For a moment, the mood turned sorrowful again, and no one spoke.
Parting was painful in itself, all the more so when there was nothing they could do.
Just then, Doctor Hogback, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke, his tone helpless and somewhat exasperated.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong with you three? The fighting hasn't even started. Do you really need to be this scared?"
"Listen to me. Send all the zombie animals out to hold him off. I refuse to believe that Roy fellow is really that strong!"
Moria, Perona, and Absalom all rolled their eyes.
Their looks seemed to say that being a doctor and stitching corpses together really had turned him into an idiot.
Hogback's mouth twitched. "Hey, hey, I feel like you're insulting me in your heads, and pretty viciously, too."
"Watch it, or I'll file a complaint against you."
Of course he understood.
How could he not?
He simply disliked parting.
The star he had deeply loved had died, and he had nearly gone mad because of it.
From then on, the world-famous doctor who saved lives and helped others had vanished.
All that remained was a mad doctor driven by obsession, intent on bringing his beloved back to life.
People were not plants or trees. Who could be without feelings?
"Hmph, Doctor Hogback, this isn't the time for jokes!"
Perona rolled her eyes, looking utterly adorable.
Although Absalom said nothing, his face was just as speechless.
At a time like this, lame jokes really weren't funny.
Bang! Bang!
Bzz! Bzz!
Suddenly, the castle shook violently.
A voice that pierced straight into their hearts came from outside:
"Kyeh heh heh! Calamity Roy has arrived."
"Would the renowned Shichibukai Moria kindly come out and meet me?"
At those words, the expressions of everyone who