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(T/N: Ignore the first half. I don't know why but the author repeated this.)
There are two sides to this story.
After Ikki finished speaking with his companions, he silently opened his system panel. Just moments before, he had noticed a new development on Sadi's side.
'Wait... I can already summon Astolfo?'
'Sadi has actually become such a good match with Astolfo.'
Truly a pleasant surprise.
'Something must have happened to her.' Ikki turned the thought over quietly. 'I'll ask about it later.'
Summoning Heroic Spirits was not something that could be done overnight. It required a considerable degree of luck. Otherwise, he would have already managed to summon the magnificent Emperor Nero through Hancock long ago.
There had been a time when Ikki had watched every Fate work and played every Fate game he could get his hands on. He had always been fond of that magnificent emperor. Not simply because Nero was beautiful by birth, but because her personality aligned so perfectly with his own sensibilities. Who wouldn't love a Servant who treasured her Master and addressed them with such warm familiarity?
Unfortunately, even now, Ikki had not managed to summon Nero through Hancock. He never imagined that the opportunity to summon a Heroic Spirit would come first through Sadi, who had only received her Noble Phantasm later than the others.
He felt the same fondness for Astolfo, genuinely. She was simply an adorable person.
The only flaw was...
Well. Astolfo was a man.
Ikki recalled his long-held assumption that Astolfo was a cute girl and couldn't help a quiet chuckle to himself.
'Summoning Artoria requires a Devil Fruit as payment.' 'But I don't have one on hand right now.' 'I'll have to find a way to obtain one.'
'Then again, Marine Headquarters is a massive place.' He glanced toward the approaching port, already thinking ahead. 'They should have at least one Devil Fruit in reserve somewhere.'
Devil Fruits were precious, certainly. But not every Marine wanted to become a power user. The drawbacks of Devil Fruit abilities were obvious enough, and the Marines did not distribute them casually. Acquisition tied directly to military merit. Only those who had accumulated sufficient service records could realistically hope to receive one.
For both of those reasons, Ikki was fairly confident that Marine Headquarters kept a stockpile. The fruits stored there were likely unremarkable in terms of ability. That hardly mattered. Summoning Artoria did not require any particular quality of Devil Fruit. As long as it was not an artificial one, any natural Devil Fruit would serve.
Ikki took a deep breath and watched the port draw closer, a faint anticipation settling quietly in his chest.
"Finally."
"Welcome, Ikki."
Sengoku stepped forward the moment Ikki came down from the ship and greeted him directly. His gaze moved past Ikki to take in Nami, Nojiko, and Vivi standing at his back. Fleet Admiral Sengoku gave a measured nod, his expression one of polite satisfaction.
Ikki had not brought his entire crew to the war against the Whitebeard Pirates. Even so, Sengoku had heard enough about the individual strength of Nami, Nojiko, and Vivi. The fact that Ikki had brought these three was a clear enough show of good faith.
"Hello, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Ikki smiled and nodded back. Then he turned, letting his gaze move across the assembled Marines and the Warlords of the Sea gathered at the port.
"Hmph. I never expected Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself to come out and greet a Shichibukai." Moria's voice was thick with cold displeasure. "And so many senior Marine officers alongside him."
The moment Ikki's eyes landed on Moria, the man's irritation broke through the surface.
When Moria had arrived, the reception had been nothing like this. No Fleet Admiral waiting at the docks. Not even a proper Marine officer of rank to speak of. A single vice admiral sent from Headquarters to escort him in, and nothing more. Watching the welcome extended to Ikki, Moria's resentment curdled into something sharp.
It was understandable, in its way. As far as Moria was concerned, Ikki was the man who had taken Perona from him. If one were being precise about it, Perona had chosen to sail with Ikki on her own terms, and Ikki's presence at her side was closer to protection than theft. But precision did not soften Moria's opinion in the slightest.
"Hmph. And who exactly are you?" Nami shot back, her tone cool and pointed. "Do you honestly think you compare to Captain Ikki? In strength? In role? In any respect? With your level of ability, it's no surprise the Marines didn't bother rolling out a welcome."
Moria's eyes went wide.
"Despicable woman. Are you looking to die?"
"Keep shouting. It only proves how weak you are."
"Damn it. I won't let this stand."
Fury overtook restraint. Moria channeled the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, and black bats began to gather and swarm across his body.
"Go ahead." Nami drew Gonryomaru from her hip. Golden lightning surged across her frame in an instant, the crackling aura pressing outward with a force that matched a Warlord's without flinching. "Let's see exactly who won't let whom stand."
"Enough." Sengoku's frown cut through the tension as he stepped between them. "This is Marine Headquarters. It is not a place for the two of you to settle personal grievances." He looked at Moria first, then turned to Ikki.
Ikki caught Sengoku's meaning without a word and raised a hand to rest lightly on Nami's shoulder. She read it immediately. The lightning faded. Gonryomaru returned to its sheath.
Off to the side, Dracule Mihawk gave a quiet, faintly disappointed shake of his head. He had felt it the moment Nami drew her blade: a sword aura, sharp and genuine. He had wanted to see where it led. What he wanted to see even more, if he was being honest with himself, was Ikki's own swordsmanship.
"Fine." Moria exhaled through his teeth. "For the Fleet Admiral's sake, I'll let it go."
He fixed Nami with a glare, then redirected his attention to Ikki.
"Where's Perona? Why didn't you bring her?"
Ikki's expression stayed easy. "Perona is still too inexperienced. A war of this scale isn't suited for her."
"What? You know her?"
"Of course I know her." Moria's voice went low and hard. "She's my partner. Give her back, you bastard."
Ikki shook his head.
"I didn't take her. She chose to sail with me herself."
He let a beat pass.
"The reason she left your side in the end is simple: you couldn't protect her."