Faint moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting itself across every corner of the room.
Dawn rose from the bed, refreshed and invigorated. He took a clean set of fitted black clothes from the nearby rack and changed at an unhurried pace.
He glanced back at the messy bed and the striking, vivid crimson stain on the white sheets. A satisfied smile curled across his lips before he strode out of the captain's quarters.
After leaving, he went straight to the deck and issued an order through the amplification Den Den Mushi:
"Everyone, gather in the meeting room."
The crew moved swiftly after receiving the message. By the time Dawn took his seat at the head of the meeting table, the core members had mostly arrived.
"Did you find anything valuable on Moria's ship?"
Dawn got straight to the point without wasting words.
"Other than ordinary supplies and Beli, there was only this sword and a few corpses that looked rather strange."
There was obvious displeasure in Stella's voice as she slammed a sheathed katana onto the conference table with a clang.
"I counted and stored the supplies. Those corpses were creepy, so I burned them all."
Naturally, Dawn knew where Stella's displeasure came from—it was nothing more than the matter between him and Stussy. He paid it no mind for the moment, his gaze settling on the katana on the table.
The scabbard was antique and carried a faintly sharp aura. He grasped the hilt and slowly drew the blade.
The instant the blade left its sheath, a chill spread through the room. Its body was blackish purple, marked with distinctive red sawtooth patterns, while its forging pattern was a chaotic reverse clove pattern.
"Black Blade Shusui..."
Understanding flashed through Dawn's eyes. He was not surprised that