Chapter 73: Farewell (part 2)
Kaido was not blindly confident.
In the situation where Navy Headquarters and Mary Geoise’s safety needed to be ensured, the maximum number of Navy Admiral-level combat power that the Navy could dispatch to the New World was two.
Moreover, these two usually alternated departure.
For two top combat powers to act simultaneously like this time generally only happened when some major change occurred in the New World, making the Navy feel that the benefits far outweighed the risks.
“Alright, it’s just a small island, no need to worry too much.”
“I’ll send those two brats over in a bit to pick you up.”
Kaido said this and then stood up, walking toward the door.
“Aoxi and Obei? Then we’ll wait a bit longer, let them get a good sleep.”
Lapp on the other end of the Den Den Mushi looked at the sun that had just risen and said.
“Uro-ro-ro~ You can’t spoil those two brats like this! That’s it for now.”
Kaido hung up the call, ran directly to the two sisters’ room, kicked the door open, and then shouted loudly:
“Get up! You two brats! Go pick up your Big Sister!”
What a joke! I got woken up, and others still want to sleep in?!
The two little ones curled up like young beasts in the bedding were so startled by this shout that they jumped up, and Aoxi nearly spat out a Superconducting Wave.
“Gua! Who?! Who’s shouting!”
“Was it an earthquake again?!”
The two little ones just kicked out of their sweet dreams clearly weren’t in good tempers; after a night of bad sleeping positions, their hair was now messily sticking up like two puffed-up little lions!
“It’s me!”
“Boss Kaido? What’s with you this early? It’s clearly not even… not even six yet?!”
Still more than two hours until eight in the morning!
Pirates are truly too mean!
“Your Big Sister just sent word; you can go pick her up now.”
“Ah~ Wu~ Big Sister? Which Big Sister?” Aoxi rubbed her eyes and asked a silly question in a daze.
“Of course it’s Sister La; do we have any other Big Sister? Dumb Aoxi!”
Obei sobered up quickly and directly knocked on Aoxi’s little head upon hearing her words, instantly waking Aoxi up too.
“Oh! Right right right, Boss Kaido, you just said we can go pick up Sister La now?”
“That’s right, hurry up and go!”
“For the ship, go find Deke to arrange it; I’m going back to sleep now!”
After saying that, Kaido wandered directly back to his own room and continued snoring away.
Waking the two kids up and then going back to sleep… Kaido, you’re really despicable now.
With all sleepiness gone, Aoxi directly wrapped herself in a single layer of clothing and rushed outside; though the morning sea breeze was quite chilly, it was nothing to her at all.
“Let’s go; what are you standing around for?”
“Don’t be so hasty… shoes! Shoes!”
Obei hurriedly put on her jacket and followed, but after a few steps, she saw Aoxi ahead stop.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… do you know where Deke is?”
“…”
Aoxi’s ship arrived at the port already by the evening of the next day.
At this moment, Lapp had already been standing at the dock waiting for a while with the pirates carrying their packed luggage and belongings.
“Sister La!”
Before the ship even docked, Aoxi couldn’t wait and waved toward the shore.
It seemed that even though they’d only been apart for a few days, Aoxi already missed her Big Sister terribly.
After securing the ship and dropping anchor, Aoxi and Obei impatiently jumped off the ship and ran toward Lapp.
Both spread their arms wide at the same time, giving her a big hug.
Lapp was a bit helpless; the two little ones in her arms burrowed into her embrace desperately like puppies seeing their owner come home.
That’s right, even the usually reserved Obei burrowed into Lapp’s arms just like Aoxi, even more forcefully than Aoxi.
Lapp gently stroked their heads while checking their bodies to see if they’d bumped into anything these past few days.
“Um… Lady La.”
After the three had hugged for a while, Deke, who had come on the ship with them, hesitantly stepped forward to greet her.
“It’s Mister Deke; long time no see.”
Lapp patted the heads of the two in her arms, signaling them that they could let go of her.
“Just call me Deke… You’re still so polite, Lady La.”
“Alright then, Deke.”
Lapp extricated herself from the two little ones and began asking about the main matters.
“Did Captain Kaido send you to take charge of this island?”
As Lapp spoke, she glanced at the pirates following behind Deke.
About fifty people, the scale of one Division, with basic logistics and combat personnel all present.
“That’s right.”
“Since we occupied quite a few islands this time and are short on manpower, they sent me here.”
That said, from Deke’s expression, one could still see his pride and honor at being able to guard one area for the Beasts Pirates.
“Mm, it’s suitable for you to guard here.”
This remote small island probably wouldn’t encounter too strong enemies… except for Navy Admirals.
Thinking of Zephyr’s final vow, Lapp couldn’t help but feel a headache.
“If you encounter any opponent too strong to match, remember to seek aid from us in time; you should know my Den Den Mushi number.”
“Don’t worry, Lady La! I know that.”
“Good.”
“I tidied up your previous room; except for the dorms, everything else is as before, so you can move right in.”
“Ingredients for dinner are already prepared, and Cook Dad stayed here too; your cooking team can continue following him.
“Also…”
Lapp went through each item of arrangements she had made before leaving.
Deke didn’t dare zone out and noted each one down, sighing inwardly at the same time.
『Boss Kaido really has a keen eye~ Where on earth did he find such a perfect person?』
“…Finally, remember to hang the Beasts Pirates’ flag back in its original place.”
After finishing all these handover matters in one go, Lapp quietly waited to the side for Deke.
Seeing he had finished noting and had no questions, she spoke again to remind him:
“Now you’re also a Captain guarding one area; when facing matters, think more, don’t be reckless, and don’t neglect training your own strength.”
“Mm, I know, Lady La.” Deke nodded obediently in agreement.
Interestingly, though Lapp was the newbie who had joined the Beasts Pirates just a few days ago, she was now instructing Deke, this much more senior “junior,” like a great senior.
But no one found anything strange about it; it was as if Lapp was born to play this role.
“Sister La, it’s done; let’s board the ship, we’re ready to head back.”
While Lapp was still instructing Deke on island matters, Aoxi and Obei had already led the personnel to be picked up onto the ship and were now weighing anchor and preparing to raise sails.
They couldn’t wait to take Lapp to see the islands they’d conquered.
……
“Alright, coming right away.”
Lapp turned her head and responded, then continued facing Deke.
She reached out her hand, and something like a golden feather appeared in her hand, then floated toward Deke.
“This is a small prop woven from my ability, like a one-time protective talisman.
Carry it on you; if you encounter danger, it might save your life.”
“This…”
Deke carefully took the feather and examined it closely.
The feather was shaped like an arrow token, with exquisite feather-like patterns on it, and it felt heavy in hand, like gold.
Not only that, the feather’s surface also emitted specks of golden fluorescence, making it look beautiful and divine.
Feeling the preciousness of this feather, Deke was at a loss for a moment…
“No need to refuse; protect this island well.”
After saying that, Lapp turned and boarded the ship, not giving Deke a chance to say more.
Time flew by, and the moment of parting arrived in the blink of an eye.
The sun gradually sank in the west; days in this season were always particularly short.
Standing on the deck, Lapp took one last look at this ordinary small island; the town on the island was still peaceful, with quite a bit of cooking smoke already rising from various chimneys.
Before leaving, she had said goodbye to everyone she’d met these past few days, reaping quite a lot of reluctance.
A few short days of interaction were enough for everyone to like this polite and cute little girl.
Recalling Miss Lapp, who looked so dejected upon hearing she was leaving that even her ears seemed to droop…
Recalling Aunt Susan, who kept stuffing all sorts of snacks into her bag…
And the tobacco shop clerk mister who gave her his favorite lighter…
As well as those little brats who declared they’d marry her when they grew up, then cried their hearts out…
Lapp felt perhaps she had found a way to balance that void and indifferent divinity.
“Let’s go. Aoxi, Obei.”
“Oh, good! Weigh anchor, raise sails, destination Fenrir Island.”
“Osiris, advance four!”
……
