Chapter 147: Coastal Upheaval

The hospital rooms were packed to capacity with patients. Due to the lack of space, many of the wounded even lay on the floor waiting for treatment. Granny Nyon, the doctor, moved back and forth among them, administering medical care.

These people were severely injured: sunken chests, fractured ribs, broken limbs...

Margaret’s expression turned to shock because she recognized every single one of them. They were her peers, fellow warrior-women of Amazon Lily, highly proficient in Haki and immensely strong. Why on earth were so many of them suffering from such grievous injuries one after another?

Could it be an enemy invasion?

Yet Amazon Lily was a nation built upon piracy, where everyone practiced martial arts and possessed great strength, and their Empress was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—a force feared by both the underworld and the government. Situated within the perilous Calm Belt, hardly anyone dared to tread here except for the Marines. And yet, the horrific wounds of these warrior-women were clearly man-made.

"Granny Nyon, what... what on earth happened to them?" Margaret asked, seizing a chance.

"A battle broke out near the coast. It seems a formidable enemy has arrived, and all our warrior-women have rushed over there. But as time goes on, more and more wounded are being brought back to me. The situation over there is grim, I'm afraid."

Granny Nyon sighed. The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, had set sail, taking the nation's absolute elite combat strength with her. Currently, the country's military might was relatively weak and vulnerable, which was precisely why it was being invaded by a powerful foe.

"An enemy invasion? Then I must head over immediately."

The incident had taken place at the coast—the very same place where Margaret had discovered the golden ship. She had a bad premonition that this crisis might be related to the golden ship. Moreover, this was her homeland, and as a warrior-women, both reason and duty demanded that she go.

"Very well. Snake Princess is absent, so it falls upon you warrior-women to step up. Do be careful. It is a pity that this old woman is merely a physician, able to do no more than heal and save lives to the best of her ability, unable to fight alongside you." Granny Nyon sighed, her eyes filled with worry.

"Granny, please don't say that! You are the greatest doctor in our country, and it is precisely because of you that the warriors can fight with peace of mind!" Determination shone in Margaret's eyes.

"And this is?" Granny Nyon asked, looking at the cute girl disguised by Shu Mingyuan. Her gaze was calm yet piercing, as though she could see right through everything, yet a hint of lingering doubt showed within that calmness. This person gave her a familiar feeling, though she could not place who it could be.

"Hahaha... Granny, she's a distant cousin of mine, and she came specifically to visit me today."

Margaret felt a jolt of panic inside. She had not expected that even after Shu Mingyuan changed into women's clothing, Granny Nyon—who had treated him—would fail to recognize him. She instantly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the secret of Shu Mingyuan being a man was known to her alone. As long as she kept it well hidden, no one should discover the truth.

"And that friend you saved? Has he woken up?" Granny Nyon asked calmly.

"Ah, he woke up yesterday and has already left, saying he went to fetch the payment for your medical services, Granny," Margaret replied, her voice lacking conviction.

"Oh, is that so? That's wonderful, as long as he doesn't forget this old woman's consultation fee."

Granny Nyon spoke faintly, though her gaze remained fixed on Shu Mingyuan, who returned a sweet smile.

After waving goodbye to Granny Nyon, the two of them hurried toward the coast. Along the way, Margaret ran into quite a few acquaintances, leading to the following exchanges:

"Margaret, is this your friend? She's so pretty."

Margaret: "She's my younger sister."

Shu Mingyuan: "..."

Though Shu Mingyuan had mentally accepted this identity by now, his lips still twitched involuntarily every time those words came out of Margaret's mouth.

"Even if I'm a woman, this young master is a trap, unlike you flashy, cheap sluts!"

The two of them drew closer and closer to the coast. As long as they crossed this stretch of forest, they would reach the shoreline Granny Nyon had mentioned.

Gradually, the sounds of fierce combat reached their ears.

...

Two days ago.

The Ark Maxim had lost its balance and plummeted into the sea with a tremendous roar. This spectacle was spotted by Buffalo, who happened to be searching the skies for traces of the flying ship.

Buffalo, an officer of the Donquixote Family, was a Spin-Spin Fruit user who could transform any part of his body into a propeller—a rare user of flight capabilities.

Following the Impel Down incident, acting on the orders of Donquixote Doflamingo, he had been searching the surrounding waters for the missing flying ship. Upon finding any clue, he was to pursue it with all his might, ensuring he secured the vessel before the Marines and transported it back to the Dressrosa Kingdom.

Therefore, the moment he saw the flying ship fall, his heart leaped with joy; he had finally found its trail. Furthermore, he was alone in these waters, meaning only he knew the ship's whereabouts.

Consequently, Buffalo tracked the falling path of the Ark Maxim all the way until he saw it crash into the beaches of Amazon Lily, daring not to press forward any further.

Amazon Lily was the territory of Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, who—just like Donquixote Doflamingo—was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The island teemed with powerful individuals. Relying solely on Buffalo's personal strength, attempting to stealthily haul away the flying ship was virtually impossible.

Thus, he chose to withdraw while dialing Doflamingo's Den Den Mushi.

"Buffalo, what is it?" A cold voice sounded from the receiver.

"Young Master, your subordinate has found the traces of the flying ship, but..." Buffalo said respectfully.

"But what?"

"But the flying ship has crashed onto Amazon Lily, the territory of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock. Fearing that I would startle the snake in the grass, your subordinate dared not act rashly."

"That woman... she certainly poses some trouble. Still, you've done well. I have received word that the woman is currently away from her country. I will do my best to stall her and send someone to rendezvous with you. I only hope you can bring the flying ship back."

"You can stall the Pirate Empress? That would be fantastic! Please rest assured, Young Master, your subordinate guarantees completion of the mission." Buffalo was overjoyed.

"By the way, if you find that fellow the Ghost Hunter, and he is still alive, I want him to suffer a miserable death! Diamante's revenge must be avenged," the Den Den Mushi transmitted another bone-chillingly cold voice, reminiscent of the netherworld.

"Understood, Young Master! As soon as the Family sends reinforcements, the plan will be executed immediately!"

"Hn, very well."

...

The sounds of fighting ahead grew increasingly intense. Shu Mingyuan and Margaret concealed themselves within the dense forest, carefully observing the current situation. Another small boat was docked at the shore. An old man was locked in fierce combat with over a dozen warrior-women, while more than a dozen bodies lay sprawled across the ground in disorder.

Ever since discovering the golden ship, Granny Nyon had led the warrior-women to guard it day and night. Who could have imagined that a formidable enemy would arrive this morning, brazenly demanding to take the golden ship away? Naturally, Granny Nyon refused outright.

A fierce battle ensued between the two sides, though what shocked Granny Nyon later was that this single individual held an absolute advantage against the entire squad of warrior-women.

PS: [Who is this old man?]