Chapter 69: Oriole
On the other side, on a moving floating island ten thousand meters above Hachinosu Island, Shiki had already returned to his stronghold.
Although they had said they would search the island for three days, after the first day with no other gains, the group left one after another.
As captains of their respective pirate crews, they didn’t have that much time or patience to till the earth there.
Moreover, based on their understanding of John, there was probably truly no treasure on Hachinosu Island, so they only left part of their pirate crew’s personnel to continue searching on the island.
“How’s it going? Is the life card ready?”
Shiki lit a cigar and asked Haelna beside him.
“Not yet, but it’s almost done.”
After confirming with one of his subordinate pirates, Haelna replied.
“Hurry up! Otherwise, if there’s any accident, it won’t be good.”
“Yes, I’ll go supervise them personally to complete it now.”
“Mm~”
After getting Shiki’s nod, Hainar turned and left.
In fact, the moment he returned to the floating island stronghold, he received this task. At that time, Shiki took a strand of hair from his sleeve and gave it to him, instructing him to have his subordinates make it into a life card.
He even specially instructed that it must be completed at the fastest speed.
Haelna, who received that strand of light purple hair, roughly guessed what it was and didn’t dare to slack off, ordering his subordinates to rush the work immediately.
He also specially left a Den Den Mushi to keep track of the progress at any time.
Watching Haelna’s back as he hurried away, Shiki couldn’t help but reveal a delighted smile.
“Xi ha ha ha ha~ John, do you think you can escape?
Wait and see, this old man will put a collar on you soon and make you personally lead this old man to the treasure!”
……
That’s right, that strand of hair was John’s.
The reason Shiki kept talking nonsense to John despite having the upper hand was not because he really thought he could persuade John to surrender.
He knew better than anyone that John wouldn’t budge.
So in fact, Shiki had been looking for an opportunity to cut off his hair or other parts to make a life card.
From beginning to end, he had no intention of fighting John to the death; he never believed John would obediently reveal the treasure’s location.
From the very start, Shiki’s plan was to play the long game, hook the big fish, and swallow it whole by himself!
He was the first to betray the pirate alliance; BIG MON and Kaido were nothing more than two thugs in his eyes.
Although John’s sudden use of explosive rock was unexpected, from the results, it actually fit his expectations even better.
Now everyone thinks John is dead, but he has his life card.
This means the key to opening Rocks’ treasure is now in his hands alone, and the others don’t even know about this key!
“Once I get that treasure, I can expand my forces further, then it’s time to search for those ancient weapons.”
Shiki stood up and walked to the edge of the floating island.
Looking at the vast sea below and the islands scattered on it like stars, an irrepressible ambition surged from the bottom of his heart.
“How beautiful, this sea. Wait and see, you will eventually be mine, Shiki’s! Xi ha ha ha ha!”
……
“Ah?! Navy Admiral!”
“Sister La, are you okay?! Do you need me to come help you?” Aoxi’s anxious voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
To prevent the ship sent by Fenrir Island to pick up people from colliding with the Navy, La took a moment to contact Aoxi.
“No need, I haven’t exposed my identity, and I haven’t clashed with them.
These Navy personnel are only on the island to rest due to an accident; they probably won’t stay long. You can send the ship over then.”
“Okay, then Sister La, you have to be careful yourself!”
“Don’t worry, these Navy can’t hurt me.”
According to La’s estimate, in the worst case, if Zephyr, Garp, and the others all came at her at once, she might not win, but she could still retreat safely.
However, it didn’t seem very likely at the moment; given that Navy Admiral’s personality, he probably wouldn’t disregard the townsfolk’s safety to fight her.
On this point, La and Zephyr actually shared the same stance.
“That’s good, I’ll go tell Boss Kaido.” Aoxi trusted her big sister’s words.
“Mm, that’s appropriate.
But if Captain Kaido gets impulsive and wants to rush over, you all have to stop him.”
After all, an admiral landing on the island was something that definitely needed to be reported to the captain, but considering Kaido’s personality, La was still a bit worried.
If Kaido suddenly got hot-blooded and came with a “Battle, thrilling!” or something…
Then it would be two against two; even if they won, it wouldn’t benefit the Beasts, and it might even provoke crazy retaliation from the Navy.
After all, daring to strike directly at two admiral-level combatants wasn’t something ordinary pirates did; they would have to respond with heavy fists!
La didn’t want to get a bounty so early, or it would be inconvenient to go to the Grand Line or the Four Seas later.
“Ah?! Me stop Boss Kaido?!” Aoxi on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was a bit stunned.
“Mm… that does seem difficult.”
“Forget it, is Captain Kaido there? Give him the Den Den Mushi.”
“Oh, okay. Boss Kaido just got back; I’ll go find him now.”
……
A few minutes later, Kaido’s somewhat slurred, rough voice came from the Den Den Mushi; he sounded like he was drinking.
“Hey, La brat, what’s up? Some trouble you can’t handle?”
“Captain Kaido, there are indeed some unexpected developments here.
Two Navy warships are temporarily docked at our stronghold due to a shipwreck.
The confirmed personnel number 274, including Navy Admiral Zephyr, Navy Vice Admiral Garp, two colonels, ten officers, and 260 ordinary soldiers.
They already know this was once the Beasts’ garrison, but they haven’t discovered our garrison personnel; they’re expected to leave tomorrow.”
Without extra nonsense, La detailed the current situation to Kaido.
“Zephyr, and… Garp!”
Hearing these two names, Kaido’s slightly tipsy state instantly sobered.
“That’s right, these two have very strong combat power.
My suggestion is not to take aggressive action; just wait quietly for them to leave. The current Beasts might not be able to handle this fleet.”
Kaido on the Den Den Mushi side didn’t reply immediately; he was probably thinking.
“Mm…”
“Then we’ll do as you say. If necessary, you can abandon everyone on the island; just escape on your own.”
“Thank you for your concern, Captain Kaido.”
The Den Den Mushi hung up, and Kaido took another big gulp of wine.
La was right; the current Beasts couldn’t withstand a siege by two admiral-level combatants.
Forcing a battle would risk all of the Beasts’ accumulation over the past year or more, win or lose.
“I need more power~
Power so great that those guys won’t dare provoke us! Power enough to pull down those high-and-mighty people!”
“Um, Boss Kaido…”
“Mm? What’s wrong, Little Brat Aoxi?
Don’t worry, with La’s strength, returning safely is no problem.”
“It’s not that… You’re not planning to go over there and fight that admiral or something, right~” Aoxi asked cautiously.
“Uro-ro-ro-ro! Is that what you’re worried about?
Relax, this old man isn’t some brainless brute!”
“That’s good~”
“Um, can I have the Den Den Mushi back?”
Aoxi stretched out her white and tender little hand, her eyes fixed on the Den Den Mushi trembling at Kaido’s fingertip.
Kaido: “…”
Although she initially found it a bit disgusting, after using it a few times, Aoxi grew to like this little snail-like creature more and more.
Especially the way it mimicked the other’s expression, which Aoxi found very amusing.
Now she had not only painted the Den Den Mushi’s shell a pretty red but also added quite a few decorations.
……
