The narrow road ran straight from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain, forming a direct route to the port with no possibility of any turns.
Even from outside the palace at the mountainside, they could already see their own ship.
The Eberle lay quietly docked at Nanohana Port. Amid this enormous harbor, the Eberle could only be considered an average-sized vessel.
Several pirate ships they had seen when they arrived yesterday evening were still docked there. Their crews showed not the slightest concern and made no effort to hide themselves.
Although Alabasta was a relatively weak country, its military was still fairly decent. If such a situation had occurred at Naniwa Port, Nova would never have tolerated it.
No matter how pirates appeared in his country, once they flew a pirate flag, it was already a provocation and a declaration. If they approached his nation's port, regardless of their strength, it would spark considerable controversy and even panic among the citizens.
Yet here, in this country's port—its most important port, no less—several pirate ships were docked openly, without drawing any soldiers from the country to pursue them.
Even Lan Mo, who had already seen those pirate ships, acted as if he had not noticed them at all and did not take the matter seriously.
"Your Majesty, Barlow hasn't returned since he went out yesterday!"
As soon as the group boarded the ship, one of the crewmen hurried over to Nova and spoke anxiously.
With everyone else back but the navigator still missing, the ship could not move at all.
"What happened?" Nova immediately became alert and looked at the bare-armed man as he asked.
"Your Majesty, we don't know either. Barlow and Fite went ashore yesterday to purchase supplies, but when we woke up this morning, we found