Over the next week, Kai visited Kanto each morning, sharing carefully selected stories about Devilukean culture and technology. The old sailor proved to be a wealth of information about the East Blue and the dangers of the Grand Line, knowledge that would prove invaluable in the months to come.
Nami, initially skeptical, eventually joined them for tea, charmed by Kanto's extensive knowledge of navigation and willingness to share the secrets of sailing the treacherous waters beyond Reverse Mountain.
"The currents near the Red Line can tear a ship apart if you don't approach at precisely the right angle," Kanto explained one afternoon. "Many a confident captain has ended their journey on those rocks."
"How did you manage it twice?" Nami asked, clearly impressed.
"The first time was luck and a favorable wind," Kanto admitted. "The second time was careful planning and a modified keel design I developed specifically for the ascent." He reached out, his fingers finding a small model ship on the table between them. "If you adjust the weighting like so, and reinforce these sections here and here, you gain critical stability during the climb."
Kai watched as Nami absorbed the information, her quick mind already applying it to their future journey. This was why he had trusted Kanto—the old sailor's knowledge was proving invaluable.
Their peaceful routine was shattered on the eighth day.
Kai was returning from the market, fresh supplies in hand, when he noticed unusual movement near the harbor. A group of rough-looking men had gathered around a small, sleek vessel that hadn't been there the previous day. Their posture and the weapons visible at their hips marked them clearly as pirates, though not of any crew Kai recognized.
Adjusting his course, he headed toward the inn to warn Nami. As he passed through a narrow alley, his enhanced hearing picked up fragments of conversation from an open window above.
"...confirmed it's true. The old blind man called him a 'Devilukean.' Said they're advanced beyond anything in the Four Blues."
"And you're certain about the technology? The shields and teleportation device?"
"Heard it straight from his own mouth. Been watching him for a week now. He visits the old sailor every morning, talks freely."
"Excellent. Captain Vassago will be pleased. The buyers will pay handsomely for this information. Imagine what the Government would give to acquire such technology—or the pirates who could use it against them."
Kai froze, his blood turning cold. The spies had been more effective than he'd realized, gathering information about his conversations with Kanto. And now they were selling that information to others.
He hurried toward the inn, mind racing. They needed to leave immediately, before whoever these people were decided to act on their knowledge. More concerning was the mention of "buyers"—plural—suggesting this information was being offered to multiple interested parties.
Nami wasn't in their room when he arrived. A quick check with the innkeeper confirmed she had gone to visit Kanto for their usual afternoon discussion of navigation techniques.
Kai rushed toward the teahouse, taking the most direct route through the village. As he rounded the final corner, he saw a scene that made his heart stop.
Four men surrounded Kanto's bench, with Nami standing protectively in front of the old sailor. Her face was set in a defiant expression he knew well, but there was fear in her eyes. These weren't ordinary thugs—they moved with the coordinated precision of trained fighters.
"—just need to borrow the old man for a little chat," one of them was saying, a tall figure with a jagged scar across his throat. "No need for anyone to get hurt."
"He's blind and elderly," Nami replied, her voice steady despite the danger. "What could you possibly want with him?"
"Information," the scarred man answered simply. "About your friend with the red hair and unusual abilities."
Kanto's face remained impassive, but his knuckles whitened around his walking stick. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," he said calmly.
"Don't play dumb, old man. We know he's been visiting you daily, sharing secrets. And now you're going to share those secrets with us—or with the captain of the ship in the harbor. Your choice."
Kai assessed the situation quickly. Four armed men against Nami and a blind elder. Unacceptable odds. His hand moved to his wrist communicator, activating the emergency protocol. The small device hummed as it prepared his shield generator and teleportation system.
"Hey!" he called out, stepping into view. "Looking for me?"
The four men turned, hands moving to their weapons. The scarred leader smiled, revealing several missing teeth.
"Well, well. The Devilukean himself. That saves us the trouble of extracting information." His smile turned cruel. "Captain Vassago will be pleased to meet you in person. He has many questions about your technology—and clients willing to pay generously for it."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Kai replied evenly. "And neither are my friends."
The scarred man shrugged. "We weren't asking permission." He nodded to his companions, who spread out in a practiced formation.
What happened next was a blur of motion. As the pirates moved to surround them, Kai activated his shield generator. A translucent barrier of energy expanded outward, forming a dome around himself, Nami, and Kanto. The nearest attacker bounced off it with a surprised grunt.
"Nami, take Kanto and head for the ship," Kai instructed quietly. "Emergency protocol alpha."
She nodded, understanding immediately. They had prepared for situations like this, established procedures for quick exits when necessary.
"What about you?" she asked, already helping Kanto to his feet.
"I'll be right behind you. Just need to make sure no one follows."
The scarred leader was shouting orders now, one of his men producing what appeared to be a modified rifle. "The boss said the shield might be vulnerable to concentrated fire! Aim for the same spot!"
"Go, now!" Kai urged, pressing a small device into Nami's hand—an emergency teleportation beacon tuned to their ship's coordinates.
As Nami and Kanto hurried away down the coastal path, Kai expanded the shield to create a barrier between them and the pirates. The man with the rifle fired, the projectile striking the energy field with a shower of sparks but failing to penetrate.
"Your information is outdated," Kai told the frustrated pirates. "I upgrade my technology regularly."
The scarred leader snarled, drawing a wickedly curved blade. "Then we'll just have to take you alive and force you to deactivate it!"
Kai backed away slowly, maintaining the shield while keeping the pirates' attention focused on him rather than the escaping Nami and Kanto. His free hand activated the secondary function of his wrist communicator.
"Red Queen, initiate distraction protocol," he subvocalized, the device picking up the vibrations directly from his throat.
"Acknowledged," came the AI's response, audible only to him through bone conduction. "Deploying Bleep for diversionary tactics."
From the direction of the harbor, a high-pitched whine grew rapidly louder. The pirates turned in confusion as a small, spherical drone—Bleep—shot into view, circling their heads at disorienting speed. The drone began emitting a series of bright flashes and disruptive sonic pulses, specifically designed to confuse and disorient without causing permanent harm.
Kai took advantage of the distraction to activate his teleportation device, disappearing in a flash of blue-white light just as the scarred leader lunged toward him.
He rematerialized on the deck of their small ship, where Nami was already preparing to cast off. Kanto sat nearby, his face a complex mixture of concern and fascination.
"That was cutting it close," Nami remarked as she worked quickly to unfurl the sails. "Did anyone follow?"
"Bleep is keeping them occupied," Kai replied, moving to help with the preparations. "But we don't have much time. Their ship looked fast."
Kanto cleared his throat. "I owe you both an apology," he said gravely. "It seems my curiosity has placed you in danger."
"It's not your fault," Kai assured him. "I should have been more careful about who might be listening."
"Nevertheless," the old sailor continued, "I have compromised your safety. Those men—pirates from the Vassago crew—are dangerous. Their captain is known for hunting and selling rare items and information to the highest bidder."
As the ship glided away from the dock, Kai looked back at the village. The pirates had recovered from Bleep's distraction and were running toward the harbor, but they were too late. With the wind filling their sails, the small vessel was already moving swiftly toward open water.
"We should be able to outrun them," Nami said, studying their pursuer's ship with a critical eye. "Their vessel is built for short, fast pursuits, not sustained chases."
Kai nodded, then turned to Kanto. "I'm sorry we had to bring you into this. We can drop you at the next safe port—"
"No," the old man interrupted. "I can't return to Eastridge now. Those men saw me with you, heard me speak of your nature. They would find me again." He sighed, running a weathered hand over his face. "Besides, I've been in that village too long. Perhaps it's time for one last adventure before the sea claims me for good."
Nami and Kai exchanged glances.
"We're headed for potentially dangerous waters," Nami warned. "Our path isn't an easy one."
Kanto smiled. "At my age, what do I have to fear? And my knowledge might prove useful to you. I've sailed these waters for decades—every current, every hidden reef, every safe harbor."
As they sailed away from Eastridge, leaving the frustrated pirates behind, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that a significant threshold had been crossed. His secret—his true nature—was no longer contained. The information was now in the hands of people who would sell it to the highest bidder, be they pirates, Marines, or worse.
"The name Devilukean will spread," Kanto said, as if reading his thoughts. "Those men will tell others, who will tell others still. Rumors will grow, becoming distorted with each telling."
"Making us an even bigger target," Nami added grimly.
Kai nodded, watching as Bleep returned to the ship, its mission complete. The small drone settled into its charging station with a contented series of beeps.
"Then we adapt," he said resolutely. "Our rendezvous with Luffy is in less than two months. Until then, we stay mobile, avoid populated areas, and accelerate our preparations."
As their ship cut through the waves, leaving Eastridge and its dangers behind, Kai gazed at the horizon. The world had just become more complicated, more dangerous. His secret was out—not just to a trusted few, but to unknown parties with unknown motives.
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of an approaching storm. Appropriate, Kai thought. The calm waters of his early months in this world were behind him now. Ahead lay deeper currents and rougher seas.
But he wasn't alone. Nami stood confidently at the helm, her navigation skills unmatched in the East Blue. Kanto sat nearby, a living repository of seafaring wisdom. And soon, they would join with Luffy and the others, forming the crew that would change this world forever.
The secret was in the wind now, spreading like seeds to unknown shores. But seeds could grow into unexpected things—threats, yes, but also opportunities. Only time would tell which would take root in the fertile soil of this vast ocean world.
Kai adjusted his bandana, no longer bothering to hide the metallic red sheen of his hair. The time for complete secrecy had passed. Now came the time for strategic revelation—controlling the narrative rather than hiding from it.
"Red Queen," he subvocalized to his AI companion. "Begin compiling dossiers on potential allies and threats based on our new status. Key search terms: Revolutionary Army, World Government Special Forces, Cipher Pol, independent researchers, technology brokers."
"Acknowledged," came the AI's response. "Initiating comprehensive analysis. Warning: information available is limited by our current network reach."
"Understood. Do what you can with what we have."
As they sailed toward the next chapter of their journey, the rumors of a red-haired stranger with miraculous technology spread across the East Blue like ripples from a stone cast into still waters. What began as whispers in a small coastal village would soon reach the ears of those with the power and resources to act upon such information.
In the dimly lit cabin of their ship, Kai activated a holographic map of the East Blue, marking their current position and plotting their course away from known shipping lanes.
"If we maintain this heading, we should be able to avoid major ports until we're ready to meet with Luffy," he said, tracing their route with his finger.
Nami nodded, studying the map with her expert navigator's eye. "It's not ideal for provisioning, but there are a few uninhabited islands where we can resupply with fresh water and whatever food we can forage."
From his seat by the small window, Kanto listened intently. "There's a chain of islets about two days' sail southeast that few know about," he offered. "Good fishing, fresh springs, and natural harbors deep enough to conceal a ship of this size."
Kai added the coordinates to their chart, grateful once again for the old sailor's knowledge. "Thank you, Kanto. Your expertise is invaluable."
The blind man smiled, his milky eyes seeming to look through the walls of the cabin to some distant horizon. "It's strange how fate works. I spent decades charting these waters, learning their secrets—never imagining that knowledge would one day serve a traveler from beyond the stars."
"I'm sorry my presence has disrupted your peaceful retirement," Kai said, genuine regret in his voice.
Kanto waved away the apology. "Peace is overrated at my age. The approaching end makes one crave significance, not tranquility." He turned his face toward Kai. "Besides, how many can say they've befriended a being from another world? That alone makes whatever danger we face worthwhile."
Later that night, as Nami took her turn at the helm and Kanto slept, Kai stood alone at the bow of their small vessel, watching stars that were still alien to him despite months beneath their light. His heart-shaped tail, freed from its uncomfortable confinement, swished gently behind him.
"Red Queen," he whispered to his wrist communicator, "what's the status of our information control protocols?"
The AI's holographic form materialized, casting a soft crimson glow across the deck. "Information about Devilukean presence is now classified as a Level 2 security breach. Tracking algorithms deployed. Current spread pattern suggests rumors have reached three major ports in the East Blue."
"Recommendations?"
"Two potential strategies: denial or controlled revelation. Denial requires eliminating all witnesses and evidence—ethically unacceptable by your established parameters. Controlled revelation involves managing which aspects of your identity become public knowledge."
Kai nodded, having already reached the same conclusion. "Begin compiling a sanitized version of Devilukean biology and technology—nothing that could be weaponized or threaten this world's development trajectory."
"Parameters for information release?"
"Focus on cultural rather than technological aspects. Emphasize similarities to humans. Describe Deviluke as a distant island nation, not an alien world. Create a plausible history that integrates with this world's known geography."
"Constructing narrative now," Red Queen confirmed.
As the AI worked, Kai's thoughts turned to the larger implications. With the World Government's resources and the Marines' reach, it was only a matter of time before his existence drew official attention. The key would be positioning himself as interesting but not threatening—unusual but not alien.
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of rain. A storm was brewing on the horizon, both literally and figuratively. But storms were navigable with the right preparation and skill.
"We adapt," he whispered to the stars, echoing his earlier words. "We always adapt."