I recently visited the desert kingdom of Alabasta. The days were scorching hot, the nights freezing cold, and the journey through that harsh land was quite brutal. And... though it wasn't directly related to my travels, I unexpectedly ran into one of the Shichibukai, a major boss from the original work, which made the whole adventure surprisingly thrilling.
After some much-needed rest and relaxation—though sadly, I still didn't feel like writing about it—I started thinking about my next adventure. That's when this brilliant idea popped into my head: "Since Alabasta was so scorching and dry, maybe I should go somewhere humid this time." Not exactly the most well-thought-out plan. But hey, that's the kind of nonsense that pops into your head at 2 a.m. Sleep is important.
Still, I couldn't think of anywhere else I particularly wanted to go, so I figured, "Why not?" And that's how I ended up... here.
"Kuraigana Island, Sickear Kingdom... Hmm, that name rings a bell."
Wasn't this island mentioned in the original work? I only remember the major place names, so I'm fuzzy on the details about minor locations that were just mentioned in passing.
The entire island is a vast swamp, perpetually shrouded in dark clouds that barely let any sunlight through. It's a gloomy, dim place.
It's not that there are never sunny days, but apparently, most of the year is overcast or rainy.
Naturally, the climate is chilly and the humidity is oppressive.
It's the polar opposite of Alabasta Kingdom in every way.
Unlike that desert nation, water isn't scarce here... but it seems like water itself would be a major problem. With humidity this high, mold must be a nightmare, and excessive rain could easily turn the ground into a muddy mess and cause rivers to overflow. There'd be all kinds of issues.
But even after accounting for all that... something about this country just feels off.
"The overall atmosphere is so gloomy... It's like the whole place is exhausted or something."
Today's my second day here, and it's not just the dreary weather. The people themselves seem subdued, like they're carrying some hidden weight.
At first glance, they appear to be living normal lives, but there's an unsettling undercurrent everywhere.
If I'm not mistaken, I've felt this before.
A few months ago, I visited a town on an island located right on the border between the territories of two rival pirate crews. They constantly squabbled over who controlled it, and the townspeople often got caught in the crossfire, resulting in injuries and sometimes even deaths.
Fortunately, aside from the occasional skirmish, no major misfortunes befell the town. In essence, the two pirate crews who claimed the island as their territory both served as its protectors.
Still, the people lived in constant fear, knowing their fragile daily lives could shatter at any moment, that any spark could ignite a life-threatening crisis.
Forcibly suppressing their anxieties and fears, they deliberately averted their eyes from the truth, clinging to the illusion of normalcy and struggling to maintain the semblance of their usual lives.
The town felt like a microcosm of the entire country.
The people here, too, seemed burdened by unspoken anxieties and worries, desperately trying to conceal them as they labored to preserve the routines of daily life.
"This country feels... unsettling, even dangerous," I murmured. "Is something sinister brewing beneath the surface?"
During my walk, I found myself on a hill overlooking the town. Sighing, I muttered to myself, "This place feels... unsettling, even dangerous. Is something sinister brewing beneath the surface?"
Then, a booming voice echoed behind me, "Kuwahahaha! Not bad for noticing that, young lady!"
"!"
I hadn't expected anyone to hear my mumbling, let alone respond. Startled, I turned around and saw... a bird?
"Uh... who are you?"
"Oops, sorry to startle you," the bird-man said. "Don't worry, I'm not here to cause any trouble. Here."
"Ah, thanks."
He looked like... a bird-person? A bird with a human-like skeleton who spoke human language.
Well, probably some Zoan-type Devil Fruit or something, I figured.
Deftly using his wings like human hands, he handed me something. Oh, it's a business card.
Let's see... "Morgans, World Economic News." Ah, a journalist?
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Benerdi Tote Sue! The up-and-coming novelist! Your unique style, unfettered by convention, always keeps me entertained!"
"Huh? You know about me?"
"Of course! I always keep an eye on rising stars across all fields, those about to take the world by storm. Though I must admit, running into you here today was pure chance."
He shook my hand. Naturally, it felt like feathers.
A Devil Fruit... I think? But why is he stuck in this bird form—or is it a human-beast hybrid?
"Are you here for research or just on vacation? If I'm interrupting, I apologize."
"Well, it's a bit of both, really. Whether it's research or writing, I'm fortunate enough to enjoy my work."
"Excellent! That's the ideal life for a writer! Kuwahahaha!"
"Morgans-san, are you here on assignment too?"
"Ah, yes, I came to cover the 'now' of this country. Unfortunately, they refused my interview, saying they 'don't talk to outsiders.'"
"Oh, that's too bad."
"So, I'm scheming to somehow sneak in and get a scoop."
"Wait a minute!"
*Seriously?* He's just casually talking about breaking the law because they refused an interview?
"This spot offers a panoramic view of the whole town, perfect for scoping out the Royal Castle or staking out its entrances... Hmm, that inn over there looks strategically promising."
"Please don't gleefully discuss your criminal plans like that... You'll get in trouble, you know?"
"Kuwahahaha! If the worst I get is a scolding, what's there to hesitate about? Depending on the situation, my real interview starts the moment they pull out a pistol!"
'What is this newspaper reporter? He's terrifying... Doesn't he fear anything?'
He might be some kind of journalistic paragon, but how did World Economic News ever put someone this reckless in a managerial position?
I glossed over it earlier, but I read this paper every day—the one News Coo delivers. It's one of the most widely read newspapers in this sea, supposedly outselling even local publications across the globe. It's practically recognized as the World Government's official mouthpiece, and they even slip bounty posters for wanted criminals inside.
"Still, the truth is, I'd really rather avoid getting on the bad side of the government or the nobles. But as a journalist, letting a scoop slip through my fingers just because I'm afraid? Unthinkable!"
"...Come to think of it, you were about to say something earlier. Is there something going on in this country?"
"Curious, are you?"
"...Well, to be honest, yes."
"Kuwahahaha! Excellent, excellent! Curiosity is the greatest driving force there is. I don't mind telling you, but it won't come cheap."
"Ah, never mind then. See you later."
"Whoa, hold on, hold on! You should at least hear me out properly."
I had a bad feeling and tried to slip away quickly, but he grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.
"Relax. This will be beneficial for you too, and I'm not asking you to do anything illegal. For a writer like you, 'Experience Material' is invaluable, right? Especially if it's something ordinary people don't get to see or easily experience."
'...He gets me.'
He probably hasn't dug up dirt on me. He just understands the shared values most writers have.
"How about we just talk for now? You can decide whether to cooperate later. Sound good?"
"...Well, if it's just a chat..."
"Kuwahahaha! Great! This isn't the place. Let's find a restaurant nearby."
***
We settled into a random restaurant and ordered some food. While we ate, he explained the situation.
Apparently, this country had been plagued by small-scale conflicts for years.
Apparently, the country was riddled with factions led by members of the Royal Family and nobility, their conflicting interests destabilizing the political landscape and causing clashes over everything from policy to power.
Officially, it was all just political maneuvering, with no open bloodshed... on the surface.
"But behind the scenes, it's a different story," she said.
"The Royal Government refuses to acknowledge it, but in recent years, there's been a surge in 'unfortunate accidents' targeting key figures and their families from opposing factions. Some die, others survive with severe injuries. Both sides are clearly locked in a vicious underground war."
Ugh... what a messy, underhanded battle.
Whether it's a power grab or conflicting ideologies, targeting families and associates is just plain dirty. Anyone caught in the crossfire must be living in hell.
"I think the people here sense it too, deep down. For now, the conflict remains hidden beneath the surface... but they're terrified of when it might erupt into open bloodshed, dragging them all into the fray. That fear—that desperate attempt to suppress it—is what makes this country so bleak."
"I see... so that's why."
A civil war fought in the shadows, without gunfire... maybe even scarier than open warfare, because you can't see the weapons. And nobody knows when they'll be caught in the crossfire. I can't imagine how those living here must feel.
As I was thinking this, Morgans paused and changed the subject with a brisk, "Now then."
"I have a proposition, Sue-sensei... I hear you're quite the skilled bounty hunter."
I decided to ignore the way he addressed me.
Had we finally gotten to the "favor" part of this conversation?
"Well, I'm reasonably capable in a fight, I guess... but what's that got to do with anything?"
Surely he wouldn't suggest something crazy, like trying to strong-arm someone for a scoop. That would be a disaster.
He'd assured me earlier that this wouldn't be illegal, so I had to trust him on that.
"Actually, one of those factions seems to be hiring mercenaries right now. They need guards for an upcoming trade deal in this country."
"...A shady deal?"
"No, no, nothing shady at all. It's a perfectly legitimate transaction. After all, it's not a private deal between factions—it's officially sanctioned by the country. Still... it's a major profit opportunity for that particular faction, and they'd be in trouble if anyone tried to interfere."
Could the other faction be planning to sabotage the deal somehow?
They couldn't openly mobilize troops—that would give their rivals an excuse to attack. If they were going to act, they'd probably do it behind the scenes, in a way that couldn't be traced back to them.
Like... hiring mercenaries or criminals to carry out the assault?
If they failed, it would not only undermine the rival faction's profits but also give them leverage to question the legitimacy of the country's transactions.
So, they're gathering mercenaries to prevent that...
"If you're hired as a mercenary for this 'deal,' you'll likely end up fighting some enemy hired by the rival faction. But it won't be someone we can't handle—probably just pirates or something they paid off."
"So, your proposal is for me to take on this mercenary job and protect the 'national transaction'?"
"And if possible, it would be ideal to grab some scoop-worthy evidence from whoever attacks us. It'll be tough if they come alone or in a small boat, but if they attack with a whole pirate ship..."
"You think we might find something if we search the ship?"
"Exactly. Actually, if we could just raid their base, I'm confident we'd uncover definitive proof."
"? What makes you so sure?"
"Because they're pirates. Some big shot in a public position probably hired outlaws like us to do some dirty work they couldn't handle themselves. The money's a given, but don't you think we could leverage that fact itself?"
"You mean use the dirt to blackmail the client for more cash?"
"That's one way to play it. There are other possibilities, but that's the gist of it."
"As expected, Morgans-san is incredibly knowledgeable about this kind of thing."
"And I have a pretty good idea of which pirate crew they've hired. There's been a pirate crew sighted several times near this island recently... it's likely them."
"Wow, your intelligence network is truly impressive. Who are they?"
"The Bell Canyon Pirate Crew. They're a rookie crew that's been gaining notoriety lately. Their captain is 'Darkness of Bell Canyon,' and his bounty is 39 million Berries."
Ah, I've heard of them. They're the pirates rumored to be operating in these waters recently.
Their tactics mainly involve night raids and ambushes against enemy ships, overwhelming them with one-sided attacks. I've also heard they use poisons and hidden weapons... they're practically assassins.
"39 million... that's a rather odd sum. Why didn't they hire someone bigger?"
"Kuwahahaha! If you had the connections to hire someone truly powerful, you wouldn't need such petty tactics to win your political battles. The pirates you can manipulate for such schemes are limited to this area. But... not even a flicker of hesitation at 39 million Berries? Impressive."
"Well, that amount seems manageable."
"Reassuring. So... how about it? Any interest in joining in?"
Morgans-san wasn't trying to pressure me or force the issue. It was just a suggestion. If I turned him down, he didn't seem to mind that I'd just handed over information for nothing. No pressure, no sign he cared. Was this calculated, or did he genuinely not care?
Well, what to do... I've captured bounty targets with much larger bounties before. Apparently, Bell Canyon's bounty is inflated due to his dangerous assassination methods and connections, rather than his raw power.
Of course, I'm not going to blindly trust that information and make a hasty decision.
'This guy... even without any special circumstances, he's the kind of target I'd decide to hunt personally, just for fun. Might be an interesting experience... Alright, let's do it.'
"So, it's simply a mercenary job—protect the protectee. The shady part is the target and his backers, but the job itself is clean... I'll give it a shot."
"Kuwahahaha! You'll do it? I appreciate that. If you stumble across any good scoops, show them to me—I'll pay you well. And I'll let you in on some even juicier stories myself."
'Wait, there's more?'
So I hadn't told him everything I knew yet.
"I'll keep that in mind. But... aren't there usually rules about reporting and handing over everything you find during a job to the client? And a confidentiality clause, too?"
"Huh? What's wrong with that?"
Morgans-san asked with a straight face.
'This guy's unbelievable. He genuinely thinks breaking those kinds of promises is perfectly normal.'
Well, whatever. I guess I'll go check out that mercenary recruitment thing for now.
It's like deliberately jumping headfirst into trouble, but sometimes that's half the fun.
Truth be told, I came to this country specifically for an "adventure," and it would be a bit of a letdown if it ended here. So far, all I've seen is this gloomy, damp landscape, a stifling atmosphere, and a population struggling to keep their spirits up. Leaving with just these underwhelming memories would feel pretty anticlimactic.
So, what the heck... might as well stir things up a bit while I'm here.
If anything interesting turns up, great. If not, at least I'll earn some travel money. And if I manage to catch a Bounty Target, my employer might even throw in a bonus.
I parted ways with Morgans-san, who cheerfully exclaimed, "I'm counting on you!" and walked to the National Army outpost where they were recruiting mercenaries.
To be continued...