A Pirate's Welcome #145

Cedric stood at the helm of the Silver Gale, his crew assembled on the deck, ready to bid him farewell. He smiled and nodded at each member. "Whelp, looks like it's time for me to get going..."

"Do take care," Kieran said, his face and tone as blank as usual. "Don't get yourself into too much trouble."

Cedric grinned, placing a hand on Kieran's shoulder. "You know me. Trouble always seems to have a way of finding me, but I'll do my best to come back in one piece."

Baby Five stepped forward, her eyes brimming with innocence and enthusiasm. She wrapped her arms around Cedric's waist in a tight hug. "Come back safe, Captain! We'll be waiting for you!"

Cedric chuckled, patting Baby Five's head affectionately. "Of course. I'll be back before you know it."

Duval clapped Cedric on the back. "Go out there and show them what you're made of, Captain! We'll be cheering for you!"

With a final round of farewells and well-wishes, Cedric took a step back, facing Khalifa. "It's time to go, Khalifa. Hold on tight."

Khalifa nodded, her expression resolute. She tightened her grip on Cedric's arm, ready for the upcoming journey. "I'm ready. Let's do this."

Without further ado, Cedric extended his hand, summoning his fiery powers. Flames danced around his palm, forming a vibrant fire cloud. He leaped onto it, motioning for Khalifa to join him. With a swift and graceful movement, Khalifa hopped onto the fire cloud, positioning herself behind Cedric.

The crew watched Cedric and Khalifa ascend into the sky until they were out of sight.

…

Inside the dimly lit Spiders Cafe in Alabasta, the agents of Baroque Works gathered around a large round table.

The cafe was filled with the low murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses, creating an atmosphere of secrecy and intrigue. Mikita, Zala, Marianne, and Dorothy, the female partners of the agents, stood near the table, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Gem, now known as Mr.1, cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the group. "Gentlemen and ladies," he began, his voice carrying a commanding tone. "Today, we gather to discuss the rising stars in the Grand Line and the four blues. We need to evaluate their potential as recruits or targets."

Daz Bones, now known as Mr.2, leaned forward, giving Gem a blank look before continuing. "Let's start with Fire Fist Ace... he's new to the pirate business, but I heard he ate a rare logia devil fruit recently..." he suggested.

Bentham, now known as Mr.3, performed a dancing spin move for absolutely no reason. "Ah, yes. That boy is very cute and good-looking! We should definitely try to recruit him! He could be a valuable addition to our ranks."

Galdino's, now known as Mr.4, eyes twitched as he looked at Bentham. "What are we gonna do with his looks, you imbecile?!" He quickly calmed himself with a deep breath and continued. "That said... the boy's bounty is low, and his devil fruit is impressive... recruiting him won't be half bad..."

Everyone then turned to Babe, now known as Mr.5, but the hulking brute of a man merely returned a blank stare as if there were no thoughts behind his eyes. Dorothy, Babe's partner, interjected on his behalf. "We don't care either way... but there's the matter of Eustass Kid..."

Mikita, standing near Gem, chimed in. "That brat, Kid, is unpredictable and ruthless. His magnetic powers are pretty troublesome, to boot. He'll be useful, but only if we can control him..."

Gem nodded, taking in the information. "Very well, we'll keep an eye on Ace and Kid..." He paused, letting out a cryptic smile before continuing. "But let's not forget about the one other rising star... Cedric Strode..."

He scanned the room, intently studying the shifting expression of his colleagues. "What do you think of him and his crew?"

At the mention of Cedric's name, a murmur spread across the table as The agents exchanged glances, intrigued at the mention of the enigmatic pirate. Except for Marianne as she silently listened to the conversation, too entranced in her painting to care about anything else.

Bentham raised an eyebrow. "Interesting! That boy is even more good-looking! We should definitely try to recruit him!"

Galdino's forehead creased at Bentham's words. "Will you please shut up?!" Again he took a deep breath and continued. "I think we should steer clear of that one..."

"He defeated a vice admiral and escaped an admiral, so the chances of us capturing him are rather slim..." Galdino reasoned. "The chances of recruiting him are even slimmer... he used to be a marine officer with a promising career, which he abandoned to become a pirate..."

"I doubt we could offer him anything to entice him into joining. Controlling him through force will be impossible as well..." He concluded, shaking his head.

Zala's grin widened as she listened to Galdino's assessment. She then turned to her partner, Daz Bones, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "And what about you, Daz Bones? What are your thoughts on Cedric?"

Daz Bones, maintaining his usual blank expression, pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Golden Grizzly... He's beyond me," he admitted, his voice devoid of emotion. "His strength and abilities are on a whole different level...."

Daz Bones paused, his eyes narrowing in thought. "There is one individual among the Grizzly's crew who intrigues me," he confessed. "Kieran, the one they call the Shadow Hunter."

Galdino's brows furrowed as he turned his attention to Daz Bones. "Kieran the Shadow Hunter...? I've heard the name before. But I can't recall when and where. What's so special about this guy...?"

Daz Bones leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Before I joined Baroque Works, I was a bounty hunter," he explained. "During my time in the profession, I heard whispers about the Shadow Hunter. Supposedly he'd taken down countless targets with zero failures to his record..."

Zala's eyes widened with intrigue. "An assassin?"

Daz Bones nodded. "Indeed, he is. Countless rumors surround him, but very few have seen him or lived to tell the tale. Kieran's skills are said to be unparalleled, making him a true force to be reckoned with."

Galdino scratched his chin, contemplating the newfound information. "If we can't get Cedric Strode, perhaps recruiting this Kieran character would be a more feasible option," he mused. "He could be a valuable asset to Baroque Works."

Gem shrugged his shoulders. "Ulitmately, we are only here to exhcnage ifnormation. We all act indivisually, and this time it won't be different..." He added, trailing off as he scanned the room. "I, for one, am not poking the Grizzly or his crew with a ten foot pool, and I advise you to do the same..."

"However, you are all free to do as you please..." He said as he stood from his seat. "Let's go, Mikita. We're done here..."

...

Cedric and Khalifa rode on the fiery cloud, their eyes fixed on the approaching Jaya Island. The island, with its jagged U shape, stood proudly in the vast ocean. As they drew nearer, the details of the island came into focus.

The first sight that caught their attention was Mock Town, nestled near the coast. The resort-like appearance of the town was a stark contrast to the ruggedness of the surrounding wilderness. Red slanted roofs dotted the landscape, blending with the lush greenery of the trees. The vibrant colors added a lively touch to the otherwise wild and untamed environment.

From their vantage point on the fire cloud, Cedric and Khalifa could see the bustling activity in the town. The sounds of laughter and conversation drifted to their ears as the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air. It was a lively place, filled with pirates.

As Cedric and Khalifa ventured further into Jaya Island, their gaze shifted towards Mouth Bay, the part of the ocean that connected the two extremities of the island. The bay was known for its treacherous waters and hidden dangers, but it seemed to hold a surprise for them on this particular day.

Their attention was drawn to two ships anchored near the bay, engaged in what appeared to be salvage operations. Crew members scrambled across the decks, hoisting equipment and lowering divers into the water. It was evident that they were trying to retrieve something of value from the depths below.

"That should be the monkey brothers..." Cedric muttered to no one in particular as he observed the two ships. "Whatever, might as well head to town for now..."