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The Strongest Frost Loli (146)
🕑 Added 2024-10-24 17:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter 146 - Deuce
"I’m going to have a child."
“You? A child?! And you’re telling me, a Marine?! Your child… Anyone connected to you will be executed!”
“That's why I'm telling you.”
The man in the prison cell laughed.
He showed no signs of fear, even though his execution was imminent.
There was no resignation, no despair. He was completely at peace with his fate.
“We’ve tried to kill each other countless times. But that’s why I trust you as much as I trust my own crew. You’re the only one I can ask.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!!”
“Come on, I know you’ll do it…”
The Marine was bewildered by the man’s words.
They had fought each other again and again, and in the end, the man had surrendered to the Marines. His execution was inevitable.
The Marine had no regrets. It was the right thing to do.
But…
“My child is innocent! I’ll take my sins to the grave!”
“…!!”
That’s it.
The man in the prison cell always got to the heart of the matter.
The Marine sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.
“And… I gave her a Vivre Card. I trust her, but… just in case, give this card to my child."
“A Vivre Card? Whose is it?”
“I can’t tell you. It might cause trouble for them.”
“You want me to give your child a Vivre Card without even telling me who it belongs to? What’s the point?!”
“If something happens! If my child is ever in real trouble, this Vivre Card will guide them!”
The man’s conviction was unwavering, as if he could see the future.
“They’re a loyal, trustworthy friend! They’ll help my child!”
“…Do they even know about this?”
“I told them I’m giving it to my child!”
“Are you sure that’s okay?!”
***
Ace followed the bear-like giant for about fifteen minutes. They had entered the city from the harbor, and soon, a massive Colosseum came into view.
He had been overwhelmed by its size even from afar, but up close, it was truly astonishing.
It was larger than a normal giant. Ace was amazed that anyone could have built such a structure.
Teach left them and approached a man at the entrance.
“Hey, is it going on?!”
“Teach-san! What brings you here today?”
“I heard you’re having a replacement match. Thought I’d check it out. Any seats available?”
“Most of the seats are taken. We have a special guest today… Well, for you, I’ll make an exception. We have a VIP room.”
“Thanks! Zehahahaha!!”
Having secured their seats, Teach beckoned Ace, Deuce, and Skull to follow him. The man at the entrance led them inside.
As expected, the interior was vast. The man navigated the building with ease, leading them up a few flights of stairs to a private room.
A man was inside, casually watching a fight.
“Hey, Samuel. What are you doing here?”
“Teach. I heard they were having a replacement match today. Thought I’d kill some time.”
He was smaller than Teach, but well-built.
He seemed to be an old acquaintance, chatting with Teach casually.
“Who are these young’uns?”
“They want to meet my captain. I told them they could get an audience if they win a few fights here.”
“Uhahahaha!! You’re giving them false hope!!”
“Zehahahaha! They’re promising rookies! We need to light a fire under their asses!”
“Is that a pun because I’m a Fire Devil Fruit user?”
Ace voiced what Deuce had been thinking.
Samuel, laughing heartily, pulled out a chair next to him.
“Uhahahaha!! What an interesting fella! Have a seat!”
“Don’t mind if I do!”
“You’re big, so sit a little further away.”
“Geez, you’re no fun.”
Teach, rejected, sat down a little further away, and ordered drinks from the attendant.
Ace, Deuce, and Skull took their seats next to Samuel and watched the two fighters in the arena.
One was a young girl. The other was a woman in her prime. They were both using Haki.
Ace, seeing the girl, was surprised.
“What’s with those things on her feet?”
“She has a condition that dulls her sense of touch – especially in her arms. So, she wears those steel heels to turn her legs into weapons.”
The steel heels covered her entire lower legs. They seemed inconvenient, but the user didn’t seem to care.
It was simply her way of competing on equal footing with the other Valkyries. It wasn’t something others could comment on.
She had chosen to fight like that.
“I see…” Ace nodded, then asked another question.
“What’s that transparent wall between the audience and the fighters? Isn’t it in the way?”
“Kanata created it. It’s a barrier that won’t break with ordinary attacks. It’s to protect the audience.”
“Won’t break? But giants fight here too, right? Can such a thin wall really protect them?”
“Try touching it. It’s incredibly hard. Even most of Twilight’s executives can’t break it."
Samuel couldn’t break it either, and he began counting on his fingers, thinking about who could.
It was a rare feat.
Ace, intrigued, said, “I want to try that,” and started rotating his arms.
“Hold on, the fight’s almost over. I’ll spar with you after that.”
“You’ll spar with me? You?”
He seemed to be casually watching the fights, but Teach had said he was an old-timer. He must be someone important.
Ace had no objections. He was planning to defeat everyone and meet the Witch anyway.
Ace grinned, and followed Samuel out of the room. He didn’t mind being a spectacle. He couldn't miss this opportunity.
“Hey, Ace!”
“Don’t yell at me, Deuce. We have to defeat all the executives to meet the Witch, right? Might as well get this over with.”
“Yeah, once you defeat me, everyone else will be stronger.”
Samuel was one of Twilight’s strongest fighters. Only the executives were stronger.
He was ranked slightly below the top members of the Einherjar, but even then, only a handful of those currently on the island could defeat him.
“Wait here with Skull. Don’t worry, I won’t lose.”
“Uhahahaha!! That’s the spirit, young’un!”
Ace, with Samuel, disappeared through the door.
***
Deuce, worried but trusting Ace's strength, sat back down.
Skull, looking concerned, glanced back and forth between the door and Deuce.
“Deuce-san…”
“Don’t say it, Skull… He’s probably anxious. He’s close to meeting the person he’s looking for. I understand how he feels…”
Hasty decisions often led to mistakes. But he believed Ace would be fine. Deuce couldn't shake off the feeling that his words weren’t reaching Ace.
It was usually Deuce’s role to restrain Ace, but this time, even his words didn’t seem to be getting through.
An unsettling feeling washed over Deuce. He wondered if he had done something wrong, reviewing their past actions.
He glanced at Teach.
If there was one thing that bothered him…
“…Why are you being so helpful?”
“Hmm? What’s with the sudden interrogation? Are you scared of Samuel?”
“Don’t joke… I just… I didn’t think you’d be this willing to talk just because I bought you a few drinks. You’re one of the old-timers, right? Perhaps I should have been more suspicious…”
“Zehahaha! You’re thinking too much!!”
Teach, drinking casually, laughed.
He had only told them things anyone could find out. A little research would have yielded the same information.
It was all part of the plan.
“Don’t waste your time thinking. If you want to see my captain, you either win here or attack the castle directly. And don’t worry, you won’t die.”
She usually stayed on Hachinosu. If they had gone there, they wouldn't even have a chance of meeting her.
“You’re not the first idiot to try this,” Teach said.
“A few years ago, a group of rookies tried to attack the castle. But none of them even got to see my captain. We have a shipping business to run. We don’t have time to deal with weaklings.”
“You were just drinking in a bar… You’re letting your captain’s strongest fighter spar with a rookie to show off Twilight’s strength, aren’t you?”
“I told you, she’ll come out if you defeat an executive. But that’s never happened.”
In other words, they were all crushed by those below executive level.
Shanks had said she was busy.
She didn’t have time to deal with every pirate who attacked. So, it was only natural that she would delegate the task to her executives.
“Who will come out if Ace wins? Red Mane? Six Harmonies Great Spear? Giant Shadow?”
“They’re all out. Feiyun’s actually banned from entering the country."
“Banned?! An executive?!”
“She’s… Well, she’s a little too big. Zen’s getting senile, and Junshi’s running around doing Kanata’s errands."
“Is Twilight okay?”
“We’re not that weak! Zehahahaha!”
They had repelled attacks from the Four Emperors countless times. Teach wasn't lying, but Deuce couldn't help but feel uneasy.
