The Country on the Giant Elephant's Back

"Jahahaha! I owe you one, Pekoms!" Teach grinned at the four slowly moving legs ahead, each as massive as a pillar holding up the sky, and patted the lion mink on the shoulder.

"Gao! Mr. Blackbeard, you're too kind! You're Mama's ally, so it's an honor to help you! But you promised me you wouldn't kill innocent people!" Pekoms was a tall lion mink with a fierce appearance and a pair of sunglasses. Anyone who knew him, though, knew the face behind those shades had comically beady eyes. He wore a pink suit with a sword at his waist. He had a short temper, but he never forgot a kindness, and he cared deeply for his homeland.

He had agreed to lead Blackbeard and the others to his homeland on Big Mom's orders, but he had one condition: they must not slaughter innocent people.

"Jahahaha! Don't worry! As long as they know what's good for them and hand over the Poneglyph, I won't let blood stain your peaceful Zou!" Teach was not a monster, at least not where ordinary people were concerned. Even so, Pekoms's heart tightened at those words. He had brought these two great pirates to his homeland. All he could do now was pray his people handed over that damned stone.

In truth, Pekoms had always resented the promise the Mink Tribe upheld. Pirate King Roger might have been a friend to them, and Kozuki Oden might have been the lord of their two kings, but what did that matter now? They were dead. The minks had done everything they could for them while they lived. If other pirates learned about the Poneglyph they had left behind, the Mink Tribe could face annihilation.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. The moment Shiki saw