[58] In Search of a Ginger (2)
Chapter 58: In Search of a Ginger (2)
—
“The night sky looks so beautiful with just a single moon… I wonder what it feels like to see all the moons at once.”
Under the moonlit night, the sea was calm and tranquil. A small boat gently moved through the waves and went towards the nearest land. Hashirama laid on his back on the boat, side by side with the sleeping duck Karoo.
Hashirama’s hand was raised to the sky, palm stretched as he tried to grab the moon.
“How eye-catching…”
The planet of One Piece was huge. Hashirama wasn’t aware of how huge it was compared to his home world’s earth, but he knew this was at least larger than that. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be able to house six moons.
This planet housed six moons around it. None of the six moons were visible at the same time, so normal people didn’t even know the basic truth about their galaxy. Hashirama knew, though. Thanks to his meta knowledge and confirmation from his sister.
The Wano people had always known about the six moons, as more than one moons were sometimes visible—depending on the month of the year—from the tall mountain Wano was built over. So that information was common knowledge there for centuries, and Tsunade’s grandparents often shared stories of the beautiful moons that weren’t visible from this sea.
Tsunade had passed those stories onto Hashirama.
“Should I go to the moon? I heard Enel’s there. I can beat him up and take the fruit.”
This Hashirama was a clone. He didn’t need sleep—though sleeping would have saved up a little of his limited chakra. He was bored out of his mind, and so countless meaningless thoughts were coming and going through his head.
Karoo was already asleep by his side. It had been a few hours since he and the duck left the main ship. It was evening when they left, sailing into the setting sun, and now they were wandering in the night sea.
Honestly, the night sea was beautiful. There were very few things that were as beautiful as it. It could stir something within him that usually stayed quiet.
“Sadly, I don’t have the time for it.”
Hashirama released a deep sigh and sat up. He stretched a little—despite being made of wood—and took control of the sail again. There wasn’t any steering wheel of course, so he just had to spread chakra through the boat to take control of the draft beneath the boat.
“Until now, it just wandered on the waves. I guess fate, luck, or whatever, did its work by pointing it toward wherever. I will just move in a straight line from now on.”
He wasn’t sure where he would end up—less chance that his ginger crusader will be there—but Hashirama poured chakra and sped up anyway.
* * *
The Sunflower Island.
The wind was rough yet gentle today as it caressed the countless sunflowers that bloomed on this island. These flowers were the reason why this country was named that way, and it had been an attraction site ever since.
Though, sunflowers weren’t the only thing famous about this place. This place also had the biggest parks in East Blue, for both kids and adults. On this island of parks, the [Vinpearl Amusement Park] was the largest.
Even people from Grandline came here, albeit rare. But it was common to find people from the other seas, even royals, in this park.
Naturally, that also meant thieves, robbers, bandits, and pirates alike also came to get a piece of this island. However, except for some petty theft, none of the attempts have succeeded. Because…
This island belonged to the Revolutionary Army.
Claimed by the most wanted criminal in the world, Monkey D. Dragon, this island had a number of strong people managing it. The evil-doers of the east didn’t have the power to pose a threat to them.
In truth, people were unaware of whom the top of this island served. They didn’t know the connection to the Revolutionary Army that this island had. It was a well-hidden truth to keep the parks ongoing since most people wouldn’t come if they knew they were on an island under the most wanted criminal.
For that reason, criminals still frequented this island—hoping they might be able to take over the island by defeating the higher-ups of this island. To those criminals, the higher-ups were just some no-name who had no bounty to their name and therefore could be defeated.
Along with those super-ambitious criminals, some small-time thieves also slipped into this island from time to time.
“And this ginger is one of those.”
“Hmm…”
In one corner of the island, near Vinpearl Park, was a bunch of small buildings. Despite being small in size, they were quite well polished from the outside—matching the theme of the park nearby. However, inside was a different case entirely. It was a shabby place.
Despite this being the quarters of the leaders of this island, it was natural that it was shabby. After all, the Revolutionary Army didn’t wish for their personal better lives. They wanted the people to live better. So the leaders of this island stayed in such a place, while the entire island flourished with things that were rare even in Grandline.
Currently, the largest shabby building in this area which belonged to the top leader of this island was going through a judging session. Six people were in a room, with the leader sitting on a chair. It was a large tanned-skilled man with reddish brown hair. He had a scar running down his cheek, and looked quite menacing.
There were four executives who worked for him in the same room, but he didn’t give much heed to them. His scary eyes were focused on the little girl near his feet, kneeling with her hands tied behind her back. The girl was visibly shaken by his stare, but he didn’t look away.
“What did she steal again?”
“Ah, yes, sir Loyd.”
One of the executives beside him grabbed a list. He started to recite the text in the list.
“13 large gold necklaces, 22 pieces of ruby, 25 pieces of diamond, 17 pieces of tourmaline, and the prototype crown belonging to the King of Alabasta—which on its own is worth millions. She also took three bags of gold coins and a full bag of cocaine.”
“Cocaine?”
The leader who was named Loyd frowned as he asked. He looked furious at the executive who was reciting the words and glared at him.
“Cocaine on our island?”
“Uh, sir,”
The other man gulped and explained.
“From what the girl said, she found it inside the forest in the seashore, hidden under a rock. It seems one of the recent criminals may have hidden it there, but never got the chance to take it back.”
“Hm? All right.”
The leader turned his head at the ginger girl again. With a scary face, he asked.
“What’s your name? How old are you?”
“Um…”
The ginger girl who looked quite young, wearing short jeans and a simple t-shirt with blue lining, hesitated. She gulped and spoke.
“My name is… Nami. I am sixteen, sir.”
“Lies, you’re 18.”
The leader corrected her, his brows furrowing.
“I can tell; my eyes are sharp. I was simply trying to see if you’d lie to my face or not. People don’t usually do that, especially ones as young as you. It means you have been doing this thief job for a while now, and are used to such confrontation. You’re a professional.”
“….”
“At least you said your name right.”
The man said to the girl who had paled. If she hadn’t before, she realized now that the man before her was no normal man.
The room suddenly went eerie silent and the girl, Nami, fidgeted on her spot. The leader, Loyd, could tell this wasn’t an act. The girl truly was frightened.
“That cocaine… What were you planning to do with it?”
Depending on this answer, he might break her limbs. Loyd stared down at her with his eyes cold, as the girl gulped and looked down at the ground.
“I… I don’t do drugs. I would have planted the drugs underground on some island, and then reported the local authorities. As someone who would be labeled as the ‘finder’ I would have been rewarded money. Even though that money wouldn’t be as much as if I had sold the cocaine, this is better. I don’t want to be the one selling cocaine to people, knowing they’d use it to their death.”
The cold glint in Loyd’s eyes vanished. He still maintained a serious look, but he didn’t look as threatening as before. She was a ‘pass’ in his books. The revolutionary army didn’t harm people who were desperate—leading to theft. Loyd could tell this girl was stuck in one such scenario; his eyes were good, so he was sure of it.
‘But what sort of situation would need a little girl to steal this much valuables? She’s also been doing this for a while, so she must have stolen a lot of riches by now. Is someone forcing her to work in this line?’
That would make sense. This girl was talented, proven by the reports of his subordinates. They didn’t even notice her theft until she was done and far gone. It’s just that she didn’t get to find a boat in time when she was captured.
It was her bad luck.
‘Or perhaps, her good luck. If she is in trouble, the Revolutionary Army will help her. But first, she needs to open up about her problem if we want to help.’
“Um, sir?”
The little girl looked up at him, wearing a frightened expression.
Loyd nodded at her and opened his mouth. He was about to ask her the real story behind why she was in this line of work. After which, Loyd will decide how to deal with this situation.
However, before he could speak. The curtain hanging in the door parted and a guard ran inside the room. Loyd was a little annoyed, but he knew his subordinates wouldn’t act this way unless something big wasn’t happening.
The guard bowed and spoke in a troubled voice. “S-sir! A wanted pirate has attacked the west dock. They’re an old crew from the Grandline! We have no idea why they are here in the East, but they’re too strong for our soldiers.”
Loyd hid his shock and asked, “Who? What crew are they from?”
The guard straightened up, shouting, “It’s the… Brownbeard Pirates!”
Loyd choked.
**
**
**
If you wish to read [the next 20] chapters right away, visit my Patreøn.
Link: Patreøn.cøm/Master4thWall