Hours after the feast, while a team of maids quietly cleared the debris left in Luffy's wake, the group assembled in the center of the grand hallway. Kaya stood before them, resting lightly on her cane, with Klahadore hovering at her side like an expectant shadow.
"What do you think?" Usopp asked, glancing between Nami and Luffy. Beside him, Luffy was absentmindedly picking his nose, his stomach swollen and rounded like a beach ball from the massive meal.
"I think we'd be delighted to stay a bit longer," Nami answered smoothly, offering a warm, gracious smile to the frail girl.
"I'm good anywhere there's food!" Luffy chimed in with a wide grin. Kaya offered a delicate bow of appreciation, her smile growing warmer as she took in the group. They started to walk, with Kaya pointing into the house; her cane echoed on the floorboards. "This... mansion was built before I was born." Following her was Klahadore. The man's gaze was fixed on Kaya, watching her every movement, as he slowly peeked towards the group.
"So you're rich?" Luffy asked, casually swinging his arm as they walked.
"Yes," Kaya replied with a soft, modest smile. "My family built its foundation on a shipping business decades ago. This estate has been in our family for generations."
As they moved through the corridor, Nami barely heard her. Her eyes were completely locked onto the surroundings—the heavy gilded frames of centuries-old oil paintings lining the corridor, the intricate plasterwork, and the long row of crystal chandeliers that stretched into the distance, casting a golden hue over thousands of Berries' worth of luxury.
"It really is a magnificent estate," Nami chimed in, smoothly steering the conversation as her sharp mind worked behind the scenes. "Though I have to ask... with an island this prosperous, how does the judicial system here actually handle major legal affairs? Especially when it comes to high-value family estates?"
Kaya's smile faltered, a shadow of quiet grief passing over her face. "Normally, local property disputes and contract oversight are handled by independent legal representatives appointed by the town council. I... I actually hired a private attorney one month ago to help me manage the estate papers after my father passed away." She paused, her pale fingers tightening slightly around the handle of her cane. "But he was murdered last night in his study."
The three raised their attention. Zoro. The collective thought of everyone flashed. Nami cleared her throat, flashing another of her performances. "Murder? Where?" which caught the Klahadore's attention nearby.
"Yes," Kaya whispered, her voice trembling. "The constabulary told us this morning that they captured the suspect near the harbor. They said he's a ruthless pirate hunter... a dangerous criminal who was trying to infiltrate the town." She looked at the three of them. Her eyes hung in a low drop. "Do any of you happen to know him? The police said he answers to the name Zoro. And they said that her sister is on the island." Upon hearing that, Nami's skin prickles, as her expression freezes for a micro-instant but quickly returns to normal. She is about to open her mouth, but a loud scream beats her to it.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL HIM?!" Luffy bellowed, his brow furrowing as he instantly took a furious step forward, his stomach bouncing with each step he took. "Zoro's not a criminal, he's—" Before any word could leave his mouth, Nami's hand shot across like a viper, clapping firmly over Luffy's lips while Usopp lunged from the side, hooking his arm around Luffy's neck to drag him backward into a headlock, dragging him behind him.
"HAHAHA! What he means is, what a crazy name!" Usopp wheezed out with a strained, sweating grin, forcing Luffy down as the rubber boy squirmed against them. "Oh, sorry! Don't mind him! That's just how he reacts when he hears funny names!" Nami chimed in, shifting her body to completely block Luffy from Kaya's line of sight.
"Zoro? No, we don't know the guy," Nami added quickly, her voice dripping with artificial sympathy as she kept her palm glued over Luffy's mouth. "We're just simple travelers, so local crime news always startles us. What happened?" Standing just half a step behind Kaya's shoulder, Klahadore fixed an unblinking stare on Luffy, his head tilting in a motion so faint it went entirely unnoticed.
"Based on what Klahadore told me, the Syrup Town Police caught him wandering the streets alone," Kaya said, her voice soft. "They arrested him, and now they're still trying to investigate."
She paused as Klahadore leaned down, his face mere inches from her ear. His jaw moved in a swift, quiet whisper. In an instant, Kaya's assuring expression melted into a serious, concerned look.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Kaya corrected softly. "Klahadore reminded me that I'm scheduled to see the police chief this afternoon. They want to discuss the case details with me directly."
"If it's that much trouble, we could always look into it for you," Nami offered smoothly, leaning forward with an easy, helpful smile. "Consider it a favor for the wonderful breakfast. We've traveled around quite a bit—solving a little local mystery is practically second nature to us."
"I must strongly advise against that, Miss." Klahadore cut in, his voice measured, composed, and laced with quiet gravity. He stepped forward slightly, positioning himself as a calm protective barrier.
"This is a delicate, ongoing police investigation regarding a violent criminal," Klahadore continued, adjusting his glasses with the back of his hand. His tone dropped from his monotone demeanor into a softer side. "The local authorities are handling the matter, and meddling in official legal affairs could inadvertently draw dangerous, unwanted attention to yourselves. For your own safety, as well as Miss Kaya's peace of mind, it would be best if you left these matters to the town constabulary and avoided involving yourselves in such hazards."
"If you happen to see or hear anything suspicious, please report it to the local authorities," Klahadore added smoothly, clutching his gloved hand over his chest as he bowed halfway. "This case is deeply personal to Miss Kaya—and to all of us."
Kaya stared at Nami with a quiet, unreadable expression, leaving a strange, hollow ache in Nami's chest. Turning gently, Kaya adjusted her grip on her cane and looked back at her butler.
"Klahadore, could you please give us a moment?" she asked softly. "Miss... what was your name again?"
"Nami," she replied, softening her posture.
"Miss Nami and I would like to have a private conversation in my study."
"Of course, Miss Kaya." Klahadore extended a gloved hand, politely guiding the two toward the adjacent corridor until they disappeared around the corner.
The moment they were out of earshot, Luffy's voice broke the silence in the grand hall. "That guy is weird," he muttered, picking at his ear as he stood on the runner rug. "Hey, Usopp! Why'd you pull me back?! He called Zoro a criminal!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, Luffy!" Usopp hissed, glancing nervously over his shoulder before turning back. "Can't you see Nami is working her angle to clear your friend? I brought you guys to this estate to help! I've read enough mystery novels to know how these setups work—the locked doors, the framed outsider... I couldn't believe a real plot like this was happening right here in Syrup Town, but your guy is being set up!"
Meanwhile, in a quiet, secluded wing of the grand estate, Kaya stopped before a heavy oak door. Intricate floral carvings bordered the frame, flanking a small brass plaque engraved simply with Kaya.
"Mr. Klahadore," Kaya said softly, glancing over her shoulder. "You may leave us now."
Klahadore offered a silent, measured bow and turned, his measured footsteps receding quietly down the corridor.
Opening the door, Kaya gestured for Nami to step inside. The spacious bedroom was lined with towering mahogany bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes. At its center stood a plush, canopy double bed facing a wide display board covered in pressed flowers and sketches. Beneath it, a long chest of drawers held elegant framed portraits, anchoring a grand vanity mirror wrought from burnished iron and leafed gold.
Once the heavy oak door clicked shut, the gentle, fragile air surrounding Kaya seemed to shift. She walked slowly toward the gilded vanity mirror, resting her palm on its cool iron frame before turning her pale eyes directly toward Nami.
"Miss Nami... I am sorry if I was rude, but can I ask you something?" Kaya asked softly, her voice almost as quiet as a whisper.
"Of course! What's that?"
"I could not help but notice your companion had quite a surprising reaction when I referred to Zoro as a criminal," Kaya said, slowly walking around the room. "Tell me, Miss Nami... do you happen to know the man?"
"Ah, Luffy? No, he is just like —"
"Please... Miss Nami. Please tell me the truth." Nami's eyes narrowed slightly, her posture stiffening as her mind weighed her options. Nami opened her mouth, the muscles in her jaw tightening as three different cover stories competed for her tongue, but as she took a glance at Kaya, a pain inside her heart began to ache. She paused. She didn't know what this feeling was, but unexpectedly, she felt bad towards the girl she didn't even know. She swallowed the lie and dropped her shoulders with a long, quiet exhale.
"Yes. He is my companion's friend." Nami slowly walked towards Kaya as she raised her hand. "I am so sorry if my friend's friend killed your lawyer. I didn't mean to—" before Nami could finish her sentence, Kaya quickly interrupted; her shaking, ghost-pale hand shot in front of Nami. "It's ok, Miss Nami. I believe in you"
Nami froze, thunderstruck. She searched Kaya's face, her sharp, instinctual radar for deception scanning for any trace of a trap. But just like when she looked at Luffy, Nami found nothing hidden—only absolute, unvarnished honesty.
"I'm sorry, but... what?" Nami asked, her voice dropping into a guarded whisper.
"I know he didn't do it," Kaya said, her frail voice carrying a quiet, unmistakable steel. She turned back toward the vanity, her slender fingers resting against the polished board filled with papers pinned using bead-head pins. "Based on my estimate, Attorney Totian wasn't killed by a wandering swordsman. I've also read several newspapers; Mr. Zoro was released by the Marines in Shells Town just yesterday. If someone had hired him to kill my attorney, why would hired a prolific bounty hunter who got imprisoned just days ago?" She slid her frail hand into the paper. "Please, Miss Nami. I know this is bad for my health, but I've been tracking everything that is happening to this town. And based on my last conversation with Mister Totian, he was about to prove something."
Nami took a small step closer, her thief's instincts instantly locking into high gear.
"What was he proving?" she asked softly. As she spoke, Nami leaned casually against the mahogany cabinet, using her body to mask her movements. Her fingers drifted downward, the tip of her forefinger applying just enough gentle pressure to slide the wooden drawer shut without letting it make a single whisper of a sound.
"My family's enterprise—the Syrup Shipbuilding Corporation," Kaya explained, looking up at the framed family portraits lining her wall. "Five years ago... uh, how could I say this..." She stopped, as she turned around and glanced towards Nami. "I've lied to you earlier, Miss Nami. My father didn't die of sickness, but... he was murdered."
Standing opposite her, Nami didn't blink, keeping her shoulders relaxed and hands loose to hide the sudden spike of tension in her chest. Revealing that Usopp had already spilled the truth earlier would shatter the bond between the two—and blow her entire plan straight into the gutter.
"He was murdered," Kaya murmured softly, her breath catching as her trembling hand pressed against her chest.
"Are you alright, Miss Kaya?" Nami asked, stepping forward, her hands instinctively rising to steady the frail girl.
"Yes... I am quite alright, thank you," Kaya replied, offering a faint, reassuring smile before her gaze drifted back to the portraits. "When my father presided over the estate, our shipyards flourished. We held exclusive supply agreements across the East Blue, and even the regional Marine branch relied heavily on our specialized syrups for their medical rations. But when he was killed... everything began to unravel."
Nami observed her closely, keeping her tone measured and gentle. "Forgive me, Miss Kaya, but... is your father's passing connected to the high-profile case reported here three years ago?" Even as she spoke, her fingers slipped toward the side of the cabinet. As the wooden panel slid another fraction of an inch, her hand slithered into the dark interior. Her fingers brushed against something smooth and glossy—her nails lightly scratching the polished surface. Jackpot.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She pinched the edge with two fingers, lifting it upward to slip it into the wide mouth of her pocket, but before she could finish tucking it away, a sudden spark of life returned to Kaya's pale features. Wide, astonished eyes locked straight onto Nami. "You... you know about that affair?"
"I do," Nami affirmed smoothly, almost caught. "I read it in the World Economy Newspaper three years ago, back when I was fifteen."
"Yes. The authorities and the press concluded that the culprit was none other than our village physician, Dr. Hugwart," Kaya said, her voice barely above a whisper. "They claimed my father had wandered into an isolated alley where Hugwart set upon him. But... I cannot bring myself to accept those findings."
She leaned heavily against one of the bookshelves, her frail hands carefully sliding through the collection, retrieving a worn, leather-bound journal.
"This is my father's personal ledger. He was meticulous about recording his daily affairs," she explained softly, unbuckling its brass clasp. "I have cross-referenced his entries against every official statement released to the papers. While the timeline seems consistent, the conclusion is utterly flawed." She opened the volume, revealing pages filled with dense script, precise financial figures, and margin notes. Her slender finger landed on a specific line. "Look here. My father wrote that he had a scheduled consultation with Dr. Hugwart that morning. And here, later that evening, he noted their plans to share a drink at the local tavern."
"So that means..." Nami murmured, leaning in to read the faded ink. Her hand was still clutching the green jewel.
"Yes," Kaya whispered, her breath hitching. "Dr. Hugwart was my father's trusted friend."
She closed the ledger with a quiet snap, returning it to the drawer before turning back toward Nami. Her trembling, ghost-pale hand reached out, gently clasping Nami's fingers. Nami could feel every fragile bone and the faint, erratic pulse beneath the girl's skin.
"Please, Miss Nami... I am sharing this with you because I sense I can trust you," Kaya pleaded, her soft voice cracking under the weight of her grief. "Usopp clearly holds you in high regard, and you mentioned earlier a desire to see this mystery solved." A tear slipped past her lashes, trailing down her pale cheek.
"I am far too weak to carry this burden alone," Kaya wept silently, her grip tightening as much as her fragile strength allowed. "I do not know how much time I have left, and I am terrified... terrified that my father's murder will go unavenged. I am trapped in this estate, surrounded by walls, with no one to confide in. I cannot bear the thought of his legacy and the truth dying with me."
"B-But... What about your butler?"
"I trust Klahadore with my life. He has been like a second father to me..." Kaya hesitated, her lower lip trembling as her gaze drifted toward the floor. "But I am terrified. How could I burden him with this? Investigation and intrigue fall far outside his duties. I worry... if I pull him into this dangerous darkness, would he still see me as his young mistress to protect, or simply a liability he can no longer bear?" As the frail girl spoke, the cold, smooth weight of the stolen gem rested between Nami's fingers. Its flawless cut promised a fortune. Enough Berries to buy back another fraction of her Village, another stretch of land ripped away from them by Arlong. For a fleeting second, the grand mahogany bedroom faded. In its place, Nami saw the weathered roofs of her home, the orange groves, and the desperate, exhausted faces of her villagers counting every single coin she brought back.
Nami!
Young Sis!
Voices came into her mind. The sweet voices of her people and her sister. Then her vision shifted, the image of Cocoyasi bleeding back into the frail, trembling girl standing before her. Kaya was drowning in a silent, isolated hell of her own, surrounded by wealth yet completely alone, stripped of family and hunted by unseen shadows. A quiet, painful realization pulled at Nami's chest. Slowly, her fingers uncurled, relinquishing the gemstone back into the velvet lining of the drawer. With a small nudge of her hip, she pushed the wooden panel until it clicked shut without a sound, sealing the treasure away.
"Please… Miss Nami. Help me!"
"I will do my best."
Meanwhile, downstairs, Usopp and Luffy ambled through the grand reception hall, beneath towering chandeliers that cast a warm, flickering candlelight across the polished floorboards. Luffy lagged behind, his jaw slung low in open wonder as his eyes darted over the towering vaulted ceilings and gilded arches.
"Whoa! This looks just like what Shanks used to talk about!" Luffy gasped, craning his neck. "All the giant places he saw on his adventures!"
"Oh, really?" Usopp asked, crossing his arms with a thoughtful hum. "My dad never mentioned anything like this in his letters—"
"USOPP!" A frantic shout echoed down the long corridor, cutting Usopp off. Both men turned to see a figure sprinting toward them across the marble floor. The man possessed thick, sheep-like hair that curled around his face, matched by a fluffy white beard styled in the exact same rounded shape.
"USOPP! SON OF YASOPP!" the man wheezed, coming to a sudden halt before them, clutching his knees as he fought to catch his breath. "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING IN THE ESTATE?!"
"Oh, Merry!" Usopp grinned, waving a hand casually. "Relax! I just came by to introduce my new crewmates. This is Luffy!"
"Hi, sheephead!" Luffy waved.
"Usopp, have you completely lost your mind?!" Merry gasped, straightening up and pointing a trembling finger at the boy's chest. "Barging into the estate after everything Miss Kaya has been through? You know what the council says—you're nothing but the town's jester!"
"What did you say?!" Luffy's jaw set hard, his neck muscles straining as he leaned down until his nose was an inch from Merry's face. The rubber in his arms creaked under the tension of his clenched fists. "You cannot call him a jester, you sheephead!"
"Threatening me in Miss Kaya's home?" Merry scoffed. He snapped into a rigid stance, flipping his two hands into a circular motion in the air as he slowly swung them; his left arm stretched with an open palm as his right arm pointed. He swung his left foot; his ankle turned. The seams of his tailored black suit strained as he held the awkward guard, refusing to yield to the stranger.
"Come on, Straw Hat!" Merry challenged. "Test the finest martial artist in this household!"
Luffy clutched his shoulder, winding up his arm in a wide circle. "Alright then! Gomu Gomu no—"
"Enough." The command cut through the hall, cold and precise, emerging from the shadows near the grand archway. The sharp thud of a polished dress shoe echoed off the high marble walls as Klahadore stepped into the light. Hands tucked neatly behind the small of his back, his posture remained immaculate as his heels clicked in a slow, deliberate cadence against the stone floor.
"My apologies, Mister Mary. I haven't introduced you to these two gentlemen yet."
"Klahadore! Are they the reason you opened the gate earlier and commanded me to open the door?"
"Yes." The man's posture is straight as a statue; his sheer height loomed over the three like a giant dark oak tree. "Also, Mister Merry… what are you doing?"
Merry quickly shakes his body, resetting his stance into a more rigid stance like Klahadore. "I-Im sorry… Senior"
"Please, Mister Mary… do not call me senior." His gaze shifted to Usopp and Luffy. "I am sorry, but I haven't introduced myself to you yet, mister…"
"Luffy! And I will Become The King Of The Pirates!"
"Oh! What a Oneironaut man you are, Mister Luffy! Nice to meet you." He extended a gloved hand. Luffy stared at the butler's face for a second before reaching out. As their palms met, Klahadore's smile held firm, but a tiny twitch pulled at the corner of his jaw. His nose caught the faint, undeniable scent of something clinging to the boy's vest. The smell of—
"Klahadore!" A soft voice broke the tension from above. At the top of the central staircase, Nami was carefully supporting Kaya as the two navigated the steps.
The butler's composure shattered. "Miss Kaya!" Klahadore blurted, abandoning his posture to sprint up the stairs two at a time. He gently took Kaya by the elbows, lifting the weight off her feet. "Forgive me! I was detained downstairs and failed to attend to you—"
"It is quite alright, Klahadore," Kaya assured him with a faint smile, leaning softly against his arm.
"Miss Kaya! These people are intruders!" Merry interjected, his finger trembling as he pointed straight at Luffy. "This straw-hat boy openly declared he intends to become the King of the Pirates! He is a criminal!"
"Hey, Kaya! Who's this sheep-head who keeps screaming at us?!" Luffy called back. Kaya offered a soft, quiet laugh, waving her hand gently. "Mr. Merry... please, settle down."
At the base of the grand entryway, Usopp paused, looking up at Kaya on the landing. The bravado left his posture, replaced by a soft, tender gaze as he held her eyes. "Until next time, Kaya," he said, his voice dropping into a low, affectionate murmur. "Rest well... and dream of the open sea. I'll be counting the hours until I can see your smile again."
Before the sentiment could settle, Merry lunged forward, physically thrusting his hip and elbow to barge between them, effectively cutting off Kaya's view of the boy. "That is quite enough for you, town jester!" Merry barked, waving his hands aggressively to shoo them toward the iron gates. "Out! Out! Do not waste another breath of Miss Kaya's precious energy with your romantic drivel!"
"Alright, alright! We're going!" Usopp yelped, scrambling toward the courtyard gates alongside Nami and Luffy. "Thanks for the food, Kaya! See ya later!"
Stepping past the heavy iron gates, the three cut through the estate's sprawling garden, where dozens of workers pulled handcarts and hoisted heavy wooden barrels onto their shoulders. Near a flower bed, two figures caught Nami's sharp eye: a round man whose stomach spilled over his belt, and a tall, lanky woman with short purple hair brushing her collarbones.
"Who are those two?" Nami asked, slowing her pace.
"Them?" Usopp puffed out his chest. "Kaya's head gardeners! Supposedly the most famous horticulturists in the entire East Blue. I saw their faces on a notice down at the town hall."
"Is that so? Never heard of them," Nami murmured, her eyes lingering on the pair before she turned away. They made their way back down the winding cobblestone avenues of Syrup Town, the bright midday sun painting the sky in deep shades of amber and gold. Luffy suddenly slapped the back of his neck. "Shit! We forgot to go see Zoro!"
"It's alright. We will never visit Zoro again."
"Hey Nami! What are you talking about?!"
"We are suspects. If the police see or track us, we will be questioned by the lead investigators. Which Kaya earlier mentioned one is named Vance and the other is named Djan."
"Vance? He is the most famous Investigator on this site! He investigates Dr. Hugwart's crime; as for Dr. Djan, He is the lead doctor of our Town's Hospital and the one who will replace Dr. Hugwart. I haven't seen the dude yet, but based on what some people say, he is strange."
"What do you mean by strange?" Nami asked, casting a sideways glance at Usopp as they navigated the cobbled path.
"Like, strange strange," Usopp said, lowering his voice. "Some lady swore he was this incredibly charismatic gentleman. A few older merchants claimed he wore a dark hat and spectacles whenever he conducted business. And then there are people who don't even remember meeting him at all, even though the ledger records explicitly prove they dealt with him multiple times." They traversed the sharp divide of Syrup Town. Perched high on the coastal cliffs sat the pristine, pastel-painted mansions of the shipping magnates; down below, sprawling near the docks, cramped wooden tenements reeked of sea salt, gutting knives, and cheap coal smoke. Narrow alleyways cut through the district like jagged scars, patrolled not by local watchmen, but by heavily armed estate guards. Nami had stopped earlier, as she bought one notepad and two pencils
"None of this adds up," Nami murmured, breaking the heavy silence.
She sat on a weathered stone step, her pencil moving frantically over a small notepad as townsfolk filed past them in both directions. Usopp and Luffy slouched beside her, watching the crowd.
"Kaya confirmed that her father and Dr. Hugwart were close friends," Nami said, listing the points aloud as she scribbled. "Yet according to the official report, Hugwart suddenly transformed into a ruthless serial killer. On top of that, Kaya revealed she was the one who quietly retained Attorney Totian—the very man Zoro is accused of murdering."
"If you want another detail for your notes," Usopp chimed in, leaning over her shoulder, "Dr. Hugwart allegedly used some oversize—You know what. The town actually put his tools on display in the municipal museum. Want to check it out?"
Nami paused mid-sentence, looking up. "A museum? A town this size has a museum?"
"Follow me, it's just down the road," Usopp said, gesturing for them to follow. He led them through the winding streets until they reached the grand central plaza, bustling with traders, shoppers, and street vendors. At the far side stood an imposing, vaulted stone building with high arched windows.
"See that large building over there? That's it!" Usopp said, picking up his pace.
As they crossed the crowded square, Nami's sharp eyes caught movement among the throngs of people. Several uniform-clad police officers were patrolling the plaza perimeter, keeping tight reins on heavy-jawed, short-furred hounds that sniffed aggressively at the passing crowd.
"Keep your heads down," Nami muttered, dropping her voice. "Cops ahead."
Luffy casually jammed a finger up his left nostril. "Why?"
"Can you please use your brain for once?!" Nami hissed, grabbing his shoulder to pull him along. "I told you earlier—the moment we were seen visiting a high-profile suspect in custody, the authorities flagged us as potential accomplices. Visiting Zoro at night was a massive mistake."
"You keep bringing up Zoro like he's a problem!" Luffy complained.
"I don't have a problem with that green-haired swordsman; I have a problem with getting arrested!" Nami snapped. "If those officers spot us, they'll drag us in for questioning. Even if they let us go, they'll put a tail on us. Good luck sneaking around, investigating, or fighting anyone when two armed watchmen are breathing down your neck everywhere you go."
"Wait, if we are stalling them, won't they issue us as most wanted here? Or the police will search for us." Nami paused, looking at the cobblestone floor. "Yes, that's why we are spending time doing evidence as early as possible. Then, yes, we are going to visit your Zoro."
"Yehey! And what time! I want to visit him!" Luffy hopped around Nami, like a dog seeing his owner's threats. "Tomorrow or during that third day."
Luffy groaned loudly, crossing his arms behind his head. "What a drag! I just want to get back on the water!"
"Oh, so you want to leave Zoro behind?" Nami shot back, her brow furrowing.
"Of course not!"
"Then just wait." Nami pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the museum, ushering the two boys inside. The air inside was cool and quiet, smelling faintly of old paper, wax polish, and velvet drapery. A handful of visitors strolled silently between rows of polished glass display cases, admiring the town's curated history.
"There it is!" Usopp ran towards the giant glass container in the distance. There, they saw a large, mechanical mechanism. It was covered with brown fur, and the mechanism was as large as a giant bear. Attached to a wooden frame were two giant gauntlets, with claws attached to them. Along with a picture of a large, bearded man wearing glasses, and different photographs. "That is what the police found during that night… The night they arrested the Beast of Port Wagan!" As Usopp came into his theatrical apparatus.
"Uh… so he… uses that machine to kill people?"
"Yes. Saw that big boy over there? It is his murder weapon!"
"Alright, so hold on." Nami stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she folded her arms, her eyes narrowing at the massive glass display. "You're telling me this giant, fur-covered contraption is what tore through the estate lawyer and the harbor master?"
"Yes!" Usopp declared, stepping in front of the glass like a seasoned museum docent. He threw his arms wide, gesturing dramatically toward the display. "Observe! The Bear-Claw Exoskeleton of Wagan! Engineered by the mad blacksmith of the outer coves, this monstrosity boasts a double-pulley hydraulic winch system. When the operator flexes their shoulders, the high-tension steel cables contract, driving those four-inch serrated iron claws downward with the force of an iron ram!"
Usopp leaned against the velvet rope, tapping his chin thoughtfully as he pointed to the heavy iron gears visible through the mechanical bear's ribcage. "See those twin pressure pistons along the back frame? That's heavy-duty naval ironwork. The police report said the murderer used the sheer weight of the frame to crush his victims before the claws even touched them. As its giant claws are used to turn anyone into ground pork!"
"Whoa, Usopp! You are too smart!" Usopp flexes, pointing his thumb at himself. "Of course, I am! I have been one of the tour guides of this bad boy for years now!" As the two were hollering at the side, Nami leaned in until her nose almost touched the glass, her eyes scanning every bolt, wire, and seam along the frame.
"Usopp," Nami said flatly, pointing a finger at the base of the machine. "What's that liquid pooled under the main gear housing?"
"Huh?" Usopp squinted, leaning over the rope. "Oh, that? That's just standard gear grease. The museum staff probably oiled the display so the iron wouldn't rust in the sea air."
"It's not gear grease," Nami countered immediately. She reached out, running her fingertips along the bottom rubber seal of the glass case, catching a tiny smudge of dark, viscous residue that had seeped through the framing. She brought her fingers to her nose and sniffed. "Standard machine oil smells like sulfur and kerosene. Even if it is dried and displayed on this kind of glass. This smells like pine resin and mineral spirits."
Usopp blinked, staring at her blankly. "Okay… so the curator used cheap oil. What's the big deal?"
"I don't know anything about how machines work…" Nami said, her voice dropping into a low, sharp whisper as she paced along the side of the display. "...But I know shipping manifests and harbor supply lists. High-grade pine resin and mineral spirits aren't sold at local blacksmith shops or general stores. They are used exclusively in deep-water drydocks to waterproof heavy wooden hulls and seal high-friction winch cables against saltwater corrosion."
She stopped at the side of the suit, pointing toward the heavy leather straps that anchored the iron gauntlets to the operator's wrists.
"Look at the leather," Nami instructed.
Usopp leaned in, studying the thick brown straps. "Yeah? It's heavy leather. Looks sturdy."
"Look at the buckle holes," Nami corrected, her eyes burning with cold calculation. "The leather around the main buckles is cracked and worn down from years of heavy use by a wide-built man. But look at the inner straps—the ones that hold the forearms tight to the iron frame."
Usopp squinted closer, his eyes widening slightly as he finally noticed it. "They're… modified?"
"They're fresh," Nami said quietly. "The original stitching was unraveled and resewn with waxed hemp thread using a double-lock saddle stitch. That's not blacksmith work, Usopp. That's a sailmaker's stitch. And look at the position of the new holes: whoever wore this suit during the recent attack had arms significantly longer and leaner than the broad-shouldered man in those police photographs."
Usopp felt a cold drop of sweat trickle down the back of his neck. "Wait… so you're saying…"
"I'm saying the man the police arrested wasn't the one who used this suit three nights ago," Nami said, turning her back to the glass and scanning the quiet museum lobby. "Someone modified this machine using custom drydock materials, adjusted the frame for a taller, leaner body, and lubricated the gears with naval-grade waterproof sealant so it wouldn't seize up in the coastal rain." She tapped her chin, her mind racing through the logistics of Syrup Village's trade routes.
"Where in this town can you get fresh pine resin, naval-grade sealant, and heavy sailmaker's thread all in one place?" Nami asked, looking up from her notes.
Usopp swallowed hard, his theatrical posture deflating in an instant. "The Syrup Shipbuilding Corporation... the commercial drydocks down at the north harbor."
"Bingo," Nami said, tugging her cloak tight over her shoulders as she pivoted toward the exit. "Come on."
"Wait, where are we going?!" Usopp called out, jogging to catch up.
"To the docks!"
"Ah, this sucks!" Luffy groaned, dragging his feet behind them with his hands locked behind his straw hat, though he followed along anyway.
The three made their way down the steep stone inclines until the salt air hit their nostrils. Reaching the perimeter of the drydocks, their breath hitched slightly at the scale of the operation. Dozens of laborers hauled heavy timber, pitch pots smoked over open flames, and massive wooden hulls rested in dry berths along the dark water.
"Hey, Usopp," Nami murmured, keeping her eyes fixed on the bustling yard. "Do you know where the central storage vault is?"
Usopp's eyes widened. "Why? Are you planning to break in?!"
"Exactly."
"Are you crazy?!" Usopp hissed, clutching his head. "If Kaya finds out we broke into her family's property, she'll hate me!"
"She won't," Nami replied smoothly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a heavy iron key, letting it glint under the overcast sky. "See this? She gave it to me before we left. It belonged to Attorney Totian's office. She explicitly gave us permission to inspect her father's commercial properties using her authority."
Usopp stared at the key in disbelief. "She... she actually said that?"
"Yes," Nami said, flashing a smirk as she tucked the key away. "So stop worrying about your girlfriend's company."
Usopp's face flushed a violent red, his feet freezing in place against the wooden planks. "H-Hey! She is not my g-girlfriend!" The three then went into the south dock. They came into a camp, with the buzz of the woods and metal screeching behind it.
"Shh! Look over there," Nami whispered, pointing toward a row of changing lockers near the primary sawing sheds. Several heavy canvas work jackets, stained with sawdust and pitch, hung on wooden pegs beside grease-splattered aprons. Before Usopp could protest, Nami darted out into the shadows, grabbed three oversized worker coats and a pair of worn caps, and hurried back. She tossed a giant, foul-smelling canvas jacket directly over Luffy's head.
"Put these on over your clothes," Nami commanded, wrestling her own arms into an oversized coat that swallowed her frame. She tucked her bright orange hair tightly under a flat worker's cap. "If anyone asks, we're temporary haulers clearing out old ledger crates."
"This is my dream! To wear this!" Usopp spoke as he wore it into his body. "I am a legit shipweight now!"
"Shut up your mouth!" Nami muttered, pulling the brim of her cap low over her eyes. She grabbed a wooden clipboard resting on a nearby crate, slapped it into Luffy's hands, and shoved him forward. "Luffy, hold this and look like you're thinking about numbers."
"Numbers are boring!" Luffy whined, though he held the board upside down as he marched toward the central storage vault like he owned the place.
The three of them slipped onto the mainland and into an alley, passing several workers who didn't even glance their way. "Over there," Nami whispered.
When the workers disappeared, they hurried to the back of a large metal warehouse.
"Luffy, look out. If you see anybody, just do whatever your brain comes up with, okay?"
"Alright then!" Luffy nodded. Nami waved Usopp forward, and they used the crevices along the wall as footholds to climb through an open window on the warehouse's side. Inside, the room was dark, with towering crates stacked all around them. "Damn, it's dark," Usopp muttered. They navigated by the faint red glow of sunlight leaking through the high windows, weaving through the maze-like building until Usopp suddenly ran straight into a wall and tumbled to the floor.
"What are you doing?" Nami laughed as Usopp slowly got his bearings. As they moved past the spot, Usopp accidentally bumped the wall again. A loud creak echoed through the darkness. The two exchanged a quick look and rushed inside. Nami found an unlit candle nearby. She felt around in the dark until her fingers brushed something small and rectangular. Following its edges, she pulled out a matchbox, then struck a match and lit the candle. The flame brightened the room, revealing an office with several wooden chairs, tables, and bookshelves.
"Nami, look!" Usopp pointed to the shelves with a mark: LOGISTICS. Nami traced her hand towards the logbooks, as she found the one that matched the current year: Marsiary - Nasjurian, 1523. She quickly pulled it and scrolled down the page while she was holding the candle on her left arm. Pages turned with a sharp, rhythmic snap as Nami's eyes darted across columns of numbers, seal dates, and supply disbursements.
"Let's see it," Nami muttered under her breath, tracing her finger down the line items for the current quarter. "Pine resin... mineral spirits... naval-grade sealant... heavy-duty sailmaker hemp thread..."
She paused. Her finger stopped dead on the page. Nami blinked, squinting closer at the ink entries under the light. She flipped back ten pages, cross-referencing the master shipment receipts against the weekly physical audit logs they found on the other shelves. Then she flipped forward to yesterday's closing stock count. Her brow furrowed. "That's... that's impossible."
"What is it?" Usopp asked nervously, peeking over his shoulder from the doorway. "Did you find out who stole the stuff to fix the bear suit?"
"Nobody stole anything," Nami said, her voice eerily quiet.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the stock is completely full," Nami said, her eyes wide as she stared at the ledger. "Every single gallon of pine resin is accounted for. Every spool of naval sailmaker thread is sitting in Cage 4, here logged as untouched. The seals haven't been broken. There isn't a single missing drop, a single missing ounce, or a single unaccounted-for deduction in these books."
"Wait... so the killer did buy it legally?" Usopp asked, tilting his head.
"No!" Nami turned the book toward him, slapping her palm against the page. "T, it requires three separate signatures: the Chief Shipwright, the Estate Attorney, and the Master Trustee, which is Kaya. But look at the night logs! Zero unauthorized entries. Meaning it is zero requisitions for the bear suit frame! If they used that product, they would log it in here"
Usopp scratched his head, completely lost. "So... if the chemicals on the suit came from this drydock, but none of the stock here is missing, what if the museum display used something else entirely? What if it wasn't pine resin or naval sealant at all?"
Nami stood frozen under the dim yellow lantern light. The silence in the storage room stretched thin, the heavy scent of timber and pitch settling over them until a small, breathless laugh escaped her lips.
"No, that's impossible," she said, shaking her head. "I've known what shipbuilding materials look like since I was a child. I spent years watching shipwrights at the docks. You said you wanted to be a shipwright too, so you must have hands-on experience building vessels, right?"
"Well, yeah, but I kind of forgot the exact materials," Usopp admitted, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes darted away. "I was mostly the visionary behind the designs, you know? The guy who painted the flags and drew the schematics."
Nami threw her head back, letting out a sharp, incredulous laugh that echoed off the high wooden rafters.
"Nami?" Usopp flinched, stepping back. "Why are you laughing like that? You're scaring me!"
"It's a fake," Nami breathed, wiping a tear of pure disbelief from the corner of her eye, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp whisper. "The whole thing at the museum... It's a complete fucking fake!" She stood up as she removed the cap and waved her orange hair. Sweat drenched each strand of it. "The suit in the museum was never taken out to kill those people three nights ago," Nami said, her mind racing at blinding speed as the pieces clicked into her head… a picture she can't see yet. "Whoever the killer is, he didn't sneak here or buy it here to build a suit. He snuck into the museum at night!"
Usopp's jaw dropped. "He... he snuck into the museum?!"
"He went into the museum, broke into the glass case, I don't know how, and stole it, then created a brand new suit somewhere!" Nami declared, her eyes burning with cold realization. "He smeared fresh drydock resin and naval spirits directly onto the display model to leave a deliberate trail of breadcrumbs!" She slammed the ledger shut, the heavy thud sounding like a gunshot in the quiet room.
"He wanted anyone investigating the murders to find those drydock chemicals," Nami said, pacing across the stone floor. "The killer wanted us—or the police—to run straight down here to the docks, suspecting the shipwrights or dockworkers, while chasing a clumsy mechanical monster that doesn't even exist!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Usopp clutched his head, his voice squeaking in panic. "If the killer didn't wear the bear suit... then how did he slash those people?!"
"He used his own weapon," Nami said, her slight smile completely vanishing as a cold chill ran down her spine. "I don't know who he is, but he's brilliant. He calculated all of this—he understands mechanics, forensic law, maybe even ship design better than anyone in this town." Nami paced in a tight circle, tapping her temple with one of the grease-stained work gloves. Her eyes widened as the final pieces snapped into place, her breath catching in her throat as she realized exactly what the missing ledger entries meant.
Before she could speak the answer aloud, a sharp yell shattered the quiet inside the storage
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
"That's Luffy!" Nami and Usopp moved instantly. They jammed the heavy ledgers back into their exact slots on the shelf. Nami blew out the candle, tossed the matchbox back onto the desk, and led Usopp straight back toward the high window. They scrambled through the frame and pressed themselves flat against the roofline, peeking over the edge into the alley below. The blood froze in their veins. Standing directly in front of Luffy were three figures. One wore the stiff brown wool of the Syrup Town Police Department. Beside him stood a man in a crisp white lab coat, and another in sharp brown trousers, calmly puffing on a cigar.
"We are the Syrup Town Police Department," the lead officer announced, stepping forward. "I am Senior Investigator Marcus Vance. With me is our lead Forensic Consultant, Dr. Djan Goeh. We need you to come with us to the precinct regarding the murder of Attorney Totian and the arrest of your companion, Roronoa Zoro."