I come here for my money (Part 1)

West Blue, Mastarc City, 80th Branch Marine Base, 12:00

Zack Parker, a 17-year-old boy who entered the Marine less than a month ago was resting briefly after being defeated by his fellow recruits during a small training tournament

However, despite being eliminated he couldn't slack off like him or other of his coworkers wanted!

His superiors assigned him another task until the tournament ended and this task was to be in the watchtower.

An extremely boring job not very different from slacking off, but one that's seen in a better light and that he also enjoyed thanks to his official Marine supervisor, who offered him to play cards to kill time

'Yes, this is life…'

A boring job that was almost a privilege, after all he could see from there other of his eliminated coworkers doing much less pleasant and comfortable tasks...

"What is..."

However, all that tranquility disappeared when relatively far on the horizon he saw...

"Pirates?

IT CANNOT BE TRUE!

WE ARE BEING ATTACKED BY TWO PIRATE SHIPS!?"

Zack couldn't believe that just when he was on lookout the 80th Branch Marine Base in West Blue would be attacked by pirates for the first time in history

And the worst thing is that he didn't know exactly what to do in this situation!

How could he know what to do?

HE'S A FUCKING INTERN!

'What should I do? Do I have to sound an alarm? Do I have to notify Captain Zola directly? I have to...'

But luckily, at the 80th Branch Marine Base in West Blue, interns weren't left alone, even with tasks as boring as sitting on a watchtower.

"Don't panic Zack...

Grab your binoculars and take a good look at their Jolly Rogers

What do you see?" Said the Seaman first class Sam, who handed his binoculars to Seaman Recruit Zack

A binocular that Zack instantly used to determine that "There is...

A cock painted in their mouths?

What the hell does this mean?"

"Oh it's true...

The only time you saw [that man] arrive a few weeks ago he came through the front door, so this is weird to you...

But when he comes back by sea with [borrowed ships] he normally alerts us in this way to prevent us from shooting him" Answered Sam, who had mistakenly assumed that Zack would have to know what that meant.

"When you say [that man]… do you mean [that man]?" Zack asked, who was unable to hide his excitement.

"Of course

What other [that man] could we be talking about?" Sam replied redundantly

However, Zack wanted to be sure, so he insisted "Just to make sure...

Are we talking about Frederick Freed, the [Beast Tamer]?"

"Yes, of course, among many other nicknames...

In these cases you always have to press the blue button" Sam answered again, buti this time without being ambiguous and doing his almost usual job.

And by pressing that button the sound of a siren reverberated throughout the base...

[MMMMMMMMNNNNMMMMMM!!!!]

With a very specific message

[FRED IS HERE!! FRED IS HERE!! DON'T ATTACK THE SHIPS! IT'S FRED!!! DON'T ATTACK THE PIRATE SHIPS!!

EVERYONE IN POSITION!]

And upon hearing that alarm a large part of the marines ceased their activities… including the tournament of recruits… to go to the port of the base, where the young living legend would disembark almost imminently

"Is it really him?" Asked one of the recruits who ran to where everyone was going

And a more experienced Marine around snapped back "Of course is him, didn't you hear the fucking alarm?

Fucking idiot mobs…"

Even Zack and Sam came down from their watchtower to join the mob.

"This, sir...

Why is all this scandal taking place? The last time he came, it wasn't necessary to do this welcome" Zack asked, surprised not only by all the people who had gathered to watch, but also by the experienced marines who had taken up a fighting position in the harbor.

Although from their attitude they didn't seem very nervous...

No...

Quite the opposite!

Some even seemed to be betting with each other…

"It doesn't make much sense for me to answer you if in a few seconds you will see it...

I'll just tell you... since I like to do spoilers... is that the rumors aren't exaggerations

It really happens..." Sam replied after finding a good place to enjoy the show.

It didn't take long for the two ships they saw on the horizon to sail at breakneck speed toward the marina's port and…

At such or more breakneck speed all the pirates on the ship jumped towards the marines!

But instead of trying to attack them, as anyone would expect...

"PLEASE! LOCK ME UP NOW!!!"

"BUAAAHHHH!!! FINALLY!! I HAVE ARRIVED!!! I HAVE ARRIVED ALIVE!!!"

"BUAAAHHH!!!"

"GET ME AWAY FROM HIM! PLEASE! I BEG YOU!!!"

"ANYTHING! I WILL DO ANYTHING! BUT GET ME AWAY FROM THAT PSYCHOPATH!!!

PLEASE!!!"

All the extremely terrified pirates threw themselves at the feet of the marines! All of them crying with happiness upone see them, as if they were their heroes!

They kept begging for them to save them, some even holding on to the leg of the marines as if they were scared pandas after an earthquake!

"Holly… shit..."

SOMETHING THAT INCREDIBLY IMPACTED ON ALL THE YOUNG RECRUITS, WHO UNTIL RECENTLY BELIEVED THAT WHAT THEY JUST WITNESSED WAS JUST A RUMOR!

But it really did happen…

The pirates really did throw themselves into the arms of the marines like little children to escape from Fred.

"Yes Yes...

Don't worry, you will all have the opportunity to stay in a cell until we send you to your respective prisons…" Warrant Officer Jun, the officer in charge of the port, replied as he tried…almost routinely… to get rid of the sniveling, smelly pirates who were trying to hug him

"Hey Jun! How's everything?

I've brought you new tenants, but don't give these two a room

They were unlucky enough to be kidnapped by pirates and one of them would need to go back to the East Blue.

They will tell you everything" Answered Fred, who stepped triumphantly off the boat with Captain Mcnugget on his right shoulder, a bag... with surely murky contents... on his left shoulder and Komatsu and Tim... still extremely pale... on either side

"Hi Fred, I see you've had a good catch this time...

The [Iron Fist] and [Wooden Leg] pirates if I'm not mistaken

Has this been coincidence or have you looked for this irony?" Jun asked, waving to the favorite friend from the 80th Branch Marine Base as his subordinates led the extremely cooperative pirates to their cell.

"It would be more epic to say that I planned it from the beginning, although honestly...

This 2X1 has been a pure coincidence!

MUA HAHAHAHA!!!" Fred replied, laughing proudly... and maybe wickedly... with an extremely scary face as he shook Komatsu and Tim, who were laughing too, but hysterically.

"I like your sincerity" Jun said, unperturbed by Fred's usual nasty laugh. Instead he grabbed Komatsu and Tim and took them into his custody "Knowing you well you will want to go negotiate prices as soon as possible with the Liutenant Commander Lex

You can go, don't worry, I'll take good care of these two kids"

"Treat them well, they are somewhat traumatized by what the pirates have done to them.

Especially this one, the poor guy has had a somewhat surreal week..." Fred said while pointing to Komatsu and then asked while pointing in the direction of the main building "Do I need you or someone to guide me to Lex's office?"

A question that Jun from a year ago used to answer as follows "No need, feel at home, you know the way"

"Grachie!

See you Koby 2 and Koby 3!" Said Fred, saying goodbye to Warrant Officer Jun and his renamed new protégés

Renamed protégés who also said goodbye to the one who saved them and traumatized them even more "See you too Fred…

Thank you for saving us..."

"Well...

Would you like a cup of hot chocolate while you explain to me what happened to you?

It helps to calm down... at least it worked with the other guys that Fred has [rescued]" Said Jun, trying to be as nice as possible to them, although he had some doubts "By the way, who's Koby 2 and who's Koby 3?

Are you brothers and your parents have little imagination?"

And while traumatized boys were resolving that misunderstanding Fred, accompanied by Captain Mcnugget, was already happily advancing towards the place where he would be remunerated for the heads he had cut off and the ships he had [recovered]!

And all the Marines, especially the recruits who didn't get a chance to see it last week, gave way to it while being hit with the fanboy effect.

"It's him! It's him! Just as they describe him in the newspapers and he appears in the photos!"

"Those two ships… are they the ships of the pirates [Wooden Leg] and [Iron Fist]?

"You mean he just caught both of you at once?

Is that even possible?"

"If anyone can do something like that at West Blue, it can only be Fred!"

"That's right! He's not the best bounty hunter in the West Blue for nothing!"

"And maybe the best in the world!"

"How many millions has he made in the last few years?"

"I can't believe he's only fifteen..."

"Woah!

He has tamed a huge falcon!"

"And he's also fucking tall!"

In three years Fred had become a real celebrity! Especially among young people, even more so among young people who wanted to hunt pirates as well, either among the bounty hunter or even among the local marines!

Something very strange to see, since the marines and in general the population didn't have a great appreciation for pirate hunters. However, Fred thanks to his good initial press, to the exhaustive monitoring of Morgans and other journalists who wanted to join the Fred phenomenon, to the fact that Fred tried to have a good public image for many reasons… one of them to make good publicity of his products … he was quite loved by the civilian population despite his sadistic actions against his enemies

'Yes, keep praising me...

I have earned it! I deserve it!

MUAHAHAHAHA!!!' Thought Fred, who was trying with great difficulty to maintain an expressionless and cool face that didn't reflect his inner thoughts at all

He almost felt forced smile, pose before his fans and even sell autographs if it weren't for keeping up his cool guy facade

A smile that almost came involuntarily as soon as he saw a specific person among the recruits. An impressive tall cool beautiful pink-haired woman, who looked at him with a certain coldness.

"¡HINNNA-CHAAANNN!!!"

That woman was Hina, who later in the future would become a reputed Marine HQ officer with the nickname of Black Cage, but now she was only a 19-year-old recruit in the West Blue showing incredible talent and potential among many other things thanks to her Akuma No Mi

An incredibly efficient Akuma No Mi for catching people alive

Someone Fred was extremely interested in! So much so that he momentarily postponed receiving the reward from him "Hina-chan

Have you come to see me too?"

"Hina hasn't had any other choice.

Because of you, the tournament has been interrupted and everyone has come here..." Hina answered somewhat annoyed, since she was the one who was winning the tournament by a landslide

Something that wasn't Fred's fault, but he still apologized to appease that possible female rancor "I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

But aside from that, have you thought about my proposal?"

"Hina hasn't thought about it, but there's no need

My goal is to be a Marine HQ officer, not a West Blue bounty hunter teaming up with a teenager" Hina replied in a slow and cool way as always as she lit a cigarette to look even cooler.

"Oh come on Hina-san...

It's a very serious professional proposal

Just think of all the money you could make!" Fred replied as he opened his bag and showed the severed heads he had [collected] a few hours ago "Look! In a single night with only these six heads I will have won about 160 million

Just think how lucrative this business could be for someone with your abilities!

Being a Marine officer you would do more or less the same thing, but for a measly fixed salary and a tricked variable that won't allow you to retire at a young age

In addition to being tied to the bureaucracy, not being able to choose your holidays, always receiving orders from hundreds of idiot and selfish superiors who…"

And just when many recruits began to vomit at the sight of the decapitated heads...

"Ara ara...

I would appreciate it if you would stop harassing Hina or any of my talented recruits.

Fred..."

The three highest ranking officers at the 80th Branch Marine Base made an appearance before their best pirate supplier

"OH MY! is Captain Zola, my favourite sugar mommy!

And Lieutenant Commander Lex, my tax administrator!" He said as he hugged Captain Zola, Lieutenant Commander Lex... and ignored Lieutenant Commander Francis as if he didn't exist.

"Hello Fred..." Lex greeted while trying to signal him in a sneaky way to stop hugging the captain

"Seriously... don't call me that way..." Said Captain Zola as she tried tto keep her manners while pulling him away from her... and then forced herself to put on an extremely kind face to talk to Fred ""But apart from that

You have had a very good catch, I suppose you have come to get the money from those heads and to sell the boats here directly...

I'm right?"

"Doubt offends" Fred replied with a smile from ear to ear as his pupils began to mutate into the berrie symbol

"I'm happy for you and I hope that this time you didn't leave us another [little surprise] that we have to worry about..." Zola answered, which immediately with the same friendly smile and tone of voice, radically changed the topic of conversation "Aside from that...

Have you thought about my offer?

The Marine HQ ship will be passing through here in a few weeks to deliver promising recruits to the elite camp run by the legendary Ex-Admiral Zephyr

So you still have time for me to recommend you!

With your skill, potential, and dedication, I have no doubt that you could make it to Vice-Admiral at the very least.

And who knows, maybe..."

"Captain Zola, with all my respect...

I have already told you many times that I don't want to join the Marine or any other hierarchical organization that's not lead by me

Please, don't insist anymore, it makes me feel embarrassed to reject a woman's propositions so many times" Fred said, interrupting Captain Zola's speech, showing that he was really uncomfortable with this recurring situation.

"EEEEHHHH!!!????

YOU DID THE EXACT SAME THING TO HINA A FEW SECONDS AGO!!!" All the Marines in that place shouted, especially Hina who dropped her cigarette while her eyes bulged out like her coworkers

"Then there's nothing more to talk about...

Liutenant Commander Lex take care of this matter" Said Captain Zola, radically changing her friendly face and tone of voice to talk to Fred… even less friendly when talking to his subordinates "AND YOU!

What are you doing here!?

THIS IS A MARINE BASE, NOT A SCHOOLYARD!

GET BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS!!!"

"YOU HAVE HEARD! BACK TO WORK!

AND PICK UP YOUR VOMIT! PIGS!" Shouted Lieutenant Commander Francis, acting as a speaker for her captain, possibly to get noticed and score points in front of her.

An opportunity that Fred didn't miss to mess with him more than he had already done "Oh, that annoying voice...

I hadn't realized that Liutenant Commander Francis was also here…"

"YOOOUUU..." Francis yelled, full of anger and about to draw his sword when

"Lieutenant Commander Francis!" Yelled Capitain Zola as she glared at Francis. "Come here, we have business to attend to."

"You save yourself another day…" Said Francis extremely angrily as he glared at Fred and followed his captain.

And Fred, far from shutting up, kept using sarcasm to upset the marine who hated him the most in the universe with a reference that only he understood in that place "What a nice fella"

"Haha...Fred...

You should stop provoking him so much...

And not joke so much with the Captain, she doesn't have as much sense of humor as I do...

Anyway, I guess you've come to get more money...

Let's go to my office to discuss the details." Said Lex, the nice marine who helped him so much five years ago and who continues to help him today . In addition, he's also the one in charge within the base of dealing with all matters related to Fred…

Practically a member of the family!

"Me and Captain Mcnugget are following you" Fred replied, still with Captain Mcnugget resting on his shoulder.

"KIAAHHHH!!"

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You'll be able to see 8 chapters in advance in my Pa-treon

pa-treon.com/user?u=83938371