novelraw Chapter 496: A Century Is Too Long, Imu Seizes the Day!
Chapter 496: A Century Is Too Long, Imu Seizes the Day!
"Fufufufufu~"
Suddenly, a familiar laugh echoed from outside the Flower Room's entrance.
Immediately after, Doflamingo led the Donquixote Family members filing in one by one.
Walking alongside Doflamingo were Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Sakazuki, Katakuri, and other Marine officers.
"Humhumhahaha~"
Doflamingo's laughter grew increasingly sinister the moment he entered the Flower Room and discovered that Imu and Gunko had also vanished.
Before Orion could process what they intended to do, Doflamingo abruptly took a brand new coat from Baby 5 beside him and swiftly approached Orion.
"The Holy Land is cold, Orion-sama! Please wear this coat!"
Under Orion's utterly surprised gaze, Doflamingo draped the new coat over Orion's shoulders, then stepped back and knelt on one knee facing Orion, grinning wickedly as he declared.
"Doflamingo, leading the Donquixote Family, pays respects to Your Majesty!"
At that moment, Sakazuki also stepped forward, saluting Orion and shouting.
"All Marine officers, attention! Salute the now Emperor Orion!"
"LOYALTY!"
Following Sakazuki's command, the neatly aligned Marine officers behind him instantly straightened their postures and saluted Orion in unison, their voices booming like great bells, echoing across the Holy Land's sky for a long time.
Orion glanced at the specially tailored coat on his body and the extremely chuunibyou-style character "King" embroidered on the chest, immediately sprouting a series of question marks above his head.
It took several seconds for Orion to collect himself.
Then, facing Doflamingo who had already stood up, he asked with unprecedented seriousness.
"Doffy, odd changes to even remains unchanged—what comes next?"
Doflamingo froze, bewildered. "Odd changes to even remains unchanged?"
Observing Doflamingo's reaction, Orion also grew perplexed.
Tugging at the coat, he asked again, "Where did you learn this 'it's cold, please add clothing' routine?"
"Does that require learning?"
Doflamingo spoke with rare solemnity: "You are the world's king by universal acclaim!"
Confirming that Doflamingo showed no abnormalities and didn't seem body-snatched, Orion looked around before removing the coat and handing it to Gion, stating bluntly.
"Rather than putting this coat on me, you have more important matters to attend to!"
"Sakazuki, heed my orders! Due to the sudden circumstances, you and Vice Admiral Tsuru will assume duties early. Together with Sengoku and Zephyr, you will jointly oversee the Chamber of Authority!"
Sakazuki saluted, then turned and swiftly exited with Sengoku and Zephyr.
"Doflamingo, heed my orders! From this moment, you are appointed Captain of the God's Knights. Immediately begin establishing the new God's Knights to stabilize the Holy Land's order."
"Gion, heed my orders! Return to Marine Headquarters at once and establish direct contact with Dr. Vegapunk to prepare for the Thousand-Ship Patrol in half a month!"
With the final command issued, only Orion remained in the Flower Room as a lone commander.
After scanning the empty room, Orion silently walked to the spot where Imu had vanished, his expression gradually turning grave.
Although Imu and Gunko had disintegrated bit by bit before his eyes, his intuition told him that Imu had not truly disappeared.
"Was it a substitute?"
After a brief silence, Orion slowly closed his eyes, and the Observation Haki enhanced to its maximum by the system quietly activated.
In a candlelit underground chamber beneath the ruins of the Holy Land, twenty heavy coffins were arranged.
One of the coffins lay open, revealing a young woman who appeared to be in her twenties or thirties.
The moment Orion's Observation Haki enveloped the Holy Land, the young woman suddenly stirred, her eyes snapping open to reveal a pair of dark red pupils.
Then, mechanically, she raised her hands, pushed aside the coffin lid, and slowly stood up.
After surveying the underground chamber, the young woman fixed her gaze on the chamber's entrance and softly uttered.
"Orion? Mu, not forgotten!"
As her words faded, Imu vanished in a flash.
When she reappeared, she had donned that loose robe again, standing like a solitary black lotus before an enormous straw hat.
The gravity that once filled her eyes was now, for the first time, replaced by a trace of a smile.
"Mu has Orion, not afraid of you anymore!"
After gazing at the giant straw hat for a moment, Imu pulled a veil from her sleeve and put it on, returning to her usual attire with only her eyes visible.
Then, with a flick of her sleeve, she turned and spoke in a cold voice, "Where are the Five Elders?"
As Imu's command echoed, a hidden door opposite her slowly opened, revealing rows of coffins that reflected in her pupils.
Shortly after, the five leading coffins began to shake, and from them emerged Saturn, Warcury, Nusjuro, along with Shepherd Ju Peter and Marcus Mars—who had been slain by Orion long ago—all kneeling prostrate before Imu in unison.
"We pay respects to Imu-sama!"
Imu nodded and spoke again, "God's Knights, it is time for you to awaken as well!"
Over a dozen coffins opened simultaneously, and members of the God's Knights, including Garling, Shamrock, Gunko, and Killingham, filed out of the hidden chamber, kneeling on one knee in perfect formation before Imu.
"Imu-sama, must our contract be renewed?!"
Garling stepped forward, his expression filled with concern. "Now that our true bodies are awakened, if we do not sign the contract promptly, we will lose our immortality! Without immortality, we stand no chance against Orion and his forces!"
"Who said Mu intends to oppose Orion?"
Imu waved her hand, signaling Garling to step back, then turned and walked towards the giant straw hat, her tone relaxed.
"Back then, to counter the alliance of Joy Boy and Davy Jones, Mu had no choice but to take extreme measures! Now that Mu has Orion, there is no need to remain under the devil's sway."
With that, Imu glanced back at the Five Elders. "When you signed the contract with Mu, you were nearing the end of your lives. With the contract dissolved, your remaining days are few. Return to your families and settle your affairs."
"Yes, Imu-sama!"
Saturn, Warcury, and the others bowed in acknowledgment once more.
"As for you," Imu turned her gaze to Gunko, Shamrock, and the rest, "you were all young when you signed the contract. From now on, whether you continue to serve the World Government or return to your families is your own decision."
"Imu-sama, can we... still serve the World Government?" Gunko raised her head.
With the contract dissolved, she no longer used bandages to conceal her face.
Even her mismatched black-and-white eyes had returned to normal, now resembling a pair of obsidian gems, while her entire being radiated youthful vitality.
"You'll have to ask Orion about that!"
As she spoke, Imu turned to face the tightly shut chamber door.
At that moment, several sharp whistling sounds echoed through the air as the chamber door was sliced apart by multiple domineering and fierce sword energies.
Through the billowing dust, Orion stepped inside and stood facing Imu.
The instant Orion appeared, a flicker of delight flashed in Imu's eyes before she quickly walked over and proactively took his hand, her voice brimming with unconcealable excitement.
Before Orion could react, the Five Elders and members of the God's Knights turned in unison and respectfully greeted.
"We pay our respects to Orion-sama!"
Ignoring the Five Elders and the Knights, Orion raised his hand and placed his palm on Imu's forehead.
Conqueror's Haki surged forth, pouring entirely into Imu's body.
Imu offered no resistance, remaining as docile as a perfect replica of Hancock.
"So, what's your current condition?"
Detecting no trace of the demon's shadow within Imu, Orion withdrew his hand with a puzzled expression.
"Since your contract with them has been dissolved, beings who've lived for so many years should have turned to dust the moment the contract broke!"
"They will die eventually, but Mu won't!" Imu's gaze remained fixed on Orion, her voice gentle. "Mu told you, in another hundred years, you will belong to Mu."
"However, a hundred years is too long—Mu doesn't want to wait anymore!"