Chapter 438

Master You saw this scene and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, you, you're really amusing! Lady Perona! I'll take care of this for now! Always facing that annoying guy, this human is far more interesting! You should go back first—tonight's night hunt will probably demand your full effort, Lady Perona."

Having finished speaking, the Negative Phantom, though reluctant, floated up lazily and slipped into the wall, vanishing.

"So… this is our battle, then."

Sima Di stretched his body… though this battle didn't require his close-combat abilities.

Sima Di was about to say "Come at me," but the other made a shushing gesture and playfully winked at him.

Huh? What's going on? Sima Di froze.

After a moment, the other finally spoke.

"Lady Perona must have left by now… Hey! Human across from me, I'm Kamaï, a Scythe-Weasel-type General Zombie. And you?"

"Sima Di, vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates," Sima Di replied succinctly.

"Eh? Don't be so cold! Talk more!"

Kamaï walked over with a smile, but Sima Di still didn't lower his guard.

"Relax, I won't attack you anymore. Those were just for Lady Perona's benefit."

Kamaï retracted the long blade from his right arm and leaned against the Iron Thorns, clearly showing no intent to attack.

Sima Di, half-skeptical, ordered the Iron Cloud Shell to retract all Iron Thorns, but kept the Fire Sprite and Iron Cloud Shell enchanted.

"You… really won't attack me? Why?"

"Why… let me think." Kamaï put on a thoughtful expression. "I guess it's because you're so cute, I just can't bring myself to attack you."

"That excuse… is too forced," Sima Di stepped back, eyeing Kamaï suspiciously.

No matter how he looked, every strand of hair from his cowlick to the fur on his toes seemed to scream "conspiracy."

"Eh? You're breaking my heart! You're the first human I've ever felt close to!" Kamaï sniffled twice.

Though Sima Di could tell the sniffles were fake, his Busoshoku Haki told him the words were true.

Including that Kamaï thought he was cute.

My god, does my appearance actually match the Fur Tribe's sense of beauty?

Sima Di was deeply shaken.

"Sima Di, don't you believe me yet?" Kamaï looked at him, blinking innocently.

Sima Di…

Sima Di shuddered.

"No, it's not that I don't believe you. I can feel your words are true. I just… can't quite accept it…"

Yeah, can't quite accept that my appearance matches the Fur Tribe's aesthetic.

"Then it's settled! Sima Di!"

To Sima Di's astonishment, Kamaï leapt up.

Kamaï lunged forward with a loving hug, rubbing his face against Sima Di's.

Sima Di felt utterly helpless.

Right, this must be the Fur Tribe's usual greeting… what was it called again… Karucho?

"Hey hey hey, wait, hold on!" Sima Di forcibly pushed Kamaï away. "I know you're trying to show your enthusiasm, but I'm human—I can't handle this."

"Oh, sorry! I forgot you're human. My zombie aura must be really unpleasant for you," Kamaï said, his large tail swaying happily behind him like a dog greeting its master.

"Now that you mention it… yeah." Sima Di truly smelled a faint stench of decay emanating from Kamaï, and his own body had been tainted with it.

But Sima Di wasn't smelling this odor for the first time—he just needed to take a deep breath and let his nose adapt.

Human noses are sometimes so easily fooled.

"Could you please tell me why you've suddenly become so affectionate? Shouldn't our relationship be hostile?" Sima Di still couldn't understand.

"Didn't I say? Seeing you just feels warm and familiar. Kamaï really likes Sima Di," Kamaï shook his head and wagged his tail.

"I… I see…" Sima Di still doubted, but his Busoshoku Haki confirmed Kamaï was telling the truth.

"Hey, Sima Di, stay here with Kamaï, okay? You don't have a shadow, so you can't go into bright places. Stay here—I'll take care of you! As for Lady Perona, I'll convince her myself." Kamaï smiled.

Sima Di thought for a moment, then said—

"I could… I suppose…"

"Yay! Sima Di's staying!" Kamaï launched himself into Sima Di's arms.

Watching Kamaï's scythe-weasel tail wagging excitedly, Sima Di suddenly felt like he'd adopted a pet.

"Wait, I haven't finished speaking… take me to see Perona. Since I'm staying, I'll have to deal with her eventually. Let's go greet her now?"

"Oh… Sima Di's right. But…" Kamaï looked hesitant.

"What's wrong?"

"Lady Perona is in the Gubao at the island's center, so it's a bit far…" Kamaï thought, then said, "How about this? Kamaï will carry Sima Di to Lady Perona!"

"That's not appropriate… ah!"

Before Sima Di could refuse, Kamaï scooped him up in his arms and leapt out the fifth-floor window.

The Fire Sprite and Iron Cloud Shell stared, bewildered.

So… the master was just taken away?

"Hey! Put me down… aaaaah!"

Sima Di's scream echoed for the third time through the Terror Ship.

Clearly, this place is truly terrifying.

On Lina's side.

At a bridge inside the Gubao.

A giant spider's eerie eyes darted wildly, emitting an unsettling cackle.

At this moment, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were already missing, while Robin and Franky were trapped by specially woven spider silk.

It was simply the worst possible situation.

"Tarara, no matter what you say, I will not give up."

"I have no master! Nor do I recognize that guy!"

"I only have my captain! I am Ma Di, the first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates!"

Covered in blood, Lina rose once more, her eyes unusually determined, gripping the Divine Technique Blade tightly in her hand.

Though he could not recall who they were, he was willing to fight for them with his life! As the first mate, it was his duty and obligation to protect them!

"Prepare yourself! Tarara!"

"Star-Splitting!"

Tarara let out a "tsk" sound, lifted one of its legs, and effortlessly flung the charging Lina away.

"Ah~!"

Franky and Robin watched helplessly as Lina was flung away for the seventh time.

In their impression, was Ma Di really so fragile?

"All I need are humans; I have no use for a creature like you," Tarara said.

"But I will not surrender unless you kill me." Lina rose once again.

Although Franky and Robin were deeply moved, they also sensed something strange.

If this body were that of an ordinary human, it would have died countless times by now. Yet Lina had lost only a small amount of blood and could still stand. As for his bottle, its quality was even more astonishing. Could it be that this Lina was...

Just as Lina raised the Divine Technique Blade, intending to attack again, a song drifted gently over.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho~"

Cloudy skies with occasional bone falls; please, citizens going out, ensure you have your protective measures ready.

"Wait a moment, Mr. Skeleton, could you first explain exactly what is happening?" Robin asked.

"The person before you is not Ma Di at all, but merely a zombie stuffed with Ma Di's shadow..."

Brook recounted everything: how his shadow had been stolen and how he had come to understand Moria's abilities.

Listening to Brook's tale, Lina's expression grew unusually desolate.