Note of the author:
This story is the first I post so please let me know if things are a mess or if the writting isn't good.
English isn't my first language so sorry for the miss translation or the grammar.
If you want to take some part of the story or else, please let me know. Don't be shy to let me some reviews and comment if you like it or not. I want to improve.
I'll post as I feel like it but I have chapters already written so, feel free to ask if you want to know what happens next.
If you have any questions about the story or anything regarding the story, please ask.
I don't own the OP characters, only my Ocs.
Some chapters can contain some language warning and such.
I hope you'll enjoy it as I enjoyed writing it.
The Informer
Eighth chapter
Kate had stayed with the Heart Pirate a little bit longer than expected. Instead of a week she had stayed for three and no one complained about it, not even the surgeon. At first, it had been because the next island they had stopped at had been a little far from what Kate had expected. So, she had decided to help with the shores too, not really wanted to abuse of the kindness of the crew. They had been gladed by the gesture and some members had even started to ask for her helped, thing that had been promptly forbidden by their captain. The crew had been disappointed a bit but seeing that for once their captain and the woman were getting along they didn't complain for long. It was often that the two of them would be found talking around a cup of sake after dinner. No one knew what they were talking about, some bet that it was about her work and that their captain was trying to obtain some information of some kind. The truth was that they both had found themselves enjoying talking to one another about various subjects and topics. It was often about the news that they had obtain in the morning newspaper but still, they enjoyed their little chat. With what was happening in the world, many things were about to happened and both of them were trying to find what it would cost them
The Strawhat were already makign a mess somewhere and the situation in Wano wasn't something that could be fix overnight. The World Gorvernment had come trying to take gain over the former closed country and things got very political very quick for the samurais. Kate wasn't worried, no one in Wano would give up their land and authority to anyone and not to the World Government. The surgeon was wondering how the world would change in the next few months, with what happened at the Reverie and two Yonko been defeated and with the secrets out of the land of Wano, it would surely be interesting.
After three weeks, almost four, Kate had seen the relief of the surgeon when she had finally find a boat. The Heart Pirate stayed a few days on the Island, helping Kate finding everything that she would need on her boat sailing by herself. Law had given her some medical supplies too, explaining her once more how to take care of her arm when she would injured it a bit and how to maintain it. She had smiled at his odd way to say goodbye before to hug the crew goodbye. She thanks them for everything and promise to call in a few months.
"Thanks for the trip." Kate had said to the surgeon as she put her bag on her shoulder walking out of the submarine, ignoring the few crying members of the Heart Pirate.
"With hope, we won't see each other in a long time." The surgeon responded for his deck, rolling his eyes as she showed him her middle finger. Once on the dock she waved at them goodbye and went on her way to the other side of the dock, where her new freshly build boat await for her. Kate turned around after a few minutes hoping see the yellow submarine one last time but it was already gone. She turned away a little disappointed to not have watched them submerged and walked to her new home. It was smaller than her last ship but it was fine by her, as long as it sailed well and was strong enough to go through storms. She looked around a bit, making sure everyhting was good and started to sorted her stuff into her cabine. She set her hammock to the right far corner and put away her books into the shelves. She made her inventory and went shopping a few hours later, stealing a few fruits and meat here and there. Of course, she bought a few cases of sake and books and newspaper about the last two months. She set sail two days later, her work finished and her new home finally arranged as she imagined it. She was gladded to be on her own again.
Kate traveled around the New World for a month before to meet with Marco. She had promised him and this time she hadn't plan on running away from her family. It had been a hard few weeks for her, being around him again, opening up, explaining why she hadn't reached for him at the time, why she had let them believed she had died too. She was a mess honestly, but she wasn't not going to let herself drown again. Kate left for Paradise after helping Marco to gather information about Whitebeard's "supposed" son, and on Black Beard too. That one had been tricky but she managed to get out without as single scratch. Marco hadn't really like her going after Black Beard but Kate needed to know as much about him as possible. That was one of the reason she was departing for Paradise again. She had to lay low for a while. Kate had been seen by too many people to stay in the New World safely and she needed to work.
The alliance with the Strawhats and the surgeon hadn't made her rich and she needed money. She knew that she would find the best buyers in Grand Line, fresh pirates were still starting to appear and they were thirsty for power and gold and Kate was the best to provide them with those. Moreover, since the event on Wano Kate's bounty went up and the marine were after her more than ever. In paradise, the marine didn't really care about her since she was wanted "ONLY ALIVE" and she wasn't the pirate type they were looking for. So, many marines didn't even knew about her despite the high price on her head. To be fair, not may pirates knew about her either. Kate was known under the name of "The Informer" for the marine while in the business everyone called her by her name. Not many knew that Kate was the infamous Informer thanks to her bounty picture being way out of date too. So, when potential buyer came to her they will always asked for "Kate" and nothing more.
Well, first they had to find her and that was a bit complicated. Either you had her location known by someone who had already met with her and had been giving a bar name in some island where you could find someone who could tell you, or, you had search for her for a while and by luck found her. Or, things that happened only three times in her nine years of practice, Kate could offer her help without anyone asking for it. When Kate was in Grand Line she would go from Island to Island without any purpose, find a bar, stay for a few days and then leave. She would stay on the same pattern for a month before to go meet with some "friends" of hers. She would always stay a week on Kahnop Island, it was the island you had to go to if you desperatly needed to find her. At the town bar you would meet with the owner, a short man named Gil with a beard as long as his arms. He was one of the few people Kate trusted and he was always calling her about people looking for her.
It had started when a group of pirate had wanted her head after they had lost a battle that Kate had given information for. He had warned her about those pirates that was waiting for her at the bar, she had thanked him but came anyway. Kate hated when clients blamed her for their misfortune. Kate was only selling the information, nothing more. If they came to lose it was their faults not hers, and Kate had made herself clear that day. So, Gil had offered her to call if anyone came here looking for her. Today, Gil's bar were the place to go for anyone who was looking for the brunette woman. Kate would give them a point of rendez-vous through Gil and that was it. At the end of every year, Kate would pay him a visit and drink until any money could be spent. It was her way to thanks him in a way.
Kahnop Island was in the center of Grand Line, many thought it was inhabitated due to his size but a small town was hiding in the middle of the dense forest. It was a small town indeed and despite not being a passing island many ships would be seen on the harbor. The only reason was Gil's bar on the cost. It was the only bar in the area and many thirsty sailors and pirates would stop to drink. The booze came from the town, the best sake of Grand Line if you asked Gil. It was made with the unique vegetation and bring a sweet taste in mouth.
Kate arrived mid-afternoon, docking her boat next to the many others and went to the bar quite full at that time of day. She could hear music form outside and drunk men singing happily. She looked around and nothing had changed. The table were still full of knives mark and the chairs still barely holding on, the shelved under the stair was still broken from the last fight Kate had witnessed and the sign forbidden them was still stained with dry blood. Kate found a sit in the right corner near the window next to three sailors playing some cards game. The musicians group had finished their song and started a new one at the demand of a few other customers ready to join the sailors to sing. Gil was behind the bar, fulling tray after tray before to serve everyone their drinks, he even joined into the singing as he refiled everyone. Then he noticed the woman enjoying herself by watching the drunk men, feet crossed on the table and arms laid back being her head a small smile on her face when their eyes met. Gil jumped from happiness and run to the bar letting his tray on a table yelling to everyone to serve themselves, the drinks being on the house for the rest of the day. He disappeared for a minute before to came back with a case of sake and a glass. He put it next to Kate's table and sat down with her, pouring himself a glass of sake before to hand the bottle to Kate. He knew her enough to know that a glass wasn't necessary for her.
"What happened to you this time?" He happily asked her already knowing the adventure she had been in the last few months. "Tell me everything!" And Kate had started to talk to him, smiling. She explained what had happened with the marine, how the surgeon had asked for her help and how she had no choice but to help them. She spent the afternoon filling her friend in on her life before he had to go back to work as new ships came in for the night. Kate stayed in her corner all night drinking by herself. Gil would watched her from the corner of his eyes before to bring her another case of sake the minute she finished her last bottle. As he said to her, every cases she drinks was money in his pocket and since Kate was a heavy drinker he didn't let the chance slipped away. Kate had spend two days in her corner, spending the day talking to Gil, drinking with him or even helping a bit before to sit for the night drinking case after case of sake. She would even sleep on the table most nights and go back to her ship around ten in the morning for a quick nap and clean herself a bit. On the fourth day Kate had been to the town on Gil behalf to restock his sake. Sake she had mostly drink by herself. She had taken the chance to buy herself a few cases foor her own boat spending her last coins on it. Gil wasn't glad that she was ruined that fast but she proposed to work for him in the day to earn her night's booze. He accepted willingly, knowing that the men were buying more trying to drink as much as Kate. So, on day five, Kate was sat at the counter cleaning some glasses in the slow afternoon Gil was having in the bar when the mayor came in, ordering a glass.
"What brings you here ?" Asked Gil after serving the man, sitting down in a table in the middle of the bar.
"Bad news I am afraid." The mayor replied as Kate kept cleaning, her ears wild open. "It's Guillermo again, he wants to buy the island to put an hotel." He explained bitter. "As if asking an eleventh time would make me change my mind." He chuckled finishing his drink.
"That son of a bitch." Gil said, aggressively cleaning his glasses before to put them back on his nose.
"Anyway." Responded the mayor by taking out the newspaper from his pocket. "I am here for this." Kate heard the news paper slamming on the table. "The World Government I swear…I would have no other choice but to sell the production."
"As if they didn't have enough money already." Gil replied reading the article. Kate turned to face the two men, curious abotu what the World Government did this time. She whipped her hands on the towel while walking to them, reading over Gil shoulders.
"There is a few articles about pirates in the New World for the lady too." Kate smiled to the mayor, glad that he tought of her this time. Kate had to search the whole island for a descent newspaper. The people of the Island rarely read it but it was a good paper to help start the fire for diner. Kate had complained to the mayor the day before, not having a single coin to buy her own.
"I could give you some money from the bar." Suggested Gil passing the journal to Kate who sat down and started to read it as the two men talked. The mayor stayed for another hour before to take his leave. Kate returned to her glasses while Gil started to arrange the bottles.
"Nothing important in the New World?"
"Oh you know, people fighting each other, people making alliances, dumb people going after people…an ordinary day back there." kate joked. "The marine have higher my bounty though, which is odd. They must be tired to chase me around."
"You should be careful Kate. One day they might want you dead if they can't have you for themselves. And losing you won't be good for business." What Kate liked about Gil was that he was always buisness first much like her.
"You could sold me out you know." She said seriously. "It would help the mayor and the bar."
"Yeah, and after that I'll became a bounty hunter." He laughed as he served them a glass of sake.
"Why not. With the pirates coming here you might as well sell them to the marine." She replied drinking her glass in one go before to stand up hearing the door opening up. A group of men entered. They were visibly pirates but Kate took back the word "men" in her mind. They were too young for her liking.
"What can I offer you?" Kate asked them with a smile. They all looked at each other for a moment before the youngest step forward.
"The best bottle you have my lady!" He looked at the five people behind him before to smile at them. Kate joined Gil behind the counter as the six pirates took a sit.
"So, what do you think?" Gil whispered to her as he took out a bottle of sake.
"Young, if they succeeded to arrive there maybe strong. The captain is the one you spoke." She started to say as she eyed them. They were all whispering to one another as their captain had taken off his sword before to put it on the table, making himself way too comfortable. The others seemed more careful, one was even looking around. "They are on their guard, expect for their captain. They must be on the run or they just survived a battle. They might be here for information but i douted." She said at last picking up the glasses she just had cleaned.
"Well, go found out." Gil smiled at her as he put a tray in her hands. Kate walked to them and the whispering stopped. Their captain was balancing himself on his chair, looking at the bloddy sign on the wall. When he looked back at his crew he sight before to sat straight like the rest of them.
"You are to uptight guys, relax." He said as Kate put the tray on the table. She started to pour out some drinks, slowly, wondering what will happened next.
"Brett, you can just be so reckless like that when…" Said the navigator of the group. He glared at Kate before to shut up, hiding the eternal pose she was just looking at. A silence came around the table waiting for Kate to pour their drinks.
"You are pirates, right?" Kate asked as she started to deal the drinks around.
"Hell yeah we are!" Said Brett the captain. Immediately his crew reacted, telling him to shut up. The navigator had duck his head in his hands, so done with his captain behavior.
"Oh! Can I join you? I love hearing pirates tails!" Kate grabbed a chair behind her without waiting for the answer.
"We are not telling you!" Yelled the one next to her. "And we are not pirates!" he was the fighter of the group. The way he hold himself, how he reached for his gun and how he looked at her proved to Kate that he was a hothead fighter.
"Of course we are!" Corrected Brett immediately.
"Where do you come from?" Asked Kate ignoring the tension that came from the group of young men.
"Brett don't…"
"I'm from South blue, as Tom and Nico. But Glen, Mark and Sacha came for the North Blue. I recruit them on South Blue thought." Brett explained happily pointing at his friends. "We sailed a for a year back there, taking down crew after crew. A year ago we arrived in Grand Line and since then, we are visiting weird island after weird island and fighting weird people!"
"And, we are fucked…"Said the two men beside him, the navigator and Mark.
"…it is not safe to talk to much to strangers." Responded one of is crew member, Glen was it, talking to his captain who weren't listening.
"Oh come one guy! We are in the smallest island, in an empty bar talking to a hot chick who has no clue of who we are! We risk nothing !" At his words Sacha, the small boy siting next to him slapped him.
"Shut up!" Kate laughed this time as Brett slapped him back yelling that it hurts. The navigator and Mark gently pull the young boy into his sit, ignoring Brett complains.
"What is your name then? Maybe I have heard of you?" Asked Kate.
"And you? Why are you so interest in us anyway?" Asked the bleu haired guy near her, the figher. He was looking at her since she had sat down and now, he had put his hand in his gun again.
"Nothing. There is not much to do around here so, I'm curious about the adventure pirates have out at sea." She said honestly while a few of his crew member were trying to talk to their captain. Kate eyed them for a moment before to turn again to him, his hand still on his gun.
"I heard you. When we came in you were talking about selling pirates out for the money." He announced threatening. Kate understood then why he acted like he was. He wasn't just a hothead, he was looking after his crew.
"Nico." Called one if his friends. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Go Nico!" Kate heard Brett say before to hear some other punches from across the table. "Stop hitting me! I'm your captain!" He yelled. While the little discussion Kate had with Nico, the navigator had giving up, letting Sacha free to jump on their childish captain, quickly followed by the others.
"Stop acting like a fool then." Kate looked as Nico put his gun on the table, making his intention clear. He would not hesitate to kill her if she tried anything.
"Why did you decided to sail? Many pirates are after the One Piece." Kate asked feeling Nico becoming more threatening as she did no react much at his movement. Brett pushed away his crew off him before to jump on his feet ready to tell her, existed to talk about it. Then, the den den mushi of the bar rang. Kate turned to see if Gil would respond but he had left a little bit before. Kate stood up and walked to the den den before to put the little snail at her ears. It was the mayor, Kate took the message, and hang up a minute after taking the call. The group of six were talking vividly, trying to control their captain behavior. When Kate sat back a bottle of sake in her hand, Nico immediately put his gun on the table again.
"So? Why did you sail?" Asked Kate one more time.
"To become the freest man in the world!" The crew had sat back down when she had walked away, letting the young captain be as aggitatted as he wanted to their dismed.
"So to be king."
"No, I don't want to be king."
"You won't be the freest then." kate stated opening her bottle. She immediately noticed how the others rolled their eyes, annoyed by what was about to happened. She had witness something like that before with the Strawhats.
"I can be the freest man without being the king of pirate. If I was King, I won't be as free as I can be. My dream is to take down the king to be as free as possible. Since there is no king, I just have to defeat everyone and then, I will be the freest man that had ever exist." Brett explained. It was told so clearly that Kate knew that he had repeated so many times before to many differents people.
"But, what would you do if someone find the One Piece and become king?" She asked curiously, taking another sip arriving at the half of the bottle.
"Simple. I'll defeat him too." Brett said before to sit down at the table.
"He thinks that he can defeat everyone and live free without a problem. But, we almost got ass kick by some low life and the marine are still after us. That not what I can call "free"." Said the navigator finishing his drink without looking at her. Sacha nodded like the others.
"I see. So, your plan his to take down everyone and just be the king without being the king?"
"I don't want to be king! There will be no king!" He stated loudly.
"But, why not find the One Piece, being the King."
"Because I don't want to!" He yelled frustrated that she won't understand.
"But why?" Asked Kate again.
"Because the King always get killed or attacked by anyone. I don't want that."
"You got a point." Kate said, putting her empty bottle on the table.
"And, why are you here?" Brett asked her, his smile on his face appeared again.
"Oh, I'm helping a friend around for a while." She explained briefly, showing at the bar behind.
"She is here to sell pirates out and make money." Explaned Nico. "That is why she asked us those questions."He higher his gun to her chest, happy to see her finally become serious. He was on to her since he had stepped foot on in the bar, and his captain being his captain, he knew that something would happened. He was just glad that this woman wasn't smart enough to hid her real face.
"What?" Brett asked, confused. "But…"
"And she thought that playing nice would help her." The only one that hadn't talk since she had sat down took out his sword. One after the others they all put out their weapon, showing her that she has done for good if she dared to move.
"Guy, stop, this is ridicule." Said Brett pointing at her not buying a word of what Nico explained. "She is cool." Kate smirked at his remark thinking of Luffy's gullibility for a split second.
"She is trying to learn information about us by making us drink with her. I bet that the bottle she just empty wasn't even sake." Spit Nico wishing to pull his trigger. "You can be that stupid all the time." They all stayed silent for a moment, looking at Kate, waiting for her to make a move. The den den mushi rang again. KKate didn't move, she didn't want to start a fight in Gil's bar, not after the last one. She noticed that Brett hadn't taken his sword back, still thinking about the situation. Gil finally came back for the back, caring a case of sake.
"I know that you aren't getting paid but if you want to drink you could at least answer the phone…" The den den mushi kept ringing as Gil stopped net seeing Kate sat on a chair, a gun and a few swords pointing in her direction. "Is there a problem?"
"Everything fine Gil, don't worry." Said Kate, turning her head to her friend. He nodded and answer the call. He talked for a few minute before to look at Kate again.
"It's a job." HH simply said.
"Did they asked what they wanted?" Asked Kate from her sit, seeing the young men looking confused or irritated.
"Search mission."
"Asked for their position." Gil grabbed the snail again, said a few words and put the snail back on the counter.
"They are a few island away."
"Tell them to stay put. I'll find them in a few days." Gil hang up after a few more words. He took back the case and put it on the counter before to start sorting the bottle away. Kate looked back at the boys, Nico fuming at the situation.
"Guy. Put your arms down." Brett ordered. Five of them did. Nico kept his gun pointed at Kate, hesitating. He finally sat back down, putting his gun on the table still facing Kate but putting his finger of the trigger.
"Who are you?" Asked the navigator. "What do you want with us?"
"I want nothing with you."
"Bullshit." Responded Nico.
"I don't want anything from you. I just like to chat with people. I don't often encounter young pirates like yourselves. I'm just wondering what the new generation are thriving for." She said honestly to the captain. She saw them looked at each others not sure what to think about it. "Let me offer you a bottle, on me." Kate added before to stand up already turn to the counter. The sudden movement put Nico on alert and he reach for his gun, standing up as well. Yet, the moment his hands touch his weapon a knife was already stuck in the trigger, blocking the gun on the table. Kate's hand was still on her knife when Nico looked at her, taken aback by the rapidity of execution.
"Don't ever try to shoot someone from behind. Not in the four sea, not in Grand Line and surely not in the New World." She took her hand off her knife and put it on the young man chest pushing him to sit back down. "You are lucky. With your behavior many would have already killed you." She stated before to take a few step back her eyes still on him. Then she turned to the others, making them understand that next time he would be dead. "We need to talk." She went away from them. Nico was still fixing his gun on the table the knife still there. He looked at the others as terrified as he was andhe started to reach for the knife when someone slapped his hands.
"Don't! She might kill you." Told Glen next to him.
"Did you see that? How fast she pull out her knife and strike him!" Said the navigator still not believing what had happened. Brett, despite the threat of one of is crew member, had stars in his eyes, excited about what just happened.
"I'm gonna asked her to join." Brett was determined. His crew yelled in shock. At the counter, Kate was putting the bottle of sake that Gil was stocking on the shelves into her hands.
"You have to pay for those you know." Gil said, frowning his brows.
"Oh come on. I'm about to teach some pirate babies how to survive. You can let a few bottle for free, right?"
"Since when are you helping other for free?" He asked surprised taking back a bottle from her hands.
"I've always been helpful!" She claimed, half shocked by his words.
"No. You are not."
"Oh come one. I'm not that bad.
"
"Why them? A minute ago they were threatening you." Kate chuckled a bit before to start to leave, grabbing two more bottles on her way.
"Threatening? Please." She laughed before to join the table again. When she arrived, she could feel the tense atmosphere. She put eight bottles next to the gun still in place like the knife. She smirked a bit before to glance at the six young men in front of her. She sight before to sit back, slidding a few bottle to them.
"Okay listen up. I'm gonna help you a bit." She said opening two bottles. Kate put the four full unopened bottle next to her chair before to put her feet on the table, her own bottle in hands.
"Help us?" Asked one, Tom.
"What?"
"Who are you?" Asked the navigator.
"Join my crew!" Claimed Brett.
"Why?"
"Fuck." Whispered Sacha.
"Why would you need your help?" Asked Nico angery. Kate had looked at Brett with wide eyes before to ignore him. She didn't spend almost two months with a bouncing idiot just to find another one here.
"Don't need my help umh?" She asked to Nico as she started drinking.
"Exactly! We don't need help and certainly not from you. As first mate I…"
"Oh! You are the first mate." Kate was surprised. "I thought it was him." She said pointing at the young quite boy next to the captain: Tom, who had only said two words.
"Me? As if. I join the weirdos just before their enter Grand Line. They needed a cook." Kate nodded at the response before to turn back to Nico.
"So, First mate, why do you think you don't need my help? Is it because I'm a woman?"
"No. Women are as strong as men." Nico said between his teeth.
"If you don't want my help that is okay you know. I just thought that you might want to have a few tips for your journey to freedom."
"Well, I'm not against it." Said Glen as all his friends looked at him. "I mean guys, it is not an easy journey and…we should get the help we can."
"She is coming with us any way." Said Brett before to pour himself another glass. Kate rolled her eyes, taking a few sip of her sake.
"If captain doesn't care its Nico who…"Began the navigator, Gken.
"I say no."
"Alright. It's settle then." Kate said grabbing her bottle again to finish it. "Can you give me back my knife then. I'll leave you alone." She asked Nico as she put the empty bottle on the table and grabbed another one. The young man next to her started to murmured under his breath, swearing, before to grab the knife and pull: the knife didn't moved.
"What the…" He grabbed it with both hands and pulled again. "What the hell is this?!" Brett started to laugh, quickly followed by the others.
"How are you going to survive if you can even take back my knife Nico?" Kate asked as she started her new bottle. She put the bottle down after seeing the boy getting angrier and pushed his hands away with her left foot. She pulled the knife out of the table with her right hand freeing the gun. Nico stood up reaching for it and immediately point it at Kate.
"You shouldn't have made fun off me. No one makes fun off me." He said severe, his finger on the trigger. Kate didn't moved, still drinking, her knife still in her hand.
"Nico, stop this." Ordered Brett to his first mate.
"She needs to be put in place. That bitch thinks that she is the big deal, that she is superior. She had looked down on us the minute we walked in. We can let people do this to us! They need to respect us!" He shouted to his captain. Kate finally put the bottle down before to turn to Nico.
"Are you done?" She asked him, visibly annoy. He looked at her in disbelief, he straighten his arm again, ready to shoot her. Kate sight before to grab his gun with her right hand, dropping her knife, while she was pushing his head against the table with her left on. She dugged her second knife back in the table near his face nailing a piece of his shirt with it. Her left hand still on his head, she pushed it a little harder before to slowly lean near his ear.
"You are dead." She coldly said to him before to take her knife back, letting him go. He immediately step back from her and the table, his left cheek red from the violent contact with the table.
"You fucking…"He started. Kate pointed his own gun at him, making him stop any movement or parole.
"Insult me one more time Nico, I swear you would never know freedom." It was her turn to threaten him. "Put your little ass back on that chair and shut up." He did as she said slowly, not getting his eyes of the gun. She lower it once he was sat and empty it before to end it to him. "One more stupid thing like that…I swear you won't leave this island walking." She stated before to put her knives back where is belong. She brung her chair back with her feet and took back her bottle in her hands. "As I was saying." She started again. "I'm going to help you guys."
"Why?" Asked Tom. She looked at him for a moment, wondering why he started to talk.
"Let say that I am feeling generous lately." She responded. "And because some of you are stupid winning babies." She said looking at Nico. Brett laughed again, not even bothered by what just happened once again.
"First. Respect isn't something that people give you, it's something that you earn by your 't ever believe that because you are pirates that people are going to fear you and respect you. And don't have me starting on others pirates crew. You earn respect." Kate told them loud and clear, eyeing Nico still pouting. "And when you lose, because you will, many times. You don't pout like a baby or give up. You train and you become stronger. You have a dream right? You want to be free, this is your main goal?" She asked as they all nodded. She took a sip before to continue. "Well, freedom is not given. It is fight for. People got killed because they wanted freedom. Blood had flowed in the name of freedom."
"So, we would have to fight our whole life to remain free?"
"You are pirates. Pirates are the freest people in the world but the one with the last freedom in terms of law." She ended her speech before to drink again. The six people stared at each other for a while, having a silence conversation among them. Kate didn't mind, she enjoyed the silence for a while, taking down her second bottle of the day. She decided to let them alone for a moment and went back to Gil. She helped him with sleaning glasses and talked about the next meeting she had.
"Hey…Lady…can you…help us a bit?" Glen asked her from the table. Kate turn to them after smiling at Gil. She joined them again as the sun was starting to set down. A few people were starting to arrive for the night. Kate said that she was off for the night, thing Gil didn't like but he didn't comment on it. She sat back at the table, grabbing her third bottle.
"What do you want to know kids?" She asked them, putting her feet on the table again.
"First: who the fuck are you?" Asked Tom.
"And secondly: Join my crew!" Said Brett receiving death glared from his crew and shut down, knowing that it wasn't what they had talked about.
"Well, People call me Kate. I'm a pirate too, kinda. And no, I won't join your crew."
"But why?! You are strong and hot! We need you!" Stated Brett, complaining, ignoring his crew. Kate smirked a bit before to answer no again. "Come one! Is it because of your own crew isn't it?" Brett asked standing up. "I'm going to kick their ass!" He said confident while Sacha pull on his pant to sat him down.
"Go try but you won't be able to. I don't have a crew."
"What? Why?!" Brett asked in disbelief.
"I bet it's because no one wants her." Laughed Nico as he leant in his chair.
"The name of the people who asked me would make you shiver boy." She said plainly.
"Shoot lady." He said, challenging her.
"Edward Newgate for starter." Kate took another sip as if talking this name was common. Tom looked at the navigator suspicious, Brett had stars in his eyes again and Sacha looked astonished like Mark who was sat next to him a bit in retreat and Nico laughed.
"As if we are going to believe you." He responded laughing again.
"But! He is a Yonko! He is the strongest man alive! He…He…" Started to say Brett before to have to take a few breath. "He is the reason I set sail! His last words are still making me shiver from head to toe! I…"
"You…you set sail after the war?" Asked Kate quietly, surprised.
"Of course!" He almost yelled. "Many did! That war had been broadcast everywhere by the marine thinking that it would put the end to piracy but it was the opposite! I spent months watching the video before to sail! It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen! I am so glad that it happened, I wouldn't be here today without it. I own Whitebeard everything."
"I'm glad you are happy it happened." Kate responded coldly. Brett looked at her wondering why she was so upset suddenly.
"But…if he asked you…you must have knew him well right?" Sacha asked. Nico chuckled but tried to hide it by drinking. Kate slowly nodded, doing the same. "So…that…that mean that…"
"You were there?!" Glen cut in astonished.
"Oh come on guys!" Said Nico shaking his head, rolling his eyes. Kate looked at him before to finish her third bottle. She wiped her mouth slowly before to take her fourth bottle.
"Awesome!" Yelled Brett visibly exited about the news since he was jumping up and down on his feet.
"Lesson number two: You don't get existed for a war that bring nothing but pain and chaos. And you certainly don't show that you are happy that many died."
"You were there? For real?" Asked Mark quietly, afraid to upset her.
"Do I look like I fought in the war?" She asked him.
"See. I told you." Said Nico.
The night went on. Clients kept coming and Kate kept drinking, giving some tips to the young pirates. What she enjoyed the most was putting Nico back in his place each time he made a comment about her. Kate was astonished by the energy Brett had and how he could be calm for a long time before to jump on his feet when something was picking his interest. He was a strange captain, letting his crew talk back at him and making their own decisions without asking him about it. They were more acting like a group of friend "playing" pirate than anything else. She knew that he had what it took to be a good captain but she was afraid that he was more acting like the representer of the group rather than the leader. She would have to talk to him about it, remembering him that if his crew didn't obey his order they won't succeeded during the rough time.
She had been surprised when Zoro had told her about the sniper fighting Luffy and leaving the crew for a while. He had also explained her how he had to be firm and talk to his captain about him taking his place and showing who was in charge. Everyone who encounter the Strawhats had a hard time believing that the childish boy was the captain at first, people had to see them in a fight to understand why people like Zoro and Robin were under his command, especially Zoro.
Kate had spend the night with the boys, studying them, talking to them, looking at their dynamic. She knew why she had offered her help: they were full of hope and dreams. . They remind her of the Spades Pirate in every way possible, even the attitude Nico had made her remembered about them at their debut. They called themselves the SBP, stating for The South Blue Pirate. She had laughed at the explanation but understood, after all they said that they had defeat every pirate crew from South Blue.
"Kate, you had another call, but it wasn't for a meeting." Said Gil around midnight as he had brung another case to her. She thanked him and took the paper he was handing with the number that had called for her. She looked at it without saying anything before to put it into her pant pocket.
"Who is it?" Asked Brett, waking up Glen at the surprising shout from his captain. The navigator had fallen asleep half an hour ago after three glasses of sake.
"None of your business Bretty." She said taking the first bottle of her new case.
"I told you. She is to mysterious for us to believe her." Said Nico trying to take one of the bottle for the case next to him. Kate slapped his hands like a child who was about to touch something forbidden. He frown displeased by the way she had treated him and tried again. She slapped his hand again, pulling the case toward her with her foot.
"My business doesn't concern you. And, this is not business, more a courtesy call." She said grabbing a bottle from her case slideing in on the table. She smirke as Nico took it quickly and holding on to it, afraidd that KAte would take it back. "Now, where were we?" She asked.
"You were telling us how bad we were at fighting without having seeing us fight." Responded Nico crossing his feet on the table after opening the bottle.
"Oh! You should have seen us kicking that crew Kate! We were awesome!" Exclaimed Sacha reacting some part of the fight with his captain. Kate laughed a bit, the two drunk boys kept making sound effect with their mouth, pretending the swords clinking together.
"I don't need to see you fight to know how bad your posture was when you point yout gun at me." Kate responded to Noci mostly, from all the boys he was still holding his liquor. "You need to train. The more you are sailing toward the New World harder and stronger the others would be. You are lucky to have encounter newbies like you."
"Newbies? We have been sailing for two years! And one into the Grand Line! We are not newbies!" Pouted Brett from the end of the table, letting Sacha fight alone.
"Yes, you are. The New World is a mess right now, you should wait for things to calm down and get ready during that time."
"How do you know so much about everything that is happening?" Asked Mark half asleep on the table.
"My job is to sell information. I need to know what is going on or else I would have to stole people and murder them to stay alive." She said half joking before to finish her bottle.
"So, that is what you do…" Said Nico happy to have solved one mystery about the woman.
"Yes. I have been doing this for almost ten years."
"So…why did you talked about selling pirates for money?"
"Gil might need money someday. I joked about him selling people off for money."
"Hey Kate! How can you drink that much?" Suddenly yelled Sacha slaming his hands on the table, makign the empty bottle fall.
"I just can." She answered opening another bottle.
"Is it a devil fruit that stopping you from getting drunk?" He asked sitting on the table.
"I don't have a devil fruit and if I did I would have choose more wisely. Did any of you eat one?"
"No…not yet." Brett said a little disappointed. "But I would love to have one. I dream to find the Mera Mera no Mi. I've been searching since he must have reappeared somewhere, right? Mark told me that a power like that must be search by a lot of people but I'm determined to find it before everyone else. I did some research, and the probability that the fruit reappear in the same ocean than before is almost of 85% so, since it appeared in the Grand Line I'm confident that it is somewhere out there..."
Kate stayed silent as the boy kept going on. He was so resolute and sure to find it that it crushed her even more. She figured why he wanted it and why he wanted to find it. The power it contain was unbelievable and almost indestructible, almost.
"...and once I'll have it, I will defeat everyone in the marine, and every yonkos! No one could stopped me!"
"Brett I…"Started Kate, cutting him in his speech. She put her bottle down for a instant sitting up on her chair. He was filled with hope and ambitions that she hesitated for a second to tell him the truth. "You can't."
"What do you mean?" He asked tilting his head to the left like a kid, the excitement in his voice disappearing a little bit at her words.
"It belonged to someone else." She explained more sorry to crush on of his dream.
"I know." He said sure of himself. "But the dude who had it died so…I can take it now." He explained her as if she didn't know how devil fruits worked. She bit her lips and closed her eyes before to look at him again, fight with herself to not aknowledge how crude his words were.
"Someone already ate the fruit a few months ago." She explained to him, seeing the light in his eyes die a little. He looked down at the table, ignoring the over reacting gasp Sacha just had.
"Who?" He asked.
"N°2 of the revolutionary army. He…found it in the New World. I am sorry Brett." Kate didn't dare to look at him anymore and took back her bottle? But, Brett laughed.
"It's fine, he must be a good guy. I'll found another fruit." He simply said and took a drink. Kate looked at him in awe, hallucinating how easy he took the news and how quickly he changed his goal.
She swore than for a moment she saw Luffy in front of her. The thought pertubed her thinking about calling them, see if they were still alive. She hadn't had knew on the Strawhats for a couple of weeks and she wondered what kind of shenanigans Luffy were forcing them into.
After a little while at listening to the crowd in the bar and watching Brett and Sacha drinking the rest of the sake laughing their ass of about something, Kate suddenly stood up after grabbing a few more bottles before to turn to the three awake boys out of the six.
"I'm going now. I'll be here tomorrow if you need me. You can have the rest of my drinks." She said pushing the case toward Nico. Brett waved her goodbye before to turn to his first mate, pouring some of his glasses on Tom who woke up complaining.
"I like her. I hope she'll join us." He said smiling as Sacha yelled in approbation.
"This woman is trouble."
"Just because she kicked your ass doesn't mean she is trouble." He laughed leaning over him to grab the bottles Kate lefted them.
"No, It's something else. As if she was more than what she said. More than she seemed."
"I hope so if Whitebeard wanted her in his crew!" Sacha feeling a little bit left out from his side of the table had walked around, coming from behind Nico who jumped surprised from the suddence apperenced.
"You moron! Don't trust every people say to you!" He shouted at the laughing young boy drunk as ever.
"But, she seemed cool." Complained Brett.
"Don't be so naive." Nico made up his mind, he would find out what Kate was hiding even if it was the last things he would do.
End eighth chapter.
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