Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me

Unleashing attacks beyond one's own limits places an immense burden on the body.

Moria's bloodshot eyes were fixed on Lox, and she said coldly, "If you want to show off and ridicule me, then forget it."

“Defeat is defeat, and I, Moonlight Moria, am not so shameless as to deny it. Meeting a damned monster like you is just my bad luck…”

Did the other person block it?

Of course it was blocked!

Although he injured the other person, he recovered in the blink of an eye, which was not what he had imagined.

The other side doesn't have the slightest injury whatsoever...

This guy is a monster!

What is this restorative power all about?

"Since you admit defeat and I blocked your attack, let's do as agreed."

Locus grinned and said, "Join my Blackwing Archdeacon and become my companion, Moria!"

"Hehehe, a promise? When did I ever say that if I lost to you, I would join you and become your subordinate?"

Moria remained lying on the ground, letting out a sharp, mocking laugh: "I am Moonlight Moria, how could I possibly become someone else's subordinate!"

"Don't be so stubborn."

Lockes raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "I am Zhao Nan, and I will not hold back against your murderous intent just now."

"..."

Moria narrowed her eyes.

The other party did indeed hold back.

No... I should say that he held back at the very end.

Otherwise, I'd probably just be an incomplete corpse right now...

Moria let out a strange laugh: "Hehehe, I'm a little surprised that you think so highly of me."

"Why would a monster like you choose to recruit a loser like me..."

He genuinely couldn't understand the other person's thoughts.

Given their strength, reputation, and prestige, a single call to arms would undoubtedly draw countless people to join their ranks…

They might even be able to recruit some powerful individuals.

Why are they so fixated on themselves?

He was just a loser, a loser who failed several times, a loser who failed even with the help of "external forces"...

Why would such a monster, a powerful figure who could definitely rival the Four Emperors in the future, extend an olive branch to a loser like him?

"Don't belittle yourself like that. I said that just now to influence you with words, so that I could better win you over once you've broken down your defenses."

Rocks chuckled, "You... well... perhaps not strong among the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"At least excluding that one move, you are weaker than Crocodile and Hanafuda."

"But your strength is also greater than that of the vast majority of people on the sea."

"Most importantly, although you are not a good person, you are at least a kind and righteous person."

"You dared to draw your sword against Kaido for the sake of your hometown, and that's why I'm recruiting you."

Strength was one aspect, but Rocks wanted to recruit Moria because Moria was indeed quite kind and righteous.

It's inherently difficult to judge whether someone is good or bad.

There's no point in saying more.

Moria used to be a chivalrous hero with dreams and a strong sense of loyalty, but Kaido shattered his "heart of the Way".

Only at the very end did it reach its extreme...

Well, even the extreme ones are only limited in their viciousness.

What kind of vicious things do you expect a shut-in who hasn't left the house for years to do?

Regardless of whether it was for the sake of shadows, at least Moria didn't kill those whose shadows had been cut off...

In any case, Moria's actions did not cross Rocks' bottom line.

That's why Rocks wanted to recruit him!

"..."

Hearing Lox's blunt words, Moria felt somewhat pleased, and grinned, "Hehehe, it seems you know quite a bit, Blackwing Archdeacon..."

"However, I..."

"Don't force me to use your partners to threaten you, Moria. It makes me feel like a villain."

Lox interrupted Moria.

With a snap of his fingers, Locke shook his head and said, "Your subordinate who ate the Spirit Fruit has really angered my navigator."

"If it weren't for my desire to recruit you, what do you think would have happened to that ghost lady?"

Rocks said confidently, "My navigator is a very vengeful person. Although she is kind-hearted, she may not kill Miss Ghost."

"But it's certain that the other party will be humiliated and tormented for a long time."

"Your ghost lady's days ahead are probably not going to be easy."

“She will be treated as a servant or maid on my ship, and she will have to do all the dirty and hard work.”

"Moreover, they didn't eat well, weren't dressed warmly, and had to do hard labor all day long; if they didn't do it well, they would be whipped..."

"This situation could continue until the end of her life!"

Lox feigned a sigh and said earnestly, "Moria, if you don't want to see Miss Ghost end up like that, you'll need to seriously consider my offer..."

Chapter 172 Moria's Choice... and the "reckless" Perona!

"..."

Moria fell silent.

His lips started twitching wildly...

Is this what you call not threatening him with his companions?

Just thinking about what might happen to Perona ignited a fire of anger within Moria...

Because he had lost his companions, his love and care for them were genuine.

Especially Perona.

This is the person he raised from childhood, whom he treated like a daughter.

He would never forgive himself if his daughter were treated like a slave or servant...

Thinking of all this, Moria gritted her teeth and said, "If you dare to do this, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

"Don't threaten me with this useless nonsense."

Lox chuckled: "It's only if you die that nothing really changes. I'll be honest with you, Moria."

"Now you only have two choices."

"First, she will die a tragic death at my hands. The ghostly girl will become our prisoner because of our defeat, a servant and slave on our ship."

"Secondly, join us and become our partner. This way, you will not only have the possibility of taking revenge on Kaido in the future, but you can also avoid the tragic fate of the Ghost Girl."

As he spoke, Rocks walked to Moria's side, flashing him a flamboyant smile: "Then choose one, Moria!"

If they're not allies, then they're potential enemies.

Rocks never showed mercy to his enemies.

Perona will die too; there won't actually be any situation where they're captured and enslaved on the ship.

If Moria refuses, their fate will be to have their heads severed by the Seven Star Sword...

"..."

Moria fell silent again.

A second later, he stared at Lockes with a fierce look, gritting his teeth and saying, "Aren't you afraid that I'll pretend to join you, and then find a chance to kill you?"

“If that happens, what awaits you will not be as simple as death. I will use the cruelest methods to show you the consequences of betrayal.”

"This is not a threat, but a fact," Lockes said calmly, a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

The murderous intent vanished instantly, and Locus smiled, saying, "Of course, if you don't betray us, then you're our partners."

"I have always been very caring and loving towards my partners."

"Even my navigator sister dared to tap my head with her little fists..."

At this point, Rocks smiled from the bottom of his heart.

He certainly doesn't dislike bickering and playing around with Nami.

Some even enjoyed it.

With fun adventures and trustworthy companions to joke around with, Rocks is enjoying his life now.

"You cherish your partners, and I cherish my partners even more than you do. At least in this respect, we are the same kind of people."

"I believe that someone who knows how to cherish their partners is not a vicious person."

Rocks extended his right hand to Moria: "Join us, Moria. On the Black Demon, you don't have to worry about what happened before happening again."

"Because... we are strong!"

"..."

Moria recalled the genuine smile on Lox's face when he spoke of his companions...

The smile when talking about a partner wasn't fake; no one could fake such genuine emotion.

The other person is someone who cherishes their partners very much.

Just like him in the past... no, just like him now.

A person who knows how to cherish their partners is not necessarily a vicious person.

He strongly agrees with this statement!

Many people have died at his hands, but most of them were those who abandoned their companions when faced with danger.

Even if that person was strong and his shadow was helpful, he still didn't keep him.

Instead, he used his own scissors to cut off the other person's head...

"Hehehehe..."

After a few seconds of silence, Moria suddenly grinned.

Moria didn't take Rocks' hand. Instead, ignoring her injuries and pain, she used her shadow to support herself as she got up...

His greater height allowed him to look down at Lox, and Moria grinned: "Your appreciation for your companions touches me."

"However, I can't tell if you're in disguise..."

"Therefore, in order to expose your 'hypocrisy,' I will be watching your every move!"

"If one day you reveal your true colors, I will pierce your skull with a dagger!"

Moria's smile turned sinister: "Anyone who deceives or abandons their companions deserves to die, and you, the Blackwing Archdemon, are no exception!"

Although it seemed like a random excuse to save face.

But anyone who isn't a fool can understand what Moria meant...

"Looks like I'll have another 'supervisor' in addition to Yixiao..."

Lox withdrew his right hand and laughed, "Then you'll just have to watch, Moria."

"If one day I maliciously deceive or abandon my companions, you probably won't even need to lift a finger; everyone else will take me down..."

"Hehehe, then let's add me to the list..."