Chapter 16

15th of February 1522
Thriller Bark

Moria sat in his personal salon in Thriller Bark. He leaned back in his massive chair, fingers steepled as he reflected on his growing power. He had to flee from Loguetown, leaving behind most of the treasures he stole from Arlong and Buggy. He did let a shadow in the Caravelle, if he had an opportunity to go back, but…it was too risky for the moment. Even if he used Lucci's shadow to redirect the attention on CP9. He did not for sure if Garp and Dragon had left the weakest of the seas. But it did not amount to much loss: the main prizes he secured were two subordinates in the form of Zoro and Nami, a SS-ranked Named Shadow, and access to two shadows with S or SS-ranked stats that he absorbed: Usopp, the brave warrior of the sea, and that weakling Buggy.

[Gecko Moria]

Class: Baron of Eventide
Job: Warlord of the Seas
Fruit: Kage Kage no Mi

Dourikis: 4,549/8,000
Potential: S
Fate: A

Physique: 2,001
Will: 649
Soul: 1,899

Named Shadow: 3/4

He now had three Named Shadows under his command: Lucci, Ryuma, and the Vinsmoke, Sanji. The latter had been reinforced with almost all the shadows he had harvested from East Blue. Yet, despite the infusion, Sanji's strength was still wanting. The shadows of East Blue, for all their numbers, lacked the power to make him truly formidable in battle.

[Vinsmoke Sanji]
Class: Named Shadow
Job: Chef
Douriki: 1 158
Rank: SS

His hypotheses about the hidden quest appeared to be correct. He was almost certain that grand acts of piracy—such as seizing territories and wreaking havoc, or obliterating Marine bases were the key elements. However, there was still some uncertainty, and he needed further validation : was it acts of Piracy in general ? Or the destruction of two marines bases? He also required one more A-ranked or higher subordinate and another significant act of piracy. With these, he could unlock the next level of his Class.

[Class Upgrade Quest]

To upgrade your Class from [Baron of Eventide] to [Marquis of Dusk]

Subquests:

1. Have a Fate of at least A: 1/1
2. Have a Potential of at least A: 1/1
3. Main Quest: A Crew for the New World! : 4/5
4. Hidden Quest: ? - 2/3

"Hmmmm…"

Moria pondered on the nature of the "system." He could understand gaining new abilities with his awakening, but the system was clearly pushing him in a particular direction. His four missions—well, three confirmed and one speculated—involved Training, Fighting, Recruiting Pirates, and committing acts of Piracy. Did the Devil Fruit push him towards violence, conquest, and conflict? Did... Did all Devil Fruits do that? Push towards conflict? Was that why there were almost no pacifist Devil Fruit users—all used them for combat instead of providing ice cream with one's ice-logia or helping heal people? Maybe that was what true freedom was about: not being liberated from tyranny and enslavement, but being liberated from the instinct of Devil Fruit users to fight.

He thought back to this Monkey D. Luffy. Son of Dragon, grandson of Garp, and, apparently, a boy who had eaten a fruit that allowed him to transform into the god Nika. Could it be that Luffy's true power was not just in his strength or abilities, but in his defiance of the inherent violence that came with his power?

Moria served himself a glass of wine, the rich, dark liquid swirling in the crystal goblet. He lifted it to his nose, inhaling deeply. The aroma was complex and intoxicating, a perfect blend of aged oak and ripe berries. He took a sip, savoring the intricate flavors as they danced across his palate. Yet, his mind soon returned to the matters at hand. There was also the issue of Potential and Fate stats. Before he ventured to the Blues, all the Fate and Potential ranks he had observed correlated quite closely. But starting with Isabella and Bege—who were of equivalent strength yet had radically different Fates—he had begun to question his understanding.

Was it because, had he not intervened, only Bege would have survived and perhaps made a name for himself on the world stage? Both certainly had the potential. So what did these Fate stats mean? Were they indicative of the paths they would have taken without his intervention, or the Fates they were destined for regardless of his actions? His system allowed him to change his own Fate, implying it was not set in stone. But if not, what did it signify? What did a high Fate mean? And why was the one of Monkey D. Luffy unquantifiable by a normal rank?

Again, his thoughts went back to Nika. He had found the boy on the Marine's boat and understood from the conversation of the guards that Luffy was detained for a crime he had himself committed. What would have happened if Moria had not been there? Would Luffy have met Zoro, perhaps even freed him? This scenario aligned with the legend of Nika, explaining the Fate of the swordsman. What if Zoro was destined to become one of Nika's companions without Moria's interference? And what about Nami? Usopp? Sanji? Buggy? All those one with a A to SS-rank Fate? Buggy did not fit the pattern. Maybe he was meant to be an important enemy? This would certainly explain the Fate of Krieg and Arlong, despite their D-rank potential.

The more Moria pondered, the more questions arose. It was clear that…His musings were interrupted by a knock on his door. Moria's eyes narrowed slightly as he called for the visitor to enter. The door creaked open, and Capone Bege stepped inside. Though he did not bow, his respect for Moria was evident in his wary and deferential demeanor.

[Capone Bege]

Class: Mafioso
Job : Godfather of the Bege Family
Fruit : Shiro Shiro no Mi

Dourikis: 323
Potential: A
Fate: B

Ho, it seemed he had made quite a lot of progress under the tutelage of Absalom. Even his bounty had been raised, probably a result from the unification of the five families of the West.

"Lord Moria," Bege began. "I have returned with a report on the status of our operations during your absence."

Moria gestured for him to continue, leaning back in his chair with an air of measured patience.

"Thanks to the Shadow Soldier you lent me, I have maintained total control over the criminal underground in West Blue," Bege reported. "Furthermore, I have placed Shadow Warriors in small hidden flasks on the most important islands and in the major kingdoms of Paradise. They are stored in caves or unused houses near the capitals, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice, or used for your technique."

Moria's lips curled into a slight smile, a rare expression of approval. "You've done well, Bege. Your initiative and management have proven valuable. Now, I will also give you five flasks containing Shadow Assassins. Two of these should be sent to Water Seven, and the other three distributed throughout East Blue". He needed to cover his tracks thoroughly, to estroy any evidence and eliminate any witnesses who might have recognized him or deduced his identity from his exchange with Mihawk at the Baratie. He had to ensure that neither Garp nor Dragon could trace it back to him.

Bege nodded, his expression serious. "Your will shall be done" he replied, understanding the gravity of the task.

"Excellent," Moria continued, his voice filled with satisfaction. "We must stay ahead of our enemies, and your efforts are crucial in achieving that."

Bege's posture relaxed ever so slightly, his relief barely noticeable. "Thank you, Lord Moria. I will continue to ensure your dominance remains unchallenged."

With a respectful nod, Capone Bege turned and left the room, leaving Moria alone with his thoughts. The silence was comforting, but Moria's mind buzzed with plans. Without the guidance of the Tutorial Gifts' Cursed and Blessed Box, he had to chart his own course.

Moria leaned back in his chair, contemplating his next move. The thought of returning to the New World and felt daunting but not impossible. Hell, taking revenge on Kaido did not seem impossible. Even becoming the King of the Pirates felt like a reachable dream. However, he knew he had to face titanic powers like Mihawk, Garp, and Dragon. East Blue was a wake-up call. Well, recall.

He estimated Kaido's strength to be slightly less than Garp's. So, around 20,000 to 25,000 dourikis. In contrast, Moria's current douriki stood at 4,549. The gap was significant, and he needed to become much stronger. He thought about going after the promising rookies with big bounties in the Blues, who would soon enter the Grand Line. Perhaps they held the shadows he needed. After all, he had hit the jackpot in the weakest of the seas. These rookies, with their raw potential, could maybe provide a boost to his level. But it would take time. A lot of time.

In any case, he knew he could not rush this endeavor. Kaido commanded a formidable army of minions, and some were incredibly strong ones like King and Queen. To contend with such powerhouses, Moria needed to build an army of his own. As it stood, none of his current subordinates, whether Shadows or living allies, were capable of facing even one of Kaido's Headliners .

15th of February 1522
Enies Lobby

Spandam was panicking. It had been more than forty-eight hours since he should have received the report from the agents deployed in Water Seven. And nothing. Nada. What were the five elders going to say? He had sent other, lower-ranked agents from CP6 to verify… and apparently, Khalifa, Blueno, Kaku, and Lucci had totally disappeared. They found traces of battle at Kaku's dock, but that was all. Nothing more. Had they been killed? No, it was impossible. Nobody in Paradise had that ability. Had they… defected? He feared the answer was yes. But it was impossible! They were his most faithful! And he was an amazing boss, wasn't he?

The day could not go worse.

His Den Den Mushi rang, the jarring sound cutting through his frantic thoughts. Spandam snatched up the receiver, his nerves frayed. "What is it now? Can't you see I'm busy?"

The voice on the other end was unmistakable, a gruff bark that instantly sent a chill down Spandam's spine. "This is Vice Admiral Garp. Watch your tone, you damn fool."

Spandam's blood ran cold. Garp's voice was like a sledgehammer to his already fragile composure. He could feel the sweat trickling down his back as Garp continued, each word dripping with disdain. "I'll ask you once, Spandam. Have any of your agents defected?"

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. How could Garp know? The room seemed to spin as panic clawed at his mind. He felt his throat tighten, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. This was bad. Very bad.

Without thinking, he slammed the receiver down, cutting off the connection. Fuck! His hands shook as he realized the magnitude of what had just happened - and what he had just done. How did he know?

15th of February 1522
Thriller Bark

Perona sulked in her usual corner of the castle. Her long pink hair, styled in twin tails, swayed gently as she pouted, feeling thoroughly displaced. Everything went to hell! For days, she had endured the indignity of physical training, ruining her manicure and making her—bleh—sweat. The barbarian woman or one of those creepy Shadow Warriors oversaw her exercises, and the whole ordeal was beneath her. She was tired! TI-RED! In truth, she was no longer at the top of the food chain, and it worried her. She hadn't been useful to Moria for a long time. He didn't even take her to travel the Blues. Instead, he took those two new sluts. Shame. She had wanted to go !

So she had tried to show the newcomers who was top dog. When she tried to assert her dominance, things went awry. The green-haired man didn't care about her ghosts, and when she attacked the man with a fedora, the Shadow Warrior that always followed her stopped her. Creepy! He even put a hand on her princessly shoulder! Disgusting! But then, she learned there was a new, weak, innocent girl from the Blues.

From her vantage point, Perona watched the newcomer frolicking in the rose garden of the castle. The girl's orange hair glowed under the sunlight. She wore a delicate yellow summer dress. She looked like a picture of innocence, her wide eyes filled with wonder as she admired the blooming roses. The girl's carefree demeanor and unguarded laughter grated on Perona's nerves. The sight of the girl, so oblivious and vulnerable, ignited a spark of malice in Perona. She imagined how easily she could frighten her, sending ghosts to chase her through the garden, making her scream and run. The thought brought a mischievous smile to ber lips. She might not be the top dog anymore, but she could still remind everyone that she could be terrifying if she wanted. And this new slut, with her innocence and naivety, would be the perfect target.

With a flick of her wrist, she sent a few negative ghosts drifting towards the unsuspecting girl. They moved silently. She anticipated the usual reaction—tears, despair, maybe even some screaming, as they went through her.

But nothing happened.

The girl continued to frolic, her laughter ringing out as she admired the roses. Perona's smile faltered, confusion etching across her delicate features. The ghosts passed through the girl, and instead of her collapsing into a heap of misery, the ghosts themselves seemed to change. One started to cry, its wails echoing softly. The other looked... unwell, its spectral form flickering erratically.

Perona's eyes widened in horror. This was not how it was supposed to go. Who was this girl, and why were her ghosts reacting this way? She clenched her parasol tightly, a mix of fear and frustration bubbling within her.

"Who the fuck is that?" Perona whispered to herself, the words escaping in a hushed tone. Everything was changing, and she hated it. Even she, the ghost princess, was creeped-out ! Could nothing remain as it was before? She wanted to go back to the good old times! If only there was a way…