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The Strongest Frost Loli (100)
🕑 Added 2024-08-12 17:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter 100 - Seven Warlords of the Sea
Roger's words, for better or worse, changed the world. He inspired countless dreams, but also brought immense suffering to many. Fish-Man Island, too, became a victim of this tumultuous era.
Merfolk and Fish-men were highly sought after as slaves, fetching exorbitant prices. While their existence was known before, the dawn of the Great Pirate Era saw a boost in visitors to Fish-Man Island, with countless lawless individuals seeking to capture and sell its inhabitants.
--That is, until he appeared.
“Don't you dare mess with my friend’s country, you damn bastards!!!”
In the wake of Roger's passing, he was arguably the strongest pirate in the world – Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard". This man had once shared a cup of sake with King Neptune, forging a bond of friendship.
From his ship, resembling a colossal white whale, numerous pirates descended, relentlessly striking down those who dared to abduct the merfolk and fish-men.
While the world might label them villains, even among villains, there was a code of honor. Newgate wouldn't stand idly by when a friend, someone he had shared drinks and laughter with, was in need.
That’s the kind of man Edward Newgate was.
“I claim this island as my territory!!!”
Few in the world were foolish enough to make an enemy of Whitebeard. He met the challenges of those who emerged in the Great Pirate Era head-on – those who overestimated their strength, those consumed by ambition. He crushed some, sank their ships, while others he welcomed as his sons and daughters.
His influence expanded slowly, steadily, his reputation as Roger's rival solidifying his position as a potential candidate for the next "Pirate King".
And when this man declared an island his "territory", challenging his authority meant facing the wrath of Whitebeard himself.
For the majority of pirates, that name alone was enough to deter any transgression.
It had been roughly a week since Whitebeard’s arrival. The scars left by the pirates who had invaded Fish-Man Island ran deep, instilling fear and hatred in the hearts of many.
Countless merfolk and fish-men had been abducted, and those who had found safety in the aftermath were consumed by grief.
Jinbe, a soldier in the Neptune Army, shared their sorrow.
He had visited the scene of Whitebeard’s rampage, witnessing the aftermath of the battle… and sat down heavily, a troubled expression on his face.
Why did humans treat merfolk and fish-men as slaves? He couldn't comprehend it.
As he grappled with his churning emotions, filled with gratitude for Newgate's intervention, a fellow soldier rushed towards him in panic.
“Jinbe! Pirates!”
“What?! I’m on my way!”
Even under Whitebeard’s protection, there were still those reckless enough to continue their plundering. The Neptune Army’s work was never done.
Led by his comrade, Jinbe reached the scene and stared, wide-eyed, at the pirates before him.
“Kanata-san!!”
“Hmm? Oh, Jinbe. It’s been a while.”
With increased security measures, few humans could enter Fish-Man Island now. Every visitor had to undergo a thorough inspection underwater.
However, for someone like Kanata, an acquaintance of Jinbe’s, the entry procedures were less stringent.
And perhaps because there were many merfolk and fish-men on board her ship, they were allowed entry, their circumstances to be explained later.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“We heard the news about Fish-Man Island and set sail, but… It seems Newgate beat us to it.”
“Yes, thanks to him, we were able to prevent further atrocities… But Kanata-san, you came with the same intention?”
“If it had become someone else’s territory, I wouldn’t interfere. But it’s Tiger’s homeland. I couldn’t do nothing.”
“…And so?”
“We’ve dealt with the nearby slave traders. There were some slaves who hadn't been sold yet, so we freed them.”
Kanata and Jinbe’s gazes turned towards the merfolk and fish-men on board the ship.
Tears streamed down their faces as they reunited with family and friends they had thought they would never see again.
The two observed them.
“…Thank you, Kanata-san. I thought they were lost, destined to resent humans forever.”
“There’s no need for thanks. Not all of them have been rescued. We came from the New World.”
Most of the slave trade took place in Sabaody Archipelago.
While she wanted to attack and crush the slave traders immediately, Kanata knew that entering Sabaody would inevitably draw the Marines’ attention.
Even if they were busy, the Marines couldn't ignore her presence on an island near their headquarters.
Kanata, too, was occupied with the new generation of pirates emerging in the New World and skirmishes with Linlin. She couldn’t spare the forces to fight the Marines.
While she wanted to act for her friend’s sake, she couldn't risk her crew’s lives. Fame had its drawbacks.
“But some of them have been saved.”
“…Yes. By the way, is Tiger here?”
“No, I haven't seen Tiger-aniki for a while. The last time he returned was about a year or two ago…”
“A year or two is nothing unusual for him. Don’t worry, he’s strong.”
Kanata acknowledged Tiger's strength, the strength of a man who had traveled to various lands as an adventurer. She wished he would at least send a message occasionally, but… there was no news.
No news is good news, she thought, trying to convince herself.
“Kanata-san, how long are you planning to stay?”
“We’ll leave as soon as we finish resupplying and preparing. It wouldn’t be wise to linger in Newgate’s territory.”
She wanted to avoid any conflict with Newgate.
He was an opponent she would have to face eventually, but now wasn’t the time. They were short-staffed, and antagonizing another powerful pirate crew would only hasten their downfall.
Many were already watching Kanata with malicious intent.
“Then it can’t be helped… I wanted to share a drink with you after all these years, but…”
“Another time, then. You’re always welcome to join our crew if you ever leave the Neptune Army.”
“Wahaha, I can’t do that. I have to fight for this country.”
“Fufu… that’s a shame.”
Even under Whitebeard’s protection, minor skirmishes still occurred. While he hadn’t anticipated this when he joined the army, a soldier’s duty was to serve his country.
He couldn’t betray the king who had employed him, even if he was a ruffian.
After chatting with Jinbe, Kanata went to speak with King Neptune, bustling about with a busy schedule.
Their ship needed recoating anyway, so they couldn’t depart immediately, even if they rushed.
Without any major incidents, Kanata and her crew returned to Hachinosu.
***
“What a blunder.”
The voice from the Den Den Mushi left the Marine high command speechless. They shifted uncomfortably, arms crossed, accepting the reprimand.
In a conference room at Marine Headquarters, the assembled officers listened with grim expressions as Kong, the Fleet Admiral, offered a sincere apology.
“We deeply regret this situation. We hadn’t anticipated such an outcome…”
“Excuses are unnecessary. Your job is to deal with the pirates who have proliferated since Roger’s death.”
A year had passed since Roger’s execution.
The damage inflicted by the surge of pirates was devastating, and the Marines, constantly overwhelmed, were plagued by a shortage of manpower.
While their skilled officers were slowly but surely increasing, powerful pirates still posed a significant threat. They were often forced into a reactive stance, their fatigue evident.
“However…”
A hand was raised, interrupting the conversation. It belonged to a tall, silver-haired man with glasses – Vice Admiral Berg.
“What is the status of the ‘Seven Warlords’ proposal? The one from the World Government.”
“Hmm… you mean that one.”
The “Seven Warlords of the Sea” – a proposal from the World Government to officially recognize seven powerful pirates.
It was a strategy to use “poison to counter poison”, granting these pirates a degree of amnesty to serve as a deterrent against other pirates.
“We believe this system will help reduce pirate activity. If they fight among themselves, the burden on the Marines will lessen.”
“I agree. However, what about their affiliation?”
“They will report directly to the World Government. A separate organization from the Marines.”
Some pirates refused to cooperate with the Marines, and some Marines refused to accept help from pirates. As a compromise, the Warlords would be placed under the World Government’s direct command.
The details of their amnesty and privileges would be decided later, but the more pressing issue was whether there were enough influential pirates to justify this system in the Great Pirate Era.
Of course, the World Government didn’t expect loyalty from these pirates. They were simply seeking individuals who could be persuaded to hunt other pirates in exchange for certain privileges.
Many pirates wouldn’t accept being under the government’s control.
“We have a list of candidates who possess the necessary strength, but… whether they will accept this proposal is a gamble.”
Kong flipped through the documents, observing the names of pirates with both strength and notoriety.
Ordinary bounties weren't enough. They needed figures with considerable influence.
Ideally, candidates with bounties exceeding 100 million berries were preferred, but… those pirates were often unpredictable and difficult to manage.
“…Hmm?”
As Kong scanned the documents, a name caught his eye.
While the candidate possessed undeniable strength and notoriety… it was a name unlikely to submit to the World Government.
“Why is ‘Witch’ on this list? She’s the pirate who killed a Celestial Dragon. I doubt she’ll accept a position under the World Government.”
“While she did kill a Celestial Dragon, it has been determined that the motive was due to another Celestial Dragon.”
There had once been a Celestial Dragon named Donquixote Homing.
The victim had been his older brother, Donquixote Chrysaor. Family inheritance wasn't a major concern among the Celestial Dragons, but… Homing had been in contact with his brother frequently before the murder, leading to his family’s exile.
This led to the assumption among the Celestial Dragons that “Witch” had no reason to target other Celestial Dragons.
“That’s absurd! You think she would kill a Celestial Dragon for such a trivial reason?!”
“She’s a merchant. She’ll do anything for money. This is just another business transaction.”
The voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi – one of the Five Elders, seemed strangely fixated on Kanata.
They were determined to recruit her as a Warlord, ignoring Sengoku’s objections.
Indeed, in terms of both notoriety and strength, she was unmatched. Big Mom, who frequently clashed with them, was unlikely to submit to the government, and Whitebeard, who roamed the seas freely, had no interest in such a position.
It was a chance to gain a force comparable to the Marines themselves. It was a tempting offer, but… everyone present knew it was a dangerous gamble.
“She possesses a powerful fleet and is known for crushing countless pirates. She would be an effective deterrent.”
The implication was clear. If they could use the Warlords to reduce the number of pirates, they could focus their efforts on the more powerful figures like Whitebeard.
They were determined to eliminate him.
Kanata was a concern, but it seemed the Five Elders were willing to overlook her connection to Octavia for now.
It was partly due to her relatively moderate approach to piracy.
…Though she was ruthless towards other pirates.
“So… you’re suggesting we use the Warlords to suppress pirate activity for a few years, then focus on eliminating Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido?”
“Precisely. We can’t let them run rampant.”
“That… seems… reasonable…”
Using the Warlords as a deterrent was a good idea, but recruiting Kanata was a risky proposition.
Sengoku had fought her twice. He couldn't imagine her submitting to anyone’s authority.
He glanced towards Garp, who simply sipped his tea, seemingly uninterested.
“Berg, what do you think?”
“If you ask for my opinion, I believe it’s best to maintain a strictly business relationship with her.”
“Business… relationship?”
“Literally, paying her to hunt pirates. A business transaction.”
“Hmm. We’re considering offering her amnesty and allowing her to plunder non-affiliated nations… You think that won’t be enough?”
“It’s unlikely to be beneficial for her. With her strength and influence, she can easily defeat most pirates, regardless of their bounty. And she doesn’t engage in plundering.”
“Then what would be beneficial for ‘Witch’?”
“That’s the tricky part… Perhaps officially granting her trading rights with affiliated nations would be more appealing.”
However, that would also carry significant risks.
If a large portion of maritime trade was controlled by Kanata, it would inevitably have a significant impact on the affiliated nations. While it was unlikely she could control all trade, some limitations would be necessary.
Most pirates found the prospect of having their bounties revoked appealing, but for Kanata, those who pursued her were simply obstacles to be overcome. In some cases, pursuing her was a risk for the Marines themselves.
It was a difficult situation.
“Hmm… I see. We’ll consider it.”
“Any other opinions?”
Kong glanced around the conference room, but no one else raised their hand.
While the Marines believed recruiting Kanata was impossible, the Five Elders were determined to make it happen. They had no choice but to come up with some kind of proposal.
And they couldn’t imagine her accepting it.
“…Very well. We’ll proceed with this plan for now.”
It was a difficult situation. Using the Warlords to deter other pirates was a good idea, but the potential problems with Kanata’s inclusion made its success questionable.
Everyone present silently agreed that this was now Berg’s problem.
***
The Five Elders, having finished their discussion with the Marines, could only hope for a favorable outcome.
“We want both her strength as a pirate and her influence as a merchant… but the true value lies elsewhere.”
“The mere fact that a pirate who killed a Celestial Dragon is now serving under the government is significant.”
“Those fools don’t understand.”
“The facade is all that matters. Even if the terms are slightly unfavorable, we can always find a reason to sever the contract once Whitebeard is eliminated.”
“Golden Lion is already gone. Big Mom and Kaido can wait. They don’t pose a significant threat to us.”
The most troublesome opponent was Whitebeard.
Not only because of his power to destroy the world, but also because the idea of his territory being preferable to World Government affiliation was unacceptable.
According to information obtained through Cipher Pol, Whitebeard didn’t even collect taxes from his territories. Allowing such a system to exist would undermine the World Government’s authority.
They had to eliminate him.
Kanata had a similar approach to her territories, but she simply offered protection in exchange for payment. It was similar to the World Government’s system, so it wasn’t a major concern.
Even in this tumultuous era, they couldn’t change the World Government’s structure.
Comments
Luke Matthews
no just no....
