For Him

That's right, Sengoku's targets really were Edward Elric Weevil and Miss Bakkin! For Moke, this was like a windfall; Sengoku had undoubtedly given him a very generous gift!

Just then, a man with an extremely lewd face rushed over like lightning, shouting loudly, "Captain..." His voice was sharp and piercing, making people frown.

Upon hearing the shout, Perona, Brook, and Ata all turned to look. When they saw the lewd face, their expressions changed simultaneously: first shock, then disgust, and finally, utter confusion. They seemed to be exchanging glances: How could such a despicable person exist in our pirate crew? Not only the three of them, but even Captain Moke couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly. The man's appearance was truly bizarre; his features were comparable to those of Marine Admiral Kizaru.

However, when Moke saw the person before him, an indescribable sense of speech welled up inside him. The person's appearance was so peculiar, even bizarre, that one couldn't help but want to look at them more, yet also felt unable to bear looking directly at them. But Moke was not the kind of person who could be deceived by appearances; he knew very well who was standing in front of him.

Therefore, Moke paid little attention to the other party's striking appearance. Instead, he went straight to the point, asking Mr. 2 Gate of Opening, "Mr. 2, tell me the truth, where are Edward Elric Weevil and Miss Bakkin now?"

Upon hearing Moke's urgent question, Mr. 2 quickly replied, "Captain, as far as I know, they are currently staying at a hotel on this island."

Upon receiving this news, Moke was filled with intense curiosity and doubt. His already sharp gaze was now fixed intently on the other person, and he eagerly pressed, "So, have you found out why they've been stuck on this deserted, isolated island for so long—more than half a month! What happened during that time that prevented them from leaving?"

Mr. 2 nodded vigorously, indicating that he had grasped the relevant information, and then slowly said, "After some investigation, I discovered that Miss Ba seems to be searching for a mysterious treasure on this island."

"Treasure?" Upon hearing this, Moke's face immediately showed a hint of surprise. You see, the reason he was able to stand out and rise rapidly in this world full of dangers and opportunities was precisely because of a treasure he had accidentally obtained in the past. Could it be that the god of fate has once again favored him, giving him the opportunity to reap a huge fortune here again? Thinking of this, Moke's heart involuntarily quickened a few beats.

A slight smile played on his lips, and he couldn't help but chuckle, "Haha, you've finally made a discovery! Tell me quickly, have you figured out what kind of treasure it is?" Mr. 2 hurriedly replied, "Hmm... as far as we know, it seems to be a treasure left behind by a captain John." "John?" Upon hearing this name, Moke's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his head, his gaze falling on Ata and Brook respectively. If his memory served him correctly, Captain John had unfortunately fallen victim to Gecko Moria's clutches and was cruelly transformed into a zombie general. Fortunately, this evil zombie general eventually met his end at the hands of Ata and Brook. The two incredibly sharp swords that the unfortunate captain used in his lifetime became precious collectibles for their pirate crew. To this day, these two treasures still lie quietly in the pirate ship's storage room, securely and peacefully. The weapons were neatly displayed on a special rack. Just then, Ata seemed to suddenly realize something, slapped his forehead, and without a word, turned and ran towards the pirate ship. A short while later, he returned, panting, clutching the two striking longswords in his hands. Seeing this, Moke quickly reached out and took the swords, beginning to examine them intently... However, what he saw shocked him. Moke soon discovered that the cloth strips originally wrapped around the hilts seemed to have been replaced, looking completely different from what he remembered.

Contrary to its appearance, it was not as ordinary as it seemed, for hidden in the subtle details were even more aged traces. "Extremely interesting..." Moke's lips curled up slightly, and without hesitation, he reached out and tore off all the cloth from the hilts of the two knives. In an instant, an unexpected scene appeared before his eyes—in the middle of the hilt, there was a groove about half the width of a little fingernail. And within this narrow groove, two yellowed pieces of paper were hidden.

With lightning speed, Moke retrieved them in an instant. Upon closer inspection, one of the papers detailed the mysterious figure's eventful life; the other clearly marked the exact location of the treasure he possessed during his lifetime. Such an astonishing discovery left everyone present speechless.

Ata, Perona, Brook, Mr. 2, and the others, unable to contain their curiosity, quickly gathered around. Ata stared at the two pieces of paper, her brow furrowed, and asked with a suspicious look, "Captain, since these two crucial pieces of paper are here intact, how did Miss Bakkin and the others know these secrets?"

Upon hearing this, Moke pondered for a moment before replying, "My guess is that Miss Bakkin and Captain John used to serve in the same pirate crew. Perhaps it's because of this past that they have some kind of connection. Alternatively, it's also possible that Miss Bakkin obtained the relevant information through other means."

At this moment, a surge of anticipation welled up in Moke's heart. He knew that Captain John's treasure was no ordinary riches, but the legendary treasure that Buggy the Clown had so desperately sought in the original story! It must contain countless alluring treasures, and this adventure was sure to be fruitful. Thinking this, Moke decisively handed the two sharp longswords he was gripping to Mr. 2 and whispered, "Take these two swords and do everything you can to lure Miss Bakkin out. Remember, whatever you do, don't start a massive battle in this crowded, bustling place. After all, once the fighting begins, it will endanger countless innocent lives and cause irreparable consequences!"

Mr. 2 nodded respectfully and replied, "Yes, Captain..."

Time slipped away silently, like sand slipping through fingers. Before they knew it, the blazing sun high in the southern sky was unleashing its most intense and dazzling rays, relentlessly scorching the earth. Just then, everyone's gaze was drawn to a figure approaching from afar. A giant of exceptionally tall and imposing stature was slowly walking towards them with heavy, steady steps. With each step he took closer, the surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly from his overwhelming aura.

As the giant's figure gradually became clearer, people realized that he not only possessed a towering, robust physique, but his face was also quite peculiar—his broad face bore a crescent-shaped, upward-curving white beard identical to that of the famous Whitebeard Pirates captain, Edward Elric Newgate. In addition, this man was obese and bloated, with a coarse and unsightly appearance that inspired fear; especially his enormous nose, from which a long snotty snot always hung, coupled with his thick lips, making him appear extremely slovenly and ugly.

However, not far behind that towering, awe-inspiring figure, a small, almost indistinguishable figure was slowly but surely entering the crowd's view...

The short figure turned out to be an elderly woman. Her lips were painted with a vibrant, intense lipstick, like a burning flame, and a pair of large black sunglasses perched on her nose, as if trying to completely conceal her eyes. She gripped a cane tightly, each step producing a crisp tapping sound. Her face, etched with deep and shallow wrinkles, resembled an ancient map weathered by time, telling tales of bygone years. Even more striking was her colorful and uniquely patterned leopard-print coat, which fluttered in the wind, exuding a flamboyant and unrestrained air.

Just then, two figures, like two dazzling stars, suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes. They exuded a unique and powerful aura, seemingly able to penetrate all obstacles and directly enter people's vision. This extraordinary quality made everyone present turn their heads, casting curious and surprised glances at these two uninvited guests.

Standing in the crowd, Moke, with his keen observation and excellent judgment, quickly grasped the key information with just a quick glance and confirmed the true identities of the two without hesitation. It turned out that these two were none other than Edward Elric Weevil, who was famous Might-Shaker in the underworld, and Miss Bakkin!

At this moment, Mr. 2, who was always so imposing and arrogant, was like a chick that had lost all its strength and courage, easily lifted up by the burly and incredibly strong Edward Elric Weevil. His once proud and confident head was now drooping; his arrogant and disdainful expression was completely gone, replaced by an undisguised look of terror, and his body was trembling uncontrollably with extreme fear.

At the same time, Miss Bakkin quickly spotted the location of Moke and the others. Her eyes, hidden behind black sunglasses, shot straight at Moke like two sharp Inazuma. Even through the lenses, Moke could still feel her cold and sharp gaze, which seemed to contain a faint, almost imperceptible, sense of gravity.

Then, Miss Bakkin's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Mr. 2, who was suspended in mid-air, trembling like a leaf. She then opened her brightly painted lips and, in a sharp, piercing voice, demanded, "Hey! You reckless fool, those two gleaming knives you're clutching, did you sneakily steal them from their ship?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. 2's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had grasped the last glimmer of hope in the darkness. He nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at rice, his voice trembling as he replied, "Yes, yes, yes... Respected Miss Bakkin, everything I said is true! At the time, I saw those guys going ashore to buy supplies, and there was only one guard on the deck of that ship. So, I was blinded by greed and, mustering my courage, sneaked into the cabin and barely managed to steal those two incredibly sharp knives! I beg you, have mercy, show me mercy, and spare my life!"

After hearing Mr. 2's explanation, Miss Bakkin frowned slightly, turned her head thoughtfully, and stared intently at Moke beside her. In an instant, her previously gentle gaze turned sharp, like two bolts of Inazuma striking Moke. Then, she raised her voice and shouted sternly, "Captain John..." However, at that moment, something unexpected happened.

Seizing the opportunity, Mr. 2 unhesitatingly activated his unique Devil Fruit ability while Weevil was momentarily distracted. A continuous stream of waxy substance gushed from his hands, sweeping across the area like a raging torrent. In the blink of an eye, the wax tightly bound Weevil's massive body, rendering him immobile, as if trapped by a giant mountain of wax.

Having succeeded, Mr. 2 didn't dare to delay for a moment. He ran towards Moke's location with lightning speed. Miss Bakkin witnessed this sudden change and was first stunned and stood there. Then, she came to her senses and was immediately enraged. Her whole face turned red with anger, like a ripe apple.

She wasn't stupid; she knew perfectly well that they had been ambushed. "Weevil! How dare he deceive us! Listen to your mother, get rid of him!" At this moment, Weevil, who was tightly bound, was still reeling from the sudden turn of events, his face filled with confusion and a dazed expression. However, when he heard Miss Bakkin's order, his entire demeanor instantly underwent a dramatic transformation.

A roar erupted, and an immense, unstoppable force burst forth, like a volcanic eruption. That force shattered the wax ropes binding him into countless fragments. Without hesitation, he raised his massive, sharp weapon and slashed fiercely at Mr. 2, who was rushing towards him. In an instant, a terrifying slash shot out like Inazuma, carrying earth-shattering power as it hurtled towards Mr. 2. Its speed and power were astonishing.

Where this slash passed, even the hard earth was easily torn apart, leaving a bottomless ravine, as if the earth itself had been cleaved in two. This shows just how terrifying the power contained in this slash was. At this critical moment, Moke reacted quickly, drawing his Shusui Sword from his waist and swinging his arm, sending an equally fierce and incomparable slash whistling towards the terrifying attack.

The two slashes collided in mid-air with a deafening roar. Hanabi flew, air surged, and the surrounding air seemed to be distorted and deformed by the two powerful forces. In the end, Moke's slash successfully blocked Weevil's fatal blow, preventing Mr. 2 from suffering serious injury.

"Hiss..." Mr. 2, who had narrowly escaped death, involuntarily gasped, feeling a chill creep up his spine like an icy snake, making him tremble uncontrollably. Only now did he truly understand why Mr. 0 had so solemnly and repeatedly warned him never to confront this person head-on. The terrifying strength displayed by this person was simply beyond the capabilities of someone of his level!

At the same time, Miss Bakkin's previously composed pupils suddenly contracted, as if struck by a bolt of Inazuma. At this moment, she could no longer afford to be careless with Moke. After all, the immense power Moke had just displayed was no less than Weevil's. Weevil, after all, was her most relied-upon and trusted support!

Just then, Miss Bakkin let out a sharp scream, the sound piercing the air and sending chills down everyone's spine. Moke, standing to the side, remained unmoved; a slight, enigmatic smile played on his lips. Then, he spoke slowly and deliberately, "I've come to acknowledge my family..." These few words exploded in the air like thunder, startling everyone present.

"Huh?" Miss Bakkin's eyes widened, her face filled with astonishment, clearly bewildered by Moke's sudden words. She stared blankly at the enigmatic man before her, trying to find a clue in his calm, expressionless face, but to no avail.

However, before Miss Bakkin could recover from her shock, an astonishing scene unfolded. A thick fog suddenly billowed around Moke's body, so dense it seemed to surge forth like a raging torrent, spreading rapidly in all directions with lightning speed. In an instant, everything around was swallowed by the dense fog; the once clearly visible scenery vanished into the vast white mist, making it impossible to distinguish between sky and earth, or even between reality and illusion.

In an instant, the whole world seemed to be plunged into boundless darkness. It was pitch black all around, so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, and even objects right up close were hard to distinguish. Weevil was terrified. He screamed at the top of his lungs, "Mommy... Mommy, I can't see anything!" His childish voice, filled with deep fear and helplessness, echoed in the chaotic space, lingering for a long time.

Miss Bakkin, being an experienced and shrewd woman, almost immediately sensed something was wrong. She thought to herself, "This is bad!" and shouted without hesitation, "Weevil, back off!" However, before she could finish speaking, a chilling cold suddenly shot through her neck. The cold, like a venomous snake, coiled tightly around her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

At that moment, Miss Bakkin's heart pounded even harder, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. She knew perfectly well that an extremely sharp knife, capable of severing a hair with a single blow, was pressed against her slender, pale neck. The icy, bone-chilling touch made the hairs on her body stand on end, and she trembled involuntarily.

With a great effort, she managed to swallow a mouthful of saliva. This simple action seemed to have exhausted all her strength, causing a low, muffled gurgling sound to escape her throat. Her once beautiful eyes widened in terror, desperately trying to see who could have approached them so silently and undetected. But no matter how hard she strained to see, all she saw was endless darkness and gloom; she couldn't discern any trace of the newcomer.

Just at this moment when everyone's hearts were pounding, a sharp, loud "bang" suddenly rang out, like an Inazuma ripping through the night sky, instantly tearing apart the oppressive, almost suffocating silence. With this sudden roar, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness—it was none other than Moke! Like a ghost, he appeared without warning behind Miss Bakkin, his form elusive, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, as if he might vanish into the vast night at any moment.

What chilled everyone even more was the gleaming blade that Moke was gripping tightly in his hand. The blade shimmered with a cold light, like the scythe wielded by the Death God Reaper, exuding a terrifying aura of death.

Meanwhile, Weevil, who had been struggling in extreme panic and confusion, suddenly sensed subtle changes in his surroundings thanks to his unparalleled Observation Haki. In that instant, his eyes, which had been somewhat dazed and lifeless due to fear, suddenly flashed with two fierce beams. He became like a raging beast, his long-dormant power ignited and erupted. He opened his blood-red maw and let out a deafening roar, then charged towards Moke without regard for anything else, entering a near-mad berserk state...