptation of eternal life, and he bowed his proud head before Bellamy.
"I will also be participating in this capture mission."
Bellamy looked at him noncommittally. "The target is a blind man named Fujitora Issho."
"His ability is a counter to mine."
"So you came to me?"
"Fujitora Issho?" The Golden Lion had never heard of this person. But as long as it wasn't an Emperor-level powerhouse, it made no difference to him.
Fujitora was simply too low-key. Very few people in the world knew of his existence, and even fewer knew of his true strength. Having hidden in the sky for twenty years, the Golden Lion had naturally never heard his name. Hearing that Bellamy only wanted to capture some unknown blind man, his initial resistance relaxed.
"Where is he now? Take me to him."
"No rush. Let's get your legs attached first."
Bellamy called Law down and had him immediately attach the cloned legs for the Golden Lion. Vinsmoke Judge's cloning technology was truly one of a kind. After getting his new legs, the Golden Lion only needed a short while to get used to them before he could walk freely.
However, the new legs were freshly grown muscle and bone; their strength naturally couldn't compare to his original body. To return to his peak state would take at least a few years. Bellamy couldn't wait that long, and the Golden Lion himself didn't have that much patience.
But as the user of the Float-Float Fruit, even without legs, he could fly freely in the air, albeit with much less agility. And if he encountered a master of the same level, his lack of legs would become a fatal weakness.
Bellamy, of course, wasn't going to remind the Golden Lion just how strong their opponent was. He simply warned him, "You haven't fought in many years. When the time comes, don't be careless."