Chapter 32: Interesting News
[ 3/18/1482 ]
[ Location: Palm Island ]
[ Word Count 2076 ]
" Hello" - Speech
' Hello' - Thoughts
*Boom* - Sounds
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(Achilles' POV)
As Bullet and I sat under a large palm tree found in the resort we were staying at, we were talking about random topics. Ranging anywhere from training methods, to when we thought our bounties would increase.
As we continued to talk, a news coo flew over our heads.
" Hey, birdie. You mind giving us that newspaper." I told the bird as I handed it a coin, and in exchange received a newspaper.
The newspaper read " Infamous Pirate Captain nearly apprehended!
Gold. Roger is a name everyone has heard of. He has recently proven to be one of the most ferocious and powerful pirates. His feats range from destroying navy warships to killing innocents. He is widely viewed as a dangerous man and has proven to be almost unstoppable. That is until yesterday.
Yesterday on an island in the New World, Vice-Admiral Monkey. D. Garp nearly apprehended the infamous pirate.
After chasing the pirate down for three days straight the two finally clashed head-on, on the Island of Samba for an unknown amount of time. The aftermath of the clash was disastrous and looked like a god had just smitten the place.
Either way by the end of the clash, Gold Roger was cornered by the good Vice-Admiral, until his crew interfered, and they were just barely able to escape the clutches of Monkey. D. Garp.
When asked about his thoughts on Gold Roger and his escape, the great Vice-Admiral vowed to capture the infamous Pirate to restore safety to the seas.
This is all the news we bring to you today, as we get more updates we will make sure to supply everyone with the news as soon as possible."
As I finished reading the newspaper, I could barely suppress a grin, a grin of excitement. The last time I had seen such news it was of Xebec and the creation of his monstrous crew, and back then it had scared me and motivated me.
Now though such news served to excite me and give me hope for the future, hope for when I would be as powerful as the people previously mentioned.
Also, Garp was my favorite character back when I was still alive on Earth, so to see his legend in the making was pretty damn exciting.
I had no doubt this piece of news caused waves in the world, one of the most infamous Pirates and one of the most respected Marine had just duked it out, leaving only destruction in their wake.
This was the beginning of the tale of two future legends, the Pirate King Gol. D. Roger and the Hero of the Marines Monkey. D. Garp.
" So what do you think of the news?" Bullet snapped me out of my inner monologue.
" It's pretty cool to see, a little scary how some people are so powerful. But it's also exciting, don't you think. Those are the same people we have to surpass in the future." I said to Bullet sounding a little excited.
" It doesn't matter how strong they are. In the end, I-no we will beat them." Bullet replied back with a crazy grin reminding me of his goal.
" Of course, I expect nothing but the best from you," I replied back before I continued reading the next section of the newspaper.
" The Kingdom Of Kano joins the World Government yesterday. As of now, it is one of 150 countries to join the prestigious World Government. The Kingdom Of Kano is a strong country from the West Blue that has existed for more than 360 years."
" Hmm?"
" It's what it said in the newspaper, under the part about Monkey. D. Garp, and Gold. Roger."
" Seems like more countries are beginning to join the World Government, especially compared to before," I said out loud knowing why the countries were joining the World Government even though they have to pay the Heavenly Tribute.
' It's because more people are becoming pirates. Although it can't compare to the Great Age of Pirates, the seas are still becoming more dangerous. And countries that can't protect themselves, as a result, are joining the WG.'
" It seems like the world is going to be thrown into chaos," I said closing the newspaper.
" It doesn't concern us. Best to not worry about it." Bullet added making a smile as he was right. I shouldn't worry about things that we can't deal with it.
" By the way, I've been meaning to ask, when are we going to head to the Grandline," Bullet asked making me look at him in surprise since I didn't think about that for a while.
" We can't head to the Grandline yet. We barely have a crew and that's counting Marco. We need another member. I would like it to be a navigator but I'm not sure if we can find one. But we take in any other position as we are pretty desperate." I said sighing at just how small the crew is. Though that would hopefully change soon.
" And we still didn't finish everything we wanted to do in this sea. We gotta destroy the Hutt Slave Trade orgianzation. And you said you wanted to fight the strongest pirate crew as well." Bullet continued after me.
" So we can't leave this place just yet," I finished his sentence while looking up in the air. And then I remembered something I had been meaning to ask Bullet for a while.
" Wait what crew has the highest bounty right now.?" I asked Bullet curious about it.
*Sigh*
" How you're so uneducated about these seas, I'll truly never know."
" You seem to be forgetting I was raised in isolation, my friend."
" Ya, ya. Anyways, the Helix Pirates have the highest bounty right now even higher than us. Their leader, Captain William has a bounty of 40 million berry's. While his Vice-Captain, Charles Vane is worth 23 million berry's." Bullet answered.
" Wow, I didn't think anyone could reach that high in any of the Blue Seas."
"That's mainly due to the fact that they aren't only based up here. They are known to have completed three voyages to the grandline."
" That's interesting," I said after Bullet told me about the Helix Pirates. Who wasn't paying that much attention as he was ordering some drinks from a server.
" Hmm it should, I heard those two guys have powerful devil fruits," Bullet said sounding like the battle manic he is.
" Well, it doesn't matter since we have to beat them at the end of the day," I said with full confidence, in both myself and Bullet.
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(3rd Person POV)
" Did you hear? The competition is going to be held on Deadwood island this year." A 5'4 well-dressed man spoke to his friend.
" Really? It's already been 10 years already?" The other man asked in disbelief. This man was 6'1, had jet black hair, and was dressed very casually.
" Ya, can you believe it, I can still remember the last competition like it was yesterday. The fast-paced shots, the cheering crowds, and the incredible competitors."
" For real. If this competition is even half as good as the last one was, then it'll be well worth the price."
This is all Achilles, and Bullet heard as they were walking back to their hotel room where Marco was waiting for them.
" What competition do you think they're talking about?" Achilles asked Bullet, confused about what all the hype was about.
" In all honesty, I got no clue."
" Really? I thought you'd be more well versed on the things that have to do with the North Blue."
" I am when it comes to things that pertain to me specifically, anything that doesn't however, I don't bother paying attention to."
" I guess that makes sense. But anyway I'm now curious about what this competition is, I'm going to go ask one of them."
" Aight, I'm going to go grab a drink in the meantime." That was all Bullet said as he started walking towards the bar the hotel had.
As soon as Bullet had walked away, Achilles went up to the original duo that was talking about the tournament and questioned them about it.
" Hey, sorry to disturb you guys, but what's this tournament you guys are talking about?"
" You haven't heard about it?" The short, well-dressed man asked in disbelief.
" Cut him some slack Reggie, he's a kid. It's not that surprising to hear that he hasn't heard about the NBSC." The tall, casually-dressed man berated his friend, Reggie.
" Ah, I guess you're right Miller. Anyways, if you must know kid, the NBSC is a shooting competition that takes place once every 10 years in the North Blue. It stands for North Blue Shooting Competition." Reggie ecstatically explained to Achilles, who looked more and more interested as the pair spoke.
" Don't let the basic name fool you, this is the best shooting competition you'll see in the entire North Blue, it might even be the best out of all the Blue seas. It's a gunslinging competition that brings participants from all over the entire North Blue. If you live in the North Blue, it's something you should see at least once in your lifetime." Miller explained all of the fine details that Reggie forgot to explain to Achilles.
" That sounds really cool."
" It is kid, it really is," Reggie spoke fondly.
" So how would I watch this competition?"
" Oh, that's easy. All you need is a ticket and then you show the ticket to the people who are hosting the competition, and then you just walk into the arena's seating area." Miller informed Achilles.
" So where's it taking place?" Achilles asked as he didn't remember the name of the place he had overheard them talking about earlier.
" It's on Deadwood island, a mighty fine place for this tournament if you ask me."
" Really what's so special about the place?" Achilles questioned the two.
" Let's just say it's known for its marksmanship."
" Oh."
" But anyway, to buy a ticket you can go to a mall, or a shop on almost every island on the North Blue and they'll have a booth for selling tickets. After that, it's just about making it to the competition in time.
" Oh I see, thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it."
" No problem kid," Reggie said as he waved to the retreating figure of Achilles.
" Don't sweat it," Miller spoke as he also waved to Achilles.
" Hey, Miller."
" Ya Reggie?"
" That kid look familiar to you?" Reggie questioned his friend.
" Ya, I feel like I've seen him before, but I can't quite place my finger on it."
" Eh, it's probably not important then, if it was then we'd have recognized him."
" Ya, I guess you're right." Miller agreed with his friend.
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(Achilles' POV)
I had just walked away from the two kind folks, and now I was just about to enter our hotel room.
*Knock*
I knocked on the door, and Marco opened the door; he looked tired.
" What's got you looking so exhausted?" I asked the kid as he had done nothing that would have tired him.
" You interrupted my nap that I took after eating an entire tub of Ice-cream."
" You're tired cause you've been doing nothing?"
" Ya, what of it?" The brat asked me while sticking his tongue out. I was mature enough to not respond in kind.
" Nothing. I've just heard some interesting news that I'd like to reflect on. But you should pack your bags, and tell the same thing to Bullet when he comes. There's a good chance we leave this island tomorrow."
"You're not going to tell me why we're leaving?"
" I will… once you become a full-fledged member of the crew that is." I couldn't resist teasing the kid.
" I am a full-fledged member of this crew though." He spoke to me while looking confused.
" Oh no, I meant once you're a higher rank than an apprentice," I told him laughingly as I proceeded to shut my room's door and take a quick power nap.
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And that's the end of the chapter folks
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