Chapter 2: From conversations to revelation
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Emi walked into the inn where she had booked a room for a few days. She gave a small wave to the receptionist, who recognized her, then headed upstairs toward her room, relieved to finally get some peace and quiet after the evening's chaos.
As she opened the door, she was greeted by the cheerful squawk of her loyal seagull, Coco. Well, to be precise, a News Coo—the same kind of seagulls that deliver newspapers across the seas.
But to Emi, Coco was much more than that. This bird was her partner in the hunt for information. Coco always brought her the news before anyone else, and she was also Emi's courier for delivering articles to her clients. In her line of work as a journalist, Coco was an invaluable ally.
Dropping her belongings with a sigh of relief, Emi quickly changed into dry clothes and flopped onto the soft bed, her mind already turning over strategies for her next meeting with Trafalgar Law.
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Law had left the tavern with his crew, an inevitable decision after the commotion caused by the journalist's intervention against the pirates who had dared to lay a hand on her. Everyone had dispersed throughout the town, attending to their own affairs before regrouping at the submarine. As for Law, he was heading to a local library, hoping to find interesting books on medicine.
As he walked, the image of the journalist he had met earlier came to mind. A most unusual encounter, especially ironic considering it was usually him seeking information from reporters, not the other way around. Indeed, in the context of his plan against Doflamingo, every detail mattered, even the tiniest ones, and journalists were a significant source of information that fueled his strategies.
At first, he had been irritated by her questions about his motivation to save the Straw Hat. However, after thinking about it, he realized he could turn the situation to his advantage. Perhaps she possessed valuable information he could extract from her, thus reversing the roles in their exchange.
However, Law supposed he would probably not see her again. Moreover, their departure was imminent as he planned to leave the next morning, knowing the Log Pose would soon indicate the direction of the next island. Pushing thoughts of the journalist aside, Law entered the library and refocused on his current objectives.
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As Bepo strolled along the port, carrying a bag of freshly caught fish for the crew, he was suddenly stopped in his tracks by someone blocking his path. Curious, he squinted at the person. She greeted him with a big smile, but his guard quickly went up when he recognized the journalist he had briefly seen at the tavern earlier.
Emi had stepped out for a walk to enjoy the last rays of sunlight peeking through after the earlier rain, just before they disappeared for the day. By sheer coincidence, she found herself face-to-face with the Heart Pirates' polar bear. She was surprised by the encounter but couldn't help smiling at the situation. To her, he seemed like the only approachable member of the crew—someone she might actually be able to get information from. But she needed to be sure of that first.
She greeted him warmly. "Oh, good evening! We met at the tavern earlier, didn't we? I'm sorry for the commotion I caused with those awful pirates. I hope it didn't ruin your evening!"
Bepo, caught off guard, wasn't sure how to respond. On one hand, his captain didn't seem to like Emi's presence, but on the other hand, he didn't want to be rude by ignoring her. A hint of embarrassment crossed his face as he struggled to find the right words.
Sensing his hesitation, Emi added, "You're not very chatty for a talking bear, are you?" she teased with a playful smile.
Bepo lowered his head slightly. "Uh… sorry," he apologized instinctively, only to realize she was joking.
Emi chuckled softly at his reaction. Adorable—and maybe even easy to persuade. Perfect.
"You don't have to apologize for who you are. That's what makes you special," she said with a wink.
Bepo gave a shy smile, unsure how to handle compliments from a stranger. She didn't seem to mean any harm, but at the same time, he couldn't shake a bit of suspicion about her motives. After all, he was used to being mocked for being a talking bear.
Emi stepped closer, hands clasped behind her back, leaning slightly toward the bag Bepo was holding. "So, what's in there?" she asked with a wide grin.
Bepo hesitated for a moment, caught between his natural wariness and his tendency to avoid confrontation. Finally, he relented and opened the bag slightly, revealing its contents.
"It's just fish for the crew," he said, sounding a bit sheepish.
Emi stepped closer to get a look, putting on an impressed expression.
"You're really dedicated. I bet your crewmates are lucky to have you!"
"It's nothing, really," Bepo replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Emi took a deep breath, sensing she had found the perfect way to ease into extracting some information from the polar bear.
But just as she was about to ask his name, two men suddenly appeared, interrupting her.
"Hey, Bepo! What are you doing hanging out with a pretty lady?" called the man wearing a hat labeled "Penguin."
"Yeah, I thought you were only interested in female bears!" teased the redhead.
Emi recognized them instantly as Heart Pirates, proudly sporting their distinctive jumpsuits.
"Oh, it's that journalist from earlier!" the redhead said, clearly recognizing her as well.
Their initial amusement at seeing Bepo with a young woman quickly faded as they seemed to recall the incident at the tavern and the somewhat intrusive questions Emi had directed at their captain.
Emi watched them silently, masking her annoyance at their interruption. These two weren't going to make her job any easier, but she wasn't about to leave empty-handed.
Plastering a bright smile on her face, she said with mock cheerfulness, "What a coincidence running into you here! I was just taking a walk by the port, and I happened to bump into your friend Bepo."
She studied their expressions carefully. They seemed different from the typical rough-and-tumble pirates she'd encountered so far on the island—friendlier, less intimidating. Much less, in fact. And when she noticed the redhead's slightly flushed cheeks, her instincts kicked in, confirming her suspicion.
Flashing a mischievous smile, an idea forming, Emi said in a syrupy tone, "Well, now that I get a better look at you two... you're both rather charming, aren't you?"
The two pirates exchanged glances, visibly surprised but clearly flattered by Emi's unexpected compliment.
The redhead, trying to hide his enthusiasm, responded with a grin, "Well, we do our best to maintain our natural charm, hehe."
His friend, rubbing the back of his head as if to temper his delight, added modestly, "Yeah, but we can't really compete with the captain's charisma, right, Sachi?"
Emi suppressed a smile. Who would have thought it'd be this easy to strike up a conversation with members of the Surgeon of Death's crew? They were nothing like their captain. And that worked perfectly in her favor.
"Your captain…" she began, intending to steer the conversation toward Law.
But as the words formed, she stopped herself. It was too soon to directly inquire about the enigmatic leader of the Heart Pirates. She didn't want to come across as too pushy right away. Instead, she realized these two—Sachi, as she'd just heard, and Penguin, as his hat indicated—might have interesting stories to share, even if not directly related to Law. This was her chance to learn more about the crew as a whole. Once they were more at ease, she could push further.
"But your captain isn't the topic right now," she said with a playful wink. "I'm far more interested in you two."
The pirates' faces lit up at her words.
"Ah, now that's nice to hear!" Sachi exclaimed, clearly delighted to be the center of attention.
Emi smiled, satisfied that her charm had eased the tension and moved past the tavern incident.
Penguin, sensing an opportunity, made a subtle gesture toward Bepo, signaling for him to head back to the submarine. Bepo frowned, confused by the sudden exclusion. He had a bad feeling about being left out. But Penguin's insistence left little room for argument, and after a moment's hesitation, Bepo relented.
"All right... I'll leave you to it. I need to make sure these fish stay fresh," he announced, adjusting the bag on his shoulder.
Sachi gave him a companionable pat on the shoulder. "No worries, Bepo. We'll catch up with you soon."
Although still uneasy about leaving his crewmates with the journalist, Bepo kept his concerns to himself and nodded. Then, a thought crossed his mind: it might be wise to inform the captain about this encounter as soon as he returned to the Polar Tang.
Emi watched his figure retreat, a bit disappointed. He seemed intriguing, even if less talkative than the other two. She couldn't help but wonder about the peculiar polar bear's role in the Surgeon of Death's crew. Yet another question to add to her growing list.
Turning her attention back to Penguin and Sachi, she said with a teasing smile, "Now, where were we? Oh yes, you two charming pirates were about to tell me all about yourselves."
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Sachi and Penguin suggested stopping by a small shop nearby to buy some sake. Emi agreed readily, knowing that this would encourage the two pirates to speak more freely and openly, and she was also curious to see how these two would behave once alcohol was introduced into the conversation.
A few minutes later, they were sitting on the steps by the harbor, the sky painted with shades of orange and pink, and the bottles of sake already half-empty. Sachi and Penguin were in high spirits, swapping stories about their adventures.
"And then, BOOM! The Sea King charged right at us, so I got the cannon ready and—" Penguin began dramatically, only for Sachi to cut him off with a wave of his bottle.
"Hold on, hold on. I fired the cannon! You were too busy freaking out, saying your life was flashing before your eyes!"
Emi watched them with a smile, finding them endearing, though her thoughts were elsewhere. They were funny for a while, but their Sea King tales weren't exactly helping her get anywhere. Still, she forced herself to listen, waiting for the right moment to ask the real questions.
"And Bepo! He dove in and swam like crazy to get the sub's wheel back!" Sachi added, bursting into laughter.
"Bepo sure swims a lot," Emi said, forcing a smile. "How fascinating."
As the conversation went on, Emi learned that Bepo was the crew's navigator, responsible for charting their courses. Sachi and Penguin, on the other hand, were the submarine's mechanics, keeping it in shape no matter what trouble they ran into.
"Impressive," Emi said with a tone that could've passed for sarcasm. She took a sip of her sake, wondering how much longer she'd have to endure this comedic duo. It wasn't that their stories were boring—far from it. Emi had always been drawn to the mysteries of pirates, their shady motivations, and the wild tales that came with their lives. But this wasn't the time for that. She was on a mission—to get information.
The thought of it gave her a little thrill. She loved this part of her work—the challenge of getting what she wanted. Every success felt like a personal win.
What she wasn't so proud of was the fact that she wasn't just a journalist, even though that was the role she played most of the time. Sometimes, she worked as a spy for well-known pirates, helping them discreetly gather intel on rivals while avoiding unnecessary conflict. She only took on these jobs when the pay was worth it, which wasn't often.
But one thing was clear—she could be patient if the reward was worth it. And this time, her reputation was on the line.
After listening intently to Sachi and Penguin's lively stories about their time at sea, Emi decided it was time to steer the conversation toward the tricky subject of their captain, Trafalgar Law.
"You know, guys, your captain is truly incredible," Emi began, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "His reputation goes way beyond this island. Writing an article about your crew would be an amazing opportunity for you two! Imagine the fame you'd gain in the pirate world!"
She paused, letting her words sink in. Sachi and Penguin exchanged a glance, seemingly pondering the idea. To strengthen her pitch, she continued, "And think about the wanted posters with your faces on them! Imagine the respect you'd earn among pirates. Your captain would definitely be proud!"
Sachi's eyes lit up at the thought, while Penguin nodded with a grin. The idea of being recognized in the pirate world clearly appealed to them.
Emi, sensing their growing interest, pressed on, "Especially in the New World, reputation and recognition are crucial for survival. With your own notoriety, you'd be respected and feared. It would prepare you to face the dangers ahead."
"She's got a point..." Sachi admitted, his voice tinged with hesitation.
Penguin nodded again, a reluctant smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, we could be famous..."
Emi stifled a victorious smile. Her plan seemed to be working perfectly.
"But one step at a time," she said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Sachi's shoulder. He blushed slightly at the sudden gesture. "First, let's talk about your captain's motivations."
Sachi and Penguin exchanged another glance, silently agreeing to share surface-level details without risking their captain's wrath.
Sensing their hesitation, Emi leaned in, her voice calm but firm. "Look, I get it. Some things need to stay confidential, especially when it comes to your captain's plans. But this information is important to shape the story I write about you. A good article needs a solid angle."
After a moment of silence, Penguin sighed and turned to Emi with a resigned smile. "Honestly, we don't know much about the captain's motives. But what I can tell you is that he always has a reason for what he does. And that reason? He keeps it to himself, no matter how much we push him to share."
Sachi nodded in agreement. "That's true. The captain is the kind of guy who sleeps with his nodachi close by. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that he never makes a move without thinking it through."
Internally, Emi sighed. Great. This wasn't going anywhere. Still, she kept a polite smile on her face, ready to feign interest a bit longer in hopes they'd spill a real scoop about Law.
"I mean, a lot of what he does is tied to his past, especially with Coraz—"
Penguin abruptly cut him off with a sharp slap on the back of the neck.
"Damn it, Sachi, you weren't supposed to say that!"
Sachi, realizing his mistake, clapped a hand over his mouth, looking utterly guilty. A pity for Emi, who was finally on the brink of something interesting. She narrowed her eyes slightly, frustration bubbling within her at being so close to an important revelation.
Penguin, clearly annoyed, turned to her with a strained smile.
"Uh, sorry about that. Sachi has a habit of... oversharing, hehe."
Emi felt a wave of irritation rise. Who was this mysterious "Coraz..." that Sachi had nearly mentioned? She could feel it—she was on the verge of uncovering something crucial. If she pushed just a little more, she was certain they'd crack.
But before she could press further, a cold and authoritative voice cut through the air, making her jump. Law stood behind them, his face impassive but his irritation barely concealed. Emi held back a curse. Damn it, her opportunity had just slipped through her fingers.
The two pirates froze instantly, their nerves palpable under their captain's piercing gaze.
"Ah, Captain... uh... how long have you been standing there?" Sachi stammered, trying awkwardly to lighten the tension.
Law ignored him completely. His tone was calm but razor-sharp.
"We leave tomorrow morning. Make sure you're ready. Now."
Without hesitation, the two men jumped to their feet, replying with a hurried, "Yes, Captain!" before scurrying off like guilty schoolboys.
Emi watched them disappear into the shadows of the harbor as the last traces of daylight gave way to night. Then, she turned to Law, masking her frustration with a composed, almost casual expression.
"Good evening, Surgeon of Death," she said smoothly, her voice calm and nonchalant.
Law said nothing for a moment, his gaze resting on her with a mixture of wariness and quiet defiance. Finally, his voice broke the silence, cold and direct:
"What are you really after, Journalist-ya?"
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What will be the outcome of this conversation? Will Emi succeed in getting what she wants? Don't miss the next chapter to find out ~
I apologize in advance if some sentences seem odd, but English is not my first language and I am doing my best 🙏