Chapter 7
"Excuse me?" Said the dark tailed mermaid named Robin.
"I need a pill that can extend the time a bit." Zoro said.
"What for?"
"I planned on trying to get this organization's favor. To do that I may need to extend the time a bit."
"I see… You do realize that by giving you a stronger dose then what I given to you before, may harm you physically?"
"I noticed that from the first pill you gave me."
"And you wish to continue this?"
"I have to! Unless I find some other alternative, this is my only plan of action."
"Have you thought it through?"
"It's a working process…"
They stared each other down before Robin sighed.
"Very well… Come by this evening and it will be ready."
"Thanks… Sorry to bother you."
"It's no bother. I rather enjoy this company."
Zoro didn't respond as he went back to the cove, just in time for Luffy to arrive. 'I swear I'm gifted with the damn timing!' He thought as he heard his name and went up.
"Zoro!"
"What's up?"
"You never guess what happen back home!"
"Ohh… kay… I'm not guessing."
"Okay! I was going to come to the cove, right? Well, my brother came home early so I had to stick around to have some time with him. Then this strange guy comes up to our place and Ace told me he saw him earlier back at the café he works in.
Well, turns out the guy, Lt. Smoker I think, is an undercover cop from the city! He told us what I told you and Ace was all revved up to bring these guys down. But Smoker told Ace that, since he's a residence of the area we live in, he can't really help him. He said he has to find a really strong person who can be able to do night undercover work. I thought about you, but I don't think sharkman was part of the description."
"Oh well, I probably wouldn't get in."
"Of course Zoro would! You're strong and really cunning when you want to be."
"When was I ever those?"
"I dunno. But you do."
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Don't make assumptions of people you don't know."
"But I know Zoro." Luffy said as he tilted his head. "I knew Zoro since he was nine and I was seven!"
Zoro grinned and nodded. "That you did."
Luffy giggled as he plopped down onto the sand.
"That Smoker guy said that he's going to go around the village to find anyone interested in the line of work."
"Why there?"
"I dunno. I think he thinks that there could be someone that could be a good player."
"Hmm… Smoker right?"
"Yeah! He's this really big muscular guy with white hair, but he's not old, old, and he has two cigars in his mouth, which looks a bit silly!"
Zoro listened carefully, knowing what he has to do later in the evening.
That evening, in the village
Smoker sighed as he walked around the village for what seemed like the third time around.
So far he has seen no one who seems to be a 'thug' type that could be also an honorable one. He as seen thugs, but they were small fry compared to what he had to deal with back in the city.
On the fourth round of the village, he heard someone being mugged, only to hear a startled yelp. He quickly went down the alley to see an elderly couple on one corner, a man being held up by the front of his shirt, and the man in-between them, lifting the man up.
"Oi! Has your mother ever taught you to respect your elders? Or are you the type that could sell your own mother for a lousy pack of drugs?" Said the man in the black bandana.
He liked him. This was the kind of guy he would be able to trust.
The man threw the man far from the old couple. "You two better get along with your evening. And be careful from here."
"Thank you young man."
"I don't need thanks, but you're welcome all the same."
Yep! He just found his man!
Smoker waited for the man to come out from the alley when he saw the pathetic thugger run out like a pansy with his pants on fire.
"Oi." He said to the man before he left the alley.
"What? You want a piece of me too?"
"Nah. I'm not into fighting unless they really pissed me off. I saw what you did in there, and I must say I'm impressed."
"You a cop or a fighter instructor?"
"I'm an undercover cop, and I was wondering if you could do something for me."
"Is it about that hotel crap business?"
"I guess you've heard."
"A good friend of mine lives in that area."
"Oh?"
"I've been planning about trying to get into this organization thing, but I really don't know the whole process."
Smoker likes him more now that he's talking to him. "So you're interested?"
"I usually don't like being told, but this is for my friend, who I owe my life too."
"You usually here in the evenings?"
"Yeah…"
"What's your name?"
"Name's Roronoa Zoro."
"Roronoa, huh?"
"Yeah, I've just got one thing to do for me."
"What's that?"
"Don't ever repeat my name to anyone. My friend doesn't know I'm doing this. If he did, he would beg me not to do this."
"He's really important to you then?"
"More than my life is worth."
Smoker studied the man and decided that the man before him is able to do the job.
"I'm Lt. Smoker. It's nice to be acquainted with you."
"Same. So, do we start now or come back at a certain time and place?"
"I'll show you the place and tell you what you should do and act for tomorrow."
"Sounds good."
With that, the two walked down the street, in silence that held a promise of a plan being unfold.