Chapter 15: Between Investigation and Relaxation
~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~
Emi was pulled from her sleep by a ray of sunlight that had managed to find its way through the poorly closed curtains of the porthole. She grimaced, the dazzling light forcing her to open her eyes earlier than she would have liked. Before she could fall back asleep, one of her Den Den Mushi began to ring, the shrill melody echoing in the small cabin.
Reluctantly, Emi got up, rubbing her eyes still heavy with sleep. She rummaged through her satchel, looking for the device that interrupted the morning calm. She raised an eyebrow as she recognized the Den Den Mushi of her recent client, a mysterious woman claiming to be a politician, whom she had met in a casino during her investigation for a report. It was the first time she had received a call from her.
"Madame Amadeo?" she said, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Miss Emi, I am aware that this may seem outside your usual scope," began the voice on the other end, a touch of desperation piercing through her controlled tone. "But I have a proposition that might interest you."
Emi sat on the edge of her bed, massaging her temples as she listened to her long explanations. The client was actually a deposed princess, now simply called Madame Amadeo. She explained her situation: after being overthrown by her own sister in a palace coup, she had lost not only her title but also her dignity. Her sister had manipulated public opinion against her, painting her as a power-hungry pariah.
"I want you to expose her secrets. Show the world who she really is," insisted Amadeo. "I'm willing to pay you generously for your services."
Emi sighed; she wasn't interested in a family feud.
"Look, I'm not in the business of—" she began, but the deposed princess cut her off.
"100 million Berries."
Emi's eyes widened at the announcement. "Excuse me?"
"100 million Berries. That's the amount I'm willing to give you. I may be deposed, but I have my own funds."
Normally not interested in royal family feuds, Emi paused when the figure of hundred million Berries was mentioned. Her financial interest piqued, she bit her lip.
The client continued, "I understand your reservations, Miss Emi. However, this isn't just personal revenge. It's about revealing the truth about someone who manipulates our people and our history for her own gain. Isn't it in the interest of journalism to shed light on lies and deceit?"
These words resonated with Emi's principles, reminding her why she had chosen this career in the first place.
Emi took a deep breath. "I'll need concrete evidence—documents, testimonies—anything you can provide to back up your claims," she finally said, her decision made. "And of course, we will discuss your... financial contribution."
The client responded, her voice laden with urgency. "My sister is involved in illegal arms trafficking. She uses the resources and influences of our kingdom to facilitate her operations."
This suddenly caught Emi's attention, and she became much more focused on listening.
Madame Amadeo continued, "She hides her activities behind charitable works and legitimate businesses."
"How surprising..." Emi said sarcastically.
More arms trafficking, as if she hadn't had enough with Caesar... This kind of illegal activity seemed to be a recurring theme in her recent investigations, or was it that the number of traffickers was increasing? It was quite concerning. This thought made her give a wry smile, realizing how much her job had recently plunged her into the darkest depths of criminality.
Emi then added, "This will take time to investigate, but I'll do my best. If you have any more important information, contact me again."
"You will have everything you need," assured Amadeo, an audible relief in her voice. "I will contact you soon with the details. Thank you, Emi. You can't imagine how much this means to me."
After hanging up, Emi sat still, the Den Den Mushi still in her hand. She knew she had just taken on another delicate case. One question came to mind: Why hadn't Amadeo contacted a more established member of the New Economic Paper or even a Marine official directly? These institutions had the resources and influence necessary to handle a case of this magnitude.
Yet, she had chosen an independent journalist, with no apparent ties to power or the mainstream press. Part of Emi felt flattered by this apparent trust, but another, more pragmatic part, suspected there was more to this decision than mere preference. Perhaps Amadeo was trying to avoid having her story smothered by those who might be complicit with her sister... or maybe there was an even darker reason.
To shake off her troubled thoughts that assailed her from the morning, Emi decided to take her morning shower. She gathered her toiletries and headed to the communal showers of the submarine. But as she made her way to the bathroom, she ran into Bepo, also holding a towel and seemingly ready to do the same.
"Please, go ahead," offered Bepo politely, a paw behind his back.
Emi paused for a moment, her gaze shifting between Bepo and the bathroom door.
Realizing he had no inappropriate intentions, she finally proposed, an innocent smile on her lips, "Why not go together?"
Bepo looked at her, a slightly uncertain expression on his face. "Are you sure?" he asked, wanting to ensure he didn't make her uncomfortable.
Emi nodded confidently, her smile widening. "Yes, absolutely," she replied firmly.
Bepo, accustomed to the crew's eccentricities, accepted, and they both entered the bathroom, chatting about everything and nothing, the weather, and the latest adventures of their journey.
As they settled comfortably in the enveloping warmth of the onsen water, Emi, always curious and playful, offered to shampoo Bepo.
"Let me take care of your fur?" she asked, a smile in her voice.
Without really waiting for a response, she began applying the shampoo to Bepo's thick fur, amazed by its softness. Her fingers glided easily through the thick, silky hairs, revealing a surprising softness she had never encountered before.
Bepo's fur was a brilliant white, almost immaculate, with a subtle sheen that caught the dim light of the onsen. The hairs were dense and lush, forming a plush, pleasant texture. Every movement of her fingers revealed the exceptional quality of this fur, the hairs parting gently to let her fingers pass without any resistance.
Emi was fascinated by the unique texture and the warmth emanating from Bepo's fur. She noted with some admiration how the hairs, though dense, remained light and airy, contributing to an overall effect of comfort and softness. The fur seemed not only beautiful but also extremely functional, offering protection against the cold while being pleasantly soft to the touch.
"Your fur is incredible!" she exclaimed, her fingers gliding easily through the well-groomed hairs.
Bepo, visibly pleased with the attention, relaxed and let out a light purr of contentment. "Thank you, Emi. This feels really nice."
Emi couldn't help but wonder how such softness was possible. She wondered if Bepo took particular care of his fur or if someone else took care of it for him.
"Tell me, Bepo," she asked curiously, "do you take care of your fur yourself?"
Bepo relaxed into the warmth of the water, closing his eyes to enjoy the moment. "Actually, sometimes the captain takes care of it too. He shampoos me from time to time."
Emi couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, an amusing image forming in her mind. She imagined Law, the mysterious and serious captain, taking the time to care for Bepo's fur with meticulous care.
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
As Penguin and Sachi exited the training room, tired but satisfied with their session, they headed towards the showers to freshen up. However, as they approached the bathroom door, they heard the voices of Emi and Bepo, clearly chatting and laughing. Their curiosity piqued, they couldn't resist taking a peek.
"Wait... Emi and Bepo are taking a bath together?!" whispered Sachi, incredulity written on his face.
Penguin, wide-eyed, added with a mischievous grin, "Do you think they'd let us join them?"
The two pirates exchanged a conspiratorial look, then, without another word, they pushed the door open and barged in with smiles too wide to be innocent.
"Can we join you?!" they asked in unison, a bit too enthusiastically.
Emi, who had just wrapped a towel around herself, stared at them in shock before her face turned to anger.
"Not in your dreams!" she exclaimed.
Before Sachi and Penguin could react, Emi delivered a powerful kick that literally sent them flying out of the bathroom, landing in the hallway with a crash.
"And stay out!" she added, slamming the door behind them.
The bathroom, once again calm, echoed only with the sound of running water and the laughter of Emi and Bepo.
As Sachi and Penguin looked at the bathroom door, still shocked, holding their noses from which a trickle of blood still flowed. They still had the indelible image of Emi in their minds that they had inadvertently stored.
She was there, in a simple towel, her long legs revealed, her wet hair falling elegantly over her shoulders, the light making her skin glow in an almost unreal way... For Penguin and Sachi, it was a side of Emi they had never seen before. Usually covered in loose clothing that concealed her figure, this vision was both shocking and captivating.
"Bepo, that lucky bastard!" exclaimed Sachi, his voice muffled as he pinched his nose firmly to stop the bleeding.
"I think we underestimated her a bit," murmured Penguin, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, well, that's probably the last time, given how it ended," replied Sachi, a hint of regret in his voice.
As they were about to get up and try to recover from their misadventure, their captain's imposing shadow suddenly loomed over them. Law was observing them, one eyebrow raised, his eyes scanning their blood-streaked faces.
"Can I ask why you're on the floor? What happened to you?" he asked in a tone that betrayed growing irritation.
Sachi and Penguin, caught off guard, found themselves stammering under their captain's inquisitive gaze.
"Uh... it's just that... we, well, we tried to...," began Penguin, unable to form a coherent sentence.
Sachi, equally embarrassed but trying to salvage the situation, added awkwardly, "We just wanted to... check the shower's safety, you know, routine security check!"
Law stared at them, clearly unconvinced by their stammered explanations, especially after hearing Emi's laughter through the bathroom door.
"Security, huh?" His tone was dry, a sign he wasn't in the mood to tolerate nonsense this early in the morning.
With an exasperated sigh, he motioned for the two comrades still sitting on the floor to follow him to the infirmary to ensure that none of his men were seriously injured by a prank that had gone wrong.
~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~
In a seldom-frequented corner of the submarine, Emi decided to enter the library, which also served as a lounge, having not yet explored this room. Curious, she began to browse the shelves in search of an interesting read to pass the time. As she scrutinized the titles, she was surprised to stumble upon a stack of the World Economic Newspapers, a poignant reminder of her former job.
A particularly unexpected detail caught her attention: each newspaper had been carefully cut, and the pile neatly arranged, each sheet containing only a series of comic strips of "Sora, Warrior of the Sea." Emi couldn't help but smile, her fingers brushing the crinkled pages. She knew this comic strip very well, having herself contributed to some of its episodes when she still worked for the newspaper.
It was evident that someone on this submarine had taken great care to collect these fragments of stories, preserving their passion for the adventure and justice that Sora embodied. With a mix of nostalgia and curiosity, Emi sat comfortably in an armchair, reading the pages at random.
~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~
The day passed quietly until the sun began to set in the sky, signaling the end of the afternoon. Law had spent most of the day investigating Doflamingo and Caesar, trying to piece together their next moves. Feeling the strain of the intense focus, he decided it was time to take a break and headed to the deck of the submarine. There, he found Bepo, lying and asleep on the wooden deck, a bubble forming and disappearing with each of the bear's regular breaths.
With a light sigh, Law sat against Bepo's warm belly, using his friend's stability to lie down. He carefully placed his nodachi next to him, crossed his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes, seeking a moment of peace in the sea breeze.
It was then that a familiar smell tickled his nostrils. It was the scent of orange. Sweet. Distinct. A smell that had no business being on Bepo. Law opened his eyes, slightly irritated as he realized that this fragrance was Emi's. Since when had she become close enough to Bepo for her scent to permeate the bear's fur? Then, he remembered the incident that morning involving Sachi and Penguin. Law sighed, annoyed by the situation but too tired to deal with it immediately. He closed his eyes, seeking a moment of calm in the setting sun.
~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~
On Emi's home island in the North Blue, Coco appeared above the village, her agile and precise flight guiding her towards a specific destination: the local laboratory. The place, hidden behind rows of tall ferns and fruit trees, was the hideout of Ambre, a young scientist who had often worked with Emi on various journalistic missions.
Upon arrival, Coco skillfully landed on the windowsill of the open laboratory window, letting out a familiar cry. Ambre, in the midst of an experiment, turned around abruptly, her gaze landing on the seagull she instantly recognized.
"Coco? What are you doing here without Emi?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
The seagull stretched her small wings towards her satchel, and the scientist untied it and extracted a small vial containing a mysterious sample and a carefully folded note. Unfolding the note, she quickly read Emi's instructions, raising an eyebrow out of curiosity and concern.
"More trouble, huh?" she murmured to herself, smiling despite the gravity of the situation. Coco chirped softly, as if to agree.
After Coco took a brief moment to rest and feed under the caring attention of the scientist, her mission accomplished, she took off again, tracing her path through the air towards her dear mistress.
~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~
Thank you for reading this chapter!
Two new characters appeared!
What discoveries will Ambre make? Find out in the next chapters~!
