Zoro paled as he surveyed the scene in front of him. This is all my fault. I wasn't here. A rag and an empty bottle lay on the deck. Chopper said it smelled like it had contained milliweed, a strong sedative when inhaled. Both Nami's and Luffy's beds were empty. Nami's bed sheets had been kicked and tangled; Luffy's were barely disturbed. A scrape of mud remained along the port rail, bearing the imprint of a man's boot. Zoro looked down the side of the hull. Cut tie lines waved lightly in the breeze, remaining from the hurried exit of some intruder. This is all my fault. Zoro remembered waking briefly in the night, believing he had heard a noise. A gasp and a thump. But he hadn't investigated. There had been no other sound, and he had been so exhausted. But how long did you really listen for? One minute? Two minutes? They may have just held still, then took Nami and Luffy when you fell back asleep. Zoro felt sick with guilt.

Sanji saw the look on the swordsman's face. He felt the same. Nami—his Nami—was gone. If she wasn't okay…if any single hair on her lovely head was harmed…if she was made to feel even a second of fear…

A seagull landed on the rail and perched there, very near the worried pirates, seemingly unconcerned. Chopper was the first to notice something amiss.

"Hey—this bird is tagged."

Zoro couldn't imagine why Chopper cared.

"Hi Seagull—where are you from? What brings you this way?" Chopper asked the bird.

The bird cawed and gruffed and fluffed its feathers.

Chopper gasped. "Oh no, really? I'm so sorry to hear that! Was it an accident, or was he sick?"

The seagull gave a sharp screech.

"Murdered?! That's terrible!"

It screeched again.

"Wait—it was the same humans? Let me make sure I understand you. The humans who killed your master were the same ones who stole other humans from here?"

The bird bobbed his head. Each remaining member of the crew suddenly had their eyes fastened on Chopper and the seagull.

"Do you know where they went?"

The bird nodded again.

"Will you lead us there?"

In answer, the bird stretched one wing to the northwest, indicating the direction.

Sanji's first thought was that it wasn't far this way to Ellep Town. And, now that he thought about it, there was an old man that they'd seen with seagulls perched on his shoulders out near the docks. Could there be a connection?

Sanji's blood ran cold as one idea led to another. Ellep Town. Was it possible…? He had seen what Robin had gone through, trying to recover her soul after the torture she'd endured. He never would have thought that moss-headed gorilla could be so considerate of a lady like Robin, but Sanji had to admit that he'd done justice to the ideals of a gentleman. If Nami was being taken to the same place…

Sanji whispered to Zoro, "I don't know if we're going there…back to that hell hole…but if we are, and if Nami is there…"

Zoro met his eyes steadily.

"I've seen what there is to see now. Let me take her. And let me kill them."

Zoro felt the intensity of Sanji's anger. He knew that the cook was right; Zoro had protected him and all the others from their naivety last time. There was no such need this time. If Nami and Luffy really were in that place…Zoro nodded. "Do whatever you have to do, Cook."

Sanji nodded back. Good. They understood each other. If this was what he thought it was, the swordsman wouldn't stand in Sanji's way. He wouldn't stop him from making these men pay for their crimes in blood.

Chopper was still conversing with the gull. "Thank you. I don't know if we can do anything to honor your master's memory, or help you and your friends while you grieve, but if we can, please let me know. It means a lot that you'll help us; the humans those guys took…well, we care about them a lot." Chopper wiped a tear from his eye, then turned toward Franky, determined. "Full speed on the Sunny, guys. Let's get our friends!"