Robert's first day inside the mines

Note: Join my discord server guys if you want to talk and share ideas on the novel. I always welcome new ideas that could possibly work in One Piece: discord(...)gg/CMsHqJVDVD

Going inside the shack, Vlad stared at the three boys that had just woken up. Not saying anything to them, he went back to the table and took a seat, taking fruit for himself. Staring at the three boys as they prepared to get out for the working day, especially at the new member Robert. After finishing his fruit with a bored face, he heard Inorra asking him something.

"Those powers of yours, how did you got them?"

"From a small exploration. Where I found something called Devil Fruit which grants the one who eats it magical powers. In my case it let's me control blood, mine and yours. That's from where I picked Aerius."

"There's such a place inside this hellhole? Argh, doesn't that mean that you can control us as you wish with only our blood?" asked Inorra while being scared by the notion of someone controlling him like a puppet.

"Don't worry, I'm still not able to control your blood, and even if I could do it at this moment, why would I do it on you, just for fun? Maybe?

As for the place I explored, let's say I want to make this place secret. Not everyone needs to know that such a place exists in this camp."

"Isn't it right little Robert?" as he said, he supported his head weight by the table with his hand.

Robert nodded his head in agreement, not knowing what to say in this situation. "That's right, if this place holds some important things, it would only make things worst."

"Heh good answer boy. So little Robert, how prepared are you emotionally for your first day at the mines?"

Robert looked at Vlad and touched his body, feeling it no longer bruised hard. He nodded his head slightly and said with a lowered tone. "Yes, sir, I think I can handle it for today."

Hearing that, he didn't bother Robert for long and turned to Inorra and Kipset for a brief moment. The two changed in their working clothes, walked to the table, joining the opposite of Vlad's side. "Did you found the answer Inor to your question? Anyway, if you're wondering what I did outside, it's already obvious that I trained my control over those powers. So, prepared for yet another boring day?"

Inorra replied while taking a seat calmly. "I'm prepared like usual, so there shouldn't be any problem along the way. Sigh, I also want such powers as you. The fight you had with the old man was the stuff of stories. Even your white-hair transformation looked badass. Can you teach me that at least?

Still, with his head on the table supported by his left hand and with long hair flowing a bit on his face, he suddenly switched positions. Now getting seated properly and arranged his hair in check. Looking at Inorra with his deep green eyes that didn't show any ill intent, he said slowly.

"That power that maybe looked badass for you, is something that I don't wish on anyone. The way you can achieve it is something that I can't say with certainty that just anyone can do it. You know the story of the prince and his hardship in life, this is also something that not many might survive to tell the tale."

Instantly Inorra figured out what Vlad wanted to say in this comment of his. Even Kipset looked calmly at Vlad while nodding his head to tell that he figured out what he said.

'You need to live a life full of blood and death to have such a chance to get cursed by life. And still, it's unknown if we can ever achieve this ability.'

Only Robert had a confused face about what Vlad said but didn't linger too much on that comment.

Still, Vlad continued by saying with a serious tone. "If you really wish to achieve such cursed power, you have to exchange it with something that you'll regret even thinking of exchanging."

When he ended saying that, his expression eased up, and turning his attention back on Robert, he said.

"Robert, come here and eat something, don't just stay there with that expression on your face. You're my new protege now, I'll look after you for some days until you get used with the environment. We'll move together to the mines after you're done eating, so I can explain in detail what you can do and not do inside the camp. Any questions?" asked Vlad with a calm face, the young boy.

Robert was surprised by Vlad's change. He didn't expect this weird person that even eat a Devil Fruit and had such powers aside from the devil powers to behave like this with him. As if an uncle of his was looking after him while he was small. The boy started to think about what could have gone wrong in Vlad's head.

[Robert's POV]

'Ohh shit, does Vlad want something with me? Or is he genuinely wanting to help me get used with this environment. But I didn't do anything to deserve such treatment, I'm a nobody here. My status as a noble birth could mean nothing to him right now. What about Inorra and Kipset? Why not go together with them. Instead, you're only taking me? Something seems weird here.'

'He doesn't seem to want bad things from me. Even when I just came to this shack when he responded to me, his face was compassionate, almost like he was looking deep down to my soul.'

'Did he by chance wish that I will help him with something in the future when I inherit my family title and estate? Have the skies shine on me, or did they give me a curse that I can't get rid of? Ahh, why I sound more and more like that old geezer back home.'

'Sure, I'll stick with you like a leach if that's what you wish. The old geezer had a good word for this, what was it? The big tree falls down first until he offers enough shade to the younger one to sprout.'

'I'll try not to be an annoyance to you while you're taking care of me. But I have the feeling that those 3 are planning to escape from this camp. So he most likely is checking me to see how trustful I'm for joining them.'

[General POV]

"Coming right now." he got next to Vlad's seat and looked at what he got on the table on a piece of old paper. It was a lump of well-smoked meat and a loaf of white bread that didn't seem to have any mold on it.

Shocked, Robert tried to remember what he ate last day, and it was the same type of food, still not hard or moldy. Seeing the food on the table, he looked at Vlad and could only see his long hair covering the side of his face he could see. Not long after, Robert stared surprised at Vlad, feeling that stare. Vlad turned to look at the young boy and only smiled a bit at him, asking.

"What's wrong, not hungry? Go on, kid, don't linger too much on those things, or I'll just give this food to Aerius. He'll gladly eat the meat.

"Right, right. Don't eat it kid, can't you see I'm in the growing process I need food." nodded Aerius, his little head while jumping on Inorra's head.

But not long, Vlad waved his hand as to silence him and continued saying to Robert.

"I don't know how those pirates treated you along your journey, but one thing I'm certain of is that you had to suffer some harsh conditions. The weather, the hunger, all things that I also had to endure, so see me as a big brother looking after his junior. Who knows, maybe later down the line, you might help me back when I'm in serious need."

"Thanks a lot for the meal." that's all Robert could say in those moments. When Vlad recalled the moments that even he, the man with a cold appearance, passed through, made him treat Robert a little bit more, now that he had from where to share with others.

He looked for a short period at Inorra and Kipset, who had calm faces, each one minding their business, eating some things, then later at Vlad, who only tossed some fruits from the temple garden to Aerius with a bored expression on his face. He could only eat in silence and mind his own business while looking with curiosity at the gryphon. Something that not even his teacher never mentioned existing. He was only a kid that got into a big mess called slavery. It didn't matter what statuses he had back home. Right now, at this point in time, he was only Robert. The Voss family couldn't help him here, not even after thousands of years. Slowly he started eating, tasting the smoked meat and the white bread, which made him give a satisfied smile.

"Ohh, Aerius, you seem that you lost your chance at that smoked meat." chuckled Vlad after seeing Robert give a smile after taking his first bite at the smoked meat.

"Hmph, I already eat enough. I'll rather let the boy eat in peace without bothering him." Scoffed Aerius, not minding that Robert started eating while some of his saliva give him out.

Kipset turned to look a bit at the small gryphon and laughed a bit under his breath, while Inorra was gritting his teeth that he had Aerius on his head, constantly moving on his head.

At one point, he yelled at him when all his movements on top of his head reached a climax. "Screw you Aerius, I let you stay on my head without even bothering you, but can you stop moving so much? Just get down already, move on someone else's head or shoulder if you love the high growd. You weird creature."

"Sigh, just leave him alone Aerius, can't you act a bit normal? Right, you have to stay here because it would be troublesome if all the morons from the mine start asking questions about you. It would be justifiable to say that I adopted a cat that I found lost inside the camp if you were more like a cat, still, not even that would work here. So in this sense I hope you'll stay here quietly when we're going to the mines. You can relax, sleep, even eat some of the fruits but don't touch on the storage. Understood?" ended Vlad saying that while placing the importance of the don't touch the food source.

Aerius understood the situation he was, and choose to follow along with Vlad's request while sneaking some looks towards the food storage. 'Hmph, just a bit missing will not be visible when those guy are escaping.'

Then as he thought of that, he heard Vlad give him a short evil chuckle while looking at him. Aerius just whistled innocently, like nothing ever happened.

Looking at Robert, Vlad could see the boy's mood change as he wolfed down on his food after. With a focused face, as if to remember the feeling of eating so much food in a while, he finished his meal.

'Oh, this boy has potential. To manage his emotions from such a young age is commendable. Sigh, he really reminds me of my younger self. Old Nius, you're right about this kid. Yet another kid on my head to take care of. Eh, at least the other two, I hope they don't follow me. They are already adults and should think independently.'

Taking his time, Vlad continued to stare silently at Robert in the covers of his long hair. However, Inorra and Kipset could notice Vlad's interest in the little boy from the opposite side but couldn't say anything about it because it was part of the plan to have Vlad check on Robert. It was good for Robert that he managed to pick Vlad's attention apart from just being checked by him, thought the two of them in their head.

Tapping with his finger, the wood table, and feeling with each tap, the passage of time got Vlad prepared to leave for the mine. Turning towards Robert, he said with a grin on his face. "Let's go, kid. Your first working day starts now. I'll fill you as we go what you should look out inside the mine."

Rising from his seat, he followed Vlad, who was at the door, close to opening it. Feeling that it was required to say goodbye to Kipset and Inorra, he did as he thought. "Bye, Kipset, Inorra, see you after work." Nodding his head, he also said to the two by the table. "Take care inside the mine, guys. Also, if you finish faster than me and get to eat at the canteen, don't forget to train yourself. You too Aerius, keep quiet while staying inside, don't go outside and get yourself captured by some drankard or guard."

Opening the door, he left towards the mine accompanied by Robert. The difference between Vlad and Robert was quite comical; if someone were beside them right now and looked at them as they walked, they would guess that they were father and son. However, that probably would happen outside the camp. While Vlad was here, almost everyone knew about him and his age.

Walking down the chaotic zone, he spotted some adults in a corner having fun with some women. Shaking his head at this scene, he grabbed Robert by the shoulder and pushed him to his side, not wanting to corrupt the boy so early. However, this caused Robert to be more suspicious of the reason why Vlad drove him close by.

"Hey, Vlad, did you hear by chance the moaning of some women along the way? Was this why you placed me close to you?"

"What about it, boy? Wanna have some fun with those ladies there? You're still young. Your body still has to mature itself. You should train more to increase your growth processes, at least while you're young. But I digress, I'll leave that story for another time and only say this, for now, you can admire but not touch." ended him by chuckling while passing that scene.

'Those fuckers, I hope they get another epidemic once I'm out from this hellhole.'

Taking a while to reach the assignment spot. In the meantime, Vlad was asking Robert some questions to pass the time. To have a better understanding of the boy, while the same could be for Robert, he didn't shy now after knowing Vlad for a bit.

"Tell me, Vlad , is it true that you were only 10 when you got put on the job of carrying stones from the deepest points?" Asked Robert with a curious face while Vlad was only walking, listening to the boy's question.

"Was Inorra yet again bragging about me? Well, no harm done. Robert, I was quite unlucky for a boy at my age to be a slave and also be put on the hardest jobs at that time. At times, I just had to fake fainting to get the managers and guards to give me a break for the days. But I can whine and say that being inside this place didn't help me out, now that I have those magical powers, I can see that having a strong body it's helpful. There's also another aspect that people can benefit from here, such as having a strong mind which will give you a certain ability."

"But still, I'll ask just to make the mood a bit closer between us. Who do you think taught me to faint when I couldn't go on with my job?"

"Was it that weird old man from yesterday who you fought against?"

"Him in flesh and bones, he also was assigned at that time to work at the depths, or better say he liked to go there. But for sure, you can learn many things from that sly fox, if you have that chance, don't drop it."

Hearing people's voices as they walked forward, and after a minute seeing the assignment zone, he said. "Let's see what your lucky stars have got in place for you, Robert."

Getting in place and waiting for another 3 minutes for their assignment. When Vlad met the staff member right in the eye, he said with a large grin as if he knew that person for all his life. "Sir, same as always. Ohh, and don't forget to add the points for the meals at the canteen. Otherwise, I'll have to come to find you and have a talk, man to man."

Frowning, the staff member could only comply while gulping when he saw Vlad's cold stare, noting in his registry Vlad's assignment, later he said. "It is done. Now you can go to your hell and give others a break."

"Heh, you're no fun at all, I thought you would give me something to laugh before I get inside the mine. It seems most of you managerers learned your lesson when talking with me. Anyway, Robert, I'll wait for you close by, come to me once you're assigned."

Robert only nodded at Vlad's words. Being next in line and also new in the camp. The staff member, after a short break, asked him for his badge. It didn't take long for the staff member to grin evilly at Robert. "Boy, you've been marked by the top. Take care of yourself in the camp. Assigned to the deepest point. Good luck, boy, you'll need plenty of it." ending the staff threw the badge with disdain back to the boy.

Perplexed, Robert went to where Vlad was waiting for. Seeing Robert come towards him, he asked while chuckling at him. "What's with the long face? Did you, by chance didn't get your dream job for your new day? It happens a lot around here. So, what did you get?"

"That mister said, deepest point and something along the line that I'm marked by someone at the top."

"Oh, can you give me a bit your badge?" Just as Vlad said that Robert already had his badge prepared. Studying a bit the badge, Vlad could notice the name looking fine, shack looked fine. However, a hateful 4-star mark was next to Robert's name. He laughed a bit and gave the boy's badge back. After that, he said. "Well, well. It's been a while since someone got marked by that fat pig. Good job kid, you talked a bit about offending that pig, but to think he take it so seriously. Tsk, tsk, by the way, there were some others like this while I was inside the camp, but most of them are dead now."

When Robert heard that, he suddenly got scared of this part of the information. Nonetheless, this was a reaction for the moment, sensing Vlad looking at him as usual. He later heard him say. "No need to worry, that manager didn't technically define exactly where at the deepest point. There are three sites going down, so let's say that you go down. However, look at me? I'm also going to the deepest point." Taking a bit of break to create suspense, Vlad, with a smiling face, said. "What a coincidence, I'm also moving to the deepest point, so what do you say Robert, wanna come with me?" ended Vlad to say with a broad grin on his face to Robert.

[Robert's POV]

'Do you even have to ask me? What else do you want me to do? Bust my ass in a hole I don't even know. Obviously, I will come after you. Let's see how your working conditions are.'

"Sure, do I even have a choice?" I said to Zagreus that had a smiling face at first. Soon I followed him down the mine after getting the equipment. Well, that was only him getting a pickaxe and a chisel. I wanted to ask him why I don't need to get a bucket with me since everyone, especially the kids coming to the storage, got themselves buckets to carry the stones.

His only response when I asked him. "Why don't I need a bucket down in the mine?" was "Ohh, those annoying things? No need, we got better stuff made for your kind just waiting to be tested."

'Shit, he ended smiling in that weird manner. Ohh, by the Sea's, let me have this day easy and not get killed while working.'

Seeing my worrying face, Vlad only slapped the back of my head lightly, saying chuckling. "What's to worry, kid? No worries, you'll see down there that your job actually is pretty easy and straightforward to do. You just need some muscles, but that is all. Once you're done with your batch, come to me, I'll teach you something else."

'Ahh, what mess did I get into?" That was my only question at that exact moment when hearing Zagreus say that I need muscles for the job.

'Teacher, Goddamn, why didn't you teach me useful stuff like fighting or how to build my body? Fucking jerk, instead you taught me pointless stuff like Navigation, Geography, and all sorts of useless things aristocrats would use.'

REVIEW THE STORY IF YOU LIKED WHAT YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR (THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF COMMENT HERE I GUESS- PROBABLY HELPS WITH READERS RECOGNITION?)