Sengoku placed the Den Den Mushi down and stared at the table.
Tsuru looked at him calmly.
"Another one?"
Sengoku exhaled.
"Douglas Bullet."
Garp's eyes narrowed.
"And?"
"Shiki and Byrnndi World are dead."
Garp's expression changed slightly.
Even he could not remain completely indifferent to Shiki's death.
Golden Lion Shiki had been a true monster of their era. Dangerous, arrogant, ambitious, and troublesome, but still a legend.
Now he had died in a prison cell under Lakeman's hand.
Garp snorted.
"That brat really does whatever he wants."
Sengoku leaned back.
"He does. And none of us can stop him."
Tsuru's fingers rested lightly on her teacup.
"Did he take something from them?"
Sengoku looked at her.
Tsuru continued, "Redfield was restored. Bullet was taken. Shiki and Byrnndi were killed. Saint Lakeman does not act randomly. If he killed them, their deaths had value."
The room grew heavier.
Sengoku had thought the same thing.
But some truths were safer when left unspoken.
"If you understand it, keep it in your heart," he said.
Tsuru nodded.
Garp clicked his tongue.
"Monsters raising monsters."
No one corrected him.
Meanwhile, Mariejois received the news through Stussy before the official report arrived.
Shakky had informed her through their hidden telepathic link the moment Lakeman returned from Eternal Hell with Bullet and Redfield.
Stussy's smile turned meaningful.
'Master took Bullet as well.'
'Shiki and Byrnndi World are dead.'
She did not know every detail yet, but she understood one thing clearly.
The master must have gained something important.
Soon, she brought the matter to the four Elders present in Mariejois.
Saint Nusjuro was still absent.
The remaining four suddenly felt that he had escaped a disaster rather than taken a vacation.
"Douglas Bullet too?"
"Golden Lion Shiki is dead?"
"Byrnndi World as well?"
One Elder pressed his fingers against his forehead.
Another sighed.
"Impel Down must be shaking."
Stussy stood gracefully to the side.
"Then it is best to ensure it does not shake too loudly."
The Elders looked at her.
She continued, "Redfield and Bullet should be classified as assets under Master Lakeman's custody. Shiki and Byrnndi World should be marked deceased by special authorization. All pursuit orders, bounty alerts, and prison escape protocols should be suppressed."
The room remained quiet for a moment.
Then one Elder nodded.
"Do it."
Another said, "No public announcement."
"Seal the records."
"Notify Marine Headquarters and Impel Down."
The decision passed quickly.
No one mentioned blame.
No one mentioned punishment.
No one dared to complain.
Orders soon spread through the highest channels.
Patrick Redfield and Douglas Bullet were classified under Saint Lakeman's authority.
Golden Lion Shiki and Byrnndi World were recorded as deceased by special authorization.
No Marine branch would move.
No Cipher Pol unit would investigate.
No bounty notice would be released.
The matter vanished into the deepest layer of classified records.
When Marineford received the confirmation, Sengoku cursed internally.
When Impel Down received it, Magellan and Shiryu both sighed in relief.
At least now, no one could blame them.
But their relief lasted only until they realized one thing.
Saint Lakeman had not left.
He stayed in Impel Down for two more days.
For those two days, the entire prison lived under a strange tension.
The guards smiled whenever they passed near the villa.
They bowed whenever they saw Lakeman.
They spoke with perfect respect whenever his name was mentioned.
But their hearts were united in one prayer.
'Please leave soon.'
'Please do not visit Eternal Hell again.'
'Please do not take another prisoner.'
'Please do not kill anyone else while we are on duty.'
Magellan felt it most deeply.
Every time a Den Den Mushi rang, his heart tightened.
Every time Lakeman stepped out of the villa, Magellan wondered whether another old-era monster would vanish from the records.
Shiryu was calmer on the surface, but even he became more careful.
Both he and Magellan had already been bound by Lakeman. Their loyalty was changing from instinct into nature, but their official duties still forced them to handle the consequences of his actions.
That was the painful part.
They had to serve Saint Lakeman.
They also had to explain Saint Lakeman to the world's bureaucracy.
Lakeman ignored all of it.
For two days, he stayed mostly inside the villa on the fifth floor.
The place became his temporary palace inside Impel Down.
Robin, Lily, Shakky, Mirana, Makino, Viola, Scarlet, Stella, Koala, and the others live a debauched life with him.
They served him with all their body and soul, spoke with him, brought warmth into the cold prison, and helped him rest after the tension of the past few days.
Lakeman enjoyed their company, but pleasure was not his only purpose.
He was adapting.
Shiki's final feedback had brought attributes, Haki comprehension, swordsmanship, combat experience, life essence, and the fully awakened Float-Float Fruit.
Byrnndi World's final feedback had added more physical foundation, battle instinct, Devil Fruit mastery, and the More-More Fruit.
Even for Lakeman, sudden growth needed control.
Inside a sealed chamber beneath the villa's protection, he tested the Float-Float Fruit first.
A chair rose.
Then a table.
Then, several heavy stone blocks were prepared by Cipher Pol agents.
They floated silently around him, moving according to his will.
The power felt natural because Shiki's awakened mastery had come with it. Lakeman was not starting from nothing. He had inherited a completed foundation and only needed to make it his own.
With a thought, a section of the stone floor trembled and lifted.
The surrounding objects began to rotate around him.
Then they stopped instantly.
Lakeman opened his eyes.
'Float-Float Fruit.'
'Control over touched objects.'
'Large-scale aerial manipulation.'
'Awakened mastery from Shiki.'
Next came the More-More Fruit.
A small metal ball shot forward.
Its speed multiplied.
The ball tore through a stone target and buried itself in the far wall.
Lakeman raised an eyebrow.
'Useful.'
He tested the size.
Then force.
Then movement.
Then combinations.
The More-More Fruit was simple only in appearance. In the hands of an ordinary fighter, it made things bigger or faster. In Lakeman's hands, it became an amplifier for almost anything he could control.
A floating object accelerated by multiplication.
A projectile enlarged mid-flight.
A sword slash strengthened at the moment of release.
A stolen attack is enhanced before being sent back.
A body movement is boosted at the perfect instant.
The possibilities were enough to make him smile.
Then came the most important test.
Lakeman fed stored Devil Fruit proficiency into each power.
The Steal-Steal Fruit accepted it.
The Float-Float Fruit accepted it.
The More-More Fruit accepted it.
No conflict.
No resistance.
No rejection.
Lakeman laughed softly.
'Good.'
The system had opened a new path.
From now on, every bound Devil Fruit user held greater value.
If they lived, they trained for him.
If they died after full binding, they might give him everything.
Still, he did not let greed cloud his judgment.
Killing every bound genius immediately would be foolish. Many were more valuable alive, producing continuous feedback, improving their abilities, and strengthening the eventual harvest.
Living trees bear fruit again and again.
Dead trees gave one final yield.
The key was timing.
For the rest of the two days, Lakeman continued testing his new powers.
He floated weapons, furniture, stones, and entire sections of the chamber.
He multiplied projectiles until they blurred through the air.
He used the Float-Float Fruit and More-More Fruit separately.
Then together.
Then alongside the Steal-Steal Fruit.
Each test deepened his control.
Outside the chamber, Redfield and Bullet trained quietly.
Redfield adapted to the Vampire Fruit with frightening speed. His old combat experience allowed him to understand its power quickly, and his restored body gave him room to grow.
Bullet tested his healed physique with controlled movements. The life essence had cleaned away the hidden damage that had weighed him down for years, and his strength was returning with every hour.
Neither disturbed Lakeman.
They didn't dare to.
On the morning of the third day, Lakeman finally decided to leave.
The news spread through Impel Down faster than an alarm.
At first, the guards did not dare to show joy.
Then they remembered their roles and forced themselves to look regretful.
By the time Lakeman stepped out of the villa with Redfield and Bullet behind him, Magellan, Shiryu, and several senior staff were already waiting.
The corridor had been cleaned.
The guards stood neatly on both sides.
Everyone bowed.
Magellan stepped forward, solemn and respectful.
"Saint Lakeman, everything has been prepared for your departure."
His voice was steady.
His heart was not.
'Please leave smoothly.'
'Please do not turn around.'
'Please do not remember another prisoner.'
Shiryu stood beside him.
"Saint Lakeman, the route has been cleared."
His expression remained calm.
His thoughts were simpler.
'Please go.'
'Please do not come back soon.'
Lakeman glanced at them.
With Observation Haki, their thoughts were as clear as spoken words.
His lips curved slightly.
"Magellan."
Magellan's heart tightened.
"Yes, Saint Lakeman."
"You seem eager to send me away."
Magellan's back stiffened.
The guards almost stopped breathing.
Shiryu's eyelid twitched.
Magellan immediately lowered his head.
"Saint Lakeman misunderstands. It is Impel Down's honor to receive you."
Lakeman smiled.
"Oh?"
Magellan forced his voice to remain sincere.
"If Saint Lakeman wishes to visit again, Impel Down will always welcome you."
The guards lowered their heads together.
"Saint Lakeman is welcome anytime."
Their voices were respectful.
Their thoughts were not.
'Please never come back.'
'At least not during my shift.'
'At least not while I am alive.'
Lakeman heard everything.
Redfield remained expressionless, though amusement flashed briefly in his eyes.
Bullet looked away, clearly holding back a sneer.
Lakeman did not expose them.
He was in a good mood.
"Do not worry."
He walked forward.
"I have no reason to return for now."
Magellan, Shiryu, and the guards felt instant relief.
Then Lakeman added casually, "When Sadi and Domino begin working here, I may visit again."
The relief cracked.
Several guards nearly lost control of their expressions.
Magellan's smile stiffened.
"Impel Down will await Saint Lakeman's visit."
'No, it will not.'
Shiryu lowered his head.
"We will prepare properly."
'Please delay that day as long as possible.'
Lakeman passed them with Redfield and Bullet behind him.
At the exit, he paused and looked back.
Impel Down stood behind him like a giant iron beast rising from the sea.
This prison had once represented the World Government's absolute authority.
Now, to him, it was only a resource warehouse.
Some prisoners had already been harvested.
Some were bound and waiting.
Some would be useful later.
Some would die when their value ripened.
Lakeman's blood-red eyes were calm.
'Impel Down is settled.'
Redfield stood behind him on the right.
Bullet stood behind him on the left.
Both were silent.
Both belonged to him now.
A ship waited outside, arranged by Cipher Pol.
Cold wind blew across the sea.
Lakeman stepped onto the gangway.
Behind him, Magellan, Shiryu, and the guards bowed again.
"Farewell, Saint Lakeman."
"Please visit again anytime."
Their voices were neat.
Their faces were respectful.
Their hearts were united.
'Never again.'
Lakeman heard it all.
This time, he laughed softly.
The sound made Magellan's smile stiffen once more.
Then Lakeman boarded the ship.
Redfield and Bullet followed.
The vessel slowly left Impel Down under Cipher Pol escort.
Magellan remained standing until the ship became distant.
Only then did he straighten.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then a guard whispered, "Warden, has Saint Lakeman really left?"
Magellan looked at the sea.
"Yes."
The guard almost cried from relief.
Shiryu exhaled slowly.
Magellan turned around.
"Return to your posts. Repair the records. Seal all reports related to Eternal Hell under the highest authority."
"Yes, Warden."
The guards scattered quickly.
Magellan looked once more toward the distant ship.
His expression remained solemn.
But his heart had only one thought.
'Please let Impel Down be quiet for a while.'
Far away, on the departing ship, Lakeman stood at the bow.
The wind lifted his platinum blond hair.
His blood-red eyes looked toward the open sea.
Inside him, three Devil Fruit powers rested quietly.
Steal.
Float.
Multiply.
His system had revealed a deeper secret.
His foundation had grown again.
And behind him stood two legends from Eternal Hell.
Redfield.
Bullet.
Lakeman smiled faintly.
The journey to Impel Down had ended.
But the harvest had only just begun.
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