"Now don't be shy;" said the Evil being with a smile. "I'll answer all of your questions over a bite to eat. My treat."
In an instant my fear, my doubt, and an amount of anger that somewhat surprised me were banished from my mind.
'These things will get in the way for now,' the Witcher's Logic said. 'Use this opportunity to flesh out the Problem and probe for information.'
We walked down the road like a pair of friends.
"What would like to have Brandon?" Gaunter asked as we walked into a cafe.
"Coffee." The Death Note; with your name already written along with the phrase 'He will send me back to my world.'
I didn't voice it. mostly because he could make it happen; for a price and a Monkeys Paw situation.
Gaunter O'Dimm is supposed to be able to grant any desire; as long as the contracted individual agree to the deal he makes.
Deals, not wishes.
He follows old world rules of conduct, and He only interacts with individuals who come to him first. I thought.
Geralt of rivia, his maid, Olgerd, the Oxford professor, and the drunk he killed with a spoon; all of them became a part of his game after they involved themselves Gaunter.
After only a few moments that stretched like life times we had a drink and spoke plesentries.
"You seem to know the area well," I commented. "Have you been around here before?"
He smiled and I felt goose bumps. "Oh, a couple of times over the years I take a walk through the Blues and the Line to see if there is anything new of interest. Last time I was in the East blue it was for the execution of the Pirate King."
Interesting. "Really? You don't say."
He hummed. "It really was a fantastic moment; the powers of an entire World working to deal with a man already a foot in the grave. All the people watching held captivated by the final words that sent the entire world to the Grand Line." He breathed slow. "Such chaos sewn in a single moment."
We talked about the past, now the present. "The coffee is good and the story interesting, but I get the impression that you didn't want to bring me here for the sake of conversation over brunch."
Gaunter smiled mockingly and a flush of anger rushed by me. "Oh! That's right, you think that I'm the one who brought you into this world. Rest assured that it was no desire of mine that saw you here; I'd much rather a real Witcher than counterfeit, would I have the choice."
I only now understood the depth of stoticism entrained to Witcher's as my desire for answers wared with my knowledge of how easily he could kill me.
'He's taunting us, making us angry so we will be in his debt deeper than we already are. The longer we stay here the more likely it becomes we fall under his thrall .
'Right now We're safe because I have use to him; He wants us for something or for a deal to be made.' The Witcher reasoned.
I thought for a moment, drawing on the courtesy that I had been taught by a Texas church committee member of a mother.
"The fuck do you want from me?" God damn it.
He seemed more amused than anything at my outburst. "Knowledge for knowledge then! Agreed?" He asked.
I nodded.
"All I need from you is a simple job done within the next two years. I need you to find and kill VallCard John, a wanted man who killed hundreds of people throughout the Grandline; including his family."
Okay; sounds like a simple "Witcher, kill the monster"job.
I finished the final drags of my coffee seeing as how the person paying was finished. "Sounds like a job for the Navy than a Witcher."
"I think going forward, you'll find that you are just the right person for the job." Gaunter replied.
"I'm not a killer for hire."
He smiled. "That's right. You're a Pirate now; a taker of fourtune." He reached out a hand and an hourglass and a compass. "Here. You don't have to take the job, but think it over. I'm a resourceful man; wealth, fame, power, love, weapons that could kill the Emperors?All yours!" He passed the glass over the table and suddenly he made eye contact. "I'll even throw in the identity of who brought you here and the means to take you home.
"Just think it over."
And then he was gone.
The medallion didn't shake and there was no feeling of displaced air. The only proof of the conversation that had taken place at the small cafe in Shells town being a empty cup, a compass, and the hourglass.
I stood up, a single Novigrad Crown appearing in my hands and then in the tip jar by the front of the door.
I took a deep breath of the green leaves and commented on my place in the universe.
"Fuck."
...
When Luffy and Coby got to the dinner an hour later with a little girl who just so happened to be the daughter of the owner and "Of course you can have lunch here for free!"
Fucking Gaunter; "It's my treat" indeed. Like hell everything is a coincidence.
"Alright Captain, Coby, I think I got all the facts." I told him, looking up from the hourglass.
"What did you learn." Coby asked.
I summed up the situation with all data we'd collected; The state of the town, the Navy, and Zoro being on the for killing the pet of the Captins son. Luffy said that he still had ten days left and we should wait.
"Cool, so all we gotta do is wait for him to go free." I said leaning back.
We will need a place to stay in the mean time and I can finish the quests I skipped.
"...can't wait for the execution tomorrow!" I heard.
What?
"Bran?" Luffy asked.
I shushed him and taped my ears, pointing at the door.
A group of marines and a d-bag dressed like a sixties porn star walked in.
"Ah this place looks like a dump!" The hipster whisperd at the top of his lungs.
I leaned forward with Coby and Luffy copying me.
"We'll wait until they're gone and then I'll follow them." I said.
Coby looked nervous while Luffy just kept eating.
The marines gathered at attention around the table as the guy slammed his foot on the table, knocking over the meal of the couple who left the table the second they saw him.
He opened his nasty mouth and spoke to the air like a man who knew he had the room.
"Bring a meal and keep the check for yourself! Also, a glass of whatever moonshine or whisky it is people like you drink."
I looked at the men that surrounded the man, the Navy Captains son.
They looked dead on their feet, and not from exercise; uniforms immaculate with both boots and weapon polished. Each one of them were looking forward with their hats drawn low over their eyes.
Hollow and faceless. I thought . Like toys and zombies.
'No; like Golems and slaves.' The Witcher reasoned. 'Dangerous. Not because they can fight, but because they don't care if they die.'
Time to go.
I stood up, Coby following but Luffy sat still.
"The basted will looked shocked when we execute him tomorrow! Hahaha!"
The hit was beautiful. A solid hook to the chin so sudden and fast the guards looked as shocked as everybody.
Luffy stood there fist extended and hat drawn low over his eyes. I drew my sword, pushing Coby behind me but by the looks of things the guards didn't want to fight.
Until they pointed their rifles at us.
"Aard!"
And went flying to the wall. Along with the table.
Luffy turned towards the door.
"Don't be hasty Captain. We don't want to start a fight in the middle of to-"
"No, we aren't going to wait anymore! Bran, Coby we are gonna free Zoro right now!" Luffy shouted. He marched out the door in an instant, the pair of us on his heels.
Captains orders. I translated.
I marched beside him.
...
A.N. Hope you guys had a good holiday.
Not much this chapter but expect some combat, and more explanation of the gamer powers, next chapter.
