It was an hour before sunrise when Jarvis, yawning every minute, started to prepare her boat. She sailed with the first sun - symbolic or not, it was nice to see where the boat was going. Passing friendly fishermen in a quieter part of the harbour, she set the course to the next route. The parallel log poses, reporters adapted from marines, allowed changing of routes at will, granting flexibility to their travels. With notes about faster and safer ways of moving between islands they partially stole ("borrowed" – everyone insisted) and partially made themselves, it was possible to always have a hand on the pulse of everyday life.
However the resolve to do that, Jarvis got a hold of a few days earlier, was slowly dying in her. Seeing Urouge gave her a more realistic idea of what it was like - to be in a close proximity of a Super Rookie level pirate. And it was even worse than she imagined. Jarvis thought she would talk her way out of the sticky situation, should she find herself in one – but yesterday her whole body grew numb, including her tongue. To sum it up, she wasn't looking forward to meeting on Romuda another pirate demon on a loose. There was a chance The Knower was wrong about the guy, but again – he never was before.

Between the nervous thumb fiddling and loud wondering about what she got herself into, sleepless night took an effect and Jarvis dozed off. Red big ducks were chasing her, growing larger and larger, and turning into a huge Urouge with tiny angel wings.

- You look like a fish, - he told her, trying to squish her face.

Jarvis woke up from a nightmare with a yelp. She almost missed a moment of a route change - it was time to turn the boat towards her final destination. But before she got a chance to touch the sails, her den den mushi started ringing. The Knower was here to spoil the mood.

- Goldilocks, you are changing the route, now.
- What? - Jarvis wasn't quite getting it, but a cold feeling instantly settled in her skin - I am going to the Romuda, you asked me, remember?
- Forget about it, we just got a word from Rio – this guy wiped out an entire village, every single person, Jarvis. That's why the calls stopped. He already left, so you better get the hell out of his way. Write later a brief overview on Romuda crisis, pull out of your ass a brilliant fantasy if you have to - but don't go yourself. Questions?
- Whoa, easy there, – Jarvis was a bit overwhelmed, to say the least - is Rio.. okay?
She wanted to say "alive", but the word got stuck in her suddenly dry throat.

- Don't worry, - The Knower sounded almost sympathizing, - you know what he can do. He already contacted us, said he will tail the guy from a distance.

That was a questionable reassurance.
- Who in the world…, - Jarvis stuttered, - who was that guy anyway?
- We are not planning to send you to catch up with him anytime soon, - Knower managed an unenthusiastic chuckle, - and hopefully you will never have to see him in person, not to mention meeting him up close. Name Eustass Kidd, would have bet my horse if I had one that he will get a bounty over a hundred millions soon, if not this week. Jabbering aside, I hope your cute little boat is already sailing in a direction of escape. I think rather than returning to the Jaya, the route on the other side comes closer right now, understood?

She gloomily looked at the sails, still set for a parallel travelling; the wind was in her favour right now too. Checked if she understood what the Knower wanted – just in case – and counted to ten, but fast. Understanding remained perfect.
- So no interviews and tea parties with him, got it, - she reported with a heavy sigh, trying to find a map, check the log pose and pay attention to the conversation at the same time,- I'm making adjustments.
- Good. I am going to contact others – some of our folks are staying further on the route. You are just the closest to him at the moment. Apart from Rio, of course, - he gave another chuckle and den den mushi clicked, cutting the connection.
- Of course I am the closest, - Jarvis muttered to her den den mushi, but instantly thought about Rio, who was now doing the dirtiest "pirate department" job alone, and felt guilty. In the end, she did prefer to have a head and a spoiled mood over having no head and no mood to spoil.

Map sent her in a new direction, the rest of her sailing going smoothly. Soon, she was docking her boat, ready to stretch her legs on the streets. "Pava" – reminded her with a town name the huge sign. Now that Jarvis thought about it, she was here before. It was a quiet town, the only one on this peaceful autumn island, famous for its delicious berries and fruits. Last time she spent here a wonderful day, but again - it was before she got her job, all days then were wonderful.

Pava was a town "born and raised" on the mountain. The first to arrive on the island occupied the valley on the very bottom, but next generations were patiently expanding town borders up the hill. Lately, it was happening faster and faster - Jarvis, for once, was ready to swear that the town border climbed visibly higher even since her last visit.

It seemed different right now because of another reason, too - still peaceful, but not in a way she remembered it, over the top. Jarvis, walking up the hill, haven't seen anyone at all, be it a human or an animal. It was as if everyone disappeared at once, leaving everything behind, untouched.
"Wiped out an entire village, every single living being", - ringed The Knowers' words in her ears. Jarvis shivered, but it was another route and another island – she was pretty sure about it – so it had to be something else. Besides, she associated "wiping out a village" with a bloody mess, not with clean empty streets.

- Have they started a siesta tradition or what? – She muttered to herself, not expecting an answer, but still got one.
- What are you – dumb, dumbass? Of course it is a siesta.
A short dark skinned boy with glistening teeth and messy spiky hair was pointing at her accusingly from the side of the street. She stared, waiting for him to continue.
- It's mantou… man do… - the boy was getting annoyed, - mandori! Yes, it's a mandori siesta.
- Mandori..? – Slowly repeated Jarvis, - You mean mandarin?
She never heard of mandarin siesta, but everything had a right to exist.
- Wha.. what? Why mandarin? You are dumbass, you are really a dumbass! It's mandori! And you should do it too.
Jarvis blinked.
- Oooh, mandatory! – The understanding finally downed on her, - Why are you not inside then?
- Of course that's because I was following you to tell you about it. I saw you through the window.
- You should have told me this straight away, - Jarvis furrowed her brows, - but siesta, really? How come there is now such a thing here?
The boy instantly opened his mouth to tell her something and Jarvis almost heard an "Of course that's because" that was about to escape his lips, but he closed it instead and stayed silent for a good minute.
- Why would I know? - he finally said, turning on his heels, - Just get inside.
Jarvis obediently inspected the surrounding area. There were plenty of houses around, but she had the nagging feeling no one was going to let her in.
- Oh, - the boy looked back at her once more, - There are famous pirates in the town too, so hurry up.
Jarvis' howl was grim and silent, filling all of her existence but not escaping her lips. The thought that came next, bold and clear, was "stop, drop and roll away". And yet, Jarvis couldn't lie to herself - under the feelings of fear grew an obedient understanding that now she will have to stay.

The boy didn't tell her who those pirates were, but if he knew, chances were high she knew too. At least it didn't seem like they were into wiping towns out.

So the only thing left was to move to the side of the street, hide from the sun in the shadow of walls and hasten her walk. Jarvis was hoping to decide on her next move at the central square: the one time she visited Pava a food market was there and the place smelled funny, and she tried those strange little pears that turned out to be sweet and spicy, but really good, and bought a harvest charm only to re-gift it later to her parents. Jarvis stopped in her tracks for a moment. Why was she going there again?
She pressed a finger to her lips, concentrating. The central place was a junction of sorts, all streets starting from there. It would be easier to decide on the course of action, when there are actual directions to choose from. In other words, Jarvis knew there was going to be an article, but had no idea what it was going to be about.

The good part – not a "Romuda guy" - was the only good part. It was a different route, but it simply meant that it was packed with different pirates. And most of them could kill her with a sneeze. Mug her, deprive her of her prized possessions. Steal her little camera and her precious belt bag with a recorder, notebook and one mysterious jelly bean. Hit her. Hit her with a blunt object. Hit her camera with a blunt object. Jarvis shivered. There was more.

The boy said "pirates too". Jarvis suspected that if the pirates would be not enough to cut her life short, this other thing would make sure she will not survive today. Boy could have meant "you are in the town and pirates too", but she was an overthinking type. Jarvis preferred to believe in a beast, so she could be eaten, when she is ready for that.

She was in the midst of imagining another sea king with short legs that was prancing through the town, looking for and eventually finding a defenceless human – her - when the entrance arc to central place appeared at a distance of few steps. Her imaginary well-legged sea king cared not and was preparing to eat her.
"Hisss", - he said, getting ready for lunch, - "I will devour you, foolish human!"
At this moment three things happened at once.

Jarvis stepped on the central square.

- Foolish humans, - hissed someone for real, echoing her thoughts.

And her head became no longer attached to her body.

- Oh come ooooon, - she snapped, ditching thoughts about the monsters, - I thought I would survive at least for another hour!