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Chapter: Who Is On The Call...?
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"Do you know who you are talking to?" a voice yelled from the ghost ship in this foggy sea.
"I don't care who you are," a mocking voice replied.
"And you can't find where I am, Hohoho," it continued.
"How dare you? You are talking to a noble, lowly scum," roared the first voice.
"How are you sure that I'm also not a noble? Slave of the world government," the second voice replied.
"…" there is a brief silence.
I smirked hearing the Brook annoying a person using Transponder Snail.
"What the fuck did you call me?" thundered that voice from the snail.
"Shut up! You ant *scoff* To whom are you raising your voice?" Brook disdain haughtily.
"Fuck you! I know who you are," the voice panted. "I have heard rumors about you, Grim Reaper," he revealed, to our surprise.
"It's rumored that whoever speaks to you will die of anger, but I now know it's true," He fumed.
"Oh! I'm honored," Brook replied, smiling, but I noticed the surprise in his voice.
"It's not a compliment, I'm hanging up," He replied hurriedly.
"Are you really a noble? By the way of your speech, I can't believe it," Brook mocked, stopping him from hanging up.
And it worked "Fu…*ahem* I'm 100% a noble, Mister" the voice politely snapped.
"Be brave and admit that you became Noble by bribing," Brook goaded patiently.
"Yeah, I became noble… I DIDN'T BRIBE TO BECOME NOBLE *cough* *clatter*, "he roared as the transponder snail spat blood and mimicked the falling sound. 'MASTER!' 'Call the doctor' etc., voices were heard.
Brook silently placed the receiver down and sighed, looking as if all the pressure was released. "Yohohoho, Grim-san, my number is higher than yours," Brook cheered, picking my watch near him.
"*scoff* you just spoke to a weak species, so he fainted quickly," I complained, doing a pushup.
"Besides, my call got connected to pirates and won for a long duration,'" I pointed out.
"Grim-san, you cheated!" Brook retorted. "It's just because of being a pirate he scolded back and started a 'Curse battle' so the duration increased," Brook reasoned.
"It's my luck that the call connected to a pirate," I grinned, stopping the push-up.
"And it seems that they started noticing us," I reminded of what the noble said.
"Yohohoho and they picked your name," Brook laughed.
"Yeah, I wonder how." I nodded, not realizing the culprit was in front of me.
Then I picked two wooden poles and practiced the sword using them. After Brook spotted me exercising, he became agitated. "YOU! Why are you exercising? When there is little food available?" Brook roared angrily.
"I will push the hunger away with my willpower," I declared proudly as my green dominant Iris gleamed.
"Shut Up! If you stay without moving, then energy consumption will be reduced," Brook scolded.
"I know, old man," I scowled at him.
"My blood pressure increased even though I don't have blood," Brook breathed, holding his chest.
I rolled my eyes then continued to swing, "Why you!..." Brook cursed angrily, then returned to the Snail and dialed a number to vent his anger.
"Big Baby," I scoffed at his behavior.
*Purupurupuruuu~* *Purupurupuruuu~* the call surprisingly connected on the first try. I kept an eye on it while swinging the sword *ahem* wood.
*Calick* "Hello, Diez Barrels speaking," a gruff voice spoke.
My eyes widened at that name. 'Where did I hear this name?' I stopped swinging and tried to recall. 'Wait! Isn't he the one who had Law's Devil Fruit? And supposedly Drake's father,' I was startled, then hurriedly opened the 'Top Secret' folder on my watch to recall the details.
Unknown of my struggle, "Oh! Barrels on the Diaz. I'm Bar Jug. Pleasure meeting you," Brook opened, mocking his name like 'Jug on the Bar'.
"That's Diez, not Diaz. Are you mocking me?" He seethed.
"No, I'm not mocking you," Brook reassured. "I'm praising you for wasting the precious oxygen of one tree somewhere in the world," Brook disdained.
"Fuck! Tell me your location. If you dare, my Jolly Roger will be the last thing you will see," Barrels threatened as Brook beamed at connecting to a pirate at last.
"If you had a little bit of intelligence, then you will be a moron," Brook mocked his IQ.
'He is using the scold words he learned from my watch.' I grinned, putting the sticks aside.
"You! *huuu* *haaa* I'm in a good mood today so I will forgive you," he seethed, controlling himself from losing his cool.
"*scoff* Just agree that you are a coward," Brook snorted, releasing all his anger at me, on this person.
"Shut up! I will be rich quickly so I won't bother you, insignificant insect," he proclaimed. I'm 70% sure this is the same Diez Barrels and not the same name, from this sentence.
Before Brook could speak "HEY! Dory, put this thing away and only bring it if there is any important call *Katchak*, "he disconnected the call angrily.
Now 100% sure it is the same Barrels and that 'Dory' is a future supernova Drake. "Ha! Coward, don't run if you dare," Brook shouted in vain.
I ignored Brook's sulking and read about all the things about Law's past from 'Top Secret', trying to remember as much as possible.
"Can I change anything? And two future supernovas will be in the same place." my eyes gleamed as the green reduced slightly in it.
"Just one phone call won't change the plot," I muttered as my eyes gleamed green.
"I will slice any problem that will occur," I mumbled, determined.
"Grim-san, what are you mumbling?" Brook noticed me.
"And are you an idiot? You can't slice all the problems," Brook admonished me.
"You will see when I cut it," I snapped back in embarrassment. 'Muscle-head personality,' I sighed.
"Yohohoho, I'm looking forward to it, ah! But I don't have eyes to watch, yohohoho," Brook cheered after noticing that I'm not exercising.
I smirked, seeing him back to his cheerful self. For the past few days, 'I' even felt sorry for the person on the other end of his prank call. *Growl~* but the rumbling of my stomach destroyed the atmosphere. Brook instantly became gloomy.
"What!? Old man, I told you I can manage," I grumbled as I walk towards the transponder snail, Brook stared at me worriedly.
"So, what is the number of that last called?" I asked, staring at him. Brook sighed and recalled the number which I dialed.
*Purupurupuruuu`* my heartbeat accelerated as soon as the call connected *Purupurupuruuu~*. I shushed Brook, who is confused by my serious reaction.
*Calick* "Hello!" a kid's voice spoke. I was taken aback by this, then guessed the speaker's identity and grinned 'This is better than I expect,' I cheered.
"Oh! Kid, this is Diaz Barrel's right?" I inquired knowingly.
"Yeah! And who are you calling a kid? You are younger than me," the voice snapped.
I got ticked off, 'calm down, calm down,' I breathed, controlling my anger. Brook looked amazed that I didn't blow off steam by now.
"Only my voice is like this, and I'm several years older than you," I responded grudgingly. 'That's true, so I didn't lie.'
"Oh...! Is there anything important? Do you need to speak to father?" he asked after pausing for a while.
"Er… No! I don't even know him," I revealed, embarrassed.
"Then why did you call? I have things to do, Bye," He snapped, ready to end the call.
"WAIT! Wait! Drake," I blurted in urgency.
"How do you know that name?" he exclaimed in surprise.
Nearby, Brook also looks suspicious. "Everyone calls me Dory, so how do you know that name?" He demanded.
"Hehehe! I know everything. I told you that I'm older than you. Mmm! Yeah, I'm a fortune teller," I blabbered incoherently, trying to hide my blunder. Brook looked amused at how lamely I tried to cover the blunder.
"What do you know about me?" he asked curiously.
"You want to become a marine, right?" I expressed my vague memory.
"Huh...! You are right, I want to become a marine," Drake admitted with a hint of surprise.
"Also, your father beats you regularly," I revealed, looking serious.
Drake became silent and I can hear a rough breathing sound from the snail. Brook looks angry and is gripping his cane so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Ah! But he doesn't have… Bah! *ptooey* *ptooey* get away from my brain, skull joke.
"You know, I can help you to become a marine," I offered. Brook looked at me in shock with a 'don't play, this is serious' look.
"Really, but my father is already a pirate so I can't be a marine," I exclaimed before reasoning in disappointment.
"Just leave that to me. Now you just need to say yes or no," I proposed.
After some silence, "Yes, I want to be a marine," he accepted my proposal as I grinned like a Devil. It's fortunate that my broken *ahem* upgraded snail will not display my expression.
"Ok, when is your dad trading the Op-Op-Fruit?" I asked him.
"How do you know...?" He exclaimed. "Forget it. It's three days from today," he revealed in resignation.
"Three Days…?" I thought. 'Ah! Corazon and Doflamingo arrived three days before the trade, so they must be already near and Rosanito must be ready to steal it by now.' I panicked at the short time available.
"Oh! No! It's late," I hissed. "DRAKE! Take your important things and get out of the town," I urged him suddenly.
"WHY…?" he asked.
"Pirates are going to attack! So RUN," I urged.
"WHAT!... Now?... I…" he began to panic.
"Don't you want to become a marine?" I demanded, roughly calming him.
"Now just take your things and run, bring a knife, and don't forget the snail," I instructed calmly. I can hear a snuffling sound *step* *tap* and a rustling sound *rustle*.
'Dorryy! Where the hell is Rum?' a voice yelled.
"Don't bother, Run," I instructed. Then I heard him picking up the snail and running.
After some time "*hu* I came out of the house. What's next?" Drake asked.
"Where are you? On the mountain's top?" I questioned, recalling the mountain town on Minion Island.
"Yeah!" he replied, not even asking how I know it.
"Ok! Get out of the town. Is there an ark near any exit? Go in that direction," I instructed after I heard his running sound.
After some minutes of silence, "Ah! The mansion exploded," Drake cried, "but there is no sound," he added.
"Cam Down and run," I urged him.
"But…" he stuttered.
"Don't worry, nothing happens to your dad, for now," I comforted him 'until Doflamingo appears,' I added internally.
"I'm not worried about him," he snapped after sighing in relief. "Then What happened?" he inquired.
"Probably that Devil Fruit got stolen," I responded nonchalantly.
"Oh! Alright," Drake muttered, unbothered.
"What!? Are you not angry?" I asked doubtfully.
"Why should I care? It's got nothing to do with me? *pant*," Drake explained, running.
I heard him running, then got water to drink from Brook. Due to Grand Line weather, at least there is rain here, so there is no shortage of water.
"*huff* *huff* I exited the town and I'm near the arc," he explained.
"Hmm… Look around to see if there is a kid nearby," I instructed.
"*hu* there really is a kid here. He is wearing a white fur hat, and he looks weak," Drake exclaimed in surprise.
"Check on him and wait for his guardian. He may help you become a Marine," I muttered uncertainly.
"What do you mean 'MAY'? You are not sure?" He seethed. 'You will become a marine whether I help you or not. I'm just stirring trouble,' I thought evilly.
"Don't focus on pointless things," I chided.
"Well, he looks like he is having a fever and has white spots on his skin," Drake explained nervously and worriedly.
I heard him placing the snail on the ground and some crunching sound of snow *crunch* *crunch*. "Oi! Are you alright?" Drake's voice is heard.
"*huff* *huff* who are you? Where is Cora-san?" another kid's weak voice was heard.
"I don't know. Do you need help?" Drake asked again.
Before getting a reply, there is a sound of someone rushing here. I can hear Drake back away vigilantly, and then I hear someone arrive near.
"LAW! Look! It's the Op-Op Fruit," the voice yelled excitedly, completely ignoring Drake, who gasped at seeing the fruit.
"Cora-san…!, G-Glad to see you're Ok…" the kid's voice weakly replied.
"The Building is burning… and I heard gunshots. I thought *pant* something must be happening," the kid continued tiredly.
"Hey, there is no time to worry about that. It's the 'Devil Fruit' that'll save your life!" that man's voice urged.
"But nothing can guarantee that if I eat it… I'll be cured," the kid's voice reasoned.
"What are you saying!? You will! Come on, Eat! Fast!" the man urged, then I hear a struggling sound.
"*Ugh* What are you-*ugh* *Hmph* Blergh! Disgusting," the kid struggled.
"Just chew it," the man continued. *Ugh* *gha* "Eat it! Swallow it!" the man urged.
"Bleah! *spit* Stop!" the kid cried before *GULP!* sound is heard.
After a beat of silence, "He.. Hey! Cora-san, I'm not psychologically ready… to become a fruit user!" the kid protested.
*smack* Then I heard someone falling down "*pant* But Dofy... isn't going to stop because of this," Corazon replied feebly. "I'm sorry but… I need to ask you a favor…" he continued.
"What's the matter Cora-san, are you just tired…!?" Law asked, scared.
"Hey! Are you okay? You are bleeding," Drake, who has been silent for a while, pointed out.
"What!?" Law yelled. Then there was the sound of the body turning *crunch*. "Uwaaaahh! YOU'RE ALL BLOODY! CORA-SAN WERE YOU SHOT!?" Law yelled.
"Shit! Law! Who is he?" Corazon yelled, finally noticing Drake. "Who are you?" he demanded again.
"Damn it! What the hell were you doing, Cora-san!" Law yelled, ignoring his question.
"He said you can help me become a marine," Drake responded, pointing at the snail. I can hear Law yelling 'C'mon! Heal *huff*' 'Stop the bleeding' in the background.
"The devil fruit won't work like that," I finally responded to Law, totally ignoring Corazon.
"Hey! Answer me, damn it, who are you?" Corazon demanded. "Law, I won't die from something like this," he comforted Law.
"What should I do? You got hit because of me, didn't you?" Law yelled. Brook stood there, not knowing what to do.
"Law, focus on the problem here," Corazon reprimanded, then looked at Drake.
"Donquioxte Rosinante, I may help you out of your predicament," I responded seriously. "Can we talk alone?" I continued without waiting for a reply.
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