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The Strongest Frost Loli (192)
🕑 Added 2025-02-08 17:00:12 +0000 UTCChapter 192 - Jaya
One minute a giant galleon was falling from the sky, the next their Log Pose was fixated on the heavens. Then a strange monkey-man salvaged the wreck, before night abruptly fell and a monstrous shadow, dwarfing even giants, loomed over them.
After rowing for their lives, the exhausted Straw Hats collapsed on the Going Merry’s deck, laden with anxiety. They had lost sight of Masira’s ship, the one that had offered them passage to a nearby island. Though, Masira himself was still aboard the Merry.
“Seems we lost your ship in the chaos… what now? We’ve lost our way.”
“Indeed. But fret not! I always carry an Eternal Pose for just such an occasion!”
“Always prepared, aren’t you…?”
“Call it ‘monkey wisdom’!”
“That’s not what ‘monkey wisdom’ means… oh, never mind.”
Usopp spoke with a tired look on his face, he seemed to have given up on correcting Masira.
The weather was clear, the sea calm. With no further incidents, they reached Masira’s base, Jaya. A seagull, shot down by an unseen sniper, plummeted into the ocean during their journey, but no one, except Chopper, seemed to notice.
As they docked, Masira spread his arms wide in welcome.
“Welcome to our territory… Jaya!”
“Jaya…! It seems lively!”
“Are all those ships in the harbor pirate ships, or am I seeing things?”
“Hahaha, what are you talking about, Nami? Pirate ships wouldn't just dock openly in a harbor…”
“Twilight and the Marines don’t come here. It’s also off the main trade routes, so it’s become a haven for pirates with nowhere else to go. Frankly, it’s a lawless town.”
“What kind of place is this…?”
Gunshots and shouts echoed through the air, which made Usopp, Nami, and Chopper tremble. They all stared at Masira, wondering if he was as dangerous as the town he called home.
Noticing their gazes, Masira blushed.
“He’s harmless.”
“Just an idiot.”
Zoro and Sanji’s blunt assessments didn’t faze Masira, who hopped off the ship.
“This is where we part ways. If you need anything, our base is on the other side of the island. Just look for us there.”
“Thanks again for everything!”
“Don’t mention it! Ukkiki!”
Luffy, having bonded with Masira, waved goodbye and, excited to explore the new island, was the first to disembark. Zoro, also eager to explore, followed, and the two set off together.
While the town seemed dangerous, Zoro and Luffy’s strength was more than enough to handle any trouble. Though, whether they would actually gather any information about Sky Islands was another matter altogether.
“Absolutely not. I’m coming too!”
Nami who was initially hesitant, knew she had to keep an eye on them and followed.
***
Jaya’s western town. A lawless zone, a haven for those with nowhere else to go, those who had abandoned their dreams. Twilight and the Marines steered clear, and even the World Government didn't interfere. A town where people laughed and sang while inflicting pain. Mock Town.
Several high-bounty rookie pirates were currently in Mock Town. The most notorious was Bellamy, the “Hyena,” with a bounty of 55 million berries. Followed by Capone “Gang” Bege, with 52 million. Basil Hawkins, the “Magician,” with 50 million. And Rocío, the “Executioner,” with 42 million.
While Mock Town attracted its share of outlaws, this gathering of high-profile rookies was unusual. The town's residents, along with any unfortunate pirates caught in the crossfire, kept a low profile, many choosing to remain indoors, afraid of incurring their wrath.
“…That’s all the information we have.”
“Interesting. In return, we can offer…”
Basil Hawkins and Capone Bege, accompanied by their crews, sat in a corner booth of a local tavern, sharing information.
The Grand Line was a strange and unpredictable sea. Understanding its currents, its weather patterns, and the movements of its inhabitants was crucial for survival. This included not only natural phenomena, but also the shifting alliances and rivalries of pirates and Marines.
“…The Marines have been unusually active lately. Likely concerned about the power vacuum left by Crocodile’s downfall.”
“A Warlord, yes. But I doubt his absence will change much.”
“I agree.”
Twilight’s influence on the sea rivalled, and perhaps even surpassed, the Marines. Bege, hailing from the West Blue and having dealt with the Five Families, had heard numerous stories about Kanata. Crocodile’s removal wouldn't destabilize the Warlord system, not with Twilight’s backing.
“Officially, the Marines claimed victory, but the truth is unclear. Twilight’s involvement wouldn't be surprising.”
“But I heard the ‘Witch’ clashed with Kaido and Big Mom in the New World. It’s unlikely she had the resources to eliminate Crocodile as well…”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”
Two men, one in a straw hat, the other a towering giant, were causing a commotion at the bar.
“You a pirate? What’s your bounty?”
“30 million!”
“30 million!? You!? No way! You’re lying!”
“I’m not lying! It’s true!”
Hawkins and Bege observed the noisy pair. While the giant was unfamiliar, Hawkins recognized the man in the straw hat.
“Isn’t that… Straw Hat, from the East Blue?”
“30 million… a respectable bounty, but…”
Appearances could be deceiving. 30 million berries wasn't a trivial sum, especially for someone from the weakest sea, the East Blue. There had to be something more to him. Caution was essential for survival on the Grand Line. While boldness was sometimes necessary, Hawkins and Bege weren't ones for unnecessary risks.
“Alright, alright, break it up! No fighting in my tavern! Here, take this and go.”
“Tch…”
The giant, accepting the proffered cherry pie, left the tavern. Hawkins and Bege watched him go as a sense of unease settled over them. He possessed a strange, unsettling aura, something beyond mere physical strength.
“…We’re getting a lot of customers today.”
Bellamy and his crew entered the tavern. Bellamy, followed by Sarquiss, the “Big Knife,” and the rest of his gang. Hawkins and Bege, recognizing their high bounties, tensed. Sarquiss, noticing them, grinned, he had a massive kukri strapped to his back. However, they seemed unwilling to cause a scene as they headed towards a table at the back.
“Ugh, this place reeks. Disgusting, absolutely disgusting.”
“Hahaha, just bear with it. We might see something interesting.”
The tavern’s atmosphere had shifted. The other patrons, sensing the tension, paid their tabs and left. In a town like Mock Town, those with keen instincts survived. The long-term residents were particularly attuned to danger.
“Well, well, aren’t they considerate.”
Sarquiss sat heavily, Bellamy’s crew settled around him, demanding drinks. Bellamy himself walked straight towards the bar and sat next to Luffy.
“You’re Straw Hat, right?”
“Hmm? What do you want?”
“Hahaha, I have a proposition. Barkeep, the most expensive bottle you have! And whatever this pipsqueak wants.”
“…Alright.”
What happened next was swift and brutal. Bellamy grabbed Luffy’s head and slammed it into the counter before he could take a sip of his drink.
A brawl seemed imminent, but then Nami’s innocent question, “I want to go to a Sky Island,” made the tavern erupt in laughter. Everyone, except Hawkins and Bege, found the notion utterly ridiculous.
Bellamy and his crew mocked Luffy’s childish dream, while Hawkins and Bege watched with cold indifference.
Luffy, seemingly having lost interest in fighting, let Bellamy and his crew do as they pleased. They doused him with alcohol, punched him, and threw him against the wall. Neither he nor Zoro offered any resistance.
“…This is pathetic.”
“I agree. There’s a limit to how much humiliation one can endure.”
Sarquiss laughed at their words, but the speakers themselves never revealed who their comments were directed at. A furious Nami dragged Luffy and Zoro out of the tavern. Hawkins and Bege followed.
Outside, the giant they had seen earlier sat in the middle of the street, munching on his cherry pie. He called out to the departing Straw Hats.
“…Sky Islands exist.”
Nami glared at him. She had just been humiliated. She didn’t need his pity. The giant, however, didn’t seem to notice.
“Why so glum, lass? They won that fight. But you’ve got guts! Zehahahaha… A fine woman with a spine of steel!”
Zoro and Luffy, having been dragged along by Nami, stood up and brushed themselves off.
“Their ‘New Era’ is bullshit. The era of pirates chasing their dreams is over!? Hell no!”
The giant laughed, slamming his empty bottle on the ground.
“A man’s dreams… never die!”
The other outlaws, watching the giant’s outburst, chuckled. But the giant didn’t care. He looked at Luffy.
“Let them laugh! Aim for the top, and you’ll face battles where you don’t even know where to throw a punch! Zehahahaha!”
After a brief exchange, the giant turned and walked away, laughing and muttering about how good the sake was that day.
“Who was that?”
“Who knows…? Say, when are you planning to leave this island?”
“I intend to stay for a few days to gather information. Why?”
“You should leave tonight.”
Hawkins’ words made Bege frown. He wasn't one to change his plans based on another’s whims, but he was open to reason. He demanded an explanation.
“I use tarot cards to predict the future. I showed you before, remember?”
“So, you drew a bad card? I’m not one for superstitions…”
“If we stay on this island until tomorrow, our chances of survival are zero percent.”
“…Zero percent?”
“I don’t know why. I can only predict the probability of an outcome. But if we leave tonight, our chances increase significantly. I’m telling you this because your departure also increases my chances of survival.”
“I see…”
“That’s all I have to say.”
Hawkins, followed by his crew, walked away. Bege, on his way back to his hotel, pondered Hawkins’ words. He wouldn’t normally consider a mere fortune, but Hawkins had a history of accurately predicting danger. He also couldn’t deny the unsettling feeling he had. A premonition, perhaps. In this world, those who ignored their instincts rarely survived. He couldn’t afford to dismiss it.
“Is the Log Pose recording?”
“Yes, Father. We’ve loaded the supplies as well.”
“We’re leaving the hotel. Prepare for immediate departure.”
While he didn’t necessarily trust Hawkins’ fortune, Bege decided to err on the side of caution. He checked out of the hotel and, with his crew, returned to their ship.
***
Usopp and Chopper were startled by Luffy and Zoro’s return, they were covered in bruises. They abandoned their ship repairs and rushed to their aid. Though, the injuries were mostly superficial, minor cuts and scrapes.
Nami, furious, berated the two, making Usopp and Chopper tremble. Pedro and Zepo tried to calm her down.
“My, my, someone’s in a foul mood.”
“W-welcome back, Robin…”
Sanji greeted Robin, but then noticed the towering figure behind her, carrying bags filled with sake and cherry pies.
“Zehahahaha! This is your ship, eh!?”
“Yes. Try not to be too loud.”
“Robin, who’s the big guy…?”
A cigarette dangling from his lips, Sanji stared at the newcomer with wide eyes. The other Straw Hats, curious, gathered around. Luffy, recognizing the giant, gasped. The giant’s eyes also widened in surprise.
“You…”
“Fancy meeting you again, Straw Hat! Zehahahaha!”
“Oh, you know each other?”
“We met at the tavern!”
The dark-haired giant with the prominent beard—Teach—laughed and, with Robin, boarded the Merry. His size seemed a bit much for the small ship, but as long as he didn’t try to enter the cabin, it wasn’t a problem.
“So, who is this guy?”
“This is Teach. A veteran of Twilight. I suppose, in pirate terms, you could call him my ‘older brother’?”
“Yo! Nice to meet ya! Zehahahaha!”
“You’re part of Twilight?”
“You could say that. Though, I’m on vacation right now.”
Teach’s breath was reeking of sake, he took a bite of his cherry pie and glanced at Pedro and Zepo. While he hadn't met them personally, he knew of the Mink Tribe, and Robin had mentioned their presence. He assessed their strength. Then, as if to mask his observation, he took a swig of sake, washing down the pie, and turned to Luffy.
“So, you lot want to go to a Sky Island, eh?”
“I hate to ask, but… do they really exist? We were just laughed out of the tavern…”
“Several Sky Islands are under Twilight’s control. No one’s going to reveal their hidden territories. Though, we’re not exactly hiding them either. Sky Islands are excellent hiding places, after all. As long as we don’t confirm their existence, we can deter any unwanted attention.”
For Twilight, an organization with many secrets to hide from the World Government, this was a convenient arrangement. Trying to conceal something only made it more suspicious. Ambiguity was the best smokescreen.
“But to reach High West, the conventional route, you need an Eternal Pose. And you have to sacrifice a few crew members. Are you still willing to go?”
“Sacrifice our nakama!? Why would we…?”
“There are places where you have no choice.”
“What do you think, Luffy?”
“No way. I’m not sacrificing my friends for an adventure.”
“Zehahahaha! A fine captain, loyal to his crew! But that’s only for the conventional route. There are other ways.”
One such method was the Knock Up Stream. Teach had heard from Izo that Roger’s crew had used it to reach a Sky Island.
“Care to take the same gamble as the Pirate King?”
“The Pirate King…!”
“Does that mean we don’t lose anyone?”
“No casualties. Though, it’s an all-or-nothing gamble. Either everyone survives, or everyone dies!”
Teach watched Luffy, waiting for his decision. Luffy, having listened to Teach’s explanation, simply laughed.
“So, it exists! Then let’s do it!”
No fear, no hesitation. Teach, pleased with Luffy’s response, laughed and unfurled a map of Jaya. Jaya consisted of two islands, side by side. An X marked a specific location on the opposite island.
“I’m not familiar with this area, but I heard there’s someone who operates around here.”
“Operates here?”
“Aye. A dreamer.”
A dreamer, mocked and ostracized, driven from the town – that man would know the waters around Jaya. Perhaps, with his help, they could reach a Sky Island. Luffy readily agreed to Teach’s proposition, and the Straw Hats set course for Mont Blanc Cricket.
