By midday, land appeared again.
At first it was only a faint dark line across the horizon, barely visible between the pale grey sky and the steel-colored sea. But as the hours passed and the wind held steady, the shape grew clearer—rocky coastline, jagged cliffs, and tall wooden watchtowers rising above a clustered port town.
Aira saw it first.
"…Island ahead," she said calmly.
Ryu stepped slightly closer to the bow railing, eyes narrowing as he studied the coastline. Unlike Brassfall's industrial haze, this island looked cleaner—but not softer. Wooden docks extended into deep water. Ships of varying sizes moved in and out steadily. Smoke rose from chimneys and cooking fires rather than forges.
A working port.
Kenji stretched where he sat near the mast and stood slowly. "Finally. Solid ground."
Soren stepped forward beside Ryu, gaze scanning with quiet focus. "Busy harbor."
Aira flipped open her chart notebook and checked markings carefully. "Ironwind Harbor," she confirmed. "Trade hub. Mixed presence. Pirates, merchants… some Marines."
Kenji grinned. "Sounds lively."
"Sounds dangerous," Aira corrected.
"Same thing," Kenji replied.
Ryu remained silent, observing the movement along the docks. Ships anchored in layered rows. Armed crews unloading cargo. Small patrol boats moving along the harbor perimeter. Even from this distance, he could sense the tension common to North Blue ports.
Everyone here watched everyone else.
Good.
He preferred honesty.
---
Approaching Port
They didn't rush in.
Aira guided the ship along a slow, controlled approach path rather than sailing directly into the main dock lanes. This gave them time to observe without drawing unnecessary attention.
Kenji leaned on the railing, scanning other vessels. "Lots of pirate flags."
"Lots of merchants too," Aira said. "Means money moves here."
Soren's gaze shifted slightly toward the outer watchtower near the harbor mouth. "Lookouts posted."
Ryu nodded faintly. "Organized port."
A bell rang from one of the towers as they drew closer—not an alarm, just a signal marking new arrivals. A few figures along the docks glanced their way but returned to their work quickly. No immediate hostility. No welcome either.
Neutral ground.
Aira guided them toward an open docking stretch along the mid-port area and slowed sail tension gradually. Ropes were prepared. Speed reduced.
The ship eased into position and bumped gently against the wooden dock.
Kenji hopped down first, boots landing solidly on the planks. He stretched his arms wide and inhaled deeply.
"…Land," he said dramatically.
Aira stepped down next. "Don't get too attached."
Ryu followed, posture calm as always, scanning the surrounding port with measured attention. Soren stepped off last, rifle secured across his back, eyes already tracking movement patterns across the harbor.
The air here smelled of salt, wood smoke, and cooking food rather than iron and coal. Voices filled the space—merchants negotiating, sailors shouting, pirates laughing in rough tones. The constant motion of trade and survival.
Alive.
But sharp.
---
They moved together along the dock without hurry.
No dramatic presence.
No unnecessary attention.
Just four hunters walking through a working North Blue port.
A few people noticed.
A group of bounty hunters near a supply crate paused mid-conversation, eyes following them briefly. A pair of pirates leaning against a post straightened slightly as they passed. A dock worker carrying a heavy crate glanced up, assessed quickly, then kept moving.
Recognition wasn't there yet.
But awareness was.
Kenji noticed.
"…We're getting looked at," he muttered.
"Normal," Ryu replied.
Aira scanned storefront signs. "Supplies first. Then information."
Soren's gaze moved toward a tall building near the center of town—a combined tavern and notice board structure common in busy ports. "Information there," he said.
Kenji grinned. "Of course."
They moved through the main port street together.
Ironwind Harbor's layout revealed itself quickly: central trade road leading inward, supply shops and weapon vendors along the edges, taverns spaced evenly for traveling crews. Not overly wealthy, but functional. Efficient.
North Blue rarely wasted space.
Aira paused briefly near a supply stall and glanced back at the others. "We restock while we're here. Water, food, basic repair materials."
Kenji nodded. "And rumors."
Soren added quietly, "And bounties."
Ryu agreed.
---
The tavern at the center of town carried a wide wooden board near its entrance—covered in layered papers, bounty notices, and local reports. Crews passed by frequently, scanning for targets or threats.
They approached without ceremony.
Kenji stepped up first, eyes moving quickly across posted bounties. "Let's see what North Blue has…"
Several names.
Various amounts.
Mostly small-time pirates and smugglers.
Then—
He paused.
"…Oh."
Aira stepped closer. "What?"
Kenji tapped one notice.
Ryu leaned in.
**CAPTAIN DRAKE VARGO
Bounty: 48,000,000 Berries
Devil Fruit User — Confirmed
Last seen operating within northern trade routes**
Kenji let out a low whistle. "Forty-eight million."
Aira folded her arms. "That's big."
Soren read the notice carefully. "Recent activity."
Ryu studied the paper in silence.
A pirate with that level of bounty operating within reachable waters meant only one thing—
A real hunt.
Kenji's grin returned slowly. "Now that's a target."
Aira looked at Ryu.
Soren did the same.
Ryu straightened.
"…We gather information first," he said calmly.
Kenji nodded. "Obviously."
But his excitement was clear.
Aira glanced toward the tavern entrance where voices and laughter spilled outward. "Rumors will be inside."
Soren adjusted his rifle strap slightly. "And witnesses."
Ryu gave one final look at the bounty poster.
Fifty-eight million.
Devil fruit user.
Strong.
Exactly what they were looking for.
He turned toward the tavern.
"Let's move," he said.
The four of them stepped inside.
And quietly—
The next hunt began.
__