Chapter 171 - Chapter 173

Up in the air floated two islands that had essentially merged, but still held their own identities related to their owners. These were the twins floating islands. Lubbock's made out of reinforced webs, and Toshiro's made entirely out of ice. Lubbock's was quite humid, while his brothers were ice-cold all the time. Right now on the ice island walked Toshiro with a floating piece of ice beside him. On this piece of ice sat the only living agent that they had fought on Dressrosa.

"This is quite the revelation. This is how the Gotei managed to stay under the radar for however long you have existed. How long has the Gotei existed exactly?" She asked, seemingly very interested. Her agent attitude was gone, what grew forth was maybe something you would see in a scientise, infinite curiosity.

"Shut up! I don't feel like talking." Toshiro continued walking towards his base on the island which was a large ice building.

"Oh, come on, I am either dying here in the next few days, or I'll be imprisoned here for the rest of my life. I am not going to escape this place, and you know that. I have no way off. So, just answer my questions, please!" She said, not with a smile of kindness, but a smile of anticipation.

*sigh*

"We, the commanders were all recruited at different times, and even the oldest commander was not there at the beginning. Supposedly, the Gotei has existed for five hundred years or so. And as far as we know, Amell has always been the emperor of this empire. And yes, Gotei is not a pirate crew, that's just a cover, we are an empire." Toshiro said the last part with some pride. He glanced back to see her reaction to this, and it was not what he expected.

"So, that means, Amell is older than five hundred years! How is that humanly possible? Is it technology or something?" She didn't focus in on the point he thought she would.

"No, it is not. Gotei has technology that Vegapunk hasn't even thought of yet. But, his long life is not technology. It's just him, he has never said anything about it. Alucard has the most information about Lord Amell. He simply states that Amell is so old and wise that he knows the truth to all things. I have no idea what that means, though." He smiled a little and continued, "But, he certainly knows something we other commanders don't. Lord Amell gave all of us powers way beyond even the ancient weapons and his own powers are truly something to fear. That enough for you?" He looked back at her and visibly saw on her expression that she was currently digesting everything he had said.

She finally nodded to herself and looked up, "Okay, let me in!" She said with determination. "What do you mean?" Toshiro asked casually.

"I want to join the Gotei, take me in!" She said, causing Toshiro to laugh out loud for the first time in so long. His laugh was real and genuine on every level.

"No freaking way that's gonna happen. Not even if you start claiming you have never been loyal to those dogs, that will never happen." He started walking again, and she floated after him on the little piece of ice.

"I was never loyal to them, that's the truth! I'm a scientist at heart! Let me join!" She didn't give up, she wasn't even bothered that he said no and laughed in her face.

"No, stop asking!"

"I won't stop! You will have to kill me for that to happen!" She said and showed her stubbornness.

"Fine, then you will die!" Toshiro started walking faster towards his home with his prisoner still not showing fear or anything less than absolute determination.

"Before I die, answer me this, who is commander number thirteen. The World Government never even got a clue of it!" She almost pleaded for him to answer this one.

Toshiro glanced back at her and laughed, "How do you think we always know the movement of the Marines? Living in the sky sure doesn't give us eyes on everything you do on the ground." He said nothing more, and he didn't have to.

"Someone on the inside. Someone with a high level of clearance. Could be anyone, interesting. Kizaru, Aokiji or Bradley. Garp or Sengoku? If the Gotei is old, is it possible Amell groomed Kong as a spy in his childhood. OH, THIS IS SO FASCINATING!" She yelled out loud while her mind worked overtime.

"You figure that one out, lady," And after that, she shut up completely. Small sounds escaped her from time to time, but she was clearly working on this puzzle he set up for her. Gotei's thirteenth commander was among the most famous and legendary unsolved mysterious in the world for both the Government and the public.

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End