Ace bolted from the ship before anyone could know, moving with the kind of urgency typically reserved for emergencies.
In truth, after sharing a relaxing meal with his crew, Ace seemed to have returned to his usual energetic self. The melancholy that had hung over him since their departure from Sabaody was finally beginning to lift, replaced by his characteristic enthusiasm and curiosity about new places.
Perhaps the rapid improvement in his mood had something to do with the absolutely terrible cooking they'd been subjected to during their underwater journey. Banshee, their temporary cook, was a wonderful brewer but had culinary skills that could charitably be described as "creative." Her idea of seasoning seemed to involve little more than water and salt, regardless of what she was attempting to prepare.
While their usually cook, with his grilling mastery, Jerry had been busy practicing after meeting Kizaru.
As a result, as they dock, Ace was invariably the first crew member to rush off in search of actual edible food. His priorities were always clear: find the best restaurants, sample the local cuisine, and eat enough to make up for whatever culinary disasters he'd endured at sea.
Teacher Mihar, as expected, had declined to join the party. The scholarly man preferred the quiet of the ship's library to the bustling excitement of a new port, content to spend his time reading about the places they visited rather than exploring them firsthand.
After taking some time to organize their belongings and plan their activities, Jerry and several others prepared to venture into Fishman Island's magnificent underwater kingdom. Jerry and Wallace had volunteered to escort Dora and her sisters back to their families, a responsibility they took seriously given everything the young mermaids had endured. Kotatsu, as usual, had decided to stick close to Jerry, the large lynx padding along beside him with feline grace.
Skull was particularly excited about this stop, as he had arranged to meet a fellow collector who lived on the island. Since their destinations were in the same general direction, the group decided to travel together through the coral-lined streets of the underwater paradise.
"So tell me more about this collector network of yours," Jerry said as they walked along one of Fishman Island's main thoroughfares, genuinely curious about how such an organization functioned. "It sounds pretty elaborate."
Skull's enthusiasm was immediately apparent as he launched into an explanation, his skull mask bobbing with excitement. "Oh, it's fantastic! What started as just a few passionate collectors like myself wanting to trade items has grown into something amazing."
The network, according to Skull, had begun nearly a decade ago as a small group of like-minded individuals who shared an obsession with rare and unusual items. They had initially connected through Den Den Mushi calls, sharing information about potential acquisitions and arranging trades when their interests aligned.
Skull was one of the founding members and remained one of the most active participants in their informal organization. What had started as a handful of enthusiasts had gradually expanded as word spread throughout the collecting community.
"You have to understand," Skull continued, gesticulating wildly as he spoke, "people who are truly passionate about their hobbies will go to incredible lengths to pursue them. We've got members scattered across all four Blues and the Grand Line, each specializing in different types of rare items."
The network had evolved sophisticated systems for communication and coordination. Members would post requests for specific items, along with detailed descriptions and offered compensation. Others would keep an eye out for those items during their travels, creating a web of collectors helping collectors that spanned the globe.
"Since I joined the Spade Pirates, I can't just buy whatever catches my eye like I used to," Skull admitted with a hint of nostalgia. "But the network helps with that too. If I spot something another member wants, I can arrange to purchase it and hold it until we can meet up for an exchange."
"That's actually pretty ingenious," Jerry remarked, impressed by the organizational skills these collectors had developed. "You've basically created your own trading company."
"Exactly! And because we're all driven by genuine passion rather than just profit, everyone tends to be fair and honest in their dealings," Skull said proudly. "Though we do have security measures in place, just in case."
Jerry was about to ask more questions when Dora's melodic voice interrupted their conversation.
"Brother Jerry, we're almost at our neighborhood," the young mermaid said, her excitement evident as familiar sights came into view. Throughout their journey, she and her sisters had been chattering quietly among themselves, pointing out landmarks and sharing stories about their home.
Wallace, who had been walking alongside the mermaid sisters, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. The usually quiet Fishman had been regaling them with tales of his adventures on the surface, describing the vast skies and strange weather patterns that existed above the ocean's surface.
"This is where I need to part ways with you folks," Wallace announced as they approached a bustling intersection. "I've got some personal business to attend to while we're here. Take care of yourselves!"
"Thanks for everything, Brother Wallace!" Dora called out cheerfully. "Enjoy your time on the island!"
After Wallace disappeared into the crowd, Dora turned her attention back to Jerry and Skull. "Where exactly were you planning to meet your friend? Do you need help finding the place?"
Skull consulted a piece of paper covered in his distinctive scrawled handwriting. "Let's see... Jenny said she lives on the third floor of Coral Apartments. She mentioned that you might know each other, which is why she suggested meeting there instead of her usual spot at the Mermaid Cafe."
"Oh! You're meeting Sister Jenny?" Dora's face lit up with recognition and excitement. "I know exactly where that is! Just follow me!"
"Looks like we've got our own personal tour guide," Jerry said with a grin, watching as Skull nodded enthusiastically behind his skull mask.
The Coral Apartments turned out to be an impressive structure built directly into a massive coral formation. The organic architecture blended seamlessly with the natural environment, creating living spaces that felt more grown than constructed. Bioluminescent coral provided gentle lighting throughout the corridors, casting everything in a soft, ethereal glow.
As they entered the building, Dora's sisters bid their farewells, eager to reunite with their families after their harrowing ordeal. Jerry watched them go with a sense of satisfaction, knowing they were finally safe.
"Third floor, this way!" Dora announced, leading Jerry, Skull, and Kotatsu up a spiraling ramp that followed the coral's natural curves.
When they reached the appropriate level, Dora confidently navigated to a particular door and knocked with the familiarity of an old friend.
"Sister Jenny! It's Dora!" she called out cheerfully. "I brought your friend here to see you!"
A muffled crash came from inside the apartment, followed by what sounded like someone stumbling around and muttering under their breath.
"Just a minute! I'm coming!" came the reply, accompanied by more sounds of movement and what might have been someone trying to quickly tidy up their living space.
When the door finally opened, it revealed a mermaid who looked like she'd just been roused from an afternoon nap. Jenny was a bit plump, with wildly curled hair that stuck out in several directions and the slightly dazed expression of someone who had been sleeping deeply just moments before. Despite her disheveled appearance, her face broke into a warm smile when she saw her visitors.
"Dora! What a lovely surprise!" Jenny exclaimed, her voice still slightly hoarse from sleep. She then turned her attention to the others, squinting slightly as she tried to focus. "And you must be Skull, right? I recognize the mask from your descriptions in our group discussions."
Her gaze shifted to Jerry and Kotatsu, curiosity evident in her expression. "But who are these two? I don't think we've been introduced."
Before anyone else could speak, Skull jumped into rapid-fire introductions with the enthusiasm of someone who'd been looking forward to this meeting for weeks.
"That's right, I'm Skull! This is my Vice-Captain, Jerry, and our ship's mascot, Kotatsu. They're good people, don't worry about them being here."
His voice took on an eager, almost child-like quality as he continued, "But more importantly, I brought what you requested! Do you have the item I wanted? I've been so excited about this trade!"
Jenny's sleepy expression immediately transformed into one of keen interest, her eyes lighting up with the unmistakable gleam of a fellow collector.
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