Chapter 16: Approaching a New Island
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Holding firmly onto the railing of the submarine's deck, Emi scanned the horizon, trying to make out the outline of a potential island amidst the vast blue expanse.
Today was finally the big day. After more than five days of navigating the ocean, they were about to set foot on an island in the Grand Line. Bepo, using his sense of magnetic fields and other weather phenomena, had predicted that this island would have an autumnal climate, though the technical explanations largely eluded Emi. Uncharted and full of mysteries, the island excited Bepo at the prospect of exploring it and enriching his Grand Line nautical map.
Emi, on the other hand, was more preoccupied with her recent affairs. No news of the pirate affiliated with Big Mom had reached her ears, a silence that played in her favor since she had little to report. Additionally, Caesar seemed to be neglecting the gigantification project that Big Mom had entrusted to him in favor of his chemical weapon creations, news that would surely displease the pirate.
Furthermore, Emi had contacted Sam to reassure him about their recent find: they had managed to retrieve a crucial sample from the fake merchant ship, which indeed contained the research materials Sam had mentioned. She took advantage of this communication to assure Sam that she was doing well. Cautiously, she avoided mentioning her collaboration with Law or any connection to Doflamingo, knowing that it would only worry her friend more.
Her thoughts, filled with strategies and concerns, were interrupted by Penguin's arrival. He was bursting with excitement at the prospect of finally setting foot on solid ground.
"Emi! Look! We're finally approaching the island!" he exclaimed, pointing to a faint outline on the horizon. Before she had time to respond, Penguin launched into his hopes for this stop: a town free of any Marine presence where he could relax.
"I hope we find a small, peaceful village without any Marines in sight. Just imagine, a nice cocktail to sip in a cozy tavern... and maybe even in good company…" he added with a big smile.
Emi smiled slightly, shaking her head. "Focus on the sake, Penguin, and leave the poor village girls alone," she teased.
She turned back to the sea, her own excitement rising at the thought of discovering what this uncharted island had to offer.
Bepo's voice echoed through the ship's speakers, pulling Emi from her observations:
"Estimated arrival in about 3 hours!"
As the ship continued to approach, the mountainous silhouette of the island became more defined, revealing a typical rocky and mountainous landscape.
Law appeared on the deck, his sharp eyes fixed on the island taking shape on the horizon. Scanning the island, he spotted an imposing structure that looked like a castle, though it seemed to be still under construction. This indicated that the island was likely inhabited, a possibility that could mean the chance to resupply.
Standing beside Law, Emi also observed the castle under construction. "A new kingdom?" she wondered, curious. The fact that the island didn't appear on any map reinforced this hypothesis. The prospect of discovering who was behind the castle's construction and why it was being built deeply intrigued Emi.
Both knew that the answers to their questions would only come once the ship was docked and their feet were on the ground of this island. Law, always cautious and strategic, remained on guard, considering the multiple possible scenarios related to the presence of this castle. As for Emi, she was already mentally drafting the lines of her next article.
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As they drew closer to the island, the silhouette of the port began to take shape more clearly through the spyglass. The port was bustling with activity, filled with merchant ships coming and going. For Law, the presence of so many ships was far from good news, especially since he also spotted Marine patrols.
"That's a lot... and Marines, too," murmured Emi beside him, sharing his concern.
Despite this, a part of her was secretly reassured by the presence of so many ships in the port. To Emi, each ship represented a potential escape, a chance to leave Law's crew at an opportune moment and return to her life as an independent journalist.
Law, for his part, was far from pleased by the Marine presence on the island. He had hoped to remain discreet and avoid any unnecessary confrontation. He pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and announced:
"Dive the submarine," he ordered in a low but firm voice through the transponder snail.
It was imperative to find a more isolated spot to dock, away from prying eyes and ears that might recognize the Heart Pirates' submarine or even identify its crew.
Bepo quickly nodded and prepared for the submersion of the ship. Sachi and Penguin secured the equipment, while Jean Bart helped adjust the ballasts for the dive.
As the submarine silently descended into the less populated depths of the ocean, Law scanned the control panels and radar, searching for the best spot to resurface. They needed a discreet corner of the island, far from the main port, where they could carry out their activities without drawing attention.
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They docked near a cove located several kilometers from the main port. Emi stood apart from the rest of the crew, carefully observing the landing on the island.
The port they had seen from afar was actually the only apparent sign of life, surrounded by a thick forest of fir trees that extended like a dark, impenetrable green wall. The fresh air and resinous smell of the pines mixed with the salty scent of the sea, creating an atmosphere that was both invigorating and mysterious.
According to Bepo, the log pose would only need a few hours to recalibrate and point to a new destination, which did not please Emi. She clearly didn't have time to find an immediate escape route and had to wait for the return of her seagull. She fervently hoped the bird would return in time, but she now realized that was unlikely. Coco had to fly three days to reach her home island, and thus also three days to return. She would have to wait patiently or find a way to convince Law and his crew to extend their stay on this island. However, that seemed nearly impossible, especially with the Marine patrols at the port constantly monitoring every suspicious movement. Frustrated by this realization, she bit her lip.
Emi was pulled from her thoughts by Law, giving instructions to Sachi and Penguin to go and fetch supplies from the port.
"We just need a few provisions," Law clarified, while Bepo handed them a list of items to bring back.
"Emi, do you need anything in particular?" Bepo asked, turning towards her.
Emi replied with a grateful smile, "Thanks, but I'll go with them. I want to stretch my legs and—"
"No." Law's response cut through the air before she could finish her sentence.
"Excuse me?" Emi replied, shocked.
Law, having guessed her intentions to flee, responded firmly, "They'll manage just fine without you."
Outraged, Emi retorted, "You can't just leave me here, Law. I need to get out!"
Law sighed, annoyed by the need to justify himself. "You can walk around near the submarine, but you're not going to the port. It's too risky."
Emi insisted, refusing to stay behind while the port and the mysterious castle were surely full of crucial information.
"I know how to be discreet! Are you really worried, or do you just want to keep an eye on me? And you're going to let an opportunity to discover what's really happening on this island with that castle and all this suspicious activity pass by?!"
Sachi and Penguin, witnessing the exchange, exchanged awkward glances, aware that challenging their captain's decision could get them into trouble. Law's orders were clear and indisputable, even if they didn't all agree with his views.
Law rubbed his temples, exasperated by her stubbornness, especially in front of his crew. "I'm not here to play tourist. Journalist-ya, I won't repeat myself."
She bit her lip, frustrated by her own helplessness and Law's distrust. Though irritated, she ultimately resigned herself. Feeling the crew's eyes on her, she decided to lay low for now, though she wasn't ready to admit defeat.
Throwing one last angry glance at Law, she turned to Sachi and Penguin with a sulky pout. "If you find any oranges, could you bring some back for me?" She added with a slightly provocative tone, loud enough for Law to hear, "And make sure they're sweeter than some people around here!"
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Sachi and Penguin had changed into normal clothes, abandoning their usual pirate outfits marked with the Jolly Roger for the occasion. It was the first time Emi had seen them dressed as civilians. Since the two pirates were not recognized by the Marines, they only needed to get rid of any trace of their Jolly Roger and put on ordinary clothes to blend in.
Emi watched them walk away with a determined glint in her eyes. She knew she couldn't just stay put and wait. She needed to act, but first, she had to find a way to distract Law or at least ensure he wouldn't notice her leaving the area…
Aware of Law and Jean Bart's constant surveillance while she stretched her legs on the cove, Emi knew she couldn't simply slip out of their sight without raising suspicion. She re-entered the submarine and headed towards the training room, a place where she could pretend to occupy herself for a while. Once inside, she began to handle the weights and do some exercises, but her mind was far from focused on her training.
After more than an hour of exercising, Emi finally decided to slip out of the room and made her way to a secondary exit, checking that no one was around. She stealthily descended from the submarine, her heart racing at the thought of the temporary freedom she was about to enjoy. She glanced back one last time, hoping her plan would go off without a hitch. With a final sigh to gather her courage, she slipped into the cold water of the cove, submerging completely to mask her presence, determined to reach the port and explore the mysterious castle and its secrets.
Underwater, she swam as silently as possible, using her skills to move without raising suspicion. The river flowing into the sea wasn't far; after a few minutes of intense swimming, she reached the shore, her body shivering slightly from the effort and cold.
She pulled herself onto solid ground, catching her breath and shaking the water from her hair. Emi felt triumphant, almost free, until she looked up and saw a familiar figure waiting nearby.
Law was there, leaning against a tree, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His gaze was fixed on her, and he didn't look surprised to see her emerge from the water.
"I was hoping you'd be more reasonable, Journalist-ya," he said calmly, his tone leaving no room for discernible emotion.
Emi froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Law... I... How did you…?"
Law gave a half-smile, almost mocking. "Did you really think you could escape so easily? We have underwater cameras to monitor the area around the submarine. I saw your little escape from the start."
Caught and frustrated at having failed to deceive him, Emi straightened up and tried to maintain her composure. "Are you going to send me back on board?"
Law detached himself from the tree and approached her. "No, we're going to the port together. I want to see for myself what you find so captivating over there. And maybe this will teach you not to act impulsively in the future."
Surprised by Law's sudden change of heart, Emi decided not to press further questions, fearing he might reconsider his decision. She nodded, accepting his forced company. They headed toward the port together, Emi cursing her bad luck inwardly, while Law kept a close watch on her, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of another escape attempt.
Fortunately, the sun breaking through the clouds was already starting to dry Emi's clothes, the gentle warmth helping to alleviate the discomfort of her soaked garments. She was grateful for this small respite offered by the weather, allowing her to focus on the task ahead rather than her discomfort.
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Thank you for reading this chapter !
Was it really a good idea to venture to the port? Found out in the next chapters ~