One Piece: The warrior of Justice

Chapter 39: Shadows of Deception and Ties of Kinship



Nojiko and Lillie's Task________________________________

The bustling port of the Frauce Kingdom was slowly returning to its lively state after the masked figures left with the captured pirates. Yet, whispers lingered in the air about the mysterious Lion and Cat Masks.

Nojiko, with her calm demeanor, stepped off the ship alongside Lillie. The latter remained quiet, her blank eyes scanning the surroundings but betraying no emotion. Nojiko placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring smile.

"Let's get this done quickly, Lillie," Nojiko said softly, guiding her away from the ship and into the crowd. She kept a careful eye on the townsfolk, making sure not to draw attention.

After asking a few locals, Nojiko discovered a merchant named Jaren, known for dealing in ships. The townsfolk pointed her toward a small workshop near the docks. As they walked, Nojiko occasionally glanced at Lillie, her heart sinking at the child's empty gaze.

"We need to help her heal," Nojiko thought. "Atharva and I need to find a way to bring her out of this darkness."

Reaching Jaren's workshop, Nojiko found the merchant inspecting some ropes. He was a middle-aged man with a wiry frame and a calculating gaze.

"Excuse me," Nojiko called out. "I have a ship to sell. Would you be interested?"

Jaren turned to her, his expression skeptical. "A ship, you say? Whose ship is it?"

"It belonged to pirates," Nojiko replied calmly. "But they've been defeated and handed over to the Navy."

Hearing this, Jaren hesitated, his eyes darting nervously. "Pirates, huh? That's risky business. What if they come back?"

"They won't," Nojiko assured him. "You have my word. The ship is free of any threats."

After some negotiation, during which Jaren carefully inspected the vessel, the two agreed on a fair price. Jaren handed over a pouch of berries, albeit reluctantly, still wary of the ship's history.

With the transaction complete, Nojiko and Lillie returned to their own ship. As they waited for Atharva and Nami to return, Lillie finally spoke, her voice soft and hesitant.

"When will Brother come back?"

Nojiko knelt beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from Lillie's face. "He'll be back very soon, Lillie. Don't worry. Brother always keeps his promises."

Lillie nodded slightly, her expression unchanged but her grip on Nojiko's hand tightening.

Atharva and Nami's Errands__________________________________

Meanwhile, Atharva and Nami walked through the streets of the Frauce Kingdom, hand in hand. Nami was still laughing, her voice light and carefree.

"Can you believe it?" she said between giggles. "They actually asked us to join the Navy! Us!"

Atharva smiled faintly, shaking his head. "They don't know we're pirates. If they did, we wouldn't have walked out of there so easily."

Their banter continued as they made their way to the market, purchasing the supplies they needed for their journey. The list included fresh provisions such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dried goods, as well as barrels of water, medical supplies, and navigational tools.

As they passed a shop selling masks, Nami paused, her eyes lighting up. "We should get masks for Nojiko and Lillie."

Atharva agreed, and the two began browsing through the selection. The masks ranged from fierce animal designs to elegant, decorative pieces.

"What about this one for Nojiko?" Nami asked, holding up a fox-shaped mask.

Atharva chuckled, imagining Nojiko with the sly, clever demeanor of a fox. "It suits her," he said, laughing.

For Lillie, they chose a rabbit-shaped mask, its delicate features capturing her innocence and purity. After paying for the masks, the two headed back toward the port, their hands still intertwined.

 A Report to the Navy Headquarters________________________________

Back at the Navy base in Frauce Kingdom, Lieutenant Commander Jared Falk sat at his desk, penning his report. The memory of the Lion and Cat Masks delivering the pirates was still fresh in his mind.

He carefully described the events, the strange yet efficient demeanor of the masked duo, and their refusal to join the Navy despite their evident strength and sense of justice. His report ended with a recommendation to forward the details to the Intelligence Department at Marine Headquarters for further investigation.

Sealing the document, Falk handed it to a subordinate. "Send this to Headquarters immediately. They need to know about these two."

As the messenger departed, Falk leaned back in his chair, his thoughts lingering on the enigmatic figures.

"Who are they really?"

To Be Continued...


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