Grove 13, Sabaody Archipelago — Shakky's Rip-Off Bar
Because of the sudden arrival of Hancock and her sisters, a heavy atmosphere had settled over the bar.
"It's been so long already. Why aren't Ren Kuro and Gin back yet?" Shakky paced back and forth in front of the counter, worry written all over her face.
She had already witnessed Gin Ichimaru's power for herself.
But even so—
being targeted by a Marine Admiral usually meant disaster.
After all, Admirals were supposed to be unbeatable.
"Be patient," Rayleigh said, much calmer by comparison. He sat leisurely reading a newspaper, not looking worried at all. "I'm sure Ren Kuro and the others will come back safe."
"Rayleigh-san… I'm sorry. This only happened because we dragged him into it." Hancock let out a guilty sigh.
Marigold and Sandersonia hid behind her, their eyes still full of fear. They had yet to recover from the terror of their escape.
"I'm sure Ren Kuro stepped in because he knew what he was doing," Rayleigh said with a hearty laugh, trying to reassure them. "You don't need to blame yourselves."
Time passed little by little.
The atmosphere inside the bar grew heavier with every minute—
yet the door remained closed.
The three Gorgon sisters became more and more anxious, their hearts filling with guilt.
If Ren Kuro truly never came back—
they felt they would carry that guilt for the rest of their lives.
"…Will he really return?"
Hancock stared fixedly at the door, praying silently in her heart.
Though they had only met once, the courage Ren Kuro showed when he stepped forward to protect them had already left a deep mark in her heart.
She wanted to see him again.
Just then—
"Oh my, we finally made it back. Though letting him escape really is a pity."
A Kansai-tinged voice suddenly broke the silence.
"That voice…"
Everyone's expression changed at once as they stared toward the door.
And thankfully—
their waiting had not been in vain.
Two familiar figures appeared there.
Ren Kuro.
Gin Ichimaru.
After clashing with Kizaru—
the two of them had returned completely unharmed.
"Hah! Just like I said. Men as sharp as those two wouldn't go down so easily." Rayleigh lowered his newspaper, and there was obvious excitement in his voice now.
"…Thank goodness." Shakky let out a long breath of relief and quickly took a large gulp of wine to calm herself down.
"You're back!"
Tears of joy shimmered in Hancock's beautiful eyes.
She had thought all hope was gone—
only to be handed a miracle at the moment she felt most desperate.
"Hancock. Rayleigh-san. Shakky."
Ren Kuro smiled at them all.
"You've been waiting a while, haven't you? Sorry for making you worry."
"Ren Kuro… did Kizaru fail?" Rayleigh asked directly.
"He escaped," Ren Kuro replied with a nod. "But he paid a price. We took one of his arms."
"…What?!"
The three Gorgon sisters froze and stared at each other in complete disbelief, each seeing the same shock reflected in the others' eyes.
A Marine Admiral—
had lost an arm?
They hadn't heard that wrong, had they?!
"Marigold… did he just say Kizaru lost an arm?"
"…I think that's what he said."
"Sister… I heard it too."
Hancock was so stunned she couldn't say a word.
A Marine Admiral—
mutilated in battle.
If news of that spread, the whole world would erupt.
"Ren Kuro, you really were hiding something," Rayleigh said, his face full of astonishment. "To think even Kizaru would suffer in your hands."
"Most of the credit goes to Gin Ichimaru," Ren Kuro said honestly. "I was mostly watching from the side."
"Oh my, don't say that. I was only playing around with him a little."
The way Ren Kuro and Gin brushed it off made everyone's mouths twitch uncontrollably.
The way they said it—
it sounded as though they had just bullied some random weakling.
That was a Marine Admiral!
Weren't they supposed to be the ones feeling relieved right now?!
Everyone's faces filled with silent question marks.
"Ahem." Ren Kuro gave a light cough and quickly changed the subject. "Now that Kizaru has lost an arm, we can't stay on Sabaody any longer."
"Ren Kuro… what are you planning?" Rayleigh asked, his brows knitting slightly.
"Rayleigh-san, staying here will only cause more unnecessary trouble. I'm planning to escort Hancock and her sisters back to Amazon Lily."
"The Calm Belt… Amazon Lily, huh?" Rayleigh thought for a moment, then laughed. "In that case, I'll give you a hand. Crossing the Calm Belt isn't difficult for me."
"Then it's settled." Ren Kuro agreed at once. "We leave immediately for Amazon Lily."
With Rayleigh helping them, all the risks of the journey would drop sharply.
"Ren Kuro… thank you."
A deeply moved smile finally appeared on Hancock's beautiful face.
Ever since meeting him, it was as if she had found a ray of light in the darkness.
Ren Kuro gave her a reassuring nod.
That warm smile of his carved itself even deeper into the young girl's heart.
"Hancock, don't worry."
"I'll protect you."
Meanwhile…
Marineford — Marine Headquarters
When Kizaru returned to Headquarters missing one arm, it caused a massive uproar.
He had gone to Sabaody—
and in less than half a day, lost an arm.
What exactly had happened to him there?
Fleet Admiral's Office
The enormous office was deathly silent.
The air itself felt oppressive enough to make breathing difficult.
"Kizaru… are you serious? Both of them are Admiral-level?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed both hands down on the desk. After hearing the full truth from Kizaru, he could no longer keep his emotions under control.
"Two extremely dangerous monsters," Kizaru said as he leaned back against the sofa. His face was marked by unmistakable fatigue.
"Ren Kuro. Gin Ichimaru."
"Those so-called Shinigami…"
"Just who the hell are you?"
Sengoku stared out at the sea beyond the window, and it felt as though endless rage had gathered in his heart.
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