"Master, we've reached the Totto Land sea area. We should arrive at Cake Island, where Nickname is, in about half a day."
Kuina put down her telescope. She could already see the juice-filled waters unique to Totto Land.
"Very good. Be careful to stay hidden and don't get discovered. This time, I want to give Linlin a surprise."
Nero held a small cake in one hand and brandished a clenched fist with the other.
This made Kuina a bit unsure: was this'surprise' a legitimate one?
However, she didn't dare to ask. After years of... ahem... interaction, she had learned to avoid Nero whenever possible.
Even in unavoidable situations like the present, she tried not to talk to Nero.
From a lowly servant to her current status as a debtor, Kuina had learned that a disciple had no human rights in front of Nero.
"Now we need to speed up. It's a good chance to test the golden rose's new function. Kuina, go prepare the cola."
Nero quickly gulped down the cake in a few bites, then clapped her hands and directed.
"Cola? Is it the Coup de Burst that Franky designed when we went to Water Seven?"
Hathaway reacted to the mention of cola. She heard that Tom entrusted the Pluton blueprints to his disciple for safekeeping, and she wondered if this Coup de Burst was part of those designs.
"Mmm, that's exactly it. I've prepared enough cola to ensure we reach Cake Island super fast!"
Kuina silently put the cola into the engine room. She didn't understand much about science, but was it really okay to use cola as fuel?
"Are you ready? 3 - 2, fire!" Nero pressed the button.
The stern of the ship transformed, extending a huge cannon muzzle that fired a powerful air cannon. Under the immense recoil, the golden rose soared into the air and glided into the distance.
"Where's 1?!" Kuina, who was nearly thrown off and left behind, yelled in indignant grief.
"Mwahahaha..."
Nero's unrestrained laughter echoed from above.
With the Coup de Burst, the golden rose practically flew. When the ship landed, they looked up and saw their destination: Cake Island.
"Mmm, it's been a long time since I've seen Linlin. Let's say hello first."
Nero reached for the Primal Fire, which she hadn't used in a long time, and took two exaggerated steps forward before raising her hand and striking with a sword.
Kamisari!
The red and black slash tore through the sea and sky, flying towards Cake Island with an overwhelmingly powerful force.
Nero's pupils contracted, expanded, and adjusted with anxiety. She saw Nickname Charlotte Linlin bursting out of Cake Island, standing on clouds.
"Mmm, long time no see, Linlin!" Nero, having just attacked, waved happily at her.
Elbaf's Spear - Hakoku!!!
Nickname gripped Napoleon with one hand, her face fierce, and slashed at Nero's attack.
Haoshoku gathered on Napoleon, and where it met Nero's slash, an invisible force twisted.
Nickname suddenly used her other hand, and only then did she deflect Nero's slash.
Then she roared at Nero, "Are you trying to smash my Cake Island?!"
"Mwahahaha! It's just a greeting, Linlin, you're taking it too seriously!"
Although she said that, Nero's smile diminished by three points.
"Mmm... you're Linlin, right?" Nero pinched her chin, looking suspiciously at the mountain of flesh that had landed on the deck.
Feeling Nero's blatant gaze, Nickname uncomfortably spoke first to explain, "Nonsense, how many years do you think it's been since we last met?"
"But..." Nero hesitated, her eyes scanning up and down.
The current Nickname showed no resemblance to her younger self; she was just an overweight, heavily made-up old woman.
Nero jumped up and patted her belly, causing layers of flesh to ripple.
A cross-shaped vein bulged on Nickname's forehead. She grabbed Nero with one hand: "What are you doing?"
"I was just a little curious..."
Faced with Nero's unconcealed curiosity, Nickname was speechless. She put Nero down on the ground: "You... you really haven't changed at all."
Nero tilted her head thoughtfully: "Mmm, do you want to know the secret to my eternal youth?"
"Nickname, Nickname, will you tell me?" Nickname bent down in surprise.
"Pure gold can almost halt the body in its current state." Nero rummaged around in her chest for a long time and pulled out a pure gold necklace.
"It's for you." Nero casually tossed it to her.
Nickname's pupils constricted, and her massive body lunged towards the necklace as if teleporting.
The movement was like a giant bear spotting honey, possessing an uncharacteristic agility.
"Be careful with such a treasure!" Nickname let out a sigh of relief after catching the necklace, then roared speechlessly at Nero.
"Mmm, it's not much of a treasure. Linlin, you probably won't need it for too long." Nero shrugged, saying with a hint of disinterest.
"What do you mean?"
"Linlin, you've gotten old and weak..." Nero put one hand on her hip, her dragon eyes once again sizing her up.
"Originally, I thought you would surpass Newgate within ten years, but now you are even weaker than before."
"Is it because you've had too many children? I remember you wanted to contend for Pirate King. Have you given up now?"
Nero's words were blunt. To equate a Four Emperors with 'weak' was a privilege only Nero possessed in the entire world.
Nickname placed both hands on her belly; her hands now struggled to even reach her navel.
"Nickname, Nickname, quite the opposite, Nero. It's only by having more family members that one's power grows stronger, allowing one to seize the Pirate King's throne."
If anyone else had said that, Nickname would have long since pounded them into a meat patty.
But this person was Nero. On one hand, they were old acquaintances, and on the other hand, she simply couldn't defeat her.
"Is that so..."
Nero didn't argue, lowering her head and smiling helplessly, murmuring softly, "Is this your future downfall?"
Out of consideration for their friendship, Nero raised her head, still intending to give a warning.
"Linlin, you're so weak now that you might not even be as strong as Kuina."
"Kuina? That disciple of yours... Nickname, Nickname... even if she is your disciple, she's still far from it now!"
Nickname glanced at Kuina. She was still too young, and her appearance didn't suggest she possessed Haoshoku.
In battles of the Four Emperors' caliber, the technique of Conquerors Haki Infusion was paramount.
"Eh? Me... me?" Kuina, suddenly mentioned, looked utterly bewildered.
"Mmm, want to give it a try?" Nero clapped her hands, having thought of a good idea.
"Wait, wait!" Kuina quickly stopped her. Fighting a Four Emperors right after becoming a Great Swordsman?
Someone would die!
Kuina quickly pulled Nero aside and whispered anxiously in her ear, "Master, what are you thinking? No matter how I think about it, there's no way I can be a match for an Emperor of the Sea right now, right?"
Nero listened, then pondered for a moment and nodded: "My apologies, Linlin, disregard what I just said. Kuina isn't willing to bully an old woman either."
Kuina's eyes widened. In her disbelief, for some reason, there was also a familiar feeling.
"No, no, I didn't say that."
"Wakatta, wakatta! I didn't say you said those things either."
Nero waved her hand dismissively, spouting blunt truths, even if they were truths... Boom—
Fierce Haoshoku erupted from her side, making Kuina's, Nero's, and Hathaway's hair fly.
Kuina mechanically turned her head. Nickname's pink hair stood on end, and her face was dark as she stared intently at her.
"..."
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