Like a phantom, Sora materialized at the palace's grand entrance, blocking Dr. Indigo's escape.
Indigo skidded to a halt, panic etched on his face.
"What's wrong?" the no-name pirate captains behind him barked, stopping abruptly.
Following Indigo's gaze, they saw Sora. Their bodies quaked, and they scrambled back into the palace, fleeing like rats.
They wished for extra legs to sprint faster, their retreat as pathetic as it was frantic.
They'd joined the legendary Golden Lion Shiki expecting to rule the seas. Yet, the titan's fall came without warning, leaving them reeling.
Indigo ignored the fleeing captains. Against a monster who'd slain Shiki, running was futile.
As expected, two crescent-shaped slashes crisscrossed past him, streaking toward the escapees.
The slashes' razor-sharp aura made his hair stand on end, cold sweat pouring.
The noisy corridor fell silent.
Dull thuds of collapsing bodies echoed behind him. Indigo's pupils shrank, his throat dry.
He'd thought those slashes were for him.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap…
Slow footsteps reverberated in the empty hall.
Light as they were, each step struck Indigo's heart like a hammer.
As Sora approached, Indigo instinctively bowed, head lowered, unable to meet his gaze.
Despite sensing Sora spared him for a purpose, the invisible pressure from a Shiki-slaying monster made even glancing up impossible.
Sora, in sandals, stopped before Indigo. Smiling at the towering, comical juggler, he considered his plan.
He wanted to recruit Indigo as the ship's doctor. Despite the clownish act, the man's medical skills were top-notch.
But first, a test.
Looking at Indigo, Sora grinned. "You're Dr. Indigo, Shiki's deputy, right? Mind showing me your infirmary and Shiki's treasury?"
He planned to destroy Indigo's "IQ" serum data—too dangerous for the World Government. He also needed to check for human experiments.
Animal tests? Fine. Human ones? Unforgivable. If Indigo crossed that line, no skill would save him.
Indigo forced a smile uglier than a sob. Refusal wasn't an option. Sora's genial demeanor masked the fact he'd just killed Shiki.
"Of course, sir. Follow me to the lab," Indigo stammered.
His lab was the infirmary.
Leading the way, Indigo guided Sora to a massive iron door. He fumbled a key from his coat, inserted it, and twisted. The door slid open with a groan.
Standing aside, Indigo said, "Sir, the lab's here."
Sora stepped into the vast space, ignoring Indigo. His eyes landed on a dozen giant glass tubes glowing with cold cyan light.
As Sora studied them, Indigo hurried to explain, "Sir, these are animal remains used to study a plant component called 'IQ.'"
Sora nodded. "I know. Show me your experiment logs."
No human remains—good. But the records would tell the full story.
"This way, sir."
At Indigo's workbench, Sora faced a wall of notebooks. Scientists are insane, he thought. Writing this much would kill him faster than a fight.
He grabbed a notebook and flipped through it.
Gibberish.
Expression unchanged, he tossed it aside and grabbed another.
Still gibberish.
What's with scientists? Can't they write something normal people can read?
Dropping the notebook, he turned to Indigo, silent, staring until the man sweated buckets.
Finally, Sora smiled. "Dr. Indigo, can I ask you something?"
Indigo, chilled by the sudden grin, nodded cautiously. "A-anything, sir. I'll tell you everything."
"Have you ever experimented on humans?"
Sora's face hardened, a crushing aura pressing down on Indigo.
Overwhelmed, Indigo collapsed, trembling. Realizing Sora awaited an answer, he shouted, "No, sir, never!"
"I've never used humans in my experiments!"
Sora's eyes flashed red, probing Indigo's emotions. No lies. No human traces in the lab. Indigo wasn't a true villain—just a doctor.
Sora retracted his aura and extended an offer. "Dr. Indigo, as captain of the Freedom Pirates, I formally invite you to join my crew as our ship's doctor."
Indigo exhaled, relieved. He'd feared death if his answer displeased Sora. Now, this?
Staring into Sora's earnest eyes, he stammered, "Y-you're serious?"
A rookie pirate who'd killed Shiki wanted him as a doctor? It felt like a dream.
Sora smiled. "My crew needs a doctor. You in, Dr. Indigo?"
Snapping to, Indigo nodded frantically. Decades with Shiki held no loyalty—Shiki was dead. He needed a new path. Refusing Sora risked death, and the Navy wouldn't spare him either.
"Oh, one thing," Sora added, helping Indigo up, his tone stern. "As my crew's doctor, no more 'IQ' research. You'll focus on healing and disease cures. Got it?"
"Y-yes, sir—er, Captain," Indigo blurted, adjusting.
"Captain," Sora corrected.
"Yes, Captain!"
(End of Chapter)