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The Strongest Frost Loli (75)
🕑 Added 2024-06-28 17:00:08 +0000 UTCChapter 75 - Trusted Aides
A few days after the World Pirates' annihilation, Kanata and her crew docked at Hachinosu to deliberate on the allocation of the Devil Fruits they had acquired.
They took the opportunity to conceal the "Road History Poneglyph" they had brought from Fishman Island in the island's basement, clearing space in the ship’s treasury.
The stone was quite large and cumbersome, making it a hindrance on board. Leaving it on the ship also posed a security risk. After all, if the ship sank, the "Road History Poneglyph" would be lost to the ocean depths.
"Now then, let’s decide what to do with these," Kanata declared.
Two Devil Fruits lay on the ice table she had conjured. The More More Fruit, previously possessed by Byrnndi World, captain of the World Pirates. And the Cube Cube Fruit, which had belonged to Gairam, the World Pirates’ engineer.
Any Devil Fruit's potency could fluctuate depending on its application. A user’s ingenuity could drastically alter its effectiveness.
"The More More Fruit, World’s ability, is quite powerful. It allows the user to multiply their speed and enhance the mass of objects like guns and swords. A formidable combination,” she said.
“What about the other one?” George inquired.
“It seems to be an ability to create cubes. It can affect both people and objects,” Kanata replied.
She had only witnessed the Cube Cube Fruit’s effect through descriptions in a Devil Fruit encyclopedia. She hadn't personally seen it in action. Fortunately, she had a comprehensive guide detailing various Devil Fruit abilities. It was a stroke of luck that this particular fruit had been documented.
The user had been weak, leaving little impression, but the ability itself had potential depending on its application.
Kanata knew that the More More Fruit was a troublesome ability, even considering that World had been a skilled fighter with decent Haki.
“Now, the question is… who will eat them?”
She glanced at Junshi and Zen, but both men shook their heads silently.
As before, it seemed they had no interest in consuming any Devil Fruit, regardless of its ability.
Both were strong enough to fight without relying on Devil Fruits. Their raw power was impressive, and consuming a Devil Fruit would undoubtedly make them even stronger… but that wasn’t their goal.
While she wished they would reconsider, she couldn’t force them. They were valuable assets, even without Devil Fruit abilities.
“Then, Scotch, the More More Fruit is yours."
"Me? Wouldn't it be better for George?" Scotch asked.
"I have a different Devil Fruit in mind for George. If we ever find it, that is… You’d be better suited for this ability."
Scotch was one of her oldest comrades and a vital executive. As her organization grew, her executives couldn't afford to stagnate.
Pirates wouldn't follow those who were weaker than them.
He was strong enough, but consuming a Devil Fruit would make him even stronger. It was a significant advantage, even considering the drawback of losing the ability to swim.
Scotch accepted the strangely patterned fruit, scrutinizing it for a moment, then took a bite. His face contorted in disgust.
“Damn, this tastes awful!”
“I know, right? I never want to eat another one. The taste was horrible," Kuro added.
“Yeah, it tastes like crap,” Samuel chimed in.
Samuel and Kuro, both Devil Fruit users, nodded in agreement.
Scotch managed to swallow the bite, then eyed the remaining fruit with distaste. “Do I have to eat the whole thing?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, you have to eat the whole thing to gain the ability,” Kuro said, trying to trick him.
“Don’t lie to him, you idiot. One bite is enough to become a Devil Fruit user,” Kanata interjected, reprimanding Kuro.
She calmed him down, and Scotch, relieved, tossed the remaining fruit aside. “Clean up your trash,” Kanata said, and he sheepishly retrieved the discarded fruit.
A new Devil Fruit user had joined their ranks.
They would need to monitor his progress for a few days, helping him master his newfound abilities.
“What about the other Devil Fruit?” George asked.
“We’ll offer it to those who want it, both new recruits and veterans. We’ll decide based on strength,” Kanata replied.
It would be the same approach they had taken with Samuel. Offer it to those who desired it and let strength determine the recipient.
They couldn't let it rot – whether Devil Fruits actually rotted was another question – and leaving it unused would be a waste.
If someone desired something, it was only natural to try and obtain it, even by force. Devil Fruits were no exception.
A single Devil Fruit could drive pirates to sail the seas, only to end up lost in the ocean, their dreams dashed. It was a testament to their allure, to their value.
Setting that aside, she addressed the more pressing matter.
“Let’s move on to the next topic. Our future course of action.”
“Our alliance with the World Pirates is off the table. We’re outnumbered against the Golden Lion’s fleet. Do we have any options for reinforcements?” George asked.
“We have no choice but to run and hide. Avoid staying in one place for too long. We can only chip away at their forces through guerilla tactics,” Kanata replied.
They couldn’t defeat Shiki’s fleet in a head-on confrontation. No matter how valiantly she fought, they would be overwhelmed by the sheer number of his subordinates.
While they could try to expand their own forces to bridge the gap… The recent destruction of the World Pirates, orchestrated by Cipher Pol’s covert operations, served as a stark reminder of the dangers they faced.
They had antagonized the World Government by killing a Celestial Dragon. Vigilance was paramount, even though it was a bit late for regrets.
“Recruiting random pirates won’t solve the problem. A disorganized rabble is useless.”
It was a difficult situation. Kanata sipped her tea, deep in thought, then asked, “Any suggestions?”
“Can we instigate a conflict with the Marines?” Scotch proposed.
“That’s unlikely to work. The situation in Water Seven was unique. Our interests aligned with the Marines’, so we could cooperate,” George explained.
Both the World Government and the Marines wanted to confine Shiki to the New World. Their interests had converged, allowing for a temporary alliance.
This time, it wouldn’t be so easy. The Marines had a duty to eliminate pirates, but they wouldn’t launch a suicidal attack.
The casualties would be too high if they clashed with Shiki's fleet head-on.
“If the Marines think that Shiki’s power has significantly diminished, they might act… But…”
Considering Shiki’s involvement as a sponsor for the "Human Shops", the World Government wouldn’t be eager to eliminate him.
In fact, they might be more hostile towards Kanata for killing a Celestial Dragon. It wouldn't be surprising if they had already requested Cipher Pol to act against her.
Silence fell, the conversation at a standstill. Kanata sighed, deciding to end the meeting. Prolonging a discussion without any progress was pointless.
“It can’t be helped… Our current strategy is to sink any Golden Lion Pirates we encounter,” Kanata declared.
“Your plans are getting increasingly reckless!” George exclaimed.
Their priorities were clear. Reaching Lodestar Island was paramount. Defeating Shiki and Linlin was second. And deciphering the “Road Poneglyphs” was third.
They had to focus on these objectives, even though it seemed that eliminating Shiki and Linlin would make their journey much easier. But then, other pirates and the Marines would undoubtedly target them.
Life was never easy.
***
Chains, clanking ominously, shot towards an enemy ship, piercing its hull.
The pirates on board, attempting to escape, paled at the sight of their vessel being restrained.
“W-We’re doomed! They’ve caught up!”
“Damn it, release the chains! Hurry!”
“Impossible. You defied us. Don’t expect to leave this island alive.”
The chains led to a young boy with long green hair, their source the sleeves of his loose white clothing. Or rather, the chains were growing directly from his body.
Beside him stood a monstrous figure, towering over five meters tall, with massive horns and skin and hair as white as snow, crackling with lightning.
The monster, gripping the chains, pulled with all his might.
The enemy ship was dragged back towards the shore with a deafening clang. It crashed onto the beach, capsizing, the pirates tumbling onto the sand, groaning in pain.
“Well then, time for the execution. You may kill them all,” the boy said.
“UUUOOOOHHHHHHH!!!”
The white monster, armed with halberds in both hands, charged, slaughtering the pirates.
They were no match for his brute strength.
While they possessed skills worthy of reaching the New World, they were utterly inadequate against a monster of this caliber.
The monster swung his halberds in a whirlwind of violence until the last pirate fell silent, drenched in blood. The boy, unfazed by the carnage, approached the monster. “Good work,” he said calmly.
“Finished?”
“Yes, your work is done. Let’s have dinner. You must be tired.”
“Okay.”
The monstrous figure was gone. In its place stood a young man with black hair and horns, his physique still massive, but his demeanor subdued.
He had reverted to his human form.
They walked from the coast towards the island’s interior, reaching a large building at the edge of a forest. They were greeted by several subordinates, but the boy responded with a wave, heading towards a specific room. He knocked lightly before entering.
“We’re back.”
“We’re home.”
“Welcome back. What happened to them?” a man asked.
“We killed them all. Send some subordinates to clean up later,” the boy replied.
“Okay, got it. It’s getting late, let’s have dinner after I give out some instructions.”
A cheerful man awaited them.
He was muscular and well-built, surrounded by mountains of paperwork. He spoke to the boy, glancing at his pocket watch, then stood up, heading towards the dining hall.
He instructed his subordinates to dispose of the bodies and the ship, then reached the dining hall through a wide corridor.
The three men sat down, enjoying their meal and engaging in casual conversation.
“Say, Boss, how long are you planning to keep us here? I have things to do,” the muscular man said.
“I don’t know. I’m not interested in that,” the boy replied.
“You two have it easy. My subordinates are getting restless. Even a grand fleet is just a disorganized mob without proper leadership,” the man continued.
The boy, biting into a large hamburger, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “He’s the one who gave the orders,” he said nonchalantly.
The young man devoured a massive steak, listening to their conversation.
“Hahaha, well, that’s true. We were summoned and have been waiting here for a while, but he hasn’t told us what to do. Haven't you heard anything?” the muscular man asked.
“Nothing. He was acting independently during our battle with the ‘Witch of the Dragon Slayer’ as well,” the boy replied.
– This was an island owned by the Golden Lion Pirates.
The three men were executives, summoned by Shiki and placed on standby, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
Occasionally, pirates who were unaware of the island’s ownership would trespass, resulting in their inevitable demise, their bodies piling up on the shore.
“Our captain is quite the free spirit. I guess that’s what it takes to be a leader.”
“It would be nice if he considered those of us who are being inconvenienced. What do you think?”
“Me? I don’t really… have any thoughts on that.”
“I see… well, it’s fine, I guess.”
The boy realized he had asked the wrong person and tossed the empty hamburger wrapper onto the table.
The three men were idly chatting when one of their subordinates approached, holding a Den Den Mushi.
“Sirs, a message from Shiki-sama,” the subordinate announced.
“Okay, put him through,” the muscular man said.
‘Jihahaha! How are you all doing?’
“I’m about to be buried in paperwork. We need more scribes,” the muscular man replied.
“We’re doing fine. Just waiting for the next target,” the boy said.
‘Good to hear you’re all doing well. I’ll send some scribes… Now, the reason I summoned you all.’
Finally, the moment had arrived. Two of the men straightened, their faces serious. The boy, having just finished eating, yawned sleepily.
‘Annihilate the ‘Witch’s Crew’ led by the ‘Dragon-Slaying Witch’, Kanata.’
“Oh, the infamous Witch. How many are we dealing with?” the muscular man asked.
‘Three ships. No more than a thousand crew members at most.’
“That’s… surprisingly few. Should we consider them an elite force like the Roger Pirates?”
‘Not quite as strong as Roger’s crew, but underestimate them, and you’ll pay dearly.’
The man who had suffered defeat at her hands spoke with authority. Shiki laughed and said, “This time, I’ll kill her for sure.”
“Understood. Let’s prepare. Do we know their location?” the muscular man asked.
‘No, we’ll search for them. But they’re a conspicuous bunch. We’ll find them soon enough.’
They were a crew that tended to attract attention. A troublesome lot, like Roger, who seemed to cause incidents wherever they went.
They would cast a wide net, and once they were caught, they would strike swiftly. This was the full might of the Golden Lion Pirates, a force worthy of being called a Grand Fleet.
“That seems a bit excessive. We’re only dealing with three ships, aren’t we?” the boy remarked.
‘No objections. If you have a problem with it, defeat me and become captain.’
“…Fine, I’ll follow your orders. I have no intention of defying you.”
The green-haired boy raised his hands in surrender. The muscular man stroked his chin thoughtfully, asking some essential questions.
“We’ll start moving once we have a general idea of their location. We can’t afford to deploy the entire fleet without a clear objective. It’s not cheap, you know.”
‘That’s fine. I’ll leave the command to you. I’ll be mobilizing a separate fleet as well. Keep me updated,’ Shiki replied.
“Understood. Leave it to me, Captain. I’ll deliver the results you desire,” the muscular man said confidently.
The Golden Lion Pirates, currently dominating the seas, began mobilizing their grand fleet to annihilate the Witch’s Crew.
This time, there would be no mercy. Kanata would die.
