Pirates: The wages are in place and the Yonko will be kicked out.

The old woman looked at the silly Luffy and smiled, then said seriously: "If you want to perform the sealing ceremony, you must first place the orbs in the three towers on the island. That is, the 'Giant Gate', 'Greedy Wolf', The three towers of 'Broken Army'. As a witch, Maya will send her power to the three towers in the castle in the middle of the lake, creating a barrier to weaken the power of the red full moon that happens once in a century... …It’s easier said than done.”

"It seems that Luffy and I have been to these three towers before."

Sanji suddenly interjected.

"Huh? What did you say?!"

"The cave we came out of is connected to all three towers."

"How, how could..."

The old woman was shocked by this completely unexpected thing.

In order to explore the cave on the altar in the village where Luffy and Sanji were ejected, Nami sneaked in.

"Sure enough, it is a man-made cave. It seems to be used to divert water. There are many forked roads inside that are divided horizontally. It should be a cave that was built a long time ago."

After Nami checked it, she said to her friends outside.

"Hmm... I didn't expect such a shortcut at all! You did a good job, young man with curly eyebrows!"

This is something that even my mother-in-law, who is the village elder, doesn’t know.

"It seems like the whole night we spent wandering around this cave like idiots was totally in vain, Luffy!"

"Well done, Sanji!"

Sanji was affected by Luffy's idiotic aura and completely ignored the old woman's comments about his eyebrow curling. He and Luffy put their arms around each other's shoulders and danced a cheerful cha-cha dance.

"The sun is going down. Go change clothes quickly, Maya."

The old woman said to her granddaughter.

After a while, Maya returned wearing traditional witch costumes.

"So beautiful! So beautiful!"

Not only Sanji, who likes beautiful girls very much, but also Franky, Chopper and Nami can feel the noble costume full of the historical feeling of Aska Island and the beauty of Maya. It just complements it.

Maya slowly walked over and climbed onto the altar in the destroyed village.

"O gods of the Seven Stars of Askar, ancestors! Please give me the power of prayer!"

As if responding to Maya's call, the three orbs placed on the altar suddenly emitted dazzling light.

"Giant Gate", "Greedy Wolf", "Poor Army" - words appeared in the middle of the light of the orb.

(Saka...)

Maya placed her hands above the orb.

The light of the three orbs that shone strongly seemed to understand, and slowly became quiet again.

"Thank you for your hard work, Maya."

"Um."

Maya took a deep breath.

Although it was only a brief ceremony, Maya was sweating profusely due to the release of a lot of the miko's "qi" - just like the energy consumed by Devil Fruit users using their abilities, she also consumed a lot of energy.

"Everyone! Please! Put the three orbs on the top of each tower!"

The old woman handed over the three orbs in order.

"Then, let's all split up!"

Nami started giving orders.

Those who went to the "Giant Gate" tower were Franky and Lux; those who went to the "Greedy Wolf" tower were Nami and Chopper; those who went to the "Broken Army" tower were the powerful Sanji.

Everyone took the orbs and headed towards each tower.

"Then I just need to escort Maya and her mother-in-law to the castle in the lake, right?"

"Well, please, Luffy! Maya, you are the key, you must not neglect it!"

"I know!"

For the sake of the village and for her beloved Saka, Maya answered with determination.

"That guy with the green algae head is probably still with Saka, right?"

Sanji held the "Broken Army" orb, frowned slightly, and said with some worry.

"We must solve the problem before Sauron is completely manipulated!"

Chopper said firmly.

"Don't worry, everyone!" Luffy gave a strong captain's speech, "Zoron will never betray us! He will definitely come back!"

"Um!"

"Because the guy with the green algae head is very slow."

"Hahaha!"

After listening to Sanji's words, Luffy finally laughed out loud.

"Why are you laughing? You are even more retarded, Luffy!"

"Ahahahaha!"

Nami's second sentence made everyone laugh.

"No matter what happens, you must bring the orb to the tower! Before the red full moon appears in the sky, you must..."

"Leave it to us!"

Everyone in "Luffy's group" loudly replied to the old woman's words.

…

There seemed to be no one in the navy dojo, and all the navy swordsmen seemed to have gone out.

After the morning exercise, which was surrounded by a strange and fanatical atmosphere, the robot-like marines were divided into many small teams and patrolled various parts of Aska Island. Although Sauron didn't know their purpose, there was no mistaking the fact that these marines seemed to be making some preparations for the upcoming war.

"It's so quiet."

"It was quiet as if something was about to happen."

Zoro was the only one left in the dojo - Saka, as he said, temporarily granted Zoro some freedom of consciousness and body so that he could witness everything.

Zoro looked back and forth, and suddenly saw Saka's long sword placed on the high platform of the dojo, a multi-edged sword with strange patterns carved on the blade.

Zoro walked up to the high platform with the "Justice" plaque on the top from the front and picked up the sword.

"Huh? Damn it..."

As soon as he picked up the sword, Zoro felt a strong and strange feeling.

His entire right hand was paralyzed as if it was entangled by a poisonous snake, his eyeballs were trembling, and his whole body seemed to be poisoned and unable to move freely.

The power of darkness - all the memories of Saka's blood and hatred before he chose to rely on the power of darkness six months ago to save Maya flashed through Sauron's mind.

What a miserable sight.

However, these fragmentary memories are too abrupt, so for Zoro, who is not a person involved and does not like complex thinking, he cannot understand what is happening one by one.

"But...but...damn..."

Zoro used his left hand to pull hard on his right hand that was holding the Seven Star Sword, and finally put the sword down.

He suddenly felt that if he held the Seven-Star Sword for even a few more seconds, his entire soul would be contaminated by the evil power of this sword - this was different from the previous situation where his body was controlled and his consciousness was sleeping but still independent. Very different.

It’s a real fall from grace!

"What happened just now?"

"What is Master's dream? Can you tell me the real truth? Mr. Zoro?"

Toma suddenly appeared at the door of the dojo.

When did he appear? The young swordsman was sitting on the doorstep, holding bird food in his hand and feeding the birds.

"If you want to know, ask yourself. You are his disciple, aren't you?"

"I advise you not to underestimate the power of the sword resurrected by the master, or in other words, the power gained by the master."

Thomas placed the seemingly spoiled bird on his shoulder.

"..."

"Tonight is the night of the red full moon. For the resurrected demon sword and the power sleeping in the master's body, what is most needed is the blood of the strong and the pain and hatred caused by the killing. In other words, it needs living people. Sacrifice.”

Thomas looked at the eastern sky. In the darkness of the night, a red moon was gradually rising.

"Am I the living sacrifice?"

"Well...those orbs are used for sealing. The people in the village seem to be preparing for the sealing ceremony. The reason why Mr. Zoro is asked to seize the orbs is because those of us who are bathed in the power of darkness absolutely cannot Neither can those who touch the orb, nor the puppets controlled by the master. And after Mr. Sauron subjectively agrees to the master's request, he can do all this through the trick of inducing your body - and then, Mr. Sauron Your mission is accomplished."

"Is this what Saka planned from the beginning?"

Zoro finally knew that what Saka said at that time about people in the village using orbs to perform rituals and curse him were all false.

"We sailors have all gone to the castle and three towers where the ceremony will be held. But after thinking about it, the master was too careful. All the orbs have been taken away. The people in the village obviously have no other way to save it. Went to hold the sealing ceremony.”

"So, am I only useful as a living sacrifice?"

Zoro walked past Toma with the same expressionless expression and walked along the stairs to the open space outside.

"I originally thought it would be better if I used Mr. Luffy as a sacrifice. After all, his nickname is 'Dark Boy', and I used the power of Dark Boy to sacrifice darkness. But he really disappointed my expectations."

"That guy is an unpredictable man! If you want to become an excellent swordsman, you need to practice your ability to recognize people."

"Then what are you going to do? Just be hacked to death by the master without saying a word? Or..."

"My life was saved by Saka, so I have put this life in Saka's hands a long time ago. It's that simple."

Zoro said these words without any hesitation.

"Master, what kind of person are you?"

Thomas asked suddenly and abruptly.

Sauron glanced at him and did not answer, but asked: "Why do you want to be Saka's disciple?"

"Because the master said that what he is pursuing is the sword of justice."

"So, he is the man you believe he is, no, a swordsman."

"Please wait!"

Toma shouted towards Zoro who was suddenly walking towards the gate of the Marine Dojo.

"..."

"I am different from other people. I still have a little bit of my own consciousness. That's why I can have this conversation with you here... However, maybe I will lose this consciousness in a short time. Although this is I am willing to pursue the results of the Sword of Justice with my master...but there is always some kind of indescribable sadness! Soon, I will no longer be myself. So, I have something to ask you, Mr. Zoro, Please listen to what I have to say!"

Thomas let the bird go and slowly stood up.

"anytime."

Although he felt the sword energy on the young man's sword behind him, Zoro still said calmly - as a swordsman, he anticipated what Toma wanted to do.

Thomas jumped up from the steps.

There was a flash of cold light, and a sharp whistle erupted from the air - it was the Iai Slash performed in an instant!

However, Zoro also pulled out three knives with his bare hands and started fighting seriously. One in his left hand, one in his right hand, and one in his mouth - Facing the two daggers in Toma's hands, Zoro took them with only his left hand.

"If I can fight you here, it's worth dying now. I was born as a swordsman and died as a swordsman, so I won't regret it!"

Dodging Sauron's light slash, Toma slashed again from above.

"!!"

"I have indeed become a lot stronger since I became a disciple of my master, but this is not my own power, let alone the sword of justice I dreamed of! I don't want to be a slave to that kind of power! I don't want to continue to be a simple A tool used to kill people. I never want to become like that!"

Trapped by stress and sadness, Toma's swordsmanship was already a mess, and Zoro was able to dismantle his moves with ease.

"Let me teach you a lesson - don't be verbose when fighting with others. Thinking only about how to defeat the opponent is the only thing you should do!"

"?!"

After Zoro finished speaking, he instantly reversed the offensive. Toma, who had been fighting with the three swords, gradually felt the pressure and was beaten back.

"What's wrong? Is this the end?"

Zoro shouted loudly to Toma who jumped backwards - he could feel the young swordsman's energy and potential, and he would be a good opponent, so he was motivating him.

Thomas was adjusting his breath. He seemed to be gradually concentrating, and his unique flying swallow-like skills also reappeared.

"I'm going to get serious! Mr. Zoro!"