Chapter 119
Title: It won't work… at least not on me.
….
Tik!
Amon placed the cup of tea on the table.
Currently, he was sitting on a creepy old ship with Yona beside him and a talking skeleton in front of him.
The ship was in a foggy area with nothing more around it. But both Amon and Yona didn't seem to mind it.
Amon reached here after wandering around the sea for a few hours. It was possible to find it even in this grand line since there were pretty famous rumors about this foggy place already.
Yona had a frown on her face while looking at the skeleton. "My lord, is this an evil spirit?"
In this foggy sea, Amon had an unexpected encounter.
"Hoooo!" The Skeleton jumped up. "E-Evil spirit?! You mean Ghost?! W-Where?!"
Amon laughed seeing this. He didn't mind some humor every now and then. "She is joking, Brook."
After calming down the skeleton, Brook, who he just met a couple of minutes ago, Amon patted Yona's head. "Now, now, he is not an evil spirit. I think it's the effect of Revive-Revive fruit."
Brook laughed. "Yoho! That's right, you are quite knowledgeable. It is indeed the effect of Revive-Revive fruit, the fruit revived me after I died." Brook shredded tears. "Ahh, you are my first encounter who isn't scared of me. I'm so happy, yo-ho-ho!"
Amon laughed with him.
Yona was suddenly interested. "A fruit that can revive people? Like the one from our legend?"
Amon shook his head. "No, the one in Birkan legends isn't this one. This isn't a devil fruit, but something… scientific(?)."
Even Amon was confused if this was scientific or not. The one in Birkan myths was clearly just a myth, and nothing more. Even if it was something more, it didn't matter at all.
Amon then looked at Brook. "Then Mister Brook, what do you think about joining me? I'm a King of a Kingdom, an Emperor of the sea. Though I assume you are not familiar with that term. I'm in search of strong people, though I also need musicians."
Brook suddenly got emotional. "Yohoho, I've been stuck here for 50 years already… hah. I would thank you if you take me in."
Brook bowed slightly as Yona stared at him with narrowed eyes. 'I've to be careful of the evil spirit.'
"But," Brook continued. "It's such a pity that I can't leave this foggy area."
"Why is that?" Amon feigned ignorance.
"My shadow has been stolen away by a big-bellied man. A shadow is the second soul of a being, if I go out in the sun without one I will be burned alive by the sunlight."
"Is that a devil fruit ability too?"
"Yes," Brook answered Yona's question.
"Without retrieving my shadow, I can't join you. I am terribly sorry."
Brook apologized while Amon was smiling reassuringly. However, he was frowning internally.
'This was supposed to happen 2 and half a year from now on. But Brook met Gecko Moria now? Butterfly effect…'
Amon just sighed. It wasn't anything bad, rather, it is surely because of his presence.
"Do you know who it is?" Amon feigned more ignorance. "The fat man I mean."
Brook went silent, searching his memories. "Gecko Moria...? Yes! His name was Gecko Moria…"
Amon made a surprised face. "Oh, now I understand. He is one of the 7 Warlords, a system newly formed in your absence."
Amon already chatted with Brook and Brook talked about how he's been wandering in the sea for years.
Amon continued. "He is someone who ate the Shadow-Shadow fruit, I can see what you meant by 'my shadow got stolen'. That's his fruit's power. Retrieving the shadow from him isn't that hard, but it's not easy either."
Brook nodded. "I know it's hard, I experienced it myself. But I was still planning to do my second attempt today, yo-ho!!"
Amon smiled. "You don't have to, I have some business with Gecko Moria, when I'm done, you will get your shadow back."
Brook frowned with his nonexistent burrows. 'I will get my shadow back just like that..? Wait, he plans to kill him?!'
It would make sense that his shadow would return even with him not being there only if Moria dies.
After a moment of thought, he sighed. 'This is none of my business, after all, even I am a pirate who did bad things. Even so, here the bad guy seems to be Moria.'
Still, "I can't allow you to do this for me. It's against-"
"Calm down, it's fine. I will be done in half an hour, if I fail you can come to assist. You did say you already invaded there once, but seeing you here, it must mean you lost." Amon stated. "In that case, assume it's a favor from me, your future leader, since you decided to join me. I am in need of a musician."
Amon flashed a charming smile. "Then… see you in 30 minutes."
Amon didn't teleport but rather flew off at an astonishing speed. Teleporting would make lightning flash, thus creating light which will then hurt the shadow-less Brook.
Amon's first priority now is getting strong subordinates. Although Brook's fruit is something that can grant a third chance to Amon, he has already eaten a fruit. While he does plan to eat 2 more fruit, this wasn't one of them.
'If subordination doesn't work-no. Only if subordination doesn't work, will I extract the fruit from today.' This is a line Amon drew. 'Now I need immediate strong people, I don't have enough time to extract fruits then give them to someone who's under me and then train them. It will be too long and inconvenient.'
Although that's the case, there can be variables. Like Shadow-Shadow fruit… Gecko Moria doesn't deserve it.
Zzzz~
….
After flying far from Brook, Amon expanded his Observation and looked for Thriller Bark island. His 300 km range easily caught the floating island since it could only be hiding in the foggy area.
He teleported at the top of Thriller Bark and stared down at it with shining red eyes. Amon was looking for a certain person.
'Ghost Princess, Perona.'
He found her after a single second.
The holder of one of the OPest fruits, Hollow-Hollow fruit. With its abilities, she is truly fearsome. She might even be successful at taking down Emperors, though certain people would be immune to her 'depressing ghosts', such as pessimistic people. The ones who are already depressed can't be depressed even more after all.
After inspecting her, Amon teleported inside her room silently.
….
"Hm hm hm hm~"
A pink-haired girl was playing with half-transparent white creatures, ghosts!
The girl was Perona, a subordinate of Gecko Moria.
Amon will kill Gecko Moria today, Amon doesn't have any use for him. But the other people along with Perona are different. Killing them won't benefit him, so he will just recruit them instead.
'I want to take over the world, sign my name as the leader of this planet in the Space station up in the other planets. For that, I need strong people under me. They don't necessarily have to be super loyal, being scared is enough.'
If they say 'No', he will then proceed to brainwash.
While Perona was lying on the bed on her tummy, Amon walked from behind her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders silently.
"Aahh! Who is it?!" Irritated, the girl turned around. "Absalom, how many times did I tell you to not sneak up on me in my room–?!?!?"
Perona's eyes grew as her brain caught up to the situation. The one who sneaked up is not Absalom? But rather a person she doesn't know?!
'Assassin…!'
As the thought crossed her mind, she instantly prepared for battle. She pointed her palms at the assassin.
"
A ghost came out of Perona's hand and rushed forward.
It's a ghost that would drain the will of any person it comes into contact with, making them very negative and depressed about themselves. Everyone would be affected by it, even if they have Conqueror's Haki.
The ghosts went through the 'assassin', Amon's body.
There is a way to defend against this ghost. As long as the person was already depressed, they would be fine.
"Meh," Amon patted his chest.
He... was fine. A depressed soul can't be more depressed, right?
"Don't bother, it won't work." Amon stretched his body while the surprised Perona started to spam ghosts.
Shoo Shoo Shoo Shoo!
None of them worked, in fact, some of her ghosts became depressed instead!
«...★...»
In Brook's ship, it has only been 50 seconds since Amon left.
Brook was still surprised. "My, he is so fast. I didn't even see him, yo-ho!"
He then slowly turned his head towards Yona. "Then… would you let me see your pantie–kyaaha!"
Before he could finish his words, Yona's hair started to float in the air as they rushed towards him.
"As I thought! You were an evil spirit, or else what type of man wants to see a girl's panties?!"
Yona's hair was about to catch him, but Brook barely got out.
"Yoho… I'm sorry, yoohoo!"
Brook started to run while Yona chased after him.
"I will exorcise you, evil spirit!"
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This chapter was proofread by Discord members and edited by @Retuculum and @AyyZelos and @Shortmotor!
Discord: discord.gg/sek3gZV2jg