Meeting Trafalgar Law

The wind was steady as we approached Swallow Island, the sails billowing and the Merry's Revenge cutting through the waves. I stood on the deck, squinting at the approaching shore, my heart pounding with anticipation. Swallow Island was cozy, but I knew it was a place with secrets and maybe—if I was lucky—answers.

As we drew closer, I gathered the crew around the main table on the main deck, laying out my plan. "Alright, everyone," I started, glancing around at each of my crew. "We're here to find Trafalgar Law or at least someone who knows where we can find him. The fewer people we send ashore, the better. We don't want to draw too much attention, especially when all of you are attractive. I'll handle most of the questioning."

Kaya looked at me with a concerned frown. "Are you sure, Usopp? We could split up and cover more ground."

I shook my head. "Law's crew isn't exactly friendly, and I don't want us caught up in something that would prolong our search. We're trying to keep our budget tight," I grinned. "Every extra berry counts."

Bellemere crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "Just ensure you don't get yourself into trouble, Brat."

I took a deep breath, tightened my satchel over my shoulder, and climbed into the customized dinghy. Wyna stayed on deck, watching me with a calm expression. Her silent support comforted me as I drove toward the docks.

The village on Swallow Island was small, with houses lined along the shore and winding paths leading further inland. I walked through the streets, smelling the scents of the locals, looking for anyone who might know something about Law. Most folks here reek of wariness, their eyes tracking my every movement, their voices low as they spoke among themselves.

Eventually, I spotted an older fisherman sitting near a small stall, fixing a fishing net. His skin was weathered from years at sea, and he smelled like the kind who'd know a thing or two about everyone in the area.

"Excuse me, sir," I began, putting on my friendliest smile. I'm looking for someone. A surgeon. Who goes by the name Trafalgar Law?"

The man's eyes flickered with recognition, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took his time, tying off a section of his net before glancing up at me skeptically.

"You're not the first one to come askin' about him," he finally said, his voice gruff. "Law doesn't exactly take kindly to strangers."

I nodded, keeping my tone casual. "I'm not here to cause trouble, just interested in the man's work. I've heard a lot about his ship—the Polar Tang. I'm looking to learn from whoever helped build it."

The fisherman eyed me, his expression softening slightly. "The Polar Tang, you say? Well, you're right that it's something special. Law gave it to him a while back, but finding the one who built it is another story."

My curiosity piqued. "Do you know where I could find that person?"

The older man leaned back, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "There's a rumor of an inventor who once built that submarine. He keeps to himself and doesn't stay in one place for long. But sometimes, he shows up around here. He goes by the name of Wolf. If you're lucky, you might catch him."

"Wolf?" I repeated, mentally noting that it must probably be a non-canon character. "Any idea where I could find him now?"

The fisherman shrugged. "If he's here, he'll be inland, away from prying eyes. I can't say more than that, but" He looked me over with a slight smirk. "You don't look like much of a threat. Just don't go diggin' where you don't belong, or Law's people will make sure you regret it."

I nodded, giving him a polite bow. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."

As I turned to leave, I felt a surge of excitement bubbling up inside me. If this Wolf guy was here, then we had a chance—a slim one, but still a chance—and I had to get the information to find him.

Back at the Merry's Revenge, I relayed the news to the girls, their faces lighting up with the same excitement I felt.

"So, what's the plan, Long-Nosed Captain?" Carrot asked, practically bouncing with anticipation.

"We'll take it slow," I said, grinning. "We'll go inland, but only a few of us—don't want to draw too much attention. I want to meet this Wolf and see if he'll share anything with us."

The crew nodded, each ready to look for this elusive inventor. As we prepared to set foot on Swallow Island in search of the mysterious shipwright, I couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something big. The airship blueprint in my suitcase felt like a promise—a vision of a future slowly but surely coming into reach.

But sadly, the reality is always disappointing; we looked for this Wolf guy around Swallow's Forrest or abandoned places with no result, as if the guy himself knew we come to him and was doing his best to stay away from us, on the night of the second day I proposed to the crew to look for Law, who would have a better chance at finding him.

***

The wind carried a salty breeze as we walked deeper into the secluded parts of Swallow Island, weaving through narrow forest paths. My heart raced with every step, the anticipation of meeting Trafalgar Law growing with how he was one of my favorite characters from the anime. Beside me, Kaya and Bellemere crept, their eyes scanning the surroundings, while Sham lagged, her usual carefree attitude showing. We got a tip from a bartender in Swallow that the Heart Pirates like to lounge around the secluded shore of Swallow Island, so Belle, Kaya, and Sham went on looking for them because Wolf was elusive and difficult to find.

Ahead of us, two figures emerged from the shade of the trees. One was average, wearing a cap with a penguin printed on it, and the other was leaner, with an easy grin and a confident stride. As we approached, the one with the penguin word printed on his cap called out.

"Stop right there. What's your business?" the lean guy said, his hand casually resting his stick on his shoulder.

I took a deep breath, keeping my hands visible. "We're looking for Trafalgar Law. I have some questions about shipbuilding—specifically, the Polar Tang."

The taller of the two, Penguin, narrowed his eyes. "You're not the first to come poking around about that submarine. Why should we let you through?"

Before I could respond, a calm, authoritative voice echoed from behind them. "Let them speak ya."

The two parted, and Trafalgar Law stepped into view. His presence was commanding despite the laid-back way he carried himself. He wore his signature fur-lined coat, his sword resting casually against his shoulder, and his piercing gray eyes locked onto mine.

"You're standing in front of the Surgeon of Death, ya," he said, his voice calm but tinged with a warning. "State your case."

I took another breath, steadying myself under his intense gaze. "Captain Law, I'm Usopp, a tinkerer. I've come to learn about the Polar Tang—specifically, its construction. Understanding your submarine's design might help me make my own."

Law raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but his tone remained cautious. "You think I'm just going to hand over secrets about my ship?"

"I'm not asking for secrets," I said quickly. "I just want to know who built it. If they're in North Blue, I'll find them myself."

Penguin chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

Law's lips twitched into the faintest smirk. "The Polar Tang was built by a shipwright named Wolf Ya. He's a recluse living near the outskirts of North Forrest. If you think you can convince him to talk, good luck Ya. He's not exactly welcoming."

"Thank you," I said, bowing slightly. "I'll respect Wolf'a's space but do my best."

Law turned, his expression shifting as he waved a hand dismissively. "If you're serious about this, you'll need more than words. Wolf doesn't talk to just anyone. Ya."

Penguin added, "He's got a soft spot for unique problems, though. Maybe if you show him what you can do, he'll listen."

I returned to the crew with a nod of gratitude, my chest buzzing with nervous excitement. Kaya leaned in, her voice low. "Can I ask Captain Law something about medic? I heard that he is the best surgeon around here."

I looked at Kaya, slightly taken aback, but Law's crew  wouldn't do anything nasty to my girls, "Sure."

As we made our way to the island's outskirts, Law's calm yet formidable presence lingered in my mind. If I could learn even a fraction of what Wolf knew, the dream of building an airship might come true, and after that, I would bring a lot of soil to be traded with Skypeian's gold, and I would call that financial freedom!