"I really owe you one, Sanji. Thank you."

"I'm just glad you're safe. Try to avoid falling in the water again, though."

Brynlee snorted, though nodded in agreement before taking another sip of her soup. The two of them were eating in the girl's cabin – locked – so as to warm up after their impromptu dive, but while she appreciated his company, she was still bothered by what she'd just discovered.

She'd never gone for a swim before, worried her wings would either impede her or drag her down. Her baths and showers were always taken in regular water, and she'd never even dipped her toes in the pools in Arlong Park – she was a bit like a cat in that sense, always avoiding the water as if she was allergic to it. And, well, it would seem she was, in a sense. Thinking back, she did get a bit dizzy or tired whenever seawater splashed her, but she was always too busy to pay it any mind, and it always passed quickly.

Discreetly checking her [CHARACTER PROFILE], she internally cursed.

-CHARACTER PROFILE-

[CHARACTER INFORMATION]

-STAGE 0-

Name: Lucky D. Brynlee

Age: 18 years old

Race: Lunarian

Devil Fruit: [ERROR]

She'd never paid it any mind before, believing it simply meant she didn't have one or maybe even couldn't have one – but no. It was merely another one of those pesky bugs, and now she had to figure out what kind of power she possessed by herself.

But wouldn't I have noticed anything in all the years I've been alive!?

Yeah, she definitely needed to find the next Waypoint Wares – and fast.

"Bye-bye, baby!"

Miss Wednesday and Mister Nine jumped off the ship, then promptly started swimming away. Everyone stared at their retreating forms for a few seconds, startled, before Brynlee released a sigh, glad they were finally gone. In the approaching distance, Whiskey Peak and its giant cacti loomed – as inviting as a Venus flytrap.

"Who were these guys, anyway? What a pair of weirdoes," huffed Usopp.

"Agents of a shady organisation called Baroque Works," answered plainly Brynlee.

Zoro gasped, hitting his fist in his palm. "That's why their names were familiar! One of their officers tried to recruit me a while back, before I met you guys."

"What kind of shady organisation?" asked Nami, eyes narrowed.

"The kind that's going to greet us with cheer, make us drop our guard with food and drinks, and then kill us all to cash in Luffy's bounty – these two went ahead to warn them of our arrival," shrugged Brynlee.

Nami instantly started shaking her shoulders. "Then why didn't you tell us!? We'd have kicked them off and taken another route!"

"The Captain decides our heading," she simply replied, unperturbed. "But everyone, listen up! First thing first, these guys are going to act super friendly and throw a feast for us."

"So? What's the plan?" asked wearily Sanji.

She beamed. "Enjoy it!"

"Bryn!" snapped Nami.

Luffy simply laughed. "Shi-shi-shi! Bryn's right! We can just have fun and if these guys really try anything, we kick their asses."

"There you go! They won't try anything so long as every single one of us isn't passed out on the ground, so just make sure you don't stray too far from the others. I will be staying on the ship to keep an eye on it, and intervene if need be."

"Wait, why do you get to stay?" protested Usopp.

"Because I'm the only one with a good enough excuse," she shrugged. "You can just tell them I got sick after falling overboard. I mean, Sanji could stay too, but two of us not showing up would be suspicious – and they've already witnessed my strength, so they're bound to be more careful if I also join the party. It'll be easier to make them lower their guard if I stay hidden onboard." She then grinned a bit. "Also, Nami wants to swindle them, Zoro wants to drink, Sanji wants to sample new foods, Luffy wants to party, and you will get the opportunity to start and spread our mighty tale in the Grand Line."

"Makes sense," nodded Zoro.

"It- it kinda does…" relented Usopp, grumbling a bit.

"Are you sure you wanna miss the party, though?" asked Luffy, scratching the back of his head. "We can always just beat them up first and then steal their food."

She thought it over for a moment, then shrugged. "Do whatever you want, Caps. I really don't mind either way."

"Okay! Party first, then!"

"I mean, we can always… not go on that island, right?" suggested Usopp, still nervous.

"No. We need to go and stay for as long as it takes for the Log Pose to adapt to the magnetic field of the island, else we can't continue on our journey," explained Nami, showing off her new compass. "Sometimes it may take hours, other times it may take days. We can't leave as long as the Pose isn't set."

"That's terrifying! So we can't leave even if there are monsters and stuff!?"

As Usopp started freaking out and Luffy started laughing, Brynlee went to lean against the railings, taking in the sight of the island. There was a lot of fog, but she could still see the distinct shape of the giant cacti.

"How certain are you?" simply asked Zoro, coming to stand beside her.

"Look at the cacti."

Confused, he did as told. After a few seconds, he cursed under his breath, finally noticing that the spikes were actually cross-shaped – grave markers. But the sight only made Brynlee giddy.

Whiskey Peak wouldn't know what hit it.

So glad you guys enjoyed the little reveal! And promise, there'll be some actual action in the next few chapters~