That night, as Jake and Monet walked back to their dormitory, Monet noticed Jake's subdued mood and asked softly.
"What's wrong, Jake? Ever since Borsalino-sensei ntioned those pirates, you've seed distracted. Even though they're under a Yonko's banner, their target might not necessarily be the Sea Train. There's no need to worry so much."
The path from the training grounds to the dormitory was quiet, lit dimly by orange-yellow street lamps.
A faint, refreshing scent drifted from Monet's direction.
Thanks to the Snow-Snow Fruit, she never sweated during training, so her body never carried the usual post-workout odor.
Instead, she always carried a crisp, icy lemon fragrance.
Hearing Monet's words, Jake nodded and replied.
"Don't worry, Monet. While I do have concerns about the Big Mom Pirates, it's not to the point of losing sleep over them. The reason I seem distracted is because I'm wondering if their target this ti might be that Gourt Town island."
"Gourt Town? You an Pucci Island to the southwest? That place is known for its delicacies. What would a Yonko's crew want there?"
At Monet's question, Jake explained, "According to rumors, Charlotte Linlin suffers from an extrely severe case of Food Craving Sickness. When she can't get the food she desires, she loses all rationality and destroys everything around her—even her own children aren't spared. Because of this, the mbers of Big Mom's pirate crew will stop at nothing to conquer any region they believe holds culinary value."
"If those pirates really attack Gourt Town for this reason, then as the only Marine branch nearby, we'll inevitably clash head-on with Big Mom's crew. Although this area is close to Marine Headquarters, making it unlikely for pirates to launch a large-scale assault, a pirates crew affiliated with Yonko's are never to be underestimated."
Monet seed sowhat puzzled by this.
"If the pirates are just searching for good food, wouldn't handing over the food be enough? There shouldn't be any need for conflict, right?"
Jake nodded and replied.
"If only things could unfold that smoothly."
Recalling the storyline, Jake couldn't rember any ntion of battles in Gourt Town.
It probably played out just as Monet imagined—the town surrendered the food, Big Mom's crew withdrew, and both sides benefited.
Hearing this, Monet smiled reassuringly at Jake.
"So even you think the sa, don't you? Besides, Vice Admiral Sakazuki or Borsalino-sensei might be here by then. If the pirates really co, we can always ask the two vice admirals for help, right?"
Looking at Monet's smiling face, Jake felt temporarily relieved and nodded with a laugh.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. Let's go, Monet. It's almost 1 am and we have to wake up early tomorrow."
"Mm, and don't forget to cast Healing Prayer on first thing in the morning. Morning drowsiness is the worst!"
"Don't worry, I feel the sa way. Oh, and rember to chill my room for —it gets too hot otherwise."
Chatting like this, the two made their way into the dormitory.
*****
anwhile, outside the quarantined area of Flevance, in the garbage disposal site of the Lawless Area—the base of the Donquixote Family.
At that mont, Doflamingo let out his signature eerie laugh while addressing Trebol.
"Fufufufufu... So we've finally tracked down that brat's current location? Water Seven? Isn't Big Mom's crew active there lately? If I recall correctly, there's a Gourt Town nearby, right? Those Big Mom pirates are probably targeting that town this ti, aren't they?"
Listening to Doflamingo, Trebol nodded with a grin, his long, dangling snot looking rather repulsive.
"That's right, Doffy. Rumor has it Big Mom's Hunger pang has flared up again. Her whole crew is scrambling to find the food she craves, and that Gourt Town is likely one of their main targets. What do you want us to do?"
Doflamingo took a sip of red wine, a slightly sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
A faint burn mark on his arm pulsed with pain as his veins throbbed.
"Of course, that brat... He left quite an impression on ! Now that he's beco a Marine, he definitely won't stand idly by when civilians are slaughtered by pirates—just like his damned superior T-Bone. Well then, I'll give them a chance to play the hero!"
"Since it's called Gourt Town, the Big Mom Pirates will surely go there to collect a large amount of food this ti. Trebol, tell Pica and Machvise to tamper with things in Gourt Town. Make sure they can't hand over enough food to satisfy the Big Mom Pirates, plunging that town into the disaster of being besieged by pirates. I really want to see how that bastard Jake plans to handle this situation."
"By the way, don't expose our traces. If they can't do it without being detected, they should abandon the operation. Compared to that brat, the Yonko's are far more important. Tell them not to push themselves too hard."
Trebol nodded, then responded with his slightly disgusting grin.
"Don't worry, Doffy. Such a small task is no problem for those two. All the food production in Gourt Town relies on their special soil. We just need to tamper with their soil. Though, that'll probably lead to a lot of people starving to death, shahahahaha!"
"Then let our grain ships sell life-saving food at three tis the market price. After all, we're legitimate rchants recognized by the World Governnt. I can't bear to see those civilians starve to death, fufufufufu!"
A chilling laugh echoed through the empty hall, twisted hatred wrapped in the blood of countless innocents.
*****
Jake lay on his bed, his mind focused on his own status panel.
"Na: Jake Lawrence"
"Age: 16"
"Doriki: 50 (Your stamina and endurance are over five tis that of an average soldier.)"
"Holy Light: 18"
"Passive Ability 1: Holy Light Infusion (52/100), Passive Ability 2: Holy Light Retribution (60/100)"
"Active Ability 1: Judgnt Hamr Strike (45/100), Active Ability 2: Healing Prayer (98/100)"
"Armant Haki (10/100). At 100 points, large-scale Armant Haki coating will be unlocked."
"Observation Haki (1/100). At 100 points, large-scale perception will be acquired."
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