"Yes. Im from the region of Kuri. A place that was ruled by the Daiyamo Kozuki Oden, before the Emperor Kaido and his Beast Pirates came and took the country for themselves."
Malcolm was quite pleased at Katsumi's confirmation to his question as well the information that Rihan's first mate offered up freely regarding the ancestral homeland of his great grandfather Sasaki.
Before Malcolm had a chance to follow up with more queries regarding Wano, Katsumi's Captain entered the conversation and made a claim that completely floored Malcolm.
“Maa maa Katsumi, what’s this? You jus casually sharing personal info with people we jus met? That’s not like you at all, I had to be chained to a wall in Impel Down with you for months before I got that privilege why they get to skip tha quiet broody faze…..”
At Rihan's casual declaration of his supposed imprisonment in the most inescapable jail to have ever existed, Malcolm could not prevent his eyes widening in shock before they quickly narrowed with unrestrained suspicion, the wrinkles across his face deepening as they did so.
Surely this whelp doth jest? For him to hath escaped that foul dungeon would be a feat worthy of him....
However, the elderly mercenary could not sense any signs of deception from Rihan nor could he rattle his brain for any logical explanation as to why Rihan would make a false claim, especially one as outlandish as this.
Worst of all, Malcolm's gut instinct, in protest against any and all flimsy explanations that his mind could conjure, was that Rihan was indeed being truthful.
This is..... Exceedingly concerning.
"Don't take it personal Captain. I dont normally like sharing too much about myself. Impel down was a hell hole and I had lost the people I cared about before then ending up in that place. Right now all that's on my mind is wreaking havoc on the World Government, killing the celestial dragons and finding a certain someone..."
Yet again was Malcolm was taken by surprise, though his reaction to this reveal of Katsumi's motivations was visibly unnoticeable, especially compared to his reaction to Rihan's bombshell statement.
Veritably, it is not by chance that mine Captain has come across these two individuals. Mine mistress's eye hath keenly observed this fateful meeting. That being said....
What was currently concerning Malcolm was the lack of 'threads' connecting the two crews. Back in Loguetown, his mind's eye could perceive the intricate 'threads' weaved by his beloved Lady between himself and what were to soon become his crew mates.
Here however, despite a common ground between the two crews regarding a shared history of injustice at the hands of the Celestial Dragons, Malcolm could not perceive any 'threads' that connected the Swan Pirates to their Nex allies.
No, he could only perceive two sets of opposing 'threads' that ran parallel to each other.
This is no mistake but what doth it mean?
"I.. I've never heard about any of this.. These clothes eh? Its the same style of clothes my father would wear on special occasions.. Of course his clothes were much more extravagant than what I'm wearing of course". I took a breath to center myself
"The clothes I am wearing is something that was custom made for me when I left a Revolutionary training base when I broke ties with them and set out on my own, sort of going away present".
Then I let my anger and malice come to the surface as bloodlust permeated my whole being. "Impel Down eh? If there's one other place I'd crush to rubble.. It would be that place".
Deciding that a momentary reprieve from his troubled thoughts regarding his crew's temporary allies was in order, Malcolm listened intently to Kyria's words.
Ah yes, Kyria doth mentioned that his father was sentenced to that vile monument to government sanctioned sadism. His zealous hatred is quite vindicated in this case.
“Thunder.” Skoll’s giant voice booms over the ship.
Hakucha turns and looks up at the motionless giant.
“I don’t mean to cut this conversation short, but we’re sailing straight for a storm.”
Malcolm was uncertain whether to be irritated by the approaching bad weather or be relieved at the distraction that it brought.
Relaxing himself into a more suitable mindset to deal with the approaching inconvenience, Malcolm addressed those around him.
"Since I doth possess considerable skill in both navigation and in manning the helm then I should stay on deck. If Mister Rihan would permit me to then I would be more than willing to steer the ship at his request."
Looking up towards the mightiest figure amongst them, Malcolm addressed the giant on the ship.
"Mine dear Skoll, perhaps thou could use thine senses to detect any errant waves or other such potentially dangerous weather related phenomena that might escape our collective notice down here? It could mayhaps assist our endeavor against the coming storm."
With his idea touted to his colossal colleague, Malcolm casually walked past Rihan's right shoulder, his steps halting about a foot behind the Nex captain.
Turning his head slightly so that his eyes, completely devoid of their usual mirth, bored into the back of the Fishman's skull, Malcolm spoke in an even tone that betrayed no emotion.
"Before the oncoming pandemonium doth strike, would thee perhaps be kind enough to humor an elderly soul with an answer but for only a single question regarding thine confinement in Impel Down?"
Malcolm turned his stone cold face forwards as he allowed a moment of silence to hang in the air.
"What level?"
@Jiihad @Beerbottle @Fleet Admiral Lee Hung @Mr. Anderson