After their heated dispute, Shakky stepped in to mediate while Stussy offered explanations to clarify the situation. Only then did Rayleigh finally figure out the truth, he had completely misunderstood.
Realizing his error, Rayleigh came to an uncomfortable conclusion. Not only had Claudius not insulted Captain Roger's memory, but he had even been his captain's gift in a strange sense of fate.
"You old fool," Claudius muttered irritably. "One drink, and you can't even keep your head on straight? Ready to challenge a Celestial Dragon and punch your ticket to heaven?"
Rayleigh scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, stammering out apologies. At his age, dignity was more of an option than a necessity.
Seeing how awkward the old man looked, Claudius frowned but let it slide. "Once the people from Amazon Lily arrive, contact me. There's a signal linked to the Den Den Mushi; Shakky has it."
With that, Claudius stood, dusted himself off, and gestured to his entourage. Without wasting any more time, they all departed from Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
After the group had left, Shakky turned to Rayleigh with an amused look. "Feeling a bit impulsive, were we?"
Rayleigh let out a sheepish laugh. "How was I supposed to know it was like that?"
He fell silent for a moment, his expression softening. "Twenty months of pregnancy to bring Ace into the world… Rouge really was…" His voice trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
For a moment, a heavy sentiment settled between them. But Rayleigh wasn't one to dwell too long on such emotions. Cracking his neck, he broke the silence. "Still, I'll admit, that Claudius surprised me."
Shakky glanced at him while cleaning up the glasses left behind by Claudius and his group. "What do you mean?"
Rayleigh's tone turned thoughtful. "That guy is really strong."
"Obviously," Shakky said casually. "How else do you think he's managed to capture so many of the world's top pirates?"
Rayleigh shook his head. "No, it's more than that. Even though I'd had a bit to drink, my reflexes are still sharp. When I attacked him earlier, my speed and timing were perfect, completely unexpected. And yet, he managed to block me without missing a beat."
Shakky smirked as she poured herself a drink. "Or maybe you're just getting old. At your age, you should stop swinging swords around like you're still in your prime."
Rayleigh burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're probably right."
---
It would take several days for Gloriosa and her group to arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago from Amazon Lily. In the meantime, Claudius decided to stay put. He wasn't in a rush, there wasn't much pressing on his schedule anyway.
Over the past few days, the Sabaody Archipelago had started to change. Bold merfolk and fish-men had begun to appear on the island, mingling with the human population.
Interactions between the two races were still tentative, but the initial fear and mistrust were slowly dissolving. Meanwhile, the slave traders on the island had become eerily quiet.
This shift was largely due to Claudius's earlier actions. His ruthless crackdown on the island's underground trade had struck fear into the hearts of those who thrived on oppression.
"No one in their right mind would dare touch anyone from Fish-Man Island now," Claudius mused to himself as he wandered through the archipelago. "Unless they have a death wish."
---
While Claudius was leisurely strolling through the area, his Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. Recognizing the tone, he picked it up, smirking slightly. "Sengoku, you're calling again? Don't tell me you're so impatient that you can't wait a few more days for the Calm Belt operation."
The voice on the other end was calm but firm. "Your Highness, this isn't about the Calm Belt," Sengoku said gravely.
Claudius's expression shifted, his tone becoming serious. "Oh? Then what is it?"
"I thought you'd want to be informed. After all, this matter directly involves you… or rather, something you were involved in," Sengoku replied cryptically.
"Just spit it out," Claudius said, now curious.
Sengoku's next words were measured. "Golden Lion Shiki woke up this morning."
For a moment, Claudius was stunned. Shiki? He hadn't thought about that name in years. The memory of their last encounter was distant, almost buried beneath the chaos of more recent events.
It had been during Claudius's descent from Sky Island that he'd accidentally stumbled into the Battle of Edd War. In a twist of fate, he had crossed paths with Shiki, a clash that ended with the infamous pirate being captured and rendered comatose.
Since then, Shiki had been held at Marineford, cared for under strict watch. Out of humanitarian duty or perhaps just for observation he had received top-notch medical care, even though many thought he would remain a vegetable for the rest of his life.
And now he was awake?
"Well, that's unexpected," Claudius murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Exactly my reaction," Sengoku said. "When I got the news this morning, I was stunned. Honestly, I'd almost forgotten he was still alive."
Claudius chuckled lightly. "Same here. What's the plan now? What's Marine going to do with him?"
Sengoku's tone grew somber. "Shiki is in a weakened state. While he's conscious, years of lying comatose have left him frail. His injuries, particularly the brain damage, have also taken their toll. The rudder embedded in his head… that's not going anywhere.
"According to the medical staff who've been taking care of him, he's unlikely to regain his former strength. He can't even use Haki anymore. In short, he's no longer the man he once was."
Claudius sighed, leaning back slightly. "Talk about tragic. Shiki really is the poster child for wasted ambition. Once the terror of the seas, now he's just…"
"A shadow of himself," Sengoku finished. "Exactly. Once he's had a few days to recover, we'll conduct some final evaluations. After that, he'll be sent to Impel Down—Eternal Hell."
Claudius nodded, unsurprised. "Exactly what I expected."
Still, he couldn't help but pity the man. Shiki's life had been one of highs and lows, but this seemed like a cruel end. Waking up after years of oblivion, only to be thrown into the darkest depths of Impel Down?
I wonder, Claudius mused, will he try to escape again? Break his legs a second time for the sake of freedom?
But the odds weren't in Shiki's favor this time. With his Haki gone, his chances of escaping Impel Down were slim to none. Breaking his legs now would likely mean his death.
---
In a quiet cell at Marineford, Shiki stared at the ceiling, his face expressionless. He'd been awake for only a short time, but it was enough to grasp the bleak reality of his situation.
He muttered softly to himself, his voice heavy with resignation. "How many years…? How many years was I out? The world's changed, hasn't it? Roger is gone. I've been forgotten. And the sea… it belongs to Whitebeard now…"
His words trailed off, replaced by silence. The weight of his circumstances pressed down on him like an anchor, and for the first time in his life, Shiki felt the sharp sting of irrelevance.
"Maybe it would've been better… if I'd never woken up," Shiki whispered.
His tone carried the sorrow of a once-great figure who had been left behind by time itself. Slowly, he closed his eyes, retreating into his thoughts.
---
The news of Shiki's awakening was kept strictly confidential. For years, the World Government and Marine had worked to erase the Golden Lion's presence from public memory. His exploits, once legendary, were now little more than whispers in old pirate tales.
Even now, as Shiki prepared to be sent to Eternal Hell, the Marine's strategy remained the same: erase his existence.
Perhaps in another decade, no one among the new generation of pirates would even remember his name.
***
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