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The Strongest Frost Loli (112)
🕑 Added 2024-08-30 17:00:04 +0000 UTCChapter 112 - Retreat
“Palm Thrust – Ryuo!”
With a single strike, Kawamatsu sent the enemy samurai flying. Izo and Ashura Doji immediately recognized the familiar technique.
“Kawamatsu!”
“Kappa! Long time no see, Izo! And Ashura Doji, you’re safe as well!”
“That’s our line!”
Ashura Doji had been searching for his comrades since the day Kuri Castle fell.
However, he hadn’t found Denjiro or Kawamatsu. Perhaps it was fate, or maybe just pure luck, that they had reunited at this moment.
“I’ve come to offer my meager assistance! I shall lend you my strength!”
“Yes, thank you… But you’re a little late.”
Izo looked up at the snow falling from the dark clouds. If he had arrived sooner… No, only Kanata could handle Kaido now. He considered Zen and Junshi, but the Big Mom Pirates were also a formidable force.
They couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“What do you mean, late?”
“We’re retreating. We’ll be caught in the crossfire if we stay here.”
“Crossfire?”
As if to answer Kawamatsu’s question, they saw the fiery tornado in the distance, ripped apart by a giant hand.
Even Kawamatsu was stunned by the sheer size of the figure, easily dwarfing Kaido. He also noticed the dark clouds gathering around the giant. He heard it was Kanata’s doing and nodded, understanding Izo’s warning.
“Then we should attack the Beasts Pirates and the samurai while we cover our allies’ retreat.”
“Yes. However, our forces aren’t inferior. Don’t push yourselves.”
The giants belonging to the Twilight Pirates formed the core of their strength. Even if the executives focused on their counterparts, dealing with the Homies and the grunts while retreating was a troublesome task.
Feiyun alone was handling one of the enemy executives while simultaneously taking down the grunts. She wasn’t aware of it, but with her massive size, she was crushing the enemy soldiers underfoot. They simply had to make sure their allies avoided getting too close.
While it was a bloody battle, the Twilight Pirates were minimizing casualties. Kawamatsu’s arrival wouldn’t change the situation.
“I see… then let’s exchange information.”
“Yes. I came here to avenge Oden-sama. I heard Ashura Doji stayed behind to cover our escape after he was killed.”
“Kawamatsu and I were separated. He was supposed to return to the castle, but… what happened to you?”
“Toki-sama told us what happened.”
Apparently, Toki had traveled from a distant past.
She had used her power to send Momonosuke, Kin’emon, Kanjuro, Raizo, and Kiku to the future, hoping they would succeed where Oden had failed – defeat Kaido and open Wano’s borders.
Kawamatsu had planned to accompany them to the future, but he had stayed behind to protect Hiyori.
“So Hiyori-sama is alive!”
“Thank goodness…!”
“Yes, I saw the battle from afar, and while I wasn’t planning on leaving Hiyori-sama’s side… I encountered Yasuie-dono along the way.”
“Yasuie-dono… He’s alive as well!”
Izo was relieved to hear that Hiyori was safe and that Yasuie, someone he owed a debt of gratitude to, was still alive.
It seemed Yasuie was currently acting as Hiyori’s guardian. That’s why Kawamatsu had been able to join them as reinforcements.
While the timing was unfortunate… it was good to have reunited with Izo and share information.
“Do you know what happened to Inuarashi and Nekomamushi?”
“I don’t know. But I think they probably went to Zou.”
After escaping the execution, Oden’s retainers had headed to Kuri Castle, but Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, unable to control their tempers, had gotten into a fight along the way.
He knew they had been captured by the Numbers, but he didn't know what had happened after that.
He looked at Ashura Doji, but he shook his head.
“They escaped after being captured by those giants. But I don’t know what happened after that.”
If any of Oden’s retainers were captured, Orochi would surely have executed them publicly. The fact that he hadn’t meant they had all escaped.
If they had managed to flee overseas… then their most likely destination was Zou, their homeland.
“…I see. It seems we’ll have to visit them eventually.”
Regardless of the outcome of this battle, they needed to meet with them and discuss the future. Kaido, those who had traveled to the future, and Hiyori.
If Kanata won, then there would be no need to worry, but… Izo’s wish would be unfulfilled.
***
“We’re retreating.”
Kanata wiped the blood from her forehead and informed George of her decision.
She didn’t seem defeated, but she wasn’t exactly victorious either. George was confused. “Retreat?” he repeated, and Kanata smacked him on the head with the shaft of her spear.
“Guh… That hurts…! You could be a little more gentle…!”
“Hurry up and spread the word. I’ll cover our escape.”
George, thanks to his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi ability, was the most agile and capable of moving quickly. He usually relayed instructions to the other units through Baby Transponder Snails, but things could get chaotic on the battlefield.
In such situations, it was his job to relay messages personally.
Oven and Amande, who had been fighting moments before, watched Kanata with caution as they maintain a distance.
“Don’t worry. I won’t attack you if we’re retreating.”
Kanata assured them, but they didn't lower their guard.
There was no such thing as cowardice in a pirate battle. They couldn’t afford to be careless until the Twilight Pirates had retreated.
Kanata was impressed by their vigilance. She urged her crew to hurry.
With her guarding the rear, no one would be able to interfere. Neither Kaido nor Linlin would pursue her.
If they were determined to fight to the death, then she would fight, but right now, both of them were focused on defense. Engaging in a full-scale war would only lead to heavy losses on both sides.
“I’ve relayed the message. I also contacted Gloriosa and the others.”
“Good. Begin the retreat.”
Their ships were on their way back from Hachinosu after resupplying, but they needed to be recalled. They couldn't leave Wano immediately.
With all their forces gathered here, they should at least try to find Oden’s daughter, Hiyori… She was thinking about it when Izo, accompanied by two samurai, approached them.
“Kanata-san! What do you mean, retreat?!”
“It’s as I said. If I fight both Kaido and Linlin, I’ll have to use everything I have. I’m not taking that gamble.”
She had the lives of her subordinates to consider. At best, it would be a draw. At worst, she could kill Kaido, but she wouldn't be able to handle Linlin.
“Unless you can restrain her, that is,” she said, glancing at Izo.
Perhaps Zen or Feiyun could temporarily hold back Kaido, but she couldn’t fight alongside anyone. She could handle Roger, who could fight independently, but expecting the same from Zen or Feiyun was unrealistic.
Izo reluctantly accepted her decision. But he had something else to report.
“Ashura Doji and Kawamatsu.”
She looked at the two samurai behind Izo. She remembered Oden’s retainers. Izo explained that they had come to assist her, then added that Hiyori and Yasuie were alive.
She had assumed they were dead, but hearing they were alive filled her with a sense of relief.
“Kawamatsu was protecting Hiyori-sama.”
“I see… You’ve worked hard.”
“It was my duty as her retainer to protect Oden-sama’s daughter!”
“We can’t leave them in Wano. I’ll take them with us, including you… What do you think?”
Wano was under Kaido’s control. And now, with Linlin’s alliance, there was no safe place left.
While the Big Mom Pirates were a much larger force, Linlin had chosen to form an alliance with Kaido, instead of simply absorbing his crew.
She acknowledged Kaido’s strength.
The Beasts Pirates would grow even stronger in the future, and Wano would be exploited. There would be no escape.
“…If you’ll take us, then we’re grateful.”
“What about Ashura Doji?”
“I’ll… stay. I still have comrades here. I’ll gather them and wait for Kin’emon and the others to return in 20 years.”
“20 years?”
Izo explained what had transpired during Oden’s execution, including Toki’s actions. Ashura Doji and Kawamatsu, for the most part, let Izo speak, occasionally correcting him.
Kanata listened, then, “Hmm,” she pondered, confirming the enemy wasn't pursuing them as they retreated.
“They’re returning in 20 years? That’s a long time.”
“Are you going to wait as well, Kanata-san?”
“That depends on the situation…”
She couldn't recklessly interfere in Wano anymore.
The Twilight Pirates’ current forces weren’t enough to defeat the combined might of the Big Mom Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and the samurai.
She couldn’t think of any potential allies, and considering the World Government’s betrayal, she had to assume the Marines were also her enemies.
It was a headache.
“Kawamatsu, bring Hiyori and Yasuie-dono to Mogura Port in Hakumai. We have a base there. If there’s anyone else you want to rescue, bring them as well.”
“Understood!”
Kawamatsu left, returning to where Hiyori and the others were waiting.
Kanata turned to Ashura Doji.
“Ashura Doji, how many of your comrades have you gathered?”
“About 20 or 30. Most of them are samurai who served the daimyo families.”
It would be difficult to convince them to leave. Yasuie was understanding, but the other daimyos likely saw the Twilight Pirates as no different from the Beasts Pirates who had conquered Wano.
They would likely stay hidden in Wano, waiting for the 20 years to pass.
“…I’ll give you a Transponder Snail. I’ll teach you how to use it. Contact me if anything happens.”
“…I thought you didn't get along with Oden-sama.”
“That’s true. But I owe a debt of gratitude to Sukiyaki-dono.”
The Road History Poneglyphs, Zen, who had once served Sukiyaki – with Oden gone, there was no one else. She had to do it.
That was her reason for coming here. But things weren’t going as planned.
She sighed, wondering what to do.
They had mobilized a massive force, and the only thing they had achieved was confirming the safety of Hiyori and Yasuie. It was a frustrating outcome.
***
Kanata received a report from Gloriosa within their established encampment near the building above Mogura Port in Hakumai.
The preparations for their retreat were proceeding smoothly, and the ships would be returning soon.
In the meantime, she decided to visit Yasuie, whom Kawamatsu had brought back.
"I'm sorry, but I'm staying," Yasuie said.
The samurai around him seemed to share his sentiment. “Just give us some food and water. I'll be the only one staying. I'll have my daughter and her guards accompanied by my men."
"Please reconsider! It’s too dangerous for you to stay, Yasuie-sama...!"
"No. I want you to protect my daughter – Chiyo."
She was a young girl, around the same age as Hiyori. Her name was Shimotsuki Chiyo, Yasuie's only daughter.
They had initially planned to take Kawamatsu, Hiyori, Yasuie, and his men with them, but it seemed Yasuie had no intention of leaving Wano.
"A daimyo's name will be disgraced if he flees when his country is in danger! Kanata-dono, I'll move independently. I can’t let things end like this… If I die, then that’s the kind of man I was!"
He bowed deeply to Kanata, pleading with her to take care of his daughter.
His samurai tried to stop him, but seeing his unwavering resolve, they joined him.
There are many like him in this country, Kanata thought, respecting his decision and agreeing to take Chiyo and her guards.
She was known as the shogun's assassin in Wano, but no one seemed to care now. Perhaps it was because Orochi's atrocities were too cruel to ignore.
"And then there's that man named X Barrels, who was on the Marines’ surveillance ship…"
"I don’t know how trustworthy he is, but at least it seems he was telling the truth about the Big Mom Pirates arriving."
"We’ll decide whether to hire him after we meet him."
Feiyun could sense malice, no matter how well someone hid it. Kanata could also sense it to some extent, but her Haki leaned towards Armament, so she considered Feiyun’s ability a safety net.
Besides, if it was the World Government, not the Marines, who had betrayed them, then she needed to confront the Five Elders.
This was the second time since that incident in the Empire that she had missed an opportunity to kill Kaido. That man was incredibly lucky.
He must have been born under a lucky star.
“What are we going to do? Resign from the Warlords?”
“We could, but I’d rather avoid making enemies of the Marines right now.”
The alliance between the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates would send shockwaves through the world.
The Big Mom Pirates were already a formidable force, controlling vast territories in the New World.
The Beasts Pirates were a rising power. They could handle one of them, but their combined strength surpassed the Twilight Pirates’.
While both crews understood the potential for devastating losses if they clashed, the situation could change if the Beasts Pirates continued to expand their power.
“…It might not be long before they become the next Pirate King.”
“You sound pessimistic. That’s unusual.”
“Kaido is someone I can easily crush right now.”
However, she couldn't ignore his growth. He had the ability to land a blow on her, even with Linlin’s assistance. His incredible durability was also a concern.
“He might surpass me one day. If that happens, no one will be able to stop him.”
The possibility was real.
Haki blossomed in battle against strong opponents. Kaido, having fought against someone stronger than him, could have gained something from this battle.
The Twilight Pirates needed to expand their forces as well.
It would be foolish to antagonize the Marines now. However, if the Marines were planning to take advantage of the situation and attack them… then the Warlord title was meaningless.
“Either way, we need to establish accountability. If the Five Elders still want me to remain a Warlord, then I can use the World Government for my own purposes.”
She was furious that they had intentionally withheld information about Linlin, but as the leader of an organization, she had to be rational. Acting impulsively would only lead to their downfall.
She decided to contact the Five Elders, and picked up the receiver of a Transponder Snail.
