"You didn't notice it either? It seems that the anomaly has always existed, and the changes weren't noticeable during this period of time when you Future Sight."
"Never mind, as long as it doesn't bother us, we'll just wait here for Vic and the others. They'll come here to eat too. We'll line up so they don't have to wait when they arrive. Queuing is too time-consuming; Vic probably won't like it."
Barnett, despite his high IQ, is still prone to making mistakes. He was completely lost in his own thoughts. Although he sensed something was wrong, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The two of them joined the long queue behind the other people waiting in line.
" Barnett! Don't you see something strange about these people in line? They're dressed normally, but they're all very thin, and their facial expressions are off!" Frodeku whispered his observation to Barnett.
He was in line behind Barnett when he inadvertently turned around and saw the people behind them. Each of them had a strange expression on their face, as if they were lost in their own world, with a half-smile and lifeless eyes.
Completely oblivious to what was happening outside, when someone accidentally broke a jar while passing by, those people didn't react at all to the sudden, startling noise.
And it wasn't just the person behind him who was like this; the people further back were the same. Only a few people in line turned to look at the direction from which the sound came. Among them were a few people they recognized, people they had seen on the way to the capital. This was very unusual, and even Frodeku noticed the problem.
"Something's wrong! There must be something wrong with the food here. Why is there a queue only at restaurants with specialties like this? The other shops are fine. The flower petals used in the food are definitely problematic!"
Barnett, who was ahead of Frodeku in line, hadn't noticed the state of the other customers in line. However, after Frodeku pointed it out, he realized that it wasn't just their store that had this problem; other stores selling specialty foods were experiencing the same situation.
If one restaurant is like this, it shows that the chef there is highly skilled. But if every restaurant is like this, it's not normal. Could it be that all the chefs were taught by the same master? Even if they were, the taste should be different. How can there be such a long queue?
"Oh no! This island is very famous. Would they do something like this? If word gets out about the food problem, the number of tourists will plummet. They have absolutely no reason to do this! Doesn't the island's royal family care?"
After hearing the analysis, Frodeku found it hard to believe. Doing such a thing was like shooting yourself in the foot, a short-sighted act, completely unnecessary, and he couldn't understand it at all.
"I think those flower petals probably contain addictive components, making people unable to resist those foods after eating them. That way, no one will spread the word about what happened here. And maybe it was done by the royal family."
Although the truth was cruel, Barnett was able to deduce a general fact based on the state of these people. Just then, the same voice echoed in their minds.
" Barnett is right, those petals are indeed addictive. You must have been referring to these when you said on the warship that you wanted to eat them again and again!"
Furthermore, Barnett has already revealed the truth, and some of the keywords mentioned could trigger the Observation Haki of a powerful individual. Your conversation may have been overheard.
There's a powerful Observation Haki user on this island who's been monitoring the entire island. You're probably being watched. You need to run towards the Flower Field quickly, or you might be in danger.
I sensed a very strong presence on the island. You are no match for him. If he were to personally intervene, none of you would have returned.
Remember, from now on, don't talk about that kind of thing. After leaving the city, go straight to the Flower Field. That powerful figure shouldn't make a move immediately; there's still time to prepare.
The speaker was Vic, a real-life example of Thousand-Li Sound Transmission, though this island certainly wasn't that far away.
Vic thought about the whole story before remembering that two other people had already gone to the capital. If they got addicted to eating those flower petals, it would be hilarious.
Afterwards, Vic activated his Observation Haki and sensed the entire island, discovering several powerful auras on the island, right across from their landing pier.
One of them possessed a very strong aura, making him the strongest person on the island. However, he wasn't in the royal palace. Vic guessed that this was the gang's headquarters, so Vic immediately found Barnett and Frodeku, who were queuing up, and overheard their conversation.
However, since the two had already revealed the secret of the petals, Vic was some distance away and couldn't get there quickly, and they also needed him here, he could only let the two leave the capital without alerting the strongest person. He could only keep an eye on the situation there; if that strong person really did make a move, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Moreover, there were a large number of children in that direction of the island, but no signs of children were found in other parts of the island, as if all the children on the island were concentrated in that one area.
An ordinary person would probably think there's a school there, but Vic, who knows some inside information, doesn't think so. He believes that the place probably exists to blackmail the children's parents, which also serves as an extra layer of security against leaks.
This is why Barnett found it strange earlier, because they hadn't seen a single child since entering the capital, which was certainly unusual. However, the two of them were so caught up in their own thoughts that they hadn't considered the possibility of children.
"These navy guys who came today are being nosy. They've already found out the island's secrets in two places. Lao San, take a few men and capture them. If they resist, kill them on the spot."
They're just interns, you'll be fine with your skills. Also, tell Lao Si not to let that artist intern get away with it either. They're all together, just kill them in the Flower Field and use them as fertilizer."
Right in the area where Vic sensed the powerful figure, a deep voice rang out. The words were devoid of any warmth, showing no reverence for life, only contempt for it.
"Yes, Boss Ling! I'll take men and capture those two men right away."
" Barnett, I'm telling you, you're such a paranoid person. Haven't you seen enough amazing things on the sea? You're making a fuss over nothing. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Maybe it's not a problem with the chef's skills. Maybe the flavor comes from the flower petals themselves. I still want to try it."
Frodeku continued speaking in a low voice, as if he had no idea what Vic had just said.
"Hehe, you're right. We've seen quite a few things we've never seen before along the way. I was definitely too cautious. I guess it's a side effect of being too weak. Oh well, my life is more important. I don't want to die on my internship!"
Barnett knew Frodeku's intentions as soon as he spoke; now the two of them might be being watched, but the truth Vic told them was something no one else could possibly know.
They knew the extraordinary nature of Vic's ability, so their previous conversation could be dismissed as mere guesswork. A further discussion would smooth things over and at least lower the group's guard.
Their intentions are good, but for some people, it's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free; someone has already come looking for them!