One Trouble Passed  

The day after the clash with Shiki, Kanata lay in the infirmary, clad in her undergarments as Sukura changed her bandages.

"You're healing nicely. Your recovery speed is still inhuman, Kanata."

"It's been like this lately. I wasn't this resilient before."

Her recovery speed seemed to be increasing in proportion to the strengthening of her body. It was unheard of - the more you trained, the faster you healed. Sukura was fascinated, almost wanting to dissect her to study the phenomenon.

"But it's still a deep wound. Rest for three more days."

"I can handle a bit of movement—"

"Rest," Sukura interrupted.

"Alright, alright, put down that scalpel." Kanata had been confined to the bed since the night before, and she was itching to move.

Sukura lowered the scalpel, settled into a chair with a thud, and began filling out her medical chart.

"Of course, you foolish patient. When I say rest, you rest. This was a serious injury, one that would have required two weeks of bed rest for a normal person."

Even Kanata, tougher than most of the crew, had suffered a significant injury. It spoke volumes about Shiki's monstrous strength.

The scars might heal without a trace, but when changing her bandages, Sukura saw that the wound hadn't fully closed yet. Any unnecessary movement could hinder her recovery.

"Besides, we can't move the ship anyway."

The waters around Water Seven were mostly frozen. No ship, other than an icebreaker, could navigate them.

But there was another problem.

"Feiyun seemed pretty down too," Kanata said.

During the battle, Feiyun had accidentally slipped and stepped on the main mast, crushing it beneath her weight. It was understandable that she'd be down.

The storm had created treacherous conditions, making it difficult to keep their footing. It was only a matter of time before that old mast would have snapped, anyway. The ship was old, a secondhand purchase.

"We need to decide whether to repair this ship or get a new one."

"I think it's about time we get a new one. This ship is pretty old."

It was a relic from their days as merchants in the West Blue. Back then, they had limited funds, so Kanata had opted for a cheaper, older model. The ship her former crew, who left after the incident with the Celestial Dragon, had been newer, but it was a moot point now.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Water Seven was renowned for its shipbuilding industry. They could commission a new ship, if they had the funds.

Perhaps they could find a shipwright while they were at it.

"We have enough funds. A sturdy ship is the best option, but we should consult with George."

"I don't care, as long as the infirmary is well-equipped."

"Money's no object," Kanata told him.

They needed to gather information and supplies for a few days.

While Kanata was changing, Sukura packed his belongings, closed her chart, and left the room, saying, "That's all for today's checkup."

Just as he left, Dragon appeared.

"You finished?"

"Yes, just now. Something you need?"

"Garp is here. He's waiting on the deck. What do you want to do?"

"He said I should rest, but I don't need to be in bed all day. Tell him I'll be there soon."

He probably wasn't here to fight. Dragon's Observation Haki didn't sense any hostility.

Kanata quickly put on a coat over her clothes and headed out. The skies were clear, the air fresh and crisp after the storm. It was a bit cold, but that was unavoidable.

Garp and Berg were standing near the ship, talking to Dragon.

Garp, spotting Kanata, raised a hand.

"Well, you're here. Who would've thought you'd actually drive the 'Golden Lion' away."

"Did you think I wouldn't? Well, I almost got caught myself."

They wouldn't have been able to injure Shiki so severely without the lightning strike. Kanata felt a bit of uneasiness about her reliance on luck, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Garp, upon hearing the explanation, let out a sigh. "Lightning, huh…"

"Something on your mind?" Kanata asked.

"Yeah… Octavia is a Lightning Devil Fruit user. I don't know her range, but she once destroyed a Navy ship without its crew even realizing they were in danger. Could it have been her?"

Now that Octavia's survival had been confirmed, that was Garp's main concern.

That monstrous pirate, Rocks, had been their enemy. Garp felt a need to uncover Octavia's whereabouts, even if it meant leaving Roger behind. She was a threat, a danger to the entire world.

"Do you think she might have targeted you from afar, to help you?"

"Even if she was focused on her fight with Shiki, she'd need to bypass his Observation Haki."

"That woman is stronger than Shiki. In fact, she might be the strongest in the world now that Rocks is gone," Garp told her.

Of course, Garp and Roger could also hold their own in a fight. Even Whitebeard wouldn't be an easy opponent.

But the memory of Rocks, that monstrous pirate, still haunted Garp. There was no reason to let his guard down around the woman who stood beside that monster.

"Don't you want to meet her? Your real mother."

"Not interested. There's nothing to talk about."

Kanata's blunt dismissal sent Garp into a fit of laughter. It was startling enough for him to discover that the girl before him was Octavia's daughter, but the fact that his son was on the same ship as this girl was bizarre.

If Dragon hadn't been with them, they wouldn't have been able to have this conversation. Fate was a strange thing, Garp thought.

"How long are you planning to stay?" Garp asked.

"As soon as we gather enough logs, we'll be off… But, the ship, you see."

Kanata pointed towards the crushed main mast lying beside the ship. They wouldn't be able to set sail until it was repaired.

"That's not our concern. But… we were planning to leave after you."

"Something going on?"

"Ah, yeah, kinda."

He glanced at Berg, who shook his head, urging him to stop. It was classified information. The Navy wanted to get rid of them, replacing one nuisance with another, but they couldn't without a ship.

Apparently, they had another priority and couldn't stay too long.

"Sounds like a lot of trouble," Kanata said nonchalantly.

"Half of it is your fault, you know… But anyway, I'll let you off this time." Garp sighed.

He could have easily captured Kanata, but that would have resulted in unnecessary collateral damage and disrupted their plans. As they had agreed beforehand, they would leave her alone for now.

"He's busy with other matters."

"Yeah. Both of us seem to get caught up in these troubles."

"What a self-aware remark." Kanata shrugged and returned to the ship with Dragon.

One could argue that Garp and Dragon were more likely to create problems than get caught in them, but from the perspective of those caught in the crossfire, it was all the same.

"So, we've decided to build a new ship."

Later that night, the crew gathered on the deck, enjoying the evening while discussing their plans. The cold night air seemed to have no effect on their spirits.

They whistled and clapped, a boisterous group. Kanata, with a sigh, reminded them to keep the noise down and continued.

"We need a ship large enough to accommodate giants. It'll require a significant amount of funds, so don't touch the ship's current assets."

"What's the estimated price?"

"A brand-new ship with all the options could cost 700 million berries. It'll also take a while."

They were outnumbered by their ship, but it was essential to have a larger vessel if they wanted to carry giants.

Feiyun was still shrinking, but the rest of the crew, accustomed to larger ships, agreed.

The funds were from the wealth plundered from Shiki's underlings. Pirates were known for accumulating treasures, and Kanata's crew was now enjoying the fruits of their labor. They could afford a few indulgences.

"Scotch's belly has been getting bigger, too. It's getting harder for him to go through doors, so we need to get a larger ship."

"What are you talking about?! I'm a strong, active guy, just a bit chubby!"

"You're not denying the 'chubby' part, are you?"

Scotch and the rest of the crew were arguing, fueled by the alcohol. Tiger and Kuro were enjoying their meal, drinking sake.

"It's a shame we'll be parting ways after reaching Fishman Island, but a new ship is always exciting, isn't it?"

"Heeheehee, I've never been on another ship. I'm looking forward to seeing what it'll be like."

Even for Tiger, who was a giant, but not as large as the giants, a bigger ship was always better.

Their Log Pose pointed to Fishman Island after Water Seven. This journey was their last together, but they had spent so much time together that it was hard to imagine parting ways.

Perhaps they could continue their adventure, but Tiger also wanted to explore different places as an adventurer.

It wouldn't be bad to end things on a good note, Tiger thought.

His gaze fell upon his crewmates, arguing passionately about the ship, even though they hadn't decided where to build it yet.

"We're getting the latest refrigerators, the kind that can hold a lot of stuff."

"You're an idiot. That's room-sized. We should get Kanata to make an ice room. It'll save us money."

"Scotch, where did you put the ice cream I ordered?"

"There's no ice cream in this freezing weather! I got some local Water Seven candies, so you'll have to make do."

"Lately, all Kanata has been doing is fighting, and I'm... no, it's a burden on her. We should… no, we should step up and share the burden."

"That's your true intention… I want to get better at using my abilities, too."

Everyone was vying for their own desires, the party spiraling out of control.

They continued drinking until late into the night, shifting to the more comfortable indoors when the cold became unbearable. The crew eventually passed out, drunk and slumbering.

The following morning, despite the late night revelry, Kanata emerged onto the deck, her energy seemingly untouched.

The News Coo had arrived.

She bought a newspaper, paid for it, and retreated into the warmth of the ship.

The lounge was filled with sleeping crew members, Scotch in particular, his upper body bare, adorned with elaborate scribbles on his belly. He was snoring loudly, about to catch a cold. Kanata grabbed a nearby jacket and tossed it over him.

Feiyun was curled up, fast asleep. Kanata carefully draped a thick blanket over her, and then threw a blanket over the rest of the male crew, ensuring they wouldn't catch a chill.

She decided to go back to her room, as the snoring was too loud. Once she reached her cabin, she sat down comfortably and opened the newspaper. She had a feeling that this battle would be mentioned.

She was right.

"Golden Lion' Shiki clashes with 'Dragon Slayer' Kanata!"

The news of their battle was plastered across the front page.

It seemed the government was hoping to weaken Shiki's influence in the New World by portraying him as a defeated rookie. That would surely encourage others to underestimate him.

Of course, Kanata's bounty had changed.

"Dragon Slayer' Kanata Bounty: 1.5 Billion Berries"

It wasn't as significant an increase as the last time, but it was more than sufficient.

Bounties often reflected the danger someone posed to the government, but in this case, it was a testament to Kanata's strength.

She had faced off against a New World pirate and driven him back, even though she had carefully chosen advantageous conditions. There was no other option for the government than to raise her bounty.

Kanata didn't really care, though.

By the time she had finished reading the newspaper, the crew had started to wake up. Some looked pale from the hangover, while others were sneezing, possibly catching a cold.

Kanata wanted to enjoy a peaceful respite, but Garp's mention of an urgent matter lingered in her mind.

These unsettling premonitions were usually accurate, she thought.

***

A few days later, the Big Mom Pirates, who had established a base in the Sabaody Archipelago, were attacked by a Marine force led by Admiral Zephyr. They successfully repelled the attack, forcing the Big Mom Pirates to wander aimlessly through Paradise.

Zephyr had suggested pursuing Big Mom, who had suffered some injuries, but his idea was rejected. The government deemed the operation a success, satisfied with forcing her out of Sabaody Archipelago.

They were afraid of pursuing her further, fearing retaliation.

Big Mom, having retreated from Sabaody, now set her sights on her target – Water Seven.

"Mamahahaha! Just you wait, 'Witch'… I'll personally kill you…!"

The day the news of Big Mom's retreat from Sabaody broke, Caterina, sitting in a formal posture, interrogated Kureha in a corner of Drum Island.

"So, where did that idiot go?"

"She said she was going to meet her daughter and an old acquaintance. She said she'd be back in a few days."

"An old acquaintance, huh? Those people are usually no good."

Her left arm was still healing. It had only recently become functional again, and she needed to continue physical therapy. Kureha sighed, lamenting her misfortune.

A newspaper sat beside the bed where Octavia had been sleeping just hours ago.

Outside, a blizzard raged and the snow was falling relentlessly.

"The storm's coming," Kureha said, closing the open window.

If Octavia was moving, it wouldn't be good. She had resigned herself to the inevitable consequences.