Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the shadowy stretches of the Grand Line lies the notorious Florian Triangle, a sea shrouded in perpetual black mist. It's a treacherous path to the New World where over a hundred pirate ships reportedly vanish each year. Many of these ships are later found deserted, their crews mysteriously gone without a trace. Whispered tales suggest ghost ships crewed by the spirits of the dead haunt this eerie region.
Yet, within this feared locale, where few dare to believe life persists, a massive ship the size of an island unexpectedly plays host to a visitor.
"Hee hee hee hee, are the guys from the World Government so terrified of a few rookie pirates?" The mocking laughter resonates through the grand halls of Thriller Bark, addressing the newcomer in its midst.
"I even had to invite you here, Kuma. Hee hee hee."
The source of this chilling voice is an imposing figure shaped like an oversized gourd, his pale, ghastly face twisted into a sinister grin, with stitches crawling across his neck like the seams of a grisly wound. This daunting presence is none other than Gecko Moria, the captain of Thriller Bark, the master of this section of the Florian Triangle, and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, acknowledged by the World Government.
Standing before Moria is the man he called "Kuma"—Bartholomew Kuma, also one of the Seven Warlords. Yet unbeknownst to many, he secretly serves as an officer in the Revolutionary Army.
Kuma, clad in his distinctive spotted hat, sat unshaken by Moria's chilling laughter. He remained seated, quietly flipping through a book in his hands. Without lifting his eyes from the page, he spoke, "The Straw Hats now carry a collective bounty exceeding 2.4 billion. Aokiji himself has acknowledged their prowess, estimating they could present a challenge in a short time."
"The World Government sent me not only to seek an opportunity to eliminate Nico Robin but also to ensure your protection," Kuma continued, closing his book with a soft thud and gazing blankly at Moria, whose expression soured.
"The World Government cannot afford to lose another Warlord," he added calmly.
Moria, whose bounty stood at a mere 320 million, felt his pride sting sharply at Kuma's words. His anger erupted. "Are you mocking me?!" he thundered, slamming his fist into the table beside him with such force it splintered. "Even Kaido of the New World didn't manage to kill me! And they think these rookie pirates might?!"
His outrage was palpable; the idea of being underestimated to such an extent grated on him. For Moria, who had come so close to death before, the very mention of it was taboo. Survival was one thing—losing was tolerable to an extent—but the prospect of facing death again was something he couldn't stomach.
As Moria raged, Kuma remained detached, lifting a teacup to his lips with a nonchalant air. "They're known as the Straw Hat Pirates, those rookies," he remarked, sipping his tea amidst the chaos.
Moria's face twisted into an even more terrifying and bloodthirsty grin than usual as he spoke: "Should those unfortunate Straw Hats ever cross paths with me, they won't be leaving. Kishishishi! I'll craft the finest zombies from their shadows, hehehehe!!" His menacing laughter reverberated through the castle, chilling the air.
Meanwhile, Bartholomew Kuma, seated beside him, remembered the instructions Dragon had given him before his departure: "Once you encounter that man, reveal your true identity, Bartholomew Kuma. It's time for the Revolutionary Army to engage him directly."
While Moria awaited the arrival of the Straw Hats in the eerie depths of the Florian Triangle, filled with expectations of their doomed fates, the Straw Hats themselves had already made their landing, far away from Moria's reach—deep beneath the surface of the moon.
Luffy couldn't contain his excitement, shouting with unrestrained joy: "This is really... so interesting!!" Meanwhile, Nami's eyes gleamed with visions of riches: "A place like this definitely has a lot of treasures!!"
Sanji, catching the cigarette that almost slipped from his lips, remarked, "Compared with the underground ruins I saw in Upper Yard, this place is on another level." Robin, smiling, shared her thoughts, "Perhaps, the Fairy Vearth that Enel has been searching for is here."
At that moment, Bai Ye used his Qimen skills to suspend several fireballs high above, casting light throughout the vast space and revealing their surroundings more clearly.
With the area now brightly illuminated, everyone could finally see the full scope of the space—an ancient city of indescribable grandeur!
"Our journey on the moon is finally about to begin," someone declared as their eyes adjusted to the new light, taking in the scene before them.
The city stretched out before them, its scale immense and awe-inspiring. It seemed as if the entire Moon had been excavated to accommodate this sprawling, ancient metropolis. This city bore a striking resemblance to the ruins of Shandora that the Straw Hats had encountered in Skypiea, with its intricate stone carvings and monumental structures exuding an air of ancient majesty.
Yet, this Moon city possessed distinct features that set it apart from Shandora, particularly the mysterious channels that weaved through the city, their purpose as enigmatic as their origins.
As the group ventured into what seemed to be a residential area of the ancient city, Luffy and Nami quickly scouted ahead. They discovered that most of the rooms were empty, with only a few containing mundane items like daily necessities.
Robin assessed the scene and concluded, "This ancient city must have been abandoned. There are no signs of conflict, theft, or sudden calamity, which suggests that the inhabitants left all at once for some reason."
Zoro, gripping his sword handle, added somewhat awkwardly as if to divert from his earlier misadventure of getting lost—which Robin had to rectify using her Hana Hana no Mi powers—"So, the people of Angel Island might originally be from the moon, having departed from this place."
Robin nodded in agreement but maintained a cautious tone, "That seems likely, but we still need definitive proof."
Just then, Luffy's voice cut through the silence. Looking up, they saw him ahead of the group, his figure animated with excitement. "Hey, everyone!" he called out, waving them over. "Come on, I found something really interesting!"