Chapter 81: A Moment's Respite
Jock Ian arrived at the corner of a building where Nami and Skylark were waiting with the rescued father and daughter.
"Major General Ian!" the old man cried out, his voice choked with emotion as he and his daughter immediately dropped to their knees. "Thank you, Lord Sea King! We owe you our lives!"
They understood all too well the grim fate that would have awaited them had Ian not intervened.
"Stop kneeling. I don't have time for this," Ian said, his tone brisk but not unkind. "You two, head straight down this alley and through two blocks. You'll find a boat that can get you off the island. If you want to live, don't stop for a single moment. Leave immediately. And never show your faces on the Sabaody Archipelago again." His voice sharpened into a warning. "If you ever fall into the hands of the Celestial Dragons again... not even the gods will be able to save you."
He knew he couldn't be everywhere at once to counter the World Nobles' whims.
"Understood! We'll leave right now! We won't cause you any more trouble, Major General Ian!"
"Thank you, Major General Ian! I will never forget your kindness!"
The father and daughter supported each other and hurried away, their figures quickly disappearing down the alley.
"What are you two looking at?" Ian asked, noticing the way Nami and Skylark were gazing at him. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Major General Ian, you're definitely the bravest Marine for daring to save people right in front of a Celestial Dragon!" Nami exclaimed, her eyes shining.
"Yeah! Major General Ian, your image in my heart has grown even taller... Ah! Don't get me wrong, I just mean it literally!" Skylark added, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Both women felt a deep sense of pride, moved by Ian's courage and the profound honor in defying a tyrant to save the innocent.
"Now isn't the time for celebration," Ian cut in, his expression turning serious. "The opponents we're dealing with this time are tough. Let's move. We can't let them escape Sabaody." He fixed them with a sharp look. "Remember my orders: during the engagement, do not stray far from my position. Let's go. It's time to hunt."
"Yes, Major General Ian!"
"Understood, Major General Ian!"
The two women acknowledged the command and sprang into action, moving swiftly down the path.
Ian, however, did not immediately follow. He stood his ground, his gaze turning toward an seemingly empty path ahead, his voice dropping to a low, carrying tone.
"How long do you plan on hiding?" he called out. "Haven't you had enough of the show? How about we have a real fight to liven up the island a bit more?"
From behind a nearby building, Stussy emerged, a faint smile on her lips as she adjusted her elegant, white hip-length skirt. "Your detection skills are truly formidable... I had no idea Lord Sea King was so compassionate," she remarked. "They were just ordinary civilians. Was it really necessary to take such a risk to save them? Aren't you afraid the Celestial Dragons will come back to settle the score?"
She had delayed her departure, choosing to remain and watch the scene unfold from the shadows.
Jock Ian wasn't surprised. He had known she was there all along and hadn't been concerned about her witnessing his actions.
"Fine, you've caught me," he said, walking toward her until he stood directly before her, his tall frame crowding her against the wall. "As a CP0 agent directly managed by the Celestial Dragons, you can go report me to your superiors right now. Have me arrested and punished."
Stussy didn't flinch. Instead, she raised a hand and lightly touched his chest. "Lord Sea King, please, no more of your sarcasm. You hold my deepest secrets. If you tell me to do something, how could I possibly refuse?" Her tone was light, almost flirtatious, and her expression suggested not hostility, but a strange, newfound intimacy.
Ian's large hand found her waist, pulling her closer as he used his other hand to tilt her chin up. "It's a pity I have urgent business today," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Otherwise, the outdoors would be a rather interesting venue." His gaze hardened. "A final word of advice: let your curiosity end here. Do not follow me. If I find you trailing us again, I will treat you as an enemy." He released her. "Friend or foe... the choice is yours."
With that, he turned and vanished down the path, his form disappearing with startling speed.
Stussy smoothed down the hem of her skirt where he had disturbed it. As she thought of the scene of him saving the civilian father and daughter, a small, genuine smile touched her lips. "Jock Ian," she murmured to the empty alley, "which side of you is the real one?"
…
In the dense, undeveloped mangrove forests of Grove 16, Marshall D. Teach and his four core crew members, along with his horse, pushed through the tangled roots and undergrowth. After their narrow escape, Teach had deliberately avoided the populated areas, leading his crew into this complex, root-choked wilderness, hoping to cross it and reach a distant port.
Right now, his only thought was to find any boat and get off this cursed island.
"Haah... haah..." Teach panted, his large frame ill-suited for such a frantic scramble.
Overhead, Lafitte, utilizing his Devil Fruit ability, flew with a pair of white wings, scouting for any sign of pursuing Marines. He felt a wave of relief as he saw the main body of naval forces heading toward the main roads of Grove 16, not into the forests.
"Captain!" Lafitte called down, his voice slightly muffled by the dense canopy. "The Marines didn't follow us into the woods! We've lost them! You can proceed this way... Is everyone alright? Looking at everyone's condition, should we stop and rest for a moment?"
Lafitte, with the advantage of flight, was faring better than the others. The rest of the crew, exhausted from their frantic flight from the New World and the ordeal of Fish-Man Island, were running on fumes. The constant pressure was taking its toll.
"Captain... cough... I think... what Lafitte says makes sense..." Doc Q wheezed from the back of the group, his face pale with exhaustion.
"Damn it!" Teach snarled, finally slumping down onto a massive, gnarled root. "Fine... stop... stop for a moment." He clutched his heaving stomach, trying to catch his breath. "Can anyone tell me... what in the hell is going on? What's the deal with that Marine brat, Ian? How did he know where we were? Where did he get his information?"
From the moment they had landed, nothing had gone right. No ship, not even a decent meal.