Chapter 7
"Here we are Mr. Hendricks."
The lawyer got his briefcase and prepared to depart from the private ship.
"Thank you." He looked at the two mech-soldiers that were asleep from the long trip. The amount of extra time spent was partially his fault as he should have known that the marines were not going to keep Ferdinand at a resort island like Kyuka. No, they sent him to Mock Town for holding. He had to tell the captain of the ship to change course in the middle of their voyage.
He sighed and snapped his fingers in the faces of the two personal paid soldiers. "Hey. Wake up. We're here."
They immediately jumped up from being awoken. "Oh… uh we're sorry sir." One of them muffled through the metal helmet that was a part of the uniform. The mech-soldier outfit was one of class and royalty; with capes, crosses, emblems and everything else. Their primary color was Black and Gold which was the islands colors. These soldiers were the most powerful and there are hundreds of them of equal strength, each soldier capable of taking out over a dozen Marines ships. God forbid if Yisdrill ever got into a war… they would be prepared.
The two titan sized masked soldiers gathered their rifles and holstered it on their backs.
Hendricks shook his head at the sleeping warriors and turned his attention to the captain of the ship. "Listen I'm gonna be here for a while so you can either wait here or go back to Yisdrill. I'll call you when I need you." He said making his way to the door with the two soldiers walking with him.
The captain yelled back. "Got it sir!"
The three made their way off the ship and walked through the town streets; people staring at awe at their presence. Hendricks ignored their reactions and marched to the holding facility where his son was.
…
The three reached the industrial like run down holding facility. They entered through the front door and checked in, earning looks from the other workers in the building.
"I take it you're here to see your son?" A guard asked.
Hendricks didn't answer as he gave the guard a glare making him take a step back. The answer was fairly obvious.
"A-Alright. If you can follow me to our visitation room you can talk to him."
The guard took the three to the visitation room where they had to wait to see Ferdinand. The guard had waited by the door while the three Yisdrillians sat at a table.
Time went by and to help soothe the tense atmosphere one soldier decided to talk.
"You know… despite the fact that this island is a place for mostly pirates, hardly anyone commits a crime." A mech-soldier informed the other two.
"Really?" The other soldier beamed with intrigue.
"Yeah… it's like the pirates here-"
"Where the hell is he?" Hendricks shot out at the guard by the door, stopping the conversation.
"U-Uh. H-he should be here- Oh wait he's coming in now sir!" He bumbled out, opening the door the chained Yisdrillian. He was brought in by two other guards who escorted him to the table where his father was. They brought Ferdinand down on the seat across the table from his father.
Hendricks was greatly relieved to see that his son was okay. He was dressed in a traditional prisoner's garb. The fact that the marines had to arrest him because he saved a bunch of lives by destroying a defective machine frustrated him. There were plenty of witnesses there who witnessed it all and practically everyone is on Ferdinand's side. Those who aren't on his side says that he is not above the law.
"Nando."
"Dad."
Hendricks sighed with a tired smile on his face. "Where were you?"
Ferdinand shrugged his shoulders in ignorance "Truth is… I don't know. That bear cyborg thing sent me away to some island… with a three eyed person and some big lady. I'm not quite sure. I've been able to retract some of the memories but I can't be more descriptive of it."
Hendricks nodded his head. "Is that all you know? Of the island I mean… Can you say anything else?"
"Uhhhh yeah that's all I know. I-"
Hendricks put his hands out to stop his son from talking. "That's alright Nando." He leaned back on the chair and used a finger to scratch the back of his head. "So tell me about the incident on Sabaody."
Ferdinand straightened up. "Well. I was waiting on the ferry-"
"And that's because you wanted to leave the island early to avoid meeting any of the other Royal Family right?"
"Yeah. You-You heard about what happened? Do you think it went well?"
Hendricks scoffed. "That doesn't matter. As of right now that fat sweaty bastard may not even remember seeing you at all."
Ferdinand quirked an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
Hendricks shot up straight in surprise of his lack of knowledge of what happened to the Noble family. "You didn't hear? Apparently some pirate kid knocked Charloss into a coma at the auction house."
Ferdinand was shocked. "Are you serious?"
"Yep. It just goes to show that some people don't give a damn about who and what you are. So you have to be very careful out there. Even I'm not really safe. Even with these two titans with me" The two guards sitting to side of him froze when Hendricks said this. Hendricks felt their reaction to what he said but ignored it.
"Eh... Anyway. On with your story."
"Right… so I was on the ferry watching the marines battle these pirates-"
"Supernovas." Hendricks added.
"… Yeah. So when one of the pirates attacked a machine it went haywire and it began to fire lasers randomly. It was about to fire at the ferry so I used my devil fruit ability to stop it."
Hendricks nodded his head, showing that he was following his son's story.
"Trying to be a hero huh?"
"Well it's either that or let everyone die."
"Hmm."
"Anyway. I went out there and aided the marines in taking down the pirates. We won and I was prepared to leave but I was stopped when the marines tackled me to the ground. The leader of the troop didn't look happy when he arrested me; like as if he was forced to follow an order he didn't want to do."
An intrigued face formed on the lawyer. "Interesting. Say no more son. Daddy's gonna get you out of this."
Ferdinand took exception of the way his father talked to him because as of right now he didn't care as long as he could free him from this.
He sighed. "Thanks Dad. A-Also is there any news about me hosting the Torré Awards… in Dressrosa?"
Hendricks chuckled. "I'd give up on that if I were you."
Ferdinand face and demeanor depressed after hearing that. He understood why he would be skipped after all that happened.
"Listen it's not the end of the world. You're gonna get plenty of more opportunities later on in your career. Getting out of this shit should be your main-"
"Priority, I know I know." Ferdinand sighed. "So… They're going to put me on trial in a four days."
"They're really trying to rush this aren't they?"
"Yeah. I think that this is the best chance the World Government has to try and stick it Yisdrill and get some money out of me. By arresting me on some bogus charge."
Hendricks laughed at that. "It's not like they're gonna win against me. No matter what type of shit they toss."
"I know, but the fact that they had someone like me in handcuffs is a victory for them I bet."
"I bet, but I also plan on pressing charges on the marines for an unlawful arrest."
"Unlawful?" He itched closer to his father so no one could get anything of what he would say. "I know that the arrest was bullshit, but they do have a case against me you know."
"You must've forgotten who I am. I have my ways alright. Those dipshits have no chance."
The lawyer looked at the clock. "Anyway. I think I should be going. I gotta talk to a few more people. You hang tight okay, I'll see you again in a day or two." Hendricks stood up from the table and went towards the door with his two guards in tow.
"Alright. See you soon dad." The two guards by the door stepped off the door and took Ferdinand away from room.
…
(Hendricks POV)
I finally made my way out of the depressing bricked holding facility and made my way to a hotel resort on the other side of the island. I checked into the building with my two personal soldiers and rented two separate rooms. I had one all for myself while the two robots had to share the other.
I reached the floor and door he was given. I entered the room and waved the robot soldiers away to their own rooms, next door to mine. Sighing, I threw my suitcase at the bed and began to fumble around with my tie to take it off.I tossed it onto the bed when I finally got it off. I went over to the window to look at the starry night sky. In the distance of the island's horizon I could see the Holding Facility.
I walked away from the window and went to the rooms Den Den Mushi machine. I had called several other clients and of mine as I still had to take care of firm. I would make sure to call the marine HQ for any other info could get about my sons arrest.
I took off my black suit jacket and began to unbutton my purple shirt in the bathroom.
"Some 'three eyed lady and big woman'… that couldn't be? I mean Kuma couldn't have known that Charlotte was his mother… could he?" I took my shirt off and was left in a plain white t-shirt. I turned on the cold water faucet and ran the water over my hands to splash it over my face. Even more thought provoking was the fact that Kuma still hasn't been found after everything that happened.
"Why do this shit now Drag-"
(Normal POV)
"There you go… Mister Hendricks. Boyoyon" A voice hazed out.
The lawyer fell to the bathroom floor when he felt a dart prick into his neck. He tried to scream for help but nothing came out. All he could do was look at the source of his dismay. He saw a figure of average height. After inspecting it longer he could tell that it had a strange looking build as some body parts were much bigger than they normally should be. The mysterious also sported a thin white mask that didn't cover all of his head.
Hendricks looked over to the wall that blocked away his two soldiers.
"Oh... don't worry about them. They can't sense me with their haki. I can't be sensed by it." He teased with a load confidence.
Hendricks tried to reach for a nearby object for protection but he was dragged out of the bathroom and placed in a sack by the masked man. The intruder tied up the sack and swung it over his back with ease.
"Now onto Ms. Charlotte. She has a lot to say to you ya know…" He jested.
…
A night has passed since the strange disappearance of Lorenzo D. Hendricks. It was first discovered by the two mech-soldiers who tried to report back to him in the early morning. They knocked on the door and when they got no response after minutes they broke it down. They found out that there was no one in the room and the slightly cracked window gave them the impression that someone had broken in; which was near impossible because they would have easily sensed.
They reported the disappearance to the leader of their army. Embarrassed, the entire army kept the situation from the media while the two soldiers searched the island up and down for the entire day. With no luck, the leader dispatched several of troopers to the outside world to search the lawyer, who was set to defend his son in a case in now... three days. They were going to flip the world upside down to find him; but the two hired soldiers came to a conclusion of who might've took him.
"I'm telling you, it has to be those government bastards who took him. I mean who else would want to take away the only thing protecting Ferdinand from being arrested."
"That seems logical but, that seems like a bold thing for them to do. They'd outta know that this is going to vex Yisdrill."
"I know." One soldier sighed. "I just hope this doesn't bring forth a major event."
"You and me both."
…
The court date for Ferdinand has arrived finally. The guards let Ferdinand out of handcuffs to dress him up for his court appearance. Decorated in a fancy dress suit and pants; he was ready for the case. The moment he had left the holding facility the paparazzi was all over him. A guard behind him had given him a towel to cover his face from the flashing lights.
Even in the face of the vicious media around him he still had a confident front. When he was first placed in handcuffs in Sabaody he thought about posting bail, but after finding out about the ridiculous charge and thinking about it, he wanted no other lawyer than his father to help him. He knew that with his father defending him that this will be a breeze.
However, unknown to Ferdinand and a lot of others, Hendricks has disappeared a few days back leaving Ferdinand with no lawyer to protect him. The Yisdrillian was finally escorted to the court building. The building was bustling with voices that Ferdinand couldn't see due to the towel. He was sent through a door where it was much quieter.
"We in the court room yet?" Ferdinand asked.
He was given no answer as the towel was yanked off his dreaded head. He saw that he was in the courtroom. He knew that he was early as hardly anyone was here yet. Half of the jury was still absent and some media outlets were present.
He was escorted to his table which he found was lacking someone. He brushed it and took a seat on the brown mahogany chair. He yawned and stretched. 'Let's try and make this quick dad.'
Minutes began to pass as more people arrived into the courtroom. However Ferdinand's lawyer was still not present; which began to worry him.
"The hearing will begin in three minutes."
Ferdinand began to sweat. "Where the hell are you dad?" He said through clenched teeth. Ferdinand's mind was running astray, like a beehive. Where was his father? Why is he late? Is he okay?
The questions in his mind came to a halt when a balding man in a suit that wasn't his father took a seat next to him.
"Hello there, Mr. Ferdinand."
Ferdinand shot up an eyebrow. "Who are you?" He asked curious.
The strange man opened up his brief case. "Ah. Y-You haven't been told?"
Ferdinand shook his no. 'Should I know something?'
"Oh… well your father Mr. Hendricks... His current whereabouts are unknown."
"What do you mean unknown?!" He yelled softly. Luckily no one heard him
"He… uhhh. A few days ago, his personal soldiers checked in on him and found out that he had disappeared from his hotel room."
Ferdinand face went white which was hard to tell from the lightness of his tanned skin. "D-D-Do they know w-where he is?" He said shook.
"Unfortunately no."
His worry isn't about the case anymore. His father told him that he'll see him again before the case but he failed to show up. He brushed it off, but after finding out that he disappeared he felt his stomach dropped. He wouldn't wander off somewhere so most likely he was kidnapped by someone. His father is a very rich and powerful man and plenty of nefarious hands would love to get a hold of him. Or maybe it wasn't even some criminal… He thought back to what his dad said back at the cafeteria.
Ferdinand was panicking.
The new lawyer wanted Ferdinand to be focused on the case and telling him about his father wasn't going to help him do that.
"Umm, so I am going to be your defender Mr. Ferdinand. I am a public defender, but I know the facts about your case. So just leave it to me alright?"
Ferdinand gave the man a brainless nod. He knew nothing of this man or how well he can perform. All he knew was that he wasn't Lorenzo D. Hendricks. His father.
Everything else that was said was tuned out by him. The questions and doubts came back to his head; even worse than before.
…
Lost in thought, he tuned out the entire case until the conclusion, when he heard the last thing he would want to hear as a Yisdrillian.
"The jury finds the defendant Lorenzo D. Ferdinand guilty of destruction of government property."
