Ace

"Hello, is Ace here? Portgas D. Ace." Rono asked enthusiastically.

A man wearing a straw hat decorated with a skull, bare-chested, stood up, turned to look at Rono, "That's me. Who are you, and what do you want? I don't think I've met you before."

Sairona nodded, target confirmed. "Of course, we have business. Come with us, Gol D. Ace!" Rono's Scarlet Armament instantly activated, and the next moment he was behind Ace.

"!" Ace broke out in a cold sweat, but then remembered he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user and relaxed. "Black: Cannon!" Rono softly uttered the move's name. Pfft, three black claws pierced Ace's back and emerged from his chest.

"Captain!" The Spade Pirates members, who were sitting and tending to their wounds, stood up and drew their weapons, aiming at Rono.

"Sairona." Rono called out, not looking at them, and returned directly to the Red Devil. Bang bang bang, bang bang bang. Six gunshots later, all the Spade Pirates members were annihilated.

"No!" Ace saw this scene, his eyes widened, and blood flowed from his eye sockets. "Waaah!" He spat out a mouthful of blood onto the deck of the Red Devil. Brook remained silent. As a pirate, he had seen plenty of dead people. He wasn't familiar with Ace, having only met him once, so it wasn't worth risking his life to save him.

Rono retracted his bone claws, and Sairona cuffed Ace's hands with the Seastone Handcuffs he had prepared. Since Rono's family were all Devil Fruit users, these Seastone Handcuffs were specially coated with a layer of rubber on the outside. There was no effect on external contact, but the Seastone's ability remained on the inside.

"He shouldn't die, right?" Sairona checked Ace's bleeding chest.

"He won't die. Don't we have some medicine on board? Just apply it to him. It's best if he's half-dead," Rono said calmly.

"That's true. Speaking of which, the deck is dirty again. Rono, shouldn't you do something about it?" Sairona squinted at the deck, which was stained red, and said to Rono.

"Of course. Everyone calls me the Sanitation Soldier, Wolf Rono." Rono shamelessly boasted.

Sairona ignored him and took out a Den Den Mushi to dial a number. "Bru Bru, Kua Jiang!" "Moshi moshi, this is Moria. Who dares call me while I'm experimenting? Believe it or not, I'll turn you into a zombie!" a sharp voice came from the Den Den Mushi. Looking at the Den Den Mushi, which had transformed into something like a bat, Sairona's lips curled up. "I don't believe you. Try me if you can."

"! Sairona? Uh... I was just kidding, haha. What are you calling for?" Moria's expression changed immediately, bowing to the forces of evil.

Sairona said calmly, "Looking for you to play, and also some business. We're nearby." "Nani? Is Rono here? And that Little Treant?" Moria lowered his voice, afraid of being overheard.

"Moria, so you miss me that much! Don't worry, both me and Gelu are here. Hehe." Rono, who was cleaning the deck, brought his face close to the Den Den Mushi.

"Gelu Gelu!" Gelu also greeted Moria. On the other side of the Den Den Mushi, Moria placed the Den Den Mushi on the table and wailed, covering his head. Why was his mouth so foul? If Rono came a few more times, the entire Thriller Bark would probably be gone.

Having been there several times, Rono and his group easily found their way to Thriller Bark. Moria had already changed his clothes and was waiting there. "Gelu!" Gelu shouted excitedly and hugged Moria's large belly with a smack. He rubbed his little head against Moria's belly. This was why Moria disliked Gelu. Yet, he didn't dare to remove Gelu. The last time, because he had slapped Gelu, who was hugging his belly for the first time, away, Rono brought Sairona and beat him up. Afterward, they went directly to Thriller Bark and beat up Moria, who thought he was the strongest on his home turf and second only to himself, again. They even punched a hole through Thriller Bark. It had only just been repaired recently. Since then, he trembled whenever he saw Rono.

"No, I must create a zombie to deal with this brat. How can I, a dignified Shichibukai, be casually hugged by a brat?" Moria made up his mind. Ignoring Gelu, who was rubbing against his belly, he asked Rono, "What business do you have with me this time? I don't remember offending you."

Brook looked completely bewildered. Although he had no face, this was still the same Moria who was so cowardly? How had he become so timid?

"Oh! Right, I do have something to ask you." Rono, not seeing Moria's twitching lips, continued, "This skeleton frame next to me is now half my subordinate. Give me his shadow." He placed his hand on Brook's bony shoulder, then took it off. Damn, it hurt like hell.

"Hoo... So it's such a small matter. I'll go look for it." Moria breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't like they were here to beat him up. A swordsman's soul was insignificant, as long as Ryuma's corpse was still there.

"Go, go, come back soon." Rono waved his hand and pulled off the belly-hugging Gelu. Sairona flicked some fictitious dust off his body and turned to ask Brook, "Where do you plan to go from now on?"

Brook was still bewildered. Huh? Did he get it back this easily? Sairona asked twice before Brook snapped back to attention. "I'm truly sorry, I was too surprised and didn't hear what Mr. Sairona said." Brook was somewhat curious about the identities of Rono's group. Who could make the Shichibukai, Gecko Moria, so fearful?

Sairona repeated the question. Brook pondered for a moment, then looked up resolutely and said, "I want to go to Twin Cape. Laboon is still waiting for me there."

Sairona smiled, "Then I wish you good luck in advance."

In the Ghost Castle, Moria gritted his teeth, "Wolf Rono, just you wait. Once I turn Little Oars' corpse into a zombie, I'll deal with you." However, his body honestly went to free Brook's soul.

Brook watched a mass of black shadow shoot over from a distance and enter his body. Then, a mass of black shadow appeared beneath his feet. "This... is my shadow." Brook's heart was filled with complex emotions, disbelief at how smoothly things had gone, the joy of regaining his shadow, and gratitude towards Rono and his companions.

"Well then, let's head back. Ace is still on the ship. Do you want to come along? I'll give you a ride," Sairona patted Brook's shoulder.

"Thank you so much, truly." Brook wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and straightened his back. "Please allow me to perform a song for everyone." With that, he took out his violin and began to play a melodious tune, "Yohohoho... Yohohohoho, Binks Sake..."