Buru buru buru...
No sooner had Garp finished speaking than the Den Den Mushi on Sengoku's desk rang again.
Seeing this, Sengoku immediately motioned for Garp to be quiet.
Then he straightened his posture, composed himself, and picked up the receiver with all the dignity of a Fleet Admiral.
"Report, Fleet Admiral!"
Momousagi's voice came through once more.
Compared to her earlier report regarding the Strollo Pirates, her tone was even more serious.
"I have something important to report!"
"What is it?" Sengoku asked sternly.
It was hard to imagine that the same Sengoku, who now radiated the authority of the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, had just been discussing with Garp moments ago how to lure Arashi into Marine Headquarters with a beauty scheme.
Meanwhile—
After finishing her earlier report, the warship had drifted through the Devil Sea's chaotic currents and, by sheer coincidence, arrived at Ohara.
Looking at the island before her and the abandoned Mushroom House, Momousagi spoke with a grave expression.
"Fleet Admiral, I'm currently on Ohara."
"I'm certain this is Ohara."
"But it appears someone lived here for a period of time."
Holding the Den Den Mushi, Momousagi jumped from the warship onto the island and walked toward the Mushroom House as she continued:
"There are several mushroom-shaped houses here. Judging from the traces around them, the people who lived here left only recently."
"Oh, and not far from the houses there's an orchard and a vegetable field."
As she spoke, Momousagi withdrew her gaze from the vegetable field and entered one of the empty Mushroom Houses.
Inside, aside from the mess left behind, there was nothing of value.
Seeing this, her expression tightened slightly.
Then she turned thoughtfully toward the Devil Sea beyond the island.
At that moment, she instinctively thought of Arashi.
There were three bedrooms here.
Yet when she had boarded the Traveler, only Arashi and Perona had been visible.
Could it be...?
Suddenly, Momousagi's eyes narrowed.
Could there have been someone else inside the cabin?
Back at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku shot to his feet the moment he heard Momousagi mention Ohara and evidence of recent habitation.
Even Garp's expression became serious.
After a brief silence, Sengoku turned sharply toward Garp.
"Could it have been Arashi?"
Garp didn't answer.
Instead, he silently walked over and sat down on the sofa.
Naturally, Arashi had been the first person he thought of as well.
Given what he knew of the young traveler, it was entirely possible.
But without evidence, Garp wasn't willing to make assumptions.
He had always thought highly of Arashi and remained determined to recruit him into Marine Headquarters.
If Arashi really had been living on Ohara, however, things became far more complicated.
To the World Government, Ohara itself was a taboo.
If word spread that Arashi had lived there, the Government could easily fabricate charges against him.
Compared to understanding Arashi, Garp understood the World Government even better.
That was why he refused to speculate without proof.
"It probably wasn't Arashi."
At that moment, Momousagi's voice sounded again.
"There are three bedrooms here, but when I met Arashi, there were only two people with him."
"I understand."
Hearing this, Sengoku quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he asked,
"Other than the houses, orchard, and vegetable fields, is there anything else on the island?"
Momousagi walked over to the ruined vegetable field.
Looking at the still-messy patch of land, she replied:
"No."
"This matter is extremely important."
Sengoku's expression became solemn.
"Until we determine who was living on Ohara, do not let this information spread."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
Momousagi immediately acknowledged the order.
Then she ended the call and stood silently before the vegetable field.
Her instincts told her that Arashi had definitely lived here.
Among the footprints scattered throughout the field, she could clearly distinguish two sets.
One large.
One small.
The larger set most likely belonged to Arashi.
The smaller one undoubtedly belonged to Perona.
However, there was also a third set of footprints.
All three were remarkably clear.
And judging by the traces, they had left only recently.
During this period, the only vessel known to have appeared in the Devil Sea was the Traveler.
Thus, Momousagi reached a conclusion.
There had been a third person aboard the Traveler.
Although Ohara had vanished from the maps long ago, as a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, she was absolutely certain this island was the former Ohara.
And yet someone had not only found this forgotten island hidden within the Devil Sea—
They had reclaimed it.
Lived on it.
Cultivated it.
This was no small matter.
The Ohara Incident had once shaken the entire world.
Almost everyone knew what Ohara represented.
Under such circumstances, someone choosing to settle here was a highly sensitive issue.
If the World Government learned of it, they would undoubtedly launch a full investigation.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi."
At that moment, Bell approached cautiously.
"Could it have been Mr. Arashi?"
"Do not jump to conclusions."
Momousagi withdrew her thoughts and fixed her gaze on Bell.
"Bell."
"If it truly was Arashi who lived here... what would you do?"
"I..."
Bell looked at her.
Then, to her surprise, he suddenly dropped to one knee with a loud thud.
His voice trembled.
"I... I don't know."
Both Momousagi and Bell had already pieced together enough clues.
The evidence here was simply too obvious.
The footprints.
The recently harvested vegetables.
Every trace suggested that the island's inhabitants had left only a short time ago.
And during that same period, the only people they had encountered were Arashi and those aboard the Traveler.
Bell had always firmly believed that Arashi was some mysterious and extraordinary figure.
Perhaps even someone with ties to the Holy Land itself.
Yet despite that belief, he still felt uneasy.
He was worried that Momousagi might report her suspicions.
To Bell, Arashi's background wasn't what mattered.
What mattered was one simple fact.
The young traveler had saved his life.
Extra chapters are already prepared… waiting to be unleashed.
Get early access on Patreon:
patreon.com/c/DreamWriterStudios
Want more chapters? You decide the pace:
✨ 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
🔥 200 Power Stones = Another Release
Your support fuels the journey.
The stronger your backing… the faster the story unfolds.