The sharp clang of swords echoed across the rooftop of the Hive Research Institute as Edie and Momousagi sparred. Momousagi wielded her sword, Jinpira, with incredible speed and precision, launching a flurry of lightning-fast attacks at Edie. As a former Vice Admiral and Admiral candidate, her prowess in swordsmanship was nearly unmatched, a skill she had honed for over twenty years. However, no matter how fast or intricate her movements were, Edie countered each one effortlessly, deflecting her strikes with casual grace.
"Is that all you've got, Bunny?" Edie teased, holding Yoshi loosely in his left hand, his right hand nonchalantly tucked into his pocket. Despite Momousagi's relentless assault, he moved as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, never breaking a sweat.
Frustrated, Momousagi pulled back and thrust her sword forward, her blade gleaming as it streaked toward Edie with the speed of lightning. She aimed to catch him off guard, hoping to force him to dodge. But to her dismay, Edie calmly raised his blade at the last second, the sound of metal clashing resonating as he effortlessly blocked her attack again.
Momousagi's frustration deepened as she muttered, "You're not even trying. You've been using just your left hand the entire time." Her words came out in a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
Edie's lips curled into a smug smile. "What's wrong with using my left hand?" he asked playfully.
"You're not left-handed!" she countered, glaring at him.
As she looked at him, something stirred inside her. She couldn't help but notice how perfect Edie seemed. His brilliant mind, his striking good looks, his genius as a scientist, his overwhelming strength, and now his unmatched swordsmanship—he was simply too good to be true. Momousagi bit her lip, realizing that even without the marines abandoning her, she would have fallen for him over time.
Edie chuckled, "I need my right hand for experiments. Swordsmanship? I'm good enough with just my left."
He sheathed Yoshi and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. "What...what are you doing?" she stammered, feeling his hands roam over her body. Her cheeks flushed bright red, her heart racing as embarrassment and excitement mixed inside her. "It's broad daylight, and we're on the rooftop!" she protested weakly.
Edie smirked, his voice low and teasing. "If you lose, there's a price to pay."
"But... no! People will see!" Momousagi's voice trembled, her eyes darting around nervously.
Edie, unfazed, activated his ability. In an instant, four walls shot up from the rooftop, encasing them in a private enclosure. Only a small window remained, offering a view of the bustling streets below. Edie leaned close, whispering, "They won't see us, but we can see them."
Momousagi's breath quickened, her body tense as Edie's hands roamed lower, his touch sending shivers through her. He gently turned her to face the wall, her hands pressing against it. From the small window, she could see the streets and port bustling with activity, completely unaware of what was happening on the rooftop above them.
"You... don't do this," she whispered, her voice shaking with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Her legs trembled, her face flushed as Edie's hands continued their slow exploration. "Slow down..." she murmured, unable to stop her pulse from racing.
An hour later, the door to the temporary room on the rooftop swung open, and Edie stepped out, looking completely refreshed. At the stairway, Chou and Haizhu stood guard, their presence like that of two vigilant sentinels.
"Lord Heavenly Father," they greeted him in unison, bowing respectfully.
"Have one of the maids bring a set of clothes to Momousagi's room and send them up," Edie said casually, waving a hand. Haizhu immediately nodded and left to carry out the order.
"Chou, take Chen Long to the Calm Belt and hunt down a hundred Sea Kings. Bring them back," Edie added after a moment of thought. He hadn't forgotten about Whitebeard and the upcoming plan. Among the methods he had in mind to cultivate the ideal grain seeds, one involved Sea Kings. Within their bodies was a substance he'd named "P4," which caused organisms to grow exponentially larger. If the substance could affect plant life similarly, it would make things far easier.
"As you command," Chou responded, swiftly departing to carry out the mission.
With his two subordinates dispatched, Edie descended from the rooftop to the Left Eye of the Skull, heading to meet Yamato. The 13-year-old girl, who would soon grow into a formidable figure like her father Kaido, was staying at the Beehive for a while. Although Hancock had initially been less than welcoming, she had eventually helped Yamato settle into a guest room after some convincing.
"Uncle Edie~!" Yamato greeted him with her usual affectionate enthusiasm, throwing herself at him just as she did when she was younger.
Edie smiled, gently pulling her off his body. "Welcome to the Beehive, little girl. I'll be leaving for a while soon, but Hancock will take care of you."
Yamato's face fell slightly. "Uncle Edie is leaving?" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"I won't be gone long," Edie reassured her, turning to Hancock. "While I'm away, Hancock, you'll protect the Beehive."
Hancock nodded obediently. "Yes, Edie."
Edie sighed, looking at the two girls with mild exasperation. "You two need to get along. Stop bickering like when you were kids. You've both grown up, it's time to act more mature."
As soon as Edie left, Hancock's demeanor immediately shifted. She folded her arms, puffing out her chest with pride. "I won, white hair!" she declared triumphantly.
Yamato blinked, confused. "What are you talking about, Hancock?"
"Call me Lord Heavenly Mother!" Hancock demanded, her voice filled with arrogance.
Yamato tilted her head. "Why?"
Hancock huffed, exasperated. "Don't you understand? The Heavenly Mother is Master Edie's wife, idiot! And that's me! When Edie gets married, I'll be the one standing by his side."
Yamato's expression lit up with realization. "Oh, I see! So if you're going to be Uncle Edie's wife, then I'll be his wife too! My father already agreed!"
Hancock was stunned for a moment, then burst out angrily, "No way! I'm the real wife! Didn't you hear what Edie just said? 'Hancock, you must protect the Beehive.' That's something a husband says to his wife before leaving!"
Yamato, however, remained unfazed. "But I saw another Heavenly Mother today," she said thoughtfully, recalling her earlier meeting with Toki while Edie and Momousagi were occupied on the rooftop.
Hancock's smug expression faltered, the illusion of her perfect role as Edie's only wife beginning to crack. "That... that's just a concubine from when I was younger," she stammered, clearly annoyed.
"Concubine?" Yamato asked, tilting her head in confusion. The concept was foreign to her, but her attention quickly shifted. "By the way, Hancock, I've learned Conqueror's Haki! Look!"
With a grin, Yamato raised her hand, and red lightning sparked from her palm. Hancock's eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping. The audacity of this white-haired girl to awaken Conqueror's Haki before her!
"This... this damn girl..." Hancock seethed internally. She hadn't even awakened Conqueror's Haki yet. The competitive fire within her burned even hotter.
Meanwhile, Edie, having left the two girls to their usual bickering, moved on to more pressing matters. He walked through the halls, briefly checking on the Hive's library. The ongoing rivalry between Hancock and Yamato was amusing, but not something he needed to intervene in—at least not as long as they didn't destroy the research institute.
More important tasks lay ahead of him.
The upcoming duel between Red-Haired Shanks and Hawkeye Mihawk presented an invaluable opportunity: the chance to acquire the blood factors of both legendary fighters. Unfortunately, the location of the duel had not been publicized in the news.
No problem for Edie.
He immediately contacted Morgans, the New World's king of information. "Edie, their duel is taking place on Whitebeard's territory," Morgans informed him. "Last month, the redhead invited Whitebeard to be the witness."
"Why didn't you report that in the news?" Edie asked with a laugh.
Morgans chuckled, his birdlike voice carrying a conspiratorial tone. "I don't want to offend those big names or attract too much attention. Besides, this isn't the first time they've dueled, but the stakes feel higher now. In an era where Golden Lion has disappeared, everyone wants to know: who's the strongest swordsman in the world?"
Edie understood. Morgans was fanning the flames, hyping the duel for the sake of bigger headlines. The truth was, Morgans didn't care who won, as long as it made for sensational news.
"Thank you for the information," Edie said, ending the call. The moment the connection cut off, he made his decision. He'd go directly to Whitebeard. After all, it was happening on his turf.
Later that night, beneath the full moon, Edie flew over the ocean with ease. His Haki energy, now at an extraordinary 120 billion, allowed him to soar continuously without tiring, a stark contrast to his limitations just two years prior in Water 7.
Suddenly, Edie paused, his sharp eyes catching movement below. A pirate ship cut through the tranquil waves, and on its deck, figures stood—figures with bodies covered in fur.
"Minks?" Edie muttered, his interest piqued.