Subaquatic Train

La Isleta Cortada. The primary abode of the location of the global government. The entire island lacks suitable natural habitat. The island is shaped into a circle with the headquarters being located in the exact center of the island. There are four different districts on the island. An adjacent river that empties into the sea near the wall separates each of them.

The world government's ranks guard civilization and keep a sharp watch out for sea for trespassers. There is a massive prison below the headquarters which extends throughout the entire underworld. Despite the prison's size, there is just one exit and entryway.

It would be catastrophic for any pirate to invade the island alone without a whole crew due to its massive security of thousands and thousands more agents and marines. There has never been a successful breach or escape due to the sheer number of troops, and even if there were, the top levels are abnormally strong and could defeat even the toughest pirates.

That is why not a single pirate invaded La Isleta Cortada. The ones that did fell short and ended up either dead or imprisoned.

A woman with long blue hair moved through the headquarters hallways in preparation to approach the fleet admiral Warren. Like any other marine, she wore a very expensive white uniform made out of the sturdiest leather with blue hints over its whole. She was one of the higher-ranked admirals.

"Lucina." A masculine voice echoed from the front with Yules leaning against the wall next to the fleet admiral's office. She stopped next to him before entering. "Admiral Yules. Is there something to report?"

Yules shared a smile while keeping his arms crossed in front of his stomach, holding a newspaper. "Perhaps there is, yes. I wanted to show you this 19 hours ago, but you were occupied with the paperwork."

After accepting the newspaper, Lucina read the contents. "Do you know the "White-Haired" pirate Tim? His crew appears to have undergone a transformation. When one of the sea officers got hold of the information, it circulated quickly. According to the news, the group seems to have disbanded."

Lucina checked every sentence in the newspaper and even saw the title; "The 'White-Haired' pirates undergo the transformation." she read.

"Are you certain, admiral Yules? Can you confirm that the newspaper wasn't false? I do not recall an event as to why they would disband the crew." She thought and felt a bit misguided.

Yules' shoulders shook as a sign that he wasn't certain about the newspaper. "Never ask me. Since I heard that you might be visiting the fleet admiral, I just passed the message on." He clarified. He exhibited few emotions, other than a simple smile and closed eyelids. "If so, how? Now that you are an admiral, you have the right to communicate directly with the fleet admiral. Why give the newspaper to *me* instead?"

Yules turned to face Lucina while swaying his hand and standing tall. "I didn't feel the need to bother anyone. Isn't it enough that I've captured the last Yasuda family member? Take over the newscast to give me a break. But notice this. The news doesn't seem credible to me. I would not act on my convictions. You know, just in case something went wrong." Yules left the area without saying anything else and never looked back.

Lucina gazed her eyes on the newspaper one more time and gave it a deep thought. "Perhaps he's right." She knocked on the door and waited for the response of the fleet admiral who soon invited her in.

She entered a massive room. It had bookshelves on each side and a gigantic window at the very back of where the fleet admiral's desk was. She walked on the carpet and finally approached him. "Fleet admiral Warren. I've brought you some news regarding the 'White-Haired' pirates."

Warren, the fleet admiral, appeared to be an adult. A dark mustache covered his face. He had brown hair that was slightly curly at the top. He wore a uniform like Lucina and the other admirals, but his coat and sleeves were additionally gold in color.

"Admiral Lucina, let's get to the news straightaway. I'm interested in learning more about the subject." Warren said. Without having to rush the statement, Lucina nodded. "I'm here to let you know that Yasuda's execution might be delayed. In five hours, we'll be able to transport Yasuda to Vendurn, but the deployed ship hasn't arrived, and the past 30 minutes have passed with no communication. We speculate that their path may have been blocked by an unidentified source based on the assumptions and the fact that no one can get in touch with them. I want to ask you what we should do next."

Warren quietly gasped as he cupped his hands together. "Have you dispatched the scouting party? You might get in touch with them." Lucina, though, rejected the likelihood. "I regret not. The scout crew has been dispatched out to locate the ship, but they haven't gotten back to us. If the missing ship came into view, they would instantly alert us. I know they take time, but Yasuda's execution must be carried out as soon as possible. I advise using the underwater train to transport Yasuda to Vendurn in a timely manner because we cannot take any unwarranted risks."

Warren kept considering the process and even took a few seconds to do so. "Since the previous war, it has not been necessary to employ the underwater railway. Yasuda's execution depends on it, but operating the train would take expertise, and we haven't had any since the previous incident. That wouldn't be a clever decision." He talked about being aware of how challenging it was to run the train.

"I am well aware that we would need a specialist, but the most we can do is set the destination to Vendurn and then put it on autopilot. I also suggest that we load the ship with Parth, Riley, and Naeve, our foremost agents. They were the ones in the Oxfell Arton who came across the "White-Haired" pirates. And now that Chiaki Yasuda has been detained, we think they might be headed our way to attempt and save her. I've learned that the crew has been dismantled, but I still think they have something in mind."

Lucina dropped a newspaper, which Warren picked up. "Indeed, I do. I won't dispute it. It is odd that they would dismiss the crew so soon after Yasuda's execution had been made public. However, they are not the only issue. The "Sea Wolves" pirates will probably raid us now that Yasuda has been captured. A $7,050,000,000 bounty on the Sea Noble and the "Sea Wolf" pirate Walsh might cause problems. Since he has been holding the largest bounty for so long, the Vast Expanse has been free of so many pirates."

Lucina nodded. "The "Sea Wolf" pirate Walsh's attention may be diverted to Vendurn, where we won't have to worry about them releasing all the prisoners, by using the underwater train to carry Yasuda there. They will learn the news sooner if we detour them to the Vendurn with the underwater train, which will give us ample time to make preparations. They would immediately disregard La Isleta Cortada and proceed to the Vendurn."

After putting down the newspaper, Warren nodded. "Indeed, you're right. We wouldn't have to be concerned about their releasing the convicts if we transported Yasuda to Vendurn. The first-class agents would be an excellent line of defense if we used the underwater train in case someone tried to get on. Quite acceptable, Lucina, if I may add, your request." He continued and issued the directive. "Excellent, Lucina. We'll comply with your request. Within an hour, we'll load Yasuda onto the subaquatic train and send her to Vendurn. While you spread the word to the other agents, I will gather the foremost agents."

After accepting the praises, Lucina turned around. "Fleet Admiral Warren, I appreciate your understanding. I'll proceed to collect the remaining admirals and share the news with them." While their fleet admiral Warren gathered the top agents in his office, she bowed, turned around, and went.

To be continued...