"Yohohoho…"
The moment Brook saw living humans, he trembled with excitement.
"It has been so long since I last saw a living person. I'm so moved I'm about to cry…
Although I don't have eyes!"
Classic Brook deadpan humor.
Even though Oguro had warned them ahead of time that Brook was a living skeleton, seeing him for the first time still scared Nami and the others.
"Devil Fruits really are incredible. They can even alter life and death," Robin murmured with genuine admiration.
Brook suddenly darted in front of her, grinning lecherously.
"Yohoho! Young lady, may I see your panties?"
Even after being dead for decades, his perverted nature had not changed.
Boom.
Brook's body suddenly flew backward, crashing into the deck and cracking several of his bones.
Oguro lowered his right leg and spoke coldly.
"I don't care if you were some pirate from decades ago. This is not a place for you to fool around. Apologize to my companion immediately.
Otherwise, I don't mind taking your corpse to see Laboon."
Being perverted was one thing. Trying to molest someone was another.
This was the first time anyone had defended her so decisively, and Robin froze for a brief moment.
Then her lips softened into a gentle smile.
So this is what it feels like to have someone to rely on.
Not bad at all.
"Y–You said Laboon? You know Laboon?"
Brook bounced upright instantly, empty eye sockets fixed on Oguro.
Oguro pointed at Robin.
"Apologize first."
"I am terribly sorry. I acted out of line!"
Brook immediately performed a deep dogeza.
Once Robin waved her hand to show she forgave him, Oguro's expression eased.
"We were entrusted by Laboon at Twin Capes. We came to bring you home."
Oguro then explained in detail Laboon's daily attempts to crash into the Red Line, desperately trying to reunite with the Rumbar Pirates.
Brook let out a trembling wail.
"Laboon… we broke our promise. We disappointed you."
Nami turned to Oguro with confusion.
"Lord Oguro, didn't you say he was trapped? He looks like he can move freely."
Brook quickly explained,
"Miss, Moria's ability is very unique. He controls people's shadows.
My shadow was stolen by him. If I appear under sunlight right now, I will die instantly."
Nami nodded in sudden understanding.
Then she giggled,
"Lucky you. Lord Oguro was planning to deal with Moria anyway."
Delight flashed through Brook's skull.
"Really? Thank you so much!"
But soon he hesitated.
"Still… Moria is extremely powerful. He is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. A super strong fighter feared across the Grand Line. Are you sure you can defeat him?"
Nami couldn't hold back her laughter.
With Brook staring blankly, Robin added with a smile,
"Not long ago, one of the Seven Warlords already died by Lord Oguro's hand.
And a few days ago we fought Admiral Aokiji to a draw."
"What?"
Brook froze entirely.
He didn't know much about the Warlords since they appeared after his time.
But Marine Admirals… that he understood very well.
In his era, the Admiral was the legendary Steel Bone Kong, who later became the Supreme Commander of the entire World Government.
If Oguro could fight evenly with an Admiral, then Moria was no problem at all.
Oguro waved dismissively.
"Enough. Let's get this over with."
A petty little nuisance like Moria was the weakest among the Warlords. Oguro didn't consider him worth any attention.
Brook boarded the Desert Rose to guide the way, and the group sailed toward Moria's base, Thriller Bark.
...
Thriller Bark
Because of its size, Nami and the others first mistook the massive structure for an island.
"Everyone stay sharp," Brook warned.
"This ship is filled with Moria's zombies. Only salt can purify them.
You go after Moria. The zombies are mine."
For years, Brook had prepared huge amounts of salt just for the day he could reclaim his shadow.
As if to prove his point, the ground ahead began to bulge and break open. Countless zombies crawled out one after another.
"How disgusting," Rangiku grimaced with open disdain.
The others looked equally uncomfortable.
"To toy with the living and the dead… Lord Soul King, this man must not be forgiven!"
The unexpected voice came from the usually quiet Hanataro Yamada, who was trembling with outrage.
Oguro completely understood him.
As a healer, seeing corpses desecrated and twisted into puppets was a direct attack on everything Hanataro believed in.
"Don't worry," Oguro said coldly.
"I didn't plan on letting him live."
Moria might once have stood against Kaido as a respectable pirate.
But now he was pure scum.
Slaughtering innocents to create zombies, digging up graves… he had long abandoned any trace of humanity.
Dozens of low-level zombies charged. Even ordinary Marines with swords could deal with these.
Brook darted among them, scattering handfuls of salt. The zombies instantly collapsed, their stolen shadows returning to their original owners.
With no resistance, the group soon reached a massive castle.
"This is Moria's main base," Brook warned.
Inside, a pink-haired gothic girl listened to reports from her ghosts.
"Someone dares invade Lord Moria's territory? Tell Absalom to capture them immediately!"
This girl was Perona, the Ghost Princess. One of Moria's three main subordinates.
A Paramecia-type Ghost Fruit user.
She commanded the animal zombies and scary zombies, and the entire castle was under the surveillance of her ghosts.
Absalom, also one of the three, was a Paramecia-type Clear-Clear Fruit user.
He commanded the zombie soldiers and zombie generals and oversaw external defenses.
After receiving Perona's warning, Absalom gathered all zombie soldiers to intercept Oguro's group.
Meanwhile he activated his fruit ability, turning transparent as he silently followed behind the zombies.
Inside the grand hall, Oguro's group stepped in and was immediately surrounded by more than a hundred zombies.
"Ah… this number might be a bit too much for me to handle by myself," Brook admitted. Even with all the salt he brought, he only had two hands.
"No problem. Leave this to me."
Rukia stepped forward and drew Sode no Shirayuki.
"Dance… Sode no Shirayuki."
***
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