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"Yes, you're not one to joke around," Dragon said. "That's incredible. Ikki's strength really is something else."
Even though he'd already revised his opinion of Ikki once, hearing what he'd just accomplished made Dragon realize he'd still been underestimating him.
"Chief, please put more resources toward tracking down the legendary sword," Belo Betty said. "Our army needs Ikki that badly. Even if he never trains a single super soldier for us, if we can just secure a few more, it'll help us more than you can imagine."
"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking," Dragon said. "And Belo Betty, if Ikki ever needs anything, tell me right away. I'll see to it personally, as fast as I can."
"Don't worry," Belo Betty said.
After hanging up, she looked up at the ceiling. "Ikki," she murmured, "it's getting harder and harder to gauge just how strong you really are." She let out a sigh.
Time passed quietly after that. For a stretch of days, Ikki wandered Marine Headquarters at his leisure, Nami, Nojiko, and the Heroic Spirit Astolfo at his side.
Oddly enough, the Marines seemed to be going out of their way to keep him and Blackbeard apart. Aside from the one time he'd overheard Blackbeard speaking with members of the World Government, Ikki hadn't laid eyes on him since.
"Given the timing, the war between the Whitebeard Pirates and Marine Headquarters should be starting soon," Ikki murmured to himself. "That Blackbeard's probably going to look for a chance to slip into Impel Down and stir up trouble. Should I go stop him myself?"
As a man who'd already crossed swords and made an enemy of Blackbeard, Ikki had no interest in letting him find powerful allies inside Impel Down the way he had in the original story. That alone would make dealing with him down the line far more difficult. But that wasn't even his main concern.
The real reason was Sadi.
'Blackbeard absolutely cannot be allowed to reach Impel Down,' he thought. 'Sadi's stationed there now, whether out of duty or because she's angling for the Warden's seat, and she won't back down even against the Blackbeard Pirates. She does have power I gave her, and she knows how to put her Noble Phantasm to good use. But Blackbeard isn't someone to underestimate. For her sake, I need to find a way to handle this.'
Ikki stroked his chin, lost in thought. Around him, a cluster of Marines sized him up from a distance, none of them daring to step any closer. It wasn't hard to see why.
This was the same man who'd casually beaten Vice Admiral Onigumo, someone they all considered formidable, right in front of everyone the moment he'd first set foot in Marine Headquarters, using nothing but Onigumo's own intermediate swordsmanship against him. Onigumo's body had healed since then. His pride hadn't.
"Ikki, so you were here."
A familiar voice, bright with joy, called out to him.
"Gion. What's up?" Ikki turned to see her hurrying toward him, and Nami, Nojiko, and Astolfo turned as well.
"I missed you, so I came to see you. Is that not allowed?" Gion stopped in front of him, wearing an expression somewhere between flirtatious and girlish.
The Marines nearby practically seethed at the sight, envy written all over their faces. Gion was, without question, the most beautiful woman in the Marines, and somehow it was a pirate, of all people, who'd won her over. No wonder they were furious. It was fortunate Chaton wasn't around to see it; he'd have been sick with rage otherwise.
"Of course you can come see me anytime, Gion," Ikki said, laughing. "But I'm guessing you want more than that."
"As expected, nothing gets past you," Gion said, smiling. "I'm actually here to let you know. Ace's execution is coming up soon, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants you at the execution grounds, to help deal with the Whitebeard Pirates whenever they arrive."
Ikki raised an eyebrow. "I see. So it's already that time." He nodded. "Alright, let's go together, Gion."
Perfect timing, he thought. This'll let me see if Blackbeard's still around. If he isn't, I'll have to take other measures.
Gion's face clouded over.
"What's wrong?" Ikki asked.
"I'm sorry, Ikki. I can't come with you. I need to leave Marine Headquarters for a while," she said, shaking her head.
"Why? Did something happen?"
It struck him as strange. In the original story, Gion had never taken part in the war at Marineford, but here she'd arrived at Marine Headquarters some time ago, and her strength had already reached the level of a general. Someone with that kind of power should have been staying put, not leaving in the middle of everything.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" he pressed, seeing how troubled she looked.
"Come with me," Gion said. She glanced around at the Marines nearby, then took his hand in her own pale one and led him toward an empty stretch of ground. Nami, Nojiko, and Astolfo traded glances before following.
The Marines who'd watched them go simply returned to their duties. There was plenty to keep them busy that day regardless.
"Gion, what happened? Why the serious face?" Ikki asked once they'd reached a quiet street corner.
Ever since they'd left the crowd, her expression had shifted into something far more serious, nothing like the smile she'd worn moments before.
"Could the Marines and the World Government be planning to move against us early?" Nojiko asked, frowning.
"A preemptive strike? Seriously?" Nami said, startled.
Both of them already knew about the World Government's plans concerning Ikki, and the thought of an early move against him left them uneasy.
It was no joke. This was Marine territory. Here, of all places, it would be far too easy for the Marines and the World Government to act against them. Even with the strength they commanded, taking on the Marines at their own headquarters would be an uphill fight. Even now, Ikki could pull his friends clear at a moment's notice if things went wrong, but that didn't make the ground beneath them any less dangerous.