Treasures, please look at me, love me one more time… give me some urge for more updates… look at the ads… Tomorrow is the 200,000-book test, your author is really going to be finished… Wuwuwuwu… 13-degree weather, no 13-dollar salary… looking at data with less than 200 urge for more updates… Wuwuwuwu… it's even colder.
Hogback's old face flushed at Moriah's words. He subconsciously pulled at his feathered coat, wrapping his plump self tightly, and was then mocked by the zombie maid Cindry.
Moriah coughed, looking at the bounty poster in his hand.
"Hey, Straw Hat… I can basically match names now, but only three people have been captured, including you. Now with one more throwing themselves into my arms, that makes four.
Pirate Hunter Zoro, and another blond man not on the bounty poster."
Luffy was full of question marks. The only blond was Sanji, wasn't he on the bounty poster? How strange.
Orochimaru's peripheral vision caught sight of the ghost princess's doll, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He seemed to see Kumashi's zipper open, with half a face peeking out.
That must be Usopp, no doubt… Which means Nami, Usopp, and Chopper are all hidden inside the doll. This 'lamp under the black' trick is truly brilliant.
He turned his head and glanced again at the cocoon-like Luffy still wriggling on the ground… feeling a wave of disgust again, thinking he should just get rid of him quickly… He rubbed his head, feeling a headache. Forget it, he's just a Shadow Clone; let the Main Body worry about it… And the Main Body Orochimaru was indeed having a headache.
At this moment, Perona and the other two were fiercely discussing Nami and the others who were escaping.
Nami and her two companions hid behind Kumashi, cautiously peeking out, only to make eye contact with Orochimaru. Nami quickly made a big "X" with her index finger towards Orochimaru, placing it by her mouth to signal silence.
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone nodded silently, then pointed to himself and waved his hand. Next, he drew a circle in the air, making an explosion gesture, and with his other hand, pointed to the coffin, making a lifting motion. He pointed to Luffy, showing a disgusted expression, then waved his hand, and finally, he placed his right index finger on his left palm, with two fingers imitating a cautious walking posture.
Usopp understood immediately and nodded, completing the handover in front of Kumashi. The three of them then shrunk back into the doll Kumashi's body.
Nami whispered, "What did Orochimaru mean just now?"
Usopp turned the upside-down Chopper upright. "Orochimaru said he's not the Main Body, he's a clone. The Main Body is in that coffin over there. He wants us to take the Main Body with us when we leave to protect us, and not to worry about that idiot Luffy. He has a plan, that's all."
Of course, the last phrase about protection was added by Usopp himself, but the cowardly trio all thought it made sense and nodded. Orochimaru was still so considerate.
Moriah looked at the two arguing over the bride below, Perona watching the show… and the straw hat Crew's first mate, feeling a bit of a headache.
"Shut up! Shut up! You're making too much noise, it's annoying! If the pirates escape, you can just find a way to catch them later. I've gathered you here now to celebrate the birth of a super combatant!"
Just as Moriah finished speaking, he suddenly saw Luffy stealthily wriggling towards the door.
Luffy realized he had been exposed. He quickly sped up, frantically wriggling his body, trying to escape the danger.
"Help! Orochimaru!" Luffy cried out in a panic.
However, Orochimaru spread his hands helplessly and apologized, "Sorry, Luffy. I'm just a Shadow Clone, I'll shatter with a light touch. And I still need to stay here to gather information, so you keep it up!" With that, Orochimaru made a cheering gesture.
Luffy continued to wriggle quickly, feeling wronged, but unfortunately, Perona's three ghosts swiftly attacked and accurately struck him. Luffy immediately curled up on the ground, trembling with teary eyes, filled with depression.
"If there's a next life, I'd rather be a sea cucumber… Wuwuwu…" Luffy mumbled with a crying voice.
Not long after, Luffy was hung in the room, and everyone stood behind him. Even Orochimaru naturally sat on top of Kumashi's head, as if they were all part of the same group. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Orochimaru didn't actually belong to their faction.
As the lights came on, Luffy's shadow was cast on the ground, forming a clear silhouette. Luffy struggled continuously in mid-air.
Orochimaru took out a notebook, ready to start drawing.
Moriah easily peeled the shadow from the ground, as effortlessly as tearing off a piece of thin paper.
Luffy's body and shadow were connected at the feet, presenting a symmetrical state. Despite Luffy's desperate struggles, he couldn't break free. Just then, Moriah, holding sharp scissors, pressed them tightly against the sole of Luffy's foot and cut down without hesitation.
Luffy let out a scream and passed out. With a 'snap,' Orochimaru crushed the pen in his hand, frowning at the scene with great displeasure. Should he just cripple Moriah directly? Another voice in his mind spoke, "No, no, Luffy is too weak now. If he can't even defeat Moriah, what will he do later? Do you want to keep him in captivity forever? You weren't this soft-hearted before."
Suddenly, three Orochimarus appeared. "You're overthinking it. If you really mess with Moriah, we'd be the first to get beaten… Luffy is even scarier when he's angry, okay? He doesn't learn good things; I'm afraid he'll learn from Garp."
The three thoughts instantly fell silent… Heh… wasted sympathy on him.
Orochimaru shook off the thoughts in his mind, carefully observing the shadow clutched in Moriah's hand.
Moriah laughed uproariously, "Hee hee hee hee! A 300 million combatant is mine now! The strongest special zombie in the world is about to be completed!
I've finally gotten the strongest subordinate. With this, I'm one step closer to the Pirate King!"
Orochimaru very impolitely stood on Moriah's hand, observing Luffy's shadow up close. He tugged at it; it had a strange feel.
Moriah didn't pay any attention. He actually implicitly accepted Orochimaru as one of them. Is this the unspoken understanding between villains?
"No matter who it is, once their shadow is removed, they will absolutely obey. The world will be full of obedient zombies. With such powerful subordinates, I won't lose to that idiot Kaido in the New World anymore, right?"
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone sat on Moriah's shoulder. "No… you'll still lose, Moriah… It's been 23 years, and you can't even defeat Kaido's subordinates now. In fact, you probably can't even beat Luffy anymore."
Orochimaru looked at Moriah's bloated body. "How about before fighting Kaido… at least lose some weight?? Otherwise, I'm afraid Kaido won't even bother to look at you."
Hearing this, Perona, Absalom, and Hogback stared at Orochimaru in shock… Their minds were frantically complaining, 'Wait, why are you sitting on Moriah-sama's shoulder? What happened? You just met, right? Are you that close?'
"Secondly… listen to what you're saying! Didn't you see Moriah-sama has turned to stone?! Which sentence was so devastating?"
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