Rubeck Island

The following day, hammering echoed across the clearing as Wolf worked tirelessly, laying out plans and adjusting the intricate details of the blueprint. I watched him, taking in every movement and word like a sponge. This sleek-looking engine was what I needed—the foundation of my dream ship.

"Usopp!" Kaya's voice called out from the edge of the clearing.

I turned to see her in her transport titan mode, her frame towering as she carried a massive stack of sturdy wood over her shoulder. She moved carefully and ensured she didn't damage the trees she brought. She dropped the load near Wolf's workshop, the ground shaking slightly from the impact.

"Where do you need this?" she asked, her voice deeper but still carrying that familiar kindness.

Wolf looked up from the blueprint, adjusting his glasses. "That'll do for reinforcing the framework, but if you're serious about this airship, we'll need Adam Wood. Sturdy as these trees are, they won't hold up under the stress of flight."

"Adam Wood," I repeated, wiping sweat from my brow. "That's the stuff legends are made of, isn't it?"

Wolf nodded without looking up. "Strongest material you'll ever find. It's what separates real ships from floating coffins. Are you serious about this airship dream of yours? You're going to need it. No way around it."

I leaned closer, curiosity taking over. "Where do we get it?"

Wolf smirked, finally looking up. "You don't just 'get' Adam Wood, kid. It's rare, controlled, and expensive. The closest you'll find is an auction on Rubeck Island. But don't think it's just a walk in the park for a second. Big money and big trouble hang around those auctions."

He then pulled out a device that looked like it had been pieced together from scrap metal, wires, and old transponder snail shells. He fiddled with the knobs, a faint buzzing coming to life.

"This is a transponder snail hijacker," he said, holding it up like a prized invention. "With this, you can tap into auction broadcasts, Marine chatter, and other private communications. It'll help you stay ahead of the competition—or avoid it."

I stared at the device, awe mixed with unease. "And you're just handing this over?"

"Call it my contribution," Wolf said with a shrug. "Besides, I'm curious to see if you've got the guts to pull this off."

I took the hijacker, feeling its weight in my hands, and turned to my crew. "Alright, if we're going after this, Adam Wood, we need a plan. And that means splitting up again."

Kaya nodded, her massive form shrinking back to her usual self as her transformation ended. She looked tired but determined. "What's the split?"

I rubbed my chin, thinking it through. "Carrot and Reiju will stay here with Wolf. He'll need all the help he can get sorting through the materials and setting up the foundation. Aerwyna, you're with me. Your strength and calm under pressure will be invaluable if things get dicey, and Kaya, I would need your transport mode to transport the wood."

Carrot's ears perked up. "But I want to go to the auction! There might be fights!"

I smiled at her. "We need someone here who can keep things light and focused. You're perfect for that."

She pouted but eventually nodded, muttering about "boring wood."

Reiju stepped forward. "And me? Why keep me here?"

I looked at her, meeting her steady gaze. "You've got the knowledge to help Wolf troubleshoot the engineering. Plus, you're good at keeping things under control. If anything goes wrong while we're gone, I trust you to handle it."

She gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable. "Fair enough."

Turning to Wyna and Kaya, I gave them a nod. "It'll just be the three of us for this one. Rubeck Island isn't far, but it's bound to be dangerous. We'll keep it low-key and gather intel before we make any moves."

Wyna adjusted her six swords on her orange obi belt, Sandai and Kagegiri Kitetsu gleaming the thirst for blood. "Understood, Usopp Kun."

Kaya tucked a strand of pale blonde hair and nodded at me.

Before we left, Wolf explained how to use the hijacker in detail. It wasn't as complicated as it looked, but it required focus to pick the right frequencies. By the time we were ready to set sail, I felt more prepared.

As the Merry's Revenge pulled away from Swallow Island, I glanced back at the crew left behind. Carrot was busy sketching something in the dirt, and Reiju stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze tracking us until we disappeared into the horizon.

Wyna stood beside me, silent as always, her presence steadying. I tightened my grip on the helm, the excitement of the auction and the promise of Adam Wood filling my chest with determination.

"Next stop, Rubeck Island," I said, grinning despite the task's weight ahead. "Let's see if we can pull off the impossible."

***

The journey to Rubeck Island was quiet, except for the faint hum of the transponder snail hijacker I had spread out on a workbench. Wyna sat nearby, sharpening her swords and occasionally glancing at me; she said Kaya was below deck, making more Titan Pill. I muttered to myself, tweaking the hijacker's wiring with my tools. I was determined to perfect this thing—if we were walking into a high-stakes auction, I needed every advantage we could get.

Wyna's calm voice broke the silence. "You've been at that for hours. Do you even know what you're doing?"

I looked up, grinning despite the beads of sweat on my forehead. "Not entirely, but that's part of the fun. Wolf gave us a decent base, but I think I can improve this hijacker. Stronger range means more precision, and maybe we'll pick up some intel that'll give us an edge."

She nodded, her serene demeanor never faltering. "Just don't blow it up."

I snorted, returning my attention to the hijacker. "Have a little faith, Wyna. I've got this."

After a few more adjustments, the hijacker emitted a clear signal, and I sat up straighter, twisting the dials carefully to tune into nearby frequencies. The static cleared, and I caught snippets of Marine chatter.

"…X Drake reporting in… suspected pirate activity near Rubeck…"

My hands froze as I processed the name. X Drake—he was still a Marine at this point. That was a wildcard I hadn't planned on. Aerwyna leaned in, her eyes narrowing.

"Drake's involved?" she asked, her voice low.

"You know him? And yeah, looks like it," I replied, turning the dial again. "Let's hope he's not looking for us."

The signal shifted, and another gruff and self-assured voice came through. It was a name I recognized from the anime: Avalo Pizzaro, the corrupt king of the North Blue.

"…this auction better bring in the gold I need… Joker promised results…"

Joker. That name sent a chill down my spine. I glanced at Wyna, who looked just as uneasy. "You know who Joker is, right? If he's involved, this isn't just some small-time operation," I said. " We're walking into some serious trouble."

Aerwyna nodded. " He is a warlord, like brother Jinbei. If he is as strong as brother Jinbei, then we must be careful."

I kept turning the dials, catching snippets of conversations that painted a clearer picture of the auction's key players. Joker was running the show, with Gladius leading the operation on-site. That meant we were dealing with Do Flamingo's enforcers—not one of his lieutenants.

But then another voice came through, one that stood out. It was calmer, quieter, but with a sense of purpose. "Jiro reporting to Karasu… keeping an eye on Joker's movements."

I blinked, recognizing the name. Karasu was from the Revolutionary Army. His involvement meant the Revolutionaries had their eyes on this auction, too. That could work in our favor—or blow up in our faces.

Aerwyna crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "The Revolutionaries might be here for the same reason we are."

"Or they're here for something else," I said, leaning back and running a hand through my hair. "Either way, we need to tread carefully."

As we approached Rubeck Island, the hijacker fell silent, and I packed it away, my mind racing. The island loomed ahead, its rocky cliffs and dense forests hiding the auction's location. The docks were bustling with activity—pirates, merchants, and even a few suspiciously clean-cut individuals I suspected were undercover Marines.

I turned to Aerwyna and Kaya as we prepared to disembark. "Alright, here's the plan. We keep a low profile, gather as much intel as possible, and figure out how to secure Adam Wood without drawing too much attention. If things go south…"

She gave me a small smile, her hand resting on one of her swords. "I'll make sure we get out alive."

With that, we stepped onto the bustling docks of Rubeck Island, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on me. The auction wasn't just a place to find Adam Wood—it was a powder keg of dangerous players and hidden agendas. And we were walking right into the middle of it.

***

As Aerwyna, Kaya, and I stepped onto the bustling docks of Rubeck Island, my nose caught the sharp tang of salt in the air, mingling with the musky scents of a crowded port. But beneath it all, I could smell something else—a tangled web of emotions that clung to the people around us like an invisible fog.

I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing. The scent of anxiety was sharp, almost metallic, from a pair of ragged sailors unloading crates near the harbor. Nearby, a merchant reeked of greed, his odor sticky and oppressive. And somewhere more profound in the crowd was the unmistakable sour stench of fear, faint but growing stronger the closer we got to the island's heart.

"Stay sharp," I murmured to Aerwyna and Kaya as we moved into the chaos of the marketplace. "Something feels off already."

Aerwyna gave me a calm glance, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her Kitetsu sword. "You always say that, Usopp Kun. But I'll trust your nose."

The marketplace was alive with noise—vendors shouting, coins clinking, and the occasional sharp laugh. I kept my senses open, picking up faint traces of anger, determination, and excitement mixed with excitement. It was a volatile mix, and I knew it would only intensify the closer we got to the auction.

As we moved through the crowd, I caught a sharp whiff of arrogance, almost sickly sweet. My eyes landed on a man strutting with heavily armed guards through the market. His over-the-top attire screamed wealth and power, and the smug set of his jaw confirmed it.

"That's got to be Avalo Pizzaro," I whispered to Aerwyna. "Smells like his ego entered the room before he did."

Aerwyna's lips twitched in a faint smile. "He looks the part. Should we follow him?"

"Not yet," I said, watching him disappear into a side street. "We'll have plenty of time to cross paths with him at the auction. For now, let's gather more intel."

We wandered deeper into the island, the scents of tension and unease growing thicker as we neared the auction's location. Suddenly, I caught a faint whiff of something different—controlled calm and a hint of curiosity. I turned, spotting a man with a mask covering the lower half of his face, his black cloak blending into the shadows.

"That's this Jiro guy, I think," I said. "Revolutionary."

Aerwyna's gaze followed mine, her posture tensing. "Think he's here for the Adam Wood?"

"Could be," I said, my voice low. "But that Jiro guy doesn't smell hostile. Yet."

As we passed him, I caught his scent shifting slightly—wariness mingled with a flicker of intrigue. He was aware of us, but he didn't make a move. I filed that information away, knowing we might need to deal with him later.

Finally, we reached the outskirts of the auction site—a massive warehouse hidden behind towering cliffs. The air was thick with conflicting emotions: greed, excitement, fear, and anger swirling together. It was overwhelming, but I focused on picking apart the most prominent scents.

I caught a faint whiff of controlled fury, sharp and acidic. Turning, I spotted Gladius standing near the entrance, his unmistakable spiky hair making him stand out even in the crowd. He was barking orders at a group of workers unloading crates, his presence radiating tension.

"That's Gladius," I said quietly to Aerwyna and Kaya. "Doflamingo's man. If he's running this, we must stay out of sight."

Aerwyna nodded, her hand tightening on her sword. "Let's find a vantage point."

We slipped into the shadows, navigating around the perimeter of the warehouse. From a hidden spot, I could see the auction floor being set up—lavish seating for the bidders, a raised stage for the goods, and a heavy Marine presence on the edges. The Adam Wood wasn't on display yet, but I could feel the anticipation building.

"Usopp," Kaya said softly, her voice breaking my concentration. "What's the plan?"

I took a deep breath, sorting through the emotions in the air, searching for the best path forward. "We need to stay low and gather intel first. Let the auction start and see how the players interact. If we're lucky, we might not have to fight at all."

Kaya raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "And if we're not lucky?"

I grinned, though my heart was pounding. "Then we improvise."

The scent of greed and ambition was thick now, nearly suffocating. But beneath it, I caught a faint whiff of something new—hope. It was faint, barely there, but it reminded me why we were here. We were building together for the crew, for the dream of an airship, and for the future.

With that thought steadying me, I turned back to Aerwyna and Kaya. "Let's get to work."