"So after I fell asleep… all of that actually happened?"
After listening to Jin's explanation, Luffy looked stunned.
He never expected that after defeating Moria, another Shichibukai would appear.
And after that…
Moria had actually stood up again and started fighting that Shichibukai?
"Yes," Jin nodded. "If Moria hadn't suddenly intervened, we really would've been in serious trouble…"
His chakra had been almost completely depleted, and their crew had been battered and injured.
Meanwhile, Kuma…
Had practically been in perfect condition.
Thinking about Kuma's Devil Fruit ability made Jin feel a bit speechless.
Why did such an absurd ability exist in this world?
Luffy nodded, then asked with confusion,
"But why did that big bear come here?"
"From what he said, he came to invite Jin to become a Shichibukai," Nico Robin said calmly. "The World Government probably took an interest in his abilities."
Robin had already figured it out.
Compared to someone like her, who could read the Poneglyphs, the World Government currently cared more about Jin.
After all…
His power didn't come from a Devil Fruit.
There was only one thing Robin was curious about.
How had the World Government been so sure Moria would lose?
Was that Shichibukai really that weak?
Or…
Had they simply prepared for both possibilities?
If Moria defeated them, Kuma would just take Jin away.
But if they defeated Moria…
Then Kuma would invite Jin to become a Shichibukai.
Yes.
That explanation made perfect sense.
"They invited Jin to become a Shichibukai?"
Luffy froze for a moment, then shouted angrily.
"That stupid bear actually tried to steal my crewmate!!"
"If I see him again, I'm definitely going to punch him flying!"
Luffy was furious.
That bastard had dared to do something like that while he was unconscious.
He wouldn't forgive him.
Seeing Luffy so angry, Jin laughed.
"I didn't accept the offer, did I?"
"That doesn't matter! I still have to beat him up!"
"Alright then. Next time we see him, we'll beat him up."
"Yeah!"
Luffy nodded seriously, already imagining how he would defeat that annoying bear.
Though…
In Luffy's mind, Kuma still looked like an actual giant bear.
"That guy's Devil Fruit ability is a real problem," Zoro said with a frown. "If we don't find a way around it, defeating him will be extremely difficult."
Any attack could be repelled.
What kind of terrifying ability was that?
And even after being injured, he could just push the damage out of his own body.
It was completely ridiculous.
Hearing Zoro's words, everyone fell into silence.
The Paw-Paw Fruit was indeed extremely troublesome.
After venting his anger for a while, Luffy gradually calmed down.
Then his stomach growled loudly.
"Sanji!!"
"I'm hungry!!"
"Sanji's already cooking," Merry said.
Sanji had guessed that Luffy would wake up soon, so after leaving the island, he went straight to the kitchen to start preparing food.
And sure enough—
Luffy woke up not long after.
"That's great!"
Luffy grinned widely.
Waking up and immediately getting food—
There was nothing better than that.
"There's something I'm curious about," Franky said. "Why did Moria help us?"
As soon as he asked that, everyone fell silent.
Even Luffy looked thoughtful.
He was curious about that too.
"That probably has something to do with something I did," Jin said.
"Something you did?"
"Yeah."
Jin nodded.
"After Luffy defeated Moria, he asked me a question. So I told him to search for the answer within his own heart."
"And while I was at it, I hit him with a genjutsu."
Everyone exchanged confused looks.
They didn't see how that explained anything.
"So the key was… your genjutsu?" Robin asked.
"More or less."
Jin sighed softly.
"That genjutsu forces the target to see the thing they fear most."
"You mean the one you used to make that ghost girl see giant cockroaches?"
"Exactly."
"Cockroaches?"
A question mark popped up over Luffy's head.
What were they even talking about?
Jin glanced at him.
When he had used genjutsu on Perona, Luffy had actually been there.
Oh right.
Back then Luffy had been lying on the ground in despair.
He probably hadn't heard anything.
"That ghost girl was terrified of cockroaches," Jin explained.
"But if the genjutsu shows someone their greatest fear… why would Moria…"
"Maybe because what he fears most is seeing his dead crewmates again."
As he spoke, Jin remembered the expression Moria had shown at that moment.
'A vision meant to terrify people… but to Moria it was the comrades he longed for.'
Jin didn't know what those illusions had shown Moria.
But his sudden change definitely had something to do with it.
Maybe…
Moria had reconciled with himself.
Like overcoming his inner demons.
After shaking his head, Jin continued,
"No matter what, the reason we escaped this time definitely has something to do with Moria."
"I see…"
Luffy nodded.
"Then that guy isn't so bad after all."
"Huh?!"
Chopper stared at him in shock.
"But he was our enemy, Luffy!"
"Yeah! He stole your shadow!"
"AHAHAHA!"
Luffy laughed.
"Well, I beat him up already, so I'm not mad anymore."
Before the battle ended, he had been extremely angry.
But once he defeated Moria, his anger disappeared.
He didn't hold grudges.
Besides…
Moria had saved his crew in the end.
So Luffy was grateful.
"…That's so like Luffy," the others muttered.
"Oh right!"
"Where are Brook and that marriage-proposal lady?"
Luffy started looking around the ship.
"Huh?"
"Usopp isn't here either…"
"Brook's in the kitchen chatting with Sanji," Jin said.
"Usopp's still unconscious. He's resting in Chopper's infirmary."
"As for Lola and her crew…"
Jin sighed.
"The situation was complicated earlier, so they left."
"They left…"
Luffy fell silent.
He had liked those people.
But they were already gone.
Still, he had experienced this before.
Soon he cheered up and laughed.
"AHAHAHA! Then we'll just meet again someday!"
Seeing Luffy laugh, Jin smiled too.
"Yeah."
"If we're lucky, we'll meet again in the New World."
Nami had mentioned that Lola's family was apparently very powerful.
But Lola hadn't explained much.
Jin guessed she was probably the daughter of some great pirate or an important figure from a powerful country.
The only thing he couldn't understand…
Was why she proposed to everyone she met.
Maybe her family had pressured her too much about marriage?
But her way of searching for love was definitely unique.
Just as Jin was lost in thought—
The door opened.
"Everyone, Sanji's meal is rea—"
Brook froze.
"Eh?!"
"Mr. Luffy, you're awake!"
"BROOK!!"
Luffy immediately jumped up and ran over.
"Now you can join my pirate crew, right?!"
They had returned his shadow.
He could stand in sunlight again.
He could sail again.
Hearing Luffy's words, Brook smiled in the sunlight.
"Yohohoho!"
"Thank you for remembering."
"But… there's something I haven't told you."
"What is it?"
"I made an important promise with my former companions…"
"You mean Laboon, right?" Luffy grinned.
"Franky told me."
Brook froze.
He looked at Franky in shock.
He hadn't expected Franky to tell Luffy that story.
"Yes… that's right."
"Laboon."
"He's a whale who waits at a certain cape—"
"Brook."
"We know Laboon."
"…EH?!"
Brook stared at them in disbelief.
"You know him?"
"Yep."
Sanji nodded.
"We met him at Reverse Mountain."
"Sanji too…?"
"When we first entered the Grand Line, we met him at the entrance," Nami explained.
"We also heard about how he's been waiting there for fifty years."
"If he knew you were still keeping the promise too… he'd be really happy."
"…He's still there after fifty years?"
Brook's voice trembled.
He never imagined that after fifty years—
That little whale was still waiting.
Laboon had never forgotten their promise.
"Yes," Nami said gently.
"The old man at Reverse Mountain said your crew probably died… but Laboon refused to believe it."
"So every day he slammed his head against the Red Line."
"Even though he kept injuring himself."
Brook panicked immediately.
Laboon had been hurting himself like that?
"Don't worry," Nami quickly added.
"He's stopped doing that now."
"Luffy made a new promise with him in his own way."
"Laboon will wait for us."
The method Luffy used had been a bit rough.
But at least it stopped Laboon from hurting himself.
That was good news.
Brook looked at Luffy.
He hadn't expected someone like him to do something like that.
Still…
At least Laboon had stopped injuring himself.
But remembering the whale crashing into the Red Line made Brook's heart ache.
"Laboon… why would he hurt himself like that…"
"Because he wanted to go find you."
Brook's body began trembling.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Th-then… is Laboon doing well now?"
"Yeah," Sanji said.
"He's as energetic as a mountain."
He even made an exaggerated gesture showing how huge Laboon was.
"That's wonderful… that's wonderful!!"
Brook burst into tears.
"I've never been this happy in my entire life!"
"Living this long was truly worth it!!"
For Brook—
Today was the happiest day he had experienced in fifty years.
Laboon was alive.
Still waiting.
Still believing in their promise after fifty years.
That meant Brook's own perseverance had meaning.
Laboon hadn't forgotten them.
"Thank you… thank you so much!!"
"Thank you all!!"
"Haha, don't worry about it," Luffy laughed.
Once Brook calmed down, Luffy asked,
"So what do you want to do now?"
Brook fell silent.
Then he looked at Luffy seriously.
"Mr. Luffy…"
"May I join the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Haha! Sure!"
"EH?!"
"You agreed just like that?!"
Sanji and the others were shocked.
But the next moment they rushed over and lifted Brook into the air.
"But still… welcome aboard, you skeleton idiot!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Yohohoho!"
At that moment, Brook once again felt what it meant to be a pirate.
As he rose toward the ceiling, he thought quietly,
'Laboon… thank you for waiting for me all this time.'
After putting him down, Luffy said,
"If you want to go see Laboon, we can turn around right now."
"It'll take extra time, but we don't mind."
Brook smiled at his new crewmates.
Then he made a decision.
'Laboon… can you wait just a little longer?'
'Now that my pirate spirit has been rekindled… I have a dream as a pirate again.'
Back then, their promise had been to meet Laboon again from the front.
So Brook wanted their reunion to happen—
After sailing all the way around the Grand Line.
"Mr. Luffy," Brook said.
"Your dream is to sail around the world and become the Pirate King, right?"
"Yep!"
"Then my reunion with Laboon doesn't have to be rushed."
"We both have long lifespans."
"One day, we'll meet again."
"And when that day comes… I'll tell him everything about our journey."
Island whales could live for hundreds of years.
And Brook hadn't aged in fifty years.
They both had time.
So Brook decided—
To sail around the world with his new crew.
And meet Laboon from the front.
The others exchanged looks.
They hadn't expected that decision.
But since it was Brook's choice…
They respected it.
"I understand," Luffy said.
"In that case…"
"Let's introduce you properly!"
Brook pulled out a wanted poster and slammed it onto the floor.
"Huh?!"
"A wanted poster?!"
"You're a wanted criminal too?!" Sanji shouted.
"That's correct!"
Brook knelt on one knee before Luffy.
"My name is Brook!"
"I carry a bounty of 33 million Berries!"
"I was once the captain of a kingdom's guard force!"
"Later, I served as the acting captain, swordsman, and musician of the Rumbar Pirates!"
"From this day forward, I entrust my life to Captain Straw Hat Luffy!"
"I'll give it my all so I won't hold everyone back!"
"Yohohoho!"
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Welcome aboard, Brook!!"
"Yohohoho!"
"Everyone!"
"To celebrate our new crewmate…"
"LET'S HAVE A PARTY!!"
"YEAH!!"
Watching everyone celebrate, Brook laughed with them.
Living this long…
Was truly wonderful.
…
Meanwhile—
Outside the Florian Triangle, a pirate ship floated on the sea.
"Moria-sama's battle still isn't over?" Hogback muttered nervously.
Ever since the Straw Hats left, terrifying explosions had echoed from the island nonstop.
Just how intense was that fight?
"A battle between Shichibukai isn't something that ends quickly," Absalom said.
"That may be true, but…"
Hogback hesitated.
He knew Moria's true strength.
After all, Moria had been defeated by the Straw Hats.
Could he really defeat Kuma?
Absalom glanced at him.
"Moria-sama isn't the same anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"You wouldn't understand."
Absalom stared at the island.
"Moria-sama… has truly changed."
He had followed Moria for many years.
He could tell the difference.
Now he only hoped—
Moria would defeat Kuma.
Hogback still didn't understand.
But he didn't worry too much.
Once Moria returned, he'd find out.
"By the way… where's Perona?" Hogback asked.
Absalom's face darkened.
"Who knows where Kuma sent her."
Even though Perona loved pranks—
She was still their companion.
Not knowing whether she was alive or dead felt terrible.
Hogback suddenly realized something.
"So that's why Moria-sama fought Kuma…"
Even though Moria never allowed them to call him captain—
Hogback knew.
Moria cared deeply about the three of them.
And if Kuma had harmed Perona—
Of course Moria would be furious.
'This is the kind of Moria-sama worth following…'
"I hope everything's alright," Hogback whispered.
Both for Moria…
And Perona.
Suddenly—
A massive explosion shook the sea.
BOOM!!
The massive island of Thriller Bark…
Split apart.
As if something monstrous had detonated on it.
"What happened?!" Hogback shouted.
"So this is the level of a Shichibukai battle…" Absalom swallowed.
"Terrifying."
Meanwhile—
On the island, the two Shichibukai had separated.
They stood on massive rocks, facing each other.
Below them, Thriller Bark had been shattered.
Its foundation had broken apart.
Seawater was flooding upward.
Soon—
The island would sink.
"This is the result," Kuma said calmly.
After the earlier battles, the island couldn't withstand their power.
Especially when he used Ursus Shock against Moria.
It had been far stronger than before.
"It's just a ship," Moria sneered.
"If it breaks, it breaks."
"I didn't plan on keeping it anyway."
Moria had already decided.
He would return to the New World.
And for that—
He didn't need this giant ship anymore.
As if celebrating his rebirth.
He lifted his twisted left arm.
His Devil Fruit ability activated.
His shadow writhed and reformed.
Crack… crack…
His bones shifted.
And his arm restored itself.
The process was painful.
But Moria didn't show it.
He simply grinned like a madman.
"That's quite a terrifying ability," Kuma said.
"You just healed yourself."
"You've got nerve saying that," Moria replied, pointing at two floating injury bubbles nearby.
"Who's the one pushing out their damage like a cheat?"
Just then—
A giant fish leaped from the sea.
It landed directly on one of Kuma's floating injury bubbles.
BOOM!!
The fish exploded instantly.
Moria's grin widened.
Kuma remained silent.
It was simply the convenience of his power.
"Still," Moria said,
"You're a strange one among the Shichibukai."
"What exactly did the World Government give you…"
"…to make you work for them like this?"
"Even letting them modify your body?"
He glanced at the metal on Kuma's arm.
He couldn't understand it.
Every Shichibukai was a powerful and proud pirate.
So why would someone like Kuma willingly become the government's experiment?
Kuma looked at his shoulder.
"I have… my reasons."
As long as his daughter could grow up safely—
Even death meant nothing.
Moria shrugged.
"Whatever."
Then he said,
"Alright. Let's continue."
"I still haven't made you spit out—"
"She's fine," Kuma said suddenly.
"…What?"
"I said the girl is fine."
"She's alive."
Moria spat.
"You could've said that earlier!"
If Kuma had told him that after the Straw Hats left—
They wouldn't have fought at all.
Moria sheathed his sword.
"So where is Perona?"
"I'll go get her myself."
Kuma didn't answer.
Instead he asked,
"Are you sure you want to bring her back?"
"…What do you mean?"
Moria frowned.
"You understand what it means to lose your position as a Shichibukai," Kuma said calmly.
Moria froze.
Then his face darkened.
Yes.
He understood.
Soon—
The Marines would come to hunt him down.
Possibly even an Admiral.
Bringing Perona along now would be dangerous.
But—
"My crew's fate is my decision!"
"Not yours!"
"…I see."
Kuma nodded.
"She's with Hawkeye."
With that, Kuma turned to leave.
The floating injury bubble was returning to him.
If he stayed longer—
He might die here.
After all…
This was Moria's territory.
"Hawkeye…"
Thinking of the swordsman with eagle-like eyes, Moria relaxed slightly.
That man wasn't the type to harm a little girl.
"Guess I'll deal with the Marines first," Moria muttered.
Then he looked at Kuma.
"Since you gave me that information, I'll give you some advice too."
Kuma paused.
"Speak."
"Find yourself a way out."
"Whatever deal you made with the World Government…"
"If you don't escape soon, it won't end well for you."
Moria knew the government well.
To them—
A pirate would always be a pirate.
Even if they worked for them.
Kuma said nothing.
In the next instant—
He vanished.
Taking the injury bubble with him.
Watching him disappear, Moria narrowed his eyes.
"Strange…"
"That guy doesn't feel like the 'Tyrant' everyone talks about."
He shook his head.
Then transformed his shadow into a giant bat and lifted himself into the air.
From above, he watched Thriller Bark slowly sink beneath the sea.
"…I guess I'll miss it."
But he knew the island couldn't be saved.
It had lasted this long already.
Soon—
It disappeared beneath the waves.
Only then did Moria leave.
Not long after, he found his pirate ship.
"MORIA-SAMA!!"
"MORIA-SAMA!"
Absalom and Hogback shouted excitedly.
Their captain had returned.
Moria landed on deck and nodded.
"You two alright?"
"We're fine," Absalom replied.
"Did you defeat Kuma?"
"No."
Moria shook his head.
"That guy's not easy to beat."
The Paw-Paw Fruit was too troublesome.
Absalom nodded.
After all—
Kuma was a Shichibukai.
But Hogback noticed something else.
Moria felt different.
His spirit had changed.
As a doctor, Hogback was very sensitive to such things.
"Moria-sama…"
"Call me Captain."
"…WHAT?!"
Absalom and Hogback were stunned.
Moria had always forbidden that title.
But now—
"From today onward," Moria said firmly,
"I'm setting sail again."
"Will you two continue following me?"
The two looked at each other—
Then laughed.
"Of course, Captain!!"
"ZEHAHAHAHA!"
Moria laughed happily.
Then he glanced at Hogback.
He should probably find a Devil Fruit for him someday.
Something to help him survive.
As for Absalom—
The Clear-Clear Fruit already gave him good survival odds.
"Oh right, Moria-sa—"
"…Hmm?"
"…Captain!"
Absalom quickly corrected himself.
"Did you find Perona?"
Moria looked toward the sky.
"Right now it's safer for her to stay where she is."
"And we don't have time."
"…WHAT?!"
"What do you mean?"
"The Marines will be coming soon," Moria grinned.
"Maybe even an Admiral."
Absalom: …
Hogback: …
They both froze.
"Scared?" Moria smirked.
"Captain… can you drop us off somewhere first?" Hogback cried.
"I'd like to go hide with Perona."
"Too late."
"WHY?!"
"Kuma already left."
"I can't slap people across the sea like he can."
Hogback and Absalom sighed.
What else could they do?
"Listen up!"
"Show some backbone!"
"Watch how your captain beats up a Marine Admiral!"
"…Yes."
"LOUDER!"
"YES!!"
"That's better!"
Moria laughed loudly.
"From today onward…"
"I'll train you two properly."
"ZEHAHAHAHA!"
"NOOOO—"
"Too bad!"
"ZEHAHAHAHA!"
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