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The Strongest Frost Loli (49)
🕑 Added 2024-05-20 16:09:00 +0000 UTCChapter 49 - The Search
The Queen Mama Chanter, the gargantuan flagship of the Big Mom Pirates, was a sight to behold. Led by Charlotte Linlin, better known as "Big Mom," this fearsome pirate crew had turned the Sabaody Archipelago into their impregnable fortress. Since their arrival, even Celestial Dragons avoided setting foot on these islands, transforming the area into a lawless zone.
Although Linlin was a formidable pirate in her own right, many bounty hunters had underestimated her, mistaking her fearsome reputation for mere bluster. A grave mistake, as countless heads now adorned her trophy collection.
"Mamahahaha! It seems the 'Golden Lion' is having trouble. Several of his bases have been attacked. That brat of Octavia's seems to be quite capable!"
Through a network of spies spread across various islands, Linlin had been meticulously gathering information. Most of her crew consisted of her own children, making her the linchpin of their power. Yet, their reputation as a formidable force stemmed from her innate strength and relentless vigilance.
For seventeen years, Linlin had given birth every year, engaging in skirmishes with other factions, but never facing a truly dire situation. Pregnancy and childbirth were delicate and risky endeavors. The fact that she maintained her position despite this demonstrated her exceptional risk management skills.
"But Mama, if she's going to fight the 'Golden Lion,' won't they just steal our prey?" one of her children asked.
"I agree. Ideally, we would crush the 'Golden Lion' first, but it's best not to make any rash moves at the moment."
Linlin glanced down at her pregnant belly and sighed softly. She had stormed off to Sabaody Archipelago in a fit of rage, but of all times, it coincided with the onset of her labor. She always had a ship doctor by her side, but childbirth was never without risk.
Knowing firsthand how strong Octavia was, Linlin understood that confronting Kanata in her current state was a risk best avoided, even if she believed the girl wouldn't be as powerful as her mother. It was better to be safe than sorry.
"The 'Witch' isn't someone who will go down easily. We can let her and the 'Golden Lion' fight it out, then target her when she's weakened.”
"She seems to be changing locations frequently. Should we continue the search, Mama?"
"Yes, please do that. You've grown into such a capable son, I'm so proud," Linlin said with a smile, patting the head of her eldest son, Perospero.
"We'll make preparations as well, Perorin♪. There are other high-bounty targets besides the 'Witch.'"
The entire Big Mom Pirates were assembled on Sabaody Archipelago. Alongside Charlotte Linlin, the captain, were the "Gourmet Knight" Streusen, Baron Tamago, her children Perospero, Katakuri, Daifuku, Oven, and countless other subordinates. They had established a stronghold, a formidable force that even the Marines hesitated to challenge.
"Mamahahahaha!! That's my reliable Perospero! Now, let's investigate their movements for a while... ugh."
"...Mama?"
Her hand, which had been happily munching on chocolate bars, suddenly froze. Perospero noticed her change in demeanor and tilted his head in confusion.
"I... It's coming...," Linlin groaned, clutching her stomach.
"Wha-!? Now!?"
Despite his shock at the sudden onset of labor, he quickly summoned the ship doctor and left everything in their capable hands. As the doctors rushed into the room, Perospero, knowing he couldn't be of any help, decided to head to the ship's terrace.
There, he found Streusen, Katakuri, and Oven enjoying their afternoon tea and conversation.
"Perorin♪, what a rare sight! Katakuri joining us for tea."
"I finished my personal merienda. I have nothing else to do, so a little conversation wouldn't hurt."
"That's good to hear. I'll have a cup of hot tea."
He then briefed them on the latest developments.
"The captain has a 1.2 billion berry bounty, and her subordinates, 'Red Mane,' 'Six Harmonies Great Spear,' and 'Giant Shadow,' all have bounties exceeding 100 million. They've reportedly repelled a Marine Admiral several times."
"The 'Witch's' mother has a history with Mama, right? Is there a chance they'll attack us?" Oven asked, his arms crossed.
Considering Linlin's obsession with killing her, it wouldn't be strange for Kanata to be plotting revenge.
Perospero took a sip of his hot tea before answering, "I don't know. I'm not familiar with the details. But it seems the 'Witch' is currently focused on fighting the 'Golden Lion,' so we can assume they won't attack us for now."
He didn't know the specifics either. While Linlin often acted impulsively, her current emotional state was unusual. It seemed to be related to a past grudge from their time in the same pirate crew, a grudge only one person present truly understood. Perospero turned his gaze towards Streusen.
Streusen, lost in thought as he savored a slice of shortcake, swallowed it before sighing deeply.
"This isn't the kind of conversation to have while enjoying a delicious cake... but Octavia, the 'Witch's' mother, is someone Linlin would gladly kill."
"...What did she do?" Katakuri asked.
"What did she do... That's a difficult question. But... Octavia was stronger than Linlin and nearly killed her several times."
Despite Linlin's formidable power, she was far from the strongest during her time with the Rocks Pirates. The crew boasted a roster of monsters, including the captain, Rocks D. Xebec, "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, and "Reverberation" Octavia.
Katakuri and the others knew how strong their mother was, but someone even stronger was beyond their imagination.
"There were many things Octavia disliked about Linlin, but the main reason for their clashes was a single sentence: 'Don't eat sweets before meals,'" Streusen revealed.
"That's it!?" Perospero and Oven were surprised.
It seemed trivial, but with Linlin as the target, even a harmless comment could escalate into a life-or-death situation.
"Linlin, who loves sweets above all else, defied Octavia and was soundly defeated," Streusen continued.
"I can't believe it... Mama being defeated," Oven muttered.
"Octavia's strength was exceptional. She was the only one who could stop Linlin's tantrums," Streusen explained.
Linlin had a peculiar craving disorder. Whenever a particular food came to mind, she would rampage until she ate it. Perospero had never seen anyone, not even their siblings, capable of stopping her during these episodes.
"If she's really Octavia's daughter, then it's highly likely that her potential strength exceeds even yours," Streusen to Perospero and Oven.
"I see... but we're not going to lose."
"Of course not, Perorin♪. There's no one stronger than Mama. If she's facing the 'Witch,' we can handle the rest."
They could find a way to win, as long as the biggest obstacle wasn't present. Perospero and Oven exchanged grins, their confidence unwavering. Streusen remained silent, meticulously cutting another slice of shortcake and savoring it.
Katakuri, however, studied Kanata's wanted poster as he sipped his tea, his thoughts hidden behind his scarf.
(...I hope things go smoothly.)
The government had deemed Kanata dangerous enough to warrant a 1.2 billion berry bounty. There had to be a reason. Katakuri could only pray that it wouldn't be a problem for them.
***
Meanwhile, in Pangaea Castle, located in the Holy Land of Mariejois, the Five Elders were reviewing the reports submitted by Garp and Homing.
"We can leave the 'Witch' alone for now. If her ideology is genuine, there's no need to deploy troops hastily."
"It's hard to believe she's Octavia's daughter... but ideology is shaped by environment. If she was raised as an orphan, it's unlikely she inherited Octavia's beliefs."
"The biggest concern is that if she's Octavia's daughter, her father is likely that man ... but there's no point in worrying about uncertainties."
"At least we can focus on the 'Golden Lion' and 'Big Mom' for now. That's something to be grateful for."
"The 'Witch' and the 'Golden Lion' are on a collision course. Ideally, they would destroy each other..."
The Golden Lion was undoubtedly the most pressing issue at hand. While Kanata had killed a Celestial Dragon, she hadn't committed any other acts of aggression against the World Government. Even her battles with the Marines hadn't resulted in significant casualties.
For now, her priority could be lowered, the Five Elders concluded.
"Homing's demeanor seemed to have changed after speaking with her. She does seem to have a certain influence over others."
"It's not just her Conqueror's Haki. I pray she doesn't become another foolish king, enthralled by Octavia's charms."
They shuddered, remembering the chaos Octavia had caused in the past. It was difficult to say with certainty that history wouldn't repeat itself, but based on the reports, things seemed to be under control.
If Homing showed any signs of following in that king's footsteps... they would make a ruthless decision.
"It's surprising that Garp hasn't taken any hostile actions... but that's just like him. He probably thinks it's fine as long as no harm came to the Celestial Dragons," one Elder remarked.
"He's strong, but... difficult to handle."
"At least he's still a Marine. It would be troublesome if he became another Roger."
He was currently one of the Marines' strongest assets, on par with the Admirals. While his ideology wasn't always appreciated, they couldn't afford to alienate him.
Heroes with power and fame were always a thorn in the side of those in power. But they had to be content with the fact that he was still a Marine. A lawless individual like Roger would be far more troublesome.
"What about the 'Golden Lion's' movements?" one Elder asked, changing the subject.
"He hasn't left Water Seven yet. But it seems he's gathering his subordinate pirates, perhaps because the 'Witch' is hunting them down."
"Can we leak information to the 'Witch' and instigate a conflict between them?" another Elder suggested.
"We haven't earned her trust... but it seems Garp has made contact with her. We can use him to leak information."
They had many issues to deal with.
The Golden Lion was the top priority, but it would be more convenient if he and the 'Witch' destroyed each other.
Water Seven was a renowned shipbuilding city, but recently, the rising cost of lumber and scarce parts had caused hardship for many.
It was a World Government affiliated nation, but there were other shipyards. It wouldn't be a major loss to the World Government.
"Our priority is to eliminate the 'Golden Lion,' who is disrupting the sea. Some collateral damage is acceptable," one Elder declared.
"She's Octavia's daughter. There's a good chance she can defeat him."
"Then it's decided."
"We can provide some assistance, as long as he's eliminated."
There were many restrictions when deploying the Marines directly. It was more advantageous to have pirates fight each other, allowing them to shift the blame for any collateral damage.
With that in mind, the Five Elders decided to leak information to Kanata through Garp.
***
In Pucci, a city renowned for its culinary delights, Kanata and her crew were taking a break. They had visited three islands since their meeting with Garp on Banaro Island, eliminating the Golden Lion's pirates, and were now taking time to recover and gather information.
Two of the three islands had active pirate bases, but one was already deserted. They assumed that Shiki was gathering his subordinates, wary of being defeated individually. To plan their next move, they were collecting information from various sources.
"Delicious! This carrot dish is amazing! Can I have all of it wrapped up, please!?" Zen’s enthusiasm for the local cuisine was overflowing.
"Yes, of course. But that's quite a large amount..." the shopkeeper was surprised by Zen's appetite.
"Money is no object! I'll even pay extra if you tell me the recipe!" Zen offered.
"I'm afraid I can't share the recipe..." the shopkeeper replied.
"I understand. I'll just buy it then! This was a great purchase! Pucci truly lives up to its reputation as the 'Gourmet City'!" Zen declared, satisfied with his haul.
Nearby, Feiyun was getting a giant-sized cup of juice, while Zen continued to rave about the carrot dish. They had plenty of money and food from the pirates they had defeated. Their spending was a drop in the bucket compared to their vast reserves.
George, the treasurer, was smiling as he handed out allowances to everyone, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
"We thought we were quite conspicuous, but those two are on another level," Junshi commented.
"Yeah, people avoid that area entirely. It's convenient though, they're easy to find," Scotch replied.
They were both holding takoyaki, watching Zen and Feiyun from afar. While they were also far from ordinary in appearance, people seemed to avoid them instinctively. The contrast was Kanata.
After being reprimanded by Ivankov, she had become slightly more conscious of her appearance. She had ventured into town wearing a black sailor uniform, buying clothes and daily necessities, only to be bombarded with attention from countless men.
Even Kanata, who usually remained unfazed, was overwhelmed. She had returned to the ship and dragged Dragon, who was on guard duty, back into town as a bodyguard and baggage carrier.
Taking a break from shopping, Kanata and Dragon decided to have a meal at a nearby restaurant. They settled into a private room, away from prying eyes, to discuss their next move.
"We're at an impasse. We managed to weaken the Golden Lion's forces, but not significantly. It's still too risky to confront his main ship in our current state."
"That's surprising. I thought you would take the risk and attack, now that you've challenged him."
"I would, if it was unavoidable. But we're the ones on the offensive. We have the initiative," Kanata explained.
There was no point in risking their lives to fight Shiki if it wasn't necessary. They couldn't chip away at his forces gradually, so their only option was a direct assault. If that wasn't feasible, they should have avoided antagonizing him in the first place.
Dragon crossed his arms and pondered the situation.
"We're keeping tabs on the Golden Lion's movements through that man, but... if you say so, I'll follow your judgment."
"Even with information, we lack the manpower. Even if Shiki's strength is on par with Garp or Sengoku, I can't handle him alone," Kanata admitted.
She hadn't been able to defeat Sengoku single-handedly. No matter how much she bragged, there was a clear difference in their strength. She couldn't make a move until she could overcome that gap.
They weren't obligated to kill Shiki, nor were they in a life-or-death situation. It would be wiser to limit their actions to harassment for now.
"...Manpower, huh?"
"Manpower, indeed. He still has about five pirate crews under his command. We can assume they're similar in strength to the ones we've defeated so far."
Each crew individually wasn't a major threat, but together they could be troublesome. They were outnumbered.
"Hmm... I think it would be better to strike while we can... Manpower, huh..." Dragon repeated. Then, he made a proposition. "How about we bring that man over to our side?"
Kanata's eyes widened in surprise at his suggestion.
