The ship docked in the port and its four occupants got ready to enter the island.
"So, captain, what are the plans once on land?" asked Sagitta as they gathered at the upper deck of the ship. He just finished discreetly setting up some wards meant to keep uninvited guests away from their ship and prevent any potential theft or sabotage.
"Hm, I say we scout the island and discreetly check if the local Marines are assholes," decided Luffy.
"Luffy-san-!" Coby tried to protest, but the young captain didn´t let him.
"Coby, I get it you have a high esteem of Marines, but you have to remember they´re also humans. And humans have flaws. They might be good and honest, but some are corrupt and evil. We just need to find out, if the ones here fall under the category of the former or if they are more like the latter," the black-white haired teen explained patiently.
"I see," muttered the pink-haired boy, not exactly enthusiastic about it, but he could see where the other was coming from. He wouldn´t like to serve with the corrupt ones, after all. "And if they´re the latter?"
"Then we will silently disappear and find you a base with decent marines to join. No point wasting time with idiots."
"Makes sense to me," commented Tiergan. "And how should we gather the intel?"
"Shishishi! By dividing into two groups and go on a small supply run, of course!" answered Luffy easily.
"What? How could such things help?" Coby couldn´t help but ask, not getting the point.
It was the older brother that enlightened him. "He wants to play on people´s tendency to gossip, especially in different shops taverns like bars. No matter where people are always curious about any kind of news or eager to share local rumours. Sometimes, just because of chatty nature or if you tip them with enough money, one can easily learn things he needs to know." Then he turned to his little brother. "So how should we divide and where should we start from?"
"Shishishi, you and Coby will go together to restock some of our medical supplies and maybe look for the local market. I and Tiergan will hit the shops and we shall meet for dinner, in the small restaurant with the red shield. Then we shall decide how to proceed."
Nobody was against this idea so they did just as the teen said and went their separate ways. Sagitta and Coby asked around before they were directed to the apothecary/pharmacy of the town. Here they purchased what they needed for the ship and just as they were instructed discreetly asked around. What they found was discouraging to say at last – ever since captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan took over the base, he has been abusing his authority and his son Helmeppo was terrorizing the town using his father´s name. Even asking around the local market didn´t bring better news. While Sagitta half-expected this, it still sickened him how much did the father-son duo hurt this town. Coby, despite the warning from Luffy, was caught off-guard and couldn´t believe a Marine could do something like this.
Luffy and Tiergan´s results weren´t much better. Their visit to shops (among them the tailor´s, as the Zoan needed a proper wardrobe, that didn´t consist of borrowed clothes) brought them the same results. Thought they also learned something that caught the young captains interest. Apparently, a few weeks ago a swordsman by the name of Roronoa Zoro was imprisoned on the base after he did something to anger the arrogant Helmeppo. Rumour was that he was a strong fighter and because of his skills, he was viewed as a terrifying monster. Needless to say, the young captain wanted to see the so-called monster for himself. Which brought him and his companion to the Marine base.
"Do you see anything?" asked Luffy from his place on the ground.
Tiergan, who perched atop the wall circling the base, looked around the courtyard until his eyes caught something. "There is a man tied to a pole. But we will have to move if we want to have a good look at him."
"Lead the way!" said Luffy and followed his crewmate, who, thanks to his Devil Fruit, easily balanced atop the wall as he walked. Once they arrived at the right spot, the captain joined his companion and they both observed the tied-up man.
The first thing the captain noted was how beaten-up the stranger appeared. The teen could clearly see dried blood in the man´s short green hair, tanned skin, shirt and even the rope tying the man. The latter tipped him of the potential source being a one-sided fight. Clearly, somebody was coward enough to beat an unarmed and defenceless man. And while it was probably meant to put the other down, instead it added to the green-haired man´s natural intimidation factor.
The second thing was that the man was no stranger to fighting. He possessed a strong build, clearly from hours upon hours of training and many fights. The young captain was curious about what sort of training was that. Was he a hand-to-hand fighter or a weapon specialist like him and his brother? Luffy couldn´t see any weapons, but if the Marines had any sense, they probably confiscated them. As his Sagitta-nii put it, only an idiot would leave anything resembling a weapon on their captives. But considering what the black-white haired teen saw, he had to wonder if it would make a difference with this captive.
Finally, there was this feeling around him. Luffy couldn´t quite identify it, at least not until the tied-up man looked up, mint-green eyes staring right at them. The man had the soul of a fighter. Strong will, determination and vigour that would carry him far. Some might see him as a monster, but the teen knew there were attributes in this man that would never let him fall that deep.
The thought made the young captain grin. He had to try and get this man to join their crew. The question was, how?
"Hey, you!" the green-haired man´s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Could you please, come here and untie me? I´ve been out here for nine days and I´m exhausted."
The duo on the wall looked at each other before Tiergan asked: "And why should we do that? What would we get from this deal that would get us in trouble with the Marines?"
"I could hunt down a few fugitives and give you their bounties," replied the man. "And I´m not lying. I always keep my promises."
"We´re not interested in the bounties," said Luffy. "But we might release you, depending on your answers to our questions."
An eyebrow disappeared underneath a black bandana. "Oh?"
Taking that as encouragement, the captain asked: "Are you Roronoa Zoro?"
"That´s my name, yes."
A noise caught their attention, interrupting any further talk. Heads turned to see a small girl climbing up a ladle. Once she reached the top, she looked at the two pirates and made a shushing motion, before she jumped to the other side of the wall. The pirates watched with interest as the girl slowly walked towards Zoro, a bundle of cloth in her hands. She stopped a few feet from the swordsman and unravelled the cloth, revealing two rice balls. Hearing that she made them for the man because she knew he had no food since his capture, made Luffy chuckle fondly at the cute scene. Tiergan joined him when they saw Zoro refuse the offered food, both entrained at the other´s stubbornness and the girl's persistence. It was an adorable moment. But that feeling died, when a group of three entered the yard. Both pirates scowled when they learned one of the three was the spoiled brat Helmeppo himself, along with what appeared to be his marine bodyguards. The leopard Zoan actually growled as he watched the brat being rude to the little girl, going so far as to steal and then destroy the gift she brought for the beaten man. Luffy had to put a hand on his shoulder, to prevent him from going after the brat. He let him go, only when the brat ordered his bodyguard to throw out the little girl, and Tiergan wasted no time catching her.
"Are you alright, kid?" asked the raven as he carefully put the girl down on the ground.
"Y-yes, thank you, sir," answered the girl.
"No problem, that was probably one hell of a scare for you..."
Luffy watched the interaction between them for a second, before returning his attention to what was happening in the courtyard. He frowned as he learned about the deal between Zoro and Helmeppo – if the swordsman survived outside for a month, he would be set free. What would happen, if he lost was only implied, but it didn´t sit well with the listener. That deal seemed fairly straightforward, but the young captain´s instincts were telling him there was something fishy about it. To, hopefully, find out more, he decided to wait until the brat left, before jumping into the yard and approaching Zoro.
"You still haven´t left?" the captive drawled as he spotted the young captain. "You should, or else the bastard will tell his father about it."
"Not my problem," Luffy shrugged. "I just thought you would like to know the little girl is alright."
At this Zoro blinked and focused on his companion. "Really?"
Mentally smirking at the relief in the other´s voice, Luffy nodded. "My crewmate caught her before any harm could come to her. He is currently insuring she is alright."
"I see... thank you."
"No problem. We wouldn´t let anything happen to her, just because the brat is an asshole."
Zoro let out a small chuckle. "Good to know. So what do you want from me?"
"Shishishi. I´m still not sure. To be honest with you, I would like to try and convince you to join me," admitted the teen. Seeing Zoro´s questioning gaze, he elaborated, "You see, I´m a pirate captain and I´m looking for people for someone to join my fleet. And I…"
"…would like for you to join me," finished Zoro for him, mock-imitating Luffy´s voice. "Don´t bother to go on."
"I could set you free."
"And then force me to join you? No thanks! I want nothing with someone who would give up his life and become a crook."
The black-white haired teen scowled at this. "It was only an offer. I wouldn´t force you into anything you don´t want. I´m not that type of person. And there is nothing wrong with being a pirate! Besides, I´m at least following my dreams. What about you?"
"Oh, I have a dream and goal I´ll fulfil, alright," smirked the swordman. "That´s why I´m going to survive here, even if you don´t help me. I´ll last until the deadline and then walk away from here as a free man."
"You seem confident the brat will keep his word," commented the captain.
Zoro let out a dry chuckle. "He will or he is a bigger shit than I expect."
"And are you sure you will last? I, being in your place, would have starved within one week."
"Well, here is the difference between us!"
The captain laughed. "I can see that!"
"Now go and find yourself someone else to join you!"
"Fair enough, I know when I lost," surrendered the teen. For now, that is. "I wish you luck and see you in a few weeks," Luffy turned to go, but Zoro stopped him.
"Hold on! That… can you pick it up for me?" the swordsman asked, nodding towards the ruined rice balls.
The teen decided to humour him and when the other opened his mouth, he obediently fed him. Guess he was too hungry, after all, thought the teen. He had to grimace as he watched the green-haired man struggle with his food, and couldn´t help but say: "You know, there are better ways to kill yourself, than eating things like this…"
"S-Shut u-up," Zoro coughed, then with a steadier voice added: "Go tell that little girl that I thank her for the food and that it was delicious."
Hearing this a broad grin appeared on the teen´s face. "I will. Take good care of yourself, Zoro."
With that, he climbed over the wall and joined his waiting crewmate and the little girl, who beamed with happiness after he relayed her the message.
"I´m glad Brother liked it," said the girl, still smiling.
"I bet he did since you put your all into it," Luffy grinned. "Now, I and my friend have to go, so please be careful on your way home."
They said their goodbyes and went their respective ways. The girl went back to her parents and the pirate duo went to the agreed meeting point, where the rest of their company was already waiting. They went inside and while eating their lunch, they relayed to each other, what they learned from their information-gathering efforts.
"What are we going to do?" asked Coby, in a heartbroken tone, once they finished talking.
"Well, we could either leave, like we planned, or stay and try to do something about this town," mussed Sagitta. "Though, I´m not sure which idea would be the best."
Coby and Tiergan agreed with him.
"Personally, I´m for staying," said Luffy.
The silver-haired man looked at him. "You´re just saying that because you´re worried about that swordsman, otōto."
"Well, yeah, I´m anxious about him, Nii-san. Something, about what Helmeppo promised him, didn´t sit well with me," admitted the captain. "Like something bad is about to happen."
"That sounds... troubling... But he is a criminal, so I don´t think you should worry too much, Luffy-san," protested Coby, although it was a weak effort.
Tiergan chose that moment to speak up: "You may call him a criminal, but only if you can justify arresting someone for defending an innocent. I, personally, would call it being bastards."
"What?" three voices asked at the same time and three heads turned to him for answers.
"When Luffy went to talk with Zoro, I had a small chat with the little girl who made the rice balls. She said that Zoro got arrested because of her. Apparently, that bratty kid had a feral pet wolf that was set free to roam the town and he did nothing when it attacked the locals. About nine days ago, it tried to attack the girl when Zoro interfered and killed it. He saved her, but the brat then got pissed off about losing his pet and had his father´s subordinates arrest him," explained the raven and let them digest the information.
A somewhat pleased expression appeared on Luffy´s face, as this confirmed what he already knew about the green-haired man. It proved that the man was no monster and would never fall into that trap.
"Which means the only bad guys in this town is the marine captain and his son," grimaced Sagitta. Then he thought it over and nodded to himself. "Well, I suppose we could lend a hand to the swordsman. I´ll visit him and look at his wounds and at least clean them so he won´t catch an infection. That much he deserves."
"Do you think he or the others will let you?" asked Tiergan doubtfully.
"He will be tied up, so he has no say in it. And one of us will go with Sagitta-nii, to act as a look-out, so the Marines won´t find out," Luffy decided, voice firm and leaving no room for arguments.
They finished their lunch and went outside, where they were greeted by an unusual sight: the people outside were on their knees, bowing deeply towards the main road. Neither of the members of the quartet had any idea of why were they doing this. At least not, until they saw WHO was walking down the road. After that their expressions turned sour.
Helmeppo, along with his bodyguards, stalked the street like he owned the town. "Who dares to raise their heads?! Bow or I´m going to tell my dad!"
The pirates and their companion shook their heads at the boy´s attics and turned to leave. They about had it with him. However, they all froze at the boys next words.
"Obey or you will end like Zoro! I´m going to hold his execution in three days. That will set an example for all of you about what will happen if you cross us! Hehehe!"
Luffy spun around and glared at the brat. "Three days?! Didn´t you say you would give him a month, you bastard?!"
"How rude, who do you think you are?" tsked Helmeppo, before laughing. "Besides I was only messing with him! There is no way I would let him go! Hehehe!"
"I´ll last until the deadline and then walk away from here as a free man."
The swordman´s words echoed in the young captain´s mind and his body began to move. He appeared in front of the brat and gave him a right-hook that sent him flying several feet back. He could hear several people shout in fright, but he didn´t care. He turned towards his companion, he said: "Let´s go! We´ve a time-sensitive problem to take care of."
He marched down the road, the others falling in step with him.
"W-what are you plotting, Luffy-san?" asked Coby fearfully.
The captain didn´t even look at him. "We´re going to the marine base and free Zoro!"
"…you just have to stumble into trouble, Lu," Sagitta let out a sigh. "Do you even have a plan?"
"Something is coming along, but I would like your input, Nii-san."
"I thought so."
"Do I get to punch the brat like you, captain?" came Tiergan´s hopeful question.
The rubber Paramecia grinned at him. "Shishishi! With any luck, you will get to punch the moronic captain!"
An answering grin appeared on the Zoan´s face. "Count me in!"
"Guys, are you serious about this? Guys? Guys!"
