"Huh?!"
Hiriluk nearly jumped when the responsibility was suddenly thrown at him.
The trumpet-shaped herb in his hand almost fell to the ground.
"No! Ah—wait! I mean… this kind of congenital muteness… ordinary medical methods simply… probably… well…"
"You haven't even examined him yet, and you're already saying it's impossible?"
Ardo was straightforward and blunt. He said whatever came to mind and didn't notice the embarrassment on the doctor's face.
"B-But… congenital illnesses are extremely complicated. With our current medical knowledge… I really don't have any confidence…"
Surrounded by everyone, Hiriluk's face flushed red.
Part of it was shame at his own helplessness, and part of it was irritation at being pushed around by someone who clearly knew nothing about medicine.
Just then, Sami's voice cut in and broke the awkward tension.
"Don't pressure Hiriluk too much, Ardo."
Everyone turned toward their captain.
Sami patted Alberto on the shoulder.
The quiet young man looked back at him calmly.
"In this world, nothing is truly impossible. Even if conventional medicine can't solve it right now, somewhere in the Grand Line—or even the New World—there may exist methods or miracles beyond common sense."
"As long as we keep sailing, someday we might find hope."
He turned toward Hiriluk, whose hands were still uncertainly clutching the herb.
"And Hiriluk… you could try researching it yourself."
"The boundaries of medicine expand precisely when impossible problems are solved."
"Perhaps the key to a problem no one else can crack will one day be found by you."
"When that day comes… you won't just be our ship's doctor anymore."
Hiriluk froze.
"…Not just the ship's doctor?"
Sami smiled.
"You'll be a great physician whose name is recorded in history."
"A… great physician? M-Me?"
Hiriluk stood there stunned.
Confusion flickered in his eyes—along with a faint spark ignited by the vision Sami had just painted.
"There's no reason you can't," Sami said calmly.
"On this sea, under this flag, nothing is impossible."
"Just like the Sky Island we're heading for. The world says it's a myth, yet plenty of evidence suggests it exists."
"Gillian wants Dials from the sky. If Sky Islands didn't exist… where would those rare items come from?"
"So logically speaking—"
"Captain!"
A shout from the lookout tower interrupted the conversation.
"Unknown vessel at five o'clock! It's following us!"
"Judging by the silhouette… looks like a Marine patrol ship!"
The relaxed atmosphere on deck instantly vanished.
Sami quickly climbed to the sterncastle and took a telescope from a crew member.
On the horizon, a small dark shape trailed behind the Arrowfish.
"It's a Marine patrol ship," he said after a moment.
"Just one vessel, maintaining a very cautious distance."
Ardo cracked his knuckles and stepped forward.
"Boss, let's turn around and smash them! It's just a patrol ship. I can take it apart myself!"
Sami shook his head.
"If they wanted to fight, they'd already have closed the distance."
"They're keeping space, which means they've already called for reinforcements. A larger force is probably on the way."
"If we turn back and fight now, we'll only waste time."
"And patrol ships are fast. If they decide to run, we might not catch them—and we'll just get dragged into a chase."
He turned toward the helm.
"Hans!"
"Captain!" Hans was already standing by the wheel.
"We've got a tail. Check the charts—any terrain nearby that could help us lose them? Something that blocks line of sight or has complicated waters."
Hans immediately leaned over the chart table.
His finger slid across several markings.
After a few seconds, he looked up and pointed northeast.
"About twenty nautical miles that way is a small archipelago."
"But…"
He adjusted his glasses.
"This is a standard Marine patrol zone. They likely know the reefs, currents, and shallows far better than we do."
Sami raised an eyebrow.
"So hiding there won't work?"
"Exactly."
Hans tapped the easternmost island in the cluster.
"So we need something unexpected."
"This island here—its eastern side has steep cliffs, but there's also a relatively smooth shoreline."
"We head straight toward it as if we're about to force a landing."
He traced a curved line along the coast.
"When they're confused by our course, we suddenly hug the cliffside."
"The mountain will instantly cut off their direct line of sight."
"If we reach the island's backside before they react, the terrain will give us a small window to escape."
"With a bit of luck, that time gap will be enough."
"Good."
Sami nodded.
"Do it."
"Change course. Full speed toward the island cluster."
"We'll lose our tail using that island."
Meanwhile — On the Marine Patrol Ship
"Report, Lieutenant!"
"The pirate ship has suddenly changed course! Heading northeast toward the Blade Ridge Archipelago!"
"They may have detected our pursuit and are trying to use the terrain to escape!"
Peck immediately raised his telescope.
"So they want to hide among the reefs?"
"Maintain distance and keep them in sight!"
"Don't get too close—watch for reefs!"
"Send their new heading to Rear Admiral Basquerville immediately!"
On the Arrowfish
"Now! Hard to starboard! Full speed!"
"Hug the cliff!"
"Bring us around the east side!"
The wheel spun sharply.
The Arrowfish carved a tight arc across the sea, slipping into the deep shadow cast by the island's towering cliffs.
A second later—
The ship disappeared behind the island.
On the Marine Ship
"Lieutenant!"
"The target ship made a sudden extreme turn along the eastern cliff of Blade Ridge Island!"
"They've gone behind the island—we've lost visual contact!"
Peck's heart sank.
Through the telescope, only empty sea and the island's silhouette remained.
"Clever bastards…"
"They must have discovered us."
"They're trying to ambush us from behind the island!"
"We won't follow their path."
"Helmsman! Hard to starboard!"
"We'll circle around to the north side of the island!"
"Stay alert—they're probably hiding in the shadows behind it!"
But his assumption was completely wrong.
The moment the Marines lost sight of them—
Hans issued a new command.
"Full speed!"
The Arrowfish surged forward along a northwest heading, completely different from what the Marines predicted.
Within minutes, Blade Ridge Island was far behind them.
And the Marine patrol ship was left far outside their pursuit radius.
Later — North Side of Blade Ridge Island
The Marine ship carefully circled to the predicted interception point.
But all they saw was endless open sea shimmering under the afternoon sun.
Seagulls glided lazily overhead.
Waves lapped quietly against distant rocks.
No sign of the Arrowfish anywhere.
"Report! No target ship detected in the northern waters!"
"What?! That's impossible!"
Peck rushed to the bow and scanned the sea with his telescope.
"Could they be hiding in a small bay?"
Clinging to that final hope, the patrol ship carefully searched around the island.
Still nothing.
Peck's face turned dark.
He slammed his fist against the railing.
"Damn it!"
"We lost them."
He finally realized the truth.
They had been fooled by a simple line-of-sight trick.
The pirates had never intended to fight or hide around the island.
Their goal had always been just one thing—
Escape.
Peck took a deep breath and picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"Rear Admiral Basquerville…"
"I regret to report that the target pirates used the terrain near Blade Ridge Island to break visual contact."
"They successfully escaped pursuit."
"We have completely lost their trail."
"The tracking mission… has failed."
G12 Marine Base — Flagship
Basquerville listened silently for a few seconds.
His expression showed little surprise.
"Understood."
"You did your best."
"They've escaped both Marine fleets and World Government forces before. Losing a patrol ship's pursuit isn't unexpected."
"Continue your patrol route and remain vigilant."
"I'll dispatch two additional patrol ships to conduct a cross search in that region."
"Maintain communications and be ready to provide information."
"Yes, sir!"
Relieved that he wasn't scolded, Peck sounded far more alive.
After ending the call, Basquerville immediately ordered a secure connection to Marine Headquarters.
"This is Rear Admiral Gal Basquerville, commander of G12 Marine Base."
"Urgent intelligence report."
"My unit confirmed the presence of the Jellyfish Pirates, led by Predator Riberra Sami, in Patrol Sector Three."
"The target demonstrates high-level counter-surveillance awareness and exceptional navigation skill."
"Our patrol ship attempted to track them but lost contact after they exploited island terrain."
"We have dispatched additional vessels to search the area."
He paused, tapping a finger against the chart.
"Additionally…"
"Based on their heading, the pirate crew appears to be deviating from the seven standard Grand Line routes."
"Their final destination remains unknown."
"Report complete."
The Den Den Mushi responded.
"Message received, G12 Base."
"Continue monitoring and updating intelligence."
"Headquarters will coordinate with surrounding regions."
Basquerville set down the receiver.
His brow
s remained tightly furrowed.
Leaving the standard routes…?
Where exactly are those lawless bastards going?
Is there something hidden in those waters… that's attracting them?
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