When Rengoku and Vivi finally arrived at the gates of Thriller Bark's palace, to their surprise, Gecko Moria appeared before them first.
Though he seemed no different than usual, he was panting and sweating as if he had just finished a strenuous workout.
"Huff... Huff... Ahem. So, what brings a fine officer of the Navy to my humble Thriller Bark?"
"Hmph! Warlord Gecko Moria, you know well the crimes you've committed."
"Crimes? What are you talking about?"
Moria feigned ignorance, as if he had no idea what Rengoku meant.
"Your two subordinates — the mutt of an invisible man and the pink-haired ghost girl — are in our custody. Though they serve under you, they launched an attack on the Navy. That alone is a grave offense!"
Rengoku stepped forward, his voice firm.
"As their superior, you cannot escape responsibility."
"Wait, wait! There's been a misunderstanding!"
Moria quickly changed his tone to one of apology.
"I apologize sincerely for their actions. I assure you it wasn't intentional." Moria bowed his head, giving what seemed like a genuine apology.
"The fake Sea God Treasure was merely bait to lure in pirates. I never imagined the Navy would pick it up. Truly, I'm sorry."
"Regardless of your apology, your subordinates did attack us. That isn't something that can be brushed aside with mere words — you understand that, don't you?"
At Rengoku's unyielding stance, Moria began sweating nervously.
"Then... allow me to hand them over to you. Just give me a moment. Hildon!"
At Moria's call, the bat-man Hildon flapped his wings and flew over, carrying a Den Den Mushi.
"This is a Visual Den Den Mushi. I'll make a formal declaration that those two are banished from my crew. You may do as you please with them."
Both Rengoku and Vivi found Moria's submissive tone and behavior strange, but things were going smoothly, so they decided to keep listening for now.
Moria turned on the Visual Den Den Mushi and began recording his message in the open.
"I, Gecko Moria, as a Warlord of the Sea who works alongside the World Government, hereby expel Absalom and Perona from Thriller Bark and my crew for attacking the Navy. Such foolish and reckless actions deserve full punishment by the Navy."
"There is no falsehood in this declaration. And if Absalom and Perona ever see this message, hear me well: never return to Thriller Bark or to me. You are banished. That is all."
Finishing the recording, Moria handed over the Den Den Mushi without resistance, making his sincerity appear unsettlingly genuine. But because he had been so cooperative, there wasn't much left for Rengoku to push on.
"Hmph. Very well. Once I return, I'll see to their immediate punishment."
Rengoku stated this deliberately, testing Moria's reaction.
Surprisingly, Moria nodded in complete agreement.
"Yes, yes! Get rid of them!"
"For someone to discard their subordinates so easily... It's almost suspicious how readily you say that."
Watching Moria so casually throw away his own men, Rengoku — a commander himself — couldn't help but feel doubt and disgust.
"What? Are you saying I should lose my Warlord title over those idiots?"
Moria snapped back.
"You don't know what it's like, being a Warlord. It's not easy to get that title! Giving it up over two fools? That would be a waste!"
Hearing this, Rengoku was reminded of Hancock.
Even though she had her own nightmares, she accepted the Warlord title for the sake of her people, using it to protect Amazon Lily.
Despite her fragile heart, she stood tall before the world, never bowing to anyone — a majestic Pirate Empress through and through.
Compared to her, the man in front of him was a disgrace — a hollow shell of what a true leader should be.
Silently lowering his opinion of Moria, Rengoku turned away.
"I've seen enough. Let's return, Vivi."
"Yes, Vice Admiral."
Vivi, too, had grown under Rengoku's leadership — someone who comforted his subordinates and always made time to support them. Compared to that, Moria was utterly revolting.
Just as the two turned to leave without conflict, a man stepped into their path.
"Yohohoho! What an honor it is to receive such esteemed guests."
"Hm?"
The man wore garments familiar to Rengoku.
"A kimono... Are you from Wano Country?"
Wano — the mysterious land that resembled Japan in name, culture, and attire — had just entered the scene.
And so it was—though he had never actually been there, the land of Wano was the homeland of this life's Rengoku, the birthplace of Rengoku Kyojuro.
"Yohohoho, well now… I can't really say for sure. I've forgotten most of my past memories, yohohoho!"
"I don't know what you're up to, but why are you blocking our way?"
Rengoku instinctively reached for his sword, Enrin Kitetsu, ready to draw at any moment.
Even he couldn't help but be on guard—the presence radiating from the man before him was no joke.
Though his demeanor was frivolous, the pressure emanating from his body was unmistakably real.
"Yohoho, blocking your way... Would that displease you?"
"Of course it would!"
Vivi, too, placed her hand on her sword, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Yohohoho! Then I can let you pass—if you'll just answer a simple question of mine."
"A question?" Vivi repeated, slightly relieved.
"Young lady, what color are your panties today?"
The man asked with a sleazy grin.
Without hesitation, Vivi drew her sword, her face aflame.
"You call that a question?!"
"Yohohoho, I assure you it's asked with complete sincerity."
Seeing her reaction, the man unsheathed his own sword.
Though he didn't exude Haki, the pressure around him suddenly intensified.
It was like facing a demon god Asura with three heads and six arms.
"Light blue polka dots. Frilled trim. A triangle cut," Rengoku said flatly.
"V–Vice Admiral?! How… How do you know that?!"
Vivi's face turned crimson as her superior officer calmly revealed her underwear style.
"My apologies! I happened to glimpse it earlier in the hallway. You should keep your door locked from now on."
Rengoku apologized solemnly, stepping in front of her and drawing his sword.
"This opponent is no ordinary foe. You are to fall back."
"Eh…?"
Without addressing her confusion, Rengoku spoke to the perverted man.
"You got your answer. Now, let her go."
"Yohohoho! I never expected anyone to actually answer! Very well, young lady, you may go."
The man graciously allowed Vivi to leave.
Still hesitant, Vivi looked to Rengoku, who nodded.
"Return to the ship and wait for me. If I don't return within the hour, prepare reinforcements."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Vivi carefully backed away and made her way back to the warship, leaving the two men alone.
A silence fell between them—until the eccentric man chuckled again.
"Yohohoho, until now, the only panties I'd seen were Perona's: sheer black with a passionate red line. My heart almost burst from my chest when I saw them."
He stepped out of the shadows, revealing his full form.
"A permanent black blade…"
Rengoku's eyes narrowed at the sword in the man's hand.
"Ah, right—I'm dead, so no eyeballs or heart anymore. Yohohoho! Zombie joke."
The man was a zombie samurai, wrapped in leathery, mummified skin, with hollow eye sockets—mocking life and death in a single breath.
-----------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass