"Misaka, Hirona, do you remember?"
Hu Tao took a deep breath, her voice low and heavy. "The Captain's reaction a year ago, when she first heard the news that her younger brother had met with disaster..."
"Back then, if Red-Hair hadn't stepped in to restrain her, and if we hadn't learned through Madam Shyarly's divination that her brother would reappear a year later, there's no telling what state our Captain would be in right now."
"..."
Recalling that terrifying scene—like the coming of the apocalypse—the two women shuddered in unison. At the same time, the hair framing Misaka's forehead began to flicker with uneasy sparks of electricity.
(Even though the news this time isn't about him being killed, this kind of... integrity-stripping nonsense isn't much better than him being dead...)
(Absolutely not! We absolutely cannot tell the Captain about this!)
Although the three of them felt that the news from the phone call earlier was largely exaggerated, they were all beyond certain of one thing:
If their captain, "Silver Hair," heard this insane news, she would definitely go berserk all over again!
"However, even if we can't tell Silver Hair, we can't just sit back and ignore this ourselves."
Transforming into the group's strategist, Miss Hu Tao cleared her throat and continued, "There are two main issues right now. First, what exactly does the Heavenly Yaksha want with the Captain's brother? If it's really... cough, let's not mention that for now."
"Second, what exactly is the situation with the Captain's brother? Judging by the latest bounty, he has joined the pirate crew of Ace's younger brother."
"Fire Fist, huh? I heard from Vista that he left the New World a while ago to hunt down a traitor among his subordinates. He hasn't returned yet."
Hirona let out a sigh of profound regret. "Sigh~ Otherwise, we might have had the chance to eat his barbecue again."
"..." A certain pure-white knight, who had been listening silently the entire time, felt her emerald eyes flicker with an almost imperceptible light at the mention of "barbecue."
"Mm, only a Flame-Flame Fruit user with such perfect control over the heat could make barbecue that good."
Misaka nodded in agreement. She then looked toward the girl in formal attire, who was deep in thought. "Hu Tao, based on what you're saying, do you plan to send someone to 'Paradise' to get in touch with the Sorcerer and check on his situation?"
To those in the New World, the first half of the Grand Line was practically a paradise.
"Have you forgotten the Captain's instructions from back then?" The golden-haired older woman frowned slightly, yet even her concern radiated a unique kind of charm.
"She said it herself: If her brother knew she was in the New World, he would recklessly charge straight here. For someone at the Sorcerer's current level, it is still far too early for him to enter this final sea. Furthermore..."
Hirona extended a slender, pale finger and pointed upward, her expression turning somber. "...[Those guys] would certainly not stand by and watch."
"I am naturally aware of that. And I didn't say we should make contact—only observe and protect him from the shadows."
Hu Tao waved her hand with an elegant, gentle motion, her every gesture exuding the noble grace unique to a high-born lady.
"Not long ago, Beckman told me that their captain, Red-Hair, was strongly opposed to Fire Fist pursuing that traitor named Blackbeard. He even wrote a letter to Whitebeard, but unfortunately, the latter didn't listen at all."
Just as Hirona, the dual-wielding swordsman, was on good terms with Vista—the Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' 5th Division—Hu Tao maintained close contact with Benn Beckman, the Vice Captain of the Red-Haired Pirates. Both were gun users, and both shared a similar intellectual temperament.
"In the New World today, the [Four Emperors] reign supreme on the surface, creating a unique balance through mutual restraint. In the shadows, various dark organizations led by the likes of [Joker] and [Penguin] are constantly locked in secret struggles, yet they have maintained a tacit understanding not to cause any massive upheavals."
"While the focus of the World Government and the Marines is on 'Paradise,' and the Revolutionary Army has gone to the four blues to develop their influence among the people, their power within the New World still cannot be underestimated."
"And, of course, there is us—the [Silver-Haired Pirates], the most unique element drifting between these major powers."
At this point, Hu Tao paused before continuing, "You've all likely noticed it too. This ocean looks calm on the surface, but it's like the silence before a storm. It's merely a temporary illusion."
"Very soon, an unimaginable [Storm] is coming!"
"And at such a critical moment, our captain, 'Silver Hair,' must not lose her composure because of her brother's affairs!"
A meaningful glint flashed in her burgundy right eye as Hu Tao murmured in a low voice, "After all... if even the 'King' panics, what are we supposed to do?"
After hearing this resounding speech, Misaka and Hirona both took on stern expressions. Lily, the crown princess, thought of her own homeland which was currently undergoing a violent upheaval, and a layer of sorrow clouded her exquisite features.
"Misaka has one more question." The girl in the white lab coat tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Since you put it that way, Hu Tao, who exactly should we send to protect the Sorcerer in secret?"
"How about I go?" The golden-haired beauty grinned. "I can take care of that traitor on Fire Fist's ship while I'm at it."
"No, you, the [Demon Blade], cannot leave the New World."
Hu Tao shook her head. "Have you forgotten why the Captain came to attend Big Mom's Tea Party this time?"
Hirona's expression instantly froze.
"That cripple [Penguin] has been a bit too active lately. It seems the [Oswald] family is planning a major move; we can't rule out a potential marriage alliance with the [Charlotte] family," Misaka added tonelessly.
"Furthermore, according to the latest intelligence, the 'Marine Guerrillas' led by former Admiral Zephyr are about to enter the sea territory you are responsible for, Hirona. So, a high-level combatant like you has no time to slack off."
"I know, I know! Honestly, one has a bad leg, the other has a bad arm... Damn it! Sooner or later, I'm going to carve them both into human logs!"
Hirona scratched her head in extreme frustration. "Then who do you plan to send? Our crew has plenty of members, but there aren't many reliable partners who are also free to move."
Hu Tao didn't answer. She simply turned her head toward the pure-white knight sitting upright beside her, smiling without saying a word.
"Her?!" x2
"Me?" Lily was stunned. The golden ahoge atop her head twitched back and forth, making her look quite adorable.
"That's right. You—the beautiful, powerful, and loyal lady knight." Hu Tao narrowed her burgundy right eye slightly, a charming smile curling the corners of her lips.
"But... but I still need to protect Master," the knight said, looking conflicted. "And this isn't an order from Master."
"But Lily, do you really think the Captain needs your protection given her strength?"
Misaka ignored the knight's embarrassment and continued, "Besides, looking at the current situation, for you to protect the Sorcerer is the same as protecting the Captain."
"Exactly! As a knight, you can't be so rigid~" Hirona chimed in from the side.
"According to the rules of your knightly fealty, the Captain's brother counts as half a master to you, Lily-chan."
The girl in the formal dress covered her mouth and giggled elegantly. "I'm sure that afterward, the Captain will be very grateful to have such a clever and loyal follower."
In the kingdom of knights, Ingland, the tenets of honor, etiquette, humility, fortitude, loyalty, pride, and piety were ingrained into the soul of every knight, passed down through generations.
Once a knight swore an oath of fealty to become a follower, they were absolutely loyal to their master. All knights of Ingland viewed "serving one monarch until the very end" as the ultimate glory.
Even the [King of Knights] was no exception to this, let alone the crown princess.
"Mmm, that makes sense... I should do what is within my power."
The innocent white knight was quickly brainwashed by the three unscrupulous women. She nodded in deep agreement and then asked with hopeful anticipation, "So, what exactly do I need to do?"
She couldn't wait to show others her capability and loyalty.
Hirona and Hu Tao shared a smile. Misaka, expressionless as ever, pulled a bounty poster of the Sorcerer from her lab coat pocket and slapped it onto the table.
"Lily, you need to head to the first half of the Grand Line and observe and protect this person from the shadows. Remember! You must not let him discover your identity. It's best if you wear a mask or something similar."
"And keep an eye on Fire Fist's movements while you're at it. After all, he's a friend of ours," Hirona added with a hearty laugh, crossing her arms so that the cleavage at her chest became even deeper.
"Still, I'm a bit worried about the information from that call. In case he really gets..."
Hu Tao pinched the bridge of her nose, then said calmly, "Lily-chan, I'll give you a letter before you leave. Hand it to the current Queen of the Maiden Island, Amazon Lily. If anyone stops you, just say you are the Knight of Silver Hair, and those Amazon warriors won't give you any trouble."
"After all, that Snake Princess isn't exactly an 'outsider.' Well, in many senses of the word..."
Recalling a ridiculous bet from many years ago, Hu Tao's expression became increasingly strange, while a certain golden-haired woman couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
"Understood. I'm clear on the mission."
Lily picked up the bounty poster from the table, carefully examining the handsome young man with glasses pictured on it.
(Sarsalian Sherlock, the Sorcerer? He really does look like Master. As expected of Master's younger brother.)
"For Master's sake, I will definitely protect him..."
The ahoge knight's emerald eyes shimmered with a resolute light. Her voice was as clear as a nightingale, yet it contained a sense of unwavering honesty that made her seem incredibly reliable.
"......In my name as the [White Knight]!"
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