26Our first stop after leaving the Calm Belt was at Kulti Island, where we spent a few hours restocking our water and food supplies with help from the Marine Base on the island.
It was a lot less memorable when compared to the exotic fruits and plants of Shashakima Island, We simply restocked and moved on, Managing to reach the Lvneel Kingdom by the time the sun started to set.
According to one of the CP9 Agents, we'll reach Kuen Island in a week, six days now that the sun is already setting.
The Lvneel Kingdom was old, The Island has a rich history as one of the wealthiest nations in the North Blue, going back hundreds of years. A hub of culture and commerce, and the home of one of the most famous works of classic literature in the seas. Liar Noland.
"So like, what's the deal?" I asked as I read through a copy of the book, "Why's this book so famous? It's not even a good book by Children's Books standards, the message is also 'Don't be a liar or you'll die' It's dumb." I tossed the book aside and turned to look at one of 3 CP9 Agents who's accompanying Spandine and me on this investigation, the same one who's basically been tasked with looking after me while Dad is busy.
"I don't know, I'm not from the North Blue," Cipher Pol 9 Agent Deirdre shrugged, leaning her back and elbows against the railing of the ship as she tilted her head to stare at the darkening sky.
"You won't tell me more about this Haki thing, you won't tell me how most of this Rokushiki stuff works, and now you won't even tell me local trivia facts about a 400-year-old book?" I let out a sigh of fake disappointment, "What good even are you?"
"Oi! Damn brat... I'm the third-best CP9 Agent in here, I could beat you up without even sweating! Don't test me!" The agent barked at me, Her head tilted down so she could try her best to glare angrily at me.
"I don't think beating up a twelve-year-old is the kind of boast you think it is..." I dryly told her, laying my back on Funkfreed as we waited for the sun to finally set.
"You trying to get cheeky with me now?!" She asked, a smirk on her lip.
"Heh~" I let out a soft chuckle, "Trying~"
Deirdre simply clicked her tongue at that, giving me another victory to add to the pile.
Nothing exciting happened on our second day in the North, the weather was fine and so were the waves, I might even be able to say that our second day in the North Blue was the most regular day I've had since leaving Maruiki Island.
The third day, on the other hand, brought with it something somewhat exciting, if also a bit disappointing.
"Sir! Pirates are coming!" One of the Ship's Support Crew came rushing in, his hat nearly flying off his head.
"Did you identify their flag?" Spandine asked, standing up and making his way out onto the deck, Funkfreed and I following close behind.
"No sir, They appear to be rookies." The crewman said as our small group made our way to the ship's railing, watching the Ship in the distance sail in our direction, a Jolly Roger with a pink bicorn hat adorned with a pink feather and a golden hoop at the front.
"Rookies? Eh~ Shoot a few warning shots. If they keep getting closer I'll send one of the Agents to deal with them." Hearing that the pirates were rookies, Spandine lost interest and returned to his office.
Funkfreed and I stayed behind, watching the crew ready the cannons of the ship before firing.
I sighed in disappointment as the Pirate Ship turned around and fled, meaning I wouldn't get to see any more action.
The next two days also passed without a hitch, With our ship stopping on the Sixth day at Karakara Island, the location of the Marine Base closest to Kuen Island.
And also where I finally had to start working.
"Spandam, you sure this is how you want to do this? We can always reach the Island first and then request the supplies." My father questioned me after I explained to him my current plan.
"No. We need the extra Water Before we reach Kuen. We need it there with us. Tell the Marines that they're going to bring the Water and Food with us, an entire ship-full, it's going to help us. I can promise that." I insisted, Funkfreed nodding behind me in support.
"Look, Spandam, I understand that you insist, but I still need to hear your reasoning before asking for an entire ship of water and food to come with us." Spandine told me.
I let out a tired groan at needing to explain my plan, "Kuen Island has been going through a drought correct?"
"Yes, that is what you told me." Spandine nodded at me to continue.
"And the people on the island are therefore hungry and thirsty, To them, fresh water is more precious than gold." I continued to explain.
"I'm following so far." Spandine motioned for me to keep going.
"If we wish to figure out what happened to the missing CP2 Agents, we're going to need the locals' help. Clearly, Bo's men didn't think of this, so they climbed the mountain on their own and then disappeared." I looked at my dad to make sure he was still paying attention, "You still with me?"
"I am, please continue."
"Good. The plan is to ration the food and water into packages, each package enough to feed one normal person for a day. We use these packages of food as our way of convincing the locals to work for us and help us figure out what happened. If we need a guide, we pay them with a food pack. If we need information that someone might be slightly unwilling to give, we bribe them with a food pack. And since they're going to be starving, they'll try their best to help us as much as they can, just so they could keep getting more food." I chuckled to myself, "Those packages of food won't be able to fill them up, they were starving before we arrived, they'll eat one and still be hungry for more, which means they'll want to help us more. Soon the rumors will spread across the entire Island and we'll have everybody wanting to help us out."
"What if they try and steal the food?" Spandine raised a good point, "If they're so desperate to eat, what's stopping them from skipping the middle-man in helping us and just go straight to the food packs?"
"Isn't that an easy question?" I smiled innocently.
"After all, we have guns, don't we?"
Is Spandam's famous Sadistic streak finally starting to show?
Here's a character profile for Agent Deirdre.
OC Profile:
Name: Deirdre.
Occupation: Cipher Pol 9 Agent
Origin: Guanhao Island - Grand Line
Age: 24 (51 at the start of the show)
Birthday: April 2nd
Height: 170 Centimeters (Approximately 5 Feet 7 Inches)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Green
Favorite Food: Lobster tails
Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter the Investigation starts, and with it the Kuen Island Arc Begins!
Thanks for reading so far! Happy Hanukkah!