Butterfly Effect

Annus did not pursue the topic.

He picked up the long-necked bottle again and poured another half cup for Rocks.

"What has Abyss been doing lately?

I saw in the newspapers that three more World Government transport ships were hijacked in the northern New World last month.

The hijackers were clean about it. They left no survivors aboard, and only splintered wood drifting on the sea and a few bodies scattered by the currents proved those three ships had ever existed.

The World Government claimed it was the work of pirates, but the hijackers did not take anything valuable from the ships... They did not even pry open the safes holding the Heavenly Tribute. The safes simply sank to the bottom with the ships, left to soak in seawater. That was not how pirates operated."

Rocks lifted his freshly filled cup. This time, he did not rush to drink. He merely held it in his palm, his thumb rubbing slowly against the side of the cup.

"My people did it... Those three ships were no ordinary transport vessels. They carried more than Heavenly Tribute. There was also a batch of experimental equipment being shipped from Karakuri Island to Mary Geoise. Vegapunk used it before. It had been retired, but the data on it remained."

Annus's brow twitched slightly.

The newspapers had not mentioned a single word of that.

Then again, with the way the World Government operated, there was no way they would leave behind such a lead.

"I already had the data sent to Water 7. The doctor should have received it soon enough." Rocks removed his thumb from the cup. He held the liquor in his mouth for the briefest moment before swallowing it. "Enough of that... How are Alice and Teach?"

"Alice is doing well in Birka.