Chapter 32 Back in the East Blue
"So, how have you been?" Arch asked Hancock who was standing to the side. "Hmm? What made you think you could ask me such a question?" She replied, instantly Arch regretted asking the question. "But I am fine anyway."
"....That's good to hear, well the Exchange Program went good on my end so I am happy over all." Arch noted, the boat passing through the calm sea. The Perfume Yuda had already traversed through the Grand Line and into the Calm Belt.
"Of course it did, what do you think the Kuja are? Some roadside trash like your Kingdom!?" She replied in a huff, Arch wasn't surprised to say the least. 'Sometimes I wonder if she's just a weirdo or if she's just a woman...' Arch sighed he knew this would soon devolved into another argument.
"No your Kuja are actually quite strong but what about you? Can you even defeat me the King of Trash?" Arch voiced, it was true that the Kuja outclassed most of his soldiers but that didn't mean he couldn't outclass Hancock.
Hearing this she was flustered to say the least, she still remembered her defeat at the hand of Arch half a year ago. "Hmph, act all high and mighty while you can, this Empress will make you kneel one day!" She declared moving her head to the side.
'Heh, good luck with that, if I ever to lose to you in a fight I'd be too embarrassed to ever show my face again.' Arch chuckled as a calmness descended back onto the ship. On the other side the Expedition Team minus William were chatting with the Kuja, telling them about their adventures and what they'd been up to during this time.
"And then I captured them all with one mighty blow, I am too strong for my own good." Bertram sighed his hand atop his face. Arch's ears perked up at this comment and immediately his brows twitched. 'Is this fat ass actually trying to act like an expert!?'
Even Ugo, Curt and Cort were amazed by his shamelessness to say the least. Curt and Cort whacking some sense into him a few seconds later, after all who would want to hear Bertram shamelessly boast? A deaf person?
Like this days passed on the Perfume Yuda until it eventually arrived at Amazon Lily. "Well this is where we part ways, if you ever need my help you know where to find me." Arch said boarding the Expedition Team's ship.
"Hmph, bold of you to assume we'd need your help, if you ever need our help you know where to find us!" Hancock replied coldly before entering Amazon Lily. The Kuja didn't disperse immediately though, rather they looked at Arch before bowing.
"Thank you, Sir Arch." They bowed in thanks, it was quite an amusing sight to Arch. "Don't worry about it, if you enjoyed your time there that much maybe you can convince your Empress to let you go again." Arch smiled, before they departed from Amazon Lily.
Now came the tiring part, waving his hand Arch controlled the wind to push the ship and set them off towards the East Blue, at least unlike before Arch was more experienced with his devil fruit so it would be much easier than before.
Traversing the seas of the Calm Belt the team of 5 were quite bored. "You did bring a compass this time right Bertram?" Curt asked as suddenly the events of last time dawned upon him. "Of course I did, do you think that I the great Bertram would ever make the same mistake twice!" He declared point at himself, seemingly admiring his own greatness.
"So did you or did you not bring a compass?" Arch continued the questioning. Hearing this Bertram locked eyes with Arch as he began to sweat. A second later the man began rummaging through his things before finally finding the compass.
"Thank the mother of devil fruits." Bertram heaved as he held the compass in his hands. Seeing this they let out a laugh before going back to their previous actions, which weren't much to say the least.
A few days later the group made it out of the Calm Belt and entered the East Blue once again, Arch had a clear goal in mind. 'After all a King should keep his promise.' He thought as they made their way to Isshin Dojo once again.
Obviously Arch wasn't doing this just for the promise, the girl Kuina was special in her own right. Although one could argue she was older than Zoro which was why she could best him it was undeniable that she was vastly talented even if she couldn't become the strongest swordsman in the world she could easily become one of the top swordsman throughout the world, at least this was Arch's opinion.
'Not only that but the connection to Wano is quite useful too, it might be helpful to gather support from the samurai if I decide to go after Kaido at some point.' Pondering on this matter, Bertram used the compass to point the ship to the north as they headed for Shimotsuki Village.
A few hours later they arrived at the island once again, docking the boat, Arch and the group once again walked down the path of Shimotsuki Village eventually meeting an old man. "Oh you're back, I am surprised if I am being honest." The old man smiled.
"Well this will probably be my last time here for a long time." Arch replied not sure what to say. "I see, well considering this is the third time you came to this island, it seems we've already met quite a few times." He chuckled continuing to plow the fields.
"You're not wrong, anyway we should be on our way, good bye." With that the Expedition Team continued on the path, leaving the old man to his business. 'Ah the wonders of youth.' The old man sighed as he watched the team leave.
Soon after Arch once again arrived in front of Isshin Dojo. "Excuse me." Arch knocked on the gate as he entered the premises. What he saw was quite confusing to say the least.
"HAAAAA!" A green haired boy swinging 3 swords, 2 in hands and 1 in his mouth was facing off against a girl with one sword in hand.
"TIK! TIK! TIK!"
In one swift motion the girl defeated the green haired boy with a smirk on her face. "You're still to weak Zoro." She laughed as Zoro sat defeat on the ground. "That was quite impressive." Arch's voice sounded as immediately everyone's gazes shot towards him.
Seeing him Kuina's eyes immediately flashed in happiness. Simultaneously Koushiro appeared with a frown on his face. "...You're back." He muttered before approaching Arch with a sword in hand. "Ah yes, greetings." Arch bowed as the man approached.
"How dare you!" Koushiro shouted swinging his sword towards Arch. 'What the fuck?'