12 Chapter 12: A Ship A Shipwright & A Cook
(3rd Person: POV)
Exiting the bar, Wave and Kuroh, following right behind them, Atalanta and Achilles immediately saw a number of marines heading in their direction.
One of which was a man with slicked-backed blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a haughty expression on his face and had a coat draped over his shoulders.
As he walked the rest of the marines surrounded him in a protective formation.
Seeing this Achilles and Atalanta both instantly knew that marine was captain William Moody.
Who in no time at all reached them, along with the marines under his command.
Once this happened the marines opened up their formation and Moody stepped forward.
Putting himself right in front of Atalanta and Achilles.
"Greetings children, I am captain William Moody. The head of the 42nd marine branch here on Craft Island." Moody arrogantly spoke. "Now, the reason I have decided to grace you with my presence today is because a certain someone told me that you two beat up my precious subordinates. I came to see if that was true. So, is it?"
"It is." Achilles casually replied.
"I see." Moody replied. "Why then? Why did you beat up my precious subordinates?"
"Because they basically threatened us to come and meet with you and we didn't want to. But when those idiots couldn't understand the words we were saying to them and decided to try and use violence against us to get us to comply with their demands we responded with violence in kind. Simple as that." Atalanta explained.
"Okay, I understand." Moody spoke. "So what you two are saying is that you assaulted marines without any due cause. You know children that is a very heinous offense." He spoke. "Marines are here to protect you after all, and assaulting them isn't right."
"You are right." Achilles replied. "The thing is I don't see any marines here. All I see if scum masquerading as marines. So really my friend Atalanta and I did nothing wrong." He said.
Achilles words causing Moody, and his marines, brows to twitch.
"My, what a smart mouth you have." Moody said.
"I know. It's one of my best charms." Achilles replied. "So then scum, are you going to keep standing there pretending you represent justice or are we going to get to the real reason you and your band of thugs came down here. I mean it doesn't matter either way to me since I'll still defeat you but I just thought you should have one last chance to make a choice before my friend and I send you and your fellow scumbags to the great beyond." He spoke.
Achilles words causing Moody and his marines to red in the face with anger.
"Why you little fucker!" Moody shouted. "Marines, ki-"
Moody didn't get to finish his sentence.
Because before he could Achilles removed Lonkhe from his back, which it was secured too by his orange cloth/scarf, and used it to cut Moody's head from his body.
Flying a few inches into the air before gravity took over Moody's head crashed down onto the ground and rolled several times before coming to a complete and utter stop.
This causing a heavy silence to permeate the air.
As well as stun Moody's subordinates, the civilians in the vicinity, and Wave and Kuroh.
Yet Achilles and Atalanta paid no mind to them.
Twirling Lonkhe in his right hand several times, Achilles finally stopped and pointed its spear-tipped end in the direction of Moody's subordinates. A savage grin on his face.
"Alright scum listen up, you have two choices before you. One, lay down your weapons and surrender, or two come at me and my crewmate Atalanta and fight. Taking the first option will likely guarantee you your lives. But take the second option and I promise you your lives will end. So the choice is yours, now what will it be?" Achilles spoke.
Several seconds of silence passed after Achilles gave the marines the ultimatum.
But that silence was finally broken when the marines began throwing down their weapons, and putting their hands up in the air.
"We surrender!" They cried.
"Good choice." Achilles spoke. He then turned his attention to the islanders. "Hey, if you guys could please come and round these marines up." He asked.
A few moments after Achilles did so some of the local men did as he requested.
They walked over to the marines, retrieved their weapons, and then began forcing them to march.
Seeing this happen Achilles nodded.
He then walked over to Kuroh and Wave, who came out of their shocked stupor when we arrived in front of them.
"So, I kept up my end of the bargain Wave, now it's time for you to keep up yours." Achilles spoke to him.
"Yes." Wave immediately replied.
Which was music to Achilles ears.
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(Achilles: POV)
Standing at one of the docks of Craft Island I had a grin on my face. Looking at my and my crews newly completed ship.
[Image Here]
It took two weeks of work by the builders of Craft Island to make it, but it is finally done.
Looking at it I have to say they did a marvelous job. I find it truly worthy of a vessel that will sail the seas and more specifically the Grand Line.
I took a few more seconds to admire the ship, which I have named the Argo, before turning my attention away from it.
For I saw Wave, Kuroh, and Atalanta approaching me out of the corner of my left eye.
They reached me shortly after.
"So, like the ship?" Wave asked.
"I do. The Argo is a real beauty, and I can tell just by looking at her how much work you and the other builders of the island put into making her Wave." I said.
Since Wave worked on the Argo first-hand.
Turns out he's pretty good with building and repairs.
"Once more, thank you." I spoke.
"Hey, it's no trouble. Really." Wave replied. "Besides, it's the least we could do after everything you did for us. Getting rid of Moody, then helping us round up the rest of his marines. You breathed life back into our island Achilles, and this ship is the least we can do to show our gratitude."
"Yeah, what Wave says." Kuroh added. "So, you two are setting sail today huh?"
"We are." Atalanta said.
"Not that it hasn't been fun here mind you." I spoke.
Because it has.
Especially with that island-wide party that went on for three days straight after I killed Moody and we shoved the rest of his subordinates into the jail cells on the Marine base. A twisted irony if there ever was one.
"But it's time for Atalanta and I to move on. The sea is calling our names." I said.
"I see. Well then, good luck." Wave spoke.
"Yes, good luck on your adventures and travels." Kuroh added.
"Actually before Atalanta and I set sail there is one more thing I need to do." I spoke.
"Oh, and what's that?" Kuroh asked.
"Convince Wave to join my crew." I casually replied.
"What?!" The two best friends shouted in unison.
Meanwhile Atalanta simply shook her head.
"You aren't serious right?" Kuroh asked.
"No, I am." I replied. I then focused my attention on Wave. "Wave, join my crew. We don't have a shipwright yet and you seem to know you way around them. So how about setting sail with us and seeing the world? Come on, let's go and shake up this big world together!" I exclaimed.
"Wait, wait wait. Having Wave build you a ship is one thing, but asking him to join your crew and become a pirate is an entirely different matter altogether." Kuroh spoke "And you're asking on the day you're leaving. That's so unfair to Wave, you aren't giving him anytime to think about it."
"Untrue. I am giving him time to think about my offer right now." I replied.
"You know what I mean Achilles." Kuroh grumbled.
"I do, but my point still stand. So, what do you say Wave?" I spoke to him.
"Okay. Yeah, I'll do it." He said.
"Wave, are you serious right now?" Kuroh asked his best friend.
"I am Kuroh." Wave replied. "There's a whole wide world out there and you know for a long time I've wanted to see it. So now that a chance has finally presented itself for me to do so I would have to be a fool to pass it up. Besides, it's not like Atalanta and Achilles are normal pirates. So I'll be fine sailing with them."
"But you'll be a pirate." Kuroh replied. "You'll be hunted by the marines, bounty hunters, and even other pirates by joining Achilles crew."
"Hey if you're that worried about him Kuroh then you can join the crew as well." Atalanta spoke.
"Oh, nice idea Atalanta." I spoke. Giving her a thumbs up. I then turned my gaze to Kuroh.
"You can't be serious?" Kuroh asked me.
"Oh, I am." I replied.
"Yeah, come on Kuroh. Join the crew as well." Wave asked. He then gave his best friend a pleading look.
"Yes, Kuroh pease join us." I asked. Giving him a pleading look as well.
"Join us."
"Yes, join us."
"Join us, join us, join us." Wave and I began chanting at Kuroh in unison. "Join us."
"Alright, enough you bastards!" Kuroh shouted. "Fine, you win. I'll join you. But just to be clear I am only going to make sure Wave doesn't get himself killed. It's not like I am becoming a pirate because I want to or anything like that." He spoke. Looking away from Wave and I as he did.
'Oh, to think Kuroh was a tsundere all this time.' I thought.
Looks like my crew just got two new great additions.
After Kuroh and Wave agreed to join us they went to gather their belongings and inform the rest of the islanders.
Who then sent us off crying tears of joy as we sailed away.
Man those guys are great.
So much so I made a mental note to return to Craft Island one day and spend time with them again.
But that's far in the future.
Right now my crew and I have other adventures to have.
Oh and speaking of my crew we've already chosen positions.
Naturally I am the captain.
Atalanta is our sniper.
Wave is our shipwright.
While Kuroh is a cook. Since it turns out that's his passion.
Good for him and for us.
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Current ages of the crew.
Achilles: 14 years old.
Atalanta: 14 years old.
Wave: 15 years old.
Kuroh: 16 years old.
Advanced chapters of this story are available on my Paetron.
Here is the link: patreon.com/ArifuretaForever
