"Whew. That's some bomb that bastard placed." Thatch winced while looking at the debris on the salty water as well as what's left of the boat that contains several firearms as their stocks.
"That Fire Fist is testing my patience. yoi." Marco is in a terrible mood right after receiving the news. "Any casualties?"
"None so far. It's really good that no one was on the boat at that time. They were in the truck and were about to load the items when the incident happened. There were a few injuries, but not life-threatening." Vista said, shaking his head in the process.
"Good."Marco nodded. "Have all our allies focus on capturing Fire Fist. We need to know what he wants. For him to constantly target us must mean he wants to deal with our group."
"That's what is puzzling us. First, he's fixated on Big Mom, then all of a sudden, he's targeting us. I don't remember that we've done anything to offend him."Thatch said.
Since the first incident, they have been on high alert, but it seems that Fire Fist is hell-bent on messing with Whitebeard.
At first, they are still wondering who was destroying their hides, but as it turns out, it's Fire Fist. They caught sight of the culprit using one of the CCTV cameras they installed in the boat where she planted the bombs after disappearing.
The hood and the mask covering his identity would have made it hard to figure out who he is, but the insignia of fire on the clothes is what enlightened them of the identity of their enemy.
"Is he targetting Pops?" Haruta wondered.
"He's a fool to think he can assassinate Pops, yoi. He will have to get past over my dead body before that happens." His voice is chilly, filled with contempt. Marco will not dare hold back against anyone who threatens their father's life.
"From the previous information we have, he specializes in destroying business establishments, halting the operations of the Mafia Groups. Could he be a World Government Agent?" Vista is frowning while shaking his head because, in his mind, he thinks that this kind of assumption doesn't add right.
"If he's with the World Government, he shouldn't have burned a few of their buildings and shot one of the generals."
Fire Fist became one of the wanted criminals that to date, no one has managed to subdue or capture, much less have information about him.
"Do you think he's working for Blackbeard?" The question came from Vista.
"We cannot rule out that possibility, yoi." Marco sighs, getting a little headache from this situation. The more mysterious their enemy is, the more they need to be careful. "Anyway, I have other matters to attend to today - "
"Does that involve a certain singer?" Thatch wigged his eyebrows, looking at Marco with teasing glint in his eyes.
The blond exhaled a breath, closing his eyes in frustration. Leave it to Haruta to spread the word to their family members.
"Getting cozier, eh?" The culprit managed to say, laughing mischievously.
Marco didn't say anything, just left while shaking his head while his siblings are whistling non-stop. Answering their inquiries will only lead to more questions, he'd rather keep his mouth shut.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
"They're looking for Fire Fist. Any information about him will grant you rewards from the Whitebeards."
"Really? He must have a loose screw in the head to target another Emperor when he didn't manage to destroy Big Mom's."
The men are laughing, mocking Fire Fist for the recklessness he did. Those words did not escape Ann's ears, alarmed that her identity has been discovered, at least as Fire Fist.
She was careful when she executed that operation that destroyed about 50 million of Whitebeard's assets, but he knows such an amount is nothing to them. Still, she's hoping she can lead them on a guessing game as to who the culprit is. But now, it seems that plan has failed.
Without changing her expression, she continues walking towards her small shop, passing by the thugs who are still talking about Fire Fist and Whitebeard.
As soon as she arrived in her shop, she locked herself in her mini office, pondering on where exactly did she do wrong. Looking back, she was wearing a hoodie with a fire insignia embroidered to it.
"Careless!" She exclaimed to herself. Because she does not have the interior layout of the boat, naturally, she lacks the information of where CCTV cameras may be. There might have been footage that captured her image, leading Whitebeards to identify Fire Fist as the culprit.
"Seems like I have no choice."She muttered to herself. At first, even with the invitation from Marco so she can apply to one of their companies, she is still adamant about it. After all, being a spy is not her forte, that is Sab's.
"Perhaps, I can put my advantage a use."Ann is talking about the infatuation that Marco has with her. She may not be able to get information about their family outright, but gaining his trust will ensure that he will never suspect her for anything, and that is enough.
"Once the head is dead, the rest will collapse."
With that said, she readies herself for that interview, the first one in her life. She has to ask Sab about what kind of questions she will get and the inquiries made Sab shake her head in exasperation.
Marco told her to just walk in and submit her application as they are already expecting her. From his actions alone, it seems that he badly wants to get Ann accepted.
Wearing simple jeans and a shirt, she heads to the office of the car manufacturing company under Whitebeard's control, a little nervous. This is the first time she will undergo an operation that will likely take months before she can finish. When she went undercover before, it was using a different name, and most of the time, it's only for a few days, just enough to get her target.
This time is different. After all, his target is Whitebeard himself.
Looking at the tall building, she composes herself before walking into the entrance, asking the receptionist for the man named Blenheim, the one in charge of the company.
For normal applicants, they need to go through HR, but Marco told him to ask for that man. She's not stupid not to know who that man is, it's one of the commanders of Whitebeards.
"He's expecting you at the moment. Please proceed to the 4th floor where his office is. Room 409." The receptionist said.
"Thanks!"
As soon as she's on the fourth floor, she was greeted by the secretary and told to go inside the office.
"You must be Ann, right?" A tall-burly man welcomed her. By her estimates, he must be at least 6'5 in height, with the stature of someone who frequents a gym.
The shirt he's wearing only makes him look like a rugged mafioso, which technically, he is.
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you as well! Thatch already told me about you even before Marco. He was praising you."
"He must be exaggerating."
"Sometimes he does, but he knows what he's doing. I don't like formal interviews and such, so why don't we head to the hangar to see how you do?"
"I was hoping you will say that."
They headed down the area where the cars are being assembled. On their way to the hangar, Blenheim keeps asking her questions about cars, different types of engines, and anything related to it.
The conversation is smooth, surprisingly, Ann enjoys it. It's not every day that she gets to talk to someone about her passion.
The test he was referring to is to fix a certain engine. While she narrates what tools and parts she will need to do so. For most beginners, it would be difficult, but not for Ann. She's been working on vehicles for as long as she can remember, often begging her father to let teach her how to drive at the tender age of 6 and that resulted in Roger laughing his ass off since her feet can't reach the pedestal.
"We'd love to have you on the team. Of course, you're going to work with the Engineers to develop improvements in the new vehicle we launch. We also have ships and boats, but we can leave the big machines in the future."
"You're hiring me? Now?"
"Of course! It doesn't matter if you finished college or not, as long as we see the drive for you to learn, the knowledge can be taught. It's the passion we want." Blenheim said.
Ann spent about an hour in the hangar and was ready to leave.
"Thank you for this opportunity." And she means it in every sense of the word.
"No worries! Oh, I was also told by Marco that this is just your part-time job?"
"Yes. I run a small repair shop and I have an assistant mechanic with me. I don't want to close it down on short notice since he also has a family to take care of." In truth, she could have just close it down anytime.
"That won't be a problem. Why don't you take your assistant to apply here as well? We're still hiring, so an additional experienced employee will be welcome."
Ann is heavily surprised at how trusting these people are, but no complaints will ever be heard from her, not when these are playing according to her advantages.
"I'll ask him."
"Great! When can you start?" Blenheim asked.
"How about next week, Monday? Would that be alright?"
"Absolutely! Just report here anytime. Work starts at 9 AM till 5 PM. You can report an hour earlier on Monday so we can give you a tour of the company."
"Alright. Looking forward to working with you." She offers her hand and he takes it without hesitation.
"Same!"
After that interview, Ann exited the building, walking in the direction of the bus terminal. As she was waiting for the light to turn green, a blue sports car stopped right in front of the Pedestrian lane, the window sliding down, revealing a familiar blond man.
"Hey." He said, smiling at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"On my way to the office. How's the interview, yoi?"
"Good." Ann is still surprised at the coincidence that Marco is here when he should be at the location where the bombing incident happened.
Unless he doesn't think of it as something worthy of his time which Ann doubts.
'Is he here because of me?'
"You might want to drive away. The light's about to turn green."
"Of course. I'm hungry after all." It's a simple reminder to her about her promise. "Aren't you?"
"Why don't you get straight to the point, Mr. Newgate?"
"How about that lunch, yoi?" He smiled at her, comfortable at the level of conversation they are having.
"Eager, huh? Fine. You're lucky that I am hungry." Without hesitation, she got inside his car, not the first time since they met.
With the opportunities presented in front of her, it will be a good idea to slowly get to know Marco Newgate. And if everything goes well, he might as well lead her to kill Whitebeard once and for all.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
The news of a boat being burned to crisp spread all over Grandline. This is not a piece of foreign news to anyone who resides in Grandline, rather, what's surprising is that the owner of the boat is Newgate Group of Companies, a large corporation that also has several charities across Grandline, helping those who are in need.
On the surface of the public, it's from a wealthy corporation that has done nothing but good deeds to the corporate world and the public, but in the murky world of the streets, the Mafia world, they know that the boat belongs to none other than Whitebeard.
Who would dare bare their fangs at Whitebeard? Many are suspecting the other Emperors for they are the only ones who can compete with another Emperor, but they are not rash as to incite a war that can very well end their group.
"Your sister's being reckless,"Nami commented upon seeing the newspaper. Even without sufficient evidence about who the culprit of the massive bombing incident, they know that it's Ann. No one in their right minds will bear their fangs like this to one of the Emperors.
Well, maybe there's one. Luffia.
"We already told her that it's useless to be fixated on Whitebeard, but she does not listen. Oh, well."Luffia shrugs. Squabbles and conflicts in the streets are common occurrences.
Robin only nodded at that response as she exchanged looks at the other members of the group. Even now, none of them are aware of what the sisters' goals are. Yes, it is evident that Sab is battling World Government, but why? She came from the orphanage along with Ann and Luffia, grew up as sisters. Why does she need to go out of her way to target the organization? It couldn't be just about the injustice that many has suffered, could it?
"Luffia..." Robin called out."Have you asked your sisters for help when it comes to tracing the group targetting us?"
Luffia immediately stopped eating the moment she heard Robin. For a second, she hesitated.
"No." She said. "There's no need for them to interfere." And she wants to keep it that way.
"With the group constantly probing in our territories, they might find out something they shouldn't have."
"They won't. The others won't spill out who I am." She's referring to the group that volunteered to be part of her fleet. It's not like she asked them to be under her command, they just said they will follow her. Apart from Strawhat members, the leaders and a few of the members knew what Strawhat looks like and with the amount of trust they placed on Luffia, they will never tell anyone who Strawhat is, even if they die.
"Yes, that is true." Sanji puffed out a cloud of smoke from his mouth. "It is still best to be warry, yes?"
Silence engulfed them, all are looking at Luffia, testing the waters.
"Well, with that said, why don't we start the business trades in Dressrosa? Any definite plans? We have to get rid of any spies that may be lurking there. Oh, I want to build an amusement park there!"Her cheerfulness came back to get rid of the sourness of the atmosphere.
Almost all of the members smiled, still in deep thoughts but they all answered her with what they have. In all honesty, they are not stupid not to have an idea who the leader of that group targetting them. Nami, Robin, and Sanji, three core members have an idea of who it could be, but they don't have sufficient proof.
It's just an assumption. By probing with Luffia, they are hoping she will impart a few of the things she knew, but judging from her answers, she won't.
They are not afraid that she will turn her back on them, what they are afraid of is the implications that may happen with her silence.
While smiling in front of her members, Luffia's mind runs deeper than she lets on. So many things are going through her mind right now.
Many will think that she's carefree, rambunctious, reckless, and childish, but deep down, she holds many reasons for her actions, albeit, she will admit some of them are any of the above.
There's a reason why she cannot let her members know that she knew of the identity that is hunting them, nor can she tell Zoro of her identity.
'He will hate me to the core.' She thought to herself, eyes glistening at the thought of being hated by the man she holds as one of the most important people in her life.
Right after their initial discussion, Luffia exited the building and walked towards the bus station to go to her part-time work. It's half past 5 PM and she needs to be at the bar by 6 PM.
As soon as she left, Robin voiced out her concern to Nami and Sanji.
"He's an important man in her life." There's no need to further elaborate on who she is referring to.
"I don't understand why she's keeping it a secret from us,"Nami added. "Had this been talked about, we could have come up with a plan against that group - "
"Nami..."Sanji's voice resonates in her ears. "If Luffia will ever say who one of the members of that assassination group, and it's someone close to her, will you dare tell her to spy on him? To use him?"
"That's - "
"I meant no disrespect in my words, but the only reason why Luffia's doing this is that that man doesn't know who she is. As much as I'd like to smack that asshole to the ground, he's important to Luffia."
"He's so important to her that she's willing to turn a blind eye on this matter? He's the Mafia Hunter, for God's sake!" Nami shouted her frustrations but none of the two dare to blame her for feeling so. Everyone in the streets knows what Mafia Hunter is like. Once he's set his eyes on a group, that group may as well face great disasters. He could very well order all the bounty hunters in Grandline to pursue Strawhat, and that's what is alarming - his influence.
Even if they are strong enough to withstand the might of the Mafia Hunter and his influence, it doesn't mean that they want a thorn in their necks. Not only that, he's teaming up with someone from World Government to attack Strawhats.
"Let's hope she will take matters seriously." Robin voiced out and that ends their conversation.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
"You okay?" Zoro inquired, frowning a little when he noticed that Luffia's a little different than usual.
"Hmm? Yes. I am. Why?" She feigns ignorance just as usual but knowing her for years made Zoro believe that something is bothering her.
"Something is on your mind. Care to tell me?" They're sitting in a coffee shop facing the ocean.
"Nothing much." She shakes her head.
"It couldn't be nothing if you're contemplating about it."
"I sometimes wonder if this will remain." Zoro has to blink a few times before he can understand what she means.
"This?"
"Yes. This."
"I don't know what has gotten into you to be this sentimental on me." He started. "But I don't think anything will change. Nothing can make this change."
"You won't change the way you treat me?" Luffia tilts her head, inquiring something so vague.
"Why would I change?"
"I don't know. Maybe you will change one day and hate me." Luffia's voice sounds so bleak.
Zoro scoffs at the ridiculousness of her idea.
"Stop thinking like that. I will never hate you." He's sure of this. He cannot think of anything that will make him hate the most important woman in his life.
"Hmm, okay!" She regains her vigor after his assurance, but deep inside, that thought never left her mind. It's always there, her fear that one day, Zoro will hate her.
'Devil's children should die!'
'Good riddance! The world is rid of demons like them. If they are anything like their father, they will only cause disasters!'
Several times, Luffia and her sisters often hear this from the streets. Some are saying the children of Roger are still alive and if they are, they should have been dead.
Most of them hold a grudge against their father for numerous reasons: their groups were utterly defeated, there was a territory that they did not get from Roger, or that Roger had killed a member of their group.
Most of the time, Luffia ignores it. Despite how she looks and acts, she knows this world is a cruel one.
Either you die or live.
You kill or be killed.
Strength is what matters the most. The hatred towards Roger had amassed that his children will be implicated. Luffia doesn't mind and doesn't care. Hatred from people she barely knew matters less to her.
As long as her loved ones do not hate her, that's all that matters.
Looking at Zoro who's drinking beside her, the fear lingers again, reminding her of a fact, that Zoro will one day hate her.
She still vaguely remembers the first time he had ever glared at her as if he's the person he hates the most. That time was when they were still students.
"Zoro..." He is sleeping like a log under the tree while she sits right beside him. He's snoring out loudly which makes her laugh.
Looking around, she looks at his bag, several papers are slipping out, crumpled. Without thinking, her hand reaches at a few of them, curious as to what it could be.
As soon as she sees what's in the paper, her mind instantly went blank, blinking a few times as if she's seeing a ghost.
Many questions came to her mind as soon as she saw it but before she had the chance to process her thoughts, a hand instantly snatched the papers off her hands.
Luffia looks up only to see Zoro glaring at her, mad.
She never saw this expression of his before.
"Zoro..." There's no answer, instead, he gathered all his belongings and left Luffia alone. The frown on his forehead never disappeared.
Luffia can still remember what those eyes look like. They're downright murderous, filled with killing intent that made her shiver.
Later that day, Zoro came to Luffia to apologize but never said anything.
"It's personal," is what he said to her.
"Too personal that you can't tell me?" She asked.
"It's for my parents." Again, his green eyes flashed with the same demonic look she witnessed.
After that, Luffia never brought it up. Even now, she can still remember it as if it happened yesterday.
After all, that paper contains a picture of none other than Gol D. Roger - Luffia's father - and the murderer of Zoro's parents.