Chapter 108: A New Path
(Speed: "...")
"Tell me the truth," Ian continued, his tone shifting from mock outrage to one of exaggerated curiosity. "How long have you been fantasizing about me? If I had arrived any later at Impel Down, would the next chapter of your story have involved you being pregnant with my child next month?"
(Speed: "...")
Ian's bold teasing made Speed feel utterly ashamed and timid. The power dynamic was brutally clear. He was a high-ranking Lieutenant General, and she was a prisoner. What possible resistance could she offer?
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant General Ian, you... you can continue. I'll... I'll go on..." Speed stammered, her will completely broken, ready to obey any command.
"We'll save the rest of your fascinating story for when I'm in a better mood," Ian said, waving a dismissive hand. His expression then turned serious, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by a businesslike sharpness. "I didn't bring you out here to kill you. Speed, you're familiar with Wano Country, correct?"
He was back to being the cunning strategist.
"Ah? You're not going to kill me? That's... that's great!" Relief washed over her. "Wano Country... yes, I'm very familiar with it. I used to work there for Kaido... for Kaido of the Beasts Pirates."
She had almost said "Boss Kaido" out of habit but caught herself, remembering her precarious position. When she was first imprisoned, a part of her had held onto the faint hope that the seemingly indestructible Kaido would mount a rescue. That fantasy had long since faded. She was painfully aware that without personal strength, she was insignificant in the eyes of any major power.
However, Ian's next words made her heart pound violently.
"Speed, do you want to take control of your own destiny? To truly escape the abyss of Impel Down?" Ian's voice was low and intense, his gaze sincere and compelling. "I am heading to the New World, and it is my intention to bring down Onigashima and conquer Wano Country in the near future. Will you be my guide? Will you become a member of my team?"
He asked the question with utter seriousness, all traces of his earlier jest gone. He was waiting for her answer. Engaging the Beasts Pirates and one of the Four Emperors was an inevitability in the New World. Having Speed, with her intimate knowledge of Onigashima and Wano, was like possessing a living map. That practical reason accounted for a significant part of his decision—perhaps ten percent. The remaining ninety percent was the simple, undeniable fact that riding a SMILE-user centaur was a uniquely thrilling experience. The newly acquired pegasus, Stronger, got along well with Peacock, but a true animal mount was one thing. A mount like Speed, with human-level intelligence and a unique form, was an entirely different, and unforgettable, level of enjoyment.
"I... become a member of Lieutenant General Ian's team?" Speed whispered, her mind reeling. "So I can... shed my status as a prisoner? I don't have to... go back to Impel Down?"
Her mouth hung open in disbelief. When the Beasts Pirates, her former crew, had written her off as a weakling, it was Ian who was offering her a chance at rebirth.
"Correct," Ian confirmed. "The premise is your absolute obedience and loyalty. If I discover you plan to run back to the Beasts, I will kill you myself. I expect your future performance to justify the special consideration I'm showing you."
He laid down the terms, though he wasn't particularly worried. Speed's loyalty to the Beasts Pirates had never been that strong. By saving her from a life in prison—essentially saving her a second time—he was confident she wouldn't betray him.
"Thank you... wuwu..." Tears of overwhelming relief streamed down her face. "I thought I was going to die... I never expected... I'm free again! Thank you, Lieutenant General Ian... I swear I will follow you with all my heart from now on!"
Ian wasn't one to be swayed by mere words. True gratitude would be proven through action.
…
Later that same day, news reports once again placed Jock Ian at the center of the world's attention. This time, following the World Government's directive, full credit for annihilating the "Blackbeard Pirates" was attributed to him. He was hailed as the heroic lieutenant general who protected the Celestial Dragons. The image of a young, heroic vice admiral inevitably drew comparisons to a younger Garp.
Ian paid little mind to the fanfare. His focus was on the subtext of the report. The newspaper identified Blackbeard Teach as a former member of the Whitebeard Pirates who had gathered villains to form his own crew. The intent was clear: to officially distance Teach's actions from Whitebeard himself. With one Emperor, Kaido, already causing trouble and tying down two Admirals, the World Government could not afford to openly provoke another Yonko crew. It seemed even the Five Elders feared the total collapse of the Marine frontlines.
As the newspapers spread across the seas, the story of Ian's meteoric rise from a East Blue branch captain to a Headquarters Lieutenant General in a matter of months inspired many and unsettled others.
…
East Blue, 16th Branch Naval Base.
Ian's former subordinates, having just finished their training, gathered around a copy of the newspaper.
"Lieutenant General! Captain Ian is now a Lieutenant General!"
"Damn, this photo is just too handsome, isn't it?"
"Is he the fastest-promoted officer from the Four Seas to Headquarters in history? Our former base commander is the best!"
"Of course! Dealing with great pirates from the New World is no problem for him at all."
"I wonder if Vice Admiral Ian still remembers us…"
His old comrades spoke with a mix of pride and nostalgia.
…
New World, Dressrosa Palace.
Doflamingo, clad in his vibrant feather coat, casually tossed the newspaper into the air. With a nearly invisible twitch of his fingers, transparent strings shredded the paper into drifting confetti.
"Fufufu... Master, hasn't Jock Ian's promotion been a bit too rapid?" Trebol, his mucus-covered body wrapped in a comforter-like cloak, spoke from a safe distance. He knew Doflamingo's moods well, and the current aura was one of seething rage. "Jack failed to eliminate him last time, and now, in such a short time, he's become a Lieutenant General. Once he establishes himself in the New World as a branch base commander, dealing with him will become significantly more difficult, won't it?"
"Jock Ian!" Doflamingo's voice was a venomous snarl, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "Since he dares to come to the New World, I'll make sure he finds his grave in these very seas!"
…
New World, Hachinosu (Beehive Island).
A Den Den Mushi was placed at the center of a rough and rowdy crowd.
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