Moria's Letter

She locked herself in the deepest part of the palace, holding the video footage secretly transmitted from the Sabaody Archipelago, replaying over and over the most breathtaking scene from the Summit War — the Setsuna that towering, dark-golden warrior executed the Celestial Dragons Saint Charlos on the spot.

Those scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan, that cold, indifferent gaze that seemed to crush an ant, were deeply imprinted in her memory.

The Celestial Dragons she once hated to the core, who had trampled on all her dignity, had his head crushed like trash in front of that man.

She kept this kindness in her heart, never speaking of it, yet she remembered it more deeply than anyone else.

Upon returning to the island, Hancock ordered Amazon Lily to raise its combat readiness level to the highest level. Then, she sat by the window, staring intently at the wanted poster for Uchiha Natsu —the staggering figure of 15 billion.

Gecko Moria's choice surprised everyone.

After the Summit War, this ruler of the Florian Triangle disappeared from the world's sight aboard his Thriller Bark.

Rumors circulated that he succumbed to his injuries after being severely wounded in Marineford and died on some deserted island.

There are also rumors that he has retreated to the depths of the Florian Triangle, intending to disappear completely into the dense fog.

But in reality, Moria spent nearly half a year locking himself in the cabin of the Thriller Bark, repeatedly studying all the intelligence he had gathered from the battlefield of Marineford.

He scratched deep marks on every word of the bounty poster and the battle report describing the strength of the Uchiha Clan with his fingernails.

Then he made a decision that left all his remaining subordinates speechless—to go to the West Blue.

A visiting card, written in the most respectful and sincere language.

In his letter, Moria made no secret of his diminished strength and frankly stated that his trip was not a provocation, but rather an opportunity to "listen and follow."

He personally pressed his fingerprint at the signature section.

When this invitation was delivered to Origin Island, Uchiha Kei was on duty at a Naka Shrine.

Qi read the visiting card three times from beginning to end.

He had seen pirates who surrendered after being defeated; after the Registration Order was issued, several groups of forces came to submit to him every month in the West Blue.

But Gecko Moria is different.

This person is Shichibukai, and was once a great pirate on par with Crocodile and Doflamingo.

Even though his power is not what it used to be, his bounty is still hanging in the Marine Headquarters Archive, and the amount is not low.

More importantly, intelligence indicates that after the Summit War, this person did not rush to find a new patron like the other Shichibukai. Instead, he spent several months resting and recovering before sending this letter of invitation, which was almost humbly worded.

This gave Qi a vague feeling that Moria's trip was probably not just about registering.

After pondering for a long time, Uchiha Kei picked up a brush and wrote a line in the blank space of the visiting card, "Granted. Proceed to Sourceguard Island and await an audience."

He included a brief reply, informing the other party of the anchorage location on Sourceguard Island and the contact information during the waiting period.

This arrangement was based on his own ideas— Origin Island is the foundation of the Uchiha Clan, and Spirit Awakening Island is now the eye of the entire West Blue. In comparison, Sourceguard Island has sufficient defensive power to deal with any emergencies, but is not too sensitive.

Making Moria wait there was both a test for him and a way of giving him the respect he deserved.

The reply was sent via the Uchiha's special summoning eagle, heading straight for the Grand Line.

A few days later, Gecko Moria's reply arrived on Origin Island. It was shorter than his previous letter, yet more solemn. "I shall depart immediately and await your summons."

On the same day, a Thriller Bark still bearing the marks of battle, quietly sailed away from the Florian Triangle and slowly headed towards the West Blue.

Gecko Moria, wrapped in his signature black cloak, stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the gradually opening sea ahead, his face expressionless.

But in his hand, he tightly clutched a wanted poster.

It wasn't his own; it belonged to Uchiha Natsu.

After the smoke of battle cleared at Marineford, the Blackbeard Pirates disappeared from the world's sight.

Compared to their high-profile seizure of the Shichibukai of the Impel Down before the Summit War, their retreat was pathetic— the Thriller Bark tossed about in the raging waves for two whole days and nights before barely shaking off the pursuit of the remaining Navy fleet.

When the ship finally docked at a deserted island that even the nautical charts didn't bother to name, there were no cheers on the deck, only the silence of survivors and heavy breathing.

Teach sat on the tattered sofa in the captain's cabin, clutching a half-empty bottle of rum, staring blankly at the nautical chart.

Impel Down, they were slaughtered without a trace by the Red Eye Uchiha clan.

Katrin Demi is dead, San Juan Wolf is dead, and Basque Jot is dead—they were all monsters he personally selected from the deepest part of Impel Down.

He originally planned to assemble a team comparable to the Four Emperors ' crews, using the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability to devour everything to intimidate those who disobeyed him, and then take advantage of the chaos of the Summit War to devour the Tremor-Tremor Fruit that he had long coveted.

The plan was as perfect as a meticulously drawn nautical chart.

But Uchiha Natsu's Susanoo cleaved the sea chart and all his ambitions into pieces with a single strike.

"Captain Teach, the Navy's G-2 Headquarters is currently undergoing a full-scale expansion. The West Blue is completely blockaded by the Uchiha, and the intelligence network is basically paralyzed. We are unable to effectively collect information." Lafitte walked in, leaning on his carved cane. His tone was still polite, but the newly added crack on the cane had not yet been repaired, silently telling the story of the previous retreat.

Teach didn't answer, but instead tilted his head back and took a big gulp of rum. The liquid dripped down his stubble-covered chin and onto his chest. He wiped it away casually and grinned, revealing his signature toothless smile.

"Hahaha, whatever. What we need most right now isn't intelligence, it's power."

He stood up unsteadily, casually placing the bottle on the table, his single eye gleaming with undisguised greed and scheming.

After the Summit War, he pondered this many times—with his current strength, he was more than capable of dealing with ordinary pirates, and the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit was enough to give him a significant advantage when facing any non-top-tier powerhouse.

But what about those veteran Admiral-Yonko Level?

Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, and that Uchiha brat who cleaved Marineford two with a single strike—converted to Admiral-Emperor Level combat power, the veteran Three Admirals and the Four Emperors would score a perfect 10 on any standard, while Teach would only get a maximum of 8, or even just 7.