Two days passed in a flash.
Wayne pieced together information from snippets of conversation among the prisoners: Roger had already been escorted away, most likely to Loguetown.
However, this was not Wayne's main focus; his priority was whether Golden Lion Shiki had already been sent to Impel Down.
In the afternoon, Impel Down suddenly became lively. The guards rushed en masse towards the depths of the passage. Such a formation clearly indicated that something big had happened.
Wayne's pupils constricted. He darted to the Sea Stone cell door, gripped the bars with both hands, and looked up.
It was him, indeed!
Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, Wayne recognized the burly man as the Marine Hero Garp.
Garp's appearance in Impel Down at this time could only be for the purpose of escorting Golden Lion Shiki; there was no other possibility.
Wayne's face lit up with wild joy; his plan could finally begin...
Sixth Level — Infinite Hell
"Damn you, Garp! A man like Roger dying in the East Blue is an insult! You can't do this to him!"
Looking at the heavily scarred Golden Lion Shiki, Garp calmly replied, "Shiki, you scoundrel, you'd better worry about yourself first!"
Golden Lion Shiki.
After speaking, Garp turned and left, not looking back no matter how Golden Lion Shiki called out.
After Garp left, Shiki fell silent. After a long while, he rubbed the large bump on his forehead and complained, "Garp's punches really hurt..."
After a few complaints, Shiki, tired and sleepy, lay down and fell asleep, his snores echoing loudly.
Dream world
Shiki returned to the scene of the Battle of Edd War. He had surrounded the Roger Pirates, and they were at their wits' end.
Just as he was about to warn everyone about the storm that ruined everything, the scene suddenly changed.
He appeared on a green grassland, facing a man whose face was unclear.
"Shiki, you are going to die."
Shiki, who was initially a bit confused, immediately became displeased upon hearing this.
"I'm going to die? Impossible! One day I'll escape from Impel Down!"
Wayne was silent for a moment because Shiki was indeed right; he escaped later and was hailed as the first pirate to break out of prison.
But Wayne certainly wouldn't tell him, otherwise, how could they negotiate?
"Impel Down has existed since the inception of the Marines. Countless powerful individuals have been imprisoned here, but after so many years, have you ever heard of anyone escaping?"
Wayne's strategy was simple: suppress Shiki, suppress him hard. Only by making him despair could there be hope for a deal.
Facing Wayne's question, Shiki remained silent for a long time. Finally, he could only stubbornly say, "I am The Golden Lion, Shiki! Those weaklings couldn't escape, but that doesn't mean I can't."
"Do you even believe that when you say it out loud?"
"Furthermore, the Marines are about to publicly execute the Pirate King Roger. This act will greatly strike against the rampant pirates. Don't you think the Marines might also publicly execute you to add fuel to the fire?"
"After all, you are a legendary pirate on par with Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard, Edward Newgate."
Shiki fell completely silent. Yes, he was a legendary great pirate!
Based on his understanding of the Marine, it might indeed happen. Roger was being brought out for humiliation and as a warning, so how could he escape?
He had the confidence to escape Impel Down, but he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be publicly executed by the Marines, because as long as he was alive, he was a threat to the Marines.
Seeing Shiki's expression, Wayne rejoiced. His scheme was working. Shiki truly believed he was going to be publicly executed.
Shiki thought a lot, but soon came to his senses, grinning, "Jiehahaha... Kid, what exactly do you want to say?"
"So, Shiki, do you have any regrets..."
This line of questioning was so effective that Wayne used it again, and the effect was clearly good, as could be seen from Shiki's thoughtful expression.
At this moment, Shiki recalled his entire life: becoming a pirate, his first kill... submitting to Rocks, the Battle of God Valley, clashing with Newgate and Roger, the Battle of Edd War...
Did he have regrets? Of course, many, but what truly haunted him was the defeat at the Battle of Edd War, though that was due to irresistible forces.
It was he who underestimated the power of nature; he was defeated by the weather, not Roger. He had long since come to terms with this.
Shiki shook his head, his tone becoming low, "I don't know what regrets I have left. After all, those are all things of the past. I only want to look forward now."
No, you have to know! If you're so open-minded, how can I negotiate with you?
Fortunately, Wayne reacted quickly, guessing that Shiki might be putting on a brave face, so he changed his question.
"Heh heh, looking forward, then... Is there anything else you want to do before your public execution?"
Hearing this, Shiki stroked his chin and chuckled, "Of course! I've killed so many people in my life, but I've never killed a Celestial Dragon! If you let me out now, I'd definitely turn Mary Geoise upside down!"
He had the chance to attack them in God Valley back then but didn't take it. Now he wanted to, but the opportunity was gone.
"Then let's make a deal, Shiki!"
"I'll help you kill Celestial Dragons and cause chaos in Mary Geoise. In exchange, you'll give me your power, how about that?"
"Jiehahaha!" Shiki laughed heartily, holding his stomach. "You? A guy who doesn't even dare to show his face, why should I trust you?"
Wayne didn't answer immediately; instead, he thought about how to make Shiki trust him and who could vouch for him.
He got it!
Roger was an opponent Shiki respected; otherwise, he wouldn't have caused a ruckus at Marine Headquarters for him. Using Roger to vouch for him was definitely the right move.
"Roger trusts me. After his death, I will take his power. In exchange, I will protect his pregnant wife until his child is safely born."
"Roger? When?" Shiki's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
"Before you arrived, Roger was also in Impel Down. We had a good chat."
"Jiehahaha... Interesting!" Suddenly, Shiki pointed at Wayne, his expression arrogant. "Since that Roger guy trusts you, I'll trust you this once too!"
"As long as you dare to cause chaos in Mary Geoise, feel free to take and use my power!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a 'ding' sound rang in Wayne's mind.
"Commission quest updated. Please check."
[Commission Order: Cause Chaos in Mary Geoise]
Commission Requirement: Golden Lion Shiki temporarily lends you his Float-Float Fruit ability, allowing you to reach Mary Geoise and kill Celestial Dragons.
Commission Rewards:
Float-Float Fruit Ability (Awakened Version). Restriction: Temporarily possessed before order completion; will be lost if order is not completed.
Float-Float Fruit Ability (Awakened Version). Requirement: Kill more than 50 Celestial Dragons while causing chaos in Mary Geoise.
Commission Points * 20000