"This is a grave situation."
"Allowing contact between Golden Lion and Whitebeard... It's hard to imagine those two joining forces, but the mere possibility is extremely troubling."
"Between Big Mom and them, it's unsettling how Rocks' remnants are moving..."
"The cause is still the 'Witch'?"
"They began moving after her wanted poster was updated. There must be some reason worthy of their action."
The Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
In this land where the Celestial Dragons dwelled, among them sat those in the highest positions—the de facto supreme authority of the World Government.
Commonly called the Five Elders, they were troubled by those recently causing an uproar at sea.
In one Elder's hand was a wanted poster featuring a single girl.
"Kanata, is it? A girl whose traces can't be found anywhere in the West Blue. Could this be an alias?"
"There are countless children without birth records. Suspicion has no end."
"Garp defeated the Rocks Pirates five years ago. She began activities six years ago... Can this also be called coincidence?"
"The possibility that former Rocks crew members moving connects somehow to her isn't zero."
"It's as if one of Rocks' crew members smuggled her to the West Blue..."
Considering her age at the time, it was hard to imagine Kanata herself had been on Rocks' ship.
Relatives or family members being there was the reasonable conclusion.
And if relatives or family, there was a possibility of blood ties to the major players currently making names at sea.
"We need to mobilize Cipher Pol."
"But she's quite skilled. A year ago she possessed martial prowess that thought nothing of CP-0. Now even Zephyr struggles with her—assassination would be difficult even for intelligence agents."
"At this point, making it 'ONLY ALIVE—capture only' was a mistake... We must strike her down as soon as possible."
"We must inform Saint Homing as well..."
"When he conveyed through CP-0 that he 'wanted to talk,' I wondered what he meant... but shall we try talking and see if we can obtain information?"
She hadn't taken notable actions besides killing a Celestial Dragon. Not knowing her objective left the World Government with no moves to make.
If they could at least understand her goal, they judged adopting Saint Homing's plan might be worthwhile.
Whether due to Zephyr letting Kanata escape, pirate damage had increased in mere days.
If her objective as the cause wasn't significant, they thought the Marines should currently move to deter the many pirates.
"Either way, with New World bigshots moving now, we don't have the luxury of freely deploying Marine Admirals. If the next chance fails, we must tell Kong to pull back temporarily."
"We must remain mindful of the possibility she becomes a figurehead for those who resent Celestial Dragons."
"Couldn't we somehow infiltrate Cipher Pol... shall we try?"
"Don't step on the tiger's tail. Judging from her Arabasta actions, they're still rational. No need to unnecessarily provoke hostility toward the Government."
At least for now, the qualifier stood.
Since killing the Celestial Dragon, no particularly notable criminal acts had been observed. The possibility of plunder at sea was never zero, but no such information existed currently.
At any rate, information was insufficient.
If even a Marine Admiral let her escape, presently they could only wait and see.
Though surveillance would be necessary.
"—Then, today's agenda concludes here."
For a better world, the five men stood up straight.
☆
Meanwhile, Kanata's crew had returned to Drum as planned.
Anchoring at the same location as before, this time even Kanata, hooded deeply, disembarked.
"I'll return after speaking briefly with Dr. Kureha. We'll likely anchor here today."
"Then can I go to town?"
"Tie this one to the ship."
Ignoring Kuro's protests of "Why not?!", Kanata headed with Georges and Samuel toward the nearby town—Gyasta.
The snow accumulation remained constant, feet buried in snow, but Kanata walked easily. Using her ability to freeze and pave the snow's surface.
Georges and Samuel, thinking "convenient ability," benefited from it.
Walking while briefly discussing what kind of person Kureha was, they proceeded toward the great tree on the town's outskirts.
"...Some compromise is necessary. Moving cargo all at once would be truly troublesome."
"The money's okay?"
"Money can be earned again. I want to avoid plunder when possible, but if necessary, we'll need to think of something."
Though she'd killed a Celestial Dragon, she'd never claimed to be a pirate.
That said, with crew lives entrusted to her, she had no intention of being soft. If necessary, she'd plunder even merchant ships.
Though since the sea occupied most of the world, with many pirates around, attacking pirates usually yielded food. Attacking merchant ships was truly a last resort.
For just eating, they could hunt sea beasts or Sea Kings too.
"Are many pirates a good or bad thing..."
"Bad for ordinary citizens, certainly. I'd like to claim bounties from wanted pirates though."
"You going wouldn't work... Only your face and Feiyun's are exposed, so couldn't Junshi and I go collect?"
"During our merchant days, our names and faces sold. Hard to imagine the Marines haven't investigated our backgrounds—still going?"
"...Never mind."
Though Marx Island was scorched earth, the Georges Family's faces had sold on islands along other regular routes.
Particularly navigator Scotch, as acting representative, often appeared publicly, and crossing this sea without a navigator was suicide.
Not knowing how cautious they needed to be, no need to risk capture just for bounty money.
"...Hm? That's—"
Kanata's gaze turned toward a figure entering her vision.
Thinking about something perhaps, a Fish-Man walked through town with a troubled expression. Tiger.
Calling out, he turned toward Kanata with wide eyes.
"Tiger! Did you fix the rudder?"
"...Hm? Oh, Kana—"
"Try not to call my name if possible. I'm being pursued, after all."
"Ah, right... Lucky to meet again."
Lowering his voice somewhat, and since standing around talking seemed odd, they headed together toward Kureha's house. One person more, but Kanata was avoiding town actions to prevent her face being seen—nothing to be done about it.
The great tree on the town's outskirts was close, but the reason for Tiger's troubled expression became clear before arrival.
"Can't fix the rudder?"
"Yeah. I'm an adventurer—I can fix minor damage myself, but this time the broken part was bad."
The rudder's base breaking apparently cracked the keel, meaning the ship would sink sooner or later. The storm had also torn the sails.
He'd considered acquiring a new ship on this island, but lacked sufficient money.
"Haha, I see. So that's what you were troubled about."
"I'm a Fish-Man. Worst case, I could swim carrying luggage... but swimming continuously without rest is unreasonable."
"Didn't you consider earning money in this town?"
"There aren't many jobs outsiders—much less Fish-Men—can do. Unable to move, wondering what to do, I met you all."
Moving to another island required a ship, procuring a ship required money, procuring money required work. But Fish-Men couldn't get work—the situation.
Discrimination ran deep.
Until nearly two hundred years ago, merfolk and Fish-Men had been classified as "fish." Even now, discrimination remained in many regions.
Appearance differing greatly from humans was likely a discrimination factor. Giants differed in size but looked like ordinary humans otherwise.
"So I have a request..."
"If you want aboard, do as you like. We're pursued, but if that's acceptable."
"...Is it all right?"
Georges shrugged, Samuel wore a thoughtless expression.
If Kanata decided, they had no particular objections apparently. Important matters affecting fortunes aside, just one more crew member on a ship with abundant cabins.
Among many giants and ability users, one more Fish-Man made little difference.
Tiger apparently just wanted transport to Fish-Man Island, offering to do odd jobs for the ride.
Kanata considered briefly and asked Tiger.
"Do you have any specialties?"
"Specialties... I traveled alone, so I can do most things."
"I see, then we can decide those details gradually."
"By the way, where are we heading now?"
"Our doctor's training... here?"
Reaching Kureha's house, Georges knocked and called inside.
Without delay, the door opened and Kureha showed her face.
"Hihihihihi. You folks, you brought the captain, right?"
"Yeah, this guy's the captain."
"You? Pretty big, and a Fish-Man too."
"Wrong one."
Redirecting her gaze toward Kanata.
Preferably not exposing her face would be better, but as Skura's teacher, not showing her face wouldn't do. Overriding objections, she revealed her face.
The moment Kureha saw Kanata's face, she made a dubious expression and stared intently.
"...How old are you, girl?"
"? Sixteen."
"Sixteen... then a different person. For a moment I thought that woman was alive."
"That woman? Someone resembling Kanata?"
"More than resembling. A living image. Eye color differs, but well, that's about it for differences."
Resembling that much, sister or parent-child possibilities were quite conceivable. Georges seemed slightly interested, but Kanata herself seemed utterly disinterested.
She'd cut ties with both parents and orphanage. No hobby of clinging to what was already discarded, presumably.
"I've no intention of talking either. Nothing good ever came from that woman being involved."
"I'm not interested in parents I've never met. More than that, I came for other business."
"Hihihihi. About that lad, right? He's got good fundamentals—half a year should make him competent."
He'd originally been a doctor. Not drilling everything from scratch meant no teaching basics.
Truly teaching everything would require years.
But if it took that long, both Skura and Kanata would struggle.
"Whether it lengthens or shortens from half a year depends on his effort. Now, the next topic."
Since standing at the entrance indefinitely seemed odd, Kureha withdrew inside and sat in a chair.
Kanata's group also relaxed in the house while Georges, acting familiar, began making tea.
Ignoring Tiger looking quite cramped, Kanata withdrew a stack of bills from inside her coat and placed them on the table.
"First, advance payment—Skura's allocated portion. I heard you want all the ship's money and cargo, correct?"
"Yeah, that's right. Give me all your money and cargo, and I'll drill all my techniques into that lad."
"That itself is fine, but the cargo's a bit much to fit in this house. Since we plan to regularly call at Drum, how about delivering cargo each time?"
"Pretty agreeable, aren't you? Pirates usually haggle, Dragon-Slaying Witch."
"I've never claimed to be a pirate. I killed the Celestial Dragon because he tried enslaving our adorable crew member. If it happens again, I'll do the same."
"Hihihi, you're a scary woman too."
Kureha laughed cheerfully.
She took the bills placed on the table, counting them while asking about the next schedule.
"Cargo's fine that way. Don't expect all the cargo from a large ship carrying giants to fit."
"I see. Then each time we'll ask what's needed and transport the necessary cargo."
"Right. I'll drill medicine into that lad. You'll transport all your money and necessary cargo to me. Contract established."
Not exchanging written contracts, but the amount had been confirmed. Though Kureha was surprised by the sum exceeding ten million berries, conversely it also served as a cap preventing the amount paid to Kureha from increasing.
She didn't want to imagine endlessly increasing debt.
Being former merchants, they were sensitive to such things.
"You'd saved up quite a bit."
"Food costs are no joke. Preparing sufficient medicine also requires considerable sums."
"Well, that's none of my business. Pay properly over half a year."
"Will do."
She thought to see Skura finally, but he was apparently busy compounding medicine now.
Disturbing him wasn't her intent. Just asking Georges to give Skura her regards, she decided to return to the ship with Tiger.
They still had plenty of alcohol and food. Kanata smiled—though temporary, a new companion was joining. Let's have a feast today.
***
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