Nojiko's POV;

“Silence! I told you we won't retaliate!”, screamed King Cobra down at his two generals. They were now in a heated discussion about the civil war for almost an hour. The two generals want to gather the army and fight against the rebel army that destroyed a town. But King Cobra is against this.

“We now know who's behind all this and the rebels are only used. If we gather the army and fight them, then thousands of innocents will die.”

“But if we don't beat down this uprising then the country will break down.” So this country is breaking if the ruling family isn't at the top? Josef told me some stories about the different kingdoms on the Grand Line and that most nobles see their subjects as a natural source of material and not as people. So far this king does not act like that. Or he wouldn't be this friendly to pirates.

“No, we will stay here and prepare, in case Crocodile comes. A war with the rebel army would not bring peace. It would be the opposite. This country is not me or this palace. It is its people, the people are this country and it is the responsibility of the Nefeltari family to protect them. We haven't declined the Celestial Dragons all those years ago to now be the same as them!” The king got even a red face from his shouting and his generals are visibly shaken.

It's good to see that he cares about his people, this is how it should be. But what does he mean with Celestial Dragons, weren't those the slaver kings of the world? Maybe Lara knows more, she knows about them.

“We still don't have a strategy against him. None of us can use Haki”, he continued. They still don't? I thought it is obvious. Okay, I also only know because Lara told us. But I'm excused, two months ago I didn't even know that Devil Fruits were real, not to mention had a type system.

“Excuse me,” I called out, a little too meekly for my taste, but this is still the king of a country in an important meeting. I don't know why I am allowed to listen in. Igaram's word must have a lot of weight.

“Yes? Do you have to add something Miss Nojiko?”, asked the white-robed general. Pell was his name.

“Yes, my captain explained to us the different types of Devil Fruits and their counters. The obvious one would be Armament Haki, but there is an additional way”, I said and looked at them.

“Please continue, what is this additional way?” With the encouragement of the king, I was sure to not have said something wrong.

“Yes, Lara told us that this works mostly only for Logia types. Paramecia aren't as impaired to it as they and Zoan don't have them at all. What I mean is the natural counter.” It didn't take long for the king to understand what I mean.

“Of course, each Logia represents an element or type. Crocodile has sand, so the natural counter would be... what is the counter of sand? It's a thing, not an element.” He has the same problem I had.

“It is water. You have to make your arm wet and hit him. This way he will get hurt, but the problem is that he can suck water out of you, so each time you hit him you have to make your arm wet again. It's a one-time Armament Haki coating and then you aren't allowed to get hit in return or you will get your water sucked out and dry up. At least that is what my captain told me”, I explained. He nodded in understanding, while the two generals frowned.

“That is all nice and good, but how are we going to fight a Warlord without getting hit once?” It was the other general, the one with a bob cut, who said this. I could only shrug my shoulders. I don't think that anyone of us, except Lia and Lara, could fight Crocodile. And those two don't need water, they have this Haki thing.

No one had an answer for him and the room got uncomfortable quiet. I just wanted to go and leave, when the door got suddenly thrown open. A soldier came running inside and reported that the strange duck that was with the princes arrived, half-starved and more than a little dehydrated.

We followed the soldier into the stables and there was the duck, drinking barrel of water after barrel. It was drinking it with a drinking straw. Strange duck.

“This is confirm with what Igaram has reported. And it is Vivi's handwriting. It is good that we haven't moved the army. Now we can fortify the town and prepare. It's also written that they will try to come after checking Rainbase” While listening to King Cobra I decided to leave and speak with Josef a little.

He has made camp inside the royal library and is going through medical records without stopping. I had to drag him out to eat something. Igaram's wife is a good cook, not as good as Lia, but still formidable.

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Those two are broken monsters. Both in fights and other things. Lara knows so much about the human body that you could think she is a doctor, while Lia is the best cook I have ever seen. And their fighting strength is just too high. How can someone keep up with them? And they want us to become as strong as them.

But it's not that I don't notice how we get stronger. Jonny and Yosaku grew especially fast. When I first met them they looked like two scrawny guys who would have problems with normal goons. Now they are able to fight the normal pirate captain on their own. They are also no longer scrawny. Especially Yosaku got some big muscles. Jonny is more the athlete type.

The last time Lara had to step in was when their opponent had a nasty devil fruit that allowed him to become iron. They weren't able to cut him and blunt force didn't affect him. He also had a bounty of 34 million. My bullets did nothing as well. Even when I hit him perfectly between the eyes.

I think I am the weakest of us, Noa is not included he is too new, but Lia assured that I would win in a fight against Josef and Yosaku. But only if there is enough distance between us. Everyone has their speciality.

I reached the library and opened its large double doors. Josef's last hiding place was still in use. The table he was sitting on was full of scrolls and books. There even was a stone tablet.

“Hey Josef, you have to go out some more. The town is such a beautiful place. The market has a lot of different things to offer. You might even find rare herbs.” Baiting him with medical supplies is almost always a sure way to get him to do your wishes.

“I can't, we don't know how long we are allowed to stay here and then I won't be able to read these rare medical reports any longer.” Instant decline.

“Then at least come with me to eat something. You look like you haven't slept at all and I'm sure that you have not eaten as well,” I offered next. Who wouldn't want to go out with a sexy woman like me? But Josef is a little too old for my taste. And Jonny and Noa are not my type and Yosaku is too childish.

I think it is unfair that Lia and Lara have each other. You can practically see the glow they have after a night together. And little old me has to rub one out herself.

But both are extremely possessive. I have seen how both have broken more than one bone from some stupid guy who thought it would be a good idea to ask them out or even touch them.

This green head from Nami's crew looked hot when he wasn't half dead. Too bad that we see them so rarely. Lara said they will come here, so maybe I can see him. I hope Nami isn't interested, well sisters have to share sometimes.

“Please stop with that expression”, requested Josef suddenly. I looked down at him and saw how he has put his book away.

“You were drooling. And fine, I will go eat something with you, you wouldn't stop nagging anyway”, he explained and I hastily swiped the drool away. I can't help it, strong muscular guys are hot.

I gave him a short glare for seeing me in such a position and then walked out of the library. I had to wait for a few minutes but Josef came out as well.

Outside, near the market, we found a nice little tee house that also served food. I had a fruit salad and a fine tasting red fruit tea. Josef opted for a sandwich and some green tea.

“You think Jonny, Yosaku and Noa are fine?”, I asked between bites.

“Those idiots are too stupid to die. I'm sure Jonny and Yosaku are lazing around and Noa is salivating over the Shadow. He told me that the concept of using sea stone coating isn't new, but a highly guarded secret by the World Government.

He will probably nag Lara all day long about buying sea stone for a future ship”, replied Josef with a shrug. “And it's not like Jonny and Yosaku are really weak.”

“What about Lia and Lara? ”, I asked after finishing my salad.

Scoffed in amusement. “You really don't have to worry about those two.”

“Why? They are strong, true, but it's still one of the Seven Warlords.” It is normal to worry if someone has to fight someone with such a title.

“Yes, but a Warlord is not the same as a Warlord. We have told you about the two parts of the Grand Line, didn't we?”, I nodded in confirmation, “Then let me tell you again, the first part is a paradise in comparison to the second part.”

“I understand that, but what does that have to do with our situation?”, I asked back.

“A Warlord that is only in Paradise isn't on the same level as one in the second part.” That is kinda logical, but Lia and Lara are also in this Paradise.

“Do you want to tell me that both Lia and Lara would not have problems in this second half of the Grand Line?” If that's true then what are they doing here?

“Yes, this Haki thing they try to teach us is something only commonly found in the second half. They are skilled enough in it to teach someone and are clearly knowledgeable about their own Devil Fruit, as well as other fighting styles.

Without seeing it myself I can only speculate, but I'm fairly sure that both are at least strong enough to fight this Crocodile on their own. No normal pirate, Marine or mercenary will be a problem for them, at least not in Paradise.” Seems like I haven't truly grasped how irregular they are.

“Then what are they doing here? Aren't we holding them back?” That's the million Belly question.

“I don't know. They said that they were raised in East Blue, but their kin's origin is from an island in the second half of the Grand Line. They might have been trained by their parents and now they want to visit the world. At least that is what they say and I haven't found anything against their statement.” Their history as slaves also matches this. I don't know who else knows about this part, I better stay quiet.

“I don't think they want us harm, they wouldn't train us otherwise. I think they want reliable comrades once we are beyond Paradise. And training us from early on will archive this.” He sipped some of his tea and looked directly at me. “The thing is that we can trust them in making us stronger and also in their own strength. Those two won't lose to Crocodile. I'm more concerned about us.”

I frowned. Why us? We have no one who would kill us. Crocodile isn't with us and the rebels aren't near Alubarna. But maybe that won't be the case until Lia and Lara are back? What if Crocodile wasn't in Rainbase? “You want to say that we might be dragged into the civil war?”

“Yes, from what I've heard the rebels are only a single incident short of total civil war. If something happens then they will attack Alubarna. I'm sure that Crocodile has spies in the king's army. He will know that Igaram is back and will speed his plans up.

So be ready, a fight might break out at all times.” I nodded and drunk some of my tea. If it comes to war then I'm sure that I can at least hold myself against the normal soldiers. Maybe I can take a position in a higher place and snipe targets of opportunity.

“Hey Josef, if the rebels come, let's bunker down in a tower or so and either wait the whole thing out or help the king. He seems like a good guy and he allowed us to stay in his home without questions about our status as pirates”, I then suggested.

Josef thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. “Fine for me, we can use the big clock tower. It has the perfect position for a sniper and is easy to defend”

We continued to drink our tea until Josef practically fell asleep in his seat. The food and the warm drink must have made his body realise how tired he was. So it was my task to carry him back to the palace. He wouldn't wake up, even when I shake or slap him.

Couldn't he have stayed awake until we were back? I'm a lady, it should be his job to carry me.