Puru puru puru—the Den Den Mushi's cry echoed through the air.
Aboard the merchant vessel, Kanata picked up the receiver with a weary voice.
"Kanata here. Who is it?"
"It's Georges."
"That's unusual... which means your side has also...?"
"From your reaction, it sounds like it."
Georges rarely contacted anyone directly via Den Den Mushi. He usually left such things to his subordinates—unless something serious had happened.
They'd both seen the recent newspaper and had discussed beforehand that some organization would likely approach them soon.
So when Kanata received contact from Georges, he understood immediately that trouble had arisen.
And at the same time, Georges realized that Kanata had also been dragged into troublesome affairs.
"Where did yours come from?"
"Drevan from Larsh. What about yours?"
"Chinjao. I thought they wanted to use me as a subordinate, but apparently they'll treat me strictly as a merchant."
Though originally something like a mafia, what Georges and his crew did was basically simple trade business. It seemed they'd be treated like merchants under the Happo Navy's employ.
It would likely take the form of large-scale work.
"Larsh intends to take me in as a subordinate. They're offering various privileges, but..."
In exchange, they'd demand tribute money.
Protect us and let us in on your profits—that kind of deal. Still, with more large-scale work coming in, there would likely be profit.
Even so...
"It's not a good situation."
"What Chinjao needs is purely supplies. What Larsh needs is both supplies and money. That's the difference."
Even now, their military strength was sufficient—but that was only against common pirates and small-scale mafia.
Until now, giant crime families like the Five Great Families hadn't interfered, but aligning with one would inevitably lead to skirmishes with the others.
Having multiple ability users had its limits. And if they committed, their opponents wouldn't go easy on them just because they were merchants.
So what should they do?
"If they'll treat us as family, maybe Larsh would be better?"
"It's a mixed bag. Becoming family also means being bound by them. It'll be harder to trade freely and make money like we have been."
"Money isn't an issue—we're profitable as is. How much tribute are they demanding?"
"Forty percent."
"...That's quite extortionate."
"Drevan is especially greedy when it comes to money. 'We're protecting you, so this much is cheap,' he says. I got some time to think it over, but is Chinjao pressuring you?"
"Not on the surface, but he did seem anxious. He wants an answer soon if possible... The man himself came here. That says a lot."
What?! Georges sounded shocked.
Normally, a top leader wouldn't personally handle negotiations with subordinates.
Either they really wanted to bring Georges's group in, or they were desperate.
Either way, it was hardly good news for Kanata's crew.
"...I've got a bad feeling about this."
"I agree. I'm confident in my bad luck, after all."
"So what do we do? I handle the practical side, but you're the real boss."
"Decisions come with responsibility. Difficult ones especially."
He took a breath.
Two choices. Either way, they'd make enemies. They wouldn't want to ally with someone they considered no threat.
So Kanata would decide this on his own.
"If we're joining anyone, it'll be Chinjao. A leader's strength reflects the organization's strength. Drevan may be formidable, but not like Chinjao."
"That's just like you... Ah, understood. I'll tell Drevan."
"We'll need to increase your security too. Just Kuro won't be enough much longer."
"I'd appreciate that. It's strange having someone who still can't use Haki as a bodyguard."
With what sounded like a sigh, Georges ended the call.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Hiyahohoh. No matter at all. So, have you decided?"
"Yes, we'll ally with the Happo Navy."
"A wise decision. I'm delighted, personally."
In a separate cabin of the ship, a long-headed, muscular man—Chinjao, leader of the Happo Navy—sat across from Kanata.
Both had bodyguards, but the fact that they were negotiating on Kanata's ship suggested Chinjao had no doubts about his own abilities.
Whether he was in a hurry for some reason or had other motives, Kanata couldn't guess, but either way, Chinjao seemed relieved that the negotiation had concluded successfully.
"Just to confirm—transportation of supplies only?"
"Indeed. When our entire army mobilizes, we need substantial supplies. Strengthening our transport network is urgent."
Of course, they prepared during peacetime too. As they also functioned as a nation's military, it was natural.
But Chinjao must have judged that this current turmoil would drag on. Military preparations cost money, but money alone wouldn't help if there was no food—people would starve.
"Also—if possible, I'd like to purchase information."
"...It's not my specialty, but if it's something I know..."
"I'm grateful. Then, if you have leads on several matters, I'd like to hear them."
First, the giant whose sightings had been reported occasionally recently.
Second, the movements of the other Five Great Families.
Third, organizations that had been making names for themselves lately.
If information on these came in, Chinjao wanted it passed along prioritically.
"Understood. We'll contact you when information comes in."
Satisfied with Kanata's answer, Chinjao stood and put on his coat.
Busy as he was, he probably wasn't free either.
Along with his subordinates, he left the ship and turned back toward Kanata once more in the freezing air.
"Well then, I'm counting on you."
"Yes. We'll complete our jobs properly."
If anything, he seemed more concerned about Junshy, who stood beside Kanata. Kanata showed no particular interest in that attention and saw Chinjao's party off.
This was Ohara. They were still in the middle of trading.
Once this trade concluded, they'd need to transport supplies to the Kano Country without delay.
Well-paying work, but it would keep them busy.
"...Now then, what will happen next?"
When unusual things start occurring, they usually happen all at once. Often with the same root cause.
Besides, thinking about it was usually pointless at times like these.
Incidents always exceeded the expectations of those involved.
Of course, Kanata cursed his own intuition.
On the way back from Ohara, they encountered a galleon rarely seen in these waters.
That much would have been fine, but when a subordinate reported spotting a giant sitting on the ship's deck, things changed.
Suspecting what this might mean, Kanata took a defensive position on deck alongside Junshy, just to be safe.
Immediately after, angry shouts and thunderous sounds echoed as chunks of iron came flying toward them.
"Hey Junshy, don't you think my bad luck is getting ridiculous?"
"Stop talking and intercept! Here comes another one!"
What was flying toward them wasn't cannonballs, but entire cannons.
The opposing giant seemed to be hurling the cannon barrels themselves as weapons. Despite the considerable distance, they were reaching—indicating tremendous strength. But naturally, doing that would eventually leave them with nothing left to throw.
After a while, nothing more came flying, and the giant-like figure could be seen pacing around on the deck restlessly.
"What should we do?"
"What indeed..."
The giant who was likely at the center of the incident that had destroyed two of the Five Great Families was right before them. Chinjao had said he'd pay well for information, and learning something could be fortuitous. Kanata climbed over the railing.
Telling Junshy to wait a moment, he leaped into the sea and created a path of ice to walk toward the warship.
As he approached, he probed the ship's interior with his Observation Haki, but no matter how he searched, he sensed only two presences.
(A galleon with only two presences...?)
That would make properly operating the ship difficult. They might manage by just raising sails and steering, but crossing the ocean with just that wouldn't be simple.
But seeing as they were actually doing it suggested they might be in a troublesome situation too.
He hoped things could be settled peacefully, but—one of the presences was stronger than Kanata himself. A fight could prove difficult.
Following the ice path to reach the galleon, he jumped aboard the ship.
He appeared directly in front of the giant who had been looking down at the water, bringing them momentarily face-to-face.
"Hyuu?!"
The giant jerked back in surprise. He couldn't judge the average size, but the giant before him appeared to be just under ten meters tall. Purple hair and amethyst-like eyes.
Perhaps lacking giant-sized clothing, she seemed to be wearing something sewn together from multiple curtains.
She was certainly large, but not terrifyingly so.
The presence stronger than Kanata wasn't coming from this giant woman.
What he should be wary of was actually—
"Excuse me, neigh. I apologize for our rude attack just now. And though it's presumptuous, we'd like to ask if you could spare some food."
He glanced toward the voice, looked at the giant girl, then looked back in a double-take.
There stood a horse.
A horse... or rather, it was a horse, but like a centaur of sorts.
A centaur without the human part might be the most accurate description. Horse head, four legs, but with normal human hands—it was confusing.
"...Let's start with your circumstances."
"Indeed. I am Zen, a horse mink. And this is Feiyun, a giant girl."
"F-Feiyun..."
"I'm Kanata. I work as a merchant."
With introductions complete, the three of them decided to talk things over.
Zen hadn't lowered his guard, still holding his spear ready.
Kanata sat cross-legged, while Feiyun sat behind Zen as if trying to hide—though she wasn't hidden at all.
"Now then, where should I begin..."
Zen folded his arms and pondered with a thoughtful "Hmm."
During this time, Kanata surveyed the ship, noticing bloodstains and damage scattered about, wondering Perhaps they stole it?
Between the giant girl and the mink man groaning before him, their notably tattered clothing was also concerning.
Thinking it would be faster to ask questions directly, Kanata spoke up.
"I'll ask the questions. Just answer them."
"Oh, that sounds good. That would be easier for me too."
Zen whinnied. Feiyun behind him continued watching Kanata with maximum wariness, though Kanata had no idea why he deserved such fear.
In any case, without questions and answers, things wouldn't progress.
"First, why were you two alone on this ship?"
"We stole it. We were stranded on a nearby uninhabited island, but every few days a supply ship would come—well, this ship—and we thought we'd commandeer it to improve our situation."
"That's a lot of information at once."
Hearing the details, the situation became somewhat clearer.
Originally, these two had come to this sea from the Grand Line, passing through the Calm Belt. They'd apparently defeated the attacking Sea Kings and used them as food while crossing.
That alone marked them as considerably skilled. That sea was impossible for ordinary people to cross.
But why had they needed to flee the Grand Line?
"Because it's dangerous. The catalyst was probably the dissolution of the Rocks Pirates. After Rocks was defeated by the Navy, groups like the Big Mom Pirates and Beasts Pirates rose to prominence... They've been rampaging across the seas with their overwhelming power, expanding their territories. We ended up fleeing here after being targeted by a man named Shiki the Golden Lion, who similarly uses tremendous power to expand his influence and control many islands."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing... though I can't say that entirely. I was originally traveling between various islands as a warrior to improve myself, and in the process, I ended up destroying one or two pirate crews under the Golden Lion Pirates."
While protecting the giant child Feiyun and fighting pirates, they'd ended up being targeted.
Kanata wondered if this girl possessed such value, but her wariness toward him remained as high as ever.
"She's a Devil Fruit user, you see. They targeted her power and tried to enslave her, so her guard is up."
"...I see."
Judging the unstable Grand Line too dangerous to remain in, they'd crossed the Calm Belt to reach this sea.
After arriving in the West Blue, their first contact had been with a group called the Five Great Families of the West.
"A giant rarely seen outside the Grand Line, and a Devil Fruit user at that. The family that used our power—hers and mine—to start wars with other families threw us into battle. When she clashed with an opposing ability user, the aftermath of her combat destroyed both sides."
"So that's what happened..."
The destroyed families had provided food and temporary shelter on the uninhabited island, so they'd felt some obligation. But the family currently sheltering them seemed to mistake Zen and Feiyun for slaves or something similar, so they'd stolen this supply ship to escape somewhere, Zen explained.
Unfamiliarity with large ships and unknown territory had combined to leave them stranded when Kanata's group happened to pass by.
"Still, why attack us?"
"Because you made eye contact..."
"I failed to stop her. My apologies, miss."
"No one was hurt, and I'm not angry. We have some spare food and water, and we can tow your ship."
"Much appreciated. I'll repay this debt someday."
While Zen seemed relieved (his horse face made expressions unreadable), Feiyun remained sullen.
Quite deep-rooted, Kanata thought, shrugging as he stood at the ship's edge to return.
"By the way, miss, how did you get to our ship?"
"I froze the sea. I'm also an ability user."
With that, he jumped from the ship and began walking back toward Junshy and the others.
Georges is going to get another stomachache, he thought with detachment.
***
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