Hey everyone, so I've officially decided to upload a new chapter for Rotten Punks In City Z during the weekend like I do Remnant's Scarecrow In Remnant. However, the updates might be bi-weekly as I'm trying not to burn myself out too much and risk losing motivation to write.
Also, after this chapter, the chapters for this series will still be the average of 3,000 words apiece so no worries there.
With that, I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoy the read.
Oh, and don't forget to leave a review, and don't be shy to criticize as I like criticisms just as eagerly as compliments!
Cheers, Searoar.
"Let's begin with some nice coffee, shall we? Or are you guys more so on the tea side?" Asked a young woman with brown hair that was tied in a bun. She fixed the cuffs of her suit as her hazel eyes observed the two mystery heroes before her, she took a seat across the table and got comfortable.
Though bandaged from head to toe, Kid refused to show weakness and crossed his arms defiantly. He had no idea where he was, but this lady was obviously in cahoots with the world government by the way she dressed.
Killer, who assumed the same as his captain, did well to hide his emotions as his mask proved to be the ultimate camouflage. However, being the more level-headed and pragmatic of the two pirates, Killer sighed and spoke first in an attempt to cease any unnecessary violence.
"Tea is fine," Killer said. Though the two steaming cups and their respective kettle would remain untouched for the entire conversation.
"It was quite impressive for two men of no reputation to take on such a high-level threat along the borders of city Z. Tell me, what are your names?" The office lady seemed nice enough, but Kid and Killer weren't about to trust anyone just yet.
"Where are we? And what do you mean by no reputation?" Kid asked bluntly.
The woman giggled and gestured to the small room around them.
"You're in one of the small offices of city Z's hero branch. Though the two of you were treated at the nearest hospital, the doctors were flabbergasted at how fast you recovered. Not to mention how swiftly you regained consciences."
"Hero branch?" Kid blinked and turned to Killer who only shrugged.
"Look lady," Kid continued, "I don't know what kind of plot the world government is trying to pull; but if you're trying to trick me and my buddy into doing your dirty work..."
The captain's hand clenched and the metal attached to the chairs and table started to bend.
"Then I'll give you ten seconds to make a run for it before I start trashing the place."
"Excuse me?" The woman almost fell off her chair but managed to snag the table's edge to regain her balance.
"Kid!" Killer grunted. "This isn't the time or place for that. You know as well as I do that we're not fit for a high-scaled battle, and this might be our chance to snag a few provisions and then make a run for it."
Killer said that last part in a whisper as his friend calmed down.
The metal of their seats wrenched, the entire room felt angled but neither Kid nor Killer paid any mind. The office lady, however, was less than happy as she tried her best to sit up straight.
"Are you gonna reward us for our good deeds then?" Kid chuckled in a mocking tone.
"Yes..." The office lady seemed offended by the red-haired man's words but hid her displeasure well.
"The Hero Association has decided to grant you both a high starting rank in Class-C as we are aware of King's contributions to the monster's defeat. However, young Miss Emily and her parents are well-respected donors in the Hero Association, and they spoke very highly about your brave efforts."
"That blonde punk?" Kid curled a brow.
"The one that got everyone to cheer for us..." Killer lamented.
"Yes, the very same," the office lady grinned. "Now if you'd sign these papers, we can get you two evaluated in the following month after you've fully recovered from your wounds."
Two sheets printed with black ink, Kid and Killer eyed the information relayed on the papers with mistrust. The paper lacked the world government symbol and instead had an emblem of an eagle with its wings outstretched that was surrounded by the words: Anti Disaster Measures. Hero Association.
The pirates shared a look.
"Evaluated for what?" They said in unison.
"For your hero entries, of course." The woman chuckled, but her content expression faltered at the blank faces of the men across the table. Or at least the red-haired fellow for that matter, as the man beside him was wearing a mask.
"Is something wrong?" The office lady asked as she pulled out two pens and placed them beside the evaluation sheets.
"We're not doing this." Kid scoffed and stood from his seat. "Let's get going, Killer, we got a lot of stuff we gotta take care of."
His vice-captain nodded and joined him.
"H-Hey!" The office lady glanced at the papers on the slanted desk then at the backs of the retreating men. "We aren't finished yet!"
"I don't give a damn about being a government dog, but you bandaged us up so I guess I'm in a more charitable mood than usual. You're lucky lady, any other day and I would have chucked you through the nearest wall in a pile of scrap metal." Kid laughed as he kicked open the office door.
"The tea is about to spill by the way." Killer pointed out as the respective cups slid off the desk and broke on the floor.
"G-Get back here you two! Your ascension to the top ten in Class-C is what my promotion is counting on!" The woman begged but was cut off by the loud slam of the door.
"Yeesh, what was that all about?" Kid sighed as he and his pal made it to the outside. However, the moment their eyes adjusted to the sunlight, the pirates were greeted with a most unfamiliar sight.
Long roads of asphalt with tall, squared buildings beside them, people of all styles walked around the area without a care in the world. Casually gossiping about the latest hero booklet or whatever else was on their minds.
"Where the hell are we?" Kid grumbled.
"This doesn't look like the Sabaody Archipeligo, and I don't think we're anywhere near it either." Killer hummed in interest.
"Oh, there you guys are!" Called a girl from across the road. "I was hoping to see you as soon as you got out of the hospital, but I guess it's better late than never, right?"
Her blonde twintails swayed as she skipped across the road, though she made sure to check for any oncoming vehicles, the girl beamed a pearly smile as she hopped in front of her two saviors.
"Hiya, it's me, Emily!" She laughed.
"What the heck do you want? We don't have time for some petty punk." Kid growled.
"Wow, such an aggressive demeanor, no wonder you're a hero!" The girl pulled out two large orange envelopes and held them out to both Kid and Killer. When neither showed any action to take it, Emily opted to thrust it against their stomachs which forced them to accept it.
"I'm not sure being a hero is in our regime. Hell, I don't look like one of those civilian bootlickers do I, Killer?" The captain veered his sights to his number two.
The massacre soldier cupped his chin. "Not if our bounties have anything to say about it."
"Well?" Emily asked a tad impatiently. "Aren't either of you curious as to what's inside the envelopes? I had my parents pull a few strings so I could show you guys the news ahead of the weekly paper!"
Kid and Killer ripped open the envelopes in hopes of finding money but were disappointed and surprised as to what they found.
"What the fuck is this?!" Kid yelled as a vein bulged above his forehead.
"No way..." Killer muttered in disbelief.
Instead of their bounty posters, or the sheets the office lady tried to give the men moments prior, the faces of the former pirates were printed on the front of a dazzling page filled with glitter and paint.
"Rock-band-themed heroes to the rescue?" Kid grit his teeth.
"The newest evil-thrashers rise to the spotlight?" Killer added. "Proud heroes reporting for duty in city Z?"
"You got that right!" Emily's smile returned along with her exciting vigor.
"But you might want to read the bottom section of the paper... Because while the people of city Z are thankful..."
Emily trailed off her statement with a more sheepish smile as her new favorite heroes eyed the bottom half of the article that read:
"Bursting into the world of greatness with gallant splendor, The Magnetic Flame and Massacre Soldier are plowing through the scene and are staking their claim in Class-C. But are our new debuts content with their C-class stature? Or will they rise even further through means of greater heroic deeds?! Only time will tell!"
"Magnetic Flame?" Kid asked with furrowed brows.
"If the people here don't know who I am, then how on earth did they manage to get my nickname right?" Killer wondered in curious awe.
"Yup!" Emily's voice burst the duo from their internal musings as they lowered their papers to stare at the chirpy girl.
"Starting from now on, The Magnetic Flame and Massacre Soldier are C-class heroes! Sorry that I couldn't get you straight into B-class, but mom and dad don't really have that much of a say when it comes to the rankings."
Kid and Killer's eyes drifted back to their respective papers to read what Emily meant.
According to Kid's sheet, the captain was ranked in slot 31 of class C with Killer not too far behind at 62. However, that was the least of their concern as the final writing on their articles nabbed their undivided attention.
"Why the hell do we owe this damned city 500,000 berries?!" Kid hollered angrily.
"It's because..." Emily traced circles on the pavement with her hands clasped behind her back and her head towards the ground.
"There was quite a lot of property damage after you used your psychic powers to destroy the nearby buildings, vehicles, and other miscellaneous objects to deal with the monster."
"Psychic powers?" Kid growled.
"Yup, like the Blizzard Of Hell and Tatsumaki!" Emily replied.
"What kind of messed up city is this? Where in the grand line are we?" The red-haired pirate demanded.
"Grande line?" Emily tilted her head. "What kind of place is that? The only places I know are city's A through Z."
Kid and Killer shared a glance that spoke of unquestionable confusion.
"Where the hell did that Blast guy teleport us and how do we get back home?" The two translated to each other through looks alone.
Oh boy... was this going to be a long night for the soon-to-be heroes of city Z...
