BSI Chapter 547: Meeting Imu Again
Chapter 547: Meeting Imu Again
"But... a large portion of this money belongs to Orin, right?"
Buggy tried to play the emotional card. After all, everyone knew that the underground world managed by Orin was the primary source of funding for people like Crocodile.
"The support I got from Orin is MY money!!!"
Crocodile roared, lifting Buggy by his clothes with her golden hook.
"I’m founding a new company. This is exactly when I need money the most."
"Th-then... let me join your company to repay the debt! Buggy Express has lots of resources—promotion, printing, transportation..."
"No matter what, I’m a former Shichibukai. My subordinates and my reputation are very useful~"
Hearing this, Crocodile began to consider sparing him.
After all, Buggy’s followers were indeed useful, and Buggy’s current popularity and fame across the seas were also resources she could exploit.
After all, he had come from the Pirate King’s ship just like Orin and Red-Haired.
And lastly—
If she really killed Buggy the Clown, she probably wouldn’t be able to explain it to Orin.
Crocodile pondered silently...
...
During the period when countless upheavals were occurring across the pirate world, the multi-day World Conference continued as scheduled.
On this day, King Keek and King Cobra were simultaneously summoned by the Elder to the Land of the Gods.
Before the Empty Throne, King Cobra entered first, while old Keek stood outside by the window with his hands behind his back, admiring the scenery.
Unbeknownst to him, a world-shaking event was unfolding before the throne at that very moment.
"King Cobra, regarding the matter of D, we have nothing to disclose."
The Elder replied coldly, their expressions solemn.
Seated in his wheelchair, King Cobra looked at the five secretive old men before him with helplessness.
As descendants of Queen Lily, they wished to learn something about the Void Century, yet that hope remained nothing more than a foolish dream.
At that moment, footsteps echoed.
A figure shrouded entirely in darkness slowly ascended the Empty Throne.
The Elder clearly hadn’t expected this being to appear at this time.
"Imu-sama, King Cobra is still here, and King Keek will enter any moment!!!"
As Imu sat upon the throne that permitted no one to sit upon it, cold sweat covered Cobra’s face.
Imu...
One of the original twenty kings... now sitting upon that throne!!!
Yet the seemingly solemn chamber contained more than just Imu, Cobra, and the Elder.
A figure wearing a red captain’s coat, along with a blond young man in a top hat, hid behind the wall, secretly eavesdropping on this explosive scene.
Outside the door, a man with an iron jaw—Wapol, the Munch-Munch Fruit user—was also peeking in.
Even old Keek noticed the commotion inside and squeezed himself beside Wapol.
"Young man, make some room."
Keek gestured dismissively. Wapol was about to get angry, but after seeing the old man’s face, he immediately lost his temper and reluctantly stepped aside.
Inside, the discussion continued, revolving around Queen Lily and the meaning of D. Ace and Sabo were completely stunned by what they were witnessing.
They had never expected that such a powerful existence stood behind the World Government.
Outside the distant wall, two people squeezed together, peering through a hole in the door to observe the scene.
What exactly was happening inside? Someone had sounded extremely shocked just now...
Old Keek placed his eye against the hole and looked inside.
The two young eavesdroppers, the Elder, King Cobra drenched in cold sweat, and—
When he saw the dark silhouette seated upon the throne, old Keek’s calm, unfathomable eyes suddenly shrank. His pupils trembled violently, and cold sweat poured down his face.
"What’s wrong, old man? What did you see?"
Wapol didn’t dare provoke him. Seeing such a great figure trembling with disbelief and fear made his curiosity itch unbearably.
"Th... that’s impossible..."
King Keek muttered.
Ace, like Luffy, had once been to Alabasta and knew that King Cobra was a kind and benevolent ruler.
Sabo nodded toward him. Just before King Cobra could be killed, the two rushed out together.
"Fire Release: Fire Fist!!!"
A figure suddenly burst in, the blazing punch instantly stunning both the Elder and Imu.
Sabo manipulated the ground as it surged upward, carrying King Cobra safely to his side.
"Where did they come from?!"
Imu’s expression changed instantly. His body transformed into a gigantic monster, swallowing the Conqueror’s Haki-infused flames whole.
This level of Conqueror’s Haki wasn’t even worth his attention.
Facing the combined presence of the Elder and Imu, both men grew solemn.
Sabo had only recently become familiar with the powers of the Float-Float Fruit and could even vaguely manipulate entire islands. At this moment, his confidence was swelling.
"If there’s a chance, I’d really like to kill all of you here."
Cold sweat appeared on Ace’s face. He could clearly feel that his Conqueror’s Haki Infusion attack failed to cause even the slightest ripple against this monster.
"Stop saying pointless things—the situation right now is extremely bad!!!"
Outside the wall, old Keek had also noticed Ace’s face—one that felt extremely familiar to him.
"Roger’s son...?"
The familiar scene... once again facing this undying monster...
Wapol was trembling so badly his jaw chattered from fear, while old Keek’s expression darkened as he stepped back several paces.
Wapol thought he was about to flee and inwardly agreed with the decision. After all, this was the ultimate secret and darkness of the World Government—anyone who saw it would retreat...
"That’s right, let’s hurry and run! W-we still need to return to the World Conference..."
But old Keek did not agree. A trace of reminiscence flashed through his eyes.
"Yes... last time, I really did run away. I watched with my own eyes as the most charismatic man on the seas died in unbearable humiliation and agony..."
"So this time, I won’t run. If I die, then I’ll die here."
Keek didn’t know whether his proud grandson could defeat that black silhouette—the nightmare that had haunted him for decades—the monster that tortured Captain Rocks until death became a luxury he couldn’t attain.
Even someone as strong as Captain Rocks had failed to defeat it...
But no matter what, Keek no longer wanted to run.
If death awaited him here, so be it.
After all, in a certain sense, dying the same way as Captain Rocks... wasn’t that also proof of being a monster?
So—
"Clang—"
Armament Haki coated old Keek’s leg. Under Wapol’s horrified and despairing gaze, his expression dark and resolute—
He kicked forward and shattered the wall with a single strike!!!
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