Delegating Tasks #35
"This submarine is deceptively big," I muttered, pushing open door after door as I made my way through the lower decks in search of Law. As I approached a secluded area, I heard voices from inside one of the rooms. "Maybe he's in there," I mused, reaching for the door handle and pushing it open.
However, what I saw inside made me freeze in my tracks. Sif had one paw on top of Shachi's thigh, and he was vigorously polishing her nails with a cloth, akin to shining a shoe. Meanwhile, Penguin stood beside them, holding a palm leaf and fanning Sif with equal enthusiasm.
The trio stared at me in stunned silence, like deer caught in headlights, and I reciprocated their gaze with equal awkwardness.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. With a deep breath, I took a step back and quietly closed the door.
Turning on my heel, I left the scene behind as if I hadn't witnessed anything. "As expected of Sif... she didn't waste any time establishing the pecking order," I chuckled to myself, shaking my head as I resumed my search, which was proving to be quite time-consuming.
"I suppose I could check the system's notifications while I'm at it," I mused, diverting my attention to the accumulated prompts blinking in the corner of my vision.
I glanced over the notifications blinking in the corner of my vision. The first one announced the completion of the third Tutorial quest, which involved recruiting a crew member. The second notification indicated the successful delivery of the reward associated with it: Tidebreaker.
"Where the hell is my reward?" I muttered, and almost as if in response to my thoughts, light began to coalesce in my hand. Gradually, it took the form of a beautifully crafted cutlass.
I marveled at its design, particularly drawn to the guard shaped like a sea serpent coiling around the blade. The two blue gems for eyes gave it an almost lifelike appearance.
As I inspected the sword more closely, a text box appeared in my vision
[Tidebreaker: Made from the core of a dying aquatic star, the blade is nigh indestructible. Due to its deep connection to the sea, the wielder is able to cut through the tallest of waves with ease, breathe underwater, and move beneath it like a fish]
I couldn't help but let out a low whistle at the description. All its abilities were incredibly useful, and the fact that it was nearly indestructible made it particularly powerful.
Swinging Tidebreaker experimentally, I found myself satisfied with its balance and how it felt in my hands. It seemed almost tailor-made for me, like an extension of my own hand.
In my previous life, I hadn't been particularly interested in learning martial arts with melee weapons. Still, due to my teacher's persistence, I ended up picking up a saber, which wasn't too different from a cutlass in design, albeit a bit thinner.
So, I figured my training should translate well to wielding Tidebreaker, even though its blade was slightly broader than what I was used to.
Setting the sword aside for a moment, I turned my attention to the next and final notification: the fourth and last Tutorial mission. It was a straightforward task — procure a ship and cross the Reverse Mountain to reach the Grand Line.
As for the rewards, they were listed simply as a set of question marks. I shrugged to myself, tucking Tidebreacker into my belt. "I'd find out what they were sooner or later, so it didn't really matter for now..." I muttered, ready to resume my search.
...
Seated behind his desk in the captain's quarters, Law was engrossed in scribbling something down on a sheet of paper. His concentration broke when the door creaked open, revealing Blake's figure entering the room.
Law lifted his gaze, an eyebrow arching inquisitively. "You're up already, Blake-ya? How are you feeling?" he inquired, concern lacing his tone. "You lost a fair amount of blood. Maybe you should take it easy for a bit," he suggested with a frown.
Blake waved off the concern with a nonchalant shrug. "I'm as fit as a fiddle, no worries," he reassured, flashing a grin. "But more importantly, I heard you had Bepo chart a course to Spider Miles," he continued, trailing off slightly at the end.
Law's surprise flickered briefly across his features before he composed himself. "You were out cold, and Wolf was nagging us about leaving... we couldn't depart without a destination so--" Law explained, his words tapering off as Blake interjected.
"No need to explain. I'm fine with it," Blake said with a chuckle. "Actually, since you're so proactive, I'll leave these kinds of decisions to you from now on," he added, his tone indicating a hint of approval.
Law's frown deepened at Blake's unexpected proposal. "You want to leave deciding our course to me?" he queried, his confusion evident. Blake's response was a simple nod, which only added to Law's bewilderment.
"Even though you're the captain?" Law pressed further, his tone reflecting his skepticism.
Once again, Blake nodded, offering a self-assured smile. "You strike me as rather clever. I'm sure you'll handle these matters better than me," he remarked with a chuckle. "My expertise lies in training and combat, not long-term planning. There's much about the sea that I don't know," he admitted casually.
Law stared at Blake incredulously, his mind grappling with the implications. "I'm beginning to regret my decision already," he muttered, running a hand over his forehead.
Blake laughed off Law's words. "Bwahahaha! A good leader should be able to rely on others to overcome his own weaknesses!" He stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Besides, I don't intend to leave everything to you... I'm simply deligating a task that I'm not well equipped to handle myself..."He added, his grin widening.
Law released a heavy sigh, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Such shameless words... but there's sense in them," he conceded. "Very well, I'll concede that. I'll handle the planning, but the final decision rests with you as the captain. I can't bear that burden for you," he stated firmly, shaking his head with resolve.
Blake regarded Law with a satisfied smirk, crossing his arms confidently. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he affirmed. "I'd be worthless as a captain otherwise, not even a mere figurehead," he remarked, a broad grin spreading across his face.
...
On the shores of Down's Island, a towering heap of garbage served as an unlikely perch for a man clad in a black feathered shirt. His attire concealed most of his features, leaving only his piercing eyes visible above a half-face mask shaped like a crow's beak.
As his crew assisted the island's impoverished residents onto a waiting ship, the man watched stoically, his focus unwavering.
A sudden clatter drew his attention, and he turned to find a bald-headed man ascending the garbage mound toward him. "What's the matter, Jiron?" he inquired, his voice barely audible through the mask that obscured his mouth and nostrils.
However, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as the man climbing toward him didn't even register his words.
Frowning, he raised his voice. "Oi! I'm talking to you!" he called out, prompting Jiron to finally acknowledge him.
"You're muttering again, Mr. Karasu," Jiron replied with an exasperated sigh. "Properly turn on your speaker before talking or I'll have no idea what you're saying," he added, gesturing toward the beak-like mask.
Karasu's irritation brewed beneath the surface, evident in the pulsating vein on his forehead. Without outwardly expressing his annoyance, he toggled a switch on his mask. "What's the matter, Jiron?" he grumbled, the speaker now projecting his voice clearly.
Jiron's grin widened with the newfound clarity. "Ah, that's much better," he remarked. "I've got news. We've located Artur Bacca."
Karasu's eyebrow arched in surprise. "It hasn't been that long since we chased him out of this island?" he queried. "How did you manage to track him down so quickly?"
Having confronted Bacca on the island earlier, Karasu and his Revolutionary Army comrades had faced off against him before driving him away as he was trying to rob the hapless civilians of what precious little they had.
"Here's the twist, boss," Jiron began, scratching his head. "Bacca didn't make it far. He attempted a raid on Swallow Island and got himself killed there," he relayed, a hint of incredulity coloring his words.
Karasu's shock was palpable as he processed the news. "Artur Bacca met his end on Swallow Island? By whose hands?" he inquired, his surprise evident. Though Bacca himself held little value, his devil fruit posed a significant threat, making his demise on a seemingly inconsequential island like Swallow Island difficult to fathom.
Jiron's shrug conveyed his own bewilderment. "That's what got my knickers in a twist, boss," he remarked. "Word has it that a group of unknown locals, aided by a newcomer, took down Bacca. And here's the kicker—they're now sailing together," he chuckled.
A furrow formed between Karasu's brows. "Curious... What do we know about these locals and their ally?" he pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"We're short on details about the locals, but we've got their names—Law, Penguin, and Shachi, and polar bear mink called Bepo. We only have one person on Swallow Island, after all..." Jiron reported with a sigh. "As for the outsider who aided them, he goes by the name of Blake Thorne. The captain of the merchant vessel that ferried him to Swallow Island is here on this island right now..."
Karasu pondered the information, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "Lead me to this ship captain. I have a few questions for him," he instructed decisively.
...
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