Chapter 15: Number One Rookie of West Blue
[West Blue, Snake Port, Afternoon]
''Hmm, seems like we arrived.'' I tell towards Crow with a sour face. ' What is this disgusting stench?' I think before checking the surroundings. The place is like a camp place for a tribe with torches and stone huts everywhere.
'' They are not on their guard at all. There are only 2 guards at the entrance of that building. Are you sure that is where Robin is?'' I ask.
'' Yeah, I have seen her personally.'' Crow answers.
'' Good. You distract them while I sneak in.''
I open the window at the back and sneak in silently. I check my surroundings and spot Robin at the corner of the room sleeping. ' She has not noticed me yet. But to sleep in this situation...' I walk towards her and sit beside her. ' I might need to wake her u-'
''Um. Hello?'' My thoughts are broken with her voice.'When did she woke up?' She looks at me with her curious eyes, examining me. I can't help but examine her for a few seconds as well. Seeing her in reality and in dreams are completely different.
''Hello.'' I answer to not be awkward. She looks at me with a pitying look. '' So, you have been caught as well.'' I stood dazed for a few seconds before answering awkwardly.
''Uh... Yeah?'' ' I can't tell her I am here to find her because of a dream I had, right?' She looks at me suspiciously for a few seconds.
'' You look so calm despite being captured.'' She points out, wanting me to hit my head on the floor. ' Really? You are the one to tell me that?' I disperse the sarcastic answers in my head with difficulty.
'' Yeah. I plan to escape soon. Do you want to come along?'' I ask. ' She wouldn't possibily refuse to be saved...' She look at me for a few seconds before casually answering:
''... I don't plan to escape here, I got captured willingly after all.'' '??????'
'' This can't be true right? Why would you want to be captured? Surely there must be somewhere you want to go. Don't you have any dream of your own or a reason to live?'' I ask sadly.
This time she looks at me confused. '' You misunderstood me. I am not planning to be held captive or die. A friend of mine sacrificed himself for me to live. So I can't die. I will escape... But I don't need to escape from here. The time is nearly up anyway.''
''... You don't make any sense you know.'' I tell before sighing resigned. '' So... where do you plan on going after escaping?'' I ask a more clear question as I don't want to get a riddle-like answer again.
'' I am going to grandline. İt will be harder for them to track me there.'' She answers thoughtfully.
'' I am going there as well. I can take you there when you join my crew.'' I state hoping for her to agree.
''... You wouldn't want me to join your crew. I will bring nothing but misfortune anyway.'' She replies sadly.
'' I don't believe in misfortune. Also I am kind of an expert at getting into trouble. So it wouldn't matter anyway.'' I tell her confidently, making her giggle. She looks at me meaningfully before replying:
'' Yeah considering where we meet, you are indeed in trouble.'' She looks at me for a few seconds before saying seriously: '' İf you want to escape, you should do it as soon as possible. Don't worry about me.''
I look at her seriously as well. '' Well, I would be a terrible captain if I ignore my crewmate's safety, right?''
She looks at me dumbfounded. '' You are still thinking about that.'' There is a silence that lasts for a minute as neither of us speak. Robin is the one breaking this long and awkward silence. ''My time is up. I doubt we will see each other again. But I hope... you won't die.''
''I won't die. I don't know what you are planning but I will find you again and convince you to join my crew.'' I tell her with a serious expression. She examines my expression to see if I am being serious. After understanding that I am serious, she than flashes a big smile:
'' You are really insistent. I will wait for you then. İf we ever meet again I will take your offer.'' She says happily. She crosses her arms and takes a deep breath '' Clone Technique, dissolve.'' And she disappears with that... I look at the space where she disappeared with a dumb expression.
'I have been fooled. No... The entire west blue has been fooled.'
[Orioth City, Afternoon]
The usually chaotic Orioth City is quiete ironically in a peaceful mood right now. Because Rose Family has started a city-wide search for a criminal and ordinary citizens are forbidden to go out for safety reasons. Marines decided to allow Rose Family free autority in their search as long as they don't hurt civilians. This all of the shops are also closed, well except one.
Lafitte is sitting in a couch inside a store sipping his tea and waiting while thinking. 'Sigh. My captain is quiete troublesome. I was already aware of this but...' He unvoluntarily sighes again as he thinks back to what happened half an hour ago.
-Flashback 30 Minutes Ago-
''Puru puru puru... Katcha.''
'' Oh, Captain~ I was about to call you. I finished shopping, but there are people from Rose family chasing after me. What shall I do with them?''
''Do...*screams* whatever you want with them. Not like *screams* I care. There is... *screams* something more urgent. Listen you must find *screams* our crewmate, Nico Robin, and keep her safe. Understood?''
''Nico Robin... is our crewmember? And what is with these screams?''
'' Yeah she*screams* is my firstmate. As for *screams* the screams. Let's just say I am multitasking right now.''
''... Captain. Technically I should be your firstmate right?''
'' Nah. You take*screams* too long to join. So you*screams* lost your spot to her.''
' How petty can one person be...'
''Sigh. Captain... Do you know how big this city is-''
''Lafitte*screams* I trust you. Need to go. I don't care how you do it, just handle it. Katcha.''
'.....'
--Flashback End--
''Shall I refill your cup, mister.'' The shop owner asks with a kind smile.
'' Yes, please~'' Lafitte answers politely as well. ' He is much more troublesome than I thought. But... I can see this will be fun with him.' Lafitte thinks as a gentle/creepy smile forms on his face.
'' We have gathered the newcomers, sir.'' A man in black suits tells politely to Lafitte. The man has a red rose emblem on his suit. There are 10 of them in total. 5 of them are restrained and on their knees. Lafitte takes his cane out and starts his usual hypnotizing techniques. After a few minutes, the five restrained man are listening to his comands.
''Rule 1, İf your boss asks, you haven't seen me. Rule 2, search for any info regarding Nico Robin's location and bring to me. Rule 3, each of you should get 1 other person here to see me. You can go now.''
''YES, BOSS!''
'At least someone has sent me some useful helpers~'
[West Blue, Snake Port, Afternoon]
''....you do it, just handle it. Katcha.'' I turn around to see the bloody mess that has remained from Khurk pirates and frown. 'These people didn't even resemble human. They were covered in blood and were covered in all sorts of injuries. They were also nearly fully naked. Not that it matters... now that they are dead.'
'' YOU BASTARD!'' A bloodthirsty roar comes behind me making me shiver. '' HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY CREW. WHO ARE YOU?'' I look behind to see a man with long blood red hair and a muscular body. He is around 9 feet long which makes him a miniature giant with bloody marks and tattoos all over his body. His upper body is naked just like his crew. He continues shouting and roaring.
''... So you are that Khurk. My name is Ethan. They attacked me so I killed them. Got any problem with that?'' I state.
''Hmm... Since they attacked you it can't be helped. They were in the wrong after all.'' His voice contrary to before as low as it can get. He sounds extremely sad as if a child that get his toy taken away. He looks at me sadly '' Do you know how much time I wasted to make them stronger... and you just came and killed them... with one hand... while talking with someone else.'' I listen to him speechless, he is nearly in tears. Should I console him or something?
'' Eh... Don't worry. I don't mind. Now I have some urgent matters so... goodbye?'' I tell him awkwardly before turning around.
'' WAİT. THE GİRL. WHERE İS THE GİRL?'' 'Ugh...' I cover my ears as he started shouting again. His volume is so high that it literally pains my ears.
''Look... That girl was my crewmate, you kidnapped her. So I came to rescue her. Now that she is free I am leaving. Since you kidnapped my crewmember and I killed yours. We should be equal right?'' I try to convince him as if I am talking to a literal child. 'I wouldn't mind fighting with him but I don't even know about Lafitte and Robin's situation. They might be in danger.'
''OHHHH... This makes sense. İndeed. İndeed. İndeed...'' He starts out while shouting and gradually lowers his voice until he is barely audible. I ignore his antics as I turn around and start leaving.
'' WAİT.''
'' What the hell is your problem! I said I have urgent things to do. '' I said extremely annoyed by now.
''I KNOW YOU. YOU ARE THAT DEVİL GUY. I SAW YOU İN THE WANTED POSTER, THİS MORNİNG. LOOK. LOOK. I AM THE FİRST RANKED ROOKİE İN WEST BLUE. AND YOU ARE SECOND. THİS İS DESTİNY. YOU SHOULD JOİN MY SHİP. BE MY VİCE-CAPTAİN!'' He roars excitedly.
'' Ugh, stop shouting, damn it.'' 'This is seriously the most annoying conversation I have ever had.'
''Oh, sorry.'' he apologizes immediatly.
'' I am not interested. Now I am going to atten-'' I say tiredly
''WAİT.'' He shouts again. 'This damn, annoying , piece of ....'
''What is it now! You are so annoying, you damn man-child.''
''You need to compensate me for that girl. She said if I kidnap her, powerful people would come to fight me. Now that you freed her I have no one to fight. YOU MUST FİGHT WİTH ME.'' He shouts at the end again grazing my nerves. 'Hoooh. I am done with this shit.'
'' Ok. I will compensate you. Let's see what you got 'best' rookie.'' I tell him.
'' YEEEY!'' He roars with excitement.
'Why do I have to deal with a weirdo like him. He should be strong since he is worth 120 million. Let's put everything to practice.' I think as I feel my excitement rise as well.
''Soru'' I begin with speeding towards him and aim a punch towards his face. But Khurk blockes it easily with his arm. ' My speed takes many people by surprise but he blocked it easily. He should know a little observation haki like me.' I use 70 percent of my strength as my fist and his arm collide. *SLAM*
'' ARGGHH.'' I make some space between us after the collison. I look at my right hand that is shaking as I feel all the bones in there aching at the same time. I look towards Khurk to see he is unfazed, he took a step back but that is all. ' İf I used all my strength in that attack my hand would have been broken. What the hell is wrong with his body.'
I take out a pistol and fire a few bullets towards him. *Cling!* *Cling* *Cling* 3 metallic sounds are the only indication that they hit their marks. He looks at me questioningly.
'' These toys don't work on me. Bring out that toy instead!'' He says pointing to my sword.
'' Fine. What is up with your body?'' I ask as I take out my sword. 'Bullets don't work on him, his skin is so hard that I got more damage when I use my fists. His skin should be much harder than steel, since I can easily shatter steel with my hands.'
''I ate the harden-harden fruit. I can get my body as hard as I want! That's why I am called Rock-skin Khurk! I AM İNVİNCİBLE İN CLOSE COMBAT!'' He roars with pride. '' USE YOUR TOY. USE YOUR TOY. USE YOUR TOY.'' He starts chanting in a frenzy.
'Let's try a ranged sword attack.'
''One-sword-style: Soaring Eagle Strike'' An eagle sound appears just at the start of the move. A blue sword projectile moves towards Khurk constantly getting faster and bigger. Just before the projectile clashes with Khurk, it takes the form of an eagle. *Clang* A metallic sound is heard as Khurk flies few meters back and slams into a stone hut, breaking it apart. A few seconds passes and Khurk rises from the dusty ruins of the hut. I look at his arms shocked of what I see. 'What the f*ck. That slash only left 2 shallow marks on his arms. Not even drawing blood.'
I look towards Khurk and I see him crying. I look at him in shock as he mutters to himself in a barely auidable voice. ''I only wanted to have a good fight... But now the girl is gone... And this one is weak... I won't get to fight anyone strong now... It's all his fault... All his fault... ALL OF THİS İS YOUR FAULT. GO DİE.'' He screams at the end as he charges towards me, breaking the ground below him. I take a deep breath as I ready myself for what is to come.
'I might indeed die here... İf I don't go all out.'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
hkkhkjkj
hkkhkjkj Well, here is the best rookie of west blue. And Ethan seems outmatched for now. There is also CP-9 and Bege stuff. Let's see how everything goes.
By the way, I used many caps-lock letters in this chapters. Because... I thought it fit Khurk's persona nicely. And it feels really annoying even when reading lol. İmagine Ethan. Anyway if you are annoyed by it I will not use it in the nesxtchapters. You can tell me in the coments.
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