I'm just a grasshopper, please step on me and end my misery!

Meanwhile, on Whole Cake Island, in the castle hall Orion sat calmly at the head of the table watching as the members of the Charlotte family filed in one by one.

To his right, Gion who had covered a box with her admiral cloak, also gazed forward with a composed expression.

Although she had unexpectedly awakened Conqueror's Haki during the battle with the Beasts Pirates, standing beside the young Fleet Admiral, she hadn't changed much.

She still resembled a sword attendant, with her own Konpira at her waist and the Supreme Grade Great Sword entrusted to her by Orion.

To Orion left stood the two Admirals, Sakazuki and Kuzan.

As they watched the Charlotte family members slowly enter the hall, their expressions remained stoic, though the corners of their mouths involuntarily curved into faint smiles.

As Admirals of the Marine Headquarters, they had clashed with the Yonko crews numerous times over the years, but each battle had ended inconclusively due to various factors, leaving them frustrated and feeling as though something was stuck in their throats.

Now, having taken down two of the Emperors of the Sea in the New World, they felt a sense of relief as if a long-standing constipation had finally been cured.

Mihawk, Hancock, Jinbei, Doflamingo and Crocodile stood side by side on the right side of the hall.

Moria, who had made the final decision to become a Marine soldier, did not stand with Mihawk and the others.

Instead, he faced off against Morgan, standing like two guardian deities on either side of the castle gate.

Perona had not entered the hall either.

Instead, she floated beside Moria, holding a red umbrella, her small head occasionally peeking into the doorway, her large eyes curiously scanning the hall.

Noticing the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, Perona quickly lost interest.

Puffing her cheeks, she turned her gaze away and spoke in a bored tone.

"Moria-sama, what were you thinking? Giving up your position as a Warlord to become a Marine soldier! If you're a soldier now, then what does that make me? Not even a soldier?"

"Kishishishi, you're a Marine family member."

Moria, who had fully embraced his new identity as a Marine soldier, let out his signature laugh.

Then, leaning closer to Perona, he whispered "I have a task for you."

"What?" Perona eyes lit up.

Moria glanced at Morgan across from him, who showed no reaction, and continued in a hushed voice.

"Go find out where the dead members of the Big Mom Pirates are buried. Once the Fleet Admiral leaves Whole Cake Island, we'll steal their bodies!"

"Where are the bodies?"

Perona pouted, clearly annoyed. "I heard from some Marines that there were tens of thousands of people gathered on Whole Cake Island, but after being frozen into ice sculptures, they were all turned to dust by the shockwaves from the battle."

"What a pity~"

Moria hung his head low "That was tens of thousands of people!"

"Huh~"

Suddenly, Moria eyes lit up again "Kaido and Charlotte Linlin bodies are still there!"

Perona big eyes also sparkled with excitement.

Then, the duo, who were more like father and daughter than anything else, exchanged a knowing smile and burst into laughter.

"Horohorohoro~"

"Kishishishishi~"

Hearing the eerie laughter of this 'father-daughter' pair, the Marine officer standing opposite them, Captain Morgan, couldn't help but shiver.

He then widened his eyes and roared "Hey, hey, hey! What are you laughing about?"

"Especially you, Soldier Moria! I order you to shut up immediately!"

"Yes, Captain Morgan!" Moria quickly straightened up and raised his hand in a salute, shouting loudly.

"Loyalty!"

"Hmph!"

Seeing Moria being scolded by a mere captain, Perona immediately let out a dissatisfied snort. She then floated over to Morgan, pointing her finger at his nose.

"Why are you so mean? Not cute at all! I hate you!"

Before she even finished speaking, a ghostly figure materialized out of thin air.

Before Morgan could react, the ghost silently slipped into his body.

In the next second, Morgan, who had been full of bravado just moments ago, fell to his knees with a thud, his face filled with utter despair.

"How could I ever be worthy of the Fleet Admiral favor?"

"I'm just a grasshopper, please step on me and end my misery!"

"Horohorohoro~" Perona looked down at the despairing Morgan, who was kneeling and begging for death, with her hands on her hips, proudly declaring.

"See if you dare to be mean to Moria-sama again!"

"Gasp!"

Moria, standing opposite, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath, urgently saying.

"Perona, don't mess around! Captain Morgan is my superior now! Quick, let him go!"

As the former captain of the Thriller Bark Pirates, Moria had practically raised Perona single-handedly, so he was well aware of her temperament and the abilities of her Devil Fruit.

Especially Perona Paramecia-type Ghost-Ghost Fruit, which was practically a bug-level ability.

Not only could she freely control ghosts with various effects that could pass through walls, ceilings, and even human bodies without obstruction, but she could also use her fruit power to plunge people into a state of deep negativity.

"Oh~"

Perona obediently withdrew the ghost and then floated back to Moria side.

As soon as the ghost was retracted, Morgan immediately regained his senses.

"MORIAAAA!"

The moment he came to his senses, recalling the scene of himself kneeling in despair and begging to be stepped on, Morgan exploded like a powder keg, roaring at Moria.

"How dare you attack your superior and commit insubordination! You're dead!"

"I... I didn't, Captain Morgan" Moria replied with an innocent expression, waving his hands.

"I don't care!" Morgan waved his hand dismissively, glaring fiercely at Moria.

"From now on, you will recite the Three Character Classic until the Fleet Admiral leaves!"

"Huh?"

Moria eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Captain Morgan, I... I can't recite it! I only remember the first few lines."

"Then recite the first few lines!" Morgan barked viciously. Before Moria could react, Perona immediately floated forward a bit.

Seeing this, Morgan widened his eyes and urgently said.

"Don't come any closer! Just stay there, don't move!"

Perona puffed her cheeks and retorted "Why are you so mean? I didn't say I was coming over!"

'That's good.'

Morgan secretly wiped off a sweat, then turned his head to look at Moria, his expression instantly turning fierce.

"Start reciting!"

Hearing this, Moria gave Perona a resentful glance, then lowered his head and began reciting.

"At the beginning of life, human nature is good… If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault."

At that moment.

Led by Smoothie, several members of the Charlotte family hurried over carrying a red stone tablet.

Amid Moria punishment, Smoothie who had arrived at the castle gate, glanced back at her younger siblings struggling to carry the tablet.

Seeing how difficult it was for them, she sighed inwardly, then silently walked over, hoisted the tablet onto her shoulder and decisively turned to enter the castle hall.

"Thud—"

With a soft sound, Smoothie placed the red stone tablet steadily in front of Orion, then immediately knelt on one knee, bowing her head and saying.

"Lord Orion, the Road Poneglyph has been delivered."

At these words, the gazes of everyone present were drawn to the red stone tablet.

The most excited were undoubtedly Crocodile and Doflamingo.

Especially Crocodile, who had once harbored ambitions of becoming the Pirate King.

Although he had chosen to bow to the Marine Admiral, he couldn't resist the allure of the Road Poneglyph.

His eyes scanned the tablet as his feet reflexively stepped closer.

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