Three days later.
In the New World, on a certain stretch of sea, a gigantic whale-like ship lay anchored on the water.
The Moby Dick.
"Pops, I just got some interesting news. I think you'll like this." Marco, commander of the First Division, walked to the center of the deck with a freshly delivered newspaper in hand.
Before him stood a towering figure whose very presence carried overwhelming pressure.
A body covered in scars. A crescent-shaped white mustache curving upward. Eyes sharp enough to cut through steel.
The great pirate—
Whitebeard.
At that moment, Whitebeard was holding a massive jug of sake.
"Gurararara! Marco, for you to look this interested, it must be something worthwhile." Whitebeard turned his head and laughed boldly.
"The Shinigami Pirates have entered the New World," Marco said gravely. "I'm wondering who they'll strike first."
"Marco, what do you think?" Whitebeard asked.
"Doflamingo, most likely. From what I've heard, he and Ren Kuro had friction two years ago. And over the past few years, he's been getting close to Kaido. If anyone's likely to be the first target of the Shinigami Pirates, it's him."
"Doflamingo… and Kaido."
Whitebeard tightened his grip on the sake jug, his gaze deepening.
"Then let's wait and see. This era is getting more interesting by the day."
On the other side of the sea, after three days of sailing, the Shinigami Pirates finally found a place to stop and resupply.
The Kingdom of Rommel, near Dressrosa, was a nation that prized peace above all else.
"Oh? This country is strange." Gin looked around curiously. "Everyone's greeting us so warmly. They don't seem hostile to outsiders at all."
"They value peace and stability. It really would be a good place to settle down," Ren Kuro said as he took in the town. "But we're only here to replenish supplies. We leave tomorrow."
Under Ren Kuro's lead, the group headed to a tavern for a drink.
The moment the Shinigami Pirates stepped inside, the tavern erupted in a stir.
"The Shinigami Pirates? I never thought you'd come to Rommel!" The tavern owner recognized them at once and immediately brought Ren Kuro his finest bottle.
"Welcome, honored guests!"
"Can you tell me more about this country?" Ren Kuro asked as he lifted his glass.
"Of course. Rommel has long been protected by the Kingdom of Dressrosa, so we've lived in peace for years. Hardly any bloodshed ever happens here. That's why we don't reject outsiders."
"Dressrosa…" Ren Kuro repeated softly.
At that name, Doflamingo immediately came to mind.
At this point in time, the throne of Dressrosa still belonged to the Riku family. But two years from now, Doflamingo's plan to seize Dressrosa would begin. He would take the throne and become the underworld broker known as Joker.
"Are you planning to visit Dressrosa?" the tavern owner asked. "King Riku is a hospitable man. It's a wonderful place. But before that, there's something I absolutely have to warn you about."
His expression turned serious.
"At night, do not go out."
"Why not?" Ren Kuro asked calmly.
"There's been a strange incident in this country lately." The tavern owner glanced around before lowering his voice. "For the past few months, after nightfall, a strange gust of wind has been appearing on the streets. It cuts people down out of nowhere. The army even investigated it."
He shuddered.
"But most of the soldiers who got involved ended up injured—or worse. After paying a heavy price, they still couldn't uncover the truth."
"In the end, we had no choice but to call it a ghost. Every victim had wounds as if they'd been slashed by the wind itself."
"We call it…"
The Kamaitachi of Rommel.
The fear in his eyes was obvious.
"…The Kamaitachi of Rommel. That name sounds familiar." Ren Kuro thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "So it's that narcissistic brat who calls himself 'this young master.'"
A blond young man surfaced in his memory.
The future captain of the Beautiful Pirates.
The self-proclaimed Pirate Nobleman—
Cavendish.
"So that's it. The Kamaitachi of Rommel… the second personality born from his sleepwalking disorder. It has to be him." Ren Kuro's expression turned thoughtful. "I didn't expect Cavendish to awaken his second personality this early. He should only be around ten years old."
"Sir Shinigami, you aren't actually thinking of going after the Kamaitachi, are you?" the tavern owner asked in alarm. "That thing is a death-dealing ghost!"
"It's not as frightening as you think." Ren Kuro left the money on the table and stood. "After tonight, this so-called ghost will disappear."
Without another word, he led his companions out of the tavern.
Late that night, on one of the kingdom's main streets—
Because of the bloody incidents over the past few months, the people of Rommel no longer dared to remain outside after dark.
The bustling streets had become desolate and silent. From time to time, cold wind drifted through the empty alleys.
"Ren Kuro, why did we come here in the middle of the night? There isn't anyone around at all." Yachiru stood on Ren Kuro's shoulder, looking around curiously.
"Yachiru, are you afraid of ghosts?" Ren Kuro asked with a faint smile.
"Not at all!"
"They say a 'ghost' appears on these streets at night. Don't you want to see what it really looks like?"
As the words left his mouth, Ren Kuro turned.
His gaze settled on a dark corner at the far end of the street.
A shadow had appeared there.
It was—
The Kamaitachi of Rommel.
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