"Momo..."
A loud shout echoed through the jungle, drastically changing the expressions of Nekomamushi and the others, who were still searching everywhere.
"That was... that CP0's voice. He deliberately exposed his position—did he encounter an enemy he couldn't defeat?" Though they now knew the enemy's approximate location, Nekomamushi and the others' hearts sank deeper and deeper. The only enemy who could force that CP0 to reveal his position at any cost should have been that monster, Apophis!
"And why did his voice stop after only two words? Don't tell me..." A sense of dread shrouded them, making them quicken their pace as they ran toward the source of the sound.
Before long, they saw CP0's severed head lying to one side, the eyes beneath his mask still wide open. They also saw Momonosuke's body, broken into several pieces, his eyes filled with terror and despair.
Seeing this, Raizo—the only one among the three retainers who was not seriously injured—clutched his head and wept bitterly. "Lord Momonosuke, Lord Momonosuke! It was my failure in duty that brought this calamity upon you. I no longer have the face to meet Lord Oden. Once I capture that villain and avenge you, I will surely take my own life to atone!"
Nekomamushi also burst into tears. "Lord Momonosuke, Lord Oden, this old cat truly..."
Vista merely sighed softly. He had little desire to avenge Momonosuke. After all, Apophis had even dared to kill CP0, so the Whitebeard Pirates' reputation likely held little deterrence for him. If the other party went on a killing spree, Vista was not confident he could protect his subordinates.
At the end of the day, this operation had been his own decision. If it was merely something he could do in passing, that was one thing. But if he sacrificed