Just as Lucien felt satisfied that Law had finally been cured, he looked out to sea from his usual workout spot and saw a sight that changed his face: two large naval warships were coming straight towards the island.
Lucien could see the marine soldiers moving around with weapons in their hands and finally saw the man who hadn't been seen for a very long time, with the same rugged expression, probably even more menacing now, with the same arrogance he had before, smoking a large cigar, looking straight at the island with an intention to destroy it.
Slowly exhaling, Lucien turned around as he made his way back to their current lodging to notify Law and Idris to pack up; they might have to escape with a boat that wasn't completely ready yet.
"Alright, listen everyone. Do whatever is needed to catch those rats and bring them to me before the end of the day. I want to see Lucien Vosgrave and his men either locked up in a cell or dead. Do not disappoint me," commanded Sakazuki as he crushed the cigar in his hand and roared at the end towards the group of soldiers that responded with a loud yes and crisp salute in response as they made their way to the smaller boats on the battleship before dropping down and rowing quickly towards the island.
Seeing rowboats in an orderly line, Sakazuki took a final glance at Barsalino before jumping towards the island; he didn't even care about the possible death that might await him if he fell into the sea below, landing perfectly on the port by an inch.
Lucien took the stairs two at a time and hit the hallway at a pace that brought Idris out of his room before he'd even knocked. Idris read his face and didn't ask.
"Marines," Lucien said. "Two battleships. Already landing."
Idris was back inside for three seconds and came out with his rifle and nothing else. Lucien knocked twice on Law's door.
Law opened it. He looked like he hadn't fully decided whether he was awake yet, but he was standing, and his eyes were focused.
"Can you move?" Lucien asked.
"Yes," Law said.
"Then move."
They were out of the building and into the street before the first sounds reached them. Shouting from the port end of the island, the kind that carried orders in it. Then a door somewhere close going in hard, wood splitting at the frame. Then another.
Lucien slowed at the corner and looked. Two Marines had a merchant by the front of his stall, one of them with a hand on his collar, the other holding up a piece of paper. A bounty sheet. Lucien didn't need to see whose face was on it.
"White hair," the Marine said. "You seen him or not."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the merchant said. His voice was steady but his hands weren't.
The Marine with the collar tightened his grip. "Wrong answer. Try again."
"I run a food stall. I don't keep track of who comes through."
The second Marine looked at the stall, then swept his arm across the front of it. Jars and dry goods hit the ground and scattered across the stone. The merchant flinched but didn't move.
"Think harder," the Marine said.
Further down the street a woman was standing in her doorway watching. A Marine turned toward her and she stepped back inside and shut the door. He kicked it open anyway.
"Nobody in this town is hiding anyone," she said from somewhere inside. "We don't want trouble."
"Then answer the question. White hair, blue eyes, travelling with two others. When did you last see them."
"I haven't seen anyone like that."
Something inside the room hit the floor. Then another thing.
"We'll be the judge of that."
Lucien pulled back from the corner. The Marines were moving fast and not being careful about it, working street by street, voices cutting through windows and walls, demanding names, demanding answers. They weren't looking for information so much as pressure, pushing until something gave. Someone was yelling back at them two rows over and then abruptly wasn't.
Lucien looked at the streets ahead and mapped it quickly. The shipyard was on the far end of the island. Getting there now in broad daylight with soldiers moving in from the port meant crossing through the middle of whatever was happening, which was not a viable option for all three of them together. Together, they were too visible. Separately, they were harder.
He stopped at the end of the alley and turned to Idris.
"Split here. You take Law and find somewhere to sit quietly until tonight. Come to the shipyard after dark when things slow down."
Idris looked at him. "And you?"
Lucien glanced back toward the port end of the island, where the noise was thickest.
"I'll keep them busy."
Idris held his gaze for a moment. Then he nodded once and looked down at Law. Law was already looking at Lucien with the flat attention of someone filing information away rather than reacting to it.
"Don't get caught," Law said.
"Working on it," Lucien said.
He stepped out of the alley and onto the main street at a walk, hands loose at his sides. It took about fifteen seconds. A Marine at the far end of the road spotted the white hair and pointed. Then there were three of them moving toward him, and one of them was already shouting his name.
Lucien exhaled and turned down a side street at a jog. Behind him, Idris and Law went the other way and disappeared.
"Lucien Vosgrave, halt!" the Marine shouted as they followed him into the side street. Down the street, across the next row, from somewhere behind a building, heads turned. The Marines who had been 'asking' the locals stopped where they stood, located the source of the voice, and ran toward it.
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1 Chapter For Every 50 Power Stones. Please Do Support.