Late that night, at the inn where Loa was staying.
Momonga stood outside Loa's room, his raised hand hovering in the air. After hesitating several times, he finally decided to knock, only for Loa's voice to come from behind him.
"Is something wrong, Vice Admiral Momonga?"
"Uh, I wanted to talk." Momonga pulled an awkward smile. "Do you have a moment?"
"You already woke me up. Oh, forget it. Let's go."
Loa glanced at Momonga, then led the way toward the stairwell at the end of the corridor.
The sky was clear that night, without a wisp of cloud to block the moon. Moonlight streamed easily through the windows, dividing the two men between light and shadow as though they stood in separate worlds.
The pile of rubble at the street corner outside had once been Kevin's house. It had been smashed to bits in the earlier fight. After all, this was Luffy. You couldn't expect that kind of consideration from him, could you?
After his battle with Arlong, Luffy had even planned to find rooms at the inn with Kevin and go to sleep. But at Nami and Usopp's insistence, the whole group ended up sleeping in the street.
Looking at the Straw Hat Pirates sleeping fully dressed against the rubble, Momonga broached the subject. "Haven't you always hated pirates? Why help them?"
"Because I owe Shanks a favor. I already told you."
Momonga studied Loa's eyes in silence for a moment, then changed the subject. "Do you know who that kid reminds me of?"
"Definitely not Garp or Dragon." Loa shrugged. "That Monkey Family is strange enough as it is."
The grandfather joined the Marines, the son joined the [Censored] Army, and the grandson became a pirate. That family was a mess from top to bottom!
"Perhaps." Momonga's