The commotion Leno stirred up at Enies Lobby and Water 7
naturally reached the ears of the two legendary pirates he had casually rescued from Impel Down not long ago.
On an unknown stretch of sea.
Upon a small floating island adrift atop the waves.
Shiki the Golden Lion held the latest bounty poster and newspaper in his hands.
When he saw the report of Leno's battle against Garp—and the staggering bounty of 1.55 billion Berries—he burst into loud laughter.
"Jihahahahahaha!! Good! Well done! Just as expected of someone I had my eye on!"
Golden Lion slapped Redfield hard on the shoulder, his eyes brimming with delight.
Garp getting beaten up by Leno—nothing could have made him happier.
"Jihahahahahaha!!!"
"Good lad! Well done! Just as expected of someone I picked!"
"You just set sail and already killed a Celestial Dragon, and you even dared to go head-on with that old dog Garp! Now that's what a true great pirate should look like!"
"This sea won't stay peaceful for long! Jihahaha!"
Standing to the side, Redfield quietly stepped away from Golden Lion with a look of distaste.
Sorry, but we're not that close.
Moreover, with spit flying like a machine gun, he had no intention of getting even a drop on himself.
"Indeed… a shocking rate of growth," Redfield said in a low voice.
"It seems that during those days in Impel Down, he took quite a lot from us."
He lowered his head and looked at his somewhat withered palm,
then glanced at the well-behaved Patton beside him, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through his eyes.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up at Golden Lion.
"Shiki."
"Hm?" Golden Lion stopped laughing and turned toward him.
"Take Patton with you and go find Leno," Redfield said calmly.
"Nani?" Golden Lion froze for a second and frowned. "What do you mean? What about you?"
"I…" Redfield drew a deep breath, a faint yearning for life flickering in his eyes.
"I don't want to die, so I must search for a Devil Fruit that can prolong my life."
"It's not suitable for Patton to keep following me."
Golden Lion looked at his old friend, opened his mouth as if to say something—
yet nothing came out.
No one wants to die.
Still, he could tell Redfield himself had little confidence.
"Tch…" Golden Lion clicked his tongue and waved a hand.
"You tell your partner yourself."
"If he agrees, I'll take him. If he can't bear to leave you, then forget it."
He paused, and a wild grin spread across his face again.
"I've also got to prepare a 'big gift' for that interesting brat Leno! Jihahahaha! To celebrate him officially setting sail!"
Redfield shook his head and said no more.
————
Meanwhile,
aboard Leno's ship, the Fallen One.
After several days of sailing,
although supplies were plentiful, the atmosphere on board felt… listless.
At lunchtime,
everyone stared at the extremely familiar food on the table—reliable, but nearly identical in flavor every day.
Their appetites were weak.
Leno very considerately finished his meal,
then glanced around at his low-spirited companions and spoke first.
"I think… we need a cook."
"Seconded!" Robin wiped the corner of her mouth, smiling.
"Being full is one thing, but variety in food is important for maintaining a pleasant mood."
"…Uh, I mean, strongly agree!" Kalifa pushed up her glasses, expressing rare enthusiasm.
Little Alice raised both hands. "Me too! I want tasty food!"
Only Domino sat to the side, puffing her cheeks.
Her face slightly red, she muttered softly, "…My cooking isn't bad…"
Seeing this, Leno quickly patted her head in reassurance.
"It's not about being bad, Domino."
"It's just… eating the same style every day—no matter how good—gets tiring. And preparing food for everyone is too much work for you."
He genuinely meant it.
Domino was already a competent navigator.
He couldn't also expect her to be an all-purpose chef.
Bringing her out of Impel Down really had been the right decision.
Hearing his explanation,
her expression improved a little, though she secretly resolved to study recipes whenever she had spare time.
Leno then smiled and continued:
"I already have someone in mind for the cook, but… we'll have to wait until after the Summit War."
Hearing he already had a target, everyone's eyes lit up.
Leno had told them a bit about the "Summit War,"
though none of them really believed it.
————
After several more days of sailing,
the surrounding seas gradually became shrouded in thick fog. The light dimmed into an eerie gloom, and the temperature dropped noticeably.
"This is the place…"
Standing at the bow, Leno looked at the enormous drifting island ahead, a curve forming at the corner of his lips.
"Prepare to land, boys!"
"Ooooooh~~!"
Just as the Fallen One docked beside the Thriller Bark,
another ship—
the Straw Hat Pirates' Thousand Sunny, led by Brook, also arrived.
Actually, the Straw Hats had arrived earlier.
They had been wandering in the fog for some time and had gained a new crew member—
a member who was, quite literally, only bones: Brook.
"Yohohohoho~"
Brook turned to Nami with gentlemanly flair.
"Nami-san~ Since we're about to face the terrifying Moria, before the battle could you please allow me to admire your panties—"
Before he could finish,
a fresh, steaming lump appeared on his skull.
"Not a chance! You perverted skeleton!" Nami shouted, retracting her fist angrily.
"Ah… such a merciless refusal. Though I no longer have eyes to cry with… yohoho…"
Brook held his head, still surprisingly cheerful.
"Let's go get the shadow back and make the skeleton our musician!"
In the original story Brook advised Luffy to leave,
but now he followed the Straw Hats toward the ghost island.
When the two groups stepped onto the island,
almost at the same time—
deep within the castle hall,
Gecko Moria already knew someone had entered his territory.
"Hehshishishishi…" Moria laughed. "More fearless insects barging in? Let me see who it is…"
Investigating within his own stronghold was easy.
"Straw Hat Luffy… bounty 300 million Berries…"
"Hehshishi, perfect timing. His shadow would make an excellent powerful zombie!"
Three hundred million was well within what Moria dared to provoke.
But Leno was different.
"1.5 billion… Berries?!" A wary expression appeared on Moria's face.
He couldn't understand it either.
"Why would this 'Fallen One' Leno come to my place?"
He couldn't figure out Leno's purpose.
Enemy or ally? For what reason? Or merely passing by?
Facing a ruthless man capable of repelling the Marine Hero Garp head-on,
even a prideful Moria didn't want his treasured corpses destroyed.
"Hehshishi… to be safe…" Moria quickly made a decision.
He waved his hand and ordered his subordinates,
"Go! Have the zombies properly entertain the Straw Hat crew!"
"As for that 'Fallen One' Leno… treat him with courtesy first and invite him over for a talk."
After all, different strength demands different treatment.
Strike hard against the weak; show courtesy to the strong.
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