But, sitting there and looking at the old mayor, Bill knew that he had already understood everything.
Perhaps because Bill didn't respond immediately, the old man spoke again: "I'm very sorry for Ryudo. I know you were friends with him. I did everything I could to take care of Yoko, although maybe the beetle has already replaced me in that task."
Finishing his sentence, the mayor let out a self-deprecating laugh.
After that, Bill didn't want to stay, but he needed answers to some questions. First, he asked about the beetle.
"Oh, Boss? We found him about six months ago. He was smaller then but acted strangely. Yoko managed to calm him, and since then he's been peaceful."
Finally, Bill asked why Yoko ran away from him when he saw her at the shelter.
"Uh..." the mayor began, before continuing: "It's not fair, and she knows it, but Bill, she was waiting for you that night."
Fabre continued, explaining that after Ryudo left her with him, the little girl was sure Bill would come. Bill had promised to be there when she needed him, and in her mind, he could fly, so naturally, the ten-year-old girl thought Bill would appear.
When he didn't come, and her father was killed, Fabre said she directed much of her anger at him.
"I tried to explain it to her, and I think she understands... but she's been through too much."
Taking a deep breath, Bill said he understood, and heard the sound of small footsteps running out of the house.
Apologizing, Bill stood up and followed the sound. He might have lost her in the caves, but in the open space, catching her was easy.
Shouting her name, he kept calling until she reached the large willow tree where Bill himself had once hidden.
Stopping by the tree, she turned and looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion and anger.
"Why didn't you come?! You promised!"
Stopping at a short distance, Bill looked at the orphan as he would at his own child. The transformation from a potential sister to a potential child happened unconsciously.
He spoke slowly and deeply: "I'm sorry, I just didn't know..."
Yoko: "But didn't you say we could rely on you?!"
"... I'm sorry, I just didn't know."
Yoko: "But you can fly, right? You have excellent hearing, don't you? You could...!"
"... I'm sorry, I just didn't know."
After that, her tears turned to anger, and the eleven-year-old girl shouted, "Is that all you can say?!"
Seeing her looking at him with such an expression, Bill said again, "... I'm very sorry, I really just didn't know. I would have come, no matter what. I just didn't know."
Hearing this, the girl's anger melted, and she began to cry again, but this time instead of running away, she ran to Bill.
Squatting down, he hugged her and waited until she calmed down. Then, standing up straight, he adjusted Ryudo's old Cloak of Justice, looked at her, and said:
"How about you come with me and my team?"
It had been two days since Bill had suggested that Yoko come with him. He saw that she wanted to, but it was not an easy decision for her because she considered herself the protector of the island.
At first, there was an issue with a bug named Boss, but in the end, he was the one who helped her make the decision.
Yoko considered herself the protector of Little East Blue, and then Bill said he would build his laboratory on the island.
Yoko thought of Boss as her best friend, and then Bill said that Boss could stay and guard the island while they recruited engineers.
After talking with Fabre, who gladly accepted the proposal for the laboratory and even suggested renaming the island, Bill led the others to the cave system where the laboratory would be built, and within a day, they roughly marked out the area.
While they worked, Miyagi stayed on the ship, supervising the workers who cleaned and replenished water supplies. They offered to do it for free, but Bill paid them anyway, although the amount was insignificant.
Bill thought it was worth it.
Little East Blue was a remote island, but its remoteness could be seen as an advantage. Its proximity to the Calm Belt made it impossible for any forces not belonging to the World Government to attack from that side.
Moreover, thanks to their own ship with a sea stone hull, they were equidistant from both the islands of East Blue and the Grand Line.
There were also tangible advantages, such as a good supply of fresh water on Little East Blue, which could be improved. The island was surrounded by deep water where the Sea Kings resided, which could become a food source, but the coral reef and natural harbor were sturdy enough to keep the Sea Kings from getting too close.
Sasha even found traces of an iron vein in the cave system. Even if it wasn't very extensive, it was still a huge plus.
But more than anything, Bill was happiest to see how the young girl followed Sasha around, bombarding her with questions.
"Bill said you're the strongest girl he knows."
"Bill said you're an expert in swordsmanship."
"Bill said you're also a doctor."
"Bill said…"
Slowly swinging her sword, the blue-eyed, blonde-haired Sasha nodded and replied monosyllabically.