『NO WAY!』
At the voice coming through the Den Den Mushi, Dragon sighed softly.
"Are you sure?"
『Absolutely! Why the hell should I team up with pirates?!』
"I've told you many times—we don't call ourselves pirates."
『Well, you haven't done much, but the government basically calls everyone who doesn't obey them pirates, so you're pirates!』
What a ridiculous definition.
They probably just lumped together all existences that didn't obey the massive organization called the World Government and called them "pirates" or "bandits."
In that sense, Kanata's crew could indeed be called pirates.
"The Golden Lion is a thorn in the Navy's side too, isn't it? You're feeding us information expecting outlaws to destroy each other, right?"
『I'm only doing this reluctantly because the higher-ups told me to. Having to rely on pirates makes me sick.』
"...But from what I've heard, you once worked with Roger—"
『LA LA LA! CAN'T HEAR YOU!』
Garp cut off Dragon's words.
It was unclear who was acting more childish, but once he got this stubborn, he'd just keep refusing.
However, they'd learned that someone above Garp had ordered him to leak information to Kanata. Anyone above a Navy vice admiral would be either the Fleet Admiral or World Government higher-ups—that's what Kanata figured.
"Realistically speaking, I gain little from fighting the Golden Lion."
If he stayed in Water Seven, they could happily head straight to the Sabaody Archipelago. They could store the Log to Fish-Man Island somewhere other than Water Seven, and once near the Red Line, Tiger could guide them.
There was no need to face head-on a man called the Admiral of the Pirate Fleet.
Either way, he'd probably keep targeting Kanata, but engaging him alone right now had more disadvantages.
So help us—she implied.
"Don't you think it's convenient to try eliminating a threat without suffering any damage yourselves?"
『Grrr...』
Garp himself strongly opposed teaming up with pirates, but the higher-ups were trying to use pirates to crush pirates.
Then show us proper benefits or we won't move—that's what Kanata said.
『Even if you don't fight, I'll handle that Shiki bastard...』
"You can't defeat him, which is why you're trying to use us, right?"
Garp probably surpassed him in ability, but considering Shiki's powers, escape would be easy. If he kept running no matter how much they chased, nothing could be done.
Shiki himself was a skilled tactician who didn't fall behind Garp. As someone who operated strategically, he was cunning. Capturing him through normal means was impossible.
But—right now is different.
Shiki, who fought as a strategist, was currently moving emotionally—just this once.
For both Kanata and the Navy, this situation right now was their greatest chance.
"Even if you stop trade with Water Seven where he currently is, the first to suffer will be the citizens. Looking at the various bases, it's clear they're not the type to show mercy to civilians."
Trade ships seemed to be passing through somewhat, but currently it had become a town controlled by pirates.
In this situation, those suffering most were the citizens, and the Navy existed to help those citizens.
Then there was no reason not to act.
Against Kanata's logical explanation, Garp had become like a machine making groaning sounds.
『Grrrrr...!』
"What will you do, Garp?"
『...I'll make a recommendation... to the higher-ups... Is that acceptable?』
"For now. Even if I somehow handle Shiki himself, you handle the citizens and subordinate pirates."
『I know that! Damn it, you really are the worst!』
"Just like my mother, whom you all hate so much?"
『Yeah! Your mother was the worst too! You're both so mouthy... crackle, crackle...—』
"...Garp?"
Garp's voice, which had been coming through clearly, suddenly became filled with noise.
Dragon and Kanata frowned at each other and tried calling out several times, but the response was weak.
Since their business was done, they were about to hang up when they heard someone else's voice—not Garp's—from the Den Den Mushi.
『Crackle, crackle... Shiki is a Float-Float Fruit—crackle—ability user. He can levitate things he touches. —Crackle... inorganic objects—but he can also levitate seawater... crackle』
"...Who is this?"
A woman's voice. Kanata didn't recognize it, so she looked at Dragon, but he shook his head—he didn't recognize it either.
Since she seemed to be leaking information about Shiki, they focused on listening.
『...His weapons—two swords. Oto and Kogarashi—crackle, crackle...』
Kanata signaled to Dragon with her eyes. Dragon scribbled the information on nearby paper.
『He's reasonably strong but—crackle... If you're going to fight him, choose a storm...』
"Choose a storm...?"
『His ability is halved in a storm... The rest is up to you—my daughter.』
"—!"
With that, the voice disappeared. The noise vanished and the call disconnected.
It was unclear if Garp had heard it too, but the person who'd just spoken was probably—
"...'My daughter'?"
How had she intercepted the Den Den Mushi conversation?
How had she obtained information about the conflict with Shiki?
There were countless questions, but... what they needed to confirm immediately was whether this information was true.
There was no way to trust it, but she'd heard they'd been on the same ship. She'd also heard they'd hated each other enough to try killing one another. Then perhaps there was a non-zero chance she'd leak information to have them crush him.
"...Contact Garp again. He should know."
If this could be a card to change the situation, there was no reason not to use it.
☆
"Octavia, were you talking to someone?"
"Yes."
"But there's no Den Den Mushi here?"
"I can read radio waves flying through the air with my ability, and I can also interfere with them. This much is trivial."
"Wow... That's interesting. I'd like you to teach me the principles sometime."
"Sure, I'm free anyway, so I don't mind... Hehe, but still—that child seems to be following quite a peculiar fate."
☆
Navy Headquarters, the Fleet Admiral's office.
As Kong was reviewing a mountain of documents and efficiently processing them, the door burst open violently.
"What's all the commotion?"
"This is so frustrating!"
"What's wrong, Garp? You're unusually agitated today."
Walking up to Kong with rough steps, Garp slammed the table forcefully.
Several documents fell from Kong's desk from the impact, but neither seemed to care.
"Cipher Pol came to me. Orders to leak information to the Witch and have her clash with the Golden Lion. Direct orders from the Five Elders, they said."
"Yeah, I got the message too. If they're going to clash anyway, they want troublesome groups to destroy each other—that's their thinking."
"The Witch seems willing to fight the Golden Lion, but says she lacks manpower."
"...And?"
"She says we handle protecting the subordinate pirates and citizens."
"Hmm," Kong leaned back in his chair.
The tea at hand had gone completely cold, but he took a sip anyway, ruminating on Garp's words and organizing them.
Protecting citizens was, well, natural. Kong also thought this was something the Navy had to handle.
They knew the number of subordinate pirates too. They were just brought along separately from the main force in the New World—their quality wasn't particularly high.
Additionally, the Golden Lion Pirates' officers hadn't come here.
"That's all the Witch is demanding?"
"Yeah, for now."
"That's a surprisingly mild demand. If she'd seen through our intentions, I thought she'd make more outrageous demands."
Or perhaps she had no intention of receiving anything from the start.
Kong didn't know what the reason might be, but was it because she wouldn't accept anything from an organization that had her wanted as a criminal?
Realistically, withdrawing Kanata's bounty was impossible.
What she'd done was what she'd done. Moreover, the bounty amount now rivaled the great pirates rampaging in the New World.
(She's not obsessed with money. She doesn't seek honor or fame. Perhaps it's more accurate to say there's nothing she wants to receive from us.)
He'd heard that Kanata's crew's travel objective was conquering the Grand Line.
What they wanted most might be assurance that the World Government wouldn't interfere, but they must know that was impossible.
That's why the demands to Garp were minimal—some military force and civilian protection.
A bit too peaceful to be called pirates.
"...Hmm. Well, I suppose it's fine. Protect citizens in the chaos of the battle between the Witch and the Golden Lion. Then subdue the subordinate pirates."
"Also, I don't know who gave her the idea, but... she asked if there were any storm-prone sea areas near Water Seven. I have subordinates compiling that information."
"A place near Water Seven with frequent storms? What would she want with that?"
"Preparation for fighting Shiki, apparently."
After the call disconnected once, following several questions to Garp, Kanata's crew requested information.
Garp knew Shiki's abilities well, but didn't know his weaknesses. He'd pressed about who told her, but Kanata wouldn't talk.
In any case.
"...She's seriously planning to clash with the Golden Lion."
The Witch was still very much a rookie—but her combat record was headache-inducingly tremendous.
If she planned to clash further with the Golden Lion... and additionally with Big Mom, perhaps she shouldn't be called a rookie anymore.
Whether that was due to bloodline or personal temperament was unclear.
"As a marine, cooperating with pirates makes me sick."
"Endure it. At least if there are no casualties among citizens and marines, there's nothing to complain about."
"But... I'm just not good with that woman."
"You two certainly seem incompatible."
At least you probably can't win in verbal sparring—Kong joked and laughed.
He finished the cold tea and asked a subordinate to "brew fresh hot tea."
"I've left the Golden Lion matter to Tsuru. The Celestial Dragons keep demanding we do something about Big Mom squatting at the Sabaody Archipelago, so Zephyr's been deployed there."
"What about the Witch's treatment after she clashes with the Golden Lion?"
"Leave her be. Priority is the Golden Lion. The Witch won't cause major problems if left alone."
Though that came with the condition "as long as Celestial Dragons aren't involved."
When Kanata's crew moved to the Sabaody Archipelago, he'd better petition to withdraw all Celestial Dragons to Mariejois—Kong made a mental note.
There was no need to invite unnecessary trouble. The Five Elders would probably approve this.
With a prior offense, there was no guarantee there wouldn't be a second.
"Sengoku will be out for a while. You'll have to work hard."
"That's fine, but... what about the New World?"
Of the four great pirates, with two now in Paradise—the first half of the Grand Line—the New World's seas could be called extremely unstable.
Not only territorial disputes, but underworld dealings had also become active.
While Roger and Newgate could be said to lack ambition, the pirates following them were different.
Many were invading the territories of pirate crews whose captains were absent, resulting in conflicts.
"That's another headache. Things are okay for now, but if the Golden Lion falls, the chaos will grow even larger."
"What will you do?"
"What can I do? We don't have enough hands. We'll have to lower the priority for non-World Government member nations."
At Kong's sigh, Garp made a distasteful face.
Both understood that as marines, this wasn't something they should really do.
"For now, things are manageable. Though we're being reactive."
The eye of the storm, so to speak, was definitely Kanata.
All sorts of events were happening centered on Kanata. She was a walking trouble magnet—inherited from her mother, perhaps?—which gave him headaches. But if even Buster Call-level forces probably couldn't subdue her, there was nothing to do but leave her alone.
If only they could hold the reins, he thought.
Kong believed that if her temperament matched what he'd learned from reports, they might be able to establish a mutually beneficial relationship.
And that under the current system, doing so was impossible.
***
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