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The Strongest Frost Loli (87)
🕑 Added 2024-07-26 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 87 - The Unexpected
“Welcome back, George! Boss – wait, Boss, didn’t I see you walking around the harbor this morning…?”
Kanata was greeted with a puzzled question from one of her subordinates as soon as she returned to Hachinosu.
She was just as confused. They had set sail that morning and returned from Rommel Kingdom just now. How could she have already been back?
Had someone impersonated her and infiltrated their base?
“Did you confirm her face?” Kanata asked.
“Of course! I wouldn't mistake your face for anyone else's!”
“You obviously did, you idiot!” George couldn’t help but retort, and Kanata sighed, rubbing her forehead.
“Did you speak to this woman who looked like me?”
“Yes. She had a child with her. She said, ‘I returned early. I’m going to rest in my room,’ and then she went inside.”
“…She had a child with her?”
It wasn’t unusual for the Twilight Pirates to have children on board. They often took in orphans, and some, like Teach and Kaie, were already working for them.
But someone who looked like Kanata and knew the layout of Hachinosu… As she thought about it, one person came to mind.
“…No way.”
She quickly used her Observation Haki to scan the area and sensed a powerful aura approaching.
She had a subordinate bring her spear and waited.
She only knew one person who looked exactly like her and knew Hachinosu well.
– Her mother, Octavia, the “Reverberation,” a pirate with a bounty exceeding 3.5 billion berries.
Even though Octavia didn't seem hostile, Kanata tensed as she saw her approach.
“It’s been a while. You seem to be doing well,” Octavia said.
“What do you want? Did you forget something?”
Their subordinates exchanged uneasy glances, noticing the identical faces of the two women. Octavia instructed Caterina, who was standing behind her, “Stay back.”
Kanata and Octavia didn’t exchange any further words. They both raised their spears, imbuing them with Armament Haki.
George, breaking into a cold sweat, shouted at their subordinates, “Everyone, get down!”
– The next moment, the two monsters clashed with their Haki-clad weapons.
The impact created a shockwave, a massive explosion that sent the ships in the harbor rocking violently.
This was just from their Haki, without using their Devil Fruit abilities.
The subordinates who hadn’t reacted to George’s warning were blown away, some landing in the sea, others further inland. Those who had managed to react were clinging to the ground, barely avoiding being swept away.
The two women at the epicenter of the explosion lowered their weapons. Both had neutral expression.
“Hmm… You’ve grown stronger since we last met.”
Kanata’s Haki hadn’t been this powerful when they met in Paradise. Her spear skills had also improved. Octavia could sense the harsh journey Kanata had endured.
But Octavia was still stronger.
Having assessed each other’s strength, Kanata warned her subordinates not to interfere.
Octavia was more powerful than Kanata. Surrounding her would be pointless. She would simply brush them aside like insects.
“I’ll ask again. What do you want?”
“There was a sword in the basement here. I’m looking for it.”
“Muramasa? I have it. Is it yours?”
“No… But if you have it, I have no complaints. Use it as you see fit.”
Octavia walked past Kanata, heading towards a small boat docked nearby. Caterina followed close behind. Octavia turned, grabbed Caterina by the scruff of her neck, and shoved her towards Kanata.
“Here. Take care of her.”
“…You’re not telling me she’s your daughter, are you?”
“Of course not. I found her somewhere. She has nowhere to go, so she’s been following me.”
“I’d appreciate it if you stopped treating me like a cat… Wait, you’re leaving me here?”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s safer here than following me.”
There were children her age here, Octavia said, glancing at Teach.
She frowned at the sight of him, but didn’t say anything. She released Caterina and pushed her towards Kanata.
“It’s no problem to take in one child… but what are you planning?”
“I’m not planning anything. I’m simply waiting for you to surpass me. I’ll be waiting somewhere in the sea.”
Octavia’s mother had waited for her. It was their way. There was no other reason.
“It’s too early for you to challenge me… When the time comes, we’ll meet, whether you want to or not. It was the same for me.”
Kanata didn’t reply. Caterina looked at Octavia with a pout.
The difference in their strength wasn't significant, but Kanata wasn't strong enough to defeat Octavia yet.
Fighting now would be foolish.
Caterina called out to Octavia as she boarded the small boat.
“I’m not happy about this, but thank you, Octavia! See you later!”
“Yes… We’ll meet again.”
Octavia’s boat, modified to run on lightning, slowly started moving, gradually increasing its speed until it disappeared into the distance.
She was a force of nature, but Kanata still didn’t understand her purpose.
“Do you know why she came here?” she asked Caterina.
“Hmm… She said she was looking for a sword. Xebec’s memento, she said,” Caterina replied, tilting her head, clearly unfamiliar with the name.
Kanata, however, understood. “I see,” she sighed.
“Do you know this Xebec person?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t elaborate and turned to leave.
She instructed her subordinates to right the overturned ships and send any injured crew members to the infirmary. She returned to her room to prepare for their journey to Wano Country and to contact Zen.
She had checked to see if Octavia had stolen anything, but aside from some food and water, there was no significant damage. The most damage had been caused by their brief clash.
She was an enigmatic woman… but for now, it was best to leave her alone.
***
After a few days of rest and preparation, Kanata set sail for Wano Country.
She was accompanied by Zen, Gloriosa, Kaie, and a few lower-ranking subordinates. Some of her crew had become friends with Oden’s retainers and wanted to join, but they were too busy at the moment.
Gloriosa was Kanata’s advisor. She was an experienced pirate, her wisdom was invaluable.
…Of course, they usually solved their problems with brute force, so she didn’t have many opportunities to offer advice.
“Hihin, it’s been two years since we last visited Wano. I hope Sukiyaki-sama is doing well,” Zen said.
“I heard he’s ill and currently recuperating. I’m considering returning to Rommel Kingdom and bringing Sukura with us, but…”
“It’ll be difficult. Wano Country is an isolationist nation. It wouldn’t be good for outsiders to get too close to the shogun.”
They didn’t want to damage their relationship with Wano. It was best to avoid any unnecessary actions.
They would visit Sukiyaki if they could, then deliver Oden’s message to his retainers.
Zen, however, said he wouldn’t be accompanying her to meet Sukiyaki.
“It wouldn’t be good for me to go. We’ll end up talking for too long. I’ll deliver Oden-sama’s message to his retainers. Could you check on Sukiyaki-sama’s condition?”
Zen likely thought it wouldn’t be good to stay too long if Sukiyaki was ill.
If his condition was serious, it would be better to avoid meeting altogether, but if he was on his deathbed, they should at least pay their respects. Kanata would have to make that judgment.
She agreed to his request and, after a few days of sailing, they reached Wano Country.
They docked their ship at Mogura Port, as they had done two years ago.
Even though it had been a while, they were recognized, and they entered Hakumai without any trouble.
As they were escorted to Yasuie’s castle, Kanata inquired about the current situation in Wano.
“Is Yasuie-dono well?”
“Yes, he’s doing well,” the escort replied.
“I heard Sukiyaki-dono is ill. How is he now?”
“His health hasn’t been good recently. He’s appointed a deputy and is currently recuperating.”
“A deputy? Who is it?”
Kanata wasn't familiar with the intricacies of Wano’s political landscape. She wouldn’t recognize the name even if they told her.
It wasn’t Yasuie, at least… As she thought about it, the escort revealed the deputy’s name.
“It’s a man named Kurozumi Orochi. The Kurozumi Family was once a daimyo family, but they were stripped of their title after being suspected of assassinating another daimyo… But Orochi-dono is said to be Oden-sama’s sworn brother, so there shouldn't be any problems.”
“…Oden’s sworn brother?”
Kanata glanced at Zen, who frowned and shook his head.
Perhaps it had happened after Zen left Wano, but it was strange that it hadn’t been mentioned during their previous visit.
They had stayed for a considerable amount of time, including Oden’s retainers. There would have been plenty of opportunities to talk about it.
She was curious, but she would have to meet this Orochi person to learn more. However, it would be difficult to meet him today. They needed to stay at Yasuie’s castle and formally request an audience with the shogun.
It would take a few days, including the time required for a response.
“I’ll stay here, but what about you?” she asked the others.
“I’m going to Kuri with Zen-dono. We have the two Mink Tribe youngsters with us, and they might want to see their brethren,” Gloriosa replied.
“I see. And our subordinates… Let them do as they please, I suppose. We won’t be staying long, so they can’t leave Hakumai.”
They needed to check on Sukiyaki’s condition, and if Zen could meet with him, they would have to adjust their schedule.
They would be staying for a week at most.
She informed her subordinates that they would be indebted to Yasuie, so they should be generous with their trade deals. It wasn't the first time. Yasuie was probably the person they owed the most to in Wano Country.
– Night fell, and Yasuie, arriving slightly late, joined the welcoming feast.
“My apologies for the delay!”
“Don’t worry, Yasuie-sama. I understand you’re busy.”
“Hahaha, well, it’s better than having nothing to do! But there have been some strange newcomers recently. Foreigners who have settled in one of the villages…”
“Pirates? I’m willing to deal with them if they’re causing trouble –”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary. It’s another village’s problem. We can’t interfere.”
Yasuie seemed tired. They welcomed him and the feast began.
They had two years’ worth of stories to share.
Some were lighthearted anecdotes, while others, like Oden’s escapades, were met with exasperated sighs from both Kanata and Yasuie.
“It’s my fault he left Wano. I should have dragged him back, even if it meant tying a rope around his neck,” Kanata said.
“Don’t worry about it. Knowing him, he would have left eventually, even without your influence,” Yasuie reassured her.
“Thank you.”
Kanata didn’t know the details of Oden’s journey.
She imagined he was having a grand time on Roger’s ship, but he was also one of the few people who could read the Road Poneglyphs. He was likely exploring the world, searching for them.
They were also searching for them, but they hadn't found any new ones yet.
The World Government had forbidden the reading of the Poneglyphs, and most pirates didn’t even know they were connected to a treasure. Only a few were actively searching for them.
And there was no guarantee that the Road Poneglyphs would lead to a treasure. Without the Road History Poneglyphs, they were simply historical artifacts.
“Oh, speaking of pirates, a pirate ship recently docked in Kuri.”
“A pirate ship? Are they behaving themselves?”
“Yes. They apparently climbed the waterfall and damaged their ship. They’re docked for repairs. Their captain’s name is… Newgate, I believe.”
“Newgate?!”
The name was familiar.
Edward Newgate, “Whitebeard” – a former member of the Rocks Pirates who had become a powerful pirate, rivaling Shiki, Big Mom, and Roger.
And he was currently in Kuri.
If they met, it would likely lead to a fight. Judging from her previous encounters with Shiki and Big Mom, simply seeing Kanata’s face might be enough to trigger a full-scale war.
Kanata groaned, rubbing her forehead.
The news had sobered her up.
Yasuie, noticing her distress, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you worried about Newgate?”
“Yes… He’s a well-known pirate. Quite powerful as well.”
He didn't seem to have established a territory. His entire crew was likely on board his ship.
They only had a few executives with them. They would be at a disadvantage if they fought Whitebeard and his entire crew.
Even with their small numbers, they were a force to be reckoned with, a crew capable of rivaling Shiki and Roger.
“…It would be foolish to fight them here.”
Fortunately, Whitebeard didn't seem to be aware of their presence yet. They had been lucky to learn this information.
She would ask Yasuie to deliver Oden’s message to his retainers and have Zen and Gloriosa stay in Hakumai.
It would be too risky to let them wander around. Both Zen and Gloriosa were well-known pirates with bounties on their heads.
“Change of plans. Zen, Gloriosa, stay here. Could you ask Yasuie-dono to deliver Oden’s message?”
“I can do that, but… Should we avoid meeting Newgate?”
“If we meet, it will inevitably lead to a fight. I’m not sure if I can defeat him in a one-on-one battle.”
She might be able to hold her own against Whitebeard if they fought alone, but she couldn’t guarantee victory.
And a full-scale battle would cause significant damage to Wano. It was best to avoid fighting.
“We need to instruct our subordinates to stay in one place as well… He hasn’t left Kuri, has he?”
“No. He’s been sailing around the area while his ship is being repaired.”
“Then they should stay in Hakumai.”
She wanted to sigh at the unfortunate turn of events, but they had their own objectives to fulfill.
They would have to request an audience with Sukiyaki as soon as possible. She didn’t want to fight a full-scale war against Whitebeard with only a handful of her crew. It would be a different story if all her executives were present.
