"Kuro!"
"Sorry I'm late."
The moment I knocked Admiral Kizaru—Mr. Borsalino—out of the sky and back onto the ship, Hina was there to meet me as I ran back across the water to the transport vessel.
"What about Admiral Kizaru?!"
"I've incapacitated him for now. But Logia users can have inexplicable recovery abilities. For now, let's get out of this sector! Use the Eternal Pose we took from them as a guide and put some distance between us and the pursuit fleet!"
At my command, Colonel Wired and the others sprang into action.
...Though honestly, you could have put a little more distance between us. The entire pursuit fleet is currently aground and completely immobilized. Some of them have even capsized.
"You... you really did it... But, Kuro..."
"I know. First, let's check our remaining supplies and the ship's ballast. Sorry, but I need you to come with me."
This is where the real problem begins.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
We were in the lowest level of the ship: the ballast compartment. It was a space filled with heavy stones to keep the vessel balanced.
"Just as I thought. A standard Headquarters ship would have Sea-Prism Stone loaded here..."
"These are just normal stones," I noted. "I knew it, but this is going to be a problem."
The logic was that loading Sea-Prism Stone here would sync the ship with the energy of the ocean, making it harder for Sea Kings to detect.
(Well, with my current abilities, I'm not that afraid of encountering a Sea King. That said, trying to protect a ship while sailing through the Calm Belt, where they travel in swarms, would be a bit difficult.)
I could probably do it if I had to, but it would be a gamble. And I wasn't about to risk Hina and the other Marines on a long shot.
(If I sense a large presence in the sea, I could fire off a power-adjusted "Ikoku" to catch enough fish to feed everyone. We have some fuel, so we could secure water through distillation. In the worst-case scenario, we could rig up some cloth from the masts to collect solar energy.)
The problem is whether we can find land while we're scraping by...
"Hm?"
"What is it, Kuro?"
"I think I saw something under the stones..."
"Hey, let me help. Make some room."
Hina and I worked side-by-side, clearing away the clattering stones. After we had moved about ten centimeters' worth of rock to the side, we both reached for what was hidden underneath.
It was a barrel. A fairly large barrel emerged from beneath the stones. As we continued to clear the area, we found several more identical barrels surrounding it.
Hina immediately moved to open one, but I stopped her with a hand. I opened the lid slowly—
—and inside, it was packed to the brim with food.
Salt-cured meats and fish, beans, biscuits, and jars of pickled vegetables. It was absolutely full. Hina reached for the barrel next to it; it also contained food. I tried to open another one, but this one was sealed tight. I gave the heavy container a little shake and heard the sloshing of liquid from within. It was either liquor or water.
"Could it be..."
"Is this..." Hina's voice was sharp but hushed.
The barrel Hina had just opened was also filled with food, just like the others. But inside, nestled among the provisions, was a single large object wrapped in cloth. Hina slowly unwrapped it. What lay inside was—
"An Eternal Pose...?"
Hina stared at the object, which looked like an hourglass with no division, her expression one of utter disbelief. The direction it pointed was undeniably different from the one we had stolen.
"Hina."
"Wh-what is it?"
"There. On the inside of that lid."
Hina had been so focused on the contents that she hadn't noticed, but I had seen it instantly from the side. She reached for the lid she had set down beside the barrel and flipped it over.
There, crudely carved in hard-to-read kana, were the words:
—NOW WE'RE EVEN!
"...Kuro."
"Yeah."
"That guy... he got completely wasted at your farewell party and disappeared early on."
"That's when he must have switched the Sea-Prism Stones with regular ones. And then, he must have used that opportunity to sneak all this in for us... Seriously—"
(That Mr. Spa...)
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"So, the 'Black Cats' are to conduct surveillance only?"
"That's right. Even if you locate the target, do not engage. Just confirm his whereabouts and report back."
In one of CP9's hidden command centers, its director, Spandam, was giving orders to one of his subordinates.
"Something about this whole affair doesn't sit right with me. It's possible the Five Elders are divided on the matter. If we make a clumsy move now, it could get complicated. And that's not the worst of it..."
Spandam rubbed his tired eyes over his eyelids and let out a soft sigh.
"If the situation deteriorates in any way, there's a chance they'll try to pin some bizarre responsibility on us and have us purged as scapegoats. ...Fortunately, the matter of letting the Black Cat escape has been dismissed. They've decided it couldn't be helped, seeing as he possesses the strength to defeat an Admiral single-handedly..."
Spandam casually tossed a piece of paper onto his desk. It was the new wanted poster for a certain pirate, soon to be issued.
"We'll move cautiously for a while. The Black Cat, both as an individual and as a faction, is a typhoon. If he were just another pirate, we could simply eliminate him. But given his recent activities, it's not impossible that the Government might offer him major concessions to request his cooperation."
"...Do you... really think they would?" the female CP9 agent—one of the members who had set up the fire traps during the defense of the Holy Land—asked with a skeptical look.
"They were seriously considering making him a Celestial Dragon. It wouldn't be surprising if they tried a few long shots. That's why, until the Government makes its stance perfectly clear, I want to stick to 'surveillance' only."
"I see..."
"The other CP branches have most of their personnel on standby in the West Blue for information control, so there's no one available to move... and CP8's movements have been a little suspicious, so I need to assign people to watch them, too. ...When you think about it, we don't have any choice but to lie low."
"Yes, sir. I understand your reasoning."
The woman gave a seductive smile. "If you'll excuse me," she said with a bow, and left the room.
Left alone, the CP9 director sighed wearily. He took a glass and a bottle of liquor from a shelf, poured a drink without bothering with ice, and downed it in a few gulps.
"...Tch. No matter how this plays out, if he's captured, other factions in the Government will start petitioning for his life and trying to recruit him. The moment he was gone, several departments fell into dysfunction, and a number of managers got demoted. They were told they had 'brains inferior to a pirate's.'"
Putting aside the members who had worked directly under Kuro, even personnel from other departments who had come to rely on him during the reconstruction efforts had started making moves the instant the order to subjugate the Black Cats was given. The sentiment was spreading that, should he be captured, it would be hundreds of times more beneficial to make him work for the Government than to make an example of him through execution or enslavement.
"If they do capture him and put him to work, it can't be in a public-facing role. He'd have to be under our jurisdiction or Cipher Pol Aigis Zero's. But the Government as an organization would never approve of an outsider joining Zero. Which means, by process of elimination, he'd have to come to us!"
"I'll have him work under me and rack up plenty of achievements for me. Muhahaha!"
"...Hah."
"—Tch."
Don't you die. Not you, Kuro, or you, little missy.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
With the battle in the West Blue concluded, the Black Cat Pirates, now one of the world's foremost powers, divided their forces and returned to their respective territories to stabilize their domains.
The main force, led by Daz Bonez, along with half of the former Marines, escorted the two rescued royals to Mopuchi. A unit centered around the other half of the Royal Guard was sent to complete the pacification of Canette. And Hancock's First Fleet, along with Mihawk and the remaining former Marines, returned to Mogwa.
"What is it, Hancock? Most of the work should be done by now," Mihawk said.
"...Mihawk."
After calming the populace, who had been thrown into confusion by the news of their conflict with the Government, explaining their new territorial control, presenting parts of their future reconstruction and development plans, and meeting with the local leaders, Hancock now stood on a balcony on an upper floor of Mogwa Castle, looking down at the town below.
The night was darker than usual, with noticeably fewer bonfires lit by the Marines who would normally be on standby for emergency dispatches.
"Yes. ...I was thinking about the Marines."
"I believe most of the Marines stationed here in Mogwa before the reorganization sided with us."
"That is so. However, most of them were men with no family or close relations."
"That cannot be helped. Unless one is of my ilk, such ties are not easily cast aside."
Taki, the leader of the former Marines, was in Mopuchi with Daz. They were there to decide on their future course of action. Hancock and Mihawk were also scheduled to gather in Mopuchi as soon as they rendezvoused with Galdino and the others, who should be on their way back from their sabotage mission.
"...Hancock. Are you concerned that the former Marines will not follow a pirate's command?"
"No, that should not be an issue. They are all elite soldiers who have participated in joint operations under the Master's leadership. Now that they have crossed blades with the Marines, I have no qualms about welcoming them as members of the Black Cats. ...At least, I do not."
"Then?"
"...It is the Marines we crossed blades with."
In the town below, smoke rose from the chimneys of simple dwellings. The townspeople were likely preparing their evening meals. In the area of Galdino's fire-proof candle houses, women bustled about in the communal kitchen and rest area in the square.
"Did you hear what happened to the royals of Mopuchi?"
"I heard they were treated quite cruelly. That someone from the Government tortured them before their departure, trying to force them to declare that their country would be placed under Government administration."
"...I cannot believe the soldiers who fought—especially those called 'Admirals'—knew of such a thing."
Mihawk gave a small, inquisitive "Oh?" and Hancock nodded.
"When I informed Admiral Akainu of Zephyr's defeat, his shock was extraordinary."
"The Admiral I was supposed to have fought. The one Daz Bonez and Amis's group defeated..."
"Indeed. ...Thinking back, perhaps he was not shocked by the defeat of Zephyr... of 'Black Arm,' but by the fact that the two royals were on the battlefield at all."
There are some things you can only understand by fighting someone. He was certainly ruthless. And not the type to cut corners, even if it was dirty work. That was Hancock's assessment. But at the same time, if he hadn't known what was truly happening...
"On the other hand, you said 'Black Arm' did know..."
"He may have accepted it, but if he were the type of man to be completely untroubled by it, he would not have leaked information to Amis and the others," Mihawk countered.
"So it was entirely led by the Government."
Mihawk was a man who, as a rule, had no interest in others. Aside from the Black Cats' senior officers and the members of the Royal Guard whom he considered his pupils—with a few exceptions—he showed no interest in anyone else. And yet, this series of events, the betrayal, and the treatment of the royals had filled him with such disgust that it was clear he had grown attached to the organization known as the "Black Cats." For once, Mihawk's face was an open mask of displeasure.
"...Despite my own feelings on the matter, the two Admirals are likely straightforward men. And as for this Zephyr, the Master exchanged such earnest letters with him. He could not be a man of twisted character."
Mihawk, who had his own history with the Marines, did not argue. Like Hancock, there were things he had come to understand precisely because he had crossed swords with them.
"If the justice upheld by the Marines is true, then it is no different from the pride upheld by the Master. To protect those without power, to allow them to engage in production and commerce, and to reduce hunger and poverty even by a little. The Marines are a military organization, and the 'Black Cats' must also manage and administer their territory. There may be many differences, but..."
"...Yes." The man who had turned more wasteland into fertile fields than anyone else in the Black Cats nodded forcefully.
"Indeed. We are both the same. In our desire to protect the weak, we and the Marines should undoubtedly be the same."
"I have much I could say, but... you are right."
"Then why must we cross blades like this!?"
"...That is—"
"I know! It is the will of the Government! But... as rulers of nations, should not our goals be, if not identical, then at least similar?! What reason could they have to prioritize crushing us with such underhanded tactics over dealing with openly hostile brigands?!"
"..."
Mihawk did not answer. He could have, if he wanted to. He knew that this wasn't about the Government, but about human nature—that humans are creatures who cannot live without feeding on the misfortune of others. He knew that whether they be common folk, soldiers, or kings, none can escape this karma. And their opponent was the World Government. The Celestial Dragons. It wouldn't be surprising if they started a war for some foolish reason. And yet, he also found it hard to believe that the 'Government,' as an organization, had a compelling reason to crush the 'Black Cats' at this particular time.
"What is the World Government, truly...?"
"...Indeed, it is strange when you think about it. I see no sense in eliminating Kuro at this juncture."
"To know only that we must fight... the frustration is unbearable."
She ran a hand through her black hair, still sticky with salt from the sea as she had immediately begun patrolling the town and briefing the leaders upon her return, without even taking a shower or a bath. She sighed.
"We must retrieve the Master as soon as possible and have him take command in Mopuchi...!"
"He is likely being attacked on his end as well, but—"
"The Master will have no trouble. A warrior who can fight you and Rayleigh at the same time will not be so easily defeated."
"Of course. Well, first we need to find out where he is... Hm."
Mihawk, who had been standing beside Hancock and observing the town, was the first to notice it. A moment later, Hancock noticed it too, and they both looked up at the sky. The sound of large wings beating was approaching from above.
"A newspaper...? To come at this hour, it must be an extra."
"Most likely about the naval battle in the West Blue. Well, let us see what they have written about us."
Hancock took a coin from her blouse pocket and dropped it into the pouch around the neck of the large, hat-wearing bird that had just landed on the balcony railing. At the same time, Mihawk pulled a newspaper from the bag hanging from the same bird's neck.
"...Well, well."
"What is it, Mihawk?"
"It seems we can rest easy, for now."
"—Kuro is safe."
Mihawk pulled a bundle of about ten pages from the newspaper and showed the top one to Hancock. When she saw it, her eyes went wide for a second, and then she burst out laughing. Once she started, she couldn't stop.
"Hahahaha! I see, it's become quite a handsome sum again!"
"—Indeed. That is my Master."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"Well... it's good that we managed to land on an inhabited island, but..."
Hina had been a little suspicious, but by following the Eternal Pose that Mr. Spa (presumably) had hidden in the ballast, we managed to reach a normal island. It was an island of rogues on the New World side, with an atmosphere slightly reminiscent of Jaya from the manga.
...Mr. Spa, it seems you really did want to help us escape. This is the perfect place to hide.
Well, the problem is—
"Hey, look at those kids. One of them's a Marine."
"And a good-looking one at that."
"We could get a high price for her, depending on where we take her."
(Well, this is a den of outlaws, so I guess this is to be expected. We didn't have time to find a change of clothes... in fact, that's why we came here.)
We couldn't exactly dock a Marine ship in plain sight, so we moored it in a secluded spot. But when I said I was going into town to check for supplies, nautical charts, and hopefully a Log Pose, they insisted I needed an escort. They wouldn't let me go alone. After some discussion where I argued that I'd be better off by myself, Hina ended up coming with me...
Hey, Hina, why did you just kick my shin?
(Damn, this is a pain. Should I pretend to take Hina hostage, and if anyone still gives us trouble, I'll just make an example out of them?)
I observed the pirates who were giving us dirty looks—I didn't even need to look closely. They were all small fry. Their Haki was weaker than not just the Royal Guard's, but even our regular soldiers'... well, the veteran ones, anyway.
Are you sure this is the New World? Everyone here is less than one-hundredth as strong as Kizaru. How do they even survive here?
"Hey, you! The kid next to her!"
...Hm?
"No doubt about it, those glasses, that scar, and that black suit!"
The pirates were staring at us, holding pieces of paper in their hands.
(Ah, right, they'd recognize my face from a wanted poster.)
That makes things simple. I haven't paid attention to my bounty since the Pirate Alliance incident, but I think it was a little over 100 million. That's probably not that high in the New World, but it was around one hundred and... six... six... something. Anyway, the rookie from the Red Hair Pirates was bragging a bit about a bounty that size, so it should carry some weight. The only ones who didn't seem impressed were the Whitebeard Pirates, after all.
"There's no mistake! That kid is—!"
(It's been about ten days since that battle. My bounty might have gone up... but they wouldn't want the details of an Admiral's defeat getting out. Even if they trumped up some other reason, it'd be around 500 million at most—)
"'Stealth Foot'—no, 'He of a Thousand Visions and Ten Thousand Plans!'"
...What did he just say?
"His bounty is 2.8 Billion!!!"
"It's the pirate, Captain Kuro!!!"
"Ah, my apologies. I think you have me mistaken for a different Kuro."
"No, it's definitely you.
***
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