Inside the dining hall, Mona, the ship's navigator, had spread out a map of the East Blue across the table. She pointed at a marked location and said,
"We're currently here, near the Conomi Islands. If we want to reach the Grand Line, this is the fastest route. There's also the Navy's 16th Branch stationed here we can turn in Krieg's bounty. But if I recall correctly, Ethan, didn't you have a conflict with that rat-faced colonel from the 16th?"
"Yeah," Ethan Chen nodded. "A greedy piece of trash. I'd rather not run into him if I can help it."
"Then should we go around?" Mona asked. "But aside from the 16th Branch, the next nearest base is pretty far. Even with my magic, Krieg's corpse might start to rot before we get there."
"No. We'll go to the 16th Branch. I'm not afraid of him."
"Alright then. The Conomi Islands it is. To the 16th Branch," Mona stood up. "I'll adjust our heading. The wind's in our favor anyway. But since we'll be sailing overnight, we'll need auxiliary systems to keep an eye on things."
"No problem," the assistant drone hovered beside her. "Leave the night shift to me."
With the next destination set, Ethan stretched and left the dining hall with 2B.
"It's getting late. Long day. Let's wash up and rest."
"Mhm."
Tifa also got up and returned to her room to grab a change of clothes.
But Ada Wong didn't go back to her room. Instead, she walked up to the top deck at the bow of the ship, leaned back against the railing, and gazed out at the deep, dark sea, letting the cool, salty wind wash over her.
Being pulled into another world wasn't exactly easy to accept.
She still questioned whether this was all an elaborate illusion. For someone rich enough, it wasn't hard to build a fake town, rig up a few wooden ships, and hire actors.
Even the Devil Fruits maybe they were just biological weapons she hadn't encountered before.
"Still not used to it?" Mona asked, sitting down on the railing beside her and looking up at the stars. "I was the same way at first. But you get used to it. I've got friends here, I get to go on adventures, and the pay isn't bad. It's a pretty good life."
"I was just thinking... what was the point of everything I worked for before? It all feels like starting over."
"Maybe it's because of all that effort that you ended up here in the first place," Mona said, tilting her head toward Ada's distant gaze. "Maybe fate guided you here. Our destinies are often set from the start, and without external interference, we can't change them. Perhaps your path your hard work was what led you to this world. Maybe this is where you were meant to be."
"Fate?"
Ada chuckled at the almost girlish notion. "You believe in fate? You sound like some tarot-addicted teenager."
"What do you mean, tarot-addicted?"
Mona furrowed her brows, jumped down from the railing, and stood in front of Ada. She flicked her long ponytail and said proudly,
"Let me introduce myself properly. My full name is Astrologist Mona Megistus 'the Great Astrologer Mona.' I specialize in hydromancy, reading the reflected starlight in water to divine the fixed paths of fate.
And my readings aren't just mystical nonsense. They're real abilities."
Ada stared at the proud, chin-tilted girl in front of her. Her peach blossom eyes curved slightly with a soft laugh.
"So, Great Astrologer Mona, can you divine my future?"
"That might be difficult," Mona scratched at her cheek, tickled by the wind. "My astrology only works on those born under this sky. But you… you're not from this world. I can't project your fate in the stars here."
"Convenient answer."
Ada had already decided Mona was just another girl with her head in the clouds. She'd been like that once too, dreaming of handsome princes on white horses saving her from danger and living happily ever after.
Girlhood fantasies were nothing new.
Mona didn't seem bothered by Ada's dismissal and continued with a hint of pride,
"You don't have to believe me now. But since you're on this ship, you'll have plenty of chances to see for yourself."
"Then I'll be looking forward to it, Great Astrologer Mona."
"Just wait," Mona said, puffing up her chest slightly. "If you need help with anything on the ship, don't hesitate to ask. No need to be shy."
"Well, since you mentioned it, there is something I'm curious about."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"What's your relationship with the captain?" Ada asked. "He said there are a lot of 'gunners' on board. I want to know what exactly that means. Is it what I think it is?"
"W-we're just crewmates! Why are you even asking that?!"
Under the moonlight, Mona's cheeks flushed deep red. Her voice became shaky, betraying her embarrassment. Ada had her answer.
"No reason," Ada said with a sly smile. "I just want to be one of the captain's gunners... he's exactly my type."
Mona didn't reply. In her eyes, Ada was a reckless woman she'd already taken advantage of Ethan once, and earlier, they'd been kissing on deck for ages. Someone like that talking about love?
What a joke.
A snake in woman's skin.
Literally now, too.
"Whatever. I'm going to shower and rest."
Mona headed back to her cabin, leaving Ada alone on the top deck with only the assistant drone still on watch.
Ada studied the floating drone hovering silently beside her, its high-tech shell gleaming under the moonlight. It looked like something pulled straight out of a sci-fi novel.
How did it fly?
How did it process and transmit information?
What was its power source?
"Hello," the assistant drone waved a mechanical claw. "Do you require assistance?"
Ada shook her head and turned away. Technology was never her strong suit. No matter how hard she observed, she wouldn't be able to figure it out.
Her gaze shifted toward the captain's quarters at the stern of the ship.
She could sense two people inside.
One was being pressed against the wall, slammed into it over and over, their cheek receiving slaps.
Even though she couldn't hear anything, her senses allowed her to visualize the energy patterns of their bodies. From that alone, she could generate mental images and even imagine the sounds.
Judging by the intensity, it must've been loud.
Ada glanced at her wristwatch, then rested her chin on her palm, watching the cabin with idle interest.
Now was a good chance to evaluate just how strong this so-called captain really was and whether his strength matched his appearance.
Maybe it was the effect of the Snake-Snake Fruit, but Ada found herself caring more and more about this.
Like ants crawling beneath her skin.
She even had the urge to get closer.
To watch with her own eyes.
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