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"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
It Begins Now
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
And while everyone was elsewhere, doing their errands or watching the Going Merry, Robin was walking throughout Water Seven taking in the nice weather. But then her instincts told her that she was being watched. But Robin couldn't spot anyone watching her, not even with her powers.
Just as she was going to continue on her way, to settle her nerves, a large figure wearing a heavy cloak and wore a mask to conceal their identity had passed her. And that figure spoke these words; "I am with CP9." Those words were enough to make Robin freeze and have terror in her eyes. She turned to see that the figure had vanished without a trace. But it was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
"Why are we here? This place is a dump." While Usopp and a few others stayed at the Going Merry, they were still happy to hear that their main ship will be getting an upgrade after all. The only concern is that the Galley-La company is hesitate to provide the materials. Luffy was able to strike up a deal: The Straw Hats will be given the location where the black market is, they buy the wood and the company will use them on the King's Gourd with nothing connecting them to the purchase of illegal goods. The Straw Hats will get their new and improved ship of their design built ready for the New World and Water Seven will have clean hands in the face of the World Government.
Right now, Sanji just complained about being dragged out in the middle of nowhere. And while everyone mumbled in agreement, Robin was silent and unsure. She was this way ever since that encounter with a whisper and a costumed figure in the alleyway.
"I understand Sanji and we won't be here long. Just to meet a certain man that will help with our ships. Both of them." Luffy responded. "Now come on. I can't stand the look either." No arguments there.
"Look! It's the Straw Hat Pirates! Their captain is the Liber Glade, a Shichibuki (Seven Warlords of the Sea)!" After 'letting themselves in', the door revealed several crazing characters that looked like bums wearing cannonballs. "What are you here for!?"
"To meet your boss. Is he in?" Luffy answered them politely and with a smile that spoke 'answer or else'. It didn't take long for a pair of doors inside the ugly building to open with a roar.
"You better not have hurt any of my brothers, Liber Glade." The man walked out and stopped just a foot from Luffy. "Now why did you want to see the boss of the dark side of Water Seven?"
"I wanted to meet the other student that learned under Tom, who calls himself Franky." Luffy pulled his usual trick of 'reading minds'. By then, his crew were used to it while enjoying the looks on the faces around them for a change.
XXXXX
Franky is a powerfully built man with a height of at least seven feet. His forearms are relatively enormous while his biceps are comparably small. His chest is well-toned with large abs and pectoral muscles. He has brightly-colored blue hair and blue star tattoos on his forearms. Franky's eyebrows are rather long and stern, and he has three prominent lower Matsuge on each eye. His chin is very angular and tapers off in three pointed clefts. Franky has an equally angular prosthetic nose made of iron with several rivets and jagged edges, the only thing not covered with artificial skin.
And right now, he is glaring at Luffy with both shock and anger. "I have heard about a pirate apprentice that has sold out countless secrets, from criminal gangs to entire kingdoms. Now quit reading my mind!" Luffy only shook his head,
"You need to empty your mind more often or else keep those gay thoughts to yourself." The pirate captain responded coolly and his crew chuckled at Franky's embarrassed look. "But we do need to talk because I have an offer that you have waited years to hear."
"Out with it." Franky finally said with his face mad red still.
"I have a ship made in the East Blue that has made it here so far but won't last in the New World. We have enough money for Adam Wood with plenty leftover." Luffy started and then shook Franky's world when, "I want you, to make your dream ship with the wood and our main vessel as an understudy." The Straw Hats hid their shock, hoping that their captain knows what he is doing.
All Franky could hear was 'you make your dream ship'. Time seemed to slow down with that statement echoing. But the large man shook his head, "First you walk in my home like you own it, threaten my family and now lie to me!? My dream died when that idiot got run over by a freaking train! Besides, I am not a shipwright anymore! I am a bounty hunter, a criminal, a dismantler! I don't make ships, I take them apart to sell the scraps! You went to the wrong man!"
No one else said a word. Something told them that there was no need for words and Franky saw that none of them were backing down. "I…I mean it…" Franky raised a hand to his face, almost blocking the tears that were flowing. This showed that there was a heart somewhere in that metal body. "I gave up on my dream and I wanted to just fade away, someone that will just rot away without anyone ever bothering. Why do you want me to work on your ship?"
"Because Tom did say that there should never be shame in building a ship, even if a criminal uses it." Luffy answered. Then he motioned for Zoro to move forward with a massive black case in hand. After the long process of converting the gold to berries, the ten billion was sorted evenly into ten large cases. Half of those were entrusted under Iceburg's hand as good will to the city while the other half was for the Straw hats; even Nami wasn't greedy enough to place ten billion berries in bills that will no doubt sink a ship. And Zoro opened his to reveal the money for the bums and Franky to see. "I know that you are aware where the market will be, so get all the Adam Wood you can find, this should cover it."
Franky just grabbed the case when Zoro closed it shut. "You are one super great boy." He mumbled. "I will make not just my dream ship but one of which you never seen before, Straw Hat! Come guys, we have a train to catch!"
XXXXX
Later, at the Going Merry,
"If I didn't know you for this long, Luffy, I would think you were a madman." Usopp stated. "Hiring a criminal to work on our new and improved ship because he worked under a master carpenter years ago? Just what was the big deal about this 'Tom' character?" That was the question going through everyone's heads. And they knew that Luffy had got it from Franky's open head.
"Tom is a Fishman, a blowfish Fishman, as well as the carpenter that built the Oro Jackson. The very ship that carried Roger to the end of the Grand Line and became the King." Luffy responded and loved the looks of shock on his friends. "And Franky can deny it with his very fiber but as an apprentice to the world's best shipbuilder with a dream, he is still the best man to make us a ship to sail the New World."
After a few moments of silence, Kuro spoke up. "It is obvious that we can just pick up his signature should that man does return with his new wood. But can we be sure that he will keep his promise?" That was a trick question so Luffy didn't even try to give an answer. Only this,
"From what I got from the mayor, it takes a day or two to make a trip with the Sea Train to St. Polar to find the market and get back with the Adam Wood. I will suggest that we simply take a rest from sailing for a while." Luffy stated with authority as the captain. "And if Franky does try to run out on our deal, we give him hell." Sadistic smiles grew on everyone's faces at the sight of that sad man in a speedo down on the ground with countless bruises and cuts.
"By the way, anyone seen where Robin went?"
XXXXX
Somewhere on the shoreline where the Going Merry was docked,
"Why? Why did I run?" Robin was not feeling too well and stopped at a boulder, questioning herself. Her eyes were crying to point blank, "Why can't I just decide? Why can't anything be easy for just once?"
"Well crying never solves anything, it just grabs attention." Robin almost felt her heart jump out of her chest, turning to see her captain in person. "I had a feeling there was something wrong with the city to make you act like this. So, what's the trouble?"
"Why should I tell you?" Robin retorted. "You are problem just another clone because I can smell the revolting mess of alcohols easily. The real captain wears strong cologne instead." Robin hoped that no one will hear that last statement. But knowing Luffy, it was heard anyways.
"The Boss was not trying to fool you, Robin. You know that he will be happy to help out." The clone didn't even try to deny the accusation. Nor did it react when a dozen hands and arms placed it into a full body hold. "Please Robin, tell us. Even if it is the whole world, your friends will still fight for you. That's a promise."
Robin never encountered any creature like this and gritted her teeth hard. "Fine." She said after a moment that went on forever. "I am going to be killed with their own promise to not harm them." Robin walked over to the clone's ear, "Cipher Pol Nine." That was followed by the echoing sound of a neck and limbs snapping, right before the sound of a splash.
XXXXX
Back on the Going Merry,
"Cipher Pol Nine." Luffy suddenly spoke up and that got everyone's attention. "I am surprised that they would be here. Water Seven is just doing what they do best, even if they accept pay from pirates…" Luffy begun to mumble so low that it was difficult to make out.
"What's Cipher Pol Nine, Big Brother?" Chopper asked that brought the captain out of his stupor. "I mean, is it bad? You look serious and only when things are bad you do that." Almost the whole crew nodded in agreement and Luffy let out a sigh.
"First, have you all been keeping up with your Rokushiki (Six Powers) training?" This time, everyone stood to attention and all answered affirmative with confidence, which relieved Luffy a bit. "Good, because Cipher Pol Nine or CP9, are very dangerous. They are a group of undercover intelligence gathering officers that are also trained killers. They investigate cases assigned in secrecy and should they be told to assassinate, they can carry that out effectively. They all are Rokushiki masters." That last one was a bombshell. But Luffy was just getting started,
"I also heard about their ace, Rob Lucci. He is a Rokushiki prodigy and I heard that when a certain kingdom was taken over by pirates, the captain demanding to be made king, Lucci killed off all five hundred of the guards used as hostages. And when the pirates tried to fire cannonballs at his back, those only left a scar. His power is known even to the Shichibuki." Luffy finished and looked at Chopper as well as Aisa who looked frightened.
"Why? Why did this Lucci guy kill the guards!? Why didn't he kill the pirates!" It was pointless to not hide concepts of murder from a girl that walked in the middle of a war and even felt lives cut off. Nami and her sister still wanted to shield the little girl but Luffy somehow talked them into trusting that Aisa could live with learning death already.
"My guess is that because Lucci follows the brutal, Dark Justice, he decided to remove the hostages from the pirates so the Marines could free the country without anything in their way. It was cruel and bloody but it did work." Luffy took it nice and slow to explain it.
"And these CP9 people want with us for Robin-san?" Kuro was not longer a captain but still the genius once feared back in the East Blue. It didn't take long for him to actually pull that together. "And they are after Robin for her ability to read the Ponegylphs and possibly find the 'Ancient Weapons'."
"Correct, and that is why I must ask that in the event they succeed in seizing Robin, you all must be ready to face killers that are trained in all aspects of Rokushiki. As Captain, can I ask my crew to do such a selfish order?" No one said a word yet the look on their faces spoke 'we are with you for life, Captain'.
XXXXX
The next morning was one that will be remembered for ages, for all the residents of Water Seven. But for the Straw Hats, they were prepared for this. And it all started when Iceburg woke up in his bed to see a cloaked pair exit the wall of his bedroom; the larger figure actually opened the wall like it was a door in the shape of himself, and closed it as if untouched.
"I ate the Doa-Doa no Mi (Door-Door Fruit). I can make a door out of anything." Taking out a gun, the figure pointed it at the mayor. "Now that the two of us have your undivided attention, we ask that you hand over those plans." Before Iceburg could respond,
"That won't be necessary." They all turn to a certain pirate sitting comfy in the open window. "After all, what you want is not here." Luffy smiled to the masked figure shaking in anger, shock or fear or all the above.
"This…" The large man tried to find the words, "This has nothing to do with you Liber Glade! This is Government official business and we don't share even with the Shichibuki!" Luffy just chuckled,
"Of course. That is not my beef, it is with you taking Robin as your date and considering your day job, you make us bartenders look bad!" Luffy responded and, in a split second, unmasked the large man and Iceburg recognized him as Blueno, who ran one of his favorite bars. The man shredded the costume after his bear mask was removed.
Blueno is a tall man with big lips, a black beard, and black hair in which his hairstyle resembles the horns of a bull. He wore a black two-piece suit with white handkerchief in his breast pocket and a sweater undershirt. "Don't think that we at CP9 know about your annoying ability to read minds, Mugiwara (Straw Hat)."
"I am only here because I happen to like the Mayor and this whole town does too. He is one of a billion you know?" Luffy responded, not even bothering to correct Blueno of that old assumption that everyone seems to be making. "I also happen to want Robin back because we are still planning to leave soon as our new ship is built. I even hired Iceburg's closest equal shipbuilder to build it without any strings stuck to that stuff-coat of his."
"Franky!? Why would you want to pay that pervert anything! We are do your ship just fine!" Iceburg shouted off, feeling a little scandalized. "I am sure that we can make a ship for the New World just fine!"
"And you will, after our wood arrives from St. Polar." Luffy retorted with a bit of annoyance. Robin couldn't believe all of this was happening. She still didn't say a word and tried to keep an empty mind while her captain was within ten meters of her.
"I am afraid that your order will be canceled as we are also aware of your fellow apprentice, Cutty Flam. He will be going with us as well as Nico Robin." Blueno spoke with a calmer tone. Iceburg was shocked to hear that while Luffy had a nagging feeling that it was going to happen soon enough.
Then the double doors to the bedroom burst open. "You are too slow Blueno, we already searched the entire mansion; the blueprints are not here…" A young walked through the cloud of smoke and halted when he saw that there was one more person present. "Monkey D. "Mugiwara" Luffy, the Liber Glade and member of the Shichibuki. Got to say that I actually respected your handling of evil even before becoming a dog of the government."
"And do I get to meet my number one fan, the ace of CP9 himself; Rob Lucci?" Luffy responded and the look on the young man's face confirmed it.
Rob Lucci is a tall and slim, yet muscular man with arched eyebrows and a close-shaved goatee. He has shoulder length wavy hair that is sometimes tied in a ponytail. He had a white pigeon perched on his shoulder, not that he seems to mind. He wore a two-piece black suit with the sleeves normally rolled up, complete with black leather shoes and a white tie and handkerchief in the breast pocket. "Now if you don't mind, we have places to be and the Demon Child is coming with us. Blueno, deal with him."
Just was Lucci turned his back, he heard the sound of bones snapping and a grown man screaming. Turning his head for a bit, he saw Blueno on the ground and clutching his hand. "Only a fool will hurry to his death." Luffy stated and Lucci saw that Blueno's index finger was both crushed and bent out of shape. "It will take a lot more than that to kill me, if you are up for it." Luffy spoke to Lucci, his words thickening the atmosphere and the ace killer felt fur grow around his backside.
"Enough!" Robin broke character and shouted out yet that got everyone's attention. "I don't want to go back, Captain-san! I am a demon child and I am tried of running! Just by standing here, I am threatening everyone in the world! I need to do this and die for my sins!" Robin stopped to pant; Lucci was grinning, Blueno was still in pain, Iceburg was speechless and Luffy was not fooled. He knew that Robin was not really wanting to go with these killers but had to hide it like she did for twenty years. "Please, I need to do this. Everywhere and everyone I gone suffered and hated me, you will be next!"
"She is right, Mugiwara." Lucci stepped in. "She is evil incarnate and you will thank us for getting rid of such scum. The world will be safer once you let us finish this simple job." Luffy still said nothing, "It will be my pleasure to carry out my style of justice, Dark Justice…" Once Lucci grasped Robin's arm tightly, he felt another hand grab his wrist with the force of a vice grip.
"First tell me something." Luffy spoke deeply and when Lucci didn't respond. "When I first arrived here, I noticed that you and your little gang of killers had your KI on Iceburg. Were you ordered to kill him or were you going to kill him as you prefer to carry out your missions? Don't tell me that you were going to assassinate a truly beloved figure for your government, were you?" Lucci gritted his teeth, not liking what he heard.
"There are some of us that still believe in putting our duty to the just government first." The ace killer finally answered and this made both Robin and Iceburg shocked. They couldn't believe that the World Government will kill off their own people just to get their way.
"Sorry, but I don't see patriotism here." Luffy stated. "All I see is a deranged psycho latching on an excuse to kill for pleasure and who is so indifferent, he doesn't care that he is being used by a certain cowardly moron." (1) Lucci had enough and sent a right kick to Luffy's head. But the pirate blocked it with his free hand and used his own leg to swipe at Lucci's.
Lucci finally released his hold on Robin to catch his fall and then vanished in a blur. He attempted to use Shigun (Finger Pistol) at the back of Luffy's head but the latter's reflexes allowed him to redirect that lethal jab to the bedroom floor. Recognizing that his foe will aim for his back, Lucci vanished again yet Luffy did too.
After some blows too fast for even Blueno to catch, it all ended when both fighters reappeared. Luffy drew his katana, Reimei Itami (Dawn Pain), and has the blade pressing into Lucci's neck and both of his palms. "I think that I have proved my point, Rob Lucci."
"So, finish it." The ace of CP9 was in a real corner with no way out. Yet Luffy released him!
"Sorry, but that's too easy." Luffy responded and Lucci glared at him. "I intend to not cause a riot or a war in this lovely city. My and I are going to bring the fights to your turf to get Robin back. Until then, I will have your life on the line with this simple promise: Robin is not to be harmed."
Lucci saw that his foe was not going to strike again and got back on his two feet. "And why should we do you any favors? You may be one of the Shichibuki but we obey only the government."
"Because there only no honor among thieves." Luffy answered. "You all are too proud to be thieves so you must proud of your sense of honor as well. I know that you people will keep a promise while I can't say that for your pathetic director." Lucci and Blueno looked each other, the latter finally got his finger at least back into place.
"Fine. We will give you our word on our honor. Just get ready to go through all of us if you want to keep the Demon Child." Lucci said and both agents vanished with Robin, leaving Luffy and Iceburg in that room.
"Just what kind of pirate are you!?" The mayor could only ask and Luffy just smiled before vanishing too. And that man got onto his feet, and ran out of his bedroom while grabbing a coat.
XXXXX
As if things were looking grim as it is, there was the yearly disaster coming that is known as Aqua Laguna. It is an extreme high tide that comes once every year and usually the people can survive it with the construction of the city allowing their homes to suffer minimal damage; the high levels also help the people themselves to escape the waters. The problem here was,
"Hey. I don't remember the waves being that big last year." A civilian pointed out, literally and the others agreed. Then a voice took them all by surprise,
"And I know why." Luffy had arrived and saw in full view of this disaster. "We had an run in with Kuzan who made a pathway between two islands in a chain to help an old man find his nomadic tribe." There were some that didn't get the hidden message but the rest widened their eyes. "He was right, that thing did last a week but the timing caused the waves bigger once the ice finally melted." This caused the rest of the civilians to start to panic.
"WHAT DO WE DO!?" Luffy growled in annoyance, trying to clear out his ear with his finger.
"Don't shout, I am right here." The civilians stopped in their screaming. "I am sure that this one is just a one-time thing. Just make sure everyone stays inland as much as possible. Once it is done, you all will have your work cut out for you." This got them all into action, hurrying to spread the word and give the warning. They were so focused that they didn't notice the thunderbolt streaking across the rainfall or even the black blur zooming through the crowd.
Both of these strange sights stopped where Luffy was standing, who didn't even raise an eyebrow. Instead, he looked like a general focused on the horizon. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes Captain." Kuro, of course, appeared from the black blur while the thunderbolt revealed the navigator who placed her head on Luffy's shoulder. This was something that both men were used to.
"My guess is that Robin still didn't want to come back." Nami said from her comfy spot. Luffy grimly nodded,
"Those two bastards from CP9 could care less as long as they are allowed to kill as part of their job. But I saw it in her eyes, Robin wants over twenty years of running in fear to end in anyway." Luffy responded and both of his witnesses knew that tone very well; who says that a scorned woman is the only person with hellish fury? This was a man who is ready to challenge the world if it means to get his friend back.
"Just say where we are going because I will find the way and everyone else will make sure we arrive." Nami spoke up again and Luffy adjusted his trademark, treasured hat upwards a bit to show his eyes; they are filled with contained anger and undeniable focus.
"They are heading to one of the three main spots that connect to Marine Headquarters and the inescapable Impel Down; Enies Lobby. It is called the Island Without Night and is where all criminals are taken to be judged." Luffy answered. "And it is where Robin will be returned to us, through force if necessary."
End of Chapter 46.
*What do you think?*
1. A line from my favorite scene from Batman/Superman: Public Enemy #1.
