"Kid, he's got the makings of a real menace on the seas. A future king, some might say. Shouldn't the Marines be snuffing out threats like that before they fully ignite?" Ian pressed, his gaze unwavering as it locked with Gion's.
The Magnet-Magnet Fruit, with its power to command metal, was a prize indeed. Absorbing it, wielding it himself – it would be a boon to his defenses. A flicker of irritation sparked within him at her decision to apprehend rather than eliminate.
"I'm afraid I can't divulge the specifics. Marine intelligence, you understand... But you haven't answered my question. What exactly transpired here?" Gion descended gracefully, her voice a blend of silk and steel.
Ian, however, had a hunch. It concerned Impel Down, a grim fortress looming large in his future plans, a place overflowing with the very essence he craved.
The World Government, in its wisdom, incarcerated a multitude of dangerous criminals within Impel Down's depths. Yet, they shied away from outright executions, and for a very particular reason.
Many of these prisoners held the power of Devil Fruits. To execute them would mean those abilities would resurface, potentially wreaking havoc in the hands of someone new.
Take Byrnndi World, the self-proclaimed "Destroyer of Worlds." While a formidable pirate in his own right, his true terror stemmed from the More More no Mi
Such devastating powers couldn't be allowed to run rampant. Their resurgence could unleash another cataclysm upon the world.
This, Ian surmised, was the logic behind Gion's decision to spare Kid. While not yet a force of nature, his Magnet-Magnet Fruit posed a significant threat, warranting capture over immediate elimination. Lethal force would be a last resort.
But, if she knew of Ian's ability to absorb, potentially replicate, and even erase Devil Fruits altogether, she might even seek his assistance in dealing with Impel Down's inmates.
After all, these dangerous criminals were volatile elements, ticking time bombs. Who could predict when another incident like Shiki's escape might occur? They couldn't be left to fester indefinitely.
"Tell me," Gion's voice softened, laced with a hint of unease, "did you... eliminate all these pirates? Why? It's... excessive."
Her gaze swept across the scene – the auction house reduced to a mangled ruin, strewn with pirate corpses and crimson pools.
Even for a seasoned Marine like herself, the sheer scale of the slaughter, orchestrated by a single individual, was unsettling. The vibrant red of spilled blood painted the ground in a gruesome tableau.
A lone figure in white, a specter amidst a blazing inferno of death and destruction.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Thankfully, the slaves held captive in cages had been spared the carnage, though their eyes were wide with terror, their faces etched with the trauma they had witnessed.
Despite his ragged appearance, Ian's white attire remained remarkably clean, untouched by the surrounding gore. Its pristine whiteness seemed to mock the carnage.
An angel of death, cloaked in innocence.
"Pirates are a blight that deserves eradication. I was a victim, moments away from losing my life at their hands. Fate, however, granted me the power to exact retribution. That's all."
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"..." Gion found herself unable to refute his words. Such tragedies were commonplace in the brutal world of One Piece. Innocent lives shattered, futures extinguished by the rapacious greed of pirates.
Those who found the strength to fight back often sought vengeance. It was a vicious cycle.
The Marines existed to break that cycle, to shield the innocent from the predations of the lawless.
Ian's words held a ring of truth, mirroring the experiences of the soul he now inhabited.
Gion, sensing his genuine emotions through the subtle whispers of her Observation Haki, accepted his explanation.
"Rest assured, these pirates were villains, one and all. None possessed Devil Fruit abilities," Ian added, as if reading her thoughts.
Gion's eyebrows shot up. Had he somehow gleaned the secret of Impel Down? Upon further reflection, it wasn't a matter of utmost secrecy. If he knew, he knew.
He would either be captured or find himself within those walls eventually.
"Not everyone is as fortunate as you to escape such a fate," she offered softly.
"..." He had swayed her that easily?
"What are your plans now?" Gion's curiosity was piqued. This young man possessed strength, intelligence, and a twisted sense of justice. He was an asset, wasted on a path of vengeance.
Perhaps she could steer him towards the Marines. With her influence, as long as Ian didn't stir up trouble, his induction should be straightforward.
Even Smoker, the compassionate "White Hunter," had been known to recruit reformed criminals, those who demonstrated genuine remorse for their past actions. It wasn't unheard of.
Furthermore, Ian wasn't a pirate. He had even actively eliminated a significant number of them, albeit with excessive force. But even if he were a pirate, his potential was undeniable.
He was a figure comparable to Trafalgar Law, who had earned the title of Warlord by offering one hundred pirate hearts to the World Government. Offering him a similar opportunity wouldn't be unreasonable.
"Have you considered joining the Marines? We offer exceptional training and resources. Whether it's Haki, swordsmanship, Rokushiki, or general combat skills, we have veteran instructors like former Admiral Zephyr and the legendary Garp himself. You could flourish under their tutelage. You can even exchange merits for various rewards, including renowned swords and Devil Fruits."
Gion laid out the benefits, even mentioning the presence of attractive female Marines... a strategic ploy that momentarily rendered Ian speechless.
While he could already unleash devastating sword attacks by channeling his spiritual pressure, refining his technique wouldn't hurt. His power was immense, but his form lacked the elegance of a master swordsman. As for Rokushiki, the six naval combat techniques – Shigan, Tekkai, Rankyaku, Kami-e, Geppo, and Soru...
They were techniques developed by World Government, based on the principles of Haki. Ian already possessed similar, if not superior, abilities in the form of Hierro, Sonido, and even his released form, Murciélago, which granted him flight. Arrancar possessed the ability to levitate as well, so Geppo offered little advantage.
However, Haki and access to renowned swords were definitely desirable, especially before he could fully manifest his Zanpakuto through his spiritual pressure.
And after discovering his ability to absorb and potentially replicate Devil Fruits, the chance to acquire more was impossible to resist.
Even if such resources weren't immediately available, the Marines' vast intelligence network would provide him with information on powerful individuals, allowing him to hunt them down and claim their abilities.
As long as the Four Emperors remained fragmented, the Marines were arguably the most powerful force in the world, their actions guided by a (somewhat flawed) sense of justice.
However, the World Government, the Celestial Dragons, and the Five Elders... they were a different matter entirely. Once he was strong enough, he would eradicate them without hesitation, regardless of whether they came for him first.
Furthermore, the Marines likely had access to Impel Down, a veritable buffet of souls, a prime target for furthering his power.
And perhaps most importantly, as Gion had pointed out, the Marines boasted kind-hearted and beautiful female officers like Tashigi and Ain... For the sake of his future happiness, he had to accept this offer..
He wasn't interested in stealing other people's girlfriends. Not only would their boyfriends object, but winning their hearts would be a challenge in itself.
"So... what's your answer?" Gion asked, anticipation lacing her voice. Ian was about to reply, "I..."
*Thump, thump, thump…* Suddenly, the marine warship completed its docking procedures, and Marines began marching towards them in perfect formation.
Their arrival was ill-timed, interrupting his response...