Chapter 502: The Water Capital (Part 3)

Boom.

Thunder rumbled over the frozen sea as two figures, one shrouded in blue and the other in red, clashed fiercely. Esdeath and Aida were fully engaged in a showdown on the icy waters.

"So, she has Conqueror's Haki...I should've known," Daniel murmured, astonished by Esdeath's display. As one of the strongest in Akame ga Kill, it wasn't surprising she wielded such power. Given time, she was undoubtedly capable of reaching a Yonko level of strength.

But while Esdeath's Conqueror's Haki was potent, Aida held her own through her natural mastery of both Nen and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which granted her unmatched speed. Esdeath couldn't keep up with Aida's teleport-like movements, despite her skill with Geppo. Aida's lightning attacks rained down from above, forcing Esdeath to abandon her air battle.

"Enel never truly realized the potential of this fruit," Daniel thought. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was nearly invincible; with its speed and flight abilities, even rubber's resistance to electricity should never have spelled Enel's defeat.

"Alright, that's enough." Daniel finally intervened, sensing that Esdeath was readying herself to use Mahapadma, her time-freezing trump card. He wasn't eager for this sparring match to escalate further.

"Hmph. I lost this time, but next time will be different," Esdeath huffed, storming off.

"I wanted to test Mahapadma's range myself," Aida said with a smirk, hinting she had held back as well, wary of Esdeath's ability to stop time.

Daniel sighed. Their rivalry was proving more intense than he had expected.

"Don't worry. They'll get over it soon," Chelsea said, joining him with a reassuring smile.

"Let's hope so."

"Here, I recorded some of the Shinobi World's battles. Take a look," Daniel said, handing over footage for Aida and the others to study. Over the next few days, he immersed himself in teaching them ninjutsu techniques and Bloodline Limit theory.

Each person chose a primary affinity to begin their training: Esdeath, in keeping with her ice, went with Water Release; Aida naturally opted for Lightning Release, amplifying her Rumble-Rumble powers. Akame, with her focus on deadly strikes, chose Lightning Release to pair with her sword skills, while Robin selected Wood Release to complement her Hana Hana no Mi. Kurome decided on Wind Release, and Chelsea leaned toward Medical Ninjutsu.

"Just a first step," Daniel said. "You'll expand into other releases in time. Akame, for example, would also do well with Wind Release."

One evening, as Daniel was reading a spellbook, Chelsea walked in wearing a swimsuit, taking him by surprise.

"Not happy to see me?" Chelsea teased, settling in beside him with a grin.

"No...not at all."

"Then that settles it. You know, there's no need to hold back. Esdeath wouldn't reject you if you made a move. But Akame? She's a different story—she's been deeply influenced by Melard."

"Melard..." Daniel mused, recalling that Melard Oberig, a beautiful but fiercely independent woman, had left a lasting impression on Akame. Melard's own preferences leaned toward women, and her presence had nearly swayed Chelsea as well.

"Precisely," Chelsea said, looking amused by his momentary distraction.

"I'll keep that in mind," Daniel said, refocusing. 

"Good," Chelsea replied, her tone shifting as she leaned in closer.

---

The following day, as Chelsea brought Daniel a cup of honey tea, she brought up a thought.

"When are you going to bring Leone over?"

"She made it clear she didn't want to come."

"That was then. She's given everything to the Empire, but this world is so much bigger. She deserves a chance to explore it for herself."

"And what about Mine and Sheele?"

"They're different. When things settle down, maybe they can come visit." Growing up outside the dark alleys of the Empire, Mine and Sheele had a certain innocence. Neither Chelsea nor Daniel wanted to drag them back into a life of combat unless necessary.

"If Leone agrees, I'd be glad to bring her here." Daniel was under no restrictions to keep them in this world; they could come and go as they pleased. But he understood why, given their pasts, many of them chose not to return to the Empire.

"We should return her Lion Transformation Teigu to her."

A few days later, Chelsea informed him that the Straw Hat Pirates were nearing Water 7, after raiding the Marine fortress G-8. The city was famous not only for its shipwrights but for its once-a-year encounter with the Aquan Laguna, or "Flood of the Gods," a massive seasonal tidal wave.

For Daniel, Water 7 was more than just a place to claim Blueno's Door-Door Fruit. He saw it as the perfect chance to deal a blow to Enies Lobby, the face of the World Government's power, under the guise of a Straw Hat assault.

Though Robin was not on the ship this time, Franky, a shipwright with ties to the revolutionary ship designs, was sure to draw the Government's attention.

The Going Merry, the Straw Hat's current ship, had pushed through impossible odds to make it this far. But as Daniel knew, it was reaching its limit. Water 7, with its world-renowned shipwrights, was the natural stop to build a vessel fit for the New World. Even the Oro Jackson and the Red Force, legendary ships of Roger and Shanks, had been crafted there.

Water 7 was also known for its Super Tsunami, the Aquan Laguna, which reshaped the island's landscape every year. The city was built like a giant pyramid, rising to avoid the water that consumed the lower levels. Mayor Iceburg's plan to eventually raise Water 7 on railways was nothing short of monumental.

"I wonder how many pirates will be caught in the tsunami this year," Daniel thought aloud as he looked at the calendar. For those familiar with Water 7, the Aquan Laguna was no surprise, but for less-seasoned pirates, it could be deadly. Many met their end in its waters every year, a testament to the need for skilled navigators like Nami.

"The Aquan Laguna sounds like a spectacle," Aida commented, intrigued by the phenomenon. Daniel agreed, deciding to bring the whole group to witness the Super Tsunami and collect its famed salt, a rare delicacy used in the neighboring Food Town Pucci.

The Grand Line had many unique spots—Queen's Spring Island, the Carnival Island, the Food Town, and Water 7, all open to commoners as well as nobles, unlike Goa Kingdom's exclusive approach.

"We'll need to visit the Sabaody Archipelago later and collect some Yarukiman Mangrove seeds," Daniel mused. Combined with Sky Island's cloud trees, they could make an exceptional addition to his territories.

"Someone's coming," Akame alerted, and Daniel looked up to see a familiar figure casually approaching on a bicycle across the water.

"Seems he has time on his hands," Daniel muttered.

"It's almost tempting to join the Marines if it's this relaxed," Daniel teased, glancing at Admiral Aokiji as he boarded. 

"Seems like you're living quite the life," Aokiji replied, eyeing Esdeath and the others with a mixture of admiration and envy.

"Just tell me—if I applied to the Marines, could I make it to admiral?" Daniel asked, half-joking.

"Impossible. They wouldn't accept a pirate."

"Come on, the Marines have accepted former pirates before. Look at Captain Tashigi's crew; plenty of them used to be pirates."

Aokiji's gaze flickered, clearly caught off guard by Daniel's extensive knowledge. The up-and-coming generation of Marines, led by Tashigi, Smoker, and others, represented a shift toward true justice within the ranks. In a time filled with rookie pirate "supernovas," the Marines, too, were nurturing a powerful new crop of officers.

Daniel knew the government would never allow him to officially join the Marines, even if he genuinely intended to. But perhaps there was another path to reshape the public perception of pirates—a campaign exposing them as the reckless adventurers they were, romanticized for abandoning their families and loved ones in the name of freedom.

After all, pirates like Gol D. Roger, Shanks, and Yasopp had all left their families behind. If the Navy leveraged this narrative, they could significantly curb the allure of piracy.

"I'm just being thorough, that's all. Besides, it doesn't hurt to keep tabs on the Marines," Daniel replied, realizing there might be value in this line of thinking.

Though he couldn't unify the vast seas like the Shinobi World, a different approach was possible. He could use the truth to steer people away from piracy, stripping the romance and exposing the realities behind these so-called adventures.

"And what's your destination?" Aokiji finally asked, steering the conversation back on track. His appearance was no coincidence; the Navy's higher-ups were monitoring Daniel's movements closely to see if he'd venture into the New World.

"We're off to Water 7 to witness the Aquan Laguna. A rare sight, isn't it?"

"Is that all?"

"That's all," Daniel replied smoothly.

Satisfied, Aokiji decided to accompany them, eyeing Robin briefly before settling in for the journey.

Meanwhile, in a bar within Water 7, several shadowy figures exchanged information.

"Nico Robin is in the area. We've hit the jackpot this

 time."

"But she's under the protection of a Warlord of the Sea. Isn't it too risky to go after her?"

"Nothing can stop the World Government from enacting justice, not even a Warlord."

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