The Golden Lion had sailed the seas his entire life; there was no kind of person he hadn't met. The moment he saw Law's eyes, he knew this was a man who was supremely confident in his own field. Usually, people like that were either the strongest warriors, top-tier professionals, or the most brilliant scientists. This guy... he might actually be able to heal him.
To say the Golden Lion didn't want to recover from his physical disabilities would be a lie. He was a great swordsman. The steering wheel stuck in his head not only severely affected his senses but also gave him a fatal weak point in battle. And his severed legs, needless to say, were an even greater handicap. Swinging a sword with your hands and swinging one with your feet were two completely different things.
The moment the Golden Lion gave the word, Law used his ability without hesitation. With a soft cry, a strange domain instantly enveloped Shiki. In the next moment, the steering wheel embedded in his head appeared in Law's hand. The entire process took less than a second, so fast that the Golden Lion didn't even have time to register what had happened.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Bellamy applauded from the side. "A truly wonderful performance."
"What do you think, Sir Golden Lion?"
"My steering wheel!"
The Golden Lion touched his head and found that the wheel was indeed gone. Moreover, while the large hole was still there, he felt no pain at all, as if the wound didn't exist.
"What kind of technique is this?"
Wait, he seemed to have heard of this method somewhere before.
"The Op-Op Fruit!"
"Good eye."
As expected of a veteran pirate of many years, he recognized the incredibly rare fruit at a glance.
"So it's the Op-Op Fruit. No wonder."
The Golden Lion had been about to call his ship's doctor out just to kill him on the spot. But since it was the Op-Op Fruit, he would let that useless fool off the hook.
"But even the Op-Op Fruit can't heal my legs, can it?"
Even if his legs were still around, they would have long since turned to bone. What good would reattaching them do?
On this point, Law was also quite puzzled. The Op-Op Fruit couldn't create something from nothing. Only the Heal-Heal Fruit could make the Golden Lion's legs grow back. But this time, Captain Bellamy had clearly not brought Mansherry, only him. Why? Law couldn't figure it out.
"It can be done, but we'll have to make two new legs first."
Bellamy had his own plan for bringing only Law.
"You should have heard of the Vinsmoke Family in the North Blue."
"That family of assassins?"
"That's right."
"Germa 66, the clone army. Heard of them?"
When Bellamy mentioned the clone army, the Golden Lion seemed to understand, yet not completely. Cloning technology was extremely advanced; ordinary people might never have even heard of it. While the Golden Lion knew a little, he didn't quite grasp the key point.
"We'll clone a pair of your legs and have Law attach them for you."
In fact, it was that simple. The whole process wouldn't even take much time. Not only the Golden Lion's legs, but Shanks's arm could also be reattached using this method. Easy, and with no side effects.
But this method, so simple in his eyes, had plagued the Golden Lion for a full twenty years. It wasn't that Shiki was stupid; it was that he would never have thought in that direction. The world of One Piece was not one ruled by technology; science had never been popularized. Cloning, such a high-end technology, was even more obscure. This gap in perspective was almost impossible to bridge.
"Cloning?"
The Golden Lion had heard of clones, but had never paid them any attention. But this method... it sounded like it might just be possible. If his legs could really be restored...
At this thought, the Golden Lion couldn't help but look down at his severed stumps, where two longswords were brutally jammed. Using swords as legs, and having to pull them out to fight from time to time... only he could understand the pain involved.
"If my legs can be restored, what do you want?"
This brat Bellamy had gone to such great lengths; he must be after something. When they first met, the arrogant aura Bellamy exuded was almost boundless. The Golden Lion was all too familiar with this type of person, because he was one himself.
"I want you to help me capture someone."
"Hm? Is that all?"
"Simple?" Bellamy chuckled. "You'll see."
The Golden Lion was a bit confused. Was this kid asking him to capture some major figure? Judging by his tone, this seemingly simple request was anything but.
"Well then, let's get going."
"Going? Where?"
"The North Blue. We're going to find the Vinsmoke Family."
The Golden Lion's floating island was the most convenient mode of transportation in the world, bar none. This island had been floating in the sky for a full twenty years. With this ability, the Golden Lion was actually the greatest threat to the World Government. If the Revolutionary Army could recruit him, the World Government wouldn't just have a headache; they would be terrified.
But the chances of that were almost zero. With the Golden Lion's personality, he would never bow to anyone. And his cruel nature was completely at odds with the Revolutionary Army.
Their current location was only a seven-day journey to the North Blue in a straight line. But the Calm Belt lay in between. If they went by sea, from the New World to the Grand Line, and then to one of the Four Blues, it would normally take at least half a year at the fastest. The Marines could take a shortcut through the Calm Belt, but it would still take at least a month.
But the Golden Lion's floating island was different. It could fly directly through the air, without regard for weather, detours, or any other factors. Just fly straight there. Nothing in the sky could stop the Golden Lion. If there was an obstacle, he could just fly higher, even out of the atmosphere. His ability allowed him to ignore gravity and remain in the air indefinitely.
"My ship and my crew are down below. Bring them up, and we'll head straight for the North Blue."
With such a convenient mode of transport, Bellamy certainly wasn't foolish enough to take a boat.
"Bring my crew up as well. I don't feel safe leaving them on the sea by themselves."
Although the Heart Pirates' vessel was a submarine, the New World was too dangerous. Law didn't trust his crew to travel alone.
"So you're not in the same crew."
Only then did the Golden Lion realize they were from two different pirate crews.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am the captain of the Heart Pirates, Trafalgar Law."
"My dream is to become the world's greatest doctor." Law tipped his hat and smiled confidently.
"Captain of the Bellamy Pirates. My goal is to be the world's strongest."
Bellamy gave the Golden Lion a meaningful look. He hadn't said that just for the sake of an introduction.