After Fleet Admiral Sengoku was interrupted, he first shot a glare at Diarmuid. I'm the Fleet Admiral; do you, a mere Admiral, think you can keep me in check?
After glaring at Diarmuid, Sengoku turned to Imu and asked in a low voice, "Do you truly intend to leave this world? And never return?"
"Leaving is a certainty. I have waited far too long," Imu nodded, adding softly, "Longer than you have even been alive..."
Sengoku: "???"
Who do you think you're looking down on? Yet, he truly couldn't refute those words.
"As for whether I'll return..." A rare trace of uncertainty flickered in Imu's eyes, the first time such an emotion had appeared there. After a long silence, she shook her head. "Who knows? Uranus can only be used one last time. If I cannot find the technology or artifacts to traverse worlds in the next realm, the probability is that I will never return."
Sengoku considered this. Her words felt sincere. Whether Uranus truly had only one use left was hard to verify, but given Imu's temperament and track record, even if she could return, she would likely spend all her efforts pushing forward into the next world rather than looking back.
This was an acceptable outcome.
As he had thought before, a fight to the death simply wasn't "profitable," especially since Imu had already demonstrated her "Immortal Body." If pushed to the brink, she might opt for a mutual destruction strategy, and losing top-tier Marine combat power would be a devastating blow.
Better to send this 'calamity' to another world; we shouldn't be the only ones suffering under her!
With that thought, Sengoku nodded in acceptance of her explanation. Then he continued, "Diarmuid will not be handed over to you."
A flash of irritation crossed Imu's eyes. If that's the case, why all the preamble? Are you wasting my time? Though she was immortal, she had no desire to waste her existence on these "trash."
In contrast, Diarmuid was moved to tears. I misjudged you, Fleet Admiral!
"However, didn't you mention earlier that you could record... what was it... the world coordinates from within Diarmuid?" Sengoku added suddenly.
Imu paused for a moment, then nodded. "Correct."
"In other words, you don't actually need Diarmuid himself, right? You just need those coordinates?" Sengoku pressed.
Imu looked at Diarmuid and said softly, "Theoretically, yes. But traversing worlds will be a long journey. If I enter a new world where I am a stranger, even I would hope for a companion from my 'hometown.' Therefore, Diarmuid remains my first choice. I truly wish for him to come with me."
"That is a matter of his personal will; the Marines will not force Diarmuid," Sengoku stated firmly. After a brief pause, he continued, "But in this current situation, continuing to fight is meaningless. We cannot kill you, and we might not be able to capture you. So, I believe sending you to a new world like this is for the best."
This was one of Sengoku's primary concerns—the inability to kill Imu and the uncertainty of capturing her. If things came to a "fish-dying-and-net-breaking" conclusion, even if they won, she might escape. With her strength, she could thrive anywhere. Having an immortal, high-tier powerhouse who knows all your secrets acting as a venomous snake in the grass, waiting to bite... that would be a nightmare.
As for hatred, the Marine leaders didn't actually hate Imu, as they had never even met her before today. It was purely a conflict of interest and position. Now that she was leaving, those positions no longer clashed. A fight to the death was no longer appropriate.
"So, what are you saying?" Imu asked.
"Will recording those 'world coordinates' from Diarmuid cause him any harm? Any harm at all?" Sengoku asked gravely, ignoring her question for the moment.
"Hehehe..." Imu laughed, seemingly understanding Sengoku's intent. "Of course not. I am merely extracting a segment of information to be synchronized with Uranus."
There was no proof, but everyone sensed she was telling the truth. Based on her earlier behavior, she had intended to take Diarmuid away alive and well—she even wanted them to be a couple. Logically, she wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his life or health. Furthermore, someone as arrogant as Imu would likely find lying beneath her.
"If that is the case..." Sengoku looked at Diarmuid. "Why not give it to her? Let her leave as soon as possible. Of course, the choice is ultimately yours."
In the end, Sengoku was merely making a suggestion, not forcing Diarmuid's hand.
Diarmuid sighed. "Imu..."
"Imulia," she corrected softly.
Diarmuid's cheek twitched. "Imulia, I can allow you to duplicate the 'world coordinates,' but I will not leave with you. Also, I want that Fountain of Youth as an equal exchange of interests. How about it?"
Imu's gaze was somewhat despondent as she looked at Diarmuid. She didn't give up easily: "I am so exceptional, Diarmuid. In terms of looks, I am second to none. My figure, you have seen for yourself. Whether it is martial prowess, talent, or cultural knowledge, I far surpass everyone else. Why? Why are you unwilling to leave with me?"
Diarmuid rubbed his nose awkwardly and whispered, "Actually, you're great, but..."
"Is it because of age?" Imu interrupted with disdain. "That is merely a concern for mortals. Once you drink from the Fountain of Youth, you will possess the power of immortality. Age becomes meaningless. In time, only immortals can truly be considered peers!"
"Ah, no, that's definitely not the reason," Diarmuid waved his hands quickly. He truly didn't care about age. Even if she was over eight hundred years old, their interactions made it impossible to see her as an "old hag," especially since she truly was eternally young.
"It's mainly because we don't know each other well, and I have no desire to leave this world yet. So, I'll pass. Unlike you, I have attachments to this world. I won't go with you. You can have the coordinates, provided I get the Fountain of—"
Before he could even finish, Imu tossed the bottle containing the priceless treasure directly at him.
Holy crap!
Diarmuid lunged forward, catching the bottle with fumbling hands, barely preventing it from smashing on the ground. If it had broken... he would have been licking it off the floor!
Imu's gesture was incredibly magnanimous. It was clear she didn't care for such "minor details." In her eyes, the Fountain of Youth was exactly that—a detail.
"If you want it, take it. As the first man I've taken an interest in, and the second person I've ever admired... whatever you want, I can give it to you," Imu said, her tone tinged with regret but remaining grand.
Good grief, is this what it feels like to be a kept man by a wealthy lady? Diarmuid actually felt a brief pulse of temptation.
The "first man she took an interest in" was straightforward. The "second person she admired"—if he wasn't mistaken, the first must have been that "King of the Night, Khaz'goroth Orgrim," right?
"Thank you," Diarmuid nodded seriously.
With the Fountain of Youth handed over so freely, the hostile atmosphere between the Marine giants and Imu dissipated significantly. The world is a strange place; just moments ago, they were trying to kill each other, but once interests were aligned and positions were no longer at odds, things changed rapidly.
Diarmuid held the bottle, looking at Imu with a hint of hesitation.
She seemed to read his mind, waving her hand dismissively. "Verify the goods however you like."
The moment she spoke, Sengoku and the others crowded around Diarmuid. Are you kidding? It's the Fountain of Youth! Before, they wouldn't have dared hope, but now everyone wanted a share. Who would turn down a longer life? There was enough for twenty people, after all. Not only was it enough for those present, but they could even bring some back for others. Since more than one sip provided no extra benefit, no one was interested in hoarding it.
Diarmuid looked at the bottle. "We can't all drink at once. Someone has to test it first. Who's up?"
Though unlikely, what if it was poison? If Imu poisoned them all in one go, it would be game over.
"I'll do it!" Tsuru said firmly.
Tsuru's hair was snowy white, and her face was lined with wrinkles. She looked much older than her contemporaries, Garp and Sengoku, likely due to the mental toll of her decades in the Intelligence Division. Though she looked aged now, Diarmuid had seen photos of her in her youth. She had been a rare beauty who had sacrificed her prime for the Marines. Now, with a chance to regain her youth and longevity, she didn't hesitate.
From a logical standpoint, her current state made her the perfect candidate to "verify the goods."
Seeing no objections, Diarmuid handed the Fountain of Youth to the Chief of Staff. "Very well."
Tsuru was decisive. She opened the bottle, poured out a single capful, and swallowed it. She immediately recapped the bottle tightly, fearing a single drop might evaporate, and handed it back to Diarmuid lest the "effects" caused her to drop it.
The reaction was instantaneous!
Within five breaths, Tsuru let out a soft sigh of pleasure. Her hunched frame straightened, and she seemed to grow taller, regaining her height. Her withered figure filled out back to its peak condition. The wrinkles on her face vanished at a visible rate. Her slightly clouded eyes became crystal clear.
The most striking change was her hair; the dry, brittle white locks transformed into a lustrous, silky black. In the blink of an eye, the elderly woman who looked to be in her late seventies or eighties had become a young woman in her early twenties!
She was truly beautiful in her youth. No wonder Sengoku had been smitten with her for his entire life!
"Ts... Tsuru-chan?" Sengoku called out, his eyes glistening with tears and disbelief.
The Chief of Staff seemed to snap out of it, looking at her slender, pale fingers with a gaze full of wonder. Finally, she smiled. "It's me."
Even her voice had regained the clarity of youth.
There was no doubt. The Fountain of Youth was real!