Chapter 107: The Pony's Tale
"Lieutenant General Ian, I'm your fan!" Little Sadie gushed, her eyes sparkling.
Ian, momentarily taken aback, began, "Hmm, I actually..."
"But the promise between lovers is worth more than gold, more precious than anything in the world!" Domino interjected, clasping her hands to her chest. "I'm so deeply moved by your story with Speed. You... you're not here to break her out, are you?"
Speed: "!!!"
Please, please stop talking, she screamed internally, her legs trembling. I'm going to die for real this time!
"It's really lively in here," Ian remarked, his eyes sweeping over the scene of food, wine, and flustered women. His gaze finally landed on Speed, a distinctly playful glint in his eyes. "Delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful women..."
He had already used his enhanced hearing to listen in on their conversation before entering. It seemed the pony had been living quite comfortably under the guise of being his "rumored girlfriend."
He looked Speed up and down. This was his first proper look at her in her humanoid pony form. Even with Seastone cuffs on, her figure and features were striking, certainly not inferior to his own subordinates.
"Lieutenant General Ian, I... wuwuwu..." Speed's teeth chattered, utterly incapable of forming a coherent sentence. She just hoped her death would be quick.
Ian's face broke into a wide, triumphant grin. "My dear," he declared theatrically, "I came here specially today to take you home!"
Speed: "???"
Little Sadie: "Wow, so romantic!!"
Domino: "Wow, my heart!!"
An hour later, at the entrance to Impel Down's first level, Warden Magellan stood with Domino and Little Sadie, seeing off the Marine warship.
"It's so touching. Is this true love?" Domino sighed, watching the ship depart with a dreamy look. "As expected, everyone in this world should have a love that belongs only to them!"
Little Sadie quietly pocketed a small Den Den Mushi, a "parting gift" from Ian. Before leaving, he'd mentioned that for any... private matters in the future that shouldn't go through official channels, she could use this to contact him directly.
"Love... can be shared, right?" Little Sadie murmured, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Hmm, I think I'm falling for him too!"
Magellan stared at his two female subordinates, utterly bewildered. "..."
What in the world is going on?
Ever since Ian had gone to fetch that prisoner, these two had been acting strangely. As far as Magellan knew, this was just a secret prisoner transfer authorized by the World Government. Ian had shown the proper orders to collect the Gifter named Speed.
Could it be... these two know some secret I don't?
It can't be!
…
Once the warship had cleared the Gates of Justice from Impel Down, Ian brought Speed to a private cabin.
Thud!
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant General Ian, I know I was wrong!" Speed collapsed into a sobbing heap on the floor. "I shouldn't have used your name to deceive people! I... I just wanted to eat better and be treated better in Impel Down! I didn't want to be punished every day! I didn't mean to... to tarnish your reputation, Lieutenant General Ian! Thud, thud, thud... Please, give me a chance! I don't want to die yet!"
She cried and begged, convinced that Ian had discovered her lies and had taken her out to secretly execute her to erase this potential stain on his new, prestigious image as a Lieutenant General.
"From the first day you entered Impel Down, I asked the staff there to take care of you," Ian stated calmly, ignoring her hysterics. "I kept my promise about the 'one-day mount,' didn't I? Tell me, did I help you or not?"
The journey back to the Sabaody Archipelago would take a little over an hour. With time to kill, teasing the pony seemed like a fine way to pass the time.
"Y-Yes! Absolutely!" Speed stammered immediately. "Lieutenant General Ian is a man of his word! I will always remember your kindness!"
"Is this how you repay my kindness?" Ian's voice was deceptively light. "I'll give you one chance to live. Tell me, word for word, the story you've been telling Domino and Little Sadie. If there's even the slightest discrepancy from what I've heard... you're dead."
He leaned back, putting his hands behind his head, ready to be entertained. For the first time, he was about to hear the gossip about himself.
"R-Retell the story..." Speed looked up, her face a mask of embarrassment and fear.
Her eyes then fell upon a fruit knife in Ian's hand, which was suddenly sheathed in black Armament Haki. She immediately changed her tune.
"I understand! I'll tell you right now!"
She didn't know if she would die after telling the story, but she knew she would die immediately if she refused.
Taking a deep breath, her face flushed crimson as she began to recount the epic, completely fabricated love story between her, a pirate, and Ian, a Marine. The tale went on for a full half hour, and she wasn't even halfway done.
"Tch... Are all the details in your story so... vivid?" Ian interrupted, feigning shock and disgust. "Me? With you? A centaur? I have no idea what kind of filth is in your head! I'm an upright and upstanding young man, and you've made me sound so... so greasy!"
He puffed out his chest, looking every bit the righteous and offended officer.
Speed's blush deepened. "Lieutenant General Ian, I was wrong, I truly was... but you..." she stammered, her voice growing faint. "Could you please... move your hand... before you say that? I... I can't breathe..."
Ian looked down. One of his hands, which had been resting on the table, had somehow wandered and was now firmly planted on her flank, his Haki-enhanced grip strong and unmistakable.
He quickly retracted it, his face a perfect mask of righteous indignation. "Oh?! You're bringing this up now?" he huffed. "(Speed: "...") Why didn't you say anything back in Impel Down? Compared to the 'details' in your story, my actions barely even register!"
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