"Boy, do you even know whose ship you're robbing?" sneered the thin, sinister-looking man standing at the bow, glaring at Clover.
Clover, unfazed, replied, "I couldn't care less." He assumed it was some group tied to Doflamingo.
The thin man smirked. "That ship belongs to the Four Emperors, Kaido of the Beasts!"
Clover paused for a beat, then shrugged. "Noted." Without another word, he leapt up and swung his sword, Ryū no Ha, down toward the man's head. In a flash, the man transformed, his arms thickening, his body swelling into that of a massive chimpanzee.
Yet Clover showed no hesitation. Infusing Ryū no Ha with his Armament Haki, he cleaved clean through the beast-man's neck. The other pirates froze in shock, but as members of Kaido's crew, they weren't about to back down. Guns, swords, and claws were drawn, and a hail of bullets shot toward Clover.
With a quick sidestep, Clover avoided the bullets, then spun, unleashing a powerful kick that sent a shockwave through the air. Pirates were thrown back like leaves in a storm.
Meanwhile, back in the cabin, Vice Admiral Momousagi struggled, inching closer to the door. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull herself up from the floor.
"Ah!" Clover's swift strikes sent some of the pirates crashing down, unable to get back up.
"Attack together!" a voice shouted.
More beastly transformations filled the deck—some pirates sprouted wings, others elongated claws. Many seemed to possess artificial Zoan Devil Fruits, but the chimpanzee transformation was genuine, a full Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
Clover swiftly blocked a claw with Ryū no Ha, then twisted and severed the arm with a single cut. He pivoted, stabbed forward, and pierced another pirate's heart. Sensing an attack from behind, he swung his sword horizontally, sending a dark-purple energy slash that sliced through three more enemies.
"Is that… a flying slash?" Clover murmured, marveling at Ryū no Ha. This supreme-grade sword seemed to grow sharper, more attuned with each swing. It was beginning to harmonize with his fighting spirit.
Just as he was reveling in this newfound precision, another pirate charged with a blade. Clover, using only the lightest flick of his wrist, blocked the blow effortlessly, shattering the pirate's sword in the process. Grinning, Clover kicked him off the side of the ship.
The pirates hesitated. They couldn't fire without risking their crewmates, so they surrounded Clover, advancing slowly. But by now, he was well adjusted to the rhythm of Ryū no Ha, moving fluidly, dispatching the attackers with ease.
Though Clover's learning abilities were sharp—allowing him to mimic techniques by watching them in action—he knew his physical endurance had its limits. Without sufficient Armament Haki, even an average pirate with a modest bounty could catch him off guard.
Reflecting on this, Clover resolved to invest his newly gained experience in strengthening his endurance. After all, he'd need every ounce of it in dealing with Vice Admiral Momousagi, who was sure to be a tough adversary once untied.
As the last pirate fell, the deck grew eerily silent. Back in the cabin, Momousagi, hearing the sounds of the battle die down, held her breath. Could it be… Did the Marines get here too late? Anxiety quickened her movements as she summoned her strength.
"Iron Body! Armament Haki!" she shouted, channeling her Haki and charging her body as she rammed her forehead into the door. With a shattering crash, the door splintered, and she stumbled out onto the deck.
What she saw surprised her. It wasn't the Marines' ship. Clover was standing calmly, dusting himself off, looking around the deck strewn with defeated pirates. He turned to her with a small, resigned smile.
"Guess I don't have a choice but to loot whatever's left behind," he said, gathering up bags of supplies. "It's not like I go around looking to rob people; they just keep coming to me."
With that, Clover kicked the enemy ship's deck, leaping back onto his own vessel as the ship behind him began to crack and sink. Momousagi felt a chill. If the Marines did manage to find her, would they meet the same fate as this ship?
"Oh? You escaped again?" Clover looked up and saw Momousagi at the door of her room. She ignored him, turning her gaze aside.
"This is a new ship, you know, and you already wrecked the door?" Clover mocked, shaking his head at the broken pieces on the floor.
Momousagi still refused to respond.
"Fine, give me the silent treatment. Just don't complain about the cold sea breeze tonight." Clover hoisted her up and placed her back on the bed. "Dinner will be ready soon; just wait a little longer."
He paused at the door, glancing back. "Want a wash-up? I can help."
"Get out!" Momousagi yelled, cheeks flushing with frustration.
"Suit yourself," he chuckled, retreating to the kitchen.
Left alone, Momousagi took a deep breath. This day—and this man—had pushed her to the edge of her patience.
Later that evening, Clover returned with a hot towel, a bowl of soup, and a sense of persistence. Despite her protests, he helped clean her face, brushed her teeth, and even fed her the meal bit by bit. Though she resisted at first, Momousagi eventually accepted the help. After all, struggling was pointless; she might as well endure it, even if every moment grated on her pride.