Chapter 23: Island's Imperative
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As the ship repairs progressed, a problem emerged: one of the torpedo tubes had been more severely damaged during the Sea King's attack than they initially thought. Law examined the damage with a displeased frown. Without the right equipment, it would be impossible to fully repair the tube on-site. Specific parts and materials were needed, which they didn't have on board.
"We're going to have to make a detour to the main island," Law announced, pausing to assess the situation. They needed to find the necessary materials and metal to properly repair the torpedo tube. Navigating with an incomplete arsenal, especially in this region, was not an option.
Jean Bart volunteered to stay on the submarine and keep watch while the rest of the crew headed to the main island. This would give them the peace of mind needed to focus on finding the materials without worrying about the submarine's safety during their absence.
Meanwhile, the other crew members gathered, preparing the necessary equipment under their captain's orders.
Law cast a thoughtful glance at Emi, weighing what to do with her. After a moment of consideration, he decided to bring her along to the island. This would allow him to keep an eye on her, preventing any impulsive actions on her part, while also potentially making use of her journalistic skills if needed.
Emi, excited at the thought of going to the island, hurried to pack her things for the trip. She gathered her Den Den Mushi for reporting and her notepads, but as she finished collecting everything, she frowned, realizing she was missing something important. Her explosives were nowhere to be found. Then, she remembered that Law had confiscated them after catching her snooping around his quarters. Frustration bubbled up inside her, but she decided to keep quiet about it for now. After all, she would be with him on the island, and she probably wouldn't need the bombs right away. Still, she made a mental note to bring it up with him later, determined to get them back as soon as she had the chance.
With everything ready, Emi joined Law and the rest of the crew, who were all set to depart. Together, they left the submarine, heading toward the main island.
As the group made their way toward the island, Law slowed his pace to fall in step beside Emi. He looked at her with a serious expression, typical of his usually calculating and cautious demeanor.
"Journalist-ya," he began calmly, though with an underlying firmness.
Emi looked at him, a mix of expectation and slight apprehension on her face.
"Yes?" she responded, her tone betraying her curiosity.
Law paused briefly, then spoke with clear resolve. "I want to be very clear. No impulsive actions will be tolerated. Understood? No diving stunts or games of hide and seek today."
Emi rolled her eyes at his remark. "No need to worry about that. You've already confiscated my bombs, haven't you?" She stared at him for a moment, her expression half-serious, half-annoyed. "But at some point, you'll have to give them back. Otherwise, you might end up regretting taking them from me."
Law frowned, ready to respond, but before he could, Emi stuck out her tongue in a childish gesture and sprinted ahead to join the others. Law stood still for a moment, his gaze fixed on Emi as she rejoined the rest of the crew. He hadn't expected that reaction, let alone the childish gesture. A slight exasperation crossed his mind, but it was quickly swept away by a gentle breeze carrying a hint of orange.
That scent Emi often wore. There it was again, that fresh fragrance. It contrasted with the salty smell of the sea, clinging to her like a subtle signature. This detail, seemingly insignificant, always caught his attention. He frowned, shaking his head slightly to clear away those thoughts, which felt too inappropriate and distracting. Law resumed his determined stride, forcing his mind back to the task ahead.
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Upon arriving at the main island, the group was immediately struck by the stark contrast between the isolation of their previous stop and the bustling energy of this new place. The town stretched out before them, vibrant and lively; the port was especially busy, with boats of all sizes moored along the docks, including a few ships flying flags and colors that unmistakably indicated pirate affiliations. Despite this, the locals moved about with no sign of worry, suggesting they were well-accustomed to the frequent presence of pirates.
"Finally, a normal island!" Penguin exclaimed with a broad grin, wiping a mock sweat off his brow in relief. "No sea monsters, no slave trading, just a good old marketplace and friendly company."
Law observed cautiously, mentally noting the ships and their possible affiliations as he led his team through the crowded streets. The large market near the port was a hub of activity, where vendors of all kinds bartered their goods and sold exotic fruits and local crafts.
Reassured by the visible absence of Marines on the island, Law estimated that their stay would likely be peaceful, allowing them to focus on the repairs without the constant threat of conflict. This apparent tranquility allowed him to relax his usual hypervigilance, if only slightly.
As they made their way through the port, Sachi and Penguin spotted a group of local young women chatting near a fruit stall.
Sachi took a deep breath and adjusted his hat in what he assumed was a suave manner before approaching with a confident smile.
"Hey there, ladies. You know where we can find the best fruit on this island? Because clearly, the juiciest one seems to be right in front of me," he said with an awkward wink, gesturing toward one of the women.
Emi couldn't believe her ears when she heard Sachi's line. She stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide, as if she were witnessing a shipwreck in real-time. The scene unfolding before her surpassed all her expectations for sheer cheesiness.
Penguin chimed in with a mischievous grin, "Yeah, and maybe you could show us where to find more hidden treasures on the island?"
The young women exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. One of them, clearly entertained by the clumsy attempt at flirting, responded with a laugh, "Well, if it's fruit you're after, you'd better keep your eyes on the market and not on us. But who knows, you might find hidden treasures if you know where to look."
Undeterred and still cheerful, Penguin pressed on, "So, does that mean you'd be willing to give us a tour after you close up shop?"
Another woman in the group, playing along, quipped, "Maybe... if you can pick out the sweetest fruit from this stand without our help!" She pointed to a stall filled with vividly colored exotic fruits.
Sachi and Penguin eagerly accepted the challenge. Their attempts to impress with their culinary choices were just as clumsy as their attempts at flirting, drawing laughs from the two women.
In the end, after making a few questionable selections, the women praised them for their persistence, even though they had clearly chosen the least appetizing fruits from the stand.
Law watched his two crewmates with a hint of exasperation in his eyes, but he understood that the crew had been through tense moments recently. Deciding they deserved a bit of a break, he allowed them some time to unwind, acknowledging that they had earned a moment of lightheartedness.
Emi, less interested in the antics of the two pirates, wandered over to a bulletin board covered in posters and various announcements. Intrigued, she quickly scanned the wanted posters and advertisements until her eyes landed on a particularly colorful flyer. It advertised a local festival happening today, celebrating the new harvest, promising music, food, and various festivities. She now understood why the island was already so lively in the early morning.
What really caught her attention, however, was the mention of a dance competition with a grand prize of 50 million Berries for the winner. Emi's eyes widened in surprise at the high stakes of the contest, which was scheduled for that evening. The thought of participating crossed her mind, as winning would definitely replenish her funds...
She turned to look for Law, ready to bring it up to him, but seeing that he was deep in conversation with the crew, she decided to postpone the discussion for later.
To optimize their time on the island, Law decided to split the crew into two groups. Emi and Bepo would accompany him in the search for the materials needed to repair the submarine. They were tasked with finding local suppliers or perhaps even warehouses that might stock the precious parts and metals they required.
Meanwhile, Sachi and Penguin were assigned to gather provisions. Law gave them clear instructions to purchase supplies at the market, making sure they secured enough food to sustain the crew throughout the repair period and the journey back to North Blue.
"Get what we need and meet back here by late afternoon," Law ordered. "And try not to get into any trouble," he added, casting a pointed look at Sachi and Penguin, who nodded with slightly guilty smiles.
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The morning breeze of the island gently swept through the streets, causing Emi's long navy-blue skirt to flutter. It had a discreet slit that, when animated by the wind, occasionally revealed her pale, slender legs.
As Emi, Law, and Bepo navigated the island's alleys in search of materials for the submarine's repairs, they passed by a tavern from which the sounds of animated conversations and laughter spilled out, far too loud for the early hour. It seemed that some patrons had decided to extend their night well past dawn.
Suddenly, two men, clearly drunk, staggered out of the tavern. Their unsteady gait and raucous laughter sharply contrasted with the peaceful morning atmosphere of the street. Upon noticing Emi, they began to whistle loudly, their suggestive comments filling the air.
"Well, look what we've got here, a real little treasure on our island!" one of them shouted, followed by a crude laugh.
At first, Emi ignored them, continuing on her way with a hint of disdain. However, the men persisted, trailing behind her, their remarks growing increasingly disrespectful.
"Hey, don't just walk away, sweetheart," the other man called out, his voice slurred. "Why don't you come have a drink with us? We'll show you a good time."
Emi's jaw tightened, her steps quickening slightly. She was used to dealing with unwanted attention, but the situation was starting to grate on her nerves. Law, who had been walking slightly ahead, glanced back, his expression darkening as he noticed the two men closing in on her.
"Come on, have a drink with us!" the man shouted, trying to grab Emi's arm.
In that moment, Emi's patience vanished. Without a word, she turned sharply, her face displaying an icy calm. Before the two men could react, she delivered a swift, powerful kick that sent them flying backward, crashing back into the tavern they had just stumbled out of.
The noise of their fall, coupled with the sound of chairs and tables toppling over, instantly silenced the laughter and conversations inside the bar. A stunned silence followed, as the other patrons and the bartender themselves assessed the situation with wide-eyed disbelief.
Law, standing beside Emi, couldn't help but smirk slightly, pleased to see that Emi knew how to defend herself without losing her composure.
Emi, casually adjusting her skirt as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, turned and continued walking, leaving behind murmurs and astonished glances.
This wasn't new to her. With her short, curly hair framing her face in a way that suggested innocence, and her slender build, she was frequently seen as vulnerable. This image, combined with her usually gentle expression, often led people to label her as "cute," a description she found reductive and often irritating. For Emi, nothing was worse than being underestimated.
The group made their way to a large warehouse on the outskirts of the central market. They had heard rumors that this place offered an assortment of mechanical parts and weaponry that could be useful for repairing the submarine. Pushing open the rusted door, they entered a cluttered space filled with all sorts of scrap metal and electronic components.
They were greeted by an old man with a hunched back, sporting a thick mustache and round, unusual glasses that exaggerated his eyes. He looked at the newcomers with palpable curiosity, his gaze lingering briefly on Law and Emi before landing, with obvious surprise, on Bepo.
"Good day, gentlemen and lady," he began, his raspy voice betraying his age. "What can I do for you?"
"Hello, we're looking for parts to repair our submersible," Bepo replied politely, though his deep voice and the fact that a bear was speaking caused the old man to jump, nearly dropping the glasses he had been cleaning.
The old man blinked several times, adjusting his glasses as if to ensure he wasn't seeing things.
"A talking bear... in my warehouse? That's a first," he said, bursting into laughter.
Bepo, used to such reactions but always concerned about not causing alarm, lowered his head slightly and apologized, "Uh, sorry..."
The old man shook his head, a smile forming beneath his bushy mustache. "No worries, big guy, it's just that I don't often get the chance to chat with a bear! So, tell me, what kind of parts are you looking for exactly?"
Law joined the conversation, explaining in more detail what they needed.
As the old man led the two pirates through the crowded aisles of his warehouse, Emi took the opportunity to discreetly slip away from the group to explore on her own.
In the maze of dusty shelves and stacked boxes, she searched for ink bottles or any office supplies that might have been misplaced among the machine parts and tools.
As she rummaged, her gaze was drawn to a small wooden crate half-hidden under a tarp. She knelt down to examine it. Inside, she discovered several sealed ink bottles, perfectly preserved and exactly what she needed. Excited by her find, she continued to sift through the crate and also found a set of typewriter ribbons and a few finely crafted fountain pens.
While she was engrossed in her discoveries, a shadow suddenly fell in front of her. Emi looked up to see Law standing there with a raised eyebrow, looking skeptical. His hands were in his pockets as he scrutinized her closely.
"What are you up to, journalist-ya?" he finally asked, his tone curious but also slightly suspicious.
Still kneeling, Emi held up the items she'd found with a broad smile. "I found some treasures," she replied, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
Law stared at the items she was showing him, wondering how she had managed to find such things in a machine parts warehouse. She certainly had an eye for finding what seemed completely out of place in a place like this.
Law's expression turned serious again. "We found a part," he announced. "We're leaving soon, so hurry up and gather your things."
The old man, who had been watching them, seemed delighted with Emi's interest in his goods.
However, the moment of truth came when Emi turned to the old man to settle the bill. She searched her pockets, then, realizing she didn't have enough money on her, she turned to Law with a sheepish smile.
"Law, could you... uh, cover this for me?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with a hint of pleading.
Law, reluctant, looked at the pile of items and then at Emi, who was pouting. He sighed, unconvinced. "I'm not a bank, journalist-ya."
But Emi, determined, stepped closer, closing the distance between them, her serious expression emphasizing the importance of her request.
"These items are essential for my work. It's an investment, not an impulse buy. I promise, I'll pay you back," she insisted, her thoughts on the dance contest and the prize that could cover these expenses and more.
Law stared at her for a moment, searching her eyes for any sign of her usual impulsiveness, but all he saw was sincere determination for her professionalism.
With a resigned sigh, he finally nodded. "This is the first and last time I'm covering your unexpected expenses," he said, pulling out a small pouch from his pocket. He handed the money to the old man with a slightly exasperated expression.
"Thank you, Law. You'll see, this will benefit all of us," she replied, a triumphant smile lighting up her face.
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Thank you for reading this chapter! And thanks also to those who follow this fanfic and have bookmarked it and gave kudos, it makes me extremely happy :D