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The Strongest Frost Loli (113)
🕑 Added 2024-09-03 17:00:09 +0000 UTCChapter 113 - Eternal Pose
Having driven back the Twilight Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates were celebrating their victory with a grand feast. Kaido and Linlin, usually known for their animosity, were now clinking glasses and downing sake with their shoulders slung around each other in a display of camaraderie. The festivities had been delayed considerably, however, as Kaido had collapsed immediately after the battle and spent a week bedridden.
“Mamahahaha!! The sake tastes even better knowing we wiped that damn brat’s smug grin off her face!!”
“Worororororo!! You said it! Landing that final blow felt damn good!!”
Their laughter was boisterous as the handmaidens scurried around to refill their cups and replenish the endless stream of snacks. The area surrounding the Flower Capital was still shrouded in a wintery chill. This was a lingering effect of Kanata’s ability. Kaido, unconcerned, had left it to Linlin to deal with later. While he personally didn't care about the environment, Linlin insisted on maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in her territory.
She had apparently entrusted Whole Cake Island to Streusen and planned to return after solidifying the alliance.
"I need to train harder so we can crush her next time...!"
Kaido, who had been feeling somewhat listless since Oden’s execution, was now brimming with renewed determination. The wounds he had sustained from his battle with Kanata still ached, and he was reluctantly following his doctor’s orders to rest.
“…Kaido, who broke your horn?” Linlin asked.
“Ah, this? It was Kanata. A while back,” he replied, nonchalantly.
Even then, he had felt the overwhelming difference in their strength. While Kanata's power hadn't been as insurmountable as it was now, the memory of that encounter still rankled.
He ran a hand over the broken horn and recalled what happened back then.
“I was drunk and mistook her for Octavia. Attacked her on sight. We fought for days, but I barely managed to scratch her.”
Ultimately, the nation’s military had intervened, and Kanata who disliked the hassle, had simply abandoned Kaido and fled. Kaido had been arrested and sent to Impel Down, but had escaped by sinking the transport ship in a fit of rage.
He downed his sake in the bitter memory. It felt trivial now, a mere annoyance compared to the current situation.
Strength was paramount in this sea.
Weakness meant losing everything.
Strength meant obtaining everything.
That was the creed of the Rocks Pirates, the crew they had both belonged to.
The Rocks Pirates was a gathering of powerful individuals that were handpicked by Rocks and Octavia.
Rocks had sought to conquer the world to become its king.
“…The days of the Rocks Pirates seem like a distant dream now,” Kaido remarked.
“I wouldn’t want to remember those days. Killing each other every day, the deck stained black with blood… I consider you a brother, but…”
Linlin’s face was contorted in disgust. She gobbled down another cup of sake to cleanse the bitter memory.
“… I’d love to kill everyone who was on Rocks’ ship.”
“Wororororo… The next “Pirate King” will be either you or me. Roger’s dead, but I’m going to take down Whitebeard myself.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You know how strong he is, don’t you?”
They weren't called “future Pirate King candidates” for nothing.
Newgate was arguably the strongest pirate in the world. Even Linlin, with all her might, would struggle to kill him. Kaido's presence wouldn't change the outcome. Newgate was even stronger than Kanata.
Their priority now was to expand their power to crush anyone who stood in their way.
“Oh, right. Speaking of alliances, I’m going to bind my subordinate crews through marriage. What do you say about marrying one of your children… King, perhaps… to one of mine?” Linlin asked casually.
“Marriage?”
Kaido frowned. He didn't want to be tied down by such obligations.
King was the last survivor of a rare species. An avid collector like Linlin was eager to obtain his bloodline.
Queen, on the other hand, hadn't even crossed her mind.
“Ask him yourself. I’m not going to force him into anything,” Kaido replied dismissively.
“If you had any children, I’d offer one of mine for marriage, but…”
“…I do,” he replied, surprising her.
“You do?!” she exclaimed.
She bombarded him with questions – their age, gender, preferences – until he finally pushed her back, sighing. “They’re still a brat.”
His child had been acting strangely since Oden’s execution. While it was a headache, he was considering marrying her off to solidify his alliance with Linlin. He had planned to appoint her as the shogun of Wano to replace Orochi, but… with Linlin’s child by their side, he wouldn’t need to worry.
“My daughter’s name is “Yamato” – She is eight years old. Wait a while if you want her to marry your kid.”
Apparently having no intention of giving Yamato, who was too young, as a bride, he took a sip of his drink and ended the conversation
Linlin seemed to think there was no need to rush, and laughed, saying she'd let it go this time. Kaido had no choice but to accept. Without Linlin, he would surely be crushed by Kanata.
“Including the Fish-Fish Fruit I gave you that day when Rocks was defeated, you owe me two lifelong favors. Don’t forget that,” Linlin reminded him.
“…Those are things of the past.”
“No, they’re lifelong favors.”
Either way, there was no denying that Linlin had saved his life today.
He sighed. He had formed an alliance, but he had incurred a debt to a troublesome woman. He dismissed the thought and declared it was a night for celebration, and continued drinking.
His bad drinking habits hadn't changed. He shifted between fits of laughter and rage, eventually picking a fight with Linlin and destroying a corner of Onigashima.
***
The Five Elders all sighed in unison as they read the report.
Sengoku was tasked with monitoring the Big Mom Pirates at Kanata’s request, but he had been prevented from reporting the information by the World Government officials. It was a seemingly simple matter, yet it had escalated into a major problem.
"Kaido was the one who bought the failed "Ancient Giants" created on Punk Hazard. Weapons created in Wano and numerous slaves… It's no wonder some officials favor him."
"However, making an enemy of Twilight now is a dangerous gamble. Her methods are different from conventional warfare."
Her approach to conflict was fundamentally different. Unlike those who relied solely on brute force, she used strategy to conquer her enemies.
She had already passed through Mary Geoise several times, which gave her some knowledge of the world’s geography. The World Government itself would be in danger if they made an enemy of her now.
"Fortunately, she's still willing to remain a Warlord."
"But her conditions are outrageous. Does she truly believe we'll accept them?"
Kanata had made four demands to remain a Warlord.
One, a hefty sum of compensation.
Two, the heads of the officials responsible for this incident.
Three, the release of several Devil Fruit users currently imprisoned in Impel Down, at her request.
Four, the release of Douglas Bullet.
“…It’s hard to imagine that man submitting to anyone’s authority. Does she truly believe she can control him?”
“Who knows. She might not even be planning to.”
The World Government was aware of the close relationship between the Twilight Pirates and the Roger Pirates.
Kanata had likely formed a friendship with Bullet during his time on Roger's crew.
…This was another headache.
Adding Douglas Bullet, the "Demon Heir" captured through a Buster Call, to the already powerful Twilight Pirates… Their combined strength would be a force to be reckoned with, potentially surpassing even the Marines.
"But there’s also information that the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates have formed an alliance. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for us if Twilight clashes with them?"
"I doubt it will be that simple…"
The Beasts Pirates were still a relatively small force. While Kaido was weaker than "Whitebeard" or the "Witch", he was a threat that couldn't be ignored.
The Big Mom Pirates, despite their recent defeat, were still a powerful crew. They had successfully repelled Twilight’s invasion by forming an alliance.
“Whitebeard” seemed content to observe from a distance, but… the continued instability of the seas was a major problem.
"This incident has made one thing clear – Twilight’s influence is greater than we anticipated."
"We can't control the rising prices. The moment we halted trade for the war, it happened. It’s a headache."
With Twilight controlling most of the trade routes, the World Government had no choice but to accept her demands.
If she abandoned her Warlord status, the seas would descend into even greater chaos. The combined effects of increased pirate activity and economic collapse would overwhelm both the Marines and the World Government.
In the worst-case scenario, nations under Twilight’s economic control would emerge to threaten the World Government’s authority. They had no choice but to accept her demands.
"The Devil Fruit users imprisoned in Impel Down… I wonder what she’s planning."
"…We should continue discussing this matter."
They hadn't been given a deadline, but delaying the decision would only prolong the current situation. Kanata had declared she wouldn't act as a Warlord until they reached a decision, and they were struggling to find a solution.
The troubled Five Elders continued their endless debate.
***
"Why those conditions?"
"Bullet’s release is a test to see how far they're willing to go. The Devil Fruit users are for Sukura’s research."
They were convinced she would abandon her Warlord status if they refused to release Bullet. This demonstrated their dependence on her. If it worked, then they could make even more outrageous demands.
The World Government believed they had her on a leash, but the situation was reversed. With her control over trade, she could easily exert pressure on affiliated nations, especially those in the treacherous New World.
Even if they refused to release Bullet, she could gradually tighten the noose to seize their Heavenly Tribute.
She had requested Devil Fruit users for Sukura’s research – more specifically, for his experiments. It was a win-win situation for them, as even dead Devil Fruit users retained their abilities.
“…That’s ruthless.”
“It’s nothing special.”
George was horrified, but Kanata remained nonchalant. She shifted her gaze to the group she had brought from Wano.
Hiyori Kozuki and her guardian, Kawamatsu.
Chiyo Shimotsuki and her three samurai guards.
They had food, clothing, and shelter, but someone had to take care of them.
“You guys can do whatever you want. We have plenty of rooms,” Kanata said casually.
“Things are quite different in Wano. Scotch is preparing your accommodations. Just wait a little longer.”
Hiyori nodded in a slightly dejected manner. Chiyo, on the other hand, was already excitedly exploring the room. Her samurai guards struggled to keep up with her boundless energy.
“My lady, please calm down!”
“You’re being too boisterous!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! It’s my first time in a foreign country! I can’t help but be excited!”
She had been practically dragged here, but she was surprisingly cheerful.
Reassured by her spirited nature, Kanata turned to Hiyori.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll do my best to provide it.”
“Thank you. I’m grateful for your hospitality.”
Kawamatsu bowed deeply.
Hiyori also bowed and expressed her gratitude. Scotch arrived to escort them and ushered them out of the room. Izo would join them later, and Kanata assumed they would discuss the future amongst themselves.
"Oden's dead, and his mother’s gone as well, right? That’s rough for someone her age… We need to make sure she’s okay," George said.
“A child can grow up without parents. There’s no need to worry,” Kanata replied dismissively.
“…You’re talking.”
George was dumbfounded. He had forgotten that Kanata herself had no memories of her parents, and had been sold to slave traders after being taken in by an orphanage.
Her resilience was undeniable. It wasn't every day you encountered a child who, at the tender age of ten, had already established a trade company by shaking down local thugs.
George was about to excuse himself and return to his room when a knock came from the door.
“Hey Kanata! Can I come in?”
“Caterina?”
Without waiting for a response from Kanata, George opened the door, surprised to see the woman standing there.
Caterina frequently visited and presented them with her latest bizarre inventions, but it seemed this wasn’t one of those occasions.
They invited her in, and she announced, “I got my hands on something interesting.” She placed an Eternal Pose on the table.
“…Isn’t that just an ordinary Eternal Pose?” George asked, confused.
“Nope! That’s where you’re wrong!” she replied with a smug grin.
She placed the Eternal Pose on the table, and Kanata and George noticed the needle was pointing slightly upwards.
“It’s pointing upwards… An island with a high elevation wouldn't cause that. What is it?” Kanata was intrigued.
“This is an Eternal Pose pointing to a Sky Island!” Caterina declared.
“A Sky Island?” George looked at Caterina with a skeptical expression. “Isn’t that just a legend sailors tell each other? I doubt they even exist.”
“The “Sky Island Legend”, huh? It’s a romantic story, but… Are you saying this is an Eternal Pose pointing to one of those Sky Islands?” Kanata asked.
“That’s right.”
Caterina explained that she had heard about them from Octavia. Kanata frowned, unsure if she could trust the source.
While Octavia was a seasoned pirate with a vast knowledge of various topics, Kanata couldn’t help but feel Caterina had been tricked.
Octavia wasn't exactly known for her honesty.
“Well, George has the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi now. He can fly. It would be easy to confirm,” Caterina said casually.
“…You’re right. He can fly, even if the island’s floating.”
Whether Sky Islands actually existed was a mystery, but it wouldn't hurt to investigate. They had no intention of fulfilling their Warlord duties until the Five Elders reached a decision, and Linlin and Kaido were unlikely to move anytime soon.
They were still at peace with the Marines, and Newgate was his usual self. Kanata had very little to do.
Frankly, she was bored.
She had anticipated having to fight both the Marines and Linlin's crew when they retreated from Wano, but things hadn't escalated to that point.
“Alright, let’s go confirm this legend.”
“I knew you’d say that! I’m coming too!”
“As you wish.”
Kuro and Teach would surely want to come, and it wouldn't hurt to bring Hiyori and Chiyo for a change of scenery.
Kanata picked up the Eternal Pose and read the name engraved on it.
“Skypiea, huh?”
– The timing was perfect. It was as if she had been summoned.
She felt a strange sense of premonition.
