13 Growth
After a good long rest I went to the bar to collect information on my next bounty.
With a newfound skip in my step I bought information off Baona Fae before departing for the other side of town.
My bounty this time was newly approved and I doubt the man even knows he has a target on his head. That makes him easy to find. He lived on the border between the town and the forest I just left.
Walking through the streets I bought an apple from the vendor I had helped before and asked him to point me towards my prey. He obliged willingly and pointed me towards the hairdresser that cuts the mans hair.
Looking down at the bounty poster I finally glanced at the name. Michael Dex a former soldier turned mercenary. Weapon of choice- his own body. Bounty- 198,000 berries. Wanted for- killing his commanding officer.
He had short, slicked back, purple hair with small beady eyes and a hooked nose. He kind of reminded me of Snape from Harry Potter. Well that is if Snape had his nose broken a dozen times.
After bribing the hairdresser, he pointed me toward Dex's dwelling. It was a small wooden house with a metal roof. I felt the sudden desire to knock on the door.
So I did.
The door splintered inward before collapsing entirely. Michael Dex sat on his bed smocking a pipe with shock written clear across his face.
"Morning Dex. I'm James Marshall ||, currently a bounty hunter. Mind stepping outside for a 'chat'?".
I gave him a warm greeting and he returned it. By pulling out a rifle and firing at me.
I dove to the right, over his coffee table and pulled out my pistol. Attempting to mimic Lanora's form I returned fire and managed to disarmed him after missing the first shot. Putting away my pistol as he got up to face me. I raised my fists. This should be fun.
His home collapsed inward as he tackled me through the wall and out into the street. I kneed him in the stomach and flipped him off me. He landed skillfully and struck out with his left leg.
Steadying myself I blocked his kick and twisted his foot, lifting my own left to meet his head.
He dropped to the floor before I hit him and rolled out of my grip. He then bounced on his feet, smiled and said "Your pretty good. But not good enough."
Springing forward he released a barrage of punches, kicks, elbows and knees. I struggled to defend myself. After getting punched in the stomach I looked inward and smiled. This was the kind of fight I was looking for. So, using all the knowledge and experience I gained since coming here, along with all I knew before, I began to fight back. Blocking, dodging and even countering him at every turn.
After 5 minutes of a constant exchange we both started to slow. Light wounds pilling up, but he was slowing faster and his wounds more severe. I was wearing Joes spiked knuckles after all.
I didn't hold back and when he released a punch with too wide an arc I took the chance. Avoiding his left, I bent my knees and sprung up with a left of my own. A clean uppercut to his jaw sent him sprawling to the ground and ended the fight right there.
I tied him up and went into his hut. Picking up his pipe, rifle, some gun powder, bullets and kick boxers tape before leaving. I threw him over my shoulder, steadied my breathing, ate the apple in my pocket and then left for the bounty hunters den.
After stuffing my face I left the bar with my winnings. This bounty was more than double my last one, so I can afford to splurge a little. But if I keep spending so much I'll never make enough to buy my own ship. After buying a myriad assortment of weapons I took them back to the Inn and began training with each one. I spent 2 hours for every one of them. Practicing every form and style I was familiar with, before taking a breather and picking up the next weapon.
Looking down at my new Weapon collection after meditating. I counted Ten weapons, for a total of 20 hours of training. If I spread it out over the week and wield 2 weapons a day each for for 10 hours a day that will leave me with two days where I can focus entirely on the sword and spear respectively. That's still giving myself an hour to meditate and two to three hours a day to sleep. Luckily my soul is strong enough for me to replenish my body after such a short rest.
I would cycle through the weapons until I found the ones I was most comfortable using and when I did, I would prioritize training with what ever weapon it is. The sword and spear are last on the list and get the most time during this cycle.
My next training weapon will be a pair of nunchaku.
Mastery doesn't come easily, especially not when I want to master so many weapons. It may take years, decades even, but I don't mind the wait.
It will make travelling in the forest more difficult though, as I'll need to carry my weapons around with me. But it will also work as an added weight to strengthen my muscles while on the move.
I was almost at the bar when I heard something that made my blood boil.
"What do you mean you'll only pay 20,000. This kid is worth at least 5 times that! A Fishman slave is almost impossible to find in the whole of the south blue." Spoke a slender man clothed in dregs.
"And I told you that's not a Fishman. It's just an ugly child. I'll pay no higher than 20,000. Keep making a fuss and I won't even pay that." Said the buyer. He was wearing a top hat and had short stubby legs and a round belly. He was shaped like a pear and dressed like the penguin from Batman.
"Look at his teeth! Look at the gills. Look at his skin! It's almost green. He's clearly a Fishman!" Yelled the seller.
"His teeth have been filled to make that point, the gills no more than scars and his complexion is from malnutrition. He's no more a Fishman than I am a giant. 20,000, final offer. Take it now or I'll walk."
"rraaagghhh FINE! Just make sure to watch the little shit. He's a feisty one." The seller said with a grin as he passed the chained collar over to the buyer and took the briefcase filled with his money.
"Oh we'll be sure to train that out of him. Can't be selling defective products now can we." Chuckled the buyer as he touched the whip on his belt. He then attempted to turn and leave after paying the other man.
My blood boiled over. My body moved before I could think, I dropped Michael Dex to the floor, pulled out his rifle and the next thing I knew I was staring directly at the 2 men not even 5 feet from the alley in which they spoke.
They both turned on me. The seller laughed before speaking "And what do you want? Here to buy the runt too. Well too bad he's already sol-'BANG' he never got to finish his sentence.
I turned the rifle towards the buyer. Fear written clear across his face. "Wait please don't kill me! I'll give you the boy. Take me to jail if you must. Just please don't kill me"
I looked into his eyes before speaking, my tone icy and cold "Maybe you'll make better choices in your next life. People go to jail. Dogs get put down!"
'BANG'
It was over in a second. My mind calmed as I looked at the two bodies before me. I searched them before sprinkling some gun power over the two and lighting a match as I walked away.
Looking to the boy. He looked up at me in both awe and horror. I passed him the keys too his chains, the money the man used to buy him, along with all the money the two men possessed and even the few pieces of jewelry the buyer was wearing. I took the whip for myself and tossed him a hunting knife I had just bought. (The dagger I had wasn't good for carving up wild game) It should be enough to help the kid survive for awhile.
Without saying a word I turned and walked away.
The boy looked at the burning bodies, back to me and then down at what I had given him. He seemed to struggle to speak. When he finally mustered up his courage I was surprised with what he said.
"I don't need your pity, but thanks for saving me. I won't get caught again!" And with that he removed his chains, picked up his new stuff and ducked into an alleyway and out of sight.
Walking back to Dex and picking him up again I look back at my decision to take out the two men. It was quite impulsive, but I didn't regret it! Like I told the penguin man, maybe in their next lives they can redeem their actions. What ever the case I didn't really feel anything after taking their lives. I guess once you know what happens to people after death it changes your outlook on how your treat a persons life. Hell in my opinion animal lives are more precious than most peoples. At least they just follow their instincts and don't lie and betray one another.
'hhhhhhaa' I let out a long sigh.
It seems stuff like this still effects me.
When I was alive, the first time around, I hated all forms of injustice and always wanted to step up and fight against it, well more accurately I always wanted to deal out punishment, but I never had the courage or strength to do so.
Until now that is.
I looked down at my steady hands and managed to crack a smile. "I won't let my emotions rule me next time, but I refuse to stand by and watch. If something unjust is happening right before me and I have the power to stop it, I will! And if scum crosses my path again I'll put them in the dirt where they belong. Otherwise my name isn't James Marshal ||"
