"Shiki..."
Smoker and Doll's pupils contracted sharply, only Tashigi remained unaware of the weight this name carried.
The only prisoner in Impel Down's history to ever escape, a great pirate who once stood alongside Roger and Whitebeard, the man who single-handedly attacked Marine Headquarters...
They didn't understand why Griffin would suddenly mention such a legendary figure.
"Have you encountered that guy?"
Doll spoke, then realizing something, exclaimed in shock: "Could it be that day... it was him!"
...
Griffin nodded: "After I killed the pirates who attacked Instructor Zephyr, I encountered Shiki."
Smoker frowned deeply, his expression extremely grim.
He could already imagine how difficult it must have been for Griffin to escape from Shiki's hands.
Among the three legendary pirates, Shiki held special significance for those who joined the Marines during their era.
After all, he was the only one who had sunk half of Marine Headquarters. If not for Garp and Sengoku stepping in...
Marine Headquarters would have been defeated by a single pirate!
...
"Don't make that face."
Griffin seemed to see through his thoughts, smiling faintly.
"Among those old guys, Shiki is definitely the one most abandoned by the times."
Not only was there the rudder interfering with his Haki usage, but Shiki had also cut off his own legs to escape from Impel Down.
He had long fallen from the ranks of top-tier fighters and couldn't possibly be a match for any current Admiral.
Griffin was now completely confident he could defeat Shiki - the trouble was finding him.
After Shiki's escape, the World Government had sent many people to search for him, but there had been no news for years.
The Float-Float Fruit's ability was too broken - islands floating in the sky year-round and moving around was practically cheating.
...
...
"You're saying... Shiki has been hiding in the sky all these years?"
Doll listened carefully to Griffin's explanation, frowning as she looked at the sky: "How are we supposed to find him?"
Griffin looked at Smoker, and that look gave Smoker a bad premonition.
"Smoke can float too, which is basically the same as clouds."
"Tie it with a long enough rope, and it becomes a sky detector."
A vein bulged on Smoker's forehead: "Who do you think I am!?"
"Never mind whether we can find Shiki or not, if we do find him... wouldn't that mean I'd have to deal with Shiki!"
"Hmm... can't you handle it?" Griffin tilted his head: "Commander Smoker is now a Vice Admiral at Headquarters, are you not confident against a sick and disabled pirate?"
...
...
Smoker's mouth twitched: "Of... of course not! It's just that as a person... the detection method you described is too embarrassing!"
Griffin didn't expose Smoker's bravado, turning to Tashigi and waving: "You can go first, we need to discuss some adult matters."
Tashigi had been restless for a while now. If Doll hadn't been casually resting a hand on her shoulder, she would have wanted to leave with the main group long ago.
"Um... I'll be going first, Commander Smoker, Commander Griffin, Commander Doll!"
Looking at the empty space beside her, Doll sighed helplessly.
She had deliberately kept Tashigi around earlier because that way she wouldn't be the lowest-ranking person present - there was still someone she could bully.
For years, Griffin's suppression of her position had formed certain bad habits in her.
...
...
"Don't worry, I'll leave my mark on you. I tested it just now - you can hold out until I arrive."
"Hmph, thinking about it now, Shiki couldn't even defeat you from two years ago. He's nothing special." Smoker snorted coldly: "If we encounter him, I can handle him myself!"
...
Griffin shot him a look: "There's only three of us here. Who are you trying to impress with your bragging?"
"No matter how weakened Shiki is, he could still defeat you eight hundred times over."
...
"I've had enough! You brat! I wasn't serious just now, and you really think you've grown wings?"
Doll cracked her knuckles: "Let's team up! I've wanted to beat him up for a long time!"
...
Three minutes later.
Griffin pinned both Smoker and Doll to the ground with one hand each: "Can we talk properly now?"
...
...
The three sat at the harbor, with Griffin speaking calmly: "Finding Shiki depends too much on luck - that's not my main objective."
"This is to create a pretext for you to act freely."
"A pretext?"
...
Griffin rested his chin on his hand, his voice soft yet each word crystal clear: "Since you know me, I won't bother with that justice rhetoric."
"Simply put, I want to establish my own faction within the Marines to gain greater influence."
"You can use the investigation of Shiki as cover to contact officers across various branches and identify those willing to join us."
...
Smoker frowned deeply, taking a long drag from his cigarette.
Knowing Griffin as he did, Smoker understood this wasn't about some idealistic faction-building - it was purely about gaining more power, exactly as stated.
"Griffin..." Smoker fixed him with a intense stare: "Without a clear conviction, how can you expect others to stand with you?"
"Even if you have supporters at Headquarters, that's admiration, not faith worth dying for!"
"Only those like Vice Admiral Garp and Teacher Zephyr, who've earned universal respect, can become the Marine's pillars. Are you really going to learn from those dirty bureaucrats?"
...
Griffin replied calmly: "I understand perfectly well those are different things. But Smoker... I am not, nor do I wish to become, that kind of person."
"The World Government disgusts you, doesn't it? The corruption accumulated over centuries in the Marines infuriates you too..."
"What can you do about it?"
Griffin met Smoker's gaze, sharp as a blade.
"Cursing the World Government and Celestial Dragons - what does that change?"
"In my view, Garp lacks even half the courage of his son. Regardless of whether Dragon's methods are right or wrong, at least he's willing to forge a new path."
...
"Why bother seeking everyone's approval?"
Griffin leaned forward slightly, each word carrying undeniable weight: "I only need those willing to stand with me."
"If we have enough people, we can..."
"Seize the Marines from the World Government's control!"
...
Smoker stared intently at Griffin, as if trying to see into the depths of his soul.
"Do you realize... what you're saying!"
...
"Of course I do."
Griffin spread his fingers, a slight smile curling his lips: "Smoker, eight hundred years ago, twenty kings created the Empty Throne and established the 'Pledge of Equality'."
"But has this world ever known true equality?"
"Why should we expect a powerhouse who could easily take your life to discuss equality with you?"
"I've never believed the World Government is at fault—they're simply doing what their position demands."
"The problem lies with that vacant throne."
"The throne cannot remain empty!"
"We need an absolute sovereign to ascend the throne and dominate this world!"
Bang—
Griffin made a grasping motion with his fingers, causing the air to crack.
"I will fill this void!"
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