'Guard Sab Regor against any attacks from the Cipher Pol,' that was the condition that Eustass Kidd laid to Blue of the Revolutionary Army.
Sab almost rolled her eyes when she heard it but it's not like she can refute the demands when it's the easiest thing to do. After all, she has to do is to guard herself - something she's been doing for a long time now.
The tinge of guilt crawls in her heart. The deal, if that can be called a deal, is easy. It's almost as if she's deceiving Kidd. She can only sigh while walking back to her newly-renovated apartment. On her way, she can feel people tailing her already. With this city right at the heart of the World Government Headquarters, no Mafia member would dare do anything. The only people who had the guts to kill were from the World Government.
Cipher Pol might be eyeing her to use her as a bargain and to get to Eustass Kidd. Why would they think that? She had no idea. It's stupid to use her as a hostage against Kidd. Even if he wants to kill her, he is not stupid enough to follow the demands of the Cipher Pol just to kill her.
She had so much on her plate that the constant tailing from these people are getting to her nerves. The recent events involving her elder sister have been on her mind but with so much going on right now, Sab had no time to deal with Ann at all.
'Not like she's going to listen when she's dead set on killing Whitebeard,'
Once again, she waited for the people tailing her to go away, but they never did.
'Might as well kill them,' with that in mind, she went back to her apartment to get dressed and get her car keys to lead them somewhere far from the eyes of people. She does not have the time to clean up in a crowded place, deeming it a lot of work to do.
Leading them to a secluded area was fairly easy. If they ever reported it to the higher-ups, and if Sab gets questioned regarding her business in a questionable area, she could always bring an excuse about one of her pending cases. Lying has always been her forte, and pretty damn good at that.
'Two people, huh?' She smirks to herself while waiting for them to take the bait. These people are so stupid in trying to trap her not knowing that the opposite is happening.
Sab is always carrying two guns. One licensed, one is not. When she is forced into a situation where she must defend herself while in broad daylight, she has to use the licensed one. She can say it is self-defense. This time, she opted to use the illegal gun she was carrying.
One of the agents did not expect her to pull the trigger immediately. They must be under the impression that she's just some big-shot lawyer that never knew how to kill.
Oh, how wrong could they be.
The death of his companion put the remaining agent on guard. Before he could call for backup, Sab shot him, aiming at his shoulder blades. Had she aimed for his head, he would have been dead, but she can't have that.
Her actions were quick, stripping the man of any tracking and communication device before she spoke.
"Who sent you?" She asked, aiming the gun at his head. These agents are pretty much the same. They took an oath never to divulge any World Government secrets. Unless you torture them into a miserable state that they could no longer take it anymore, that they can only wish for a painless death.
Deeming that the guy won't talk, Sab pulled the trigger. Her attention is now on the devices that these people are carrying. These toys will be useful one way or another.
Now, all she has to do is report this to Kidd, hoping this will be the last time they will cooperate.
After killing the two men following her, she received a call from Dragon.
"Anything you need, Boss?" Calling him Dragon is not allowed while on the phone. They would have to be very careful if someone is tracking their calls or someone overhears the conversation. Even if she's alone in the area, it does not hurt to be careful.
"You all have been causing some troubles, aren't you?" He's referring to the three of them. With their network of influence, it is only a matter of time before Dragon hears them.
"We're doing as we planned."
"And your plan includes antagonizing three Emperors and Cipher Pol at the same time?" There's a bit of teasing in his voice that made Sab wince, a little embarrassed. "I won't stop any of you but you have to be careful. Especially now that Kaido's on the move. Not only did she wreck his business deals, but you also did."
There was nothing she can do to refute him at all. If Kaido is pissed because of the domino effects happening, he might go crazy and start hunting Strawhats, Blue, and Kidd's group.
Oh, how right she was...
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Orochi had been in the public service for quite a long time, working his way up the ladder till he achieved this position in the World Government as well as in the Mafia group under Kaido's direction. It works both ways and perfectly at that.
The order came from Kaido too soon. The mad had been drunk but pissed off at the domino effects caused by Eustass Kidd and Strawhat. It didn't help that he allied himself with a pain in the ass, Blue of Revolutionary.
Thinking about it, Orochi's previous deal had been thwarted by Blue. This opened an opportunity to get back at him and they might as well kill a few ants on their way, including Strawhat.
Two birds in one stone.
With him in charge, it wasn't hard to get a deal from Cipher Pol whose losses are immeasurable from the recent bouts.
"We should put that bloody Mafia Hunter to use. He's been pretty useless as of recent." He can't help but comment to Stussy.
"We will. The plan is there. He has no choice unless he wants to see someone he cares dead." That made Orochi laugh. As always, World Government's shadows will do anything to get what they want even if it means the massacre of innocents.
For the greater good.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Zoro is honestly getting tired of these so-called hunts. While he likes fighting in general he felt a sense of accomplishment whenever he managed to defeat his opponents, this kind of hunt against Strawhat's group is getting more complicated than he wants it to.
No matter how much he brushes off what Tashigi said, he cannot. He had the chance to confront Luffia but chose not to. And now, he's left with the doubts swimming in his head, distracting him from this mission.
The frustration is getting into him, cursing out loud for no apparent reason that made the Cipher Pol Agents raise their eyebrows at him.
They continued on their course, targeting the allies of Strawhats to lure them out. Zoro does not know how Cipher Pol managed to get some information about Strawhat's allies when the only thing they knew is that they are somehow connected to the Barto Club's group.
But Zoro figures he should not be surprised anymore since this became a joint operation with Kaido's men and Cipher Pol. If he's being honest, he lost the will to fight for this so-called operation now that the doubts have been rooted in his heart but the same cannot be said for the Cipher Pol members who were eager to get their revenge against the loss that they can never accept.
They are at the front, killing the underlings of the Barto club members. At first, Zoro shrugged it off, but it seems that this is no longer a fight that aimed to arrest these members, rather, to massacre them.
He stopped to look around him. Kaido's men were bloodthirsty, shouting incoherent profanities, killing enemies without hesitation. Some were brutally killed by being shot several times that Zoro had to wince.
This is not what he signed up for. Yes, he does not mind killing someone but torturing them is unacceptable by his standards.
Cipher Pol members were looking for the higher echelons of the Barto Club and when they found him, the green-haired man he saw with Luffia a few days ago.
He was resisting the Cipher Pol members, telling them that even if he is killed, he will not lead Strawhat to this trap nor will he allow them to kill the person he admired.
Such loyalty from a brutal man is hard to come across and Zoro admires him for that.
With many of his members dying in front of him, the anger in Bartolomeo's eyes skyrockets, directed to the Cipher Pol members who are now pointing their guns at him. They were surprised by this attack. Who would have thought the Cipher Pol will come after them? Yet, here they are, in a pinch and about to be wiped out.
Before Lucci can pull the trigger, someone shot him, grazing his shoulder blades. The bullet pierced through the glass windows, warning everyone.
Alarmed, Zoro got out of the shooting range. The hideout has a lot of glass windows, open for snipers from far away.
Another shot came, directed to a man that seems to resemble a hippo in Zoro's opinion. What was his name again? Dobon? He can't quite remember. But the shot was clear, right into the head.
Precise. Merciless.
As if that shot opened a pandora's box, a shot signaled for more to come. Screams echo in the hall, leaving the Beast Mafia Group scattered, some wounded. Even the Cipher Pol were on high alert because there's nothing harder than fighting an enemy you can't see.
Then, another shot was fired, but this time, it was not a bullet, but a smokescreen - a fatal mistake on their part. While they wanted to draw Strawhats out of their hiding, they never wanted it to be like this. The plan was to capture as many higher officers of Barto Club to be tortured and used as hostages while leaving many of the underlings massacred. That surely would have left Strawhat mad, yet, the plan is screwed. They have to fight it out now.
The screams got louder and Zoro can only find a good chance till the smoke cleared out before fighting. He opened his eyes and found the members of Barto Club being ushered to escape.
A familiar figure just in front of him, signaling the others to help the injured while their other members hold off Cipher Pol and Kaido's men.
"Aryahh!" Zoro leaped from his spot with a swing of his sword directed at none other than, Strawhat. The woman evaded the worst scenario of being cut in half, but the sword grazed her right arm.
He didn't pursue further, opting to observe what she will do next.
"Keep him there, Roronoa! Kill him!" With the smoke clearing out now, Lucci and Kaku are rushing to where Zoro is to kill Strawhat when all of the sudden, another smokescreen was thrown at their feet, hindering their path.
Zoro had a few seconds to pursue them yet he didn't. He let the smoke engulf him instead but his mind is still onto Strawhat and the eyes that caught his attention. The hoodie might have obscured her face, but not her eyes. He could never forget those eyes of hers.
With this raid ending in a draw, Zoro can hear Lucci blaming him for not stalling Strawhat. The words only left Zoro in a worse mood than he ever thought.
With nothing to do in this hideout, they decided to leave now. The choice of destroying it came to their minds, but Lucci declined the suggestion. The smell of blood made Zoro wince. The corpses are left on the ground, waiting for their deaths to be publicized tomorrow, blaming Strawhats.
Zoro would have been apathetic about such a situation, used to seeing Cipher Pol destroying everything in their path and blaming it on Mafia groups, but not in this case. He felt remorse for their deaths. All because of the idea that Luffia might be Strawhat.
"You've gone soft, Mafia Hunter," Lucci muttered in disgust while leaning against the wall, waiting for Zoro to step out of the building.
"What do you mean?" He frowned, meeting the taller man's piercing gaze.
"The Mafia Hunter we knew will not hesitate to land a killing blow. How many times did you let Strawhat slip past your grasp? Huh?"
Zoro could not answer. The first time was because he was assessing his opponent. The second time was because of curiosity. And the succeeding opportunities that he let slip past him were because of hesitation.
"Useless," Lucci muttered before leaving Zoro and the green-haired man cannot agree more.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Tashigi was waiting for someone in a restaurant. He's a town called Loguetown where the previous Mafia King was born. This town is a legend in its own right but ironically, it is peaceful. The lack of the Mafia's presence in this town can make someone believe that a town can progress without violence. At least she believes it is.
The restaurant door opened, revealing two people who she contacted to meet with her. She first thanked them for giving her time.
"I won't beat around the bush, but I need to ask the two of you since you've been in the Fuusha since you were children. Did any of you know about someone named Luffia?"
"Luffia? There were several children in the orphanage but we don't know anyone named Luffia." One of them answered.
"Me too."
"But there were only about 15 children close to your age at that time and she's amongst the list," Tashigi questioned.
"No. We know all the children close to our age but there was no one named Luffia."
This confirms everything that Tashigi was speculating. The suspicions she had have been answered by the data she accumulated the past few weeks. That Luffia lied about her records.
It raised several questions now. Where did she come from? Who exactly is she? What is she hiding?
So many questions are left unanswered but what Tashigi is sure of is that Luffia is no ordinary woman from an orphanage. Only criminals will hide their records. Tashigi can confront Luffia now, but what will this do? If Tashigi confronts her, Luffia will only find the time and opportunity to fool Zoro again. She managed to fool him for several years now.
'I won't let her fool Zoro again'
With that in mind, she dropped by his house after sending him a text message. It's a good thing he is around. This kind of news cannot wait.
"What do you want to tell me that cannot wait tomorrow?" He's blunt as always, but that's what Tashigi likes about him. Straightforward, honest, and determined.
"It's about Luffia." The way Zoro winced when she mentioned Luffia's name only indicates that the latter is a very sensitive topic to Zoro. He is guarded against Tashigi. The cool demeanor is long gone, replaced by the frown on his face.
"What about her?" Even his voice is turning icy now but Tashigi didn't let it affect her. She's determined to open his mind to the truth about Luffia, to expose the lies that she's been doing till now.
"She's lying Zoro. She is not who you think she is."
"What the hell are you saying now, Tashigi?"
"Listen. She's pretending, okay? I don't know what she's hiding, but I am sure it is not good. Luffia is deceiving you. She did not come from the Fuusha orphanage! She was never there in the first place. Everything was a fraud."
"Do you expect me to believe what you are saying now?" Zoro's patience is running thin that is still left unnoticed by Tashigi who is focused on giving him what she discovered.
"I asked the people from the orphanage, the same year wherein her records states that she arrived. In her records, it says that she stayed in the orphanage till she was 17. But none of the orphans recognize her at all!"
"Tashigi, stop." Zoro cannot bear to hear anymore.
"Don't you think it's suspicious? She is lying!" Tashigi threw the folders in front. "She was seen hanging in suspicious areas, with people from the Mafia. Different groups. Then, her false data. Whatever she told you were lies. She must be - "
"Shut up!" Tashigi stopped talking when Zoro raised his voice, eyes resembling a beast that is about to devour her. She felt like a prey looking at the enormous predator, and it feels as if she was looking at the demon that the Mafia portrayed Zoro to be.
Now, she's witnessing what it feels like to be in front of this demon.
"Zoro..."
"Shut up, I said! Tell me, when did you start investigating her behind my back?!"
She swallowed the lump in her throat before answering.
"I... I did it to enlighten you from her lies."
"And do you think I need it?" He scoffed, finding her reason ridiculous.
"Don't you want to know the truth? Think about it. Why would someone want to continue working in a bar when it can barely get her by? Why would she hide her records and lie about it?"
"This is getting out of hand, Tashigi." Zoro stood up, looming over her with dread in his eyes. "Get out of my house."
"What is wrong with you?! Don't tell me you're turning a blind eye? What if she's connected to a Mafia group? What if she's connected to the Mafia group that killed your parents?"
"Shut the fuck up!" Zoro exploded in anger yet Tashigi continued.
"Open your eyes! If we investigate further, we might find out more about her. Someone like her is dangerous, Zoro! The more someone who lives like a civilian but is a criminal is more dangerous than anyone else!"
"I said get out of my house! And don't you talk about Luffia ever again!"
"As a police officer, it is my job to send any criminals to prison. Regardless of who they are. As a hunter, you should know about this too, that we have to imprison everyone who may endanger the civilians. And from the looks of things, she's one of them! With the falsification of documents, this is bound to send her to prison already. If you turn a blind eye now, you're letting a criminal free! That makes you an accomplice! Don't tell me you are willing to do that? "
There's a pregnant silence with Zoro's head looking down at the documents laid on the coffee table before raising his head to meet Tashigi's eyes. This time, with conviction that sends shivers down her spine.
"I am willing to do anything to keep her safe." That felt like a knife on her heart. She knew Zoro will choose Luffia no matter what, but she held onto the tiny hope in her heart that his stand will sway should he become aware of how suspicious Luffia's records are. "You went past what I can endure, Tashigi. You investigated her behind my back and spouting nonsense in front of me. Please get out and don't let me see your face ever again."
She wanted to say more but he never let her. He dragged her to the door and kicked her out of the house before she can fully process what had happened. Of all the years she knew Zoro, never had he been a brute to her. She saw a side of him that she had never witnessed before, and only because of Luffia.
It seems to her that Luffia's hold of Zoro is deeper than she thought, or it could be that Zoro is just getting blind to everything else when it involves the woman who holds his heart.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
After Tashigi left that night, Zoro became restless. The desire to know the truth is increasing the more he stares at the documents Tashigi left.
There's only one thing he can do and that is to confront Luffia.
Confronting her is easier said than done. When he is in front of her, nothing else matters anymore. Her smile blinded him, making him forget his purpose.
She was always the Luffia that he finds annoying and at the same time, adorable. In the world they live, where deaths and violence are a common occurrence, her presence makes it lighter for Zoro. Her smile is as radiant as always, so addicting that even the usual stoic Zoro can't help but smile.
"Don't you feel hot wearing that jacket?" He asked. They are sitting on one of the vacant tables of the restaurant outside. The harsh weather deemed the shed above them useless.
"Oh, yeah." Luffia took off her jacket, revealing a black shirt and a bandage on her arm that made Zoro frown.
"You're injured?" He asked.
"Oh, ah, it's nothing." She shrugged, dismissing the topic already in favor of eating the food that Zoro bought.
"How did you get injured?" The wound reminded Zoro what happened in that raid with the Barto Club group. He can remember it as if it happened yesterday, the way his swords grazed Strawhat's arm.
"Hmm... It's, uh, nothing. Really. It's a minor injury while I was doing my job." The vagueness of her answer only made Zoro more suspicious.
"Let me see."
"Wait, ouch. Zoro, it's nothing to be worried about." But Zoro did not listen. He grabbed her arm, as gently as he can while undoing the bandages around and even if it's half undone, he knew what the wound was.
A gash that can only be given by a knife or a sword. While holding her arm, he looked at Luffia's eyes, silently questioning her.
"Luffia..." He mumbled. A few seconds pass, his mind is piecing the questions he wants to ask yet the words that came out of his mouth were different. "Did you ever lie to me?"
Even if Luffia usually goofs around, when she senses that Zoro is serious, she becomes serious too.
"I've never lied to you, Zoro. Never." And it's the truth. She never lied to him. She just wasn't telling him all the details and often answers vaguely, leading him to believe something else.
"Then, will you tell me how you got this wound?"
Luffia looked to the side, refusing to meet his eyes - a trait that he knew too well when Luffia doesn't want to tell him anything.
"Who hurt you?"
Just as he's about to press for more answers, the waiter arrived with the other pending orders, distracting Luffia again. Zoro let it be, but his eyes are constantly on her wound - the same area where Strawhat was injured.
With all the information gathered, it is pointing to a conclusion he still doesn't want to believe - that Luffia is none other than Strawhat - the leader of the Strawhats Mafia group and the person he's tasked to kill.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
AN: The next chapters will be sooo exciting. You won't see it coming, I'm telling you, hahaha.