Bab 41: Introduction
Deep within the shadowy chambers of an ancient stronghold, a figure sat on a throne carved from jagged stone. He wore a wide, self-assured grin, a cigarette dangling lazily from his lips. His red-and-black kimono, tied with a dark green sash, gleamed faintly in the dim light, complemented by a golden chain wrapped around his waist. A tattered yellow-striped haori coat draped over his shoulders, swaying slightly as he shifted.
The man's laughter echoed through the chamber as he finished reading the newspaper in his hands.
"To think someone from this era surpassed his bounty," he said, his voice dripping with derision. "Shall I tear them down?"
His confidence was unshakable. After all, he was a survivor of Gol D. Roger's generation—a name spoken in reverence or fear. Shiki the Golden Lion, a living legend among the pirates of old.
"Imai Ryujin," Shiki muttered, his golden eyes glinting with malice. "The Empress of the Blade, the Fifth Emperor. It's time to remind the world who truly rules the seas."
With that declaration, he stood, brushing his golden hair back before striding out of the chamber. It had been twenty years since Shiki last set foot on the sea, but his ambitions had not dulled.
To mark his return, he raised his infamous flying pirate ship into the skies. Hovering above a sprawling marine base stationed on the ocean, he extended a single finger. Instantly, the fleet of marine ships below him began to levitate, as if plucked from the sea by an invisible hand.
Standing at the edge of his ship, Shiki locked eyes with Vice Admiral Garp, who stood on the base's deck, fists clenched.
"Consider this a warning," Shiki declared.
With a flick of his wrist, the floating ships plummeted from the sky. The force of their impact shattered them into splinters, and the violent waves engulfed the surrounding area. The destruction was absolute.
Garp gritted his teeth, watching helplessly as Shiki's ship sailed into the horizon. "Damn you, Shiki. Why now? Where the hell have you been for the last twenty years?"
The return of the Flying Pirate, a former member of the Rocks Pirates, added to the chaos engulfing the world. With the rise of Imai Ryujin as the Fifth Emperor and her active recruitment for the Seven Apostles, the marines were already stretched thin. Shiki's reemergence only ensured more sleepless nights for the world's enforcers.
"Curse these damn pirates!" Garp muttered under his breath.
Elsewhere, on a ship cutting through the calm waters, Imai frowned as she scanned the newspaper's headline.
"A bounty of five-point-nine billion? Are they seriously doing this?" she muttered.
"They are," Uta replied, leaning against the railing beside her. "You're officially at the top of the bounty list now. Everywhere you go, people will come after your head."
Imai chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp. "Exactly what they want—to see me dead. Too bad for them, the world would be a better place without me, which is exactly why I have to stay alive as long as possible."
Uta raised an eyebrow. "What a weird reason to keep living."
Imai smirked. "Anyway, you're not doing so bad yourself. You just stepped into the pirate world, and you're already in the billions."
"Probably because of my father," Uta groaned. "Everyone expects me to live up to being the daughter of an Emperor."
"That's a good thing," Imai said, shrugging. "Also, did you patch things up with Shanks?"
Uta nodded. "We cleared up the misunderstanding. The Elegia tragedy… that was my fault."
"Tot Musica, huh?" Imai said, her tone softening. "A dangerous song to summon a devil. But it's all in the past now. Time to focus on the future."
Uta smiled. "You're right."
Their conversation was interrupted by the familiar flutter of wings as a newspaper bird dropped its delivery onto the deck.
"Another one?" Imai muttered, picking it up. "This usually only happens if something major's going on."
"Open it! I want to read it," Uta said, linking her arm with Imai's. "Who's Shiki the Golden Lion?"
Imai froze, her eyes narrowing as she read the name. "You don't know him? Well, I guess that makes sense. Shiki is from the Pirate King's era. The first person to escape from Impel Down. He's dangerous."
"Then why haven't I heard of him before?"
"He's been in hiding for over twenty years. When he was active, we were just kids," Imai explained, leaning against the railing.
"And now he's back… because of us?" Uta asked, her voice quiet.
Imai nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Not good," Uta muttered. "He's from the Pirate King's generation, right? That means he's really strong."
"Haha, maybe. But who knows what he's been doing for the last twenty years? He could've grown weaker."
"There's a slim chance of that," Uta pointed out.
"Yep," Imai admitted, her grin widening.
"So, what are we going to do?"
"We wait. He'll find us soon enough. With his connections, it won't take long. And don't worry—there's me."
"Sure, but do we have any intel on him? At least we'll know what we're up against."
"All I know is that he can fly and make objects levitate. He can't affect living things, though, so you're safe from being taken."
"I'm not worried about that," Uta said. "If it comes to it, I'll just bring him into my world. We can beat him there."
"But maintaining your world takes too much energy," Imai cautioned. "It vanishes when you sleep. You need to grow stronger first."
"You want me to train?"
"Of course. How else will you keep up with me?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone