Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Chapter 5

Algea Morvah, a tradesman local to Loguetown who worked in the harbour, is now wanted for the murder of two respected pillars of the community, his landlord Augustus Glint and shipping magnate Virgil Hapner Sr. Both crimes were committed on the same day and Algea is now believed to have fled Loguetown to sea. The matter is being investigated by the local marine branch run by Captain Barker 'We have been investigating the matter with utmost importance due to the heinous nature of these crimes and saw fit to label Mr Morvah a pirate and issue a bounty, rest assured Algea Morvah shall find no rest till the end of his days'.

I read the small segment dedicated to my crimes for perhaps the 50th time in the past few days, while I lay in my hammock smoking a cigarette and sipping on a beer. I have enjoyed my time on Barty's boat, the crew were good fun and while we worked hard, we partied hard too. It felt good to be a part of something, for your hard work to benefit you and the people you liked, Gambia was a great first mate, managing the crew and Barty is the kind of man you can look up to. He may be crass, rude and just a bit of an asshole but you couldn't help but respect his drive, lack of fear and freedom.

I felt a bit sad I couldn't just stay with them, but Barty had made it clear he wouldn't have me. The same night I read the news about Luffy we had a party, and drank till morning telling stories. I remember telling him about my life, about feeling lost and that I was looking for freedom and meaning to my life. In no uncertain terms, he told me I couldn't find that following someone else and informed me when they set sail from Mungren Island to the new world I would not be welcome on his ship and that I would have to find my own path and not just follow his. Gambia had argued as had a few of the crew but I understood that it was for my own good.

The journey to Mungren had been smooth sailing once I had taught a few of the crew basic navigation and sailing skills. I spent my free time training my body and swordsmanship, helping to sail the ship and enjoying the company of my fellow pirates. Specifically the young fellow with an eye patch named Marlowe, who had greeted me on my first night aboard the ship. We had become fast friends, both enjoying a drink and swordplay, he had given me some tips and we had sparred often, both of us increasing our skill greatly in doing so. I had managed to buy a rapier from another member of the crew as it was much lighter and the range of motion needed to use it effectively was much more forgiving on my healing shoulder.

"There it is," shouted a member of the crew

"You are meant to shout land ho," moaned Marlowe

"Alright all hands on deck in five, to bring her into the dock," Gambia ordered the crew

I collected my possessions. I had my sword Hejira attached at my left hip as usual but snuggled in next to the larger blade was my new rapier, it had a lovely basket guard made of interwoven bands of steel. I was very fond of it so far and found it suited the style of fighting I was developing. I was hoping with time I could strengthen my shoulder to wield the family heirloom, although the pain lessened with training and rest, it would get worse from extended use. Although it was an issue I had lived with for years without consulting a professional, I vowed if the chance arose I would get it checked.

At the small of my back, the pistol I had looted from Gus was holstered, the rest of my possessions were in my shoulder bag. I was dressed in the same clothes I had taken from Gus' flat with the hat pulled down over my face hoping to avoid people recognising me from my new bounty poster. With a bounty of 10'000 Beli, I would be an enticing target for pirates, bounty hunters and marines alike. It was an amount of money usually saved for established pirate captains with a litany of offences to their name, I did not doubt that Virgil Senior's connections and important position in combination with Virgil Juniors' need to pin the entire debacle on me was why I ended up with such a steep bounty.

The morning sun blinded me briefly as I made my way onto the deck, it was a hustle of men shouting over the wind and sea spray, fastening lines and adjusting sailes to bring us in at the correct speed. As we got nearer I could make out the great grey structure spanning the gap between the island's coasts. It was a beautiful old stone bridge, spanning a gap of roughly half a mile, and chugging across it was a green and black steam engine. It screeched, as though greeting us, as great clouds of smoke bellowed from its chimney, I could almost smell the fumes over the salty sea air from here.

The boat lazily cut through the water as we made our way under the shadow of the bridge. For some reason, I held my breath, like I was passing between the legs of a giant and dared not make a sound less it notice, and squash me like a bug. Other ships were moving about the harbour, some fishing, some moving to and from the great castle, and others like us seemed to be on the way to and from ports bringing merchandise.

I had seen the island on the map but it didn't do its size justice, it was a large crescent moon shape, with a city at the opposite end from us, and a few large towns dotted along the train tracks. Over the gap of the crescent was the bridge I was in awe of, and in the centre of the bay that the island's odd shape created was a diminutive island, and sat on it was an ancient-looking castle, gaunt and towering spires connected by battlements, made of cobblestone and painted with moss. It was beautiful.

"Take us to the second port to the right, er starboard," Barty called up to Gambia.

"Aye aye Sir," the blond chirped back from his place at the helm.

We moved lazily towards one of the port towns, it seemed a ramshackle town, filled with small houses packed close together like sardines and people moving about like ants. I could just make out people working on the docks, some carrying boxes to and from ships like I used to. There were children swimming and jumping into the water, men were fishing in large groups, most of them old and smoking pipes and cigarettes.

I felt a tight not of dread in my stomach, sailing on this ship the past few days had been like a dream. I had been put to work and loved it, I had learnt so much and felt purpose in my toil, I felt safe among these men, with Barty, Gambia, Marlowe and the rest. I would have to forge my own path now, in a world where I was wanted and had no one to watch my back. For a moment I felt like I could cry, but that wouldn't do anymore. I chose this life, and as I watched men work, carrying boxes, from boats down ramps, along the docks and into warehouses or loaded onto carts sweating in the warm midday sun. I knew I had made the right choice.

Marlowe came up onto the deck beside me, across his back he had a long thin package wrapped in cloth and string. He was a bit shorter than me and stood at around 6 feet, he wore a loose linen button down, only buttoned halfway up, with a pair of comfortable slacks and sandals. He had shoulder-length dark hair and a stubbled chin, he smiled at me. There was a gentleness in the way he did most things that I really liked about him, it felt refreshing in a world where men wanted to seem tough he was happy to be gentle.

"You gonna come with me to the broker?" he asked me.

"Yeah I wanna track down a Devil Fruit encyclopedia," I replied

"You really think your right about that fruit dont you?"

"I know I am but I have to be sure."

He was the only one I had told about my suspicions, that the fruit I carried in my bag was the Home Home Fruit wielded by Virgil Hapner Sr. I shuddered briefly, the image of his last moment and what was almost mine, still so fresh in my mind. I would acquire an encyclopedia hopefully from the broker and go from there. The issue of what to do with this information should I be correct rolled around my mind almost constantly

We pulled into the dock, some people looked at us strangely, others were trying to sell us things, and some were shouting instructions and demands. Bartolomeo jumped on the railings of the ship and began to yell at them all to 'fuck off or eat cannonballs', which was effective for the most part dispersing the worst of the crowd. We moored and began to disembark, most of the crew with jobs to do, some had items to sell, and others to restock the ship's pantry. Barty, Marlowe and I went off to the broker store, while Gambia and a skeleton crew stayed aboard to guard the ship.

In this town, the train tracks ran close to the inner port, while in others it ran close to the outer edge of the island. We crossed the tracks and entered into a large red brick building, mostly lined with shelves full of wooden crates being moved by men, while other men were led around by sellers with clipboards, explaining the goods. We were greeted by a smartly dressed slim man, with short blond hair and a round nose.

"Hello sirs, how can I help you today?"

"Take us to Mr Vulding," spat Barolomeo impatiently.

"I am afraid he is with a client at this time" the young man spoke apologetically.

"I dont care wimp, go get him," Barty was quickly losing patience.

"It's okay we have an important delivery," I quickly interjected smiling at the young man, hoping to get on his good side before he got on Barty's bad side.

"Hmm okay follow me, I'll see if he was expecting you," he said seeming unsure of himself.

We followed him up a flight of iron stairs that ran up one of the walls of the warehouse, to a door and window overlooking the shop floor. The seller rapped his knuckles softly on the door and received a cue to enter, he slipped in quickly so we could not see inside. Barty began tapping his feet angrily on the ground and none of us spoke. After a minute the man stepped out and smiled at us thinly.

"Mr Vulding will see you now."

With that, he scurried off to the warehouse floor, in search of a more normal client I assumed. We filed in one by one, Barty first and myself last. It was a small office space, with two large windows, one into the warehouse and the other out to sea, both covered with Venetian blinds. Around the room were various filing cabinets, one drinks caddy, overflowing with alcohol bottles, and in the centre of the room there was a metal desk, with two chairs facing it, one of which was occupied by a tall man, nearly as tall as me, with bulging muscles, pale white skin and a bald head, he was dressed a white tank top tucked into black trousers, and one chair on the other side. In which sat a squat tubby man with strangely long and thin legs which did not match his torsos shape. He was dressed in a wrinkled green linen suit, and his hair was similarly dishevelled and only grew in a horseshoe around his head, he stood up to greet us.

"Ah Mr Bartolomeo, I assumed it was you based on the description given to me by my delightfully flappable employee," he shook Barty's hand with a chuckle "Ah perhaps it is getting awfully cramped in her, Felix, you dont mind if we finish later do you?"

The large man kicked out of his chair with a grunt, glaring at each of us as he passed, Barty completely ignored him it seemed until he shoulder-checked the large man as he walked past. Barty carried on and sat down in the vacated seat without breaking stride, it looked like Felix would turn around for a moment but he carried on out of the room without a fuss. Marlowe took the other seat, not before removing the package from his back and laying it on the table. I stayed standing behind them by the door.

"Who wants a drink?" the short man asked while pouring himself a large dark drink that looked very good to me.

I held my tongue this really wasn't my place, it was nice enough of Barty to let me come. When nobody responded he took a sip of his, sucked some air sharply through his teeth and sat down with a satisfied groan into his squeaky leather chair, he slapped two hands down onto the table.

"Onto business then."

He unwrapped the sword quickly. It was a simple katana, with a beautiful guard that looked like a large fish coiled around itself, the scabbard had a blue tiger stripe pattern. Now Vulding, grabbed the sword by handle and scabbard and unsheathed it halfway, the blade was bright silver, but when the blade caught the light it had the same bluish tiger print pattern as the scabbard like the scales of a mackerel. He resheathed the blade and placed it back on the table.

"Ah, Aji, as described, excellent work, I'll get the money now"

Vulding bent down and pulled open a drawer low on his desk and fished out two sturdy envelopes and passed them to Barty, he opened them both, took a look inside and pocketed them both.

Barty shook the rotund man's hand once again, "Before we go," he turned to me "go ahead you old fart."

"Thanks, I need to get hold of a devil fruit encyclopedia, Barty told me you would be my best bet here."

"Ah, is he a member of your crew?" Vulding said, shocked.

"Nah just a friend," he replied seeming irritated.

"So, you have a fruit, perhaps you are trying to sell? I could help you see," His eyes had sharpened and his smile had faded to a thin line.

"No, I just saw one a while back, it got me thinking," I said with a chuckle.

I had been rehearsing this, devil fruits were very rare after all and even an awful one like the Frog Frog Model Grass Frog is worth a small fortune. Just asking was a massive risk, but I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't go back to Loguetown now, and other than that I wouldn't know where to look in the East Blue, and I was soon to be without Barty's connections so it was best to move fast and mitigate the risk as best as I could.

"I see," he rubbed his round chin, lost in thought "I could get you one but not fast, outside of Loguetown you don't see them often."

He reached into his desk and pulled out a small snail, with a receiver sitting at the top of its shell.

"Take this transponder snail and stay on the Island, I will reach out to people and get back to you this evening." He handed me the snail and sat down taking a much larger drink from his glance.

Barty grunted, turned and left the room, kicking the door open, Marlowe and I followed. We made it out onto the street where Marlowe stopped, noticing this Barty did also.

"Algea, I don't think you should stay here," Marlowe looked at me with earnest pleading eyes.

"I know it's stupid, but what else can I do at this point, I need answers," I replied with a sigh

"He won't let you leave even if he just suspects you have a fruit"

"That's what I am concerned about too"

"Honestly" Barty sniffed "I don't know why you care so much."

"I'm gonna take the risk" I replied seriously.

"I don't doubt it, but he will have backup" Marlowe warned me.