A common enemy instantly gave the nine people present a sense of solidarity. Then, strangely enough, they started chatting.
"That guy used blood in place of water to counter my ability."
"Damn it, can you imagine? He was actually immune to my lightning."
"Lucci still hasn't woken up."
They each talked about their own experiences, yet somehow, they managed to hold a conversation.
River and Golden Lion squatted off to one side, watching the scene, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"You should've been over there chatting with them too, Shiki."
River turned his head and said with a smile.
"Are you kidding?"
"I've never lost to this Straw Hat they're talking about."
Golden Lion Shiki curled his lip and sneered.
From their conversation, he had gathered that all these people had been defeated by the same crew. It was rather amusing-a curious twist of fate that had brought them together.
"Hahahaha!"
River burst out laughing at his words.
"If it weren't for me, you'd be squatting over there right now, talking about life with them!"
Golden Lion snorted, taking it as a joke.
"I accept that I lost to you. But you're saying I'd lose to some wet-behind-the-ears brat?"
"Ridiculous. I'd never believe that nonsense."
Yet in the original story, this blond man, who had once stood at the pinnacle of the world and was hailed as one of the three legendary pirates, had likewise fallen victim to the plot and lost to Luffy.
Only now, River's arrival had already brought unknown, curious changes to the world.
Unexpectedly, the CP9 squad soon hit it off with Enel and Crocodile, the two men with the worst tempers, and their friendship grew rapidly.
By that evening, they were even throwing their arms around one another's shoulders, venting their frustrations by furiously