We're Kidnapping the Princess!

"The Great Grade Sword [Shusui]?"

Storm reached out and took the Black Blade, feeling its weight, and immediately drew it from its sheath.

With a flash of light, an ancient and extraordinary black longsword appeared before his eyes.

The blade is black, with a chaotic, reverse-T-shaped edge adorned with red serrated patterns, giving it a majestic and imposing appearance.

Originally belonging to Shimotsuki Ryuma, the great swordsman who slays dragons in Wano Country, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords— [Shusui]!

More than a decade ago, Gecko Moria led his pirate crew into Wano Country and engaged in a fierce battle with the Beasts Pirates.

The final result was that Gecko Moria's pirate crew, except for the Captain, was completely wiped out.

According to completely unreliable (fabricated) information...

At that time, Gecko Moria absorbed the shadows of all his companions, transforming into "Thousand Shadow Moria," but he was still no match for Beasts Kaido. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as all his companions melted away like snowflakes in the sunlight...

The exact details of what happened at the time remain unknown to Storm.

Anyway, after the battle in Wano Country, Gecko Moria was completely "addicted to the King", and turned into a gloomy fat otaku who only loved zombie figurines.

However, after the Wano Country arc, Gecko Moria didn't just sit idly by.

Although he lost, he dug up the ancestral graves of many powerful clans in Wano Country and stole a considerable number of corpses...

Among these corpses was Shimotsuki Ryuma, the former dragon-slaying swordsman of Wano Country!

Shimotsuki Ryuma's corpse was turned into a zombie by Gecko Moria.

Shimotsuki Ryuma's sword, [Shusui], also fell into the hands of Gecko Moria.

This wasn't the first time Storm had encountered "Black Blade."

Hawk Eyes Mihawk's [Night] is also a "Black Blade," and even the 'World's Number One Black Blade'.

However, this was the first time Storm had received the "Black Blade".

This [Shusui] is said to be National Treasure of Wano Country.

However, it's not some Supreme Grade Sword.

It is merely one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords.

That being said...

[Shusui], [Wado Ichimonji], [Nidai Kitetsu], [Ame no Habakiri], [Enma]...

There are only twenty-one Twenty-One Great Grade Swords.

Wano Country "produced" five of them, and there's a high probability that there are more than just these five.

Tsk!

That's why people from Wano Country are known for their expertise in sword trading.

Clang!

With a crisp clang of the blade, Storm sheathed [Shusui] and then nodded to Hogback.

"Doctor Hogback, I've heard some rumors about you..."

Storm did not elaborate on this matter.

Whether Hogback was greedy or heartbroken, the other person wasn't worth his time and energy.

"You're now a member of Gecko Moria's team, so you should be quite familiar with this castle, right?"

Storm pointed to the four giants and a skeleton beside him.

"My friends need to wash up and rest first. Please lead the way!"

The Giant Tribe were too large.

Brogy and his companions did not enter the castle.

However, Brook followed Hogback into Gecko Moria's castle and went straight to the food storehouse.

Brogy, Dorry, and the other two giants took full advantage of their initiative and, following Brook's instructions, took out all the food reserves from the food warehouse.

While the giants and skeletons were preparing the feast.

Perona quietly approached Gecko Moria, carrying with her a large number of bandages.

"Waaaaah... Lord Moria..."

"You're badly injured..."

"Don't die... Lord Moria!"

Perona bandaged Gecko Moria while sobbing softly.

It's clear that Ghost Princess's medical skills are very... ordinary, yet she's confident in them.

A large amount of white bandages were wrapped around Gecko Moria as if they were free.

The already chubby Gecko Moria, after being wrapped in so many bandages, looked like a giant white rice dumpling.

Storm glanced at Gecko Moria, who was being "carefully" looked after by Perona, and then at Absalom lay to the side like a corpse, ignored by everyone.

"Ghost Princess, isn't this lion head also one of your companions?"

"Ha?"

Perona was startled and shifted her attention from Gecko Moria to Storm.

Are you talking to me?

"Aren't you called 'Ghost Princess'?"

Storm replied calmly.

"Or should I just call you 'Perona'?"

"That despicable guy!"

Perona, her toes slightly turned inward, walked up to Storm and looked up at the man so close to her.

"Don't think that just because you defeated Lord Moria you can call him by his name so casually!"

"Alright, Ghost Princess."

Storm readily agreed and then extended a generous invitation.

"Your Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit is quite interesting. How about ditching Gecko Moria and working for me?"

"... Clam??"

Perona's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Storm.

"Are you... inviting me to become your partner?"

"Yes!"

"I candidly say that, "Storm said.

"In my opinion, you are completely different from those three fools, Moria, Hogback, and Absalom. You have the potential to be an ally."

According to Storm...

Perona's Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit might not necessarily evolve into anything— Zoan Human- Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, or Death Mode...

However, the "first-meeting kill" ability of the Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit is still very powerful.

Even in the New World.

Perona's "Negative Ghost" can also carve out its own niche.

Moreover, the information previously provided by the [Big Trophy] is sufficient to explain the issue.

Perona, with her Ghost- Hollow-Hollow Fruit ability alone, deserves a four-star rating.

It basically corresponds to the Pirate Supernovas!

The future is promising!

"Hehehe..."

Perona covered her cheeks, a blush rising on her fair face.

"This is the first time someone has invited me to be their partner! This feeling... is so strange!"

"Should I agree to his request and go out to sea with the man I just met... Oh! How exciting! How embarrassing!"

"Wrong!"

Perona was lost in thought when she was suddenly startled. Realizing what she had just realized, she glared at Storm with a mixture of anger and annoyance.

"You actually influenced me! I'm a member of the Moria Pirates!"

"And you're not allowed to talk about Lord Moria like that! He's not a fool!"

"I think my wording was very, very 'gentle,' Ghost Princess."

"I can't help it, "Storm said helplessly.

"So you mean 'reject'?"

"That's right!"

Perona said firmly.

"I will never betray Lord Moria!"

"Then I'll have no choice but to kill Moria."

Storm shrugged and strode toward Gecko Moria.

"Although it's not appropriate for the Shichibukai to kill each other, who told him to attack my friend?"

"In that case, Moria will have no choice but to die!"

Clap clap clap!

It was accompanied by a crisp snap of fingers.

One after another, White Ghost surged from Perona's body, blocking Storm's path.

"You are not allowed to harm Lord Moria!"

Although Perona's body was still trembling slightly, she stood firmly in front of Storm.

"If you want to kill him, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

Looking at the Ghost Princess's small face, which was filled with determination, Storm once again marveled at the "bond" between Gecko Moria and his subordinates.

This chubby guy is actually quite popular...

Storm released his [Armament Haki], destroying the White Ghost, and then deliberately confused them.

"Ghost Princess, didn't you just tell me to kill Gecko Moria?"

I?

Perona's eyes widened again, staring in disbelief at the Shichibukai before her.

"You're talking nonsense! When did I ever tell you to kill Lord Moria!"

"I just said I wanted to invite you, didn't I?"

"Right!"

"You yourself said you're a member of the Moria Pirates, right?"

"Right!"

"You said you would never betray Gecko Moria, didn't you?"

"Right!"

"So once the Moria Pirates are gone, you'll be free and can become my subordinate, right?"

"That's not right at all!"

Perona was about to nod when she suddenly realized what she was doing and shook her head violently, her two pink pigtails swaying behind her.

"I don't want to leave Lord Moria! And I don't want to join your pirate crew! You're wrong about everything!"

"How willful you are, Ghost Princess!"

Storm shook his head and sighed.

"You won't let Moria die, and you won't join my ranks... You're putting me in a difficult position!"

"In that case, you might as well die with Moria!"

As soon as Storm finished speaking, he raised his right hand, his fist enveloped in deep Armament Haki, and slowly struck at Perona.

As the White Dragon's "iron fist" slowly approached, Perona's mind went blank, and she couldn't remember anything.

The last image in her memory was actually the scene of her first encounter with Gecko Moria when she was a child.

Fun fact.

Perona was taken in by Moria when she was very young.

Perona has lived on the Thriller Bark since she was a child.

To her, Gecko Moria was like a father figure...

"Farewell, Kumashi..."

Perona closed her eyes, a single, glistening tear welling up from the corner of her eye.

"Farewell, Lord Moria..."

However.

Storm's "iron fist" did not land on Perona's head for a long time.

Perona groggily opened her eyes and saw Storm still standing there, looking at her with a disappointed expression.

"They're both girls, so how can there be such a huge difference in their character?"

Looking at the bewildered Perona, Storm gave her an ultimatum.

"Or, everyone on the Thriller Bark dies, and you live alone;"

"How about you work for me, and I'll spare the lives of the rest of the crew on the Thriller Bark!"

"Make your choice, Ghost Princess!"

Second update, it's so late... Sorry...

This time, I really am experiencing writer's block...

The editor said there was a recommendation, but it hasn't come yet.

If there are any recommendations, I'll continue to update frequently next week...

But today, let's finish the last update first, which is the third chapter!

There will be more tonight.