"Yes, that's right!" Brook nodded subconsciously, but then seemed to realize something.
How did you know?!
Brook stared at Xia Chen in utter astonishment, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. He hadn't said a word!
"Anyone who's associated with shadows must be Moria, who ate the Shadow-Shadow Fruit! I can't think of anyone else!"
"Gecko Moria?" Robin turned somewhat serious upon hearing this name.
Nami looked at Robin and asked, " Robin, do you know?"
"Um!"
"Gecko Moria, one of the Shichibukai, is a pirate on the same level as Crocodile!"
"Tch~ It's just someone like Crocodile, what's there to be afraid of?"
Usopp, who had been terrified just moments before, was now sitting quietly in a chair, speaking calmly.
"Hmm?" Xia Chen gave Usopp a strange look and asked, "You mean you can easily deal with someone like Crocodile?"
"Of course... that's impossible!"
"But from your tone, it sounds like you don't take him seriously!"
"I may not be able to beat him, but I still have you guys! We're partners, what's the big deal about 'yours' and 'me'? You agree, right?" Usopp said without batting an eye.
Xia Chen said, " Usopp, don't think that the Shichibukai are nothing special. In fact, those who can sit in this position are not simple people!"
"Furthermore, even among the Shichibukai, there are varying degrees of strength. Crocodile is considered one of the weaker ones, while the strongest Shichibukai is capable of going toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors!"
"Able to compete with the Four Emperors..."
Upon hearing Xia Chen's words, everyone showed expressions of shock.
They're no longer greenhorns; they know what the Four Emperors mean—they're the four people at the very top of the pirate world!
They're so much better than them!
"What about Hawk-Eyes? How does his strength compare to the Shichibukai?" Zoro suddenly asked.
"The strongest Shichibukai I'm talking about, capable of going toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors, is him!"
"Is that so!" Upon hearing this, a hint of excitement flashed in Zoro's eyes. He knew that Hawk-Eyes was no ordinary person, after all, he was the world's number one swordsman!
One day he will reach that level of skill and surpass Hawk-Eyes to become the new World's Greatest Swordsman!
Is Moria considered strong among the Shichibukai?
"Hmm... I guess it's just so-so!" Xia Chen said thoughtfully after a moment's thought.
If we're talking about Moria, who could rival Kaido in his youth, then Natsumi might think he's quite strong.
But this big fat guy now?
Xia Chen really couldn't judge. In the original work, Moria's combat power was mostly demonstrated through zombies, and his own strength didn't seem to be very 'outstanding'!
But no matter what, he was once a man who competed with the World's Strongest master Teacher Kaido. Although he ultimately failed, it must be admitted that he still possessed considerable skill.
"If it's just so-so, then there's no problem!" Usopp's face regained its calm expression. The idiom "a dog relying on its master's power" was perfectly embodied in his words.
"Huh?" Brook was a little confused as he listened to everyone talking.
Are these people... really that brave? They don't even put the Shichibukai in their eyes?
"So just tell us where that Moria is, and we'll go get your shadow back!" Luffy said, patting his chest.
"You..."
Brook was deeply moved; he felt that if he had eyes, he would be bursting with tears right now. But then he suddenly felt a little lost.
"Unfortunately, I don't know either. I don't even know if I'll ever see him again in my lifetime!"
Xia Chen, who was watching this scene, was about to say something, but suddenly sensed something, stood up, and said calmly, "No need to look anymore, the person in question has come to us!"
After saying that, Xia Chen walked out of the cabin... and everyone else followed him out.
However, what they saw after they came out completely shocked them.
"A ghost... a phantom!" Usopp screamed. In a split second, he pulled all his equipment to his front.
Garlic, Bagua mirrors, crosses, peach wood swords—you name it!
Xia Chen was a little stunned by what he saw. As expected of the great Usopp, he was well prepared!
The others also looked somewhat horrified, feeling a strange chill run down their spines as they watched the ghosts flying around in front of them.
But Xia Chen's attention wasn't on the ghosts; instead, he looked at a corner where there seemed to be nothing there.
With a "whoosh," Xia Chen's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was already in the corner that had been in sight, but Xia Chen's actions seemed somewhat strange to everyone.
" Xia Chen, why are you pinching the air?" Luffy asked curiously.
"You lot, can't you use your Observation Haki to sense things?" Xia Chen said irritably.
"Hmm? You mean?"
Upon hearing Xia Chen's words, the group immediately activated their Observation Haki to sense his presence.
This terrified Chopper, who was standing nearby. Clinging to Robin's legs, he asked tremblingly:
"W-what's wrong, Robin? Is something scary again?"
"I think so!" Robin replied. She didn't have Observation Haki, so even though Xia Chen said there might be something there, she couldn't sense it.
"This... this is?" A moment later Luffy and the others showed expressions of shock.
"What did you sense?" Usopp asked hurriedly from the side.
"I sensed a presence near Xia Chen, but it was very subtle; you wouldn't notice it at all unless you were very careful!"
"You've only recently Awakening your Observation Haki, that's how it is!" Xia Chen replied calmly. He could clearly sense the aura of the person in front of him!
Then Xia Chen's eyes narrowed, and he unconsciously increased the pressure on his hand.
"Cough cough..."
A coughing sound startled everyone. Then they witnessed a scene that shocked them beyond belief.
A silhouette slowly appeared in front of Xia Chen, then gradually solidified, and finally a man wearing a black coat and with a lion's mouth appeared before everyone.
Looking at the person in front of him Xia Chen's killing intent began to rise slowly.
Absalom, one of Moria's three most trusted lieutenants!
He's also the person who saw Nami completely naked in the original Vice Admiral!!!
Xia Chen has always been very 'kind' to people like this!
"You... what do you want to do? Let me go! I am Lord Moria's man. Aren't you afraid of dying if you treat me like this?" Absalom struggled to speak.
"Do you think I'm afraid?" Xia Chen stared at Absalom and asked in a low voice, his eyes filled with an unyielding chill...