Isuka still stood in front of the ship, feet firmly planted in place and shouting at the top of her lungs. But, as I suspected, she was barely paying attention. All I had to do was sneak away out of the corner of her eye, and I was free. This must have been how Ace got away too.
First, I headed for the crowds in search of Ace. Large bubbles were rising from the ground ahead of me. I rushed onward, dodging both people and bubbles. It felt very strange to be running atop roots instead of proper soil.
I couldn’t help but notice vehicles and buildings making use of the durable bubbles. Not only were the resin-secreting roots the solid ground of these islands, they were also an economic engine supporting the people who lived here. I passed by the island’s industries and headed for the commercial area.
Once there, I found Ace right away. Or, more accurately, I found a trail of cooks and stall managers chasing after him.
“Eat-and-run!”
“He went that way!”
Angry shouts filled the market. The lanes were full of angry workers from all manner of food stands. Clearly, this situation was the result of Ace making the rounds without any money.
I would find him leading the line of angry, shoving workers, I was sure. But it wasn’t a situation I could navigate in that circumstance. There had to be a better way to get through them to reach him…
I steeled myself for action. My eyes shone.
“All right, looks like this is going to require some negotiation… I’ll need you people to get out of my way!”
I shook out my shoulders and fists, then grabbed the man standing at the very end of the line. “Hey.”
When the intimidating fellow turned around to glare at me, I gave him my most simpering smile. “How much do we owe you?”
In this manner I made my way through the line, paying each food worker and apologizing in turn.
✦ ✦ ✦
I finally caught a glimpse of Ace in a bubble-themed amusement area called Sabaody Park, beneath the Ferris wheel. Apparently he’d been lured here by the scent of the food stalls.
Eventually I finished paying the last of the food merchants chasing after Ace and made it to his side, panting and wheezing. He was sitting on a bench near the Ferris wheel and—believe it or not—he was fast asleep. In fact, he was sleeping with his cheeks still completely stuffed with food. There was a half-eaten skewer in either hand, which must’ve been the food I’d just paid for.
“If you eat food…you pay for it!” I said, like a mother giving a child etiquette lessons, and then I chop-slammed Ace on the forehead.
“Mmmlp?!”
Ace woke up, his cheeks bulging. He gazed around sleepily, blinked, and swallowed everything in his mouth in one gulp.
“Pwaaah, that was good. I sure ate and ran a lot. In fact, I ran so much that I’m hungry again.”
“How in the world does your body work?”
He chowed down on the remaining bits of meat left on his skewers, then headed for another food stall, so I tossed him his wallet. “Here. Don’t cause any more trouble.”
“My wallet! Is it…lighter than I remember?”
“Of course it is.”
“Hm…”
He didn’t seem to be able to put two and two together. I sighed; my job was done. I glanced up at the giant wheel overhead, listening to the children shrieking with delight.
The rotating wheel looked huge from below, and it was even more beautiful up close than it was from our ship. The gondolas shone with the iridescence of the bubbles, rotating slowly and catching the sunlight.
It must be an incredible view from the top, I thought. But it wasn’t the kind of thing a grown man could do his own. Especially not a pirate…
Eventually Ace came back from the food stands and said, “What, you wanna ride it?”
“Who, me? A Ferris wheel? I’m not a little kid,” I snorted.
“You ever been on one before?”
“Well, no…”
“Then now’s the time. We’re here anyway, so let’s ride it!” Ace said. He slapped me on the back.
At Ace’s urging, I headed toward the ride. I made a show of being reluctant about it, but the truth was, I was excited on the inside. The endlessly smiling ride attendant motioned toward the step, and one of the bubble-made gondolas slowly approached.
“There you go! Do enjoy the wonderful sights of Sabaody Archipelago!” said the attendant, putting a hand on the gondola door.
“I’ve found you at last, Fire Fist!” shouted Isuka, appearing out of nowhere and shoving her way into the gondola with a fierce look in her eyes.
“Wha—! H-hey, don’t…!” I yelped, getting squashed against the side.
“I’ve had enough of your sneaking and running about! Why didn’t you just come out the front of the ship?!”
“Because you were there.”
“What?! So…so you should do it anyway! You’re a man, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be crazy!”
She rounded into him with accusations, which Ace protested. But just at that moment, there was an unpleasant clicking sound from behind Isuka.
“Huh…?”
She turned around. The door of the gondola was locked.