Two years passed in a flash.
Nero and Hathaway sailed the golden rose to the West Blue.
Upon entering the West Blue, Nero was still reminiscing when she saw her old friend Crocus at Twin Capes.
He was now there, guarding a large whale named Laboon, who would occasionally ram his head against the Red Line.
It seemed the pirate crew he once followed had gone to the Grand Line, leaving him in Crocus's care.
In Nero's opinion, that unknown pirate crew had probably long since died in the Grand Line; countless people met such a fate.
However, Nero didn't tell Laboon this. It was better to have some hope in a long life; anything could happen on the sea. What if that pirate crew really did return one day?
Who could say for sure?
"Umu, Hathaway, do you think that pirate crew will ever come back?" Nero leaned against the railing at the bow, looking a bit downcast.
She had originally wanted to take Laboon with her when she returned, but Crocus had stopped her.
The pirate crew named Rumbar had disappeared long ago; after so many years without news, they had either disbanded or been wiped out.
Crocus, who considered himself Laboon's guardian, also didn't want to tell Laboon this cruel truth.
"Sigh..." Hathaway didn't know how to answer, as she also felt that pirate crew was unlikely to return.
But Nero quickly perked up: "Umu, it's decided! I shall compose Laboon's poignant story into a beautiful song, and when we return to Nicuss, I'll hold a three-day concert!"
"Uh..." Hathaway's eye twitched. Poignant? Was she sure it wasn't tragic?
After all these years, Your Majesty still has no idea how terrible her singing is!
"Umu, in that case, there's no time to waste! I must quickly write down the score while inspiration is abundant!"
With vibrant energy in her emerald eyes, Nero instantly adjusted her state, even feeling a bit excited.
"Umu, Hathaway! How much longer until we reach Ohara?"
"Ah~ At our current speed, it will take about a week to reach Ohara, including time for resupply."
Hathaway finally sighed helplessly. Nero in this state was completely lost in her own world, and no one could stop her.
"Umu, that's enough time! Look forward to my masterpiece!" Humming an off-key tune, Nero returned to the cabin full of enthusiasm.
Hathaway couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her nobles. Nicuss was undergoing a period of intense transformation due to Nero's policies.
Everyone across the country was incredibly busy, and their Majesty would occasionally reward them with a 'torture session.'
And those who were lucky enough to avoid it due to busy work would be personally visited and rewarded with a lullaby.
It was said that the Silence-Silence Fruit's price among Nicuss's nobles now exceeded that of most Logia-type Devil Fruits.
Gazing at the calm and tranquil sea, so different from the New World, Hathaway silently lowered her head, mourning for the ministers for ten seconds.
But she soon realized she had mourned a little too early.
Six days later, Hathaway, who had acquired the new job of music appreciation specialist, sat blank-eyed in a chair, with Nero's self-indulgent singing in her ears.
Her hands restlessly picked at the bottom of the chair, wood chips falling with a rustle, but Nero was immersed in her beautiful singing, her eyes not even open.
'Have mercy on me...' Hathaway cried out helplessly in her heart.
"Umu! How is it, Hathaway? Do my lyrics and melody perfectly recreate the story's poignancy and hope?"
When the song ended, Nero looked at Hathaway with sparkling eyes. Although it was a question, her gaze was full of proud expectation for praise.
"I think if it were used in prisons, it would greatly reduce the nation's crime rate..." A dazed Hathaway subconsciously blurted out her true thoughts.
"Umu, can the power in my singing allow criminals to absorb love and hope, thereby reforming themselves?"
"That's indeed a good idea! When we return, I want all prisons in Nicuss to use this method! 24-hour continuous playback!!!"
Nero didn't catch the meaning behind Hathaway's words at all. In her perception, Hathaway would never say anything bad about her.
"Sigh, the process of this method might be a bit unconventional, but it should achieve the desired results."
Hathaway's face was covered in black lines. No one could endure 24 hours of continuous, uninterrupted torture.
"Mwahahahaha! I am indeed an unparalleled prodigy! It's decided! I shall add three more days to the concert at the Golden Opera House!!!"
Nero put her hands on her hips and laughed heartily, once again infatuated with her own excellence.
"That won't be necessary, Your Majesty! After all, the country is developing rapidly, and the ministers are quite busy. A week's time would be enough for their work to pile up into a huge mess."
Hathaway quickly interjected. Other matters were one thing, but when it came to singing, she feared that if Nero kept singing like this, she would sing away everyone's morale.
"Umu, there's some truth to that. It seems I can only sing for three days. I'll have to make do with my beloved ministers."
Hearing Hathaway's words, Nero couldn't help but frown. After some thought, she reluctantly changed the time back to three days.
'They won't be inconvenienced at all; if anything, they'll throw a banquet for it.' Hathaway silently mused.
Suddenly, Nero paused, no longer conversing with Hathaway, and ran clattering onto the deck.
Seeing this, Hathaway, unsure of what was happening, also rushed to follow her.
"Umu, has my whereabouts been exposed? Why are there so many Marine warships?" Nero frowned, looking at the huge fleet faintly visible through the distant fog.
"It shouldn't be us they're looking for. Their trajectory seems to be the same as ours."
Hathaway observed carefully, then said with uncertainty, "It looks like they haven't spotted us yet."
"Umu, in that case, let's temporarily stop the ship. With such heavy fog, a small boat should still be quite concealed."
Nero thought for a moment and gave the order. Her current mission was sensitive and not suitable for a grand display.
"Let's avoid this Marine group for now and go around them. Although I don't know what they're doing in Ohara, they couldn't possibly burn Ohara down, could they?"
Nero declared confidently. This place had existed for so long, and the tree of knowledge's reputation was known worldwide.
If the World Government had an issue with it, they would have burned it down long ago. Why would they burn it only when she arrived?
"Sigh!" Hathaway clearly agreed with Nero's point of view: "This Marine group must be going to protect Ohara. It seems things aren't peaceful there either!"
"Umu, in the Age of Pirates, countless people choose to set sail; such scoundrels are always present."
Nero also looked at the departing warships with some emotion. Knowledge was humanity's treasure, but Ohara wasn't wealthy.
Those who would think of attacking it were, more often than not, idiots seeking fame.
"Umu, then we'll stay here for a day and continue tomorrow. I still need to revise my score."
Shaking her head, Nero returned to the cabin, not taking the matter to heart.
Hathaway followed behind Nero, her voice faintly audible.
"This version is already perfect. I don't think it needs any more changes..."
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