40 Chapter 39

◇Deep in the Whale Forest◇

◆Shikage's POV◆

I finished talking. Now it's time to listen to the others.

I waved at Nami and walked to the sidelines with Marco.

Law quietly went beside us.

"Huh? I thought you wanted to keep our connection as secret." (Shikage)

"Come to think of it~yoi. His bounty is reinstated. What do we do Shika?" (Marco)

"Don't joke around, Kage-ya! Marco-ya!.. Hah... It doesn't matter anymore." (Law)

Hahaha! Of course, our conversation is light. It's been a while since the reincarnation team is assembled!

The three of us were whispering while we watch as the Straw hats and the Samurai are talking.

"Marco, I want you to know that there will be a war against Blackbeard in just a few days. Do you want to come?" (Shikage)

"Uh, I'm going~yoi! I also have a score to settle. Also Shika... I'm thinking of joining the battle on Wano." (Marco)

I looked at his face and I can see his serious expression.

"What? Is that true Kage-ya? We all know that Blackbeard is a monster!" (Law)

"Yeah, I know. Isn't it also the same with Kaido and yet your alliance is going to fight him? Don't worry, we have already finished our preparation!" (Shikage)

The three of us were just discussing when we noticed Luffy and the kid become allies. Law immediately went to Luffy to complain.

While Marco and I slowly walk to the group.

"Oi, Aren't you forgetting us? Neko, I'll be coming with you~yoi. Oden is also a friend of mine." (Marco)

"Really? Thank you-gara! If you join us, It's really a big help for us!" (Nekomamushi)

"I see! Then! It's Ninja-Hunter-Mink-Samurai-Pirate Alliance!!" (Luffy)

I went to Nami's side and we chuckled together at the formation of the strange alliance.

But it's too bad that I can't stay here for too long. I have many things to do.

And so, I did what I had to do. Enjoy a lovely time with my girlfriend. I felt guilty at what happened in Gran Tesoro. I'll tell her everything when I'm done with the preparations.

Then I gave her some presents, luxurious jewelry, and fancy clothes from Gran Tesoro.

Even the Straw hats received some of the stuff I brought with me.

Luffy kept asking me how can I put my hands inside my shadow and took out things from it.

I left them in their own imagination.

I may have to stay away from the plot for now.

Before they left the place, I said my goodbye to Nami and her Nakama. The minks told me to keep Raiden safe and to visit again.

Law shook my hands and nods at me. He seems to be respecting me. It's good to have a serious and reliable Kohai. Who knows, Maybe I'll depend on him someday.

Then, I walked towards someone.

"Robin-san, I need to talk with you for a minute." (Shikage)

My words were so sudden that they caught her off guard. I really need to inform her before I leave this place.

"Ah, very well. What is it Guildmaster?" (Robin)

"Uhm... The operation called the cleansing of darkness is now in its final phase." (Shikage)

Robin's eyes widen. She is the only one among the people here that has a connection to the RA and my Guild. Naturally, She knows the scheme.

The scheme to make Blackbeard fall into thinking that the headquarters that's full of weapons is unprotected.

Also, since the Chief of Staff just confiscated a lot of weapons from Dressrosa. The subordinates of Blackbeard may think that they can take it all.

After she took in the information, Robin looked at me for a while and sighed.

"I see, I understand Guildmaster." (Robin)

As I expected, Robin-san is really the mature one and she's so wise.

"Thank you Robin-san, Please tell her to not worry. I'll be coming out alive. I promise." (Shikage)

I am not sure what will happen in the next few days. My priority is to stay alive and win! I'll tell Nami if the time is right.

After finishing my objectives in Zou. I told them I'm going.

Some of the Straw hats were confused since they didn't know how can I leave.

"Here, Take my invitation and go there in their front door. I'll be joining you all soon." (Shikage)

I gave Luffy my invitation and wonder if it can change the outcome.

"You guys, I'll be seeing you on the day of the Tea party." (Shikage)

"Oh! Alright! See you, Shika!!" (Luffy)

"Thank you for the sweets! Bye~!" (Chopper)

"Kage-san, Please take care of yourself~" (Brook)

After hearing all the males, I approached my loved one and hugged her tightly.

"Be safe, Nami... I love you~" (Shikage)

Nami's face was really red due to her blushing.

"... Ah, Me too! I love you too! Uhh~ I can't believe you made me say that in front of everyone... Shika you baka~" (Nami)

(a/n: this doesn't mean that Nami doesn't like my OC. Did I got the tsun tsun or not?)

Nami was slapping my chest lightly. Ehehe How cute~

Then, I let her go and shook hands with the others.

"Straw hats! Take care of Nami for me! Hehehe... I'll get going then" (Shikage)

"Oh! Leave it to the great Usopp-sama!" (Usopp)

"Auw! We're SUPER reliable! Don't worry Shika-kun!" (Franky)

"Hey... Don't die." (Zoro)

"What was that, Zoro?! Don't you say words like that, Idiot!" (Nami)

I let out a chuckle seeing Nami. I don't know what Zoro knows but I think that he guesses something due to how I looked at Nami. Is it my resolve or actions that made him worry?

I don't know but Blackbeard's not an easy opponent. He's also a schemer so I don't know what will happen.

"I got it. I won't! This time, Its for real. I'll be going then. Bye everyone!" (Shikage)

Then I was slowly sinking under my own shadows as I waved at them.

It's so amusing how their faces change quickly!

All the stupid ones in the room were so shocked that their eyes may fall off from their sockets.

Even the ninja was surprised since he kept asking what trick I am using.

After a few seconds, I am at my own dimension. [Niflheim]

I can connect to the draugr at Gran Tesoro and can easily make my way there.

But I need to check up on things here.

It's time to assemble the Legion of the Undead. There's also my Shadow army!

I guess you can call me a one-man army if this would be known to the world.

(Well, Let's see where the grand price of killing Tesoro is) (Shikage)

Didn't I get my power because I know how the Fruit works? Although I'm not a master yet, I had a few successes here and then.

Tesoro's Devil Fruit is a success.

And I am on my way there. I have stored a lot of storage chests and treasures in my house in [Niflheim].

An asset that's only available for me.

It's going to take a while to organize my troops. I'll still do it. I need to make sure everything is alright.

◇New World, Zou◇

"Ah, There he goes." (Nami)

Nami sulked for a bit and Robin joined her.

The people there left the inner parts of the whale forest and heads back to the fortress.

"Eeeeh?! You guys were in the Pirate King's crew?" (Luffy)

The group converse. Marco also joined if anything is connecting to him like Oden and such.

"Hey, Nami. Do you think Shikage's a bit too strong? I mean, didn't we meet him at Thriller Bark and at that time, He's not that different from us." (Usopp)

Nami was approached by Usopp. She knew what he's thinking. She also agreed. Nami told him that the likely chance that he got strong is because of the Fruit's ability.

Since Nami experienced the [Spectral Thief], She got a glimpse at how Shikage becomes strong.

"It isn't simple as you think it is. That guy, he trained his Haki to an unprecedented level. I know because I can feel it." (Zoro)

Zoro felt that Shikage was quite tense a while ago. He could feel him restraining his Haki and he's preparing for something. It's like the calm before the storm. So, Zoro thought that there's going to be a battle of some sort.

"Uhm, Zoro... What is this Haki? Shika also wanted me to learn it." (Nami)

"Is it by chance, The aura something? I felt it when I took a shot at Sugar in Dressrosa!" (Usopp)

Zoro raised an eyebrow. To think that Usopp would be the first one aside from them to experience Haki. He smirked! The crewmates of the Pirate King aren't normal!

◇◇

Currently, the world is preparing for the reverie. The forces of the Navy are spread out to be the escort of those royalties.

Some of these royalties have preferred to have hunters as their escorts. Once the fleet admiral heard this, He was enraged.

Shikage's name has been considered taboo in the office of the fleet admiral.

Sakazuki despised the young man. He wanted to capture or deal with him but Sakazuki couldn't do anything since he's not a criminal. He was even revered as the protector of the civilians which is the purpose of the Navy.

It's also not good for the Navy that the former Admirals are on his side. What a disgrace!

Somehow, Shikage's popularity among the marines is rising. Since he's the only one among the warlords that will visit the Navy HQ from time to time to deposit pirates and criminals. There's plenty of opportunities for him to talk with marines and such.

Sakazuki would feel good if that young man joins the Navy but he knows that it isn't possible. Shikage is like the pirates who seek freedom and the one thing that separates him from those scum pirates is that he follows the rules like any civilian.

He can't find fault in Shikage's action to punish him. So he decided to focus elsewhere. But it seems that fate does want him to deal with Shikage. A concerning report from the Cipher Pol contains that there will be a three-way battle between the Hunters Guild, Blackbeard pirates, and the Revolutionary Army.

The five elders are summoning him to deal with this problem. Any movement of an Emperor would need cautious actions.

And so, The busy Navy has become even busier with the upcoming problem!

◇◇

◆Shikage's POV◆

The Legion of the undead contains three commander and their units. The Infantry would be led by Silver ax, the cavalry is led by Wang Zhi, and the range units are led by Gunner who has a different shadow.

As for the leader of these zombies, Captain John was demoted and the Special rank Oz junior become the leader. A massive zombie that has a shadow of a giant.

But Captain John is still a general rank so he's not a weakling like the zombie soldiers that make up our foot soldiers.

"Yosh! Everyone! Remember to be ruthless! Don't lose to the Shadow army!" (Shikage)

""""Oooooh"""""

The legion is prepared! If there's anyone here that could hear them, They'll likely be pissing their pants in fright. Oz junior is that terrifying alongside the various zombies who are all corpses!

As for the original Oz that the Straw hats fought is now part of the Shadow army.

The structure of the army is the same as the legion. There's a grand marshal-grade shadow that serves as the leader of the entire army, a marshal-grade is considered to be the main force of the army, Next is a general-grade shadow that commands the soldier-grade shadows.

As of now, no one can take the grand marshal grade. Only the marshal grades are the highest. There's one shadow here that was recently added to the army. Its name is 'GREED' and he was the late Gild Tesoro.

[Shadow dragon 13] is also a marshal-grade.

The other [Shadow warriors] aren't as important as the marshal-grades.

I'm sure that my legion and the Shadow army would expand yet again in the battle to come.

(... There's someone I know that is fitting to lead all my legion and the Shadow army. But I don't have any hostile relationship with him so We can't fight. The Dark King! What a fitting name to be the grand marshal!) (Shikage)

Sadly, He's a good person...

Anyways, I am done!

Overall, My total forces are around 5,000! I'm not even counting the hunters under my command.

I've managed to save up corpses from the prison in our Thriller Bark, Impel Down, and pirates who were killed in a hunt.

And these forces are just inside my own personal space.

According to my Shikadiary, The beast pirates number around 20,000 pirates and I have a quarter of its force. So, It's still not enough!

I may need to convert more!

After doing everything needed in [Niflheim], I used my [Shadow warp] and was back at Gran Tesoro.

The place is already under repair. The City-ship will be in its prime condition in the next few months.

Visitors at the moment are increasing each day. Hunters from the Guild hubs in New World are assembling at the Gran Tesoro.

Baccarat, the guide of this ship, came to me and inform me that the people I wanted in Dressrosa is waiting in the lobby of my office.

I thanked her and went on my way to meet them.

(I hope they will adapt quickly. Ehehe~!) (Shikage)

◇◇

(a/n: Sorry for the messy chapter. I got addicted to playing genshin so the word count may be little compared to the previous chapters.)