There might have been two choices, but in truth, there was only one.
As a massive Sea King that had lived for who knew how many years—and one that could even understand human speech—the lantern fish quickly and obediently chose the first option.
It submitted.
"What? You're saying the Pure Gold you swallowed can't be spat back out?"
Magnus had no idea how a fish that big could make such a fawning expression, but seeing it like that, he couldn't bring himself to hack off the lantern atop its head.
After all, while the lantern fish couldn't cough up the Pure Gold, being under the light of its lantern worked much the same as being in contact with Pure Gold.
Right now, Magnus could clearly feel the effect—the aging of his cells slowed under that glow. It wasn't as potent as the legendary Pure Gold itself, but extending his lifespan by ten times was easy.
If one were inside the lantern fish's stomach, the effect might be even greater.
Still, Magnus wasn't satisfied.
There was only one lantern fish, but Pure Gold only needed to be cut into the tiniest piece to completely halt someone's aging.
He didn't push the issue, though—if it couldn't produce the Pure Gold, the people inside its stomach could make it.
"The two sea beasts Fishman Island gave us ran off. Let this one take their place. Tie it to the bow and have it tow us forward!"
He didn't plan to go into the lantern fish's belly just yet. Those two people inside were probably safest there.
Before shrinking, the lantern fish had shrugged off Rocks and the others' attacks. Now that it was smaller, its scales were likely harder than steel alloys.
Of course, a promise was a promise.
He'd told Linlin he'd make her giant fish sashimi, and if it couldn't be from the lantern fish, then it'd be from some other big fish.
When Magnus casually slew a Sea King even bigger than himself, the lantern fish nearly ducked its head under the keel. It still couldn't understand how being frozen for a short time had made the small creatures attacking it seem to grow so much stronger.
They still weren't bigger than it, but it had a feeling a punch from them would hurt for a long time.
Especially that little girl who kept drooling at it—she'd hurt the most!
The Sea King Magnus had taken down was around 100 meters long.
After the crew ate a small portion, Ripley shrank the rest and tossed it to the lantern fish.
Her power didn't reduce the food's nutritional value, so feeding the lantern fish was going to be an expensive habit.
The lantern fish quickly noticed a change in itself—swimming was no longer as taxing. Before, even the vast ocean had been like a shallow pool for it, but now, smaller and lighter, it retained all its strength.
A single lazy flick of its tail sent it flying like an arrow, even while towing the ship.
"So fast!"
"At this speed, we can escape the current without even trying!"
"Let's ride it for now."
Even at a reduced pace, the Thousand-Year Falcon moved several times faster than normal. If it went all out, Magnus doubted Adam wood could withstand the force.
Their next stop—Sabaody Archipelago.
—
Meanwhile…
When the sailors at Impel Down saw the White Wolf Pirates sailing with the current instead of attacking, panic set in.
"They're not after Impel Down!"
"But we already called for reinforcements!"
"Don't tell me… their real target is Headquarters?!"
The thought made everyone shiver.
Impel Down had been a decoy!
A diversion!
The White Wolf Pirates' real goal was Marineford?
"Impossible!"
Chief Warden Diodosi shut down the speculation.
"Even if Admirals are sent here, Headquarters still has Fleet Admiral Shanford and Chief of Staff Portman Nissen. Magnus can't take Marineford by himself—it's a fantasy."
Still, unease gnawed at him. He didn't know Magnus, couldn't predict him, but he knew one thing—every pirate who went down in history was recklessly bold.
At Sphinx and Elbaf, Magnus had been the protector. Now Sphinx was a World Government affiliate, meaning the Navy had no reason to attack it.
The White Wolf Pirates were free—
And now the roles were reversed.
The pirates were the destroyers, the Navy the defenders.
When news from Impel Down reached Marineford, even Fleet Admiral Shanford laughed in disbelief.
"Is Magnus mocking us?"
If Magnus dared come, Shanford wouldn't hesitate to keep him there permanently.
He might be old and slower than in his prime, but he'd remind Magnus why, in his era, no pirate dared run wild.
"Should we recall Kong and Xiwen?"
"Have them stand by. Contact CP—track the White Wolf Pirates. The moment they're spotted, Kong and Xiwen will hunt them down."
His expression darkened as he glanced toward Mariejois.
"The World Conference must not be disrupted."
"Oh, and about that other matter—how's the preparation?"
"All ready," Nissen replied confidently. "In less than two months, Tsuru and Zephyr will be on Sphinx."
"Good!" Shanford's tone was venomous. "That bastard will never expect us to move against the White Wolf Pirates like this."
Victory didn't need to come in his lifetime—
But his hand would be in every victory.
They were already laying plans for ten, even twenty years ahead.
What could Magnus possibly use to compete with that?
—
The White Wolf Pirates never did attack Marineford.
After circling the whirlpool seas, Magnus ordered the lantern fish to pull them free of the currents and head for the Sabaody Archipelago.
One day later, the White Wolf Pirates arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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