Chapter 53: The Cart Chase
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Law approached slowly, his piercing gaze immediately locking onto Emi.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.
Emi straightened her shoulders, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. "Nice to see you too, Law," she replied before continuing more seriously, "I'm here for the same reasons as you."
A silence settled between them, broken only by the metallic clanging of the distant rails. Law glanced up at the floating islands, his expression impassive, though it was clear his mind was hard at work.
"How exactly do you plan on getting up there?" Emi asked, breaking the silence.
Law frowned slightly, his eyes still on the islands. "We'll figure it out."
Emi raised an eyebrow, skeptical. So he didn't have a plan yet? That was unusual for someone as meticulous as him. But she recognized the stubbornness in his tone—he'd never admit needing help.
Before she could respond, Bepo stepped forward, ears perked up.
"Captain! The pirate and his crew are heading to the upper islands. They're gaining altitude fast," he reported, looking visibly nervous.
Seeing that they were running out of time, Emi clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. "Listen," she said, gesturing to Coco perched on her shoulder, "we could go together. It'd be much faster." She gently stroked her seagull. "Coco can take us there."
Penguin and Sachi exchanged excited looks, clearly thrilled with the idea.
"On your giant seagull? That'd be awesome!" Sachi said, grinning broadly.
But Law shut down their enthusiasm immediately, his tone sharp and unyielding. "No. It's too obvious."
Bepo lowered his head, embarrassed. "I… I lost sight of them. They sped up just before reaching another level."
Emi folded her arms, taking a moment to weigh the situation. Frustration bubbled beneath her calm exterior—Law's silence, his unwillingness to involve her, was maddeningly predictable.
She sighed, exasperated. "If you don't make a decision, I'm going ahead," she said, tying her hair into a ponytail, ready to take action.
A heavy silence hung in the air. Law's expression darkened as he tapped the hilt of his sword, clearly frustrated. He hated being forced into a corner, and he hated even more being pressured to compromise.
"Fine," he finally muttered, resigned.
A satisfied smile lit up Emi's face. She opened a small pouch from her satchel, pulled out a pill, and tossed it into Coco's beak. The seagull swallowed it with a cheerful squawk. Within seconds, Coco began to grow, her wings expanding dramatically until she reached an impressive size.
The Heart Pirates exchanged excited glances as Coco transformed into a massive bird.
"Incredible!" Penguin exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. "We're flying on that?"
Sachi was already approaching Coco, his hands reaching for her feathers.
"This is going to be awesome! I call the front seat!"
But Emi cut them off with a sharp gesture, her tone firm:
"Stop. Coco can't carry everyone at once. Two people, max."
The pirates halted in their tracks, visibly disappointed, but refrained from arguing.
"So, it'll be you and the captain," Penguin grumbled, deflated.
Law didn't bother responding.
"Head back to the Polar Tang," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for debate. "I want you to monitor the area and stay on high alert. If anything goes wrong here, be ready to act."
Sachi looked like he wanted to protest, but stopped short at the serious expression on his captain's face.
"Understood, Captain," he said reluctantly, bowing his head.
Emi, on her side, didn't hide her satisfaction. She crossed her arms, watching the group disperse.
"Let's go!" she exclaimed, climbing on first.
With ease, Emi settled onto the back of the massive seagull, while Law cautiously took his place behind her. His fingers instinctively gripped Coco's feathers. The bird let out a piercing cry before beating her enormous wings, propelling them into the air with a force that made both Emi and Law sway slightly.
"Coco knows what she's doing, so relax," Emi said with a wink.
Law, as impassive as ever, didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching horizon. After a moment, he broke the silence in a neutral tone:
"What's your plan, Emi-ya?"
Emi turned her head slightly toward him, determination glinting in her eyes. "This is the perfect opportunity: You're here to stop that pirate, and I'm here to get answers about the Noble and this entire network. I'm going to interrogate him."
Law frowned slightly but said nothing, his eyes locked on the floating isles drawing closer.
As they climbed higher, Coco decided to show off her capabilities. With a powerful beat of her wings, she surged upwards at an astonishing speed. Law, caught off guard, momentarily lost his balance.
Instinctively, he reached out to steady himself—only for his hand to land squarely on... Emi's chest.
A heavy, confused silence fell.
Emi's eyes widened as she glanced at Law's hand, then shot him a furious glare.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled, outraged.
Law, his expression as unreadable as ever despite the faint embarrassment flickering across his features, slowly withdrew his hand, trying to maintain his composure.
"It was an accident," he said calmly.
Before he could add anything else, Emi's elbow jabbed into his ribs with pinpoint precision.
"Ugh!" A quiet grunt escaped him, but he didn't flinch further. He took a deep breath, as if doing his utmost to hold back a retort.
"Coco, faster!" she hissed, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Coco, as if understanding her mistress's impatience, suddenly accelerated, slicing through the clouds at a dizzying speed. This time, Law had no choice. He gripped Emi's waist firmly to keep himself steady. His gaze hardened, not at Emi but at the situation itself—one he couldn't control. Being forced to rely on her and this ridiculous mode of transportation was a blow to his pride. Closing his eyes briefly, he seemed intent on ignoring the mild humiliation of the moment.
As for Emi, she did her best to remain calm, though the pressure of his hands on her waist was a constant reminder of their close proximity.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity (at least for Law), Coco slowed down and began descending toward the floating island. The wind eased, and Law could finally let go of his grip, relieved to soon be on stable ground.
"We've arrived," Emi announced, patting Coco's side as a gesture of thanks. She nimbly jumped off the bird's back before turning to Law, who was still seated. "Want another ride?"
"Shut up," Law replied curtly as he climbed down in turn. His boots finally touched the ground, and he exhaled in relief.
Emi watched him walk away, a mocking smile spreading across her lips. It wasn't every day she got to see him so flustered, and she fully intended to savor the memory.
Meanwhile, Coco shrank back to her smaller form, shaking her feathers with a hint of pride. Taking advantage of the brief pause, Emi quickly scribbled a note to Ambre:
"Last-minute change. I'm heading directly to the noble's residence."
She carefully folded the message and entrusted it to Coco, who took off at once to deliver it.
Emi glanced over at Law, his lean figure calmly moving toward the forest bordering the islet. Suddenly, she noticed a small insect landing… on his rear.
Even bugs knew a good spot to settle, apparently.
A mischievous grin spread across her face. How could she possibly let this chance slip by?
Without a sound, she closed the distance and, with a swift, precise motion, gave him a light tap on the backside.
Law spun around instantly, his eyes sharp, one hand already gripping the hilt of his nodachi. He had been prepared for anything—anything but this.
He saw Emi holding out her hand, a squished insect between her fingers, her feigned innocence barely masking her amusement.
"What? There was a bug on your butt," she said with the seriousness of a doctor in the middle of surgery. "I just saved you from a nasty sting."
Law stared at her, his brows furrowed in an expression of weariness mixed with suspicion. He wasn't buying it for a second. Letting out a long, tired sigh, he released his grip on his sword and rolled his eyes. "You're lucky we're in the middle of a mission. Otherwise, you'd regret that."
Emi raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence while suppressing a smirk. "Oh yeah? And what would you have done? Cut me to pieces with your power?"
Law gave the faintest hint of a smirk before responding in a calm, nonchalant tone, "Not like that."
Emi blinked, what did that mean ? It was always hard to tell with him. But before she could retort, Law resumed walking, heading toward the dense forest that bordered the island. The towering trees formed a shaded canopy, casting shifting patterns of light across the ground.
"Wait!" she called, following him and regaining her composure. "What's the plan this time?"
Law slowed slightly but didn't turn around. "Do whatever you want. I'm handling this pirate issue."
Emi crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at his detached tone. Adjusting the strap of her bag, she replied firmly, "I'm coming with you."
Law didn't respond, either lost in thought or, more likely, purposefully ignoring her. Emi frowned at his silence but decided to interpret it as agreement. With a determined huff, she quickened her pace, refusing to let him leave her behind.
As they made their way through the forest, Emi focused on avoiding the roots snaking across the uneven ground. Walking ahead, Law casually pushed aside a low-hanging tree branch to clear his path.
But as he let go, the branch snapped back and smacked Emi square in the face, sending her stumbling.
"What the—?!" she exclaimed, rubbing her forehead where the branch had struck.
A faint smirk tugged at Law's lips, the briefest hint of amusement flickering in his otherwise stoic expression.
Emi glared at him but stopped short when she noticed Law halting abruptly. Ahead of them stood a massive hangar nestled among the rocky landscape. She froze, her attention drawn to the imposing structure.
As Law scanned the shadowy hangar, his mind worked quickly to form a strategy. The location was ideal for a discreet meeting, and the chances were high that the pirate he was tracking was inside. Without looking at Emi, he murmured,
"Follow my instructions exactly. No unnecessary complications."
Emi rolled her eyes at his commanding tone but nodded anyway. "Aye aye, captain."
Despite her irritation, she understood the importance of staying cautious in situations like these. Silently, they approached the hangar, Law leading the way as he hugged the wall to remain concealed.
At a nearby window, Law peeked inside, his sharp eyes assessing the scene. A smirk played on his lips when he spotted his target. The pirate was there, deep in conversation with a man in sportswear—likely a local athlete. A few other pirates lingered nearby, but none seemed particularly alert. This would be easy.
Impatient, Emi whispered from behind, "Well? What do you see?"
Law didn't bother with a detailed explanation. Instead, he placed a firm hand on her waist without warning and muttered, "Get ready."
Before Emi could react, Law activated his Room. In an instant, they were teleported inside, landing behind a stack of crates. Emi barely stifled a gasp, her eyes widening in surprise. She quickly composed herself, taking in their surroundings.
But her relief was short-lived. Something sticky clung to her neck—a spider web. When she felt the faint movement of a spider crawling up her nape, she froze in horror. Fighting the urge to scream, she swatted at her neck. In her frantic movements, her elbow collided with one of the crates, sending it toppling over. The loud crash echoed through the hangar as metal objects scattered across the floor.
Emi froze, her heart racing. Behind her, Law stood motionless, his jaw tightening in silent frustration.
The pirates turned immediately, their eyes darting toward the sound. The target pirate's face twisted in panic as he recognized Trafalgar Law. Without hesitation, he bolted, darting between crates toward a door at the far end of the hangar.
"No way am I letting spiders ruin this!" Emi muttered under her breath, still swiping at her neck to make sure no more webs clung to her.
Ignoring Law's icy glare, she sprinted after the fleeing pirate. Her hurried footsteps echoed off the concrete floor. Law, visibly annoyed, sighed deeply before following her. As he moved, he dealt with the other pirates swiftly, his nodachi flashing through the air with precise, calculated movements.
The chase spilled out onto an outdoor platform, where a web of rusted rails connected several floating islands. Old carts, likely used for transporting goods, rested precariously on the tracks.
The pirate, panting and desperate, spotted one of the carts. He jumped in and released the brake, the cart screeching as it began rolling down the tracks toward an island below.
Emi skidded to a halt, watching as the pirate sped away. She turned to Law, who was observing the escape with thinly veiled irritation.
"Law, we can't let him get away!" she called out, determination in her voice.
Without waiting for his input, she leaped into a nearby cart and activated its mechanism. The cart jolted forward, creaking as it began its descent.
Law pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated by her impulsiveness. Realizing he had no choice, he climbed into the same cart. Gripping the metal railing, he braced himself as the cart picked up speed, racing along the tracks after their target.
The wind howled around them, and the screech of metal wheels against rusted tracks filled the air. The pursuit was chaotic, but Law's eyes remained locked on the cart ahead, his focus unshakable despite the commotion.
Clinging tightly to the cart's railings, both Emi and Law were locked in a chaotic chase, each driven by a burning determination. Law's stoic expression betrayed a flicker of regret—he hadn't signed up for this level of recklessness. Yet there was no turning back now. As for Emi, her amber eyes blazed with resolve. She wasn't about to let this pirate—who likely held vital information about the trafficking network—escape.
The cart careened sharply around a bend, the violent motion throwing Emi off balance. She slammed into Law with enough force to unsteady them both. Instinctively, his hand shot out, gripping her waist tightly to prevent her from tumbling out.
"Emi-ya, hold on properly!" he growled, his voice barely cutting through the howling wind and the thunderous clatter of wheels on tracks.
"I am holding on!" she snapped back, her voice strained as she struggled to steady herself. The cart's relentless jolts and breakneck speed made maintaining balance nearly impossible.
The screeching of the wheels against the rusted tracks grew louder, each deafening grind a harbinger of disaster. Their cart rapidly closed the distance to the one ahead. Emi, her silver hair whipping wildly in the wind, squinted through the rushing air, her heart pounding as she realized just how little room they had left to maneuver.
"We're going to crash into him!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Her eyes darted frantically around the cart until they landed on the brake lever attached to the side. Without hesitation, she lunged for it and yanked with all her strength.
The lever didn't budge.
"It's jammed!" she called over her shoulder, panic rising in her voice. Emi tugged again and again, the metal groaning under her desperate effort, but it refused to move.
Law moved behind her, his calm demeanor masking his own rising urgency. "Step back," he ordered, his tone as cold and commanding as ever.
Planting his feet firmly, he braced himself and gripped the lever alongside her. Their combined strength forced the mechanism to groan and tremble, but instead of giving way, sparks erupted from its base.
A sudden crack echoed through the air, and the lever snapped cleanly in their hands, leaving behind jagged, useless pieces of metal.
"Damn it!" Emi hissed, her wide eyes snapping to Law, seeking answers he clearly didn't have.
But there was no time to react further: their cart smashed into the pirate's with a deafening crash. The violent impact sent Emi flying forward with a startled cry, but she managed to grab hold of the pirate's cart just in time. Her fingers clawed at the rough wood, her nails scraping against it as she fought to pull herself aboard. Gritting her teeth, she swung herself over and, without hesitation, delivered a solid punch to the pirate's jaw. The blow landed with precision, leaving him momentarily stunned.
Behind her, Law gritted his teeth, drawing his nodachi with a fluid motion. A sharp, cold smile flickered across his face. "Room."
The space around them shimmered with an eerie blue aura as his power surged to life. He raised his blade, calculating the precise moment for a decisive strike. But the cart abruptly swerved, and the wild momentum sent everything spiraling into chaos. Law was forced to grab the side railing to steady himself, frustration flashing across his face.
"Damn it!" he growled, his irritation reaching new heights.
The cart, propelled by unstoppable momentum, careened down a steep slope. The breakneck speed made every second feel like a gamble. Emi, once again thrown by the cart's wild motion, lost her balance and crashed against Law, landing awkwardly astride him.
"What the hell are you doing, Emi-ya?" he snapped, barely holding on amidst the chaos.
"You think I planned this?!" she shot back, her voice tinged with both fury and desperation as she clung to the cart's side to keep from falling out.
Both were tossed in every direction as the cart became an uncontrollable projectile, barreling down the track with ridiculous intensity. The sharp turns and constant shaking made the chase almost absurd. Law, struggling to maintain focus despite the madness, cursed under his breath as another steep incline slammed them against the wooden sides of the cart.
Spotting the end of the track ahead, the pirate panicked and tried to detach his cart from theirs to make an escape. Law, still hanging on, saw his move and realized they were out of time.
Gripping the railing, he steadied himself against the wild speed and, with surprising agility, launched himself forward. A well-placed slash of his nodachi threw the pirate off balance just as the carts barreled toward the terminus.
With an earsplitting crash, the carts slammed into the final stop, splintering metal and wood under the impact. Emi, Law, and the pirate were hurled forward, tumbling to the ground in a cloud of dust and debris.
The pirate, dazed and battered, tried to rise but collapsed back to the ground, groaning in defeat. Law and Emi, though bruised and sore, pushed themselves to their feet, their gazes as fierce as ever.
Law dusted off his coat with an air of practiced calm, his nodachi still in hand. "Next time" he muttered coldly, "I'm handling this my way."
Emi, brushing dirt from her hair, shot him an exasperated look. "Yeah, because this was entirely my fault."
They exchanged a brief glare, but their focus quickly returned to the incapacitated pirate. Law activated his Room, enveloping their target within the invisible sphere. The man, trembling and panicked, tried desperately to flee, but every step was futile under the oppressive power of the Surgeon of Death.
Law flashed a cold, silent smile, his hand raised and his nodachi unsheathed, ready to dismember his target. But before he could act, Emi stepped forward without hesitation, grabbing the pirate by the collar with surprising strength for someone of her stature. She locked her furious gaze onto his, her amber eyes blazing with determination.
"Now you're going to tell me everything about that damn noble and the drug," she hissed, her voice a dangerous blend of impatience and disdain.
The pirate turned his face away, gritting his teeth. The fear of betraying his employer outweighed even the menace posed by his two formidable opponents. Emi's patience wore thin as her grip on his collar tightened, her resolve to force the truth out of him becoming more apparent with each passing second.
Suddenly, a distant explosion reverberated, and the ground trembled faintly beneath their feet. Emi released the pirate in surprise and instinctively turned toward the source of the sound. Thick black smoke rose from a location on the far side of the island. Through the swirling clouds, she caught sight of a figure with wings, ascending rapidly into the sky.
Emi's heart raced as recognition struck her. It was him—the owl-man. The Cipher Pol agent she had been hunting for so long.
In that moment, the noble and the drugs didn't matter anymore. Her main target was right there, and she wasn't going to waste this chance.
She spun to face Law, masking her true intent with urgency. "One of the warehouses storing the drugs must be over there!" she exclaimed. "I need to help the revolutionaries!"
Without waiting for Law's response, Emi released the pirate, still immobilized by the Room, and sprinted toward the smoke, her focus zeroed in on her target.
Law stood motionless for a moment, his eyes tracking Emi as she disappeared into the distance. A barely audible sigh escaped his lips, but he made no move to stop her. Instead, his attention returned to the pirate, who remained frozen, trembling with fear and helplessness.
A glacial smile spread across the Surgeon of Death's face. Calmly, he extended a hand toward his captive and murmured in a voice as cold and cutting as steel:
"Amputate."
In a split second, the pirate's body convulsed violently, and Law found himself holding a beating heart encased in a translucent blue cube, floating in his hand. He studied the pulsating organ with an impassive gaze before slipping it into an inner pocket of his coat.
Taking a Den Den Mushi from another pocket, he activated the snail phone with a precise motion, keeping his eyes on the pirate, still immobilized within his Room. After a few beeps, Bepo's familiar voice broke the silence.
"Captain!" Bepo exclaimed, his tone a mix of concern and vigilance. "Is everything alright?"
"I've neutralized Lazon," Law replied calmly, his icy gaze resting on the pirate, who now seemed to grasp the full extent of his misfortune. "Meet me at the rail hangar immediately. He's ready for pickup."
"Understood!" Bepo responded, his enthusiasm cutting through the tension. "Jean Bart and I are on our way!"
Law's eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the spiraling smoke on the horizon—a clear sign of the chaos unfolding. His tone grew sharper.
"Be quick and discreet," he ordered. "Cipher Pol agents are lurking, and the revolutionaries are nearby. Deliver Lazon directly to the Marines."
"Got it, Captain!" Bepo replied firmly.
Ending the call, Law pocketed the Den Den Mushi and released the Room around the pirate, now bound and unconscious. With cold precision, he carried the body to an empty wagon further down the tracks. After securing it tightly, he began to walk away but came to an abrupt stop.
His gaze lingered on the distant smoke rising from where Emi had run. For a moment, he hesitated, gripping the edge of his coat tightly. He couldn't explain the nagging sense of unease curling in his chest—a feeling he wasn't accustomed to indulging. Something about the situation didn't sit right with him.
With a frustrated sigh, he turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the commotion. Part of him justified the decision with curiosity about the drug at the heart of this operation. Perhaps there was more to learn there, something that could prove useful to his ultimate goal. But the other part, the one he chose to ignore, was driven by a feeling he couldn't quite place.
Either way, he wouldn't ignore it.
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Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter ! Brace yourself for the next one—things are about to get even more intense!