Newspaper

The warm breeze carried the salty scent of the sea as Imai wiped the sweat from her neck with a towel. She stood at the ship's railing, gazing at the endless ocean before her. By her side, Nico Robin held Imai's katanas, their polished blades catching the sunlight.

"So," Imai began, breaking the comfortable silence. "How was the fight?"

Nico leaned against the railing, her gaze steady. "Hmm, very entertaining. I think we were all captivated by the intensity. It felt less like a spar and more like a duel between two forces of nature."

Imai chuckled, her lips curving into a grin. "Did you learn anything, Nico? Any techniques you plan to 'borrow' and incorporate into your own fighting style?"

Nico tilted her head thoughtfully, her finger resting on her chin as she looked up at the sky. "Possibly. Though I doubt I could replicate what you two did. You and Boa Hancock are leagues ahead in hand-to-hand combat. That level of mastery isn't something I can mimic so easily."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Imai said, folding her arms. "With enough practice, I think you can do it. It might take time, but one day you'll get there."

Nico gave her a small, amused smile. "Hopefully."

"Just remember," Imai added, "stick to techniques that align with your fighting style. Trying to force something that doesn't suit you is more of a hindrance than a help."

"Understood, Sensei," Nico teased, handing the katanas back to Imai.

As the swords settled into their place at Imai's waist, she felt whole again. The katanas were an extension of herself, a constant reminder of her identity and strength. She exhaled, letting the peaceful moment wash over her as the sea breeze cooled her skin.

The calm was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Imai turned to see Boa Hancock and Sandersonia emerging from the mansion, their expressions unreadable.

"Hancock, Sandersonia," Imai greeted, tilting her head. "What's up?"

"We thought you should see this," Hancock said, holding out a folded newspaper.

Imai took it and scanned the headline. Her eyes widened as she read about the island of Elegia and its rising star—a world-famous singer named Uta. The article described her ethereal voice, said to enchant anyone who heard it, and her Devil Fruit ability that amplified her already mesmerizing performances.

The image accompanying the article caught Imai's attention. Uta's unique appearance stood out immediately—her hair split into two distinct halves, one red and the other white, tied into long twin ponytails with circular braids at the ends.

Imai's thoughts drifted to her brief encounter with Shanks. His words echoed in her mind:

"You'll know who my daughter is when you see her."

Her eyes narrowed, lingering on Uta's photo. 'This has to be her. The resemblance is undeniable. But… what does he want me to do?'

Her gaze shifted to the word concert. The article mentioned an upcoming performance on Elegia, drawing a massive crowd. Marines were rumored to be mobilizing to intercept her as well.

"Don't tell me…" Imai muttered, her voice trailing off as realization dawned.

"What's wrong?" Nico asked, stepping closer.

"Is something troubling you?" Hancock added, her brows furrowing.

Imai folded the newspaper and tucked it under her arm, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Maybe, just maybe… we're going to a concert."

Nico blinked. "A concert?"

"Yeah," Imai said with a hum. "This Uta… I'm curious to hear her heavenly voice for myself. Why not make a trip out of it?"

"How do we even get to Elegia?" Nico asked, her practical side kicking in.

Imai pointed to Hancock with a smirk. "She's a Warlord of the Sea. If anyone has a map, it's her."

Boa Hancock sighed, clearly resigned to the truth. "I do. Fortunately, we're already en route. Elegia is not far from here."

"See?" Imai said, winking at Nico. "That's the power of a Warlord—privileges and benefits galore."

"And yet," Nico countered, "you're an Emperor. Shouldn't you have even more privileges?"

Imai's shoulders slumped in mock defeat. "Yeah, but here's the thing—I'm an unofficial Emperor. I haven't declared it to the world yet."

"Meaning…" Nico began.

"Meaning," Imai interrupted with a laugh, "I have to cause a scene. Draw attention. Then make a big announcement: 'Hey, world! I'm the Fifth Emperor!'"

"Let's do it then," Nico said simply, her casual tone making Imai laugh even harder.

Before their conversation could continue, Boa Hancock interjected, her expression serious. "The Marines are already on the move. They're sending ships to Elegia to apprehend Uta. It won't be a simple trip."

A loud BEEP BEEP cut through the air, drawing their attention to the back of the ship. They rushed to the stern and saw several Marine ships closing in, their flags unmistakable.

"They're already here, huh?" Imai said, gripping the hilt of her katana.

"Recently, they've been in a rush to handle anything involving pirates," Hancock said. "Someone high up is pulling strings."

Imai smirked, glancing at Nico. "Think it's your old crew causing trouble again?"

"Most likely," Nico replied with a faint smile. "They've got a knack for stirring chaos wherever they go."

"So, what's the plan?" Imai asked. "Do we deal with them here, or lead them to Elegia?"

"Take a few down here," Nico suggested. "It'll save us the trouble of reinforcements later."

"Got it."

Imai leaped onto the railing, drawing her blade in one smooth motion. She shifted into her stance, her knees bent and her katana angled near her hip.

"Prepare yourselves," she declared. "You're about to witness the power of the Empress of the Blade!"

Boa Hancock watched in awe as Imai swung her sword. A crescent-shaped wave of purple Armament Haki erupted from the blade, slicing cleanly through two Marine ships. The ships remained intact for a brief moment before the upper halves slid into the water with a resounding crash.

CLICK. Imai sheathed her katana, her smile one of pure satisfaction.

When she turned around, she froze. Boa Hancock was staring at her, eyes sparkling with unrestrained admiration.

'What's with her?' Imai wondered, caught off guard.

Nico stifled a chuckle, whispering under her breath, "Looks like someone's impressed."