#chapter 925

Moria’s biggest issue isn’t his own safety–he’s just charged willingly into Teach’s home base, after all–but Absalom’s death. 

Given his backstory, it’s never been entirely clear how Moria feels about his living followers, but this chapter makes it obvious that he does value them. He’s visibly relieved when he sees ‘Absalom’ and laughs off the awkward situation he’s put himself in by attacking Teach’s crew. 

He’s equally enraged when he realizes the truth, and  refers to Absalom using the perennially popular-in-anime word nakama when cursing at Devon; even though nakama doesn’t necessarily have intimate connotations, it illustrates the sense of trust and responsibility that Moria feels for his living followers, and helps to explain his uncharacteristically rash attempt at rescuing Absalom.

Moria’s problems go beyond losing a valued crew member, though.  Absalom has spent the past two years spying for Moria and spoiling the backroom deals of various pirate celebrities in the new world as “Free Reporter Absa”.