"Refusal comes with a price." The voice echoed in the room. The tone contained contempt directed at the people standing before this colossal figure who had built an empire in the dark streets of Grandline. This woman stood at the top of the food chain, looking down on many. One word from her can bathe the streets with blood.
"Mama - "
"Shut it!" She shouted at Perospero. Her hand swung to the left, inevitably affecting the bottle of wine. The loud sound of the glass breaking on the floor made everyone flinch except for her favorite son, Katakuri. "Didn't I clearly say to kill her if she refuses?!" Her eyes landed on her children, her generals, especially Katakuri whom she was always proud.
"We cannot be careless, Mama." He answered with a firm resolution.
"Are you saying I am reckless?!" She shouted, indignant to be spoken in such a way. Her other children in the room were nervously looking at Katakuri, afraid for him. Big Mom had never been the type to forgive any mishaps, even her children. Who knows how many of her children died for not satisfying her requirements?
"No, Mama. I may have failed to follow your orders, but I believed killing her will not benefit us. Roger's daughter is a wild card in the murky streets. If we killed her, we would arouse the hidden tigers and dragons that served her father to this day. We don't even know how many of them will rally for revenge. If we can observe her and know who she was in contact with, we will know her allies before striking them. Killing her will throw the balance of Grandline astray. It might trigger an all-out war from any side and we will be caught unprepared. These old dragons that have been hiding for years will emerge."
The anger on Big Mom's face slowly dissipated the more she listened to her son. So, she nodded at him, allowing him to continue.
"Whitebeard's men were also there. They might be out for her blood, but there was still resistance. She might have deeply affected them on an emotional level. Our advantage lay in the fact that Whitebeard and his men might not be aware of who she is. If they did, given Whitebeard's relationship with Roger, he might just jump into the fray. That is the last thing we needed. We can keep her identity a secret for now and let them duke it out while we prepare when we can strike."
Everything was reasonable but it didn't mean that Big Mom was satisfied. She originally thought of getting rid of Ann the Firefist before things went awry. From her understanding of the situation, Marco, like his father Whitebeard, held deep emotions for that woman. Big Mom would have loved to use that to manipulate the situation. It might not be a guarantee given how Whitebeard's men can be ruthless, but she was a piece worth holding on especially with her true identity. If she cannot have that advantage, might as well no one does.
"Whitebeard's group is not aware, correct?" She asked.
"From what we gathered, yes. If so, they might have written off the betrayal and pulled her in. It was confusing why she did not use that." Katakuri was unsure why, but perhaps Ann's knowledge about the streets was not as comprehensive as theirs.
"Fine! But we cannot be careless. With the shit going on in the streets, we might as well establish an alliance. Hahaha!" Her attention shifted to the telephone and called someone's number. The confusion hit the people around her, but no one dared to ask what she was about to do. "Good thing you picked up, you old bastard. Had you not picked up, I thought you might have died somewhere!" A loud laughter followed her rude greeting. "I have a proposal for you, Kaido. It involves the hidden forces of Roger and his children. Are you interested in setting Grandline ablaze?"
Katakuri frowned for a moment before nodding. It seemed like Big Mom intended to form a stable alliance with Kaido, one of the strongest Emperors in the underground world.
"I don't mind. We can kill each other once we get rid of the nuisance."
"Of course! That's the way it should be."
"Now, who is the first on our list?" Kaido asked.
"Oh, you will love this. Roger's brats." The silence only lasted for several seconds before a loud laughter echoed from the device.
"Roger's brats, eh? Hahahaha! Fine! Let's see what those devils got."
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Luffia moved alone this time, leaving Zoro out instead of letting him join her. Not like she told him where she was going in the first place.
For the past few weeks that Zoro helped her in the operations, he had come to an understanding to refrain from asking questions. He might be Luffia's best friend, but he cannot interfere in this business. He can only help and that help was voluntary.
While Luffia could allow Zoro to accompany her, it felt uncomfortable. After all, Zoro is still an infamous Mafia Hunter. Bringing him to the headquarters of one of the most notorious Mafia groups in Grandline was not a good idea. Even if at some point he cooperated with Shanks' group.
She was being cautious in involving Zoro in anything related to her identity. She had revealed enough with her sisters. Taking the risk of Zoro realizing her connection to Shanks and the Mafia King was the last thing she wanted to happen.
The mansion was heavily guarded. It was a good thing she informed him beforehand of her arrival. Benn Beckman was expecting her arrival and led her to where Shanks was. Under normal circumstances, she would avoid being seen in his mansion, but today was an exemption. She needed to move fast.
The other guards looked at her with confusion. Her disguise left them wondering about her identity. The other officers warned them not to ask. Some of them had seen that figure a few times in the past but no one knew who she was.
"It is rare for you to come here personally," Benn commented.
"Circumstances called for it. Where's Shanks? He is not busy, is he?"
"No. Come on." Benn led her to the secret meeting room.
"Shanks!" She was quick to show her face and a familiar toothy grin that Shanks resonated.
"The little demon is here! Hehehe! It's been a while, huh?"
"I know! Everyone's busy!" The enthusiasm never changed. She and Shanks had always gotten along. She viewed him as an older brother that she never had and from what Rayleigh told them, their father viewed Shanks as a son.
"I've heard a lot of things. You three were everywhere." He was exasperated by the number of reports he received about the sisters' activities. "Do the three of you loved risks?"
"Risk is part of everything. It is not something we can avoid." Their conversation turned serious the moment Luffia understood what Shanks was referring to.
"Yes, it is. But you can avoid it. Especially Ann. I do not know what was going through her head. The first time she messed with the Whitebeards, I thought it was something she did in passing. Who would have thought that she would infiltrate the higher ranks?" Nauseating worries burst into Shanks' mind. It was not easy to keep tabs on what the sisters were doing when he was busy keeping tabs on the other Emperors and the movements of the World Government. He might be an Emperor, but he cannot control everything. There was a limit to what he and his group can do when surrounded by enemies. "And Sab! I heard what happened."
"Yes. But we took care of everything. Don't worry."
"Worrying about the three of you had always been one of my priorities." Shanks felt guilty for the limited support he can give. Had he been alone, he would not mind carelessly supporting the three of them, but he had things he needed to worry about such as his members and their families.
"Oh! You said something about Sab. How did you know about it?" Luffia did not doubt Shanks' network of information but given the tightness of the circumstances, she doubted how it reached Shanks' ears.
"Kidd. He confronted me about Sab." There was no use hiding this information. It was not like Shanks was deliberately hiding it, but he would not be the first to initiate trading this information, especially to Sab. With Kidd's knowledge of what happened, it seemed outstretched to cover his relationship with Kidd, at least not in front of the sisters.
"Kidd? Eustass Kidd? You know each other?"
"Yes. He's my brother." Luffia blinked a couple of times, trying to process what she heard.
"Brother... But you two don't look alike!" She argued. Both men had red hair, but that was the extent of their similarities. While Shanks was the pretty boy type despite his age, Kidd was more of the typical good-looking roguish kind that you would normally see in the street.
"Half-brother." He answered. Luffia fell into silence, mind in a daze, and several thoughts pass by. Shanks left her to digest the information while he casually said a few things, letting Luffia know that his investigation about the supposed traitor amongst Roger's group was still against a huge wall.
Luffia only shrugged, but carefully placed the information at the top of her head, leaving it for later to be organized. Her focus was on something else.
"Hey. What did you come here for, little demon? Was it to ask about the traitor?"
"Ah, yeah. And something else! Shishishi!" The sudden change in her sullen mood took Shanks aback.
"What is it?" Luffia quickly gave him a toothy and demonic grin, making Shanks shiver. He knew that grin and what that meant - trouble.
"You already gave me the answer I needed. Shishishi!" Confusion hit Shanks, but at the same time, the nagging feeling of wary hit him as he exchanged glances with an equally confused Benn. Luffia had not asked anything at all but claimed he had answered.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll see you around, Shanks! Thanks for your time!" She left without waiting for Shanks, leaving him confused. For some reason, he felt like impending trouble was waiting for him. When Benn wanted to refute and say that Luffia was not that reckless, he stopped himself midsentence, remembering the days when Luffia wreaked havoc in Grandline.
When she left Shanks' mansion, she immediately contacted Franky and Usopp.
"Hey! I have something I need you to do. Shishishi!" The two of his members felt nervous from the devious tone she was emitting.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Kidd's day couldn't be any shittier. His mood had worsened after that confrontation. His conversation with his brother did not make things better. Everything was complicated.
And here he was now, facing another dilemma with non-other than Strawhat.
He would have ignored this secret meeting had it not been for Killer's insistence. Facing Strawhat now after knowing she is Sab's sister awakened the complexity of emotions Kidd was facing even if it had been days since that mind-blowing revelation with Sab.
"What do you fucking want?" He shouted.
"Oh. You're angry." She was munching on an apple, not minding the glares shot her way.
"What do you expect?" Patience had never been his virtue and facing Luffia's innocent pretty face ticked him off more than ever considering her relationship with Sab. He had yet to come to terms with what to do after his discovery. "What do you want?!"
"You were not part of her plan." She told him, not beating around the bush. "Ann told her that she should not get herself involved. But she did. Several times until she doesn't want to get out. Our circumstances are special. Dangerous."
"And?"
"And you don't understand how dangerous this is. Sab did. You will never know peace once our enemies find out about your connection with Sab. Everyone in your group will be involved. Countless men will die." She changed her tone of voice, implying the grave situation. Kidd may not understand what it was like but Luffia did.
"If I want peace, I would have been a monk a long time ago! You all seemed to think that I am a child! I am not here to play a game."
"Are you saying you would have been fine thrown into this danger for Sab?"
"YES!" He shouted in frustration. "I would have done it and no one can stop me! I don't need anyone's protection! Look where that so-called protection got me?!"
Luffia could imagine the turmoil he was going through after the imprisonment and seeking revenge against the woman he loved only to find out what she did and the losses afterward.
"Do you hate Sab?" The question shocked Kidd not because it came from Luffia but because of the way she asked. The innocent and devious smile was gone, replaced by a solemn attitude that seemed out of place on her pretty face. "Do you hate her after what she did? Do you want to kill her?"
The silence was imminent. It was deafening and no matter how many times Kidd tried to reiterate her questions, he knew the answer.
No.
The hatred he thought he accumulated for the past two years was nothing but a farce of the harsher reality he buried - that he still loved her no matter what she did. He knew he was unresigned to how things turned out. The hesitation to hate her even when she threw him to prison never left his heart for he knew that despite that, he was hoping for a deeper reason for her betrayal.
Now that the reason knocked on his door, he was still feeling lost. He felt as if there was something he was lacking. Even with such complicated emotions, he knew that hatred toward her was not high on the list of what he lacked.
A heavy sigh escaped from Kidd as he slumped on the couch. "What do you want? What did you come here for?" He may not have answered her question but she knew the answer. One look at him and everything was laid for her to see.
"Alliance." She said.
"What?"
"Strawhat and your group. I want an alliance."
Kidd could not understand what was going through her head now. He doubted if this was a scheme but given the information he holds against her, it was unlikely to be a trap for his doom.
"Why would you want an alliance with me?"
"Too many enemies. We need allies we can trust when executing operations. Especially against Big Mom, Kaido, and the World Government."
"World Government? Being enemies with them meant you are part of the Revolutionary Army."
"Partly, we are. We are not aiming for the downfall of the World Government, but the leaders behind them. With their network of influence, having more allies we can trust is a must."
"And you chose me to be that trustworthy ally? Unbelievable! Are you not worried I will rat you out to the World Government?" It was time for Luffia to smile.
"If you had such thoughts, you would have done it a long time ago. It had been days since you knew about our identities. Besides, if you do that, you will also risk Shanks." She reasoned, shrugging nonchalantly.
Kidd stared at her, connecting one dot to the other. The innocence in her eyes infuriated him because no one would have thought of her as a Mafia boss.
"Besides, it will not be for free."
"What do you mean?" Kidd frowned, getting nervous while seeing that grin on her face. She looked like she was having fun at their conversation.
"I will pay you."
"Tsk! Pay me? I don't need your damn money!"
"Who said I will pay you using money? Nami will kill me if I squander our funds just to get an alliance. I have something better to pay you. Shishishi! Franky! Usopp! Send the package here!"
Kidd was alarmed when her men pushed what looked like to be a cage covered in black cloth.
"Luffia, are you sure this is okay? I don't want to deal with the aftermath." Usopp was shivering in nervousness while staring at the cage in front of him. "It is not too late to back out now."
Luffia ignored him and kept her smile.
"What is this?"
"Are you excited? Shishishi! This is my payment!" Luffia immediately grabbed the black cloth, pulling it to reveal what was inside the cage.
Kidd and his officers were dumbstruck when they saw Sab in the cage, hands tied and tape covering her mouth. She was equally shocked to find Kidd before her eyes landed on Luffia. Her muffled screams were incoherent but Kidd did not doubt they were shouts of profanity.
"What. The. Hell." Killer was the first to break the silence. They expected anything but this.
"Shishishi! Surprise! So! Here's my payment for our alliance." Kidd was still processing what was going on. His eyes wandered from Luffia to Sab then back to Luffia as if he had seen a ghost.
Sab continued her protests. She was trying to break free from her situation but the chains were sturdy that any kind of resistance was futile.
"Oops. Let me get this off." Luffia skillfully removed the tape to let Sab speak.
"Luffia! What the fuck is this?!"
"Payment."
"What payment?! What the fuck are you doing?! Let me out of here and I will strangle you to death! I swear!" Sab shouted profanities that Kidd never thought he would hear from her. She was going wild in the cage but Luffia ignored her. "And you two! You are on my list!" She looked at Franky and Usopp. Franky only shrugged but Usopp was petrified by her threat.
After all, Luffia ordered them to kidnap Sab. Luffia told Sab Usopp and Franky will be dropping by their headquarters which was coincidentally where she was staying.
'Ah, you're there. Okay! Franky and Usopp will drop by to get something there.' That was what she told Sab. Truth be told, she never lied. Usopp and Franky dropped by to get her.
She was unsuspecting. The last thing she remembered was her conversation with Usopp in the kitchen and when she gained consciousness, she was tied and caged.
The black cloth prevented her from finding out where she was. She thought Luffia was pranking her or worse, they had been betrayed by her members. When she thought of asking for help from Ann, she found out they removed her wristband.
"Sorry, Sab. I am just following your sis' orders." And Franky left together with Usopp, leaving Sab with Luffia whose grin grew wider.
"Luffia! What the heck are you fucking doing?!"
"Getting alliance!" She beamed as if that was the brightest idea she ever had.
"No fucking hell! You're crazy!"
"I am not!" She sounded as if Sab offended her. "You told me getting alliance is our chance to even out the field. So here it is! Alliance!"
"This is a bad idea!"
"Why?" She tilted her head, questioning Sab innocently. The innocence in her voice only frustrated Sab.
"Why?! Because it is!"
"Nuh-uh. This is a great idea!" Sab knew Luffia was feigning ignorance. Or maybe she was not explaining things to her. Technically she was, but her vague statements never helped the situation.
"Luffia, listen. Get me out of here. Then, we'll talk." She lowered her voice hoping that she will listen. Luffia fished out the keys from her pockets and dangled them in front of Sab before grinning.
"Hmm... Nope. You're the payment." At this point, Sab lost her patience.
"Why are you using me as your payment?!"
"Because you're valuable! It will be great! Shishishi! We will ally with Kidd's group and you will work together with them. Great, right?!" Sab was mortified at the idea.
"NO!" But Luffia did not listen. She was panicking because facing Kidd days after their confrontation was not something he wanted to happen. If possible, she wanted to avoid him.
Luffia stepped closer to Sab's cage. Her devious grin was replaced with that soft smile. "You need this alliance more than I do." She softly said. Looking into Luffia's eyes, Sab saw many things all at once. While she was puzzled why Luffia was forcing this kind of encounter to happen, she immediately understood what her sister was doing.
Many might argue that Luffia is reckless, stupid, and impulsive but Sab knew better than anyone she never did anything without a purpose. Okay, fine, maybe she did that, and more often than not, she was right. But Sab refused to submit to this purpose no matter what it is.
"Trust me, Sab. You needed this." For a moment there, Sab saw the melancholic emotions in Luffia's eyes. Her soft voice lulled Sab into calming her nerves about the hysterical situation. It was like being hypnotized to believe Luffia. She almost nodded. "Alright! With that settled!" Luffia's tone immediately changed, and her expression returned to how it was, startling Sab from her stupor, blinking a few times as if she realized that she almost nodded to this whole thing.
"W-Wait - "
"So! Here it is!" Luffia gave Kidd the key. He was still not in the right mind after witnessing the exchange between the sisters. Even Killer, Heat, and Wire were not calm. Shocking was an underrated term they could use to describe what they were feeling right now. Often they gaped at Luffia for the dramatic changes in her behavior.
And as for Kidd, he continued to stare dumbly at Luffia as if she grew another head, then landed his eyes on Sab.
"W-W-" He could not process what his mind wanted to ask. What was he supposed to ask anyway? Why are you doing this? That is your sister, what are you doing to your sister? Why were you using her as payment and leverage for the alliance you proposed?
Many things came at once but none of these questions were uttered. Kidd was shocked beyond belief at what was happening. One minute he was contemplating his emotions and what to do, then she came here to ask him if he hates Sab, then proposed an alliance before presenting her leverage. It was everything at once and he did not know what he was supposed to do.
"We're allies now!" She was beaming with happiness that it almost blinded Kidd as she extended her hand, waiting for him to accept it. "Oh, come on! Don't be a wuss! Here!" She grabbed his hand and shook it. "Happy cooperation! Shishishi!"
Kidd could only stare at her but before he could say anything, her expression changed from that happy-go-lucky brat that looked like she just have him a cake to an expression that almost made Kidd shiver.
"Take care of her. She needed it," she whispered low enough so Sab can't hear it. "Believe it or not, she cares about you more than she cares about herself." Kidd vaguely felt her grip getting tighter. For someone so skinny, it was surprising to feel such strength. "Alright!" She let him go, and her expression went back to how it was - innocent and infuriating. "Now that our alliance is established, let's get along! Shishishi!"
"Hell, no! Luffia!" Sab shouted but was ignored.
"Okay, time for me to go. I'll be back to talk more about this alliance. I forgot that I did not tell all my members about it. Ah, well. Whatever. Bye for now! See ya!" She winked at Sab and left her in the lion's den. The blonde can only watch her youngest sister merrily walk out of the door, leaving her caged in Kidd's hideout.
The door shut and Sab knew that she had no way of convincing her sister to release her. All she could do was shout in frustration.
"LUFFIA! I SWEAR, ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU'RE DEAD, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"
===XXX===XXX===XXX===