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The Strongest Frost Loli (92)
🕑 Added 2024-08-02 17:00:18 +0000 UTCChapter 92 - The Spear of Hatred
There stood a grand library on Pirate Island Hachinosu.
While it couldn’t quite compare to the "Tree of Omniscience" in Ohara – a place where books and documents from all over the world were collected – it was still an impressive structure, housing a vast collection of literature Kanata had amassed during her travels.
Knowing that even among pirates, there were those who enjoyed reading and understood the value of information, she had made the library accessible to anyone who sought knowledge, as long as they obtained permission. They even offered a lending service.
“Hey Teach, whatcha readin’?”
Kuro, bored with nothing to do during their journey to the North Blue, decided to pester Teach who was reading a book in the lounge.
With their crew’s substantial size, the Twilight Pirates had ample space for leisure. Aside from designated duty hours, they were free to relax in the lounge or dine in the ship’s mess hall. While training was also permitted, the limited space on board meant it was mostly restricted to weightlifting.
It wasn’t uncommon to see crew members reading borrowed books during breaks.
“What’s that? ‘The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia’?” Kuro asked, peering over Teach’s shoulder.
“It’s a Devil Fruit guide,” Teach replied.
He had grown accustomed to Kuro’s casualness. Kanata had told them to speak informally, and they had been interacting like friends ever since.
While the appearance and abilities of most Devil Fruits remained shrouded in mystery, those that had been identified were documented in this encyclopedia.
Even the commercially available versions had a considerable number of pages, but Teach’s copy was even thicker. It contained additional entries sketched and annotated by Kanata.
The added pages were copies, so losing them wouldn’t be a problem… aside from incurring the librarian’s wrath when returning the book.
“Are you interested in Devil Fruits? Let’s see… Oh, it’s the Yami Yami no Mi!”
“It also has a brief history section for each fruit. It’s quite interesting, you know,” Teach said.
“I see… It’s been a while since I saw this. It certainly looked like this,” Kuro remarked.
It had been a long time since he had eaten the Yami Yami no Mi. It wasn’t a pleasant memory, considering it had led to him being persecuted on his island. However, without it, he wouldn’t have met Kanata. In a sense, it was a fateful encounter.
“…Is the Yami Yami no Mi… really that strong?” Kuro asked.
“Yeah… I think it’s pretty strong,” Teach replied.
Objectively speaking, its power lived up to its classification as a Logia Devil Fruit. It granted the user absolute dominance over darkness, making it a formidable ability.
Kuro, however, was surprisingly weak, despite his Devil Fruit. He hadn’t been able to fully utilize its power.
“If there’s a Devil Fruit you want, tell me. I might… find… it… by… chance… you… know.”
Teach stared at Kuro’s retreating figure as he staggered off somewhere else.
***
The North Blue.
Like the West Blue, this sea was home to many islands with poor security. While there wasn’t a clearly defined organization like the Five Great Mafia Families, powerful underworld figures were rampant, constantly instigating wars among various nations.
Wars fueled by pirates hired by these nations had been raging for over ten years, showing no signs of ending.
In this sea, where weapons, food, slaves, and other commodities were traded on the black market, Devil Fruits were also a common commodity.
It was a place where they could find not only their target, the Ope Ope no Mi, but also various other Devil Fruits.
…However, there were also many who wouldn’t welcome their arrival.
“…How many ships have we sunk now?” Kanata asked with a sigh.
“I stopped counting after ten. They’re individually weak, but it’s getting tiring to deal with them constantly,” Junshi replied, matching her sigh.
They had tried to avoid combat as much as possible after their encounter with the Marines before leaving the New World… but since entering the North Blue, they had been constantly attacked. Someone had leaked information about their whereabouts.
While there wasn’t a force in the North Blue that could truly defeat them, the constant attacks were taking their toll and gradually weakening them.
Observing the burning wreckage of another enemy ship, Kanata worried about their future.
“Quite the rough welcome. Are there really that many who want us gone?”
“We’re becoming quite famous, you know. There are probably many who don’t want us in their territory.”
They had to start by finding a safe haven and gathering information. They anchored their three ships on a deserted island, its landscape scarred with ruins, and began discussing their next move.
They had hunted and frozen a large Sea King while crossing the Calm Belt, so they wouldn’t have to worry about food for a while.
The problem was…
“They’re attacking us as soon as we enter their sea…”
There were a few islands near their current location, with city lights visible in the distance. It was clear that there were people there.
They could gather information from those islands, but Kanata doubted the organization targeting them would reveal themselves so easily.
Feiyun raised her hand. “I think… we should just crush them all!” she declared.
“That’s a bit extreme. We need to observe the situation before we declare war. Rejected,” Kanata replied.
Feiyun slumped, dejected, and Kuro, seeing an opportunity, raised his hand.
“Then let’s torture the next ones who attack us! I’ll make them talk!”
“You’re just as extreme… Besides, your torture methods would just drive them insane.”
His darkness was too potent. Using it on someone unprepared would only break their minds. There was no point. Rejected.
Ignoring Kuro’s complaints, they decided to capture the next attackers alive.
They had gathered some information beforehand, but it was difficult to stay informed across different seas. They had no connections in the North Blue, and they would have to rely on local sources. They hadn’t expected such hostility, though. They needed to adjust their approach.
Regardless, they couldn’t act without gathering information first.
***
Five days later.
They had repelled several more attacks and captured the pirates alive without killing them.
They didn’t need to resort to torture. Kanata and Feiyun’s Observation Haki was more than enough to extract information. Being able to determine the extent of their lies was sufficient.
They moved from their temporary base, Minion Island, to the nearby Swallow Island to gather information, and were currently staying in the Flevance Kingdom.
It was a wealthy nation, its economy driven by an industry based on Amber Lead, a unique type of lead. The city was often called the “White City” due to its pristine appearance.
“…What is she thinking?”
Kanata was reading the newspaper while enjoying breakfast. She pondered Octavia’s recent actions. Kuro and Teach, sitting at the next table, were arguing over bread which was their usual morning routine.
News of the clash between the Golden Lion Pirates and “Reverberation” had been dominating the headlines for days. Big Mom had also joined the fray and created a chaotic situation. While Kanata was grateful that the two powerful pirate crews weren't targeting her, considering she had left Hachinosu with minimal defenses… Octavia’s intentions were a mystery.
She wasn't the type to act without a purpose, but considering Shiki and Linlin’s reactions to Kanata, it was possible they had provoked Octavia, who had simply retaliated.
Perhaps trouble was a hereditary trait…
“You’re worried about her, but what about our problem? Is it going to be resolved anytime soon?” Kuro asked, having lost the bread to Teach.
He was about to order more from the hotel staff when Kanata replied, “It’s… going to take some time.”
The attacks had suddenly stopped. They had identified the location of a nearby organization’s base, and while they could easily crush it, Kanata wasn't sure if it would solve the problem.
They had made enemies of the underworld bosses in the New World. Eliminating a few of their subordinates wouldn’t stop them.
The most troublesome aspect was their connection to the World Government.
“It seems the Marines have caught wind of our activities. Tsuru has been dispatched. We need to avoid making any major moves.”
Tsuru, while not as strong as Garp or Sengoku, was still a formidable Marine officer. Kanata didn’t want to antagonize her unnecessarily.
Their recent encounter with Berg had been a coincidence, but this time, the Marines were specifically targeting them. They had likely decided they had enough forces to handle them, considering they had left Hachinosu with minimal defenses.
“I’m not concerned about who I fight,” Junshi said.
“I’m not either, but our crew members aren’t as strong as us.”
Even Kanata wouldn’t ask her subordinates to fight a Rear Admiral, especially one as powerful as Tsuru.
Feiyun and Junshi had grown stronger, but Garp and Sengoku were still in a league of their own.
Regardless…
“We’ll move to the neighboring country today and search for the organization that’s been causing trouble. If we can gather information about other organizations, that would be ideal. Even if we can’t, we can eliminate them.”
“Since we’re in Flevance, shouldn’t we buy some Amber Lead products?” Kuro asked.
“This isn’t a business trip. The more we do, the more work we have. I’d rather avoid it.”
“Hihihi, well, good luck.”
“It’s not my problem.”
Kanata finished braiding Kaie’s hair, who was still half-asleep, and left the hotel. They had tried to rent rooms, but were initially refused because they were pirates. They had offered three times the usual rate and were reluctantly allowed to stay.
Their generous tip seemed to have worked. Their treatment was significantly better when they left. Perhaps they wouldn’t be refused next time.
…Of course, Feiyun couldn’t find a room large enough, so she had to stay on the ship.
***
Spider Miles – a bustling port town.
It was an island renowned for its thriving industrial sector, located on the outskirts of the North Blue.
They had spent several days traveling, crushing various organizations along the way. They had been careful to avoid encountering Marine warships, and had finally reached this island.
Unfortunately, they hadn’t found any Devil Fruits during this expedition, but they had identified the location of a large-scale black market. This would be a future project.
They had achieved some of their objectives, and Kanata was considering ending the expedition here. This was the last island they planned to visit.
It was an industrial island, but aside from its numerous factories, it wasn’t significantly different from other islands. The most noticeable difference was… its appalling security.
“…There are an astonishing number of thugs on this island.”
Even Kanata was surprised.
There were many factories, but the workers were paid meager wages and were forced to work long hours without rest. They inevitably broke down, lost their jobs, and ended up on the streets.
It was a familiar sight for Kanata.
She had seen the same thing on the island she had once used as a base. But after she had hired them as workers for her expanding trade, the island’s security had improved drastically.
It was now a scorched wasteland, thanks to a Buster Call… but it was a bittersweet memory. It was the island where George, Scotch, and Samuel’s families had lived.
“…Those who can’t earn a living are welcome to join us. We have work for them.”
They were currently developing several islands for food production. They needed all the manpower they could get. It wasn’t as if they lacked food. They could always hunt a large Sea King.
“You’re really going to take in more strays…?” Junshi sighed.
“Ehehe… I think it’s a good thing!” Feiyun said with a smile.
Junshi shook his head, exasperated by Kanata’s unchanging nature.
They attracted attention wherever they went. Feiyun’s presence as a giant was intimidating enough to deter most attackers, but they were still being observed from a distance. Perhaps pickpockets were hoping for an opportunity. But they would be easily caught.
Those desperate enough to resort to theft were likely struggling to survive.
Kanata understood their desperation.
“…Those who can’t earn a living are welcome to join us. We have work for them.”
It was hard labor, but they wouldn’t be starting from scratch.
Feiyun and the other giants would assist them. They would be provided with supplies, and they would have a dedicated force for security and defense.
It was too good to be true. Some thought it was a trick, a way to enslave them. One even voiced his concerns.
But even then… humans were creatures who clung to hope.
“I… I’ll go!”
“Me too! There’s no future for me on this island!”
“I’ll do it!”
It might be a lie, a way to trick them into slavery.
– But even then… they couldn’t abandon their dreams.
The excitement spread, and those with no education or skills, driven by their desire for a better life, boarded the ships, dreaming of a future in the New World. Whether that future held happiness or despair… they would have to find out for themselves.
“We’ve secured manpower. We can work on their discipline later.”
“You’ve gotten quite good at motivating people.”
“Fufu… You learn a few things after being a pirate captain for so long. Want to try it?”
“No, thank you. I have no interest in positions of authority.”
“That’s what all my long-time subordinates say. It’s quite troublesome.”
Kanata shrugged, then turned to head back to the ship with her crew. As she did, she noticed several wary men staring at them. Junshi was also drawn in and looked in that direction, where he saw several men looking in his direction, led by a boy with short blond hair and sunglasses.
Most were young, barely teenagers. Perhaps they had missed the departure. But they weren't boarding the ship.
“The ‘Dragon Slayer Witch’…!”
“What do you want? Do you have business with me?”
Kanata’s infamy had spread throughout the world. It wasn’t strange for her name to be known even in a remote corner of the North Blue. But something felt off.
“You’re quite young. Are you a pirate?”
“…Yeah, I’m a pirate! You probably don’t remember me…!”
“Hmm? I don’t recall ever seeing a child’s face like yours.”
She had a good memory. She rarely forgot a face, especially one as distinctive as the boy with sunglasses. Kanata’s words meant she had never met him before.
Junshi, uninterested in weaklings, rarely remembered his opponents. He left those matters to Kanata.
“You’ve forgotten the name Donquixote?!”
The boy’s words made Kanata frown. If that name was mentioned, it meant he was related to the Celestial Dragon she had killed, or his brother.
“Chrysaor or Homing. Which one are you related to?”
“Homing! Because of you, I…!”
He had many things he wanted to say. Kanata had been involved with both Saint Chrysaor and Saint Homing. She had killed the former, but she hadn’t interacted much with the latter. They had only exchanged a few words.
The boy pointed the gun at Kanata and pulled the trigger with hatred.
“I don’t recall. Your hatred is misplaced.”
“–You bastard…!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
He fired several shots, but the lead bullets simply passed through Kanata’s Logia form.
“Trebol, Pica, Diamante, Corazon! Let’s kill her here!”
The four men who had been standing behind the boy, sprang into action.
The difference in their strength was obvious. They couldn’t be unaware of it… but perhaps their hatred had blinded them.
However, Kanata was unconcerned. Her Observation Haki revealed their true strength – they weren’t even worth fighting.
“Teach, handle them. They’ll be… good… practice… for… you.”
“Zehahaha! Leave it to me, Sis!”
“The four in the back… Kaie, what do you think?”
“…I don’t mind.”
“You can use your ability. It’ll be… good… practice… to… control… it.”
“You…! You’re making fun of us!”
Kaie stepped forward, blocking the men’s path, and transformed into her hybrid form.
Even in her hybrid form, she was several times larger than her human form. Feiyun and Junshi were nearby, so she could afford to be a little reckless.
She took Kanata’s instructions – “good practice to control it,” “defeat them without killing them” – and engaged the four men in battle.
Kanata, meanwhile, turned and headed back to the ship, uninterested in the outcome.
The boy, Donquixote Doflamingo, tried to pursue her, but was intercepted by Teach, who landed a powerful punch to his face.
Pow! Pow!
“Zehahaha! You have to defeat me if you want to chase after her!”
“Damn… I don’t have time for you!”
He used his Ito Ito no Mi ability to bind Teach, attempting to slice him with his strings, but Teach effortlessly dodged the attack and landed another punch to Doflamingo’s face.
Doflamingo, staggering back, was met with Teach’s mocking laughter. “You’re weak. Are you really going to challenge my captain with that level of strength?”
“I…!”
“Even if you defeat me, there are still two more executives. You’re outmatched.”
Kanata and Junshi watch the fight between Teach and Kaie. Together, their bounty alone exceeds a billion.
Doflamingo and his crew, still young and inexperienced, were no match for them.
Kaie and Teach, the youngest members of the Twilight Pirates, had effortlessly overwhelmed them. Doflamingo realized they couldn't win and decided to retreat.
They seemed to have calmed down. Apparently their blood loss clearing their heads.
“Are you running? Oh, fine. Letting you escape might be more interesting!”
“Teach, if you keep playing, I’ll crush you myself.”
“Ooh, scary, scary. But that’s what you meant, right, Sis? Control myself!”
Kanata wouldn't have given those instructions if she wanted them dead. Teach understood. She had allowed them to escape.
It meant she had achieved her objective in the North Blue. They had found a large-scale black market, and Kanata had likely decided it was enough for now. They didn't need the bounty from a few thugs – even if they were former Celestial Dragons.
“Damn… I’ll remember this! I’ll get my revenge…!”
“Zehahaha! Big words! Well, get stronger if you want to challenge us! I’ll be waiting!”
Teach laughed while watching as Doflamingo and his crew retreated with injuries.
They were unlikely to join the Twilight Pirates. But judging by their hatred, they had the potential to become stronger.
Kanata enjoyed strong opponents. If they grew stronger and appeared before her again, she would surely fight them.
…Of course, Teach thought, I might crush them before that.
Notes:
Doflamingo: 13 years old
Trebol: 21 years old
Diamante: 17 years old
Pica (non-ability user): 12 years old
Corazon (Vergo): 13 years old
