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The Strongest Frost Loli (135)
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 135 - Reunion
Fisher Tiger, the "Hero of Slave Liberation."
A name despised by the World Government and the Marines. A sinner who had committed a global taboo, challenging the authority of the Celestial Dragons.
Attacking from the sea, his whereabouts were difficult to pinpoint. Even if they found him, he would simply sink their ships. Reports rarely reached the higher-ups.
His bounty was 230 million berries—a reasonable amount considering his strength and crimes.
He was currently sailing towards a certain island, to return a girl he had freed from slavery—Koala—to her home.
“Koala, do you remember the name of your home island?” Tiger asked.
“Yes, it's called Foolshout Island,” she replied.
“…Foolshout Island…”
He crossed his arms, seemingly lost in thought as he gazed into the distance.
Jinbe and Arlong, his subordinates, whispered to each other, “Have you been there?” “No, I haven’t.”
“I’ve been there once. It’s a nostalgic place… But I don’t have an Eternal Pose for it. We’ll need to obtain one,” Tiger said.
“Aniki, you visited the island during your travels?” Jinbe asked.
“Yes, a long time ago.”
Unwilling to elaborate, Tiger began to ponder where they could obtain an Eternal Pose.
Searching the nearby islands would be the fastest way, but the most convenient method was to order one from Twilight.
They would check their inventory and either ship it or have it delivered to a nearby shop. Tiger had used their services even after forming the Sun Pirates.
They were reliable. Even if you were a pirate, as long as you paid, they would provide the goods.
…There were shops that refused to sell to Fish-men, and others that would report pirates to the Marines. Tiger had never experienced discrimination from Twilight, nor had he ever been attacked by the Marines immediately after visiting one of their shops. They were well-educated.
“There should be a Twilight base on the next island. It might take some time, but… we can definitely obtain one there,” Tiger said.
“Is that so…”
Arlong frowned at the mention of a human shop, but he knew that living on the surface meant using human establishments.
No matter how much he believed in Fish-man supremacy, surviving on the surface meant relying on humans.
Understanding that he couldn’t obtain what he wanted without relying on the humans he despised, Arlong remained silent.
If the shop had it in stock, they could get it immediately. If not, they could have it shipped or travel to an island where it was available. It would take a few days at most.
Tiger assured his crew that it wouldn’t take more than a few weeks.
***
Eternal Poses were generally unnecessary for pirates. They mostly followed the Log Pose to reach Laugh Tale, and rarely had a reason to travel in reverse.
Merchant ships had their own Eternal Poses, but they wouldn’t give them away.
A week had passed since they were told they would have to wait a few days. The crew, growing restless from waiting in the harbor, were fishing when a woman with a package in hand boarded the ship.
The Fish-men, wary of the small woman with a hood pulled low over her face, watched her approach.
“Is Fisher Tiger here?” she asked.
“Yeah, he’s here, but…”
“It’s a delivery. You ordered an Eternal Pose, correct?”
One of the Fish-men, understanding the situation, went to call Tiger.
The woman stood calmly, seemingly unfazed by the stares of the crew.
Tiger emerged from the cabin with Arlong and Jinbe.
“It’s about time… It took you long eno–”
“Long time no see, Tiger. You seem to be doing well.”
Tiger stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in recognition.
He could never forget her.
Red eyes. Long black hair. Even with the hood obscuring her face, he recognized her from her posture alone.
“Kanata…?! Why are you here?!”
“I happened to be in the neighborhood. I thought I’d stop by and see an old friend,” Kanata replied, raising the package slightly.
“I also had some errands to run,” she added with a smile.
He had many things he wanted to say – about the delivery taking a week, about her, the leader of Twilight, personally delivering it – but Tiger couldn't decide what to say. He opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.
Meanwhile, Arlong, who was standing behind Tiger, whispered to Jinbe.
“Jinbe-aniki, isn’t she a Warlord?”
“Yes, but she’s…”
“A government dog. Is she here to capture Aniki?”
Arlong, deciding to attack before she could make a move, returned to the cabin and grabbed his giant saw, Kiribachi.
Kanata was unarmed. Arlong, assuming it would be easy to subdue an unarmed woman, swung Kiribachi at her neck– but she caught it with her fingers.
“Fufu, you’re quite energetic.”
“Arlong! What the hell are you doing?!”
“She’s a Warlord, Aniki! She’s here to capture you!”
Arlong swung Kiribachi again, putting even more strength and speed into the attack.
Kanata didn’t move. She caught the blade between her fingers and, lifting Arlong along with it, tossed him into the sea.
She had assumed he wouldn’t die, as he was a Fish-man.
Jinbe’s eyes widened at the swiftness of the exchange. Some of the crew members were looking towards Arlong, who was falling into the sea.
Tiger sighed and rubbed his forehead, but his gaze never left Kanata.
“…I apologize for my subordinate’s actions,” he said.
“It’s nothing. He’s rather endearing.”
“I appreciate that… But why are you really here?”
She could have sent anyone to deliver the package, and if she simply wanted to see him, she could have sent a message.
There was no need for her to come personally.
“I truly just came to see how you were doing. You’ve been avoiding me since the Mary Geoise incident.”
“I wasn’t avoiding you…”
He had been avoiding her, not because he hated her, but because it was awkward.
Tiger had once been a member of Kanata’s crew, but Kanata was now a Warlord, a government ally. Tiger’s presence would put her in a difficult position. She would either have to report him or protect him, which would jeopardize her own position.
He had caused her enough trouble, so he felt it was best to avoid her.
“…You’re a Warlord. Are you going to report me to the World Government?”
“Why would I do that? I don’t need to be a Warlord. I have no obligation to report you.”
“But the World Government is searching for me relentlessly. They must have questioned you, considering I was once a member of your crew.”
“They did. But you’re no longer part of my crew. I told them you were unrelated to me.”
“…And they accepted that…?”
“No, but that’s their problem.”
Tiger was dumbfounded by her audacity.
While the Warlords were often called “government dogs,” he couldn't imagine that applying to the woman before him. She had no intention of obeying the government. They had no control over her.
But the government needed her, so they kept her as a Warlord. And Kanata, not seeing any reason to resign, simply remained in her position.
It was a relationship built on a miraculous balance.
“It’s a ridiculous situation. No trust whatsoever.”
“There’s no such thing as trust between the World Government and me. We simply have common interests. And that applies to this as well.”
Kanata tossed the package to Tiger. He caught it and confirmed that it contained the Eternal Pose.
That was all he had requested. As Kanata turned to leave, she gave him a warning.
“There are many ways to return a child to her home. I could have transported her myself. Do you understand why the people of that island entrusted her to you?”
“….”
“Don’t look away. Humans didn't thrive solely because of their numbers.”
Kanata gazed directly at Tiger, her words implying that she knew more than he realized.
Tiger didn't reply. He simply said, “Thank you,” and returned to the cabin.
Kanata shrugged and turned towards Jinbe.
“You haven't neglected your training, I see, Jinbe.”
“Well, I can’t be of any help to Aniki if I’m not strong. I’ve been training diligently every day, just like you told me to.”
“That’s good to hear. You might even be able to injure me now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous… I’m not suicidal enough to challenge someone who treats Arlong like a child.”
Arlong was one of the strongest members of the Sun Pirates. The fact that she had effortlessly handled him made Jinbe wary.
Arlong was still underwater, glaring at Kanata, but she wasn’t concerned. She could easily handle him, no matter how many openings he thought he saw.
“But, Kanata-san, about what you said earlier…”
“Hmm? Ah, you mean my warning to Tiger? If he’s still determined to return Koala after hearing that, then I'll handle it.”
“?”
Jinbe, confused, tilted his head.
Kanata wondered if this ship was even seaworthy.
But, well… It was an experience. Exposing them to danger while ensuring their safety wasn't a bad idea.
Kanata’s business was concluded. She pulled her hood low over her face and descended from the deck to the pier. She had gone out of her way to come here, and she was glad she did.
Tiger hadn't looked away from her since he recognized her. And he hadn't tried to approach her.
His emotions were a tangled mess, but– As she pondered,
“Shark On Darts!”
Arlong, having accelerated underwater, charged at Kanata.
It was a technique that used his sawshark nose to pierce his opponent, impaling them. He aimed for her heart with the speed of a bullet – but Kanata, without even looking, grabbed his face with one hand.
His nose, as sharp as a blade, pierced her palm, but not a single drop of blood flowed.
“You…!”
“You need to be more subtle with your surprise attacks.”
She had lost interest in Arlong. She tossed him back to the ship and walked towards the town.
Arlong gritted his teeth, but she ignored him.
