A sense of contempt welled up within him.
'Is a piece of trash like this really fit to lead a nation?'
Ultimately, it was a matter for the living, and it had nothing to do with him.
Reaching out, Ren grabbed Momonosuke by the collar. He looked at Kin'emon and the others lying prostrate on either side, finding them in the way.
He dragged the boy by the collar like a dead dog, stepping over Kin'emon and the rest to reach an open space further down the street.
Kin'emon and the others' eyes trembled violently, but they could only watch helplessly as their master was dragged forward on his knees, following the steps of the two strangers.
On Onigashima, the members of the Straw Hat crew watched the scene, their expressions filled with urgent anxiety.
"Stop it! What on earth are you doing to Momonosuke?!"
"If you dare hurt Momonosuke, I'll never forgive you!"
"We have to get over there right now, maybe we can—"
"It's no use. The Flower Capital is too far from here; we'd never make it in time."
At that thought, the crew was gripped by fear and shock, terrified that something would happen to Momonosuke.
Franky reached out with a massive hand, grabbing Brook by the collar and demanding, "Hey, Brook! Who the hell is that guy?"
Nami, Robin, and the others also fixed their gazes on Brook.
"Brook, Momo is in grave danger. How much longer are you going to keep us in the dark?"
"You clearly know them! Do you have any idea what they're planning to do to Momonosuke?"
"Brook, say something!"
Faced with the interrogation from his comrades, Brook shook his head frantically in desperation. He struggled, but he couldn't break free from Franky's grip.
He was completely surrounded by his crewmates.
'I can't say it! I absolutely cannot say it!'
'Even if you all abandon me, I must never speak of it!'
Sanji crushed the cigarette butt in his mouth, his voice laced with anger.
"Brook, do you even consider us your comrades?"
"What's the harm in telling us!"
"No matter how powerful the enemy is, can't we face them together?"
Tears streamed from Brook's empty eye sockets, soaking his collar.
"It's precisely because you are all my precious comrades that I can't say anything!"
"That person... if that lord reveals himself, nothing good will come of it!"
Seeing Brook like this, Franky's heart softened, and he subconsciously let go.
Losing his support, Brook stumbled and fell to the ground.
His skeletal fingers clenched into fists, cracking the stone floor beneath him as tears dripped onto the ground.
"Ugh... for everyone's safety, even if you all cast me aside for this..."
"Please, I beg you, don't ask anymore."
Brook's voice trembled, punctuated by uncontrollable sobs.
Seeing Brook in such a state, the expressions of the crew dimmed. A heavy, unbreakable gloom settled over their hearts.
"You idiot..."
Having pushed Brook to this point, how could they possibly keep questioning him?
Just then, Jinbe's exclamation drew everyone's attention.
"Look! What is he doing?"
Everyone on the screen had collapsed to the ground, leaving only two figures standing. They stood out prominently.
Ren lifted Momonosuke up. With his other hand, he unsheathed his Zanpakuto. A clear light shimmered on the blade as he thrust it into Momonosuke's chest before quickly pulling it back out.
As he sheathed the sword, a faint, thin thread remained connected to Momonosuke's chest.
Ren grabbed the thread and yanked it hard. The phantom image of a spotted apple emerged from Momonosuke's body.
Catching the phantom apple in his hand, Ren tossed Momonosuke aside like trash. A hint of joy flickered across his brow.
"Shisui."
At the call, Shisui stepped in front of Ren. A thread connected the two of them.
Ren pressed the apple into his own chest, only for it to emerge again and travel along the thread, sinking into Shisui's body.
"Shisui, how is it?"
"My lord..."
Shisui's eyes snapped open wide as he carefully felt the transformation within him brought about by this new power.
"It was a success. I can feel this power."
As he spoke, Shisui slowly raised his right hand. He was about to activate the ability but stopped himself abruptly.
Seeing this, Ren's brow twitched. "What is it? Is there a problem?"
Shisui shook his head slightly.
"My lord, if I use this ability now, this Gigai will be unable to withstand the burden and will be instantly destroyed."
Hearing Shisui's explanation, Ren breathed a secret sigh of relief.
He had thought it was a failure.
"Then wait until we return to give me a demonstration."
Seeing that their goal had been achieved, Ren didn't linger. He led Shisui away from the scene.
The people on Onigashima watched the screen. In an instant, Ren and Shisui had vanished from the street.
"They're gone again!"
"Just what kind of ability is that?"
"Are Momonosuke and the people of the Flower Capital okay?"
The Straw Hat crew stared at Momonosuke on the screen, their faces etched with worry.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from beside them.
"Relax. They'll be fine. I didn't take their lives."
Hearing that voice, the Straw Hats reacted instantly. It was the voice of the man in black.
They turned toward the sound. When they saw Ren and Shisui, their pupils shrank, and looks of pure shock washed over their faces.
"They really did come back here."
"So fast... it really is some kind of teleportation ability."
"What exactly did you do to Momo?"
Facing the collective gaze of the Straw Hat crew, Ren remained composed.
"They were suppressed by Shisui for a while. Shisui has very fine control over his power, so there won't be any lasting side effects."
"Since they are your friends, I won't harm them."
"After all, I still want to be on good terms with you."
Sanji struggled to contain his fury. "Are you kidding me? You start by attacking us—that's not exactly what I'd call trying to get along."
Robin asked with a darkened expression, "What about Momo? Whatever you did just now was clearly directed at him. How is he?"
A Zanpakuto was a creation of the soul. Since they were living beings, they couldn't see it at all.
Even more so through the broadcast of a Visual Den Den Mushi.
"Momonosuke?"
Ren said softly, "He probably won't be in the best shape, though I doubt his life is in danger."
After all, he had struck Momonosuke's soul. Given the boy's weak willpower, it would likely cause some damage.
He might either remain weak for a while, spending his days in a daze with sluggish thoughts...
...or he might fail to withstand the damage and turn into a complete idiot right then and there.
Momonosuke's will wasn't like Blackbeard's; he couldn't withstand that level of mental trauma.
"Don't give me that!"
Sanji's long-simmering rage finally boiled over, exploding all at once.
Though he found the brat annoying, he still cared for him.
Besides, he was just a child.
To strike a child like that and then have the gall to talk about getting on good terms?
Fury surging, Sanji kicked off the ground and charged at Ren.
Seeing this, Shisui's crimson Mangekyo Sharingan glowed brilliantly. He was about to act but checked his movement.
Whoosh!
A slash cut across Sanji's path. Cold air filled the space as a low wall of ice rose from the ground where the strike hit, forcing the enraged Sanji to a screeching halt.
Sanji steadied himself and looked back. Brook stood there, holding his cane sword, the blade radiating a chilling frost.
That slash had been Brook's doing.
"Brook, what is the meaning of this?"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]