By the time White Ghost's crew finished their rowdy dinner, night had fully fallen.
White Ghost loved meals like this—loud, crowded, everyone eating and talking at the same table.
Later, White Ghost and Kuro stood on deck, letting the sea breeze rinse the heat of the day from their skin. The ship was anchored, rocking gently in place.
Kuro lounged in a chair, eyes on the black ocean. "You're sure he'll come tonight?"
White Ghost puffed his cigar and nodded. "Most likely. Kuma's that kind of man. For the Revolutionary Army, he'll do anything."
Kuro frowned slightly. "Didn't you say his body was modified? Like Franky?"
"There are differences," White Ghost said.
"How so?" Kuro turned toward him.
White Ghost tipped his chin toward the waves. "Vegapunk's building a war weapon—yeah, a war weapon—using Kuma as the template."
Kuro's eyes narrowed. "A war weapon…"
"Pacifistas," White Ghost said. "First generation, at least." He stared into the sea. "No idea whether they've already started on the Seraphim."
"Pacifistas… Seraphim…" Kuro's eyes brightened with a dangerous kind of excitement. "Those names already sound like monsters. Think we can get our hands on one?"
White Ghost shook his head. "The Five Elders keep that project on a leash. If anything leaks, Vegapunk dies first. He won't risk it."
He paused, then added, "Besides, the early Pacifistas might be doable—Franky and Ashie could replicate the concept."
"But Seraphim?" White Ghost clicked his tongue. "Don't even dream about it. The materials alone are absurd. And you'd need Lunarian genes, cloning… it's a nightmare."
"Lunarians?" Kuro looked genuinely surprised. "Weren't they supposed to be extinct?"
"They are—mostly." White Ghost's expression turned faintly regretful. "They knew too much, and their genes were too strong. That's why they disappeared."
Kuro made a brief, irritated face—like someone who'd just heard a priceless artifact got smashed. "So there aren't any left at all?"
"Kaido's crew has one," White Ghost said. "King the Wildfire—Alber. That's the only Lunarian I know for sure. No idea if there are others hidden somewhere."
"King…" Kuro murmured. "That's a headache."
Right then, Kuro's senses caught something. He looked up.
A small boat drifted out of the darkness, gliding toward them without a sound.
On the boat stood Bartholomew Kuma, Bible in hand, gaze fixed on the Dragon Emperor.
"So you sensed me from that far…" Kuma said quietly. "No wonder they call you 'the Beast.'"
Kuma stood, removed one glove, and lightly touched his own body.
Whoosh—
He vanished.
White Ghost watched, unhurried.
Whoosh—
In the next instant, Kuma appeared exactly where White Ghost's gaze had been pinned.
"This should be our second meeting, Mr. White," Kuma said, extending a bare hand.
White Ghost stared at it.
No glove.
He didn't move.
Kuma froze for half a beat, then understood. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he slid the glove back on. "My apologies."
Only then did White Ghost stand and shake his hand. "A few years ago in Shimotsuki Village, I sensed a strong presence. Back then I didn't know it was you. Later, when I ran into you at Marine HQ, it clicked."
Kuma nodded. "It has been years. And you've grown far faster than I expected."
Kuma glanced at Kuro, then silently took in the ship itself.
His heart tightened.
This deck was packed with monsters—and not the common kind.
And worst of all was the smiling man in front of him.
Kuma's Observation kept screaming the same message:
Deadly danger.
And there was the rumor too—this man had just cut down a "mysterious" powerhouse after ten days of battle.
While Kuma was thinking, White Ghost spoke again.
"Don't leave marks on my ship."
Kuma's hand paused mid-motion.
"I'm not letting my deck become your personal doorstep—coming and going whenever you feel like it."
Kuma's expression stiffened. "It seems you understand me quite well, Mr. White."
White Ghost gestured for him to sit and poured him a drink.
"Honestly," White Ghost said, "I don't even mind you stopping by. To be real, I'd love to have you join my crew."
Kuma took the drink, face unreadable. "If you know who I am… then you know that's impossible."
"I know." White Ghost's lips curved. "So I don't mind you leaving a mark—under conditions."
He leaned back, eyes half-lidded.
"Don't slap random nobodies onto my deck."
"If you do, I won't hesitate to kill them—"
His gaze sharpened.
"—or I'll squeeze Dragon for an outrageous price."
Kuma processed it in silence.
So… I can't use this as a convenient drop-off point anymore.
White Ghost waved a hand. "Alright. You came for business. Stop circling."
Kuma set his glass down and looked him in the eye. "You know why I'm here. Let's not waste time."
White Ghost nodded once. His bracelet flashed.
A burst of light—
and a mountain of weapons appeared on the deck:
One thousand 98Ks.
Rocket launchers.
Desert Eagles.
And more besides.
Kuma's gaze flicked to the bracelet.
He already knew about it.
Vegapunk had even mentioned it—half joke, half warning—telling Kuma to keep an eye out for spatial abilities.
If Vegapunk ever got his hands on one, he'd never let it go.
White Ghost smiled. "For the Revolutionary Army, it's not a massive quantity."
"But the performance is leagues above your scrap-metal junk."
"They're made with the newest memory alloy."
"You can disassemble them and copy the design—"
He raised a finger.
"—but I'm warning you now: without proper materials, they'll blow up in your face."
Kuma stepped forward and picked up a 98K.
In his massive hands it looked like a toy.
He handled it with practiced ease, then aimed at the sea and fired once.
The suppressor kept it quiet. Kuma wasn't worried about waking anyone up—besides, nobody here was sleeping.
Pff—
The bullet cut through the air.
Kuma's Observation tracked it cleanly. "Good. Much more precise than standard weapons."
He picked up a rocket launcher and fired.
Whoosh—
BOOM!
The explosion lit the ocean's surface.
A few people paused at the sound, but no one came out.
White Ghost had already told them not to.
Finally, Kuma grabbed a Desert Eagle and fired several rounds into the waves.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Then he set everything down.
White Ghost could tell—Kuma was satisfied.
Kuma produced a case and set it on the deck. "Mr. White. This is the payment for this shipment."
Kuro stepped in, checked it, then nodded at White Ghost.
Everything matched.
Kuma continued, "We also need more of your medicine."
White Ghost snapped his fingers.
Naqin walked over with a small box, placed it in front of White Ghost, then left without a word.
White Ghost opened it.
Inside were three vials—and five small pills.
"These pills are a bonus for Dragon," White Ghost said casually.
"They can boost a normal person's strength and speed."
"The downside is they burn lifespan."
He tapped the box once.
"My crew has already reduced the side effects as much as possible."
"If you test them and decide they're worth it… call me again."
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