"He made me his guest general, but he has me cut more wood and rocks than people," Mihawk grumbled.
The building was a warehouse, so it was not built to get sunlight. A perfect square had been cut into one of its walls.
"Teacher, I brought the glass and the window frame from the supply building!" a voice called out.
"Kuro gave us three main orders. The beds must have space between them, we need sunlight, and we need fresh air... was that it?"
"I have a new fishing net with very small holes," Chris replied. "If we put this over the window first, we can open it for air, and bugs won't get in."
"I'll leave the building work to you. I am going to get firewood. Most of the men we rescue will be cold from the water."
"Got it."
The sun was still high, and it wasn't cold, but people were building fires. It was to warm up the wet Marines who were rescued. It was also to make soup and porridge to calm them down.
Pirates and Marines who were good at cooking worked side-by-side. They all had serious faces.
I never thought I would see this. And I never thought I would be a part of it...
"Teacher Mihawk," Chris said, approaching.
"Chris."
To Mihawk, the Guards had a talent for "hard work." They had no natural skill for fighting. But they stood up from a dark place and became surprisingly strong.
They could now fight well against the strong pirates and Marines he used to cut down. Or they could at least hold them off until help arrived. But he had found a few who also had a talent for the "sword."
Chris, a female Guards member, was one of them.
"It still feels strange when you call me 'teacher'," Mihawk said.
"It is the right name. Anyway, the beds, blankets, and medicine are all moved. The refugee area is calm, so we left a few doctors there. The rest are waiting at the port."
"Did you tell Kuro?"
"I sent a runner."
"Then it's fine," Mihawk said. "If there are any problems, he will fix them... I am carrying things. Help me."
"Yes, sir. I'll go with you."
Mihawk thought her only flaw was that she was too serious when she wasn't fighting. But she was the best person to work with, right after Amisu.
"Chris. How are the soldiers? And the Guards?"
"They were a little worried. But Vice Captain Daz gave them a strong talk. Then Miakis helped lighten the mood. Their spirits are good now."
Mihawk let out a small "Oh..."
Mihawk still felt he was the strongest fighter in the group. But he also felt he could learn a lot from Kuro's team. They were strong leaders in moments like this.
"That's good... The next battle will be important."
"But where will we attack?" Chris asked. "Captain and Admiral Aokiji can't find the enemy's main force. We are stuck playing defense."
"He will find them soon," Mihawk said confidently. "Kuro is finally serious... No, wait. That's the wrong way to say it."
They reached the shed where the firewood was kept. A Marine saw Chris's "Black Cat" suit and saluted. Mihawk gave a small wave. Chris gave the "Black Cat" salute.
"Kuro always tries to use the safest plan," Mihawk explained. "He tries to lose as few soldiers as possible."
"Yes, I know."
"So, he rarely uses all of his strength. But now, we are short on supplies. He is in a corner."
"...I feel the Captain is most afraid of all the people rioting at once."
"I agree," Mihawk said. "We have to hit the enemy's leaders, and fast. If we don't, those agitators will cause more trouble. ...So, Kuro will make his move now."
Kuro, Aokiji, and Bege gave very strict orders about the supplies. This was to stop people from selling food or medicine on the black market.
Kuro and Bege knew the criminal world. Aokiji knew that even Marines can do bad things. They all agreed to watch the supplies very carefully.
Chris was good with papers. She finished the forms to take the firewood. They loaded a lot of wood onto a cart.
"It was the same during the Germa battle, and when he fought me. He shows his true self when he knows people will get hurt, but he must act. He will use his soldiers, Daz, you, or even his own body... As a soldier, or a leader, Kuro is strongest at times like this."
"He will use the information we get. He will strike a final blow. I am sure of it. Be ready."
"...Yes, sir."
–
"'Golden Lion'... Another big problem..."
"Admiral Aokiji, do you know him?"
The name sounded familiar...
"Oh, that's strange," Kuzan said.
"?"
"I thought you would know such a big name."
...Hm? He's a big deal?
"Shiki, the 'Golden Lion.' He's the only pirate who ever escaped from Impel Down. He was... like one of the Four Emperors. He was famous for fighting the Pirate King."
...
He's a HUGE deal!
If he's so important, he should go back to the New World! Why is he hiding here?
...Hm? But wait...
"Wait. If he was like one of the Four Emperors, he must have a huge crew, right?"
"Ah, most of them are busy fighting the Big Mom Pirates in the New World. They're protecting their own territory."
...A crew is strength. He could have caused more trouble if he used them. He was caught once. Maybe he left them? Or... did he sell the slaves to them?
Pirate crews don't all follow one flag.
I don't know what he's like. But it's hard to keep a big crew together... especially after being caught.
Selling the slaves to his old crews seems like the best guess.
He's not hiding. He attacked the Marines. He's not planning a sneak attack. Maybe a distraction... but why now? It must be part of a long-term plan.
"Ah, sorry for leaving you two," Kuzan said.
"Sir, no, it's fine..."
The two survivors—Rear Admiral Munchkin and Recruit Hina—were getting warm. Amisu, Robin, and a female captain had gotten them blankets and new clothes.
I know the marine likes rules, but they should take care of their health... Being that cold is no joke. The soldiers we rescued from Mogwa Kingdom took time to heal.
"So, Shiki attacked you?" Kuzan asked.
"Yes, sir! By the time we knew, my ship and Hina's ship were hit... The other three ships tried to fight back... but he floated the ships and dropped them from the sky..."
"Wait."
I was trying to be serious, but I couldn't help it.
"Floated?"
"...Ah, you don't know that either?" Kuzan said, surprised. "'Golden Lion' Shiki ate the Float-Float Fruit. He can make anything he touches float. Even ships."
"..."
Is it possible...
"Rear Admiral Munchkin. The attack... did it come from above?"
"...Yes, 'Silent Step.' A slash came from the sky... and cut our ship."
...
"Cut...?"
Like Mihawk's slash? If he's like Mihawk...
"Rear Admiral, was the 'Golden Lion' alone? Or was he on a ship?"
The Rear Admiral and Hina looked at me strangely.
Just answer the question. It's important.
"He was alone. But he had a ship. A giant ship."
"How close was he?"
"...I don't know. We just looked up, and he was there."
"Amisu, Robin, get me sea charts... no, one chart and many clear plastic sheets. And, Admiral..."
"Yeah, I get it," Kuzan cut in. "You want the weather reports for the areas of attack?"
"Yes."
"I'll get the records from the big kidnapping days, too."
"Thank you."
–
"Range? Is that what you're thinking about?" Kuzan asked.
"I've seen Mihawk send slashes," Kuro explained. "To cut a ship in half, you have to be close."
The lazy-looking Admiral and the well-dressed pirate were writing on plastic sheets. They put them over a sea chart.
"But the Rear Admiral didn't see him," Kuzan mused. "You should see a shadow from a giant ship. But they didn't. That means he was hiding in something else."
"The clouds."
"Yes. Probably."
They were working together. This should be a Marine's job.
"Before, we were looking for their base using the sea currents," Kuro said. "We thought we could find them by checking all the normal sea routes."
"But now we know the enemy can fly."
"Yes. And they hide in the clouds. So, we don't look at the waves. We look at the wind. We can ignore the land... This is just an idea. But if we use this... and look back at all their moves..."
...He's so good at this, thought Hina, the young recruit, who was watching the pirate work.
"Robin, I need the next sheet. Line it up..."
"Okay... here!" Robin replied.
"Thanks. Amisu, the wind and weather for the next day."
"Yes, here it is."
Munchkin still felt bad about that day. He had yelled at the young girl.
—"You should have just been captured!"
That curse still haunted him. The sight of his students, hurt and "returned," was burned into his mind.
"Kuro, I'll fight Shiki. You—" Kuzan started.
"Thank you," Kuro interrupted, "but I don't think Shiki will show up again."
"...You said before he wasn't part of the main plan..."
"I didn't know who he was. But if he's that famous, he could have gathered a big crew just by saying his name."
And the man who saved his students was the same man he told to become a slave.
"He didn't do that. So, the 'Golden Lion' is not the main leader of this problem. He was just a transporter."
"Then sinking the HQ ships was..."
"Just something he did on his way out. In fact... can you ask HQ to hunt his old crews in the New World?"
Now, this same pirate was using his smarts to save the West Blue.
"...Ah... Shiki's old crew?"
"They are the most likely buyers for the slaves. Especially the ones who are quiet."
"Got it," Kuzan said, nodding. "I'll tell Sengoku to move on it."
"...Captain Kuro. This is all the information," Amisu said, handing me the last sheet.
"Good. On this day, people were taken from here and here. The weather was clear, with few clouds. The wind connecting them... is... this. OK, Robin, give me all the sheets."
"Okay, here."
Kuro stacked all the plastic sheets. They were full of black arrows and red lines. He put them on top of the map. He traced the lines with his finger—
"...Gotcha. Finally."
--
Powerstones Goal would be same what it was last week.
Every 100 PS gets you all 1 Bonus Chapter.