On the "Nothing Island," there was, as its name suggested, nothing.
That wasn't to say there wasn't a single blade of grass. It was a wasteland-like island with unfamiliar weeds growing sparsely underfoot. There were no landmarks, only a vast expanse of brown earth stretching out. It was certainly vast enough to understand why Dorry and Brogy had mistaken it for a continent.
Knowing the island's origin made one contemplate the color of the earth, and so everyone fell silent. There was a faint, unpleasant smell in the air.
"...It's just a vast wasteland."
"Let's move on to the next island as soon as we can. We'll wait here for now."
Kanata grabbed Kuro by the scruff of his neck as he tried to disembark for fun, and the crew spent their time freely on the ship. Figuring a lap around the perimeter wouldn't hurt, they circled the island without dropping anchor and spotted another ship moored in the distance.
Since their route followed from Little Garden, this ship should have passed through the same island, but they didn't recognize it. Perhaps they had used an Eternal Pose to get here.
They didn't look like pirates, so Kanata decided to pull alongside and call out to them.
"Hey there! What are you all doing here?"
"Hm? We are botanists from the South Blue. We're studying this island because it's rare, even for the Grand Line, to find one with almost no vegetation."
Their vessel was a size smaller than Kanata's but was still a fine ship. The flag it flew bore the crest of some kingdom, lending credence to their claim.
Figuring it would be a good way to kill time until the Log Pose set, Kanata had them disinfected and brought aboard to talk. The few who were brought over were wide-eyed with confusion at being suddenly sterilized. But given the island's true nature, it was a necessary precaution.
After a brief explanation, the scholars began scribbling notes furiously.
"That's… incredible! Where did you hear such a story?!"
"We heard it on the island just before this one. We even encountered the goldfish they call the 'Island Eater'."
"What! But we also followed a Log Pose from the previous island to get here. If such a goldfish existed, surely it would be the subject of rumor?"
"We came from an island called Little Garden. This 'Nothing Island' itself was formed from a mixture of multiple islands. Just as the log can set for multiple destinations from here, it's likely that logs from multiple islands can also lead to here."
"I see," the scholars murmured, taking notes and beginning their discussions. It turned out they weren't all botanists; their group included specialists in geology, marine biology, and other diverse fields.
The Grand Line still held many mysteries. They mentioned that research had recently begun in earnest on a strange phenomenon called the Knock Up Stream, though they added it would likely be a long time before it was fully understood.
"This sea is full of interesting things," Kuro laughed.
For Kanata, a navigator, information about ocean currents was not something she could ignore. She intended to include Scotch in the conversation to learn about the latest research findings and apply them to their voyages. The scholars, in turn, were eager to exchange information, hoping to use what Kanata's crew had learned on their route for their own research. However, since they had only visited two islands so far, Kanata didn't think they could provide much valuable information.
"Not at all! The plants and research samples among your supplies are extremely fascinating… Where did you acquire pathogens that were thought to be extinct?"
"Little Garden," Scura answered. "It's a good thing it was us, but I wouldn't recommend that ordinary scholars set foot on that island."
It was a harsh environment just to survive in. It was hard to imagine anyone having the resources to conduct research there.
"I see, it's that dangerous… It's amazing that you all managed to survive in such an environment."
"Well, let's just say… we have a lot of strong people."
Naturally, all eyes turned to Feiyun. It was a prejudice that came with being a giant, but the physical difference was undeniable. The next person they looked at was the brawny Samuel. Scura, however, thought to himself that people couldn't be judged by their appearance, since Kanata, who looked the most delicate, was actually the strongest on the ship.
"The log won't be set in a day. Let's have a feast as a sort of cultural exchange," Kanata announced.
Her words were met with excitement from all sides. But, as expected, the feast was held on the ships, without anyone setting foot on the island.
☆
Two days later.
The Log Pose had started to set intermittently, and they were now able to move on to the next island. Because the magnetic fields of several islands were setting in cycles, they wouldn't know their destination until they got there. It was a surprise for the journey.
The scholars had been amazed by the discipline of Kanata's crew, who, despite the revelry of the feast, had maintained a sober watch in rotating shifts. For the crew, however, this was now second nature.
"The island itself was uninteresting, but this was a good learning experience," Kanata said.
"Yeah. Running into scholars was a stroke of luck. Must be a reward for our good deeds," Scura added.
Kanata and Scura had gained a wealth of knowledge from the two-day exchange, but it seemed the other crew members found the topics less than thrilling. They had spent their time fishing, but the island itself seemed to assert its territory as the Island Eater's domain, and they hadn't caught much. The soil was apparently contaminated by what the Island Eater had consumed, turning it into a barren wasteland where little could grow. It was clear that no one could live here. According to the scholars, improving the soil would also be difficult.
"I thought it was all pretty interesting, though," Kuro said.
"The Grand Line has all sorts of islands," Zen added. "My homeland, for example, is a country built on the back of a giant elephant."
"What? I have to see that."
"It's a wonderful place. We of the Mink Tribe are natural-born warriors, so if you cause any trouble, you'll be suppressed immediately."
Kanata believed that Zen was one of the strongest among them, but he himself was always modest and would neither confirm nor deny it. It was something she would find out if they ever went there. Visiting many islands was a good way to broaden one's horizons.
"A nation of warriors… Interesting," Junci mused.
"Master Junci, you can be a bit indiscriminate, can't you…" David commented.
"What are you talking about? Even my blood boils when I face a worthy opponent. Lately, sparring with the same partners has grown dull."
Meanwhile, Junci and David had reacted to Zen's mention of "natural-born warriors." Junci, who had also mastered the basics of Ryuo, was looking for a challenging opponent to hone his skills, and he was clearly bored of fighting the same people. Perhaps frustrated by his inability to deflect or block a giant's blow, he had frequently sparred with Kanata but had never won. The crew was in unanimous agreement that he should be given priority in future battles.
"Well, this has been very informative. It will certainly help our research," one of the scholars said with a smile, extending his hand to Kanata. After she shook it, the other scholars all crowded around, eager to do the same.
Finding it a hassle, Kanata left the rest to Georges, which earned her a collective frown. Still, they seemed grateful for her cooperation in their research, and the atmosphere remained friendly.
The scholars planned to stay on the island a while longer, but Kanata's crew was departing first.
"Take care, and hope to see you again!"
"Kanata! Let's meet again!"
"Come visit us again!"
Their parting words began to betray their underlying desires, but Kanata just smiled wryly and waved back. Perhaps because their crew was composed entirely of men, their attention towards her was quite blatant. Female crew members were probably a rarity, though female scholars shouldn't have been. Then again, the only scholars Kanata really knew of were the archaeologists of Ohara.
☆
The climate was stable, the sky was clear, and the wind was calm.
A few days after leaving the Nothing Island, they seemed to have entered a stable sea region, and they judged that it wouldn't be long before they reached the next island. They didn't know what it would be like, but they hoped it wouldn't be another island like Little Garden.
After entrusting the Log Pose to Scotch, Kanata was having tea in a cabin when Georges burst in.
"Kanata! There's a Sea Beast behind the ship!"
He was flustered, but Kanata felt no particular interest and simply told him to "leave it be."
A Sea Beast known as a Sea Cat appeared with a loud "NYAAA!!" It was about the same size as their ship, but perhaps because the first thing it saw was the giant Feiyun, it jumped back in surprise the moment their eyes met. As it had appeared behind the ship, the distance between them gradually increased.
"...Is it an enemy?"
Intimidated by Feiyun's steady gaze, the Sea Cat did nothing and slowly disappeared back into the ocean. Feiyun stared at the surface of the water with a disappointed look, her eyes scanning for anything else that might appear. But the sea remained calm, with no other Sea Beasts or Sea Kings in sight, and soon the shadow of a new island came into view.
Looking through binoculars from the deck, she could tell it was a very large island.
"...I can see a desert in the distance. The climate is warm, and the humidity is low. A desert kingdom."
A look of distaste crossed Kanata's face.
For her abilities, it was an island with a harsh climate. Of course, if she were to fight seriously, she could change the climate itself. It just meant that holding back would be more difficult. Lately, she rarely relied on her powers anyway. The main reason was the lack of opponents strong enough to warrant it, but even aside from that, she often fought with just her spear and fists to train her Armament Haki.
Besides, she didn't like the heat.
"Let's follow the island's coastline. There should be a port somewhere."
They found one without much trouble. The port town was called Nanohana. The island was Sandy Island, and the country was Alabasta—one of the most civilized nations in the Grand Line. Nanohana was not only a port town but also an oasis, making it a perfect place to procure supplies. They needed to land to stock up on various necessities.
"It's so hot..."
The moment she stepped ashore, Kanata was struck by the high temperature and the intense sunlight. She could cool the air around her with her powers, but that wouldn't block the heat from the direct sun. She wore a light jacket to keep her skin from burning, but it was still incredibly hot even in the shade.
With Kanata in this state, Junci and Georges took a few others and went to buy clothes, food, and water for everyone. Their clothes had become quite worn out during their time on Little Garden, though not quite rags. They had money, but they couldn't be too extravagant, so they would need to find a way to earn some more soon.
"I didn't know you had things you were bad at, Kanata," Feiyun said.
"Even I have a thing or two I don't like... Are you okay, Feiyun?"
"I've always been pretty insensitive to both heat and cold."
She had stood on deck even in the dead of winter, so it was probably true. She showed no signs of being affected by the heat. Finding that somewhat enviable, Kanata waited on deck with a parasol for Georges and the others to return.
This country was a member of the World Government, so if they stayed too long, they risked being found by the Marines. However, they had no pirate flag and no mark on their sails. As long as no one saw Kanata's face, there was little chance of being discovered.
About two hours later, Georges and the others returned with most of the necessary supplies.
"We got clothes, food, and water. Also, apparently, the rainy season is about to start, so it should cool down a bit then."
"The rainy season..."
In a desert country with little water, it was common to survive the dry season by collecting and storing the rain that fell during the rainy season. At the same time, the price of water, which was normally high in this country, would likely stabilize during this period.
"Let's take this opportunity to do some sightseeing until the Log Pose is set."
"Good idea. Let's look around."
It would be even better if they could find some work. Trading would be ideal, but trade between islands was extremely rare in the Grand Line. It was a dangerous sea, making regular trade nearly impossible. The profits would be huge, but for them, it would only end with a Marine ambush. There were many things they could do if they weren't being chased by the Navy.
"Let's head into town for dinner tonight. It would be nice if there's a place that a giant can fit in."
"I'm fine staying outside, you know? I'm used to it, so it's okay."
"Don't be ridiculous. Everyone is treated equally. If we can't find a place, we'll just buy food and have dinner on the ship."
They hadn't even disembarked on the Nothing Island. As a way to relax, they decided to have a meal in Nanohana and wait for the sun to set. The days were long, but once the sun went down, the temperature would drop significantly. The low humidity meant the daytime heat didn't linger.
For Kanata, the evening became much more pleasant. She put on a hood to hide her face and headed into town.
"We probably should have looked for a tavern during the day."
"Yeah... It's a port town, so there are plenty of them, but they're all crowded."
They weren't having any luck in the center of town, so they decided to head to a larger tavern said to be on the outskirts. It probably wasn't designed for giants, but the door and the building were quite large. Feiyun could probably get in if she stooped. The only question was how crowded it was.
When Kanata and Kuro entered, the noisy tavern fell silent for a brief moment.
"...It's pretty full, but there's enough room."
"Alright, this is the place, then. Hope the food's good."
Kuro, who was unusually dressed up, signaled for the others waiting outside. Kanata approached the man who appeared to be the owner behind the counter to confirm if their group would be okay.
"Huh? A giant? I think she can get in... Yeah, whatever. It's a slow night anyway."
"Thank you. Just prepare some random food and drinks for us."
She handed him a generous amount of money to cover any trouble and turned to leave the counter when her arm was suddenly grabbed. She turned back to see several very drunk men grinning at her. Judging by the similar expressions on the other patrons, this was probably a common occurrence. This was the kind of place that locals knew to avoid.
"Hey there, beautiful. How about you pour us a drink?"
"Yeah, great idea! A drink poured by a woman this pretty is bound to taste better!"
Kanata let out a single sigh and picked up a liquor bottle with her free hand. She was already exhausted from the daytime heat, and now this. Normally, she would have controlled herself, but this time, her patience snapped in an instant.
"Oh, you're gonna pour for us? In that case, how about later tonight you—"
CRASH! She brought the bottle down on the man's head with a loud crack.
Alcohol and shards of glass flew everywhere, and the man collapsed to the floor, bleeding from his head.
"Is that all you wanted?"
"Y-You bitch...!!"
"Do you know who we are?! We're the Gairei Gang, the sand pirates that make crying children shut up!"
Fueled by alcohol, the men got worked up, drawing their guns and swords. The owner frantically ducked behind the counter, while Kanata watched them with an indifferent gaze.
They shouted various things, about letting her off easy if she behaved, but Kanata ignored them completely and knocked them all unconscious with her Conqueror's Haki.
"Innkeeper, this is for the trouble," she said. "And get this trash out of the way."
She tossed some money to the owner, who was timidly peeking out from behind the counter. Then, stepping over the fallen men, she moved to a table to wait for Kuro and the others to return, thinking to herself that if this kept up, she wouldn't even be able to set foot in a tavern.
***
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