Ch 09: Stingshot Derek

He was getting bored of waiting and eating in the Commander's room.

But it didn't last long as soon Josh came with a case in his hands.

"This is your money, you can start tomorrow as a Lieutenant Commander"

"Thank you, Commander"

He looked pleased as he got used to his position soon.

"It is okay, you will soon surpass me.

Follow him, he will take you to your Room and everything will be delivered to you by tonight, just give your measures to the tailor on the way"

"Yes Commander"

~~~~~

He got up and looked at himself, the sail uniform and the coat.

Lieutenant Commander was the fourth rank from below if you were to rank the positions in Marine.

He didn't find it good, neither the clothes nor the rank, but he didn't say much as he would soon rise ranks and get it changed.

According to the rule book, he can take a ship with him on patrol or to arrest pirates.

He took out a list of all-powerful pirates in West Blue with a Bounty of less than 100 million.

While he was going through the bounty he was surprised to find that there were even two people with a bounty of more than a hundred million.

But he doesn't need to take such great risks right now.

He came out and said to the adjutant Lucas who was granted to him.

"Good Morning, Lieutenant Commander"

"Hmm, go and prepare a warship and tell the people to gather and also check if any of these five people are under the sphere of influence"

Lucas looked at the bounty poster in his hands and his back was already drenched with sweat but before he could say anything, he saw that Lieutenant Commander Ray had already walked away.

~~~

Seeing that everyone had gathered on the ship, he turned to Lucas.

"Are all the preparations complete?"

"Yes Lieutenant Commander"

"Just call me Sir from now"

"Yes sir"

"So which of the pirates are within our range"

"Yes, 'Black Rose' Rosy of the 'Black Rose Pirates' attacked the island a week ago in our circle.

After they looted that island, we couldn't find them.

Commander Josh personally led the team at that time.

Also, 'Stingshot' Derek, captain of 'Toxic Gun Pirates' arrived on Taza Island yesterday.

But since they are not bloodthirsty pirates and their crew is relatively small, Commander Josh didn't dispatch us.

We sent some Marines to monitor them yesterday, but they didn't see him leave"

"Good, let's head to Taza town.

Everyone we are going there to kill Pirates, if you catch sight of them don't hesitate to shoot otherwise I won't bring your body back.

I don't why you were so unfortunate to end up on my team but since you are here you only have two choices, that is to Fight or Die.

Do you get it?"

"Yes Lieutenant Commander"

"Okay Everyone can just call me Sir, Lucas follow me"

After he came inside his cabin, he asked Lucas

"Why didn't Commander Josh go after this guy?"

"It's because of the newly risen pirate Bandar also known as 'Violent Ape' he is the captain of 'Blood Beasts' and has been causing many massacres recently, his bounty has quickly risen to 109 million.

So, in case this guy comes near our Branch or we have to go support other branches, the Commander is preserving the strength"

"It seems the Commander has too much on himself and has to think about many things from various perspectives"

"That is true"

"Fortunately, I am just a Lieutenant Commander, I can do whatever I want as long as I don't break rules.

Go and make sure that our ride goes smoothly"

"Yes Sir"

Lucas looked at this superior and couldn't decide for a moment whether he was sarcastic or literal, but since he was unable to figure it out he just left it and went ahead to do his work.

~~~

The opponent he was going to deal with today couldn't be easier for him.

'Stingshot' Derek was a guy who was very proficient in shooting, even called West Blue's number-one shooter,

But his expertise lies in concocting poisons.

He is said to be very calm and does not blindly recruit crew members like others but instead recruits only a few eligible ones.

He uses the poison by dissipating it into the air, although it gets diluted it still numbs the senses causing them to get shot by him.

But all this is useless against him, he can easily avoid bullets with his observation haki but also knows when and which poison was spread by him through his thoughts.

Bru…Bru…

His phone bug rang…

"Why did you go hunting Derek without telling me?"

"I am just doing my duties"

"You need to report to superiors before taking planned action against a pirate group"

"I am on my normal patrol duty and encountered the 'Toxic Gun Pirates' by accident"

"You… Just turn the ship and return now!"

"Sir we will land on Taza Island in ten minutes"

"You heard it! I will call you after I deal with them"

He hung up the phone bug.

"Was that Commander Josh?"

"Yes, have you received the information?"

Lucas gulped when he saw that the Lieutenant Commander was blatantly declining a Captain's order.

But he still did his job.

"Yes, Stingshot and two of his crew members are resting in a hotel while the rest are guarding the boat which is being repaired"

"Hmm, then I will leave it to you to take down the pirates on the boat and capture it, I will go after Derek"

"Yes Sir, please be safe"

"I hope you return alive too, be careful of the poison traps"

He came out and jumped off the ship after the ship docked.

He turned his observation haki and found Derek talking to his subordinates through a phone bug.

'Why can even they easily get this thing, when he cannot'

He went straight to him.

After Derek ended the call, he started to release some smoke in the room and left the room through the window and then closed it after leaving.

Although he couldn't see what type of poison it was, through his thoughts he could identify what it was.

The saliva of poisonous lizard, upon heating, turns to smoke but soon it becomes invisible and it does not have an odour.

It causes stiffness in the body and makes it hard for them to move.

Slowly, paralysing them.

He came to the top of another window and aimed at him.

His two partners were still inside but they probably were already under the poison's control.

Seeing how he was aiming at the building and surroundings.

He made a turn and ran in a circle to sneak on him.

After that, he locked on him and

"Bull Horn Charge"

The previous Bull Charge was a slashing attack but Bull Horn Charge is a stabbing attack.

It is hard for the opponent to dodge, as he can change the sword's angle at any time.

In case of sneak attacks like this, it cannot fail.

Perhaps Derek sensed the danger, so he jumped to the side.