Chapter 31
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
Emi was in the training room, excited to test the new bombs that Ambre had recently sent her through Coco. She was eager to see how effective they would be in action. Accompanied by Sachi and Bepo, who were just as enthusiastic about seeing these new gadgets in action, they set up mannequins against the wall.
As she examined the bombs, Emi recalled Ambre's note, which explained the important details about how they worked. She had discovered a whistle in Coco's pouch, and it turned out that this whistle was the key to activating the bombs. According to Ambre's instructions, it was the sound of the whistle that triggered the explosions; no other mechanism would work. Emi had been warned to be very careful not to lose it, as without it, the bombs would remain inactive.
The ingenuity of it fascinated her. By using the whistle, she could control the exact moment the bombs would explode, which offered valuable flexibility during operations. She checked the whistle one last time before carefully placing it around her neck, ready to put this new technology to the test.
"Are these real bombs?!" Bepo asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Yep! But they're only meant to destabilize the enemy. Ambre always pays attention to the details," Emi replied, adjusting her stance for the upcoming attack.
Sachi watched closely, eyebrows raised with a smirk. "Well, let's see then."
With fluid and agile movements, Emi launched into a mock attack, pretending to strike the mannequins before slipping behind them with stealth, skillfully sticking the rubber bombs onto their backs. Then, in a swift motion, she blew into the whistle, signaling to her companions that the show was about to begin.
The three of them watched eagerly as the bombs activated, a series of small "booms" ringing out as the mannequins were hit. But suddenly, in addition to the small explosions, massive detonations followed, creating a deafening sound and blowing apart a section of the training room wall.
"Holy shit..." Emi murmured, staring at the destruction with wide eyes.
Sachi and Bepo exchanged a look of disbelief before turning to Emi, half shocked, half amused.
"They're only meant to destabilize the enemy, huh?" Sachi said with a mocking smile. "Well done, Emi. Now we need a new wall."
Emi blushed slightly, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment. "Sorry, it wasn't supposed to be that violent."
Emi truly hadn't expected the bombs to be so powerful. Ambre could have mentioned this important detail, she thought, pouting. It wasn't like her to create lethal weapons. Luckily, the explosion hadn't damaged an external wall of the submarine, just a wall separating two rooms.
Penguin, alerted by the explosion, burst into the room, shocked, his mouth hanging open. As the chief mechanic, he cherished the submarine and always made sure it was in top shape. Seeing part of the wall destroyed filled him with despair, and his worried gaze scanned the room.
"Emi, what did you do to the submarine?! It's going to take us hours to fix this!" he said, his face full of dismay.
Meanwhile, Bepo was looking at himself in a mirror, his beautiful white fur now completely black from the smoke and debris. He raised his arms, clearly confused.
"Is this going to come off?" he asked in a plaintive voice.
Emi looked at the poor bear's fur, trying not to laugh, while Penguin rushed over to Bepo with a cloth, attempting to clean the bear's fur.
"Don't worry, Bepo, we'll get you all cleaned up," Penguin said as he scrubbed vigorously, but it only spread the soot around, making Bepo even blacker.
Sachi, watching the scene, burst out laughing at Bepo's state. "He looks like a burnt teddy bear!"
Penguin shot an exasperated look at the bear before turning to Emi. "The captain's going to love hearing about this."
Emi paled at the thought of Law finding out about the disaster. "Maybe we could... not tell him? I mean, he doesn't need to know everything, right?"
Penguin narrowed his eyes. "Have you ever tried hiding something from Law?"
Sachi nodded vigorously. "Bad idea. Very bad idea."
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Law stormed into the room, followed by Jean Bart. Law had a shocked expression that Emi never thought she'd see. He stared at Bepo's blackened fur with wide eyes. He seemed more concerned about the state of the polar bear than the wall.
"Bepo!" Law shouted, his voice betraying his worry.
Bepo nodded, trying to reassure his captain. "I'm fine, Captain, it's just a bit of soot."
Law sighed in relief before finally turning to Emi, his brows furrowed, ready to reprimand her.
"Emi, care to explain?" he asked, his voice calm but full of authority.
Emi straightened up, her brows knitting in indignation at the implicit accusation in Law's gaze.
"You didn't even take the time to ask what happened, and you're already accusing me?" she retorted, outraged.
Law let a heavy silence settle between them, his piercing gaze cutting through Emi with a cold intensity. He stared at her, visibly annoyed, his eyebrows still furrowed. She wasn't supposed to have bombs on her, that much was clear. He couldn't believe he had let his guard down, even for a moment.
"Journalist-ya, you're not supposed to be carrying bombs." His eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on her. "I thought I'd confiscated everything that could cause… this kind of damage." He crossed his arms, his gaze sharp and accusatory.
The weight of the silence made Emi realize that he wouldn't let this go without a full explanation. She dropped her eyes, biting her lower lip before sighing.
"I didn't think it would be… that explosive."
Law let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his messy black hair. It was clear he was upset about the situation, but he also knew he had to find a way to fix the damage.
"Sachi, Journalist-ya, you're going to fix this. Right now," he finally declared, his tone making it clear he wouldn't let this incident slide without consequences.
Sachi opened his mouth to protest, feeling the unfairness of the situation since he hadn't done anything. But orders were orders. He nodded, resigned. "Yes, Captain," he replied before getting to work.
Emi, aware of Sachi's frustration, turned to him to apologize. "Sorry, Sachi."
Sachi sighed but eventually smiled. "Don't worry about it, but you owe me a favor for this," he said, gathering the necessary tools. "Maybe… a shoulder massage tonight?" he added, a playful glint in his eye.
Emi rolled her eyes, immediately catching on to his intentions. "In your dreams, Sachi!" she replied before giving him a friendly punch on the arm. The redhead pretended to wince in pain but smiled all the same.
"Okay, okay, I get it," he said with a laugh. "Let's go fix that wall, then."
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
The sun had barely reached its peak, marking the start of the afternoon, when the Polar Tang cut through the waves with confidence. The crew was busy with their usual tasks when Bepo, from the lookout post, spotted something unusual on the horizon.
"Captain! A ship ahead, straight ahead!" he shouted.
Law, his brow furrowed, made his way to the main deck, followed by Penguin, Sachi, and Emi. They all looked toward the horizon and saw a ship approaching. Its black and red sails, tattered by the wind, gave it a sinister appearance.
"What is that wreck?" asked Sachi, perplexed.
"It's not a pirate flag, nor a Navy ship," Penguin noted, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Law, ever cautious, ordered the crew to be on guard. "Prepare for anything. We don't know what we're dealing with."
As the ship drew closer, its details became clearer. It seemed old, its wooden planks worn by time and the elements. Yet, despite its dilapidated appearance, it exuded a mysterious and intimidating aura. Emi watched closely. There was something strange about this ship...
Eventually, the vessel stopped at a reasonable distance from the Polar Tang, and a gangplank was lowered to allow a visit on board. Law, still wary, instructed his crew to stay alert as they observed the newcomers.
Three figures emerged on the deck of the mysterious ship. Leading them was an old blind woman, leaning on a cane encrusted with gems. Her white hair cascaded around her wrinkled face, but she carried an imposing presence. Behind her, two men in full armor followed, their faces hidden by intimidating helmets.
The old woman lifted her head as if she could see despite her blindness. "Welcome aboard my floating shop," she declared in a surprisingly strong and clear voice. "I am Uluria, and these are my guardians."
Law took a step forward, cautious but curious. "What do you want?"
The old woman gave an enigmatic smile. "I sail across the seas, trading and selling ancient and rare items. My ship is a traveling shop, known in the far corners of the seas."
Intrigued, Emi also stepped forward. "Never heard of that."
"Perhaps you'll find something that piques your curiosity." Uluria replied, turning towards her as if she could sense Emi's interest.
Penguin and Sachi exchanged glances, clearly interested. "This might be a good chance to see some rare items," Sachi murmured.
Law, still on guard, nodded slowly despite himself. "Show us what you have to offer. But know we're staying alert."
Uluria nodded in agreement. "As you wish, Captain."
The Polar Tang crew followed the old woman and her guards onto her ship. Inside, it looked like a true Aladdin's cave. Shelves were lined with ancient books, display cases filled with mysterious jewelry, and relics from bygone eras scattered the space.
Emi's heart raced. "This is incredible... Everything here must be priceless."
Uluria nodded. "Every item here has a story, a rich past. And I am here to share them with those who are worthy."
The Polar Tang crew spread out across the merchant ship, each drawn to different artifacts. Bepo's eyes sparkled as he examined old maps, while Penguin and Sachi marveled at ancient weapons. Emi, on the other hand, was captivated by a collection of old books and manuscripts, wondering what stories and secrets they might hold.
As Emi explored the collection of ancient books and manuscripts, her curiosity grew with every title she read. The library was a true treasure of history, with books detailing the rise and fall of kingdoms, accounts of legendary battles, and tales of forgotten lands. She carefully scanned the shelves, searching for clues about the hidden histories of the world.
Her eyes landed on a particular volume, its worn cover ornately decorated, suggesting its age and significance. As she opened it, she found it to be a historical compendium detailing various kingdoms and islands. The pages were filled with detailed illustrations and maps, accompanied by accounts of historical events.
Emi's heart skipped a beat when she saw the name "Flevance" in the index. She quickly skimmed through the sections related to the island, noting every piece of information she could gather about its history, its people, and the catastrophic events that led to its destruction. The book offered a deeper understanding of the island's trials, painting a vivid picture of the once-prosperous land, now reduced to a tragic memory.
Emi's resolve hardened as she realized the importance of what she had found. Law's origins were tied to this tragic story, and learning more about Flevance could provide valuable context for understanding his past. With firm determination, she decided to take the book with her, hoping to uncover more about the island Law came from.
Meanwhile, Law was carefully observing the crew's and the guards' every move. Though everything seemed peaceful, his instincts as captain didn't allow him to let his guard down. As he passed a display case containing strange artifacts, a stone reacted instantly to his presence, emitting a bright glow. Uluria, who had sensed it, smiled, knowing what it meant.
The old woman slowly approached before explaining, "It's a resonance stone. It reacts to those with exceptional willpower."
Emi, who was passing by, frowned at the revelation. Exceptional willpower? Surely she wasn't talking about the Will of D.?
Law had never mentioned this before, but considering how he always kept many secrets, it wouldn't surprise her if he had hidden this as well. Or was she overthinking it? It was unlikely that he carried the D. Otherwise, it would have been marked on his wanted poster. Or perhaps, being someone discreet who didn't like drawing attention, he had chosen not to define it?
"Trafalgar…" she murmured, her thoughts racing. She had never suspected that Law might be one of those rare individuals marked by the D.
Law, silent, observed the stone for a moment before turning to Emi with a sigh.
"This stone simply confirms what I already am."
Emi's eyes widened. She couldn't tell if he was mocking her or challenging her to discover the truth on her own. The mystery surrounding Law only deepened, and it troubled her as much as it intrigued her. She recalled her research on the meaning of the D., a mystery she had never managed to unravel. And now, here she was, standing before someone who bore that symbol.
Still lost in her thoughts, Emi continued exploring the ship. She stopped in front of a mirror adorned with strange patterns, staring at her reflection. As she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a blurry image suddenly appeared behind her. She turned sharply, but there was nothing. She frowned and looked at the mirror again, and suddenly, the image shifted to show the Polar Tang, broken in two and sinking into the ocean.
Emi froze, her breath catching in her throat, her eyes fixed on the mirror in disbelief. The Polar Tang… broken in two? Impossible. Her hands trembled slightly as she took a step back, her heart racing.
"No, it's just…" she began to murmur to herself, trying to find a rational explanation. But before she could delve further into her thoughts, a calm voice echoed behind her.
"This mirror is ancient and carries echoes of the future. Sometimes, it shows things we would rather never see."
Emi turned abruptly and saw Uluria standing in the shadows. Emi's anxiety surged. Visions of the future? And this mirror was part of that? She couldn't accept such an idea.
"The... the future?" she stammered, but the words caught in her throat.
"It's only one possibility among many," Uluria added in a soft but enigmatic voice.
Emi was overwhelmed by a wave of denial. The Polar Tang couldn't be destroyed. Law, Bepo, Penguin, Sachi… No, she didn't want to believe it. Should she tell them about it? But she didn't want to worry them for nothing. She chose to remain silent, refusing to believe in this terrifying vision. She moved away to rejoin the rest of the crew, trying to push the thought out of her mind.
After some time spent exploring the merchant ship, Law gave the order to return to the submarine. As they boarded the vessel, Emi cast one last glance at the merchant ship behind them, her heart still heavy with doubt.
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
As Emi made her way through the narrow corridors of the submarine, heading to her cabin to put away the history book she had taken from the merchant ship, a faint sound came from her bag.
Purururu purururu.
She stopped, glanced inside, and spotted the Den Den Mushi—the one connecting her to the Big Mom pirate. Oh no... She wasn't ready for this call. She hadn't yet decided what she could or should tell him. Between the information she absolutely couldn't reveal because of Law and what might temporarily satisfy the pirate until they located Caesar, it was a tricky situation.
She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She needed to organize her thoughts, quickly sort through what she knew about Caesar, and most importantly, figure out what she could share without crossing the dangerous line Law had drawn.
With a slightly nervous smile, she answered. "The sky is blue," she said, hoping her voice sounded steady.
The snail slowly transformed, taking on the features of the pirate, his face twisted with irritation. His deep voice boomed immediately: "You! You've got some nerve! What the hell happened last time? Drunk like a fool, and you dare waste our time?"
Huh?
Emi furrowed her brow, confused for a moment. What was he talking about? He hadn't contacted her since… oh no. She remembered now, the hazy memory of that night when she lost control after downing drinks with Sachi and Penguin during that stupid card game. She pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes for a second, cursing her lack of vigilance. But she wasn't about to let a pirate walk all over her.
She let a few seconds pass, waiting for him to finish his rant. Then, in a sharp tone, she replied:
"I might've had a... momentary lapse, but you'd do well to remember who you're talking to. I'm the one holding the information here, not you."
A tense silence followed, and she knew he was stewing, probably fuming on the other end. She didn't need to justify herself. After all, she was the one in control of this conversation, and he couldn't get anything without her. The pirate eventually growled, his voice thick with frustration:
"A distraction, huh? If you can't do your job properly, I'll find someone who can!"
Emi rolled her eyes. "Oh, cut the drama. If you're still on the line, it's because I've got something interesting for you, right? If you want to know what Caesar's up to and where he is, you'd better change your tone. Otherwise, you can go ahead with the scraps you already have… which isn't much."
Another heavy silence settled. He wasn't used to being talked back to, but Emi knew she had what he wanted. Eventually, he cooled down, his voice losing some of its edge:
"Alright... What've you got for me?"
Emi smiled inwardly. It was a good sign he seemed desperate to gather intel. He must've been having a rough time, hunting for Caesar and dreading Big Mom's wrath. She straightened up slightly, adopting a more relaxed posture while keeping her gaze coldly focused on the Den Den Mushi.
"Recent info on Caesar. Good news: he hasn't ditched you. He's deep into his research. And it might just be related to Big Mom."
Of course, that was only half the truth. Caesar's research had nothing to do with Big Mom. It was Joker—Doflamingo—who was really pulling the strings behind this operation. But Law had made it clear: she couldn't reveal that.
The pirate pressed her, "And where's he conducting this research?"
Emi felt the tension rising. She didn't have much to give, but she needed to stay calm. Playing the distraction card seemed like her best bet for now. She took a breath and responded:
"One thing at a time, pirate. He's working on a giantification project, isn't he?"
The pirate's eyes widened in surprise. That information was supposed to be known only by a select few, so how could a simple journalist know about Big Mom's project? "How do you know that?" he asked.
Emi feigned confidence, nodding as if she expected his reaction. "I've got my sources. You know I don't spill unless I'm sure of my facts."
She knew bringing up the giantification project was risky, but it was the only card she had to play. Fortunately, it seemed to have done the trick. The pirate frowned, looking ready to push further, but suddenly a muffled noise echoed in the background of the Den Den Mushi. Emi squinted, trying to figure out what was happening. The pirate glanced off-screen, his features tightening with sudden tension.
"Damn it... Listen, I've got an emergency. We'll talk about this later. Keep your info safe until I reach out again. Got it?"
Emi nodded, relieved she didn't have to drag out this dangerous conversation any longer. "Understood."
The pirate abruptly hung up, cutting off the transmission before she could add anything else. Emi remained still for a few seconds, watching as the Den Den Mushi fell silent in her hand. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Phew. She'd made it through this time, but she needed to be more careful in the future. She couldn't keep bluffing forever, especially if the pirate came back with more specific questions. Hopefully, by then, she'd have more information… or at least something solid to back up her lies.
As the tension finally left her body, a surge of frustration bubbled up inside her. She threw an irritated glance at the ceiling of the submarine, as if addressing someone directly. Damn it, Law… This was all his fault. She shoved the Den Den Mushi into her satchel with an abrupt motion, exasperated. Because of him, she was stuck improvising lies to appease Big Mom's pirates, constantly at risk of being exposed.
She sighed again and resumed her walk to her cabin. She'd had more than enough for one day. Between their escapades on the merchant ship, fixing the wall with Sachi, and that tense conversation with Big Mom's pirate, her mind was exhausted.
Gently closing the door behind her, she dropped her satchel onto a chair and headed straight for her bed. She collapsed onto the mattress, closing her eyes and pulling the blanket over herself. Her thoughts were still spinning in her head, but she tried to quiet them for just a moment.
"I'll deal with it later…" she murmured, sinking deeper into the sheets.
Just a little nap, she thought. A few minutes to regain her strength.
~~~~o~~~O~~~~o~~~~
Thank you for reading! I know these are lots of filler chapters, but I plan to integrate the main action soon as well. I know it took me over 30 chapters, lol, but I have so many scene ideas that I can't fit them all together!
More action is coming so stay tuned !