Hearing Dragon's words, Kanata paused to think.
"...Are you a Navy informant?"
"No, I simply speak with Garp personally from time to time. We're father and son, after all."
Kanata's eyes widened as she looked at Dragon.
If he was the son of Garp, the so-called Hero of the Navy, she could somewhat understand why no wanted poster had been made for him.
Garp himself probably wouldn't care about such things, but the people around him who knew would never allow it.
"So what business do Garp and the Celestial Dragon have with me?"
"I haven't been told the details either. Apparently the Celestial Dragon is the one with business, and they're saying they want to speak with Kanata."
To Kanata, the Celestial Dragons were the cause of this entire situation. What could they possibly want to discuss after all this time?
It probably wasn't to vent their resentment directly. Even with Garp as an escort, they wouldn't try to meet face-to-face for just that.
"...I can't read their intentions."
"What will you do? If you'll meet them, I'll tell them our next destination."
"Meeting at Banaro Island, then. Hmm..."
There was also the matter of the Golden Lion. She didn't want to add any more trouble.
It didn't seem they were coming to start a war, and there was Dragon to consider.
Despite having Garp as his father, Dragon had fought the Navy head-on, so he probably wasn't a spy. She could trust him—that was Kanata's judgment.
"...Fine. I'll meet the Celestial Dragon at Banaro Island. Though I'd prefer not to have a battle with Garp."
"Even I can't predict that. If it comes to it, I'll cover the rear."
Even Dragon knew well how free-spirited Garp was. Depending on the content of the discussion with the Celestial Dragon, there might be a possibility of fighting Garp, but Dragon believed that Kanata's crew could probably repel him if necessary.
The frightening part was that even facing Garp alone could turn into an all-out war.
"When will we set sail?"
"Tomorrow. Now that we've obtained an Eternal Pose, there's no reason to stay on this island any longer."
They could manage with supplies looted from the pirate ship. No one was injured.
The island's residents, who were victims, were somewhat pitiable, but all Kanata could do was give them some supplies. It would be better to have Dragon use Garp to mobilize the Navy.
To them, Kanata, a wanted criminal, was equally an object of fear.
"If you're going to contact Garp, do it here. We have a Den Den Mushi."
"I don't mind, but is there something you want to ask?"
"A little."
Without any specific time arranged, Dragon began calling Garp using the Den Den Mushi in the room.
It connected shortly, and they heard "Yeah, it's me!"
"It's me."
『Dragon? Did you tell them about the Celestial Dragon matter?』
"Yes. They've agreed to the discussion."
『I see. I thought they'd refuse, so this is surprising.』
"I could have refused, but if you won't rampage, I'll agree to talk."
『Huh? What, is the Witch herself there too?』
Garp didn't seem particularly concerned. He probably thought there was no problem with being overheard.
『You're a wanted criminal, but you're not calling yourself a pirate, and you haven't caused any incidents. There's no particular reason to fight, so don't worry.』
"If that's the case, fine."
Kanata was exasperated by Garp's bold declaration.
『The one who wants to meet you is Saint Donquixote Homing. He's the brother of Saint Donquixote Chrysaor, who was killed.』
"...That makes even less sense. Does he want to complain directly to me about killing his brother?"
That would make him a Celestial Dragon with considerable spirit. It would be unthinkable for them—arrogant people who thought they could solve everything with power—to go out of their way to lodge a complaint.
『How should I know? I'm bringing him, so talk to him yourself.』
Garp stated flatly.
Technically, the Navy was a subordinate organization of the World Government, and protecting Celestial Dragons was part of their duties... but it was clear from his every word that Garp himself held no positive feelings toward them.
Since this man was incapable of political maneuvering, there was no need to doubt him. Kanata sighed once and asked what she'd wanted to know.
"What I want to ask about is something else. Do you recognize the name Octavia?"
『Well... that's your mother, right? Wouldn't you know more about her than me?』
"Everyone keeps saying the same thing, but I'm an orphan. I've never seen my mother or father."
"I see," followed by the sound of Garp munching on rice crackers.
He slurped some tea, took a breath, and after apparently collecting his thoughts, Garp spoke.
『This isn't really something I want to talk about, but...』
"The Golden Lion was targeting me because I'm supposedly her daughter. Was she really that skilled?"
『Yeah. She had a bounty of three billion five hundred million. In the past, she was in the same pirate crew as the Golden Lion and Big Mom.』
"...I see. They spoke as if they were acquaintances, but they were on the same ship."
Garp said he didn't know about her father.
He could somewhat guess at likely possibilities, but he didn't voice them.
『She'd been missing for several years and was thought to be dead, but recently there was an incident that seemed to be her doing. An island in the West Blue with a large orphanage was reduced to scorched earth.』
"────"
『You said earlier you were an orphan, right? She might have attacked seeking clues about you. You'd better be careful.』
"...You're surprisingly kind."
『Even I worry about the ship my son's on. Especially since that woman often went on rampages without discrimination.』
Garp sighed in a tone suggesting he'd recalled something unpleasant.
She'd been in a pirate crew that went on rampages in the past. It made sense to be wary.
『Anyway, if I talk too long there'll be annoying people, so I'm hanging up soon. Where are you?』
"We're heading to Banaro Island now. How long will it take you?"
『Banaro Island, huh? It's not that far, but... at the earliest, one week.』
With a Celestial Dragon in tow, various things would be troublesome. Some delay was inevitable.
"Also," Kanata added.
"Apparently pirates under the Golden Lion are using it as a base. We'll take care of them, but will you take them into custody?"
『If you tie them up, I'll take them.』
As the Celestial Dragon's escort, he might not be entirely welcome, but so be it. Garp wouldn't give up over something like that, and the Navy couldn't overlook it either.
"I see," was all Kanata replied before moving away from the Den Den Mushi.
She'd finished what needed to be said. She'd leave the rest to Dragon.
『Anything else?』
"Nothing on our end."
『Alright, then Banaro Island in one week.』
The arrangements complete, Garp ended the call.
Given the other party, they should perhaps be somewhat cautious, but they also had to consider the peculiar Celestial Dragon who wanted to speak with the person who killed his blood brother.
It was troublesome, but... depending on how the conversation went, it could potentially become advantageous.
It was worth the gamble, fifty-fifty odds.
☆
The next day.
They gathered the stolen cargo and gave some to the islanders. They had no particular obligation, but being attacked by pirates under the Golden Lion was like a natural disaster. They felt some sympathy.
Due to the numbers involved, the pirates had apparently stolen quite a large quantity—they had plenty of supplies to spare. Giving some away wouldn't hurt.
While checking the sea chart, Kanata discussed with Scotch:
"It'll take a few days to Banaro Island. We're leaving already?"
"Since there's no reason to stay here, it's better to head to the next island."
Kanata's gaze fell on the islanders watching them from a distance.
To them, both the pirates and Kanata's crew who defeated them were much the same. Especially regarding Kanata—only information about her outrageous bounty preceded her, spreading bad rumors.
That's how the world worked.
There was no point worrying about it.
"We'll likely be crushing more Golden Lion pirates on the next island too. After that, Garp is scheduled to arrive."
"Yeah... WHAT?! Why is Garp coming?!"
Scotch was so surprised he nearly fell over.
Kanata answered calmly.
"Apparently a Celestial Dragon has business with me. He's the escort."
"What business does a Celestial Dragon have with you... Are they going to issue a Buster Call right in front of you?"
"I doubt they'd do something like that... I think."
They might not know the results of the battle off Drum Island's coast against near-Buster Call-level forces, but at least given the current situation, the Navy would probably stop it.
To the Celestial Dragons, the Witch who'd turned her blade on them might seem like more of a threat than the Golden Lion or Big Mom, who brought harm to citizens.
"I don't think there'll be conflict, but... I can't say for certain. Don't neglect combat preparations."
"There's no way we can afford to be casual against Garp... Damn, I thought we wouldn't have to deal with the Navy for a while."
"The situation might improve. It's extremely unlikely, but they're a peculiar person who'd come all this way just to meet me. We'll have to meet them and see for ourselves."
Kanata said this with a light laugh.
The complete opposite of Scotch, who stood with arms crossed and a difficult expression.
"Well... fine. I'll tell the others."
"Right. We're setting sail immediately. Make sure you don't forget anything."
☆
—And one week later.
On Banaro Island, the Golden Lion pirates who'd been using it as a base lay scattered about. Kanata's crew watched with some tension as the Navy warship arrived.
The warship docked at the harbor. Emerging from it were Garp and Bogard, along with several subordinates and CP-0 agents.
Among them, one man wore particularly distinctive clothing—from the atmosphere he projected, he was likely the Celestial Dragon.
"Hey, nice to meet you, Witch."
"...We met once before, a long time ago."
"Did we? I suppose we might have. But don't worry about the details."
Garp laughed as Kanata shrugged. There was no hair-trigger atmosphere, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, judging that at least for now there would be no clash.
He then turned his gaze behind him and jerked his chin toward the Celestial Dragon he'd escorted.
"This is the Celestial Dragon, Saint Donquixote Homing."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Donquixote Homing. You're Kanata, correct?"
"Yes. Call me whatever you like."
He was remarkably humble for a Celestial Dragon.
CP-0 started to step forward at Kanata's manner of speaking, but stopped when she glared at them. Saint Homing placated them, saying "It's fine."
"I'm the one who asked the Five Elders for this meeting. I have no intention of censuring how you speak."
"...So what exactly do you want with me?"
"...There was something I wanted to ask."
No one disobeyed the Celestial Dragons.
No one laid a hand on the Celestial Dragons.
Absolute rulers by birth. Before the power they wielded, even the kings of great nations had no choice but to bow their heads.
And yet.
"First, let's see... let's change locations. Somewhere we can sit at a table and talk calmly."
Saint Homing said this with a cheerful smile.
***
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