Chapter Eleven: The Emperor of Reason

Why?

Indeed!

At this very moment, Chu Yi, Mihawk, and Jinbe all desperately wanted to know why Gecko Moria had saved Chu Yi.

From the Evil Dragon’s account, there was no doubt that Gecko Moria was the one who had attacked the "Heaven-Slaying" pirate crew. Furthermore, Moria’s presence clearly exuded the aura of Tiger and Lucci. Chu Yi was almost certain Moria was an enemy. Otherwise, why would Moria have used his Devil Fruit powers to steal the shadows of Tiger and Lucci for no reason?

Now, the situation was complicated...

The one originally assumed to be an enemy had actually saved him in such a perilous moment, leaving Chu Yi feeling extremely awkward.

So, still shaken but safe, Chu Yi’s first priority was not to clarify the critical details of his special awakening mission, but rather...

Gecko Moria, what on earth are you thinking?

As Chu Yi posed the question, he looked exhausted from the ordeal. Mihawk held his sword with one hand, while Jinbe’s muscular body was tense in his arms, clearly ready to capture Moria at the slightest provocation.

But just as they all watched Moria warily, waiting for his answer...

“Hehehehehe!”

First came the signature eerie laughter, echoing from Moria’s direction.

Then...

The tall, sturdy figure slowly sat down. Moria looked up at the sky, then smiled gently and said, “Honestly, since I appeared, I don’t think I’ve said a single word, have I?”

“Since that’s the case...”

“How did you decide I was the enemy?”

Seeing Chu Yi about to speak, Moria quickly waved his hand to interrupt him. His smile gradually faded as he turned to Chu Yi and continued, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re the red fishman’s companion, right? Frankly, I’m not actually your enemy. So now I want to ask you—where does this hostility toward me come from?”

“Hmph. You say you’re not the enemy, so you’re not?”

Moria’s words had barely fallen when Jinbe pointed at the Evil Dragon in his arms and said gruffly, “Then why does my companion say you attacked our fleet?”

“Honestly, that wasn’t an attack!”

Moria shrugged helplessly, his face innocent. “At that time, the mysterious power of Dark Island appeared again. I had been separated from my companions and saw a fleet anchored by the shore—I had to seek help! I didn’t expect that red fishman on your ship was just as hot-tempered as you guys. The moment I appeared, he attacked me!”

“Honestly... I’m just as innocent here!”

“We believe you’re innocent, but...” Chu Yi rolled his eyes at Moria, who was completely unlike the sinister figure in the pirates’ original tale. Covering his face, he said, “Can you please stop always saying ‘honestly’? It’s really annoying!”

“Isn’t ‘honestly’ a good thing?” Moria retorted. “I’m someone who likes to be reasonable, but you don’t want me to be reasonable. That’s a bit unreasonable of you!”

Alright then...

You win!

Being saved by the one he thought to be an enemy at such a critical moment was astonishing enough for Chu Yi.

What was even more unexpected was Moria’s personality during his early days.

This fellow was nothing like the cunning villain portrayed in the original pirate story. Who would have thought that the villainous-faced Gecko Moria could be a cheerful, sunny character with a constant smile and a penchant for reasoning everything out?

In an instant...

The formidable image of Moria as a Shichibukai shattered, revealing a living “goofball” right before Chu Yi’s eyes.

Then, he discreetly gave Mihawk a look, silently asking if he believed Moria’s words.

Seeing Mihawk slowly lower the blade in his palm, Chu Yi understood the message clearly: don’t trust Moria’s one-sided story. They would wait until the Evil Dragon awakened again and confront him face to face.

But on this eerie Dark Island...

Time was not on their side.

Almost as soon as Chu Yi and Mihawk silently agreed to meet Moria with skepticism rather than trust, Moria’s pupils narrowed sharply. He hurriedly said, “Honestly, you all need to be more careful! I’ve been on Dark Island for quite a while—at least two days!”

“When I first arrived, I probably thought like you—that the rumors about Dark Island were exaggerated. But in just one day, this island taught me a harsh lesson!”

“It...”

“It swallowed all my companions!”

Swallowed?

Like just now?

Recalling the near-“swallowing” experience sent chills down Chu Yi’s spine.

Now, seeing Moria’s intimate knowledge of Dark Island, regardless of whether his words were true, Chu Yi raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, “Moria, since you arrived before us, you must know Dark Island’s secrets, right?”

“Secrets of Dark Island? Are you joking?”

As Chu Yi finished, Moria struck a dramatic pose and said, “Honestly, the Navy has sent countless elite forces to uncover Dark Island’s secrets, all without success—and many elites have been lost! I’ve only been here a short time; do you really think I could have uncovered any secrets?”

“All I know is that at regular intervals, the island sends out a special signal guiding those trapped here to its center. Other than that...”

“Dark Island randomly swallows parts of itself or anyone nearby!”

“My companions, and even your companions, were swallowed by this island!”

Moria’s expression darkened, tears glistening in his eyes.

But Chu Yi’s focus was elsewhere.

He thought of Tiger, Smoker, and the crew of the Heaven-Slaying pirates.

According to Moria, those aboard the ship—including Tiger and Smoker—were likely doomed.

Because even Chu Yi felt powerless facing the island’s strange force. Though Tiger was strong, his efforts to save the crew could have led to disaster.

So, as soon as Moria finished speaking, Chu Yi and Mihawk exchanged a brief glance and understood each other perfectly.

They...

Needed to uncover Dark Island’s secrets as soon as possible—and find a way to rescue Tiger, who was very likely to be swallowed by the island.

While Chu Yi, Mihawk, and the others were once again lost in thought over Tiger’s fate...

On the other side of the island—

“Rumble... Rumble...!”

Accompanied by deafening sounds, signs of spatial collapse began to appear.

The next moment...

“Crack!”

A hidden figure trapped between layers of space emerged as the collapsing space shattered, returning to Dark Island.

“Isn’t Dark Island supposed to be very mysterious?”

“Why? Why?”

“Why can’t you kill me?!”