Chapter 12: The Veil of Ambivalence
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Emi discreetly left the training room, feeling the need to step back from the conflicting emotions overwhelming her. Once back in the cabin she shared with Bepo, she took out her transponder snail and dialed her father's number, hoping that a few familiar words would help her escape, if only temporarily, from the ambivalence of her situation.
The ringing seemed endless, but finally, her father's warm voice echoed on the other end of the line.
"Emi, my dear, what a surprise! How are you?" His voice was filled with the affection he always had for her, despite the distance and time.
"Hi dad, I just wanted to hear your voice and talk a bit," she said, trying to mask her inner turmoil with feigned lightness.
Emi and her father often had animated discussions about her career choices. During their conversation, he didn't miss the opportunity to remind her of his reservations about her decision to leave the Times, where he still worked, to become an independent journalist. He was particularly worried about the fact that she often found herself collaborating with pirates or unscrupulous individuals.
"Emi, you know I don't approve of you taking so many risks. Working with those people can be dangerous," he expressed with a voice tinged with concern.
Emi replied vehemently, "Do you think it's better to work for a government that censors and manipulates information?"
Her father sighed, unable to deny that she had a point. Nonetheless, his main concern remained his daughter's safety.
"All I want is for you to be safe, Emi," he said gravely, emphasizing the importance of his feelings.
"I'm on a Navy ship, Dad. Everything is perfectly safe here, and I'm working on an article that I think could make a big difference," she lied, hoping to ease his worries.
Aware of the anxiety her true circumstances could cause her father, she chose to hide the fact that she was currently on a pirate ship.
Her father, somewhat reassured by these words, wished her good luck but not without reminding her to stay careful. Emi hung up with a mix of relief and guilt, knowing she was walking a fine line between the pursuit of truth and the need to protect her loved ones from her sometimes dangerous realities.
After hanging up, she stayed alone with her thoughts for a while. The conversation with her father had rekindled an internal conflict she often tried to ignore. She knew that sometimes she did indeed work with pirates and that the information she provided could go against her ethical principles. These collaborations were a means of subsistence, as the offers behind this kind of information were often the most lucrative.
She felt torn between the necessity to earn a living and her desire to remain true to her convictions. Emi realized that if she continued to serve dubious clients, she would betray not only her own values but also the image she wished to project as a journalist.
If she didn't want to constantly face this dilemma between following her convictions and working for unscrupulous individuals, she needed to become stronger. Stronger in her choices, stronger mentally and physically.
She sighed. Emi had hoped that this call would help her clear her mind regarding the Heart Pirates, but it had only brought new problems to handle.
In the meantime, she needed to focus on the information about Caesar. It was through this that she could justify her collaboration with Law and potentially obtain crucial information for her article. With this thought in mind, she decided to visit Coco to see how she was recovering from her adventures.
She walked through the silent corridors of the submarine, thinking about her next steps, until she reached the infirmary. By reflex, she knocked on the door, but hearing no sound from inside, she gently pushed the door open and entered.
The room was calm, bathed in soft light. Law was no longer there. Emi scanned the room and saw Coco, still asleep on the examination table. She approached her and, seeing that she was resting peacefully, gently stroked her head, relieved to see that she seemed to be sleeping without pain.
While waiting for her to wake up, Emi decided to take a little tour of the infirmary. She hadn't had the time to linger last time, too preoccupied with worrying about her companion and focusing on the sample.
She examined the various instruments and medical supplies precisely lined up on the shelves. She noticed several operating beds methodically arranged in the room. Each bed was equipped with various medical instruments and monitors, ready to be used at any moment. She wondered what kind of operations might take place here. In the world of pirates, injuries and traumas were commonplace, but Emi imagined that Law's skills went far beyond basic first aid. Perhaps he performed complex procedures, even operations requiring a high level of discretion and expertise. Emi was intrigued by the extent of knowledge and skills Law must possess to keep a pirate crew in good health. It was fascinating to see how modern and well-maintained the equipment was, likely a testament to Law's abilities as a doctor.
As she continued to explore, she found a folder placed next to the microscope where Law had examined the sample. Hesitant, she weighed her options and finally decided to take a quick look inside, hoping to discover some additional clues. Emi found a section dedicated to the analysis of the white powder sample they had retrieved. Law's notes were detailed and methodical, indicating a series of experiments and tests he had conducted. According to his notes, the sample had formed a foam when exposed to certain chemical reagents, a behavior suggesting a potentially dangerous or useful reactivity, depending on the context. Law had also noted that the texture of the powder could be exploited for specific chemical reactions, indicating it might have varied applications, possibly even in the manufacture of explosives.
As she skimmed through the notes, she noticed a detail that had escaped her first reading. Next to mentions of the powder's potential explosive uses, Law had scribbled a few words that immediately caught her attention: "arms trafficking? activity related to Joker?"
The name "Joker" was hastily written, almost as an afterthought, but it was enough to pique Emi's curiosity. Who was this "Joker"? Was it a pseudonym, a code name, or did it represent a person? The mention of this name in the context of potentially illegal activities like arms trafficking added another layer of mystery to her investigation.
She took care to memorize the most important details, knowing she couldn't take the folder without risking getting caught. After absorbing as much information as she could, Emi carefully put the folder back in its place, ensuring she left no trace of her inspection.
She took a chair and moved back to the operating table where Coco was sleeping, sitting down and watching her companion sleep, reminiscing about past events.
Emi had played a key role in recovering the sample, and this gave her the feeling that she deserved complete transparency from Law regarding the discoveries related to it. She knew that their motivations for learning more about Caesar might differ, but she was determined not to let that prevent them from openly sharing information.
She understood that Law might have his own reasons for wanting to discover more about this mysterious "Joker" and the potential illegal activities linked to Caesar. However, Emi was not ready to let this information remain hidden. She pondered the best way to ensure that Law wasn't hiding anything from her. She considered bringing up the subject directly with him during their next conversation.
Emi was abruptly pulled from her thoughts by Coco's sudden and piercing scream. The cry was so unexpected and sharp that Emi nearly fell off her chair, startled and slightly disoriented.
As she approached, she noticed that Coco suddenly seemed full of energy. Her small feet opened and closed without issue, showing that she had apparently recovered from her exhaustion and the effects of the white powder. Emi observed her bird with a mix of relief and amazement. She had feared that Coco's efforts to bring back the sample had weakened her permanently, but it seemed that rest and care had worked wonders. Emi watched Coco hop around with renewed energy, which immediately reassured her.
She rummaged through her bag and pulled out some seeds she had kept specifically for her. Emi offered them to her seagull, who, evidently hungry after her vigorous wake-up, devoured them in one go. The little sounds of satisfaction from Coco brought a smile to Emi's face. She watched her eat, her heart light, appreciating these small moments of calm and connection with her winged companion.
Reassured by Coco's quick recovery and motivated by a need to ensure the bird could still fly properly after her recent trials, Emi decided to head to the submarine's deck.
Upon reaching the deck, she whispered to Coco, "Let's see how you do, alright?"
Without hesitation, Coco took flight, flapping her wings with a vigor that immediately reassured Emi about her condition. She made a few circles above the deck, maneuvering with ease and grace, before returning to perch near her.
Emi, relieved and overjoyed, praised her. "You're amazing, Coco," she said, gently stroking her. She felt a wave of pride for the courage and resilience of her small companion.
As Emi enjoyed the peaceful moment on the deck with her seagull, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a vague shadow in the distance. Intrigued, she took a spyglass from her bag to better identify what she was seeing. When she had a clear view, she discovered with horror that the shadow was actually a pirate ship. Good grief, couldn't she enjoy a moment of peace quietly?
Without wasting a second, she rushed to the navigation room where she knew she would find Bepo. Entering breathlessly, she exclaimed, "There are pirates!"
Bepo, already at the controls, replied calmly, "I'm already aware." He was handling the den den mushi, the communication device connected to the submarine's loudspeakers, and within seconds, his voice resonated throughout the ship:
"A pirate ship has been spotted nearby, Captain!"
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Law had been absorbed in his work in his office, surrounded by documents and scattered notes summarizing the information he had patiently collected against Doflamingo. On his desk, a growing list of alliances and suspicious maneuvers now included Caesar's name, adding another layer of complexity to his strategies. He wasn't yet sure of the reasons behind this potential alliance, but he was determined to uncover the hidden motivations.
His thoughts were interrupted by Bepo's voice echoing through the submarine's speakers.
"A pirate ship has been spotted nearby, Captain!"
A smirk appeared on his face as he stood up from his desk. It was the perfect moment to set one of his plans into motion.
Law entered the navigation room with a calm stride, his gaze fixed on the radar screen showing the pirate ship's position.
"Bring us as close as possible," he ordered Bepo, who was handling the controls with precision.
Emi, already anxious, interjected, "Are you really planning to confront them?"
"Of course," he replied without hesitation.
Law suddenly saw an unexpected opportunity to test Emi's abilities. He had not initially planned to involve her directly in the fight, but this moment seemed like a chance to gauge both her real capabilities and her weaknesses.
He then turned to her, a mischievous smile emerging despite Emi's tension. "And you'll participate too."
The proposal chilled Emi to the bone. "What? No, I refuse to fight. You're enough to handle this!" she retorted, firm in her refusal.
Ignoring her protest, Law turned on his heel and added in an authoritative tone, "Everyone on deck."
Emi stood still, shocked, as she watched Law leave the navigation room. She turned to Bepo, seeking some comfort or at least an explanation.
"He's not serious, right?"
Bepo gave her a sympathetic look but replied pragmatically,
"He wouldn't ask you to do this if he didn't believe in your abilities."
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Is Emi about to engage in this battle? What hidden motives might Law have? The answer awaits you in the next chapter ~!