After glancing at those "well-behaved" pirates,
Xiu did not linger.
He turned and returned to Loguetown,
and the pirates scattered.
Just as the waters around the island once again
fell quiet,
a pirate ship crept furtively toward the island.
Three figures quickly ran over
to Katakuri.
Looking at what remained of Katakuri-
only half his body-
all three sucked in a sharp breath.
"Hiss... wounds like these..."
"Boss, are you sure he can still be saved?!"
Their leader shook his head helplessly as well.
"Well... sigh, let's try!"
"After all, we want to join
Big Mom's pirate crew, don't we?"
As they spoke, the three worked together to carry Katakuri
aboard their pirate ship.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished across the sea...
Meanwhile, in Loguetown,
Xiu had his legs crossed
on his office desk,
a teasing look in his eyes
as he regarded the person before him...
Or rather, the gentlemanly dressed
white albatross.
His visitor was none other than
the birdman with an intelligence network spanning every sea,
who liked to use news reports
to manipulate the masses,
the president of the World Economy News Paper-Morgans!
"Morgans, what wind blew you here,
an underworld emperor?"
Morgans had not expected Xiu
to know his identity as an underworld emperor.
He gave an awkward laugh and said,
"Hahaha, what are you saying, Vice Admiral Xiu?"
"How could I dare call myself an underworld emperor in your presence?"
"After all, in the future,
you might even become Fleet Admiral..."
Listening to Morgans's flattery,
Xiu raised an eyebrow.
"As expected of Morgans..."
"With such a way with words,
it's no wonder you can
make friends with so many people."
Morgans bowed like a perfect gentleman.
"Thank you for your praise, but I came today
because there is indeed something..."
As Morgans said this,
he slowly took a document out
of the briefcase he carried with him.
"Vice Admiral Xiu, please take a look."
Holding the document in both hands,
Morgans respectfully placed it in Xiu's hand.
Xiu opened the document.
Inside was just a single, simple page.
He quickly finished reading it and set it aside.
Its contents
had rather startled Xiu.
What was written on the document
was actually the time of Big Mom's upcoming Tea Party
and the pirates confirmed to attend!
"Morgans, what is the meaning of this?"
As his words fell, waves of Reiatsu emanated from Xiu.
Although he did not understand Morgans's actions,
he knew that Morgans
was a regular guest at the Tea Party!
"V-Vice Admiral Xiu! Please calm down!"
"I simply wanted to offer you this gift!"
Sweat beaded on Morgans's forehead.
The pressure Xiu's Reiatsu exerted on him was simply too great!
Morgans felt that,
even when speaking with Big Mom or Kaido,
or even Whitebeard,
he had never been this nervous!
Watching the flustered Morgans before him,
Xiu withdrew his Reiatsu.
Morgans hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Before he could speak,
he saw Xiu extend his right index finger.
A surge of searing Reiatsu
unique to Xiu gathered at his fingertip.
"Wait! Wait a moment! Vice Admiral Xiu!!"
Whoosh!
Before he could finish, that surge of Reiatsu instantly
burrowed into Morgans's body!
"Aaaah!!!"
Morgans felt every bone in his body trembling.
Pain like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart left Morgans
completely unable to control his emotions!
Time ticked by, second after second.
The pain disappeared.
To his surprise, Morgans felt
a tremendous power coursing through his body!
It was an entirely new experience, unlike anything he had ever felt!
Morgans opened his right hand.
An intensely hot flame abruptly sprang up!
"This... this is!"
Morgans looked at Xiu in bewilderment.
The latter wore a trace of a smile.
"Morgans, how does this power feel?"
Morgans fell silent for a moment before slowly saying,
"Wonderful! I've never felt this strong before!"
Morgans was no fool.
For Xiu to give him power like this,
there had to be some price to pay!
Sure enough,
Xiu spoke.
"Morgans, now you can
use the power I gave you to your heart's content."
"But... as the price,"
"your life belongs to me from now on!"
"If you dare disobey..."
"I believe your body will become
the most spectacular firework!"
Morgans abruptly raised his head to look at Xiu,
who wore a faint smile.
His scarlet eyes shone blood-red.
Rather than a Marine,
he looked much more like a demon!
Did Morgans dare refuse?
He did not!
Swallowing with difficulty,
Morgans swiftly dropped to one knee.
"Vice Admiral Xi-Lord Xiu! I would never
dare defy your orders!"
Xiu nodded slightly.
"Mm, with your intelligence,"
"you certainly wouldn't think of betraying me, would you...?"
"I would never dare!! Lord Xiu!"
"Get up. Keep doing your own work."
"Remember not to reveal our relationship!"
Morgans nodded in acknowledgment
and respectfully withdrew from Xiu's office.
Watching Morgans spread his wings and fly away,
Xiu calmly withdrew his gaze.
In Xiu's view,
a "small fry" like Morgans
might, in some matter,
do something that astonished everyone.
Who could say for certain?
PS: A few more flowers, please~ Or some rating votes!
I've been asking for tips for days now... it's so disheartening. I haven't received a single one... (heartache.jpg)