Chapter 227: Lanternfish on the Move

“No matter how far Charlotte Linlin’s influence stretches, there shouldn’t be any Admiral-level powerhouses in the Four Seas. If we lay low there, we’ll have a short window of safety. As for what comes next, we can send out spies to keep an eye on things.”

Wang Zhi could only nod in agreement. Right now, this was their only option.

The two of them boarded a mysterious little boat and, with help from one of the underworld kingpins, headed for the South Blue. The South Blue was in chaos these days, making it the perfect place to hide. That was exactly why they chose it.

……

Meanwhile, Krell, busy handling affairs on Cake Island, received a message from the North Blue Fishmen.

“Lord Krell, we’ve located the Lanternfish!” An octopus-like Fishman, standing on the surface of the sea, dialed up the Transponder Snail.

Krell couldn’t hide his excitement. “Quick, plant the tracking device on him!”

The Fishmen watching the Lanternfish in the North Blue didn’t hesitate a second. One of them quickly signaled his partner underwater, and that Fishman swiftly fired the tracking harpoon.

Snap!

But the Lanternfish’s skin was far too thick—the harpoon couldn’t penetrate at all. One of the Fishmen risked everything, darting straight up to the Lanternfish.

Timing it perfectly, he shot the harpoon into the beast’s open mouth while it was gulping for air. But that moment of red caught the Lanternfish’s attention.

The Lanternfish glared furiously at the ant before it—how dare this little creature show itself? Its huge jaws snapped forward and, in a heartbeat, the terrified Fishman was swallowed whole.

Another Fishman reported desperately to Krell. “Lord Krell, the tracking harpoon is in—but we lost one of our brothers.”

Krell’s expression darkened. “Don’t worry. We’ll avenge him and take down the Lanternfish no matter what. His parents will be looked after, I promise.”

Once he got the news, Krell wasted no time. He hung up and headed straight to Charlotte Linlin’s quarters.

“Reporting in, Lady Charlotte Linlin.”

Charlotte Linlin was chatting with Ledfield.

When Krell came in, she responded, “Oh, it’s Krell! What brings you here?”

“Lady Charlotte Linlin, we’ve found the Lanternfish—he’s in the North Blue right now.”

“Mama-mama-mama!”

Charlotte Linlin’s eyes lit up. “Really? The North Blue, you say?”

Worried that she might not believe him, Krell reaffirmed, “Yes, Lady Charlotte Linlin. It’s been confirmed.”

“The Fishmen have planted the tracking signal in the Lanternfish.”

“But… we did lose a Fishman in the process.”

Charlotte Linlin could hear the sorrow in Krell’s voice. She chuckled, “Mama-mama-mama. Make sure his family gets a generous payout. And from now on, his kids can go to school on Cake Island free of charge.”

Charlotte Linlin understood well—rewarding loyalty sends a powerful message.

Hearing her promise in person, Krell finally smiled. “Thank you, Lady Charlotte Linlin. But who’s going after the Lanternfish?”

Ledfield knew about the Lanternfish but hadn’t realized it carried pure gold inside. “I’ll head to the North Blue alone—it’ll be easier to move, and honestly, there’s nothing to do on Cake Island right now.”

Skypiea didn’t need him for the time being, either. Going back there would just mean wasting time, so he might as well explore some new territory.

Charlotte Linlin considered it. She really wasn’t in a position to leave the island herself.

Last time she set sail, not only was the Navy lying in wait, even John heard about her movements. Clearly, there were still plenty of spies on the island. She needed to root them all out before she could feel safe.

“Then it’s settled—you go,” she agreed.

Ledfield nodded, got up to bid farewell, and after leaving the room, spread his black wings and soared toward the North Blue.

Watching Ledfield’s silhouette disappear, Krell bowed and excused himself. “Lady Charlotte Linlin, I’ll be taking my leave as well.”

Charlotte Linlin waved her hand, and Krell backed out respectfully.

Ledfield moved fast. In just over a dozen hours, he arrived above the North Blue and spent several hours searching before reaching a nameless deserted island—where a Fishman was waiting.

“Are you Lord Ledfield?” The octopus Fishman had seen Ledfield’s photo and recognized him instantly.

Ledfield nodded. “Where did the Lanternfish go?”

When he arrived, the shore was calm—no sign of the Lanternfish anywhere.

“Reporting, sir—the Lanternfish dove back underwater. No telling when it’ll resurface,” the Octopus Fishman answered respectfully.

“But we can track its position with the signal from the harpoon.” He handed the signal receiver to Ledfield.

Ledfield turned it over in his hand, couldn’t make much of it, and tossed it back. “You keep it. I’ll stay here a few days and see if it comes up again.”

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the receiver in the Fishman’s hand began flashing nonstop.

“Sir! It’s coming up!” The Octopus Fishman sprinted to the shore, shouting to wake Ledfield, who had been resting against a tree.

“Lord Ledfield, it’s in these waters, just ahead!”

The Fishman pointed toward the vast blue sea. “The Lanternfish will surface right here. The rest is up to you, sir.”

Ledfield nodded without a word. He unleashed his Observation Haki, and instantly sensed a massive presence rising swiftly through the water.

Boom!

The next moment, a gigantic fish head burst from the water—a golden lantern dangling from its brow. It was the Lanternfish itself.

Ledfield didn’t hesitate. He drew his rapier and unleashed a Blood Slash that shot straight at the beast.

But even a slash dozens of meters long looked pitifully small compared to the Lanternfish, whose body spanned several kilometers.

The Lanternfish didn’t even notice the attack. It opened its mouth wide. Suddenly, the waves went wild as an enormous volume of seawater rushed into its gullet.

The slash just barely pierced its skin—not deep enough to hit bone—but even that minor wound made the Lanternfish flinch in pain.

The beast turned and spotted Ledfield in the air. From this two-legged creature, it sensed deadly danger. Wasting no time, the Lanternfish dove for deeper waters.

“Damn, that hide really is thick,” Ledfield muttered, surprised that even a full-powered slash hadn’t reached the bone.

Having eaten a Devil Fruit, Ledfield couldn’t enter the sea himself. So he unleashed every ounce of strength on the Lanternfish’s back as it retreated.

By the time the Lanternfish vanished, its body was covered in cuts, but none of them were fatal. In just a few seconds it plunged beneath the waves, leaving a trail of blood-red water as proof of the battle.

Ledfield shook his fist in frustration. “Damn it! Still didn’t catch it.”

He hadn’t imagined the Lanternfish’s hide would be that tough. Even after going all out, all he’d done was leave it with a mass of wounds—not enough to bring it down.