MARINES - A ONE PIECE story (ENGLISH) - Part I

CHAPTER CLXV - Palm Beach

The group had separated the next day. In order to remain discreet, the two departing teams had borrowed makeshift boats from the Round Table crew, usually sailed by half a dozen people. The objective was above all not to attract attention.

They knew that they would not see their friends any soon : the embraces had been long, tinged with hope and anxiety at the same time, but they had finally managed to detach themselves in pain and set sail. For three days and nights, Jorge had cried like a child.

- Can you believe it ? he had sobbed, clinging to Jun like a mussel to a rock. We left our friends with those pirates !

She had tried to comfort him awkwardly, but only her delicious food could make the young helmsman forget his pain. Jun was not comfortable with human contact, especially with Jorge, but cooking was the best way for her to establish a dialogue. On the first evening, she had served him an exceptional dessert, made in the tiny kitchen of the makeshift ship : a puits d'amour.

The navigation could have been a problem for any pair, but not for them : as long as Jun was there, Jorge was unbeatable at the helm. In spite of the sea's agitation and the stormy clouds, the ship had glided by his talent on the waves.

At dawn, on the fourth day of sailing, they finally caught sized of the tiny island of Palm Beach. A few palm trees whose leaves were as green as emerald, long beaches of white sand and, erected on a pontoon, a large, battered shack.

- If the house was better, Jorge said, observing the island with his binoculars, the place could be nice ! Palm trees, white sand... Everything you need to have a good time.

Jun was looking doubtful. As they got closer, she even became more and more tensed. As the ship anchored and the tiny lifeboat was sent to water, she gave her instructions like an acting captain.

- Don't touch anything, don't look anyone in the eye. Let me do the talking.

- Alright, boss ! he said with a knowing smile. By the way, who is this Yuzu ?

- A friend of my parents. When we were living on fishmen island, he was one of our neighbors. He was known to be a coating mechanic.

And as Jorge was taking place in the canoe, he observed the clear water with a curious eye.

- Is it true what they say about fishmen island ?

- What do they say ?

- You know... that it is...

Jun rolled her eyes up in annoyance.

- Yes. It's down there, she said, pointing to the depths with her thumb. Dozens of meters deep under this layer of water.

- And... were you really born there ? Is it nice ?

Jun took place in the boat and Jorge started rowing. She was looking sad and he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

As they were approaching, two strange figures appeared on the beach and began to stare at them. Squinting, Jorge understood why they looked so strange : one was a flat-faced, squashed ray-man, the other an octopus-man with tentacular hair gathered in a bun atop his head. When the boat hit the fine sand and its passengers got out, walking towards the house, Jorge noticed a noise and realized that the two fishmen had started to growl. Jun almost bumped into them as they were passing by, but didn't bother to greet them.

- Karm Elh Ro, wanted for 6,000,000 bellies, and Lou Danni, wanted for 7,250,000.

Jorge swallowed loudly.

- Pirates ?

- Murderers.

As they were moving forward, Jorge heard two words whispered behind them. "Hybrid bitch" His fist clenched, his blood rushed to his throat, but Jun grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. Then he continued to follow her without looking back.