Everyday life with the Straw Hats
Chapter 6: Shady Dealings
It was the next morning, Ms. Smith was sitting in her office drinking her morning coffee while doing paper work. "There, finally got that final paperwork done for the Rachnera to stay with the Straw Hats."
She leaned back in her chair and sighed. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. A young woman was standing there with light brown hair. She was the receptionist. "Excuse me Ms. Smith, but he would like to have a word with you." She said with a light tone in her voice.
"Who are you talking about?" Smith asked.
The receptionist said in almost a whisper "You know, The Boss, he wants to see you."
Ms. Smith understood, she took one more sip from her coffee and followed the receptionist out the door. She went down one of the side hallways. As she progressed the corridor lights became more and more faded, almost to the point where there were no lights at all. At the end of the room there was an office door. She knocked on the door, and there was a faint voice on the other side that said "Come in". she went in, the room was utterly dark, and the only source of light was those from two candles on the desk of the boss. Smith took her seat.
"Why did you call for me?" she asked.
The man sitting behind the desk grabbed a handful of small candies he had in a bowl on his desk. "I wanted to ask you if you have made any progress in tracking down our current targets" he said gruffly.
Smith removed her sunglasses and smiled casually, "Oh, you mean the MAD organization? I've been keeping up on my research, don't worry about that."
The boss was a bit annoyed by her tone, "this is serious Smith, we need to take them down now before any more casualties or victims are captured by them! stop taking this situation so lightly. The world government is trying to make an alliance with the various liminal nations in the world. The last thing we need is a terrorist organization going around kidnapping liminals. If it continues, it will severely hurt our chances at making alliances with these nations ever again." The boss growled angrily.
Smith folded her sunglasses and put them in her shirt pocket, her face became more serious. "okay listen, I've been able to track down where their current location is, they are residing in an old construction site located on an abandoned island not too far off from here. I'm already planning on arranging a sting operation soon." Smith stated.
"Do you think your MON squad will be enough to take them down?" the boss asked.
"I don't think so…. that's why I'm planning on recruiting some help for this mission." Smith said.
"…Who…." The boss asked cautiously.
"I think you know who I'm talking about." Smith said with a wink.
"You can't be serious, they're pirates! Their criminals, you can't have them help in this top secret covert op mission!" the boss shouted.
Smith kept her cool and smiled "They're not criminals as long as they remain as home stay hosts, remember that? And keep in mind, they've been through tougher battles than most people." Smith finished.
"You better know what you're doing" the boss said, "Your MON unit is an important division to all of CP0, and I will not let anyone tarnish our reputation, not even you agent Smith." The boss said with intensity in his voice.
"I understand, I'll be in complete control of the situation the entire time." Smith said.
"I hope your right, now that will be all for now. Go back to your office." The boss said sternly. "And keep me posted on when you plan on initiating your sting operation against MAD." The boss added.
Smith was about to leave the office but quickly turned to face him and gave him a wink "Whatever you say…..Commander Lucci."
–
The Straw Hats were just returning home from doing some Grocery Shopping. Miia had arms locked with Luffy's while he was chewing on a chunk of meat he got from the butcher.
"Oh darling, I know how much you love to eat, that's why I want to prepare you a special meal one day filled with my love and passion for you." Miia said romantically.
Luffy looked at her with a happy grin, "As long as you put some meat in it, I'll eat it without hesitation."
Zoro was helping carry in a bag of booze while Cerea was eating a small bag of trail mix she brought with them. "You sure do like your alcohol, don't you master." Cerea said playfully.
Zoro snickered and replied "Yeah, this is my version of juice-pouches. I can practically inhale this stuff."
Sanji was carrying Mero through the door. "Thank you Sir Sanji for pushing my wheelchair today." She started to "You know, the way you're carrying me right now, its like how a husband carries their bride." Mero said shyly.
Sanji's face turned red, "W-W-While of course, it is what gentlemen do! And that's me, Sir Sanji, A gentleman!" he declared boldly. Mero giggled.
When they all made it in the room, smith was sitting at the kitchen table drinking some coffee. "Hello everyone, I have an important subject to discuss."
They all came up to her with a confused expression. "Have you ever heard of the MAD organization?" Smith asked with a serious tone. All the straw hats shook their heads no.
"Isn't that a terrorist group that goes around kidnapping liminals?" Rachnera asked.
"What a dishonorable thing to do! Preying on others who are outnumbered, such shame!" Cerea stated heatedly.
Ms. smith smiled a little bit but remained composed the entire time. "the reason I bring this up, is because I want your help in taking them down once and for all." She said.
"….How so?" Nami asked, with a skeptical look.
Ms. smith took another sip of her coffee and continued. "There is an island not to far from here, located there is an old construction facility that has been modified into an illegal underground fighting tournament. Many leaders of the black market go there for slave exchange or for gambling on these death matches that have become so popular. However, many of the contestants are liminals themselves, and you know the rule about attacking liminals." Smith said, lowering her sunglasses. "That's why we are going undercover for this mission, for this situation and this situation only will I permit you to fight back against these other liminals. They are hardened criminals anyway and they fight to kill when they compete in the arena. I am telling you this because I want your help defeating the MAD organization. They are currently at the tournament most likely doing business with other black market dealers. I need you to help by competing in the tournament as a cover-up for my unit's attack plan. But remember, these guys are tough, so you'll have to fight seriously and don't underestimate the strength of the liminal who you'll be fighting against." Ms. Smith took another sip of her coffee and looked at Luffy, she asked "so, what will it be?"
Luffy grabbed his hat and raised it on top of his head, just like he always does when he's ready for adventure. He smiled eagerly "This sounds exciting, Let's go fight in the liminal Tournament!"
–
It's been a month and a half since Ms. Smith recruited Luffy and his friends to fight in the liminal tournament. The tournament was going to begin in a few days. But it was time that everybody was ready to sail out to the island where the tournament was being held. Ms. Smith stopped by the house to pick them all up so they could leave on time. Everybody was at the house waiting, except for 4 of them. "What do you mean they aren't here?!" Smith exclaimed, she usually kept her cool, but this time she needed everything to go according to plan, or else she would be getting a major scolding from Commander Lucci when she got back to base. "All right, just…tell me where they went." She asked.
Miia spoke up, "I think darling, Sanji, Zoro and Centorea all went to this nearby fitness center called Sports Club Kobold or something like that.
Smith sighed, "All right, everybody pack up your things and meet me at the shipyard in a half an hour. Okay?"
Everybody agreed.
Smith made her way to the fitness center. When she went inside, she was instantly greeted by this cheerful dog/human hybrid liminal.
"hello, my name is Polt! And this is my sports club, would you like a tour around our facility?"
Smith declined her offer, "Sorry but, I'm kind of in a hurry, I'm here to pick up three gentlemen and a centaur. Would you by chance know who I'm referring to?"
Polt nodded her yes, "We don't get many human visitors here, so I know exactly who you are referring to! And the centaur girl arrived along with them." Polt explained. She started guiding Smith to where they were currently at. "and I must say, those three men are incredibly strong, they have been training hard all day, and they have been showing up almost every day for the past month, and have been working hard the entire time they've been here." Polt stated.
Finally they came to one of the training rooms filled with sparring dumbies, Luffy and Sanji were striking these punching bags with continuous force. Not letting up for a second. After a few moments, Sanji noticed Smith in the corner of his eye. "Hey Luffy, Smith is here, I think its time for us to leave" Sanji yelled over to Luffy. Luffy stopped for a second, looked at Sanji and then at Smith. He smiled and exited the training room alongside Sanji.
Smith explained that today was the day they were leaving for the tournament because it would take about a day to reach the island where it was being held. She asked them where Zoro and Centorea were. Sanji pointed to a room across the hall and explained that they have been doing nonstop sword sparring every single day for 8 hours straight. "The only time they aren't sparring is when they come home for dinner and then go to sleep, then next morning after breakfast, they come back here to spar for the rest of the day until dinner." Sanji stated.
Zoro and Cerea came out of the training room to get some water when they also noticed Smith was there.
"Pack it up, its time for us to go to the tournament." Smith said.
Cerea spoke up because she wanted to ask something. "Excuse me Ms. Smith, but since my master has been training me for the last month, and I've learned a lot from his sword skills. I would like to also fight in the tournament alongside my master, there would be no greater honor." Cerea asked with a grand bow in an effort of trying to convince Smith to say yes.
"Fine" Smith said bluntly, "I believe that Zoro has taught you well, and I know that honor is a great priority to your people, so I won't get in the way of your tradition." Smith said with a slight smile. "Now enough chit chat, everybody else is waiting for us, its time to go." Smith finished.
And with that they made their way to the shipyard to set sail for the next big adventure for the straw hats. Who knows what dark secrets will be discovered at the Liminal Tournament?