Wanted Dead or Alive

İf you are confused:

Snake Port: Base of Khurk, located just outside of Orioth City.

Sorry for disappearing for such a long time. I am back... Well not really. I am still busy but I want to at least complete this arc before disappearing again. I will switch to regular updates when I have more free time.

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I find myself in a dark path at some point in time. I don't know where it goes nor I don't know how I am even here. I walk further and further in hopes of finding an exit. As I walk further and further I hear screams of various people. Some of them I know... And some of them I don't. I remember one of them as my brother's. I try to call out to him but no voice comes out. I feel tears flowing down as I feel despair. There is nothing I can do as I walk further and further, I know this scene and what comes next. I hear my sister's scream next, she is so close that if I just walk a few more steps I can reach her. I start running towards the exit to reach her. ' I will protect you, no matter what.' Unfortunately I never reach the exit that is seemingly so close. I hear someone laughing at my waste of effort. An old, creepy voice, a voice that is so familiar but I just can't recall.

'' Who the hell are you?'' I scream as I fall down from my bed to the floor. After a few seconds of confusing silence, I realize. 'Another nightmare. Damn it. What is going on with me? I couldn't sleep for days. I will lose my mind if it goes like this.' I feel something land on my shoulder, I know it is Crow without even looking. ''Gaak?'' He asks. ''Nothing to worry about, just another nightmare.'' I reply. Right now I am in a ship to reach the Mice's base. I 'kindly requested' some pirates to give me a ride in exchange for their lives. At first they didn't understand my generous offer, but with a little 'convincing', they are extremely grateful as they lead me there. 2 days have passed since I have spoken with Lafitte.

'Let's practise my moves since I can't sleep.' I start practising my moves with this thought to see where I stand.Also to get rid of this feeling of despair. Basic observation haki, soru, shigan and my sword moves. I repeat each of my moves and think of improvements that I can make. I also try to learn armament haki and tekkai but I am not succesful. ' Damn. I am so close to achieving tekkai and armamament but I am stuck at the final stage. I need some enlightment.' After a few hours of practising with little results I stop my training session.

My mind goes back to the dream I had as I think about that voice. ' I am sure I have heard that voice before...' I start pondering deeply. An hour passes by like this, and as I was about to give up finding the source, something clicks as I find the answer. I recall that voice in my mind again. 'Help me' was what he said, right? I look towards the bracelet that I bought from the drunk man suspiciously. '' Hey! I know it is you. Stop hiding and answer me already. Who are you?'' I ask. I wait for an answer as the room is filled with silence.

Crow looks at me weirdly. '' Gak?'' 'Are you okay, Ethan?'

I clench my teeth as I look at the bracelet angrily. ' Am I losing my mind because of all these nightmares, or is he playing with me?' Before I can answer Crow...

''Puru puru puru puru. Puru puru puru puru.... Katcha.'' I answer the den den mushi to silence the annoying snail.

''Who is it?'' I ask a little annoyed.

''Oh~ İt is me Mr. Ethan. Did I call you at a wrong time perhaps?'' Answers an extremely polite voice.

''...Not really. Why did you call me Lafitte?'' I reply in a calmer tone.

''Mr. Ethan, I wanted to tell you that after considering my options, I came to the conclusion that I would like to serve as your crewmate. Maybe I should call you captain from now on?''

''... Why the sudden change of heart?''

''... To be honest. A bounty has been issued on me today. Since I am already wanted, I don't have a choice but to go all out and enjoy myself. So... Will you have me on your crew, captain?''

''Alright. Where are you now?''

''I am in the city of Orioth. İt is closest to grand line and they sell necessary items such as log poses and various maps here. I am currently shopping.''

''... So you already guessed I would let you in, huh?''

''Yes, Captain. And even if you haven't recruited me, I would have gone to the grand line in the end so going there was necessary.''

'This guy... he is as meticilous as always.'

''Ok. We will meet there, then.''

''All right captain, until we meet again~'' We disconnected the call with that. 'Sigh. At least I have someone on my side now.'

'' Tak. Tak. Tak.'' Someone taps the door.

'' Come in.'' A nervous looking pirate comes in.

'' M-mister devil, we have arrived the location you have requested, sir.''

[Yoya İsland, Base Of Mice, Morning]

'' Were you able to find any clues regarding Nico Robin?'' A man asks. He is the same man who was talking with Spandine one day ago. The manager of Mice, Raphael.

'' We finally found the wherabouts of Nico Robin, however recapturing her would be troublesome. She has been caught by a pirate named Rock Skin Khurk, he is known as a madman with a big bounty of 120 million beli. Highest in west blue, excluding Don Chinjao from Cano Country with a bounty of 500 million.''

Raphael thinks for a second before replying:

'' We will inform the navy, this is out of our hands now. İs there anything else important?''

'' There is one more important thing... I want you to take a look at this... Eh? Where is it, I am sure it was right here...''

Raphael looks at his man's incompetence and sighs deeply. '' GAAK!'' He looks at a window to see a crow flying out. ' What an annoying bird.'

'' Have you found anything useful?'' I ask towards Crow that has flown onto my shoulder with a paper in his talons. He tells me the information he learnt before pointing towards the paper '' Take a look at this as well.'' I take the paper from him, reading it.

' Ethan 'The Devil' , found guilty with the charges of attacking nobles and ruthlessly murdering people with the abusement of his authority as a corrupt marine. Wanted dead or alive. 90 million beri bounty.'

'So a bunch of corrupt marines are calling me corrupt, huh? How amusing. This was bound to happen anyway. At least I am free... to make some trouble now.'

''Let's go. We are taking our first crewmate.'' I tell Crow.

[West Blue, City of Orioth, Morning(Just before the capture of Nico Robin]

Orioth is the most crowded city in west blue due to it's connection to various important places. As expected from a crowded city it is extremely chaotic, especially in a time of daylight. The chaotic nature of this city is hateful to many people but to a certain girl, it is a blessing. As hundreds of people try to find their way in the crowd a girl with a unique dark pupil is walking while a cloak covers her body. Unnoticed by anyone she constantly changes directions and sometimes there are 'unfortunate incidents' happening when she passes by. The girl's name is Nico Robin, one of the most wanted criminals in west blue.

She has been running around as a criminal for 4 years after the incident with Ohara. She has done various things to stay alive in these 4 years, including stealing, information gathering and even killing, when her life was on the line. She has never lost her hope, not because she thought her life was worth living. 'İf I lose hope, wouldn't Saul's sacrifice be for nothing? I need to live for his sake.' This was the only thing that pushed her to cling to her life dearly. However, clinging to her life is much harder than many people would assume when whole world wants you dead.

She stops for a second seemingly noticing someone before resuming her walk. However a man in the crowd has also noticed her in that same second.

'' Hey you, let me see your face!'' He calls out while walking towards her. Robin keeps walking as if she hasn't heard him.

'' HEY! I told you to wai-'' He can't complete his sentence as he drops to the floor screaming, blood flowing down from his nose. '' What the f*ck is your problem!?'' he screams to a robust man that has punched him in the face.

'' This is what you get for trying to steal my money! Filthy thief.'' Robust man states angrily.

'' What are you talking about?'' The man on the floor asks dumbfounded. Robust man doesn't bother to answer as he keeps beating the poor man.

Robin keeps walking, unbothered by the fight behind her. She keeps walking until she finds a relatively secluded alley. 'There are so many spies in this city. Fortunately my powers are useful to create chaos in a crowd.' She takes out a worn out map from the pocket of her cloak. She examines the map for a while and thinks about her plan. 'This will be risky... But I don't have another choice. I only need to hold on for 3 hours.' She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves before a determined light shines in her eyes. A minute later Robin comes out of the alley without her cloak and starts running in a certain direction.

[Grand Line, Enies Lobby]

''That idiot Mice Organisation managed to find some clues after all! Athalon, Eaven. As the only Cp-9 members avaible, you will go to the base of Khurk and capture Nico Robin from him. He is located just outside of the Orioth City, in Snake Port. Be careful, that man is completely crazy and has devil fruit powers. Don't underestimate him.'' Spandine tells toward 2 Cp-9 agents.

The one called Athalon is with sandals, black clothes and a dirty look on his face looks at spandine with arrogance and pride. '' I alone am enough for a pirate scum! I don't need some shithead to follow me.'' he states before turning around and leaving the room as Eaven watches him passively behind his white mask. Completely opposite of Athalon he has a respectable and calm aura surrounding him. He is also dressed in full white clothes. He turns to Spandine after Athalon left the room.

Spandine takes a deep breath as if calming himself before turning towards Eaven. '' Don't let that idiot mess up the plan. Go and support him.''

Eaven stands up from the couch. '' Yes,sir. I will definitely not let that idiot mess up the plan. Anything else, sir?''

Spandine looks at him deep in thoughts '' Eaven I know I can trust you. There is a criminal named Ethan. We don't know where he is but be careful of him, he is another crazy bastard. He even hurt my niece-in-law from Ashdown family. Kill him if you see him.''

'' Understood. İf there is nothing else I am taking my leave.'' Eaven starts leaving with this statement.

''Wait... Take Rob Lucci with you.''

''Sir, are you sure? He is only 15, after all.''

'' I am sure. Even if he's only 15 he is strong enough to handle himself. He needs experience as well. Protect him if things get dangerous, he is a highly regarded genius after all.''

'' Yes, sir. I will carry out your orders perfectly.''

[West Blue, Rose Family]

'' We got new info guys. We don't know where Ethan is but we learned that he has connected with a criminal named Lafitte multiple times. Lafitte is in Orioth City right now, we will capture him instead to lure Ethan to us. Turn Orioth City upside down! Understood?'' Bege announces their intent to others.

'' YES, BOSS!''