Welcome once again dear readers! Apologies for the delay in updates but that's the problem with ideas for stories, they only come a BIT at a time. Then come making time to write down said idea and type it up. Anyway, it's a new chapter with new discoveries being made about PEW as we progress along with other interesting surprises along the way! By the way, an 'old friend' will be making an appearance in this chapter readers. Enjoy yourselves!
Also, as I have said in my previous chapters, I'd like to apologize in advance if anyone in this story is out of character…I never said I was perfect at this right? Also, I'm going to try to be fair and use the Japanese/English names for things like Devil Fruits etc.
(By the way…all flames and flamers will be ignored thank-you. I will make an exception for CONSTRUCTIVE reviews on what needs an adjustment or suggestions for other chapters/stories, for they are most welcome. Remember if you don't like my work then don't read or review it! NO-ONE is forcing you to! It is YOUR choice whenever you want to read and review, no one else's! Not me, your friends or family it's all YOUR CHOICE!)
Disclaimer: I sadly DON'T own anything from One Piece, not the people OR the places (except my OWN characters, places and so on) they all belong to Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Shonen JumpManga and that genius Odo Eiichiro.
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PART SEVENTEEN:
At the Spring Island of Jaya, in the port town of Mocktown, PEW sat in a corner of the 'Wild Cherry Bar.' The hooded information dealer was enjoying a whiskey while writing into a note book and ignoring all that was happening around him. Occasionally he would glance up and look at a few individuals around him, then write down a few things in his notebook before taking a sip of his drink. Originally he'd only come to Mocktown to have his meeting with the members of 'GHOST' before moving on. It was the perfect place to hold such a meeting, it so was lawless and chaotic most of the time, who would notice all the extra strangers coming and going? With his meeting now done PEW had prepared to move on, that was until he had gotten that call on his Den-Den Mushi.
******Flashback******
"I wonder who it could be this time?" PEW sighed to himself as he took his ringing Den-Den out of his pocket. "Person Extremely Wanted," he said answering in a professional tone. "How can I help you?"
'Hi PEW,' the Den-Den said in a bright sinister voice complete with an evil grin. 'It's Joker here, how you doing?'
"What do you want Doflamingo?" PEW sighed in restrained irritation.
"Now is that any way to talk to a Warlord of the Sea and King of Dressrosa?"the Den-Den said in mock hurt as it mirrored the caller's expression.
"You're an upper-class CRIMINAL who just hides behind that Warlord title like Crocodile did," PEW corrected him sharply in a voice like steel. "It's how you can ABUSE your authority with it, just like how you abuse your title of a 'king' to the people of Dressrosa! But," PEW went on in a more reasonable tone. "It's due to the fact we have an 'understanding' to leave each other alone to their own devices, that we still can talk and do business like this."
"Yes mutual trust is such a wonderful thing isn't it?" the Den-Den grinned widely.
"What do you want?"
'Can I ask where you are at the moment?'
"Jaya, Mocktown. Why do you ask?"
'Great! Because I was reading up on that information you gave me on the Bellamy Pirates, specifically, Captain Bellamy.'
"You mean 'Bellamy the Hyena?'" PEW said dismissively. "Let me guess," he went on. "Now that you read his file, you think he's a conceited idiot who is all bark and no bite. You have doubts about him and you now want me to observe his progress for you?"
'Spot on,' the Den-Den said evilly its grin becoming even wider. 'But then again you're not called 'The Informed One' without good reason. Yeah I'd like you to watch Bellamy for a little while, I'm not letting just ANYONE work of me in the 'New Age' you know. Call me back SHOULD he say or do anything that indicates he 'blew it,' if you know what I mean?'
"Oh, very well," PEW sighed wearily. "I'll watch Bellamy for you and if he messes up in any way I'll call you back. But this will cost you, you know?"
'We can discuss price when you call me back,' Doflamingo told him. 'Heck I'll come out there in person to give you your money. After all you haven't let me down on the stuff I've asked you for yet.'
'Lucky me,' PEW said sarcastically. 'Being paid by you to confirm the information you have on people you blackmail is up to date.'
******End Flashback******
So now PEW was carefully watching Bellemy on Doflamingo's behalf, a task which PEW had no real problem with. The actual problem for the Information Dealer was hanging around in a bar being surrounded by idiotic louts!
As Mocktown was a port town for Pirates on Jaya, there was little to no authority from the Marines to keep the peace. Therefore, pirates visiting the town were free to act as they wanted, mostly like maniacs in PEW's eyes, as fights and brawls were almost common place in the bars and streets.
The noise from it all really didn't help PEW's headaches one little bit, and he had to REALLY resist getting out his aspirins every five minutes, as he was in danger of running out even though he had several other bottles in his robe pockets!
PEW's thoughts were then interrupted by the sudden sounds of a table being overturned and gunshots, followed then by the sound of someone getting thrown out of the window. "Not again," the hooded Information Dealer grumbled to himself. "He brings a whole new meaning to the words 'sore loser'! He gets beaten fairly in a card game, so he acts like a grinning maniac to his opponent by accusing him of cheating."
"But that guy wasn't cheating!" a pirate sitting at a table next to PEW suddenly spoke up. "My friend and I watched that entire game, no-one cheated."
"I still can't believe that guy was able to beat up 'Roshio the Executioner' so easily," the other pirate said to his friend in amazement.
"That's because gentlemen," PEW spoke up gaining their attention. "That man is Bellamy 'the Hyena,' a man with a 55,000,000 Berry Bounty on his head."
As PEW spoke the man in question, who was finishing off his drink, stood up and began walking casually to the broken widow he had thrown his defeated opponent out of. Bellamy was a tall man of about 7 feet 10 inches, with tanned skin and short unkempt blonde air. He was wearing white pants, a green sash with markings, and a pink sleeveless shirt with a wavy blue pirate captain's coat over it. He had a scar above his right eye and tattoos of eye like designs on his arms. When Bellamy got to the window he stopped and looked down into the street. Down below his unfortunate victim had been found by his crewmates who were now in the process of picking him up to get him some medical aid. His face suddenly broke into a crazed grin as he then suddenly jumped out of the window leaving his coat behind as he did so.
"Is he nuts?!"
"Yeah he'll break his neck jumping for that height! His neck or legs at least!"
"Perhaps a normal person would," PEW said matter of factly to the two pirates. "However, Bellamy is a Devil Fruit user. He's the eater of the Bane-Bane no Mi better known to most people as the Spring-Spring Fruit and I think the name speaks enough in itself don't you?"
"Ah!" the two pirates nodded together in mutual understanding.
"Exactly," PEW said in agreement. "It's why Bellamy is such an overconfident, arrogant fool riding for an eventual fall. However," he went on sipping his drink. "I'd advise guys like yourselves to keep your mouths shut around such a person like him, okay?"
"Don't you worry," the first pirate said nervously. "We will!"
"Now if you'll excuse me," PEW went on finishing his drink and picking up his notebook. "I need to get some fresh air, the stupidity in here in stifling to a guy like me!"
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Meanwhile in another part of Mocktown, Luffy, Zoro and Nami were walking through the streets taking in the sights.
"I've got my tough face on," Luffy said determinedly to his friends as he kept a close eye on all the other rouges walking, drinking and fighting around them. "If anyone messes with me I'll…"
"No, you and Zoro won't do anything!" Nami snapped in annoyance grabbing Luffy by the ear cutting him off in mid-sentence. "Nofighting! Promise me!"
"Yeah, yeah," Luffy said sulkily as he battered Nami's hand so she could let go of his ear. "I promise!"
"Good," Nami said nodding in satisfaction. "Because finding out about the Sky Island is a serious business you two!"
"Fine," Luffy said carelessly.
"Great," Zoro added equally careless.
"Gee, thanks for the support."
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Not far away from where the Straw Hats currently were, was a large unshaven man with a slightly larger than normal nose, ash blonde hair and a constant pallid look about him. It was the look of a man who was on the verge of death, but not actually there YET. He was slowly riding through the streets on an unnaturally large pale white horse.
The man was wearing a black fur coat, a wide brimmed, black beaten hat and what appeared to be a hangman's noose around his neck. Under the man's coat he appeared to be wearing a green turtleneck sweater. From the bottom of the man's coat sprouted what looked like a brown robe, under which his hairy legs were visible. On his feet he had large black buckled shoes, on his back he was carrying a long cylindrical bag which he kept a scythe. Completing the man's appearance were straight tattoos coming from his hairline to the corner of his eyes.
The man was known as 'Doc Q' and his horse's name was 'Stronger.' The horse, like its owner, didn't look very healthy itself. However, despite their weakened appearance, both horse and rider were a lot stronger and dangerous than they looked to the casual observer.
"Are you alright there old man?" a concerned voice suddenly rang out causing Stronger to stop dead in his tracks. Standing in front of them was a man dressed in a dark grey slicker raincoat and hat, with only his eyes visible as the coat's collar and hat were concealing his face.
"I'll be alright young man," Q said weakly to his mysterious questioner. "I've been a sickly boy since birth and never got better you see. I can hardly walk on my own so I use ol' Stronger here to get me around," he said gently patting his horse's neck.
"I see, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's alright," Q said producing a basket full of apples from his coat. "But thanks for your concern…here, have an apple on me."
"Thanks," the man said carefully selecting and taking an apple before biting into it. As soon as this happened the apple exploded like bomb with a huge blast of smoke and flame.
"Now that's a pity," Q grinned weakly to himself at the sight before him. "For such a nice guy you sure had lousy luck not to spot danger in time."
But when the smoke from the explosion finally cleared, Q's eyes widened in astonished disbelief. The man he had just blown up with his explosive apple was STILL standing before him and Stronger complete unharmed! "That was delicious," the man said casually as he finished eating the apple as if nothing had happened. "But I'm curious," he went on tossing the apple core away. "Exactly what were you planning on doing after you killed me?"
Before Q could say or do anything the man was suddenly right in front on him, his left hand on his neck and his right hand was on the back of Stronger's neck. "You stupid old FOOL 'Doc Q'," the man sneered at the shocked pirate. "Did you really think I'd be taken in by such a simple ruse?!"
"Who…who are you?" Q stammered weakly as he struggled to get free from the man's grip. Despite his sickly appearance Q was stronger than he looked, however his opponent was holding him in a grip like steel!
"I'm the 'Slickerman,'…does that title mean anything to you?"
Q's eyes widened in terror hearing this, as he did indeed know THAT title. The Slickerman was known everywhere as one of the most wanted men alive! He even had Gold Roger's old Bounty of 5,564,800,000 Berries on his head! The reason for such a high bounty was due to his crimes, crimes which had earnt him some terrible titles by the World Government.
To the Marines he was known as 'The Butcher of Justice' as he had no qualms in killing Marines of any sort, regardless of rank. He'd earnt the title of 'Celestial Dragon Slayer' after he had supposedly killed one, however it was rumoured he had merely crippled said noble. But reports were hazy on that from Sabaody Archipelago. The one title which terrified people the most about the Slickerman, was that he was also known as 'The Slayer of the Seas.' Basically, ANYONE who travelled on any of the Blues or Grand Line be they pirate, civilian or fishman were all game to him.
"It seems that my fate is to die by the Slickerman's hands," Q said shakily expecting nothing but death for him and his horse now.
"If I wanted to kill you Q," the Slickerman said matter of factly to his victim. "We wouldn't be having this conversation and you'd already be dead. As it so happens I'm going to let you and your horse live, however I shall be requiring something off the pair of you. I already got it off your crewmates before I found you so they're just as lucky as you are."
"Glad to hear that our luck is better than most who meet you," Q said in hopeful relief. "What can Stronger and I do for you?"
"Nothing," the Slickerman said evilly. "Just don't move."
As he spoke the Slickerman suddenly became transparent and then his hands passed THROUGH Q and Stronger like a ghost. After a minute or two the Slickerman withdrew his hands and in the palms of his hands were two orbs of dull blue light.
"What…what have you done?!"
"I've removed both of your unused potential," the Slickerman told Q as he returned to a solid state again.
"Our what?"
"Your unused potential to swim as both you and your horse have eaten Devil Fruits," the Slickerman went on.
Q's eyes widened in shock at this statement. "How did you…?!"
"Never mind how I know," the Slickerman snapped irritably cutting Q off in mid-sentence. "Because I'm not going to tell you, also don't try USING your abilities on me as they won't work," he added carelessly. "But what I will tell you," the Slickerman went on. "Is that a Devil Fruit eater is robbed of their ability to swim, its due to it blocking a part of a person's spiritual potential to do so. Like a person who goes blind in one eye, while the eye is still in the socket the owner can still move and blink it despite the fact it's useless."
"So those orbs of light are Stronger and my spiritual potential to swim?"
"What do you do with that potential?" Q asked curiously hoping his enemy would say something he could tell his Captain about later.
"That Q," the Slickerman told him carelessly. "Comes under the title of 'none of your business!' With that said he pushed Q out of Stronger's saddle causing him to fall on the ground. Due to his sickly body the pirate now couldn't pick himself up without help.
With nothing to do, Q turned his head to the side and watched as the Slickerman closed his fingers around the orbs of light in his palms. (While he was watching, Q failed to notice a dark black vicious liquid slowly ooze its way up his back before disappeared into the bag on his back that contained his scythe.) Q watched as the orbs of light slowly turned from dull blue to pure black before the Slickerman uncurled his fingers from around them. Once done the Slickerman then tossed the now black orbs into a nearby alleyway before turning his attention back to Q.
"Right!" the Slicker covered man said rubbing his hands in satisfaction turning back to Q. "I'm all done here so it's time I leave, so consider this your VERY lucky day old man as someone will be around soon to give you a hand."
"What did you do with those orbs? Why did you toss them into that alley?"
"Never you mind," the Slickerman told him. "I'll just say for you to beware of 'The Men from SOMEWHERE'" he said with an evil chuckle. "Now you can tell me one more thing before I go."
"What's that?
"I've met your fellow crewmates as well as YOU…now you can tell me WHERE I can find your Captain?"
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"Fu, fu, fu," Robin smiled to herself. "I knew if I looked around this town enough I'd find you somewhere here eventually."
"So you have," PEW nodded in acknowledgement as he came up to dark haired woman and kissed her hand. "I'm happy to see you took my advice I left you," he smiled. "So tell me, what's it like being a member of the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"They're a lively bunch," Robin told him. "You were right when you said I should be honest with them, it seems they cherish honesty. But I feel that I still have a long way to go, before I can earn all their trust."
"Experience has shown," PEW said sagely. "That so long as people like us continue to be honest with the ones we're with, that trust WILL be earned."
"Like you and I," Robin smiled. "Which is why I'm glad I found you PEW as I need some information, on the house of course."
"Of course," PEW chuckled. "Now what can I do for you?"
"Well," Robin said thoughtfully gathering her thoughts. "Shortly after leaving Alabasta, my fellow Straw Hats and I discovered a ship that had fallen from the sky. When we examined the ship we discovered a map leading to a 'Sky Island', which was confirmed by our log pose.
"Let me guess," PEW said cheerfully seeing where this conversation was going. "When Luffy found out there was an island in the sky, he wanted to try and go find it?"
"Fu, fu, fu, that's right, so we came here to see if we could find out anything on how to actually get there. If it exists of course."
"Well then Robin you may have had incredible luck finding me again like this. If you want to know about the 'Sky Island' I suggest you take this," he said producing a rolled up map.
"What is it?" Robin asked as she took the map off the information dealer.
"It's a map of Jaya Island," PEW told her. "It'll lead you to a man called Mont Blanc Cricket who lives on the far side of the island. Believe it or not he's the descendant of a famous explorer who may just be able to help you all out."
"Why thank you," Robin smiled as she unrolled the map and examined it. "But I take it there's more to this than what you just told me?"
"Of course there is," PEW smiled. "But I think its best you hear the information from Cricket himself. Luffy wouldn't find it fun if he had all the answers at once, now would he?"
"True enough," Robin said rolling up the map. "Thanks for the help PEW."
"It's my pleasure," PEW said taking Robin's hand and kissing it again. "Now if you'll excuse me I have lots of other things to do here."
"Fu, fu, fu," Robin smiled lightly. "Always a gentleman."
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In the 'Pub and Pie' bar Marshall D. Teach, most commonly referred to by his epithet 'Blackbeard,' chugged away merrily on a bottle of soda as he sat at the bar waiting for his order of cherry pie. Blackbeard was a tall man of 11 feet 3 and a half inches, with a small scruffy black beard growing around his jawline. He had a massive build as his body was round with relatively thin limbs. He had a big mouth with several missing teeth, black eyes, a pronounced crooked nose with a very large hairy chest and torso. Long thick woolly black hair fell down the back of Blackbeard's neck from underneath a black bandanna. He was wearing a open button up white shirt with rolled up sleeves, green trousers with black line patterns, a yellow sash was around his waist with a pair of classic black swashbuckling boots complete with large bronze buckles.
'Ha!' Blackbeard thought cheerfully to himself as waited for his pie. 'Everything is really going my way so far! I got the Devil Fruit Powers I wanted, along with the first few crewmembers I wanted too. I really must remember to thank PEW for giving me the information on them the next time I see him. Drum Island never knew what hit them when we showed up, that so called 'King' Wapol was the only smart person on that island to flee at the sight of us!'
'I wonder if PEW will reconsider my offer to join him?' he thought on as he chugged down his soda before throwing the empty bottle away. 'Sure the guy said no, but maybe he changed his mind in the meantime. After all…he believes in fate and the dreams of men like me.'
******Flashback******
"Ahoy there!" Blackbeard called up from his raft-esque ship to the figure of PEW standing on the deck of his own ship 'The Enlightenment'.
"Permission to come aboard!"
"Granted," PEW called as he took off his gloves before dropping a rope ladder down for his visitor to climb up on.
"Thanks PEW!" Blackbeard smiled to the hooded information dealer as he climbed up to join him. "Good to see you," he said shaking PEW's hand once he got up on 'The Enlightenment's' deck.
"I wish I could say the same," PEW said dryly with a wince from the handshake before putting his gloves back on. "I don't think very highly of people who murder a fellow crewmate to get what they want, especially a member of Whitebeard's crew!"
"Za-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I take it the old man or some of his commanders came asking about me? You shouldn't believe everything you hear you know."
"Oh but I do," PEW said seriously. "I wouldn't want to be in your shoes SHOULD Whitebeard decide to come looking for you. So let's cut the chat and get to why you're here to see me."
"Straight to the point," Blackbeard smiled. "I like that! Good thing I brought gold to settle this business!"
"Let's go to my study then," PEW said indicating Blackbeard to follow him. "So you can tell me what you want."
As the two of them moved off, PEW pulled out a small flat hand held device from his pocket, then pressed a series of buttons in a pattern on it. This action caused the device to emit a faint fluty note barely heard by himself or his visitor.
"Okay Teach," PEW said sitting down at his desk once the two of them had reached his study. "Sit down and tell me what's all this about."
"Well it's like this," Blackbeard said sitting in a chair before PEW's desk. "I'm on my way to becoming King of the Pirates, but I need my own crew of followers to be Captain of first. But I don't want just anyone," he added. "I need a crew who are the strongest, and passionate in what they do."
"So you like me to give you a list of people who are like you," PEW said thoughtfully getting up and moving to his filing cabinets. "Strong believers of fate and dreams as well as utterly ruthless?"
"Za-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! You got it in one as usual PEW!"
"You realise that this will cost you?" PEW said over his shoulder as he searched his filing cabinet.
"Don't worry I've got gold to settle this business," Blackbeard said reaching into his pocket and dumped a large money sack on PEW's desk.
"Good because the information you want on the kind of people for your crew is VERY expensive."
"I'd like you to join my crew too," Blackbeard went on.
This statement caused PEW to stop what he was doing and turn around in surprise. "Me?"
"Of course," Blackbeard smiled. "You are one of THE most powerful people in this world being an information dealer. By joining my new crew we can bring everyone to their knees with what you know!"
"My information is to be used by everyone equally Teach," PEW said to Blackbeard warningly. "If I were to start playing 'favourites' with just one side or one person, my entire EXISTENCE would be a crime and I'd never know a moments peace!"
"You'd be alright if you joined with me!" Blackbeard said eagerly. "Think about it! As an important member of my crew with your skills we could all outshine Gold Roger and his old crew! "Za-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! They wouldn't forget OUR names in a real hurry!"
"Forget it Teach," PEW said dismissively turning back to his filing cabinet. "I'm not interested."
Before Blackbeard could protest PEW's rejection he suddenly went limp as several tentacles whipped up around his neck, waist and arms. He tried to open his mouth to speak but he found to his shock his entire body was unresponsive.
"Good work Preke," PEW said in happy approval as he turned around to face the now paralysed Blackbeard and his attacker. "Don't kill him though, he is a paying client although he's not the most TRUSTWORTHY," he went on walking up to the immobile pirate.
"Marshall D. Teach," PEW said grandly placing a notebook on the desk. Allow me to introduce you to my partner Preke the Mimic Octopus. I've trained him to guard my ship and come at my summons, when questionable people like you come on board. But you don't have to worry," he went on. "Preke won't kill or eat you unless I allow him."
As he said this PEW made a waving motion with his hand, seeing this Preke withdrew his tentacled grip on Blackbeard causing him to slump forward onto PEW's desk.
"It's a good thing for you Teach," PEW said picking up Blackbeard's money sack and examined the contents it contained. "That you actually paid me for my services, because it means I'm going to let you go when I COULD have killed you but I didn't. So you'll remember this moment won't you?" the hooded information dealer said hardening his voice in anger as he put the money sack into one of his desk draws.
"Because I don't think real highly of cowardly backstabbing murderers like you, so think yourself lucky I'm not killing you OR handing you back to Whitebeard. As like him I know you're not worth it! Now," he went coming around his desk to pick up the paralysed Blackbeard and placing him on his back. "I'm going to take you back to your ship and send you off with that information you wanted. But you don't have to worry about being helpless," he said carrying Blackbeard out of his office. "Preke's venom will wear off on you in about 12 hours."
******End Flashback******
'Yep,' Blackbeard smiled to himself. 'That PEW would be an incredible addition to my crew. A man after my own heart, ruthless, cunning and determined.'
"Marshall D. Teach?" a voice suddenly said breaking Blackbeard out of his thoughts.
"Who's asking?" Blackbeard said turning to see the Slickerman standing before him.
"I am," the Slickerman chuckled darkly. "You and I, need to have a little…chat!"
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And there we go for this chapter dear readers, I hope it made up for my absence with this! I hope the return of Preke helped too as I felt he hadn't been seen for a while.
Anyway, just WHO is the mysterious Slickerman and what is his game? He seems to make the likes of Blackbeard, Bellamy and his boss Doflamingo unimportant! Will the Slickerman meet the Straw Hats? IF he does can PEW help Luffy and his friends before he tries something on them? WHO or WHAT are 'The Men from SOMEWHERE?' Is that why PEW has GHOST…to counter the Slickerman? Questions, questions and so few answers! I can assure you that answers ARE coming, so until then read and review like always won't you? Good Health, Clear Body, Strong Mind!
Also remember once again, if you don't like my work then don't read or review it! NO-ONE, is forcing you to! Cheers!