The moon was gradually fading beyond the massive city gates of Zou, its pale light giving way to the first hints of dawn. The torches and luminescent fungi along the walls cast an eerie glow over the courtyard, illuminating the aftermath of Jerry and Nekomamushi's intense battle.
The ground was scarred with deep claw marks that gouged through stone and earth alike, while countless small craters dotted the area where their attacks had collided. It looked like a battlefield between titans rather than the entry courtyard to a peaceful kingdom.
The group of minks gathered atop the city wall were none other than the Guardians—elite knights who served under Nekomamushi and protected the sacred Whale Forest. These weren't ordinary soldiers; each member of the unit was a formidable warrior who had proven themselves in countless battles. The Guardians had followed their king through thick and thin, and their strength was legendary even among the naturally powerful mink tribe.
But then again, there were no truly weak individuals anywhere in the Mokomo Dukedom. From the elderly to the youngest children, every mink possessed enough strength to defeat minor pirates from the outer seas. Even toddlers learned the basics of Electro—the minks' signature fighting technique that generated electrical discharges through the friction of their fur, allowing them to coat their bodies or weapons with crackling energy.
Leading the assembled Guardians was Pedro, a jaguar mink with distinctive long black hair and a battle-hardened appearance. Though he had lost his left eye in some past conflict, the injury did nothing to diminish his reputation as one of Zou's most capable warriors. A cigarette hung from his lips as he watched the ongoing battle with professional interest.
"Incredible," murmured one of the Guardians. "Boss isn't gaining any ground at all."
"That human from the outside world is no joke," another observed.
"Of course he's strong, you idiot," a third Guardian snapped. "Anyone who can go toe-to-toe with Boss for this long without losing ground has to be a monster."
"Alright, keep it down and watch quietly," Pedro interrupted, taking a long drag from his cigarette. His remaining eye fixed on the brightening sky. "But the time..."
The jaguar mink's words trailed off as he noted the deep darkness gradually giving way to the soft light of approaching dawn. Soon, very soon, the changing of the guard would begin.
Down below, the members of the Black Star Pirates had retreated to a safe distance, watching the human-feline battle with a mixture of tension and amusement. The fight between Jerry and Nekomamushi looked like a sped-up movie to the observers, too fast and fluid for normal eyes to properly follow.
Deuce found himself caught between nervousness and an inappropriate urge to laugh. For some inexplicable reason, Jerry kept bouncing around like a boxer, using only his hands to counter the massive cat's attacks. What should have been an epic duel between masters instead resembled a cartoonish chase scene between an oversized house cat and a particularly agile mouse.
Skull, meanwhile, was taking mental notes for his collection journals, fascinated by the combat techniques on display. Carina just looked exasperated at finding herself caught up in yet another ridiculous situation.
As the first rays of sunlight began to pierce the pre-dawn gloom, Nekomamushi suddenly disengaged from combat. With a final swipe of his electrified claws, he leaped backward and put distance between himself and Jerry.
"Looks like that's all for today," Nekomamushi announced, his breathing only slightly labored despite the extended battle.
Jerry stopped his own attacks, looking around the scarred courtyard in confusion. Apart from the sky growing brighter and the area being thoroughly trashed, he couldn't see any obvious reason for his opponent to suddenly break off their fight.
"Of course I have to head back and get some sleep!" Nekomamushi declared with a yawn. "I'm not staying up past my bedtime!"
"Instead of going to bed, why not just pull an all-nighter?" Jerry suggested with a grin.
Jerry's casual comment earned him a look of horror from Nekomamushi, as if he'd suggested something genuinely blasphemous. It was then that Jerry remembered the unique situation governing Zou's leadership.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi—the cat and dog rulers of the mink kingdom—were bitter enemies who refused to be in each other's presence. Their ancient feud had resulted in a strict division of time: Nekomamushi ruled during the night hours while Inuarashi governed during the day. The two kings never met face-to-face unless absolutely necessary, relying on designated messengers to exchange information and coordinate their kingdom's affairs.
It was like having two completely separate governments operating on opposite schedules, all because a cat and dog couldn't get along.
As the fight concluded, Kotatsu trotted over to Jerry's side, nuzzling against his leg affectionately. Seeing this display of genuine companionship, Nekomamushi finally realized his earlier mistake. The lynx clearly wasn't being coerced or enslaved—he was here by choice.
Nekomamushi's expression softened slightly, though his pride prevented him from offering any direct apology. Jerry hadn't been seriously injured anyway, just a few scratches on his clothes from their final close-quarters exchange. Nekomamushi, on the other hand, was nursing several dull aches from Jerry's precise counters, though he tried not to show his discomfort.
"Fine, I'm going to bed," Nekomamushi announced gruffly. "I can see that furball isn't being forced to stay with you."
Without another word, he turned and bounded toward the city wall with impressive agility for someone his size. In a blur of golden fur and electrical discharge, he vanished from sight, leaving the humans standing at the still-locked gates.
Jerry suddenly realized their predicament and called out, "Hey! Open the door for us first!"
"Wait for the dog to do it!" came Nekomamushi's distant reply, already fading as he retreated to his sleeping quarters.
"Jerry, what's wrong with him?" Deuce asked, staring at the spot where their opponent had disappeared. "Why did he just run off like that?"
Jerry shrugged. "Maybe he forgot to turn off the stove, or set an alarm to feed his pet goldfish?"
As the sky continued to brighten, the Black Star Pirates noticed an immediate change in the atmosphere around the walls. The guards visible on the ramparts seemed to have been replaced entirely, though no one had seen them actually switch positions. Where Nekomamushi's rough-and-tumble Guardians had stood watch moments before, a different group of minks now manned the defenses.
The massive gates began to creak open with the grinding of ancient mechanisms. Through the widening gap, a tall figure emerged that was the complete opposite of the boisterous Cat Viper in every way.
Duke Inuarashi stood in the gateway like a nobleman from a fairy tale. The dog mink was impressively tall and lean, with elegant brown fur and a magnificent fluffy tail. He wore a refined blue duke's costume complete with a cape, and a long sword hung at his side. Dark sunglasses concealed his eyes, giving him an air of sophisticated mystery.
Behind him came a retinue of his own guards—the Musketeers who served during the daylight hours. Unlike the rowdy Guardians, these soldiers moved with military precision and maintained perfect formation.
Inuarashi had already been briefed on the night's events by Wanda, a rabbit mink who served as one of the kingdom's messengers and facilitated communication between the day and night shifts. Still, he preferred to hear the situation directly from the visitors themselves.
Jerry opened his mouth to respond, but Deuce quickly stepped forward and covered his captain's mouth with both hands. The navigator had learned from experience that Jerry's casual approach to diplomacy could sometimes create more problems than it solved.
"Greetings, Your Grace," Deuce said with a respectful bow. "We are adventurers from the outer seas, drawn here by tales of your kingdom's wonders. We hoped to experience your culture and customs firsthand, if you would grant us that privilege. We give our word to abide by all local laws and regulations."
Duke Inuarashi's refined demeanor was immediately apparent—a stark contrast to Nekomamushi's hot-tempered approach to problem-solving. Where Nekomamushi would have demanded answers at claw-point, the dog duke offered a welcoming gesture and a diplomatic smile.
"You are most welcome to our kingdom," Inuarashi replied graciously. "Though I would prefer to grant you immediate entry, you are clearly warriors of considerable skill. For the safety of our citizens, I cannot allow such powerful individuals to roam freely without some form of oversight."
Deuce maintained his gentlemanly composure and offered another bow. "We completely understand your position, Your Grace. We have no intention of causing trouble—we seek only to broaden our understanding of the world."
"How about this?" Jerry suddenly interjected, breaking free from Deuce's restraining hands. "We could leave her here as collateral!" He pointed directly at Carina.
"Hey!" the purple-haired thief protested, hands on her hips. "That's just petty revenge!"
"Didn't you steal Skull's bag and distrub our sleeping time multiple times?" Jerry countered with an innocent expression.
Carina fumed but couldn't really argue with the accuracy of his accusations.
"Ha ha, there's no need for such extreme measures," Duke Inuarashi chuckled, clearly amused by the exchange. "I can sense that you are not evil people, despite your... spirited disagreements."
The duke's Observation Haki was likely giving him insights into their true character, Jerry realized. Unlike his nocturnal counterpart, Inuarashi seemed to prefer diplomacy and careful evaluation over immediate combat.
"However," the duke continued, "to ensure our citizens' safety, would you permit us to assign a guide to accompany you during your visit? This person would serve as both your escort and our representative."
Jerry considered the proposal. Having a local guide wasn't unreasonable, and it would certainly make their stay easier. "That works for us. We're not planning to cause any trouble for your people anyway."
"Excellent. Then please, enter and be welcome in the Mokomo Dukedom."
As if on cue, a great bell began to toll from somewhere within the city, its deep, resonant chimes echoing across the morning sky and reverberating through the massive trees that supported Zou's civilization.
"What's that bell for?" Deuce asked curiously as they began walking through the gates.
"That is the Welcoming Bell," explained Wanda, the rabbit mink who had approached to serve as their guide. She had white fur with distinctive facial markings and wore the uniform of the Musketeers. "It announces the arrival of honored guests to our kingdom."
"Wow!" Skull exclaimed, his eyes wide as he took in the incredible architecture around them. The buildings seemed to grow organically from the massive trees, creating a seamless blend of nature and civilization unlike anything they'd seen before. "This is amazing! We've never seen anything like this!"
"Yes," Wanda replied with a friendly smile, though her gaze lingered on Skull with particular interest. "Your... collection also looks quite delicious."
"Huh?" Skull blinked in confusion. "What delicious food?"
"Why, the bones you carry, of course!" Wanda's eyes began to shine with an almost predatory gleam, and Jerry could swear he saw her tongue dart out to lick her lips. "Such wonderful specimens are quite tempting for those of us with canine heritage."
Jerry made a mental note to keep an eye on their overly enthusiastic guide. It seemed like Skull's skeleton collection was going to attract more attention than they'd bargained for.