The village chief let out a heavy sigh, a mixture of sorrow and frustration.
Rumors had been spreading across the island: navigators were bringers of disaster. With their strange knowledge and skills, they would only lead people into unknown dangers. Because of this, no one dared to sail anymore.
"Lina grew up before my eyes. She once had a younger sister too. Both of them were outstanding navigators. If it weren't for the Navy… ah, forget it."
He shook his head, his voice heavy with resignation.
"I opened a little tavern here just to keep the two of us alive. We're among the few left willing to trade with the sea. But you mustn't force her. I hope she goes with you of her own will. Her life shouldn't end here. She's a pitiful girl."
The village chief turned away and stepped back into his home. Clearly, he was dismissing them.
Ohara was said to hold the world's richest knowledge, and yet it was also home to some of the world's dullest minds. On this island, there were navigators of extraordinary talent, yet the people lived in fear of the sea.
Oda the old rogue, you've done enough damage.
"Let's go, lads. Time to fetch our navigator."
Ritter kicked open the tavern door.
In the corner, a girl wearing round glasses flinched so hard she dropped the flowerpot in her hands. The crash of ceramic filled the silence.
"S-sorry! I'll clean it right away!" She crouched down in a panic, slender fingers trembling as she picked up shards, not even noticing when one cut her skin. "Uu… I messed up again…"
Everyone could now see her clearly: a young girl with ashen-blond hair tied into two braids, her oversized glasses slipping down as she shrank away timidly.
Perona floated closer and poked one of her braids with curiosity. "You're the one who can predict storms?"
The girl hunched her shoulders and whispered, her voice barely audible: "I… I just grow flowers…"
Tesoro frowned. "Captain, is this really the 'exceptional navigator' the chief spoke of?"
Ritter tilted his head, blood mist swirling lazily at his fingertips. He eyed the nervous girl, lips curling into a playful grin. "A florist? Then why do your hands…"
Her hands bore not only fresh cuts from the pottery, but old calluses marks left behind by years of drawing maps and holding pens.
Tesoro narrowed his eyes, instantly catching on. "Where are your charts?"
"I-I don't have any charts!" she blurted, but the panic in her eyes betrayed her. She quickly lowered her gaze again, her voice shrinking. "I just… like tending flowers."
From the floorboards, Moria's shadow slithered up with a sinister laugh. "Heeheehee… liars can't hide. Shadows always give them away."
Perona leaned closer, peering at the broken pot. "But in your flowerpot…"
Among the scattered soil was a piece of yellowed paper. Tesoro snatched it up only to find a hand-drawn sea chart, carefully marked with storm paths, ocean currents, and even sea king activity zones.
"This isn't gardening knowledge," Tesoro said coldly.
Ritter took the chart in hand. "Why bury something like this in the dirt? Collecting them couldn't have been easy."
"It's useless anyway," Lina whispered, her voice empty of hope. "Might as well use it as fertilizer… better for the flowers that way."
Her eyes held no spark, only the deadened calm of someone who had long abandoned her dreams.
Ritter smiled faintly. "Let me introduce myself. Ritter, captain of the Scarlet Dawn Pirates. Bounty: three and a half billion. My crew could give you the freedom to use your skills. No storm has ever overturned our ship, so there's no pressure. We just don't want to lose our way. Besides… Lina, you don't want to disappoint your teacher, do you?"
Her shoulders trembled. Slowly, she drew a breath and lifted her head. Her voice was still soft, but now carried a fragile determination. "…Do you really need a navigator?"
Ritter's grin widened, the blood mist around him surging with excitement. "Of course. And it looks like we've found the perfect one."
"Captain," Lina's voice broke the silence again, "I want to prove myself. If you think I might still be useful… could you help me with something first?"
Ritter raised a brow. "Oh? You want to prove your worth and you've got a request already? What is it?"
Lina clutched the chart found in the soil, her eyes glinting with resolve.
"I want to take us back into the eye of the storm. That's the true test. Let me prove my value there."
Tesoro smirked knowingly. "Show your worth before making bigger demands, eh? Looks like this won't be small."
Lina lowered her gaze, not denying it.
Ritter chuckled and stopped Tesoro from prying further. "Fine. If you're that confident, then let's see what you've got."
The Blumarine Jackson once again sailed into perilous seas. As they drew closer to the storm's eye, the skies darkened, winds howled, and the waves grew monstrous.
Lina stood firmly at the bow, clutching her chart, her eyes calm and resolute.
"Moria!" she suddenly shouted. "Have your shadows stabilize the ship!"
Ritter blinked in surprise. Wait… wasn't she just a timid little mouse?
But the crew didn't hesitate. Before setting out, they had already explained their powers to her. After all, they weren't only choosing her an excellent navigator was also choosing them. They couldn't afford to make fools of themselves.
Moria's shadows burst from the deck and wrapped tightly around the hull, anchoring the ship against the raging currents.
"Enel!" Lina called out next. "Use your lightning to control the airflow keep us from being dragged away by the winds!"
Enel rose, lightning crackling at his fingertips. Closing his eyes, he summoned a dome of electric pressure, subduing the violent gales.
Tesoro watched in silence, secretly impressed.
Lina wasn't just knowledgeable. She carried the poise of a natural commander each order crisp, decisive, and flawlessly timed. He had worried such a timid girl would falter in critical moments, but here she was, commanding like she was born for it.
"Captain Ritter!" Lina turned to him, her voice ringing firm. "Use your blood-mist shield to protect the hull make sure nothing breaks through!"
Ritter laughed, blood mist swirling into a shimmering barrier around the ship.
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