Chapter 38: Fueling the Fire
~~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~~
After two weeks of sailing, the Marine ship was finally cutting through the waters of the Grand Line. They had crossed the treacherous Calm Belt, that deceptive ocean where the wind was nonexistent and sea monsters lurked beneath the surface, moving slowly to avoid the dangers of the area. Thanks to the ship's seastone-coated hull, they had passed unnoticed.
Emi watched the horizon, the vast waves of the Grand Line stretching endlessly before her. The deep blue of the ocean seemed infinite, only occasionally disturbed by the distant ripples of underwater creatures. Above her, Coco flew in circles, gliding gracefully through the sky. His feathers gleamed in the daylight, contrasting with the vastness of the sea.
As she gazed at the ocean, lost in thought, she felt a presence behind her. It was Smoker. He approached with his usual heavy and assured step, the other soldiers naturally stepping aside to make way for him. Without a word, he came up to Emi and addressed her in his usual gruff, commanding tone.
"Follow me," he ordered simply, without any explanation, as was his habit.
Emi, surprised but keeping her composure, nodded and followed without question. They crossed the deck, heading down toward the ship's private quarters, an area few had access to. The wooden floor creaked softly under their footsteps, and the muffled sounds of the busy sailors grew fainter as they descended deeper into the ship. Smoker finally opened a discreet door, gesturing for her to enter first.
Once inside, he closed the door behind them and turned to her with a serious expression.
"Emi Sato," he began. "You didn't come aboard just to write a simple article about G-5, did you?" he asked, taking a drag from his cigar. "I know."
Emi's brow furrowed at the sound of her last name. Taking a deep breath, she locked eyes with him before responding. "You did some research on me?"
Smoker nodded. "On your father. You'd better keep a low profile once we get to Mary Geoise."
Emi clenched her fists subtly, her mind racing behind her calculated expression. She had never planned on following them all the way to the New World, let alone to Mary Geoise. Her original plan had always been to slip away quietly when they stopped at G-1 for a briefing. But now, with Smoker seeming to know more than he let on, things were getting complicated.
She stared back at him, a hint of defiance in her eyes. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Smoker sighed, another puff of smoke rising between them. "Let's just say his actions weren't forgotten. Many think you might be like him, so they're keeping an eye on you."
Emi felt anger rising within her—Smoker knew. He likely knew about her father's assassination. Or did he actually believe that ridiculous story about an accident?
She locked her dark eyes on Smoker's. "His actions? You mean how he was about to expose the government's corruption and embarrass them?" Her fists clenched as she continued, her tone sharper. "Don't you get it? You know my father was on their radar, yet you still believe his death was just an unfortunate accident?"
Smoker raised a hand. "Calm down, kid. That's not what I meant." He paused, searching for the right words. "I'm not here to defend the government," he said steadily. "I know not everything's clean on their side. But I'm telling you to be careful. Don't do something you'll regret."
Emi felt a mix of confusion and frustration. Was he trying to warn her? Why? Bullshit. Like he cared.
"You know what's happening," she said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment and disbelief. "You know, and yet you do nothing."
Smoker sighed, running a weary hand through his white hair but didn't respond right away. The weight of her words seemed to hang on his shoulders, and Emi knew he wouldn't argue with her. He knew. And that was the bitter irony.
"It's not that simple, kid," he finally replied. "Pick your battles wisely."
Emi didn't respond immediately, but deep down, she knew he was right—at least about that: She needed to be strategic.
"I'm not here to pick battles, Smoker," she said, her voice steady. "I'm going to face them all. Where you see compromises, I see cracks in a corrupt system. And if it costs me, so be it." Emi paused, holding his gaze, making her intentions clear before continuing, "I'm not going to Mary Geoise," she stated calmly. "I'll be getting off at the G-1 base."
Smoker sighed again, knowing that nothing he said would stop the young woman. He understood her more than he cared to admit. He had seen horrors, injustices far beyond his control, and there had been moments when he'd wondered if he should have just walked away. But it wasn't that simple.
"You know they're watching you, right? Maybe not now, maybe you've hidden your tracks well enough so far, but the moment you get too close, they'll know."
"I've made sure to stay under the radar. But you're right. Once I'm at G-1, things might change. And I'm ready for that."
Smoker studied her for a long moment, weighing his options. He didn't like this situation. Everything about it felt like trouble waiting to happen, but as much as he wanted to keep her in check, something told him this wasn't his fight. He could stop her, pull rank, and put an end to this recklessness—but deep down, he didn't really want to.
"I won't hold you back, but I can't protect you if things go south. So, make sure you're certain," he said at last.
Emi nodded, acknowledging the warning in his words. In his own gruff way, this was a gesture of trust, even if it was reluctant. She cast one last look at Smoker before leaving the room, the smoke from his cigar still hanging in the air. Her thoughts were racing, but one thing was clear: she wouldn't let injustice win, even if it meant waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
.~~~~
Emi watched as the shores of Marineford came into view on the horizon, her thoughts swirling as she grasped the significance of the moment. The Marine ship was slowly approaching the imposing base, and she felt a wave of apprehension rise within her. G-1, once a simple base, now stood much more formidable. The place was far different from anything she could have imagined. She was impressed by how quickly they had moved the headquarters and rebuilt the base right after the war.
The base was surrounded by a circular stone wall, dotted with turrets, and dominated by a stone tower that loomed over everything. Two massive arches converged at the center of the base, giving the whole place a sense of grandeur and power.
The ship finally docked, and Emi disembarked alongside Max and Kelly. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. She had finally arrived. She gazed at the walls of the G-1 base before turning her eyes to the two Marines, who had remained silent, clearly absorbed by the vastness of Marineford. She inhaled deeply, then turned to them with a serene smile, hiding the true decision she had just made.
"I'm going for a walk," she said, her voice calm and measured.
Max shrugged, not asking any questions. "Alright, we'll meet up later then."
Kelly, more curious, furrowed her brow slightly but nodded without pressing further.
Emi gave them one last smile before turning away, feeling a small pang of regret as she parted from the two Marines who had done their best to support her during the journey.
Her gaze quickly swept over the dock, where Smoker and Tashigi were talking near the ship. Smoker, as always, wore his focused expression, cigar between his lips, but it was Tashigi who noticed her. As soon as their eyes met, the young woman's cheeks turned bright pink. The memory of that awkward moment when Emi had caught them kissing flashed back into her mind.
Emi raised her hand in a reassuring gesture. "Don't worry," she called out to Tashigi, moving slightly closer, just enough so Smoker wouldn't hear. "I'm not one to gossip, especially not about a relationship that seems... serious." She paused, teasingly. "At least, I hope so!"
Tashigi's eyes widened before she smiled shyly, visibly relieved. Smoker, engrossed in giving orders, hadn't noticed the exchange. Emi hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance at the Vice Admiral. She knew she couldn't leave without at least thanking him, even if his temperament often left her puzzled. She took a deep breath and walked toward him, well aware that he wasn't the kind of man who appreciated long expressions of gratitude.
She felt the tension in the air as she thought about what to say. From the start, their situation had been complicated—marked by distrust and hidden agendas. She had dug into confidential files, and he knew it. But she had something on him, something she should have never seen: the moment she caught him and Tashigi together.
She had never used that information, but she knew it offered her some protection. It was a fragile balance. And even though he could report her at any moment for lying about her intentions onboard—pretending to write an article on G-5—Smoker had chosen to stay silent. Maybe because he knew that the death of her father was tied to something darker.
"Smoker," she began, choosing her words carefully, "I just wanted to, uh, thank you for letting me come aboard with you..."
Smoker, ever impassive, took a drag from his cigar, his stern gaze fixed on her. A long silence hung between them before he spoke, his voice rough and measured.
"Don't make me regret this, kid." He exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression betraying no emotion.
Emi held his gaze, fully aware of the weight of his words.
"I guess you could've reported me from the start," she said calmly, "but you didn't."
Smoker glanced at Tashigi, who had remained in the background, discreetly watching the conversation. He then turned back to Emi, his expression growing even more serious.
"I'm not the kind to overlook things like this, but... what happened to your father is different. I don't have all the answers, but I know something stinks." He paused, his eyes hardening. "That's why I'm letting you go. But be careful once you're out there. If you get caught up in something too big for you, no one will be able to save you."
Emi felt her heart tighten, but she nodded, recognizing the warning for what it was. Smoker wasn't letting her go out of sympathy; he knew she was chasing a truth that was beyond even him, something that could challenge his own loyalty to the Marines.
"Don't worry," she finally replied, with a sly smile. "No trouble."
Smoker grunted, but slowly nodded. Emi gave him a final nod in return before turning her focus to the buildings in front of her. Now, it was all about her mission, and she was more determined than ever.
As she walked through the narrow corridors reserved for journalists, her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She had never been here before, more used to the old G-1 base back when she was still in the New World. Yet Emi moved forward with purpose, her mind fixed on one goal. She knew exactly where she was going. Despite her unfamiliarity with the place, it wasn't hard to spot the large door leading to the World Economy News Paper offices.
She took a deep breath before pushing it open. The door creaked slightly on its hinges, and immediately, all conversation stopped. The journalists looked up from their work, their eyes heavy with suspicion. They knew who she was. And they knew why she was there. A tense silence filled the air.
Emi, however, didn't flinch. She was used to those looks, that wariness. None of it could distract her from her goal. She spotted Samuel, the only friendly face in a sea of hostility. He stepped toward her, his expression filled with sadness and regret.
"Emi," he murmured, his voice full of concern. "You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous."
She simply looked at him, her face unreadable. "You know exactly why I'm here."
Samuel sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to change her mind. He glanced at the other journalists, who were still watching her with barely concealed distrust. Their presence didn't bother her in the slightest. To her, they were just background noise, indifferent figures standing in the way of her mission.
"Come," Samuel said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder as he guided her to a separate room. They moved away from the prying eyes, and once inside the small space, he quietly closed the door behind them. The distant clatter of typewriters and hushed conversations faded into the background.
"It's good to see you again, even under these circumstances," Samuel said, his eyes revealing the exhaustion and sorrow he carried.
Emi nodded, but her gaze remained hard and resolute. "It's been a while, Sam," she said, trying to maintain a calm tone despite the weight of tension on her shoulders. She took a deep breath before continuing, "I need to understand what happened."
Samuel exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping as he sat across from her. He hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words to convey the horror of the event. Finally, he began, his voice low, like he was recounting a nightmare that refused to fade.
"Your father... He was investigating the Noble of Veloria, you already know that. But things took a terrible turn. The building where he was suddenly caught fire. A devastating blaze, quick—too quick, even. Your father... he got trapped inside." Samuel paused, visibly weighed down by the memory. "We did everything we could to try and get him out... but it was too late. We couldn't save him."
Emi felt her stomach tighten, her body frozen by a wave of raw pain. Her hands trembled slightly, her mind overwhelmed by an unbearable image: her father, trapped in the flames, unable to escape. The thought that he might have suffered, burned alive, hit her harder than words could express. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to contain the storm of emotions threatening to overtake her. But the anger inside her rose, as scorching as the fire that had claimed her father.
"Sam..." her voice was low, almost a whisper, but filled with barely contained fury. "Who did this?"
Samuel looked at her, his expression grim. "The Cipher Pol. Almost certainly. Your father discovered something he wasn't supposed to. The Noble of Veloria, the one he was investigating, is much closer to the Cipher Pol than we thought. He's using their agents to protect himself. There were threats made against your father—explicit ones. The Noble told him that if he didn't drop the investigation, he would regret it. That he would act on behalf of the World Government."
"But he didn't back down," Emi murmured, knowing her father's determination. He had never let himself be intimidated.
"No, he didn't. He wanted to bring justice to the Velorians, to put an end to the Noble's reign. But it was too big, too risky. The Cipher Pol handled the dirty work, and now, everything's been covered up, sealed, buried."
Emi gritted her teeth, her hands balling into fists. The Cipher Pol... She knew there were multiple divisions, each specializing in different missions. Figuring out which one had been mobilized by the government would take time.
"Do you have any idea which section it was?" she asked.
Samuel took a moment to think before answering. "Well, CP9 is the only division specialized and authorized for assassinations. Officially, they don't exist, but we all know they're real…"
Emi frowned, recalling that CP9 had supposedly been dismantled after their defeat at Enies Lobby at the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates.
"They're still active?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Samuel sighed, "Their status became uncertain, so we ruled them out. However, CP2..." he said, his voice grim. "They specifically handle the affairs of the nobles. It wouldn't be a coincidence if the Noble of Veloria is using them to cover his crimes."
Emi felt the weight of the truth crashing down on her. Everything was falling into place, each piece of the puzzle revealing a darker picture than she had imagined. This wasn't just about a corrupt noble. It was the Cipher Pol, the World Government, all intertwined in the same web of power and corruption. All responsible for her father's death.
"Damn," she muttered, her eyes burning with fierce determination. "The Noble, the Cipher Pol, the government... they're all involved. I'll make them pay, Sam."
"Emi, do you realize what you're saying?" Samuel asked, his tone filled with concern. "You'll never be able to take down the government. They use the Cipher Pol to protect nobles like him. Even if you uncover the truth, you won't be able to touch them. They're untouchable."
"I know," she replied sharply. "I'm being realistic, Sam. I know I can't bring down the World Government by myself. But the Noble... I can take him down. He has to pay for what he did to my father. And I have to free the Velorians from his grip, just like my father would have. I have to honor his memory."
Samuel, visibly affected, furrowed his brow, searching for the right words. "Emi, this quest for revenge... it's blinding you. If they suspect anything, they'll come after you."
Emi shook her head, her gaze unwavering. "I'm not afraid of them. I've stayed here too long anyway," she sighed, her voice softening. "I don't want to put you in danger." She looked up at him, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "If we talk too long, they might start suspecting you, too. You can't afford to get caught up in this."
Samuel stepped forward, as if to stop her from leaving, but Emi raised her hand to cut him off. "I have to do this alone. I can't afford to lose anyone else I care about."
Samuel placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression hardening. "Emi, as a friend of your father, I'm telling you—drop this. You don't realize how dangerous this is. They have the power to crush all of us."
Emi pulled away from his grasp sharply. "I can't let this go, Sam. They have to pay for what they did!"
Samuel made one last attempt to reason with her, his voice trembling with concern. "Emi, you're going to get yourself killed. This isn't what your father would have wanted."
She stood up abruptly, struggling to contain her frustration. "Thanks for the information, Sam. But I have to do what I have to do."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of his office, leaving Samuel behind with his worries. He watched her leave, his heart heavy with concern for Emi's uncertain future.
The hatred within her burned fiercely, a flame consuming everything in its path. They had dared to take her father's life, her beloved father, the one who had always shown her light in the darkness. Every memory of his smile, his laughter, filled her with overwhelming sadness, but that same sadness fueled her disgust and contempt for those responsible for his death. Emi's anger mixed with deep sorrow, creating a storm of emotions in her heart. How could they—those heartless monsters—believe they could live in peace after ripping someone she loved out of her life? They had caused so much suffering, and she could no longer sit idly by.
As she walked through the halls of the Times, the whispers and weighted stares from the journalists surrounded her, each hushed word and curious glance feeding her irritation. She felt a growing sense of disgust, not only for those people but for what they represented. Vultures, only there to report facts without ever understanding the true pain or injustice behind them.
Emi suddenly stopped, her icy gaze sweeping the room. Their indifference sickened her. They were no better than the ones they condemned—just observers, safe from any danger, never willing to get their hands dirty in the name of truth.
"Don't you people have anything better to do !? Pathetic. All of you !" she shouted, her voice cutting through the sudden silence like a blade.
The workers, caught off guard, quickly looked away, pretending to return to their tasks. But Emi knew they would continue talking the moment her back was turned. She clenched her fists, disgust mixing with a simmering rage.
She left the building at a brisk pace, the fresh air hitting her as she stepped through the doors. Even though that burst of air gave her a brief sense of relief, the weight in her chest remained. The journalists at the Times were no better than the people who had taken her father's life. They watched, they analyzed, but they never took a stand.
Emi knew this mission was suicidal. But staying here, passive, watching the world go by like they did, was impossible for her. The pain of her loss, combined with the burning hatred for those responsible, fueled her resolve. The people who had killed her father had to pay. No matter how powerful the enemy was, she couldn't turn a blind eye like they did.
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
Thanks for reading this chapter! Emi is steadily advancing on her path to revenge. Stay tuned, the action is just getting started!