Chapter 14: Mission in Motion

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After helping the rest of the crew loot the enemy ship, Emi headed to the infirmary. Her wound was starting to hurt like hell, and her thoughts were divided between anticipating the pain the examination might cause and a certain appreciation for Law's medical expertise.

Once in the infirmary, Law greeted her with a professionalism that temporarily erased the tension between them.

"Sit here," Law said, indicating a chair near an examination table lit by a bright lamp.

Emi sat down slowly, the pain in her thigh growing sharper as she took her seat.

He quickly observed Emi's injuries, his expression betraying no particular emotion, focused solely on his role as a doctor.

Law began by disinfecting and examining the wound on her thigh. His hands were firm and precise, each movement testifying to his expertise.

"You fought well," he finally said, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

Emi looked at him, surprised by the unexpected compliment. "I didn't really have a choice, did I?" Her voice carried a mix of sarcasm and frustration.

Law didn't respond, merely continuing his work and expertly applying a bandage.

"I suppose this is part of the 'test,' then?" She added, wary of his intentions, her tone slightly accusatory.

Emi grimaced in pain when Law tightened the bandage around her thigh a bit more, but she forced herself to stay silent.

He fixed the bandage, making sure it was secure before meeting her gaze. "Let's just say I made sure you could handle it on your own," he finally replied with a smirk.

Emi stared at him, trying to keep a neutral face. That damn smile. That damn smile that made him more attractive. If she could, she would tear it off his face. She refused to admit that she could be even a little bit attracted to this pirate. Yet, every time he smiled at her that way, she felt a warmth inside her, which frustrated her even more. Emi gritted her teeth, trying to focus on something else.

He straightened up, having finished the treatment. "Rest now."

Emi gave a faint smile. "I'll do my best," she replied, leaning back against the chair. The exhaustion from the battle and the pain in her thigh were taking their toll, but the care he had given her, coupled with their brief conversation, had a surprisingly calming effect.

"Thanks," she murmured, a bit reluctantly, grateful for the treatment but still irritated by the way she had been forced to participate in the battle.

As he moved around the infirmary, Emi watched him out of the corner of her eye. Despite everything, there was a sense of security in his presence that she couldn't deny. She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to relax just a bit.

She wondered how she could continue to assert herself in this complex crew with a captain like him. Moreover, what place did she really have? She frowned. Was that really something she cared about? She was just passing through, and getting lost in her thoughts would only complicate her departure.

Emi took a moment to gather her thoughts before returning to a question that had been burning in her mind since she had re-entered this room. It was time to resume their interrupted conversation on a topic that was crucially important to her.

"Law," she began, hesitant but determined to get answers, "have you made any progress on your analysis of the sample that Coco retrieved?"

Law, who was finishing putting away one last file, turned to Emi, "Yes, I've made some discoveries," he replied with a note of caution in his voice.

He approached his desk, picking up a folder; the one Emi had discreetly looked at last time, before continuing, "Its formulation is quite advanced, which isn't surprising given the resources Caesar might have at his disposal."

Emi moved closer to the desk, looking over Law's shoulder to try to understand again the technical details presented in his notes. His response left her somewhat unsatisfied. What she really wanted to know was whether this powder had a connection to Big Mom.

"Do you think this product could be used in Big Mom's gigantification project?" she asked, referring to one of her greatest concerns.

Law paused for a moment, considering the possibility. "It's unlikely, but not impossible. We need to do more analyses to confirm."

Emi sighed. It was essential for her to bring something tangible back to the pirate she was working with. He wouldn't leave her alone until she provided concrete evidence from her research. She needed to gather enough information to satisfy the pirate, a task that seemed increasingly complex as she delved into Caesar's dark networks.

Emi felt that she was straying a bit from her main objective, which was to discover where this scientist was actually hiding. But she also thought that understanding his activities might lead her directly to him.

"So, this means he's primarily manufacturing weapons? For whom?"

He frowned, a serious expression marking his usually impassive face.

"This powder could be destined for a buyer on the black market. And not just any buyer."

Emi raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. But noting his silence, she insisted, "Which buyer?"

She already had an idea of the answer because she had looked at his file before, but she wanted to see if Law would share all his discoveries with her.

He stared at her, weighing the impact of his words before continuing. He knew that Emi was aware of his research on Doflamingo and would soon learn more, given that their objectives, though different, strangely intersected. Moreover, by sharing this information with her, she might become more cooperative, making it easier for him to use her skills to his advantage. So he decided to reveal a bit more to her.

"Traces of certain transactions suggest a link to Donquixote Doflamingo's network."

Emi frowned at his response. She clearly didn't expect him to mention Doflamingo's name. In silence, she quickly thought it through, suddenly making the connection with the nickname "Joker." However, she hesitated to share this information with Law, especially since she had discovered it by snooping through his things. She didn't want to risk breaking the fragile trust that might already be forming between them.

"Do you think Doflamingo is behind all this?" She finally asked.

Law nodded, his eyes fixed on Emi, gauging her reaction. "If Doflamingo is involved, it means the stakes are much higher than you might imagine."

Emi straightened up, her expression hardening as the reality of their situation set in. "I'm well aware."

"Regarding Doflamingo and any potential link to Caesar... keep this information to yourself. It's crucial," he said firmly.

Emi looked at him, a bit surprised by the serious and almost somber tone of Law. She remembered that he also kept this information from his crew and must have his reasons, however mysterious they might be. For now, she decided not to delve into it.

Seeing that Emi didn't respond, Law crossed his arms, his gray eyes fixed on her hazel ones. "If Big Mom's pirate learns anything about Doflamingo through us, it could trace back to me. I don't want to sow doubt or attract attention to our activities more than necessary."

Emi nodded slowly, aware of the stakes. "My priority remains Caesar and his location. You can be assured I won't mention anything else."

Law observed Emi with a slight surprise marking his usually imperturbable features. She seemed less obstinate than before, showing a flexibility and understanding of the stakes that only reinforced his impression of her maturity and ability to adapt to complex situations. He felt a sense of satisfaction in telling her a bit more about his discovery, seeing she indeed seemed more open and receptive.

Emi, noticing his gaze, displayed a mischievous smile. "What, are you surprised that I can be reasonable?" she asked, teasing him slightly.

Law squinted, slightly surprised by Emi's teasing side. "Let's say it's a novelty."

She leaned a little closer to him, her eyes sparkling. "Don't get used to it too quickly. I might become stubborn again just to see that look on your face."

He stared at her, a rare smile appearing on his lips despite himself. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Emi burst into laughter, a light sound that contrasted with the gravity of their previous discussion. "You know, Law, you should smile more often. It almost makes you look human."

Law raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "And you should be serious more often. It almost makes you look professional."

They exchanged a complicit look, the atmosphere between them relaxing a bit more.

"Alright, deal," she said with a smile.

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The late afternoon was unfolding peacefully aboard the submarine. As the sun began to set, Emi had discreetly slipped up onto the deck. Usually, she went up to soak in the tranquility of the ocean and get some fresh air, but tonight, her intentions were different.

Holding Coco gently against her, Emi double-checked that everything was in place. She had asked Law to prepare a small sample of the suspicious powder, which she had then carefully placed in a sealed vial. The vial was now secured in the small pouch attached to Coco's neck, well-protected from the elements.

"Coco, you need to go to the village laboratory," she murmured into her faithful seagull's ear, gently stroking its head. "She will know what to do with it."

The seagull, seeming to understand the importance of the mission, nodded before flapping its wings vigorously, ready to take off. Emi watched it fly away with a touch of concern but also pride. The laboratory Coco was heading to was run by an old acquaintance of Emi's, a researcher she trusted implicitly and knew would keep all information strictly confidential.

Once Coco was on her way, Emi stayed on the deck for a few more moments, scanning the horizon where her seagull had disappeared. She hoped the laboratory could provide clear answers about the nature of the powder and perhaps reveal more about Caesar's activities. This information could be crucial not only for her but also for Law, although she knew she had to maneuver carefully, especially with names like Doflamingo floating around.

Only two nights remained before their arrival at the next island. As daylight gave way to the ocean's darkness, Emi felt a growing frustration. Although Law's objectives seemed to be progressing, she had not yet obtained the crucial information she needed about either Caesar or Law.

Emi hoped that the additional analysis of the sample, once completed by her trusted laboratory, would provide useful information to fully understand Caesar's activities and where he was hiding.

She was pulled from her thoughts as Penguin and Sachi appeared, animatedly discussing something. She couldn't help but notice how often the two were together. With a teasing smile, she approached them.

"You two are always stuck together like siamese twins. It's cute," she said with a wink.

Penguin and Sachi exchanged surprised glances, then looked at each other with confusion. "Uh, cute?" Sachi replied with an embarrassed smile.

"We're just good friends, you know," added Penguin with an amused smile.

Emi laughed, understanding the situation. "Oh, I see, I see. Sorry for the judgment mistake, guys. But, you spend so much time together, it was just a legitimate question!"

"No worries, Emi. But I promise, we love women too much to swing the other way," Sachi declared with a knowing wink.

Emi burst into laughter at their reaction, appreciating the lightness of the moment.

As the atmosphere relaxed, Penguin, still amused, decided to throw the ball back to Emi.

"Well then, Emi," Penguin began with a mischievous smile, "since you're so curious about our preferences, what are yours, mmh? We'd like to know."

Sachi nodded, a playful smile on his face. "Yes, tell us everything, Emi. What makes your heart race?"

Emi smiled at their unexpected question. She played with a strand of her silver hair, thinking for a moment before replying.

"Well, I suppose I like intelligent men," she said finally, her tone a bit more serious. "Someone who is passionate about what he does, who has ambition and a good sense of humor. And, of course, respectful."

"Wow, that sounds like our captain, doesn't it?" Penguin joked, exchanging a knowing look with Sachi.

"Definitely not," Emi retorted, her light tone barely masking a hint of seriousness. "Or maybe only when he's asleep... It's probably the only time he seems a little more... approachable."

Penguin and Sachi exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. "So, you find him attractive when he can't give you orders?" teased the redhead.

Emi chuckled, realizing how her words must have sounded.

Penguin smirked and leaned in. "Wait, Emi, have you ever seen the captain asleep?"

Emi's face flushed slightly, and she tried to play it cool. "Not really."

Sachi raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Not really? That sounds like a 'yes' to me."

Penguin's grin widened. "Yeah, come on. If you've seen him asleep, then you've probably seen him in other... intimate situations, right?"

Emi's eyes widened. "What? No! It's not like that! I just... saw him taking a nap. You two are impossible!"

Penguin and Sachi exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying their teasing. "Oh, so you've seen him in his most vulnerable state. Interesting," Sachi said with a smile.

Emi shook her head, laughing. "Can we drop the sleep talk, please? Tell me about your adventures. Any interesting stories to share?"

The three of them exchanged their own adventures at sea, each recounting more incredible anecdotes than the last, their voices mingling with the sounds of the waves.

After a while, Emi excused herself and went back inside the submarine. Night had fallen, and it was time for her to prepare for rest, though her mind remained active, focused on the many tasks ahead and the challenges that each new discovery would bring.

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Thank you for reading this chapter! More action is on the way, so stay tuned!