Somewhere in the New World.
A pirate ship, larger even than the massive warships of the Marine, sailed slowly across the sea.
If anyone were to spot the fluttering pirate flag in the wind, they would recognize it immediately.
This was the now-ascendant Flying Pirate Fleet.
Unlike the Flying Pirate Fleet of old, Golden Lion Shiki had not gone on a massive recruitment spree to bolster his forces.
Instead, he had chosen a method similar to Whitebeard's—absorbing other pirate crews into his fleet as subordinate divisions.
The new Flying Pirate Fleet maintained a "strength only" policy, with its members consisting of the notorious pirates Shiki had broken out of Impel Down.
At this very moment, these infamous pirates lounged on the deck, idly gazing at the calm, windless sea.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even though we escaped Impel Down, this is just plain boring," said 'Crescent Moon Hunter' Catarina Devon, leaning against the railing with a bottle of liquor in hand.
She downed half the bottle in one gulp, not even bothering to wipe the drops that spilled from the corners of her mouth.
"Bored? Why not play with me?" chimed in Shiryu of the Rain, a sinister grin on his face as he puffed on a cigar.
"It's been a while since I've killed anyone... Even the blood of allies can get me excited."
"Keeheehee! Are you two about to fight?"
"Great Drunkard" Vasco Shot clapped his hands in excitement, his drunken face eager for a spectacle.
But in truth, he had already gripped his enormous jug, ready to jump into the fray at any moment.
"You scoundrels really love killing each other, meow!" 'Corrupt King' Avalo Pizarro put on his best managerial tone.
"While Shiki's away, you should all listen to me!"
"Pfft! You all look so tiny... This is hilarious."
Sanjuan Wolf, who had been following alongside the pirate ship, mercilessly mocked the others, who seemed like mere specks in his eyes.
Though none of them particularly liked each other, no actual fighting broke out.
Even Shiryu, who cared little for friend or foe, restrained his bloodlust...
Only because the three others who had also been rescued from Impel Down by Shiki remained completely silent.
"Lonely Red" Redfield.
"World Destroyer" Bounty.
"Demon Heir" Douglas Bullet.
All three of them were fixated on the large door before them, as if waiting for someone to emerge.
Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind the door.
Then, it slowly creaked open.
Long golden hair cascaded down like a lion's majestic mane, while a ship's rudder protruded from the top of his head.
His legs, which should have been severed during the prison break, had long since healed, and his twin swords, Oto and Kogarashi, hung at his waist.
This was the captain of the Flying Pirate Fleet, the Grand Admiral of the Golden Lion Armada...
"Golden Lion" Shiki.
"What are you all gathered here for? Planning to kill me and take my place?" Shiki lifted his head, a domineering smile on his face.
"If so, are you prepared to die?"
"No, we're merely curious." Redfield arched his crimson brows.
"You just received a communication from the World Government... didn't you?"
"Indeed, I did." Shiki admitted without hesitation.
"You all knew how I escaped from Impel Down... I severed my own legs."
"Then I returned to the New World, seeking a way to regain my former strength..."
"But years ago, under the influence of this thing, my consciousness began frequently descending into chaos." Shiki tapped the ship's helm deeply embedded in his skull.
"It was then that the Five Elders found me. Through Vegapunk's technology, they largely restored me... not only giving me new legs but also minimizing this thing's influence."
Had Michael been present, he would have nodded in agreement.
Among Vegapunk's countless technological achievements were two complementary medical inventions:
"Artificial Organs" and "Stem Cell Transplantation."
Shiki had clearly been restored to near-peak condition through these technologies.
This also explained why Shiki had become entangled with the World Government...
"So now you're the World Government's lapdog?" Bullet snorted coldly, eyeing Shiki.
"This isn't the Shiki I knew."
"The World Government's lapdog? No, no—mutual benefit." Shiki shook his head.
"As for now, I'm merely repaying a debt to the World Government."
"Repaying a debt? Did you just agree to something for the World Government?" Brandy World keenly caught the key phrase.
"It wouldn't be something like dealing with Whitebeard or Big Mom, would it?"
"No, no—much simpler than that." Shiki chuckled. "We just need to go to Egghead and seize control from the Marines... while eliminating whoever's been meeting privately with Vegapunk."
"Vegapunk? Egghead? That means we'll be facing Marine Admirals?" Shiryu of the Rain frowned.
"I wouldn't call that 'much simpler.'"
"You've been in Impel Down too long—you don't know how the seas have changed." Shiki smiled.
"Egghead hasn't been guarded by Admirals for some time now. It's been handed over to two elite Vice Admirals with Logia abilities... They're probably strong, but against us... not enough."
With that, Shiki reached out and patted the mast beside him.
In the next moment, their pirate ship lifted from the sea, soaring into the sky.
Sanjuan Wolf was also carried aloft by the Float-Float Fruit's power.
The ability to manipulate living beings meant...
The Float-Float Fruit had fully awakened.
"If none of you plan to rebel today... then we set course for Egghead! Men!"
Shiki's booming laughter rang out like a true lion's roar.
Only Bullet followed behind him.
After a long pause, he finally asked a question.
"Shiki, what kind of obsession... drives you to go so far as to cooperate with the World Government?"
"Ahahaha, you're quite the curious brat, Bullet."
Shiki turned around, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
"It's Michael, of course."
"Roger is already dead."
"And yet, at the final moment, he was the one who stopped me from destroying the Marine Headquarters... something neither Sengoku nor Garp could achieve."
"So now, he's the only target left for me to settle."
"I hear he's already strong enough to grievously wound an Admiral... I truly look forward to our reunion."