Chapter 10: By Moonlight
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Law and Emi stood in front of the desk, the Den Den Mushi placed on top, oriented towards the wall so the image could be projected clearly. Emi adjusted a few settings while Law watched attentively, his serious expression contrasting with the impatience of the imminent discovery. Once ready, the wall screen came to life with images of Griwl Island.
Through the Den Den Mushi, the image stabilized on Coco flying above the island's harbor. She made a few circles around the docked ships, then gently landed on the mast of a merchant ship.
On the screen, they could see a man holding a Den Den Mushi, visibly agitated. His words were clearly audible through Coco's Den Den Mushi.
"Why on earth do we have to move everything to another ship?!" he exclaimed in frustration. "We haven't been followed this far; everything is fine!"
He seemed nervous, rubbing his temple impatiently as he continued speaking. His words were charged with palpable urgency, and Emi and Law exchanged a perplexed look as they listened intently to the conversation unfolding on the screen before them.
"Move your asses, you bunch of incompetents!"
The men were bustling about hurriedly, moving massive containers and large metal plates from the ship to another boat. Their agitation betrayed a sense of urgency, as if they were trying to hide something quickly. Emi glanced at Law, realizing that this ship was potentially involved in the trafficking of research materials for Caesar.
Suddenly, a wooden crate slipped from one of the sailors' hands and fell to the ground, tearing a sack in the process and spilling white powder onto the dock.
"Damn it! Be careful! We can't afford this kind of incident right now, for God's sake!" one of the men shouted angrily.
Seizing the opportunity, Emi shouted to Coco through the Den Den Mushi: "Coco! Catch it!"
Coco, who had been trained to understand certain words, obeyed Emi's command and dove towards the white substance, clutching it in her talons. However, one of the men noticed the bird and tried to catch her. Coco managed to escape by pecking at him, but in her flight, the Den Den Mushi fell into the water. Panicked by the situation and worried about her seagull,
Emi shouted through the Den Den Mushi, "Come back now!" praying that Coco heard her command.
As the Den Den Mushi sank into the water, the screen still broadcasted images, showing the man looking over the ship's railing at the sinking device, shouting in panic: "If Joker finds out about this, we're dead!" Then the screen went black, leaving a moment of panic in the atmosphere.
Law's face froze at this unexpected revelation. Was Joker involved in this matter? He wondered what connection this could have with Caesar. Why was he associated with these operations? What were his objectives?
While questions flooded Law's mind, Emi was more concerned with Coco's safety. To her, she was much more than a pet; she was a loyal and precious companion. The thought of losing Coco filled her with dread, overshadowing the discoveries they had just made.
"Law! We absolutely need to surface!" she pleaded.
Law sighed and responded to Emi in a calm but firm tone: "Your seagull got away; trust her. Now, we need to focus on our next moves."
Emi clenched her fists at his indifference. She didn't care about the plans as long as her seagull wasn't back. But she knew he was right. She had to trust Coco. Her seagull was tough, and she would return. She had no choice anyway.
In a decisive gesture, Law grabbed the Den Den Mushi connected to the submarine's speaker. His expression serious, he announced in a clear and authoritative voice: "Prepare to surface tonight."
Law set the Den Den Mushi back on his desk, letting out a thoughtful sigh. He turned slowly to Emi, observing her face marked with worry and seriousness.
He wasn't thrilled about having to rely on this bird, but he had no other choice. He simply couldn't afford to lose such crucial information. Recovering the sample was an absolute priority. He fervently hoped that the seagull would survive this ordeal. Despite the dangers associated with surfacing after the previous night's storm, he made the decision to take this risk, aware that it was their only chance to retrieve their valuable intel.
Law was pulled from his thoughts by a knocking sound at his door, which opened to reveal Penguin, looking intrigued and slightly worried. His eyes quickly scanned the room, settling on Emi and Law, who stood there, giving the impression of exchanging a silent, concerned look.
"Captain, is everything okay? Why do we need to surface all of a sudden?" Penguin asked in a curious tone.
Law responded without hesitation, "We need to check something on the surface."
Penguin hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting from Law to Emi, seeking answers in the tense atmosphere. Seeing Law's grave expression, he realized that the situation was more serious than he had initially thought. He nodded, understanding that he needed to trust Law's judgment and follow his orders.
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Emi had taken refuge in the kitchen, seeking to occupy her mind and avoid thinking about Coco. While everyone was busy preparing the submarine for its ascent to the surface after the storm they had just overcome, she decided to make dinner for the crew. She was grateful to them and eager to show she could also be useful. She began rummaging through the kitchen cupboards, hoping to find something to make a comforting meal.
Emi found some basic ingredients: rice, tomatoes, canned vegetables, and some spices. She also searched the freezers and was surprised by the impressive amount of fish stored inside. She briefly wondered if they had an automated system in the submarine that caught fish for the crew. Given the advanced technology of the submarine, it wouldn't surprise her.
Emi decided to prepare a vegetable stew with fried fish seasoned with the spices she had found, remembering a recipe her father had taught her when she was young. She would also make tuna onigiris, hoping that these simple but nourishing dishes would warm the crew's hearts.
Suddenly, Sachi and Penguin appeared in the kitchen, drawn by the enticing aroma wafting through the corridors. They were pleasantly surprised to discover the savory dishes simmering on the countertop. Their expressions of surprise quickly turned into grateful smiles as they approached to see what Emi had prepared.
Emi greeted them with a warm smile. "Hey guys, I hope you're hungry! I took the liberty of cooking for you tonight."
Sachi sniffed the air with a blissful smile. "It smells incredibly good!"
Penguin nodded enthusiastically. "What are you making for us tonight?"
Emi smiled modestly. "Oh, nothing too complicated. Just a few simple dishes with what I could find in the cupboards and freezer. I hope you like it."
Sachi approached the counter to take a closer look at the dishes being prepared. "It looks delicious, Emi! You're giving us a real feast tonight."
Penguin grinned mischievously. "You know, Emi, if you keep this up, you might just become a member of our crew!"
Emi burst out laughing, but a more serious smile formed on her face. "Well, you better enjoy this dinner then, because I have no intention of joining your crew."
The two pirates looked disappointed by Emi's response.
Sachi tried to convince her by adding, "but Emi, becoming a pirate means freedom! You could continue your work as a journalist while experiencing incredible adventures with us!"
Emi crossed her arms and responded with a teasing smile, "Well, if you offer me exciting adventures like this every day... I might consider it."
She felt a pang of guilt for the lie she had just told them. In truth, she had planned to leave at their next stop. But the idea of continuing on her own path while staying close to the Heart Pirates was something she had considered, even if she wasn't ready to admit it out loud yet.
Sachi, seeing Emi lost in thought, added, "You know, the Captain can sometimes seem cold and distant, but deep down, once you get to know him, he's someone with values you can count on."
Emi nodded, taking note of his words. She was beginning to feel torn between her personal aspirations and the budding connection with the crew, and it didn't really thrill her.
Penguin, recalling the knowing looks between Emi and Law when he had entered his quarters, couldn't help but ask a question that had been on his mind:
"By the way, what were you doing in the Captain's cabin?" he asked teasingly.
Emi felt a twinge of nervousness as she searched for an appropriate response. She remembered she wasn't supposed to reveal the true reason for their collaboration. Before she could formulate an answer, Penguin, his smile widening, continued:
"You and the Captain, youー"
Emi cut him off with a firm "No. We were discussing about work," before he could finish his sentence. The idea of any sort of relationship with Law should never crossed her mind, and she was determined to avoid any misunderstandings on the subject.
Faced with Emi's sharp response, Penguin raised his hands in surrender, his teasing smile still fixed on his face. "Alright, alright, I get it. It's just that... well, you looked pretty close back there," he added, letting a momentary silence hang in the room.
Sachi, intrigued, also intervened with a curious expression. "What do you mean by close?" His eyes sparkled with amusement as he gave Emi a playful glance.
Fortunately, before Emi had time to find an answer, Bepo entered the room, his nose twitching with pleasure at the enticing smell of the dishes.
Later, it was Law and Jean Bart who joined the dinner, sharing the dishes prepared by Emi.
The evening had unfolded in a warm atmosphere. The jokes and anecdotes from Sachi and Penguin flew, creating a light and relaxed atmosphere despite the recent events.
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After dinner, the long-awaited moment to surface arrived. Curious about how things were going in the navigation room, Emi asked Bepo if she could accompany him, a proposal to which he responded enthusiastically.
The submarine surfaced quietly, the moon softly illuminating the navigation room. Emi felt a sigh of relief escape her as she contemplated the calmness that prevailed on the surface of the sea. It stretched endlessly, bathed in the silvery glow of the moon. Emi stayed for a moment, absorbed by the tranquility of the nocturnal landscape, then turned to Bepo with a grateful smile.
"Thank you for letting me stay with you," she said, appreciating the company of the bear.
Bepo returned her smile. "It's always a pleasure to have company during my navigation watches. And besides, it's nice to chat with someone other than the captain or the other crew members for a change."
Emi acquiesced, understanding the need for diversity in their often routine daily lives. She also felt grateful for being able to share this moment with Bepo, offering him insights into submarine navigation that she did not know.
Emi stepped out onto the deck, letting the sea breeze caress her face. She found herself enjoying this moment of tranquility, promising herself to make this nightly escapade a habit. Every evening they surfaced, she would come back here to recharge. She looked up at the starry sky, lost in her thoughts, wondering when Coco would return.
Emi was pulled from her thoughts by a presence all too familiar to her. It was Law. Despite his intrusion into her tranquility, this time she felt neither awkward silence nor discomfort. On the contrary, she found herself strangely accustomed to his presence. Law stood there, saying nothing, simply gazing at the starry sky, just like her.
Law had noticed that Emi was becoming more at ease aboard the ship. Her gesture of cooking for them brought him relief, indicating that she seemed to have subdued her impulsive and intrusive behavior. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder if there was another reason behind this change. Despite his thoughts, he allowed himself to hope that she genuinely enjoyed their company.
Breaking the gentle silence, Law remarked, "A vegetable stew with those kinds of spices... you're probably from North Blue, aren't you?"
Emi was surprised by his insight. She looked at him, searching his eyes for an explanation for this sudden openness.
Leaning against the ship's railing, Law added, "We're from the same sea, after all."
Emi felt a shiver as she absorbed Law's words. It was the first time he had shared something personal with her, and it pleasantly surprised her. She returned his smile, grateful for this openness.
"That's true," she replied softly, reminiscing about her life in North Blue. "I grew up in a small coastal town where spices were our pride. That's where I learned to cook."
The wind tousled Emi's hair, carrying its orange scent, a fragrance Law had noticed several times before. He surprised himself by enjoying it, wondering where this pleasant smell came from.
The waves gently lapped against the submarine's hull, punctuating the soothing silence of the night. They stood there on the deck, embraced by the soft murmur of the ocean, soaking in the serenity that enveloped the present moment.
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As Law begins to open up to Emi, their journey together could take many paths. Meanwhile, Coco's future hangs in the balance... The answers await in the next chapter! ~