One Piece.

"Did you hear that? Hahahaha—Black hole...black hole! My ability will definitely reach...*hic*...that level too!"

Blackbeard's wild laughter startled the seagulls on the ship's railing, sending them flying, and the deck groaned under his excited stomping. He was holding his wine glass high, completely drunk with his subordinates. Yomi's words made him even drunker, and he guzzled down two more bottles in one go.

"Cough cough... A black hole that can swallow stars, that should be a Star God, right?" Doc Q coughed heavily, covering his mouth, and a dark red pool of blood appeared in his palm. "That means, Teach's ability's limit...is to become a Star God!"

"Hoo hoo, a very bold guess..."

Blackbeard burped, and the salty sea breeze sobered him up a bit. He knew very well that the black hole created by his Dark-Dark Fruit ability was fundamentally different from the world-devouring black holes, but if he could use the "gimmick" of a Black Hole Star God to attract more people to join and strengthen the Blackbeard Pirates' influence...it wasn't a bad idea.

However, it was absolutely impossible to say that he had no ambition to become a "Star God." The first and foremost step for him to have his current power, status, and strength was to dare to dream.

If you don't even dare to dream...then opportunity naturally won't favor you. After all, even an insect has a chance to become The Propagation Star God, so why shouldn't he? Could he be even worse than an insect?

"Hey, Kuzan." Blackbeard looked at the tall, thin man drinking alone with a wine bottle not far from the deck. "Do you think I have a chance...to become a Star God?"

"...Maybe."

Kuzan threw out a reply without looking back. He gazed at the distant sea, lost in thought.

"Tch! This bastard is really boring." Jesus glared at him unhappily, then looked at Blackbeard, "But, to become a Star God, don't you have to first embark on a Path? But is there a 【Black Hole】 Path in this world?"

—

【The Reverie Hotel, Yomi's Room.】

【The phone rang again, but this time, a strange man's voice answered.】

【"Long time no see! Are you having fun in Penacony—【Yomi】?"】

【(This voice...not the previous Constance. Is she her companion?)】

【Black Swan became interested. She didn't hang up the phone, but chose to continue listening.】

【"Although I don't know what you are, or what you're planning...my bullet will find you soon—before that, you'd better quickly find a coffin shop in Penacony and tell the boss to save a good quality one for yourself, imposter."】

【(Imposter? I see, she relayed my whereabouts to another person tracking Yomi.)】

【Black Swan asked faintly: "Who are you?"】

【The other party: "Hmm? Did I dial the wrong number? My precious, who are you?"】

【"I am a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection."】

【The other party's tone was very excited: "Ho! Not bad, I like this kind of tough nut. Are you the imposter's bodyguard? Or someone else? Forget it, it doesn't matter. I'll save a bullet for you too, wash your forehead and wait."】

【"I don't know what you're talking about—but you know Yomi, the Galaxy Ranger, right? I have something to ask you."】

【"Haha, want me to write your will for you? Okay, go ahead."】

【Black Swan calmly said: "It's not a will—I just want to ask you, how exactly did she 'become' a Galaxy Ranger? She's not a pathwalker of The Hunt at all, you are, right? Tell me, what is Yomi's background?"】

【The other party suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "...Hahahahaha, alright! I didn't expect it to be a friendly, my precious leg, it seems I've really hit the jackpot!"】

【"I'll be in Penacony soon, Memokeeper. Go buy a bottle of 【Astdena White Oak】, warm it up, and I'll toast you. That woman's past? No one knows, but if all you want is a simple answer, okay, you'd better find a chair to sit on, that woman named Yomi—"】

【"—is an Emanator who'shouldn't exist.'"】

—

Teyvat.

"My precious leg, Shinobu, you should give me the Mora for Seven-Card Stud this month, right?"

"I say...Boss, can you stop learning things like that?"

Kuki Shinobu helplessly rubbed her forehead. Every time she wanted her boss to learn something good from Celestial Screen, like Miss Himeko's communication skills or something...he would just fuss and go play cards. But he learned these strange verbal tics quite quickly.

"But it's really cool, Shinobu!" Arataki Itto said excitedly, "I can imagine, this man who's speaking is definitely a dashing character no less than this great me, maybe he's also in a gang?"

As the two were chatting, suddenly, gang member Ashu returned dejectedly.

"Ashu? Shouldn't you be at the Tenryou Commission right now?"

Kuki Shinobu remembered that not long ago she had specifically found someone from the Tenryou Commission. She had talked until her mouth was dry, but she finally managed to find Ashu a simple job: helping the Tenryou Commission record the characters and their forces that appeared in Celestial Screen.

But seeing his troubled expression, Kuki Shinobu guessed that something must have gone wrong.

"Ashu, did Kujou Tengu bully you? My precious, how dare he bully someone from my Arataki Gang?!" Arataki Itto immediately became furious.

"No, Boss. It's just that Black Swan mentioned that woman Yomi just now... Kujou Sara said she wanted to check Yomi's information, and guess what? All her information disappeared! Like it's haunted!"

"Disappeared?" Kuki Shinobu frowned.

"Yes, it's very strange! My notes were clearly full, but the section about Yomi was exactly blank! Not only that, all information related to 【Yomi】 disappeared! And I just can't remember any information about her..." Ashu said aggrievedly, "...She said I was lazy, and she fired me in a fit of anger."

"...So were you lazy?"

Ashu shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Absolutely not! Sister Shinobu, you can trust me on this. And, that Yomi is a very, very strange person! Not only can't I remember, but everyone in the Tenryou Commission—more or less—has Remembrance loss about her! Some can't remember her experiences, some can't remember her face!"

"It's said that this matter has already reached the General and the Guuji... I even suspect that the General and the Guuji-sama can't remember either."

After Ashu's explanation, Kuki Shinobu finally realized that even her own understanding of Yomi was very limited. Aside from her appearance and her status as an Emanator... everything else seemed to be blurred as if soaked in water. No matter how she tried to recall, only a vague shadow remained in her mind.

Although she couldn't recall more details, Kuki Shinobu's brows gradually relaxed.

"An Emanator who'shouldn't exist,' so that's how it is..."