Not long after dawn, fog rose over the sea.
The outline of White Reef Island flickered through the fog like a gray ridge emerging from the water. As the ship drew closer, the island's details grew clearer: a ring of white cliffs surrounded it, topped by dark green treetops, with occasional wisps of cooking smoke rising from the woods. A natural bay lay on the island's southern side, narrow at the mouth and broad within. Several wooden posts stood on the reefs flanking its entrance, faded flags hanging from them.
"There are ships!" Usopp called from the lookout.
Naruto walked to the rail to look. Three ships lay in the bay, all small: two fishing boats and what looked like a cargo ship, its hull mottled with rust and riding deep in the water. Its stern flag wasn't raised, leaving its allegiance unclear.
Nami put the Log Pose into a waterproof pouch, looking troubled. "The needle's changed again. Northeast is still right, but the angle's shifted quite a bit since last night. Either we're getting closer, or that thing is moving."
"Or both," Naruto said.
As the ship entered the bay, people came out to meet them. A short, stout middle-aged man stood on a makeshift wooden pier with two young men, waving them in. He wore a blue cloth jacket washed almost white, and deep wrinkles lined his face. His smile revealed two gold teeth. He introduced himself as Boss Zhou, the man in charge of White Reef Island, responsible for receiving passing ships.
"We have provisions, water, and firewood," Boss Zhou said as he guided them in. "If you need repairs, there's an old craftsman on the east end of the island. He does good work, but he's temperamental. You'll have to talk to him yourselves."
Once the