Chapter 71: Whiskey Peak

It was a few hours after they left Reverse Mountain, the girls had gone to their room to rest. HQ was sailing the ship. Ben was up on the Bridge.

"So HQ, how do you manage Miss Love Duck by yourself?" Ben asked.

"Miss Love Duck is a very automated ship that takes care of routine maintenance that a crew would have to do. In the Bridge, I have a special frequency that allows me to communicate with the ship.This allows for ease of control. This ship would probably require over 50 people; however with the automated system a single A.S.S Model can handle it. This applies to other ships in this classification," HQ explained.

"Other ships? Like?," Ben asked.

"Upgraded automated ship, you will know Master," HQ replied.

"We are approaching Whiskey Peak Mater," she said.

Ben looked out of the windows and saw the town of Whiskey Peak. There was a slow flowing river splitting the town in half. The buildings were made of stone and were typically one storey high. All the buildings looked similar and were a square with two windows and one door. The town's layout is labyrinthine, with narrow streets winding through the settlement with few open spaces in the middle. There was a pathway on each side of the bank that followed the river.

"There is the Strawhat ship," Ben said.

"HQ dock nearby," Ben said.

"Yes Master," HQ responded.

HQ docked the Miss Love Duck behind the Going Merry and lowered the bridge. "Go and inform the girls we have arrived. I am going ahead," Ben ordered.

"Yes Master," HQ replied. Ben left the Bridge of the ship and headed to the deck where he exited the ship. HQ went downstairs to the first floor to inform the girls.

Ben started running through the town. It was silent. He ran through the streets. They all looked the same, it was a maze. Suddenly Ben heard some shouting. The voice sounded familiar. He ran towards the sound. He could hear what sounded like walls breaking.

"You hurt these nice people," Luffy shouted.

"Luffy, wait," Zoro replied. Luffy stretched his arm and attempted to punch Zoro who blocked with his sword.

"Luffy listen," Zoro tried to say.

"Kyahahaha. Mr 5 look at these idiots, let's take them down," said a woman. Ben looked and saw a tall young woman with short blond hair and dark eyes. She wore a yellow and orange hat and a yellow dress and white high-heeled shoes.

"Yes, let us take them Miss Valentine," said Mr 5, a tall, dark-skinned man with black hair. He wore a brown trench coat and pink glasses.

Ben saw the pair. He smiled and transformed into his hybrid. He rushed over to the pair.

"Who are you?" asked Mr 5.

"Demon Blast," Ben said as he pointed his hand towards Mr 5 and a beam blasted towards him. The beam hit Mr 5 and he went flying away and hit a building. Ben transformed back.

"Why you?" Miss Valentine said.

"Mikita, do you really want to fight?" Ben asked.

"How do you know my name?" Mikita asked.

"I know alot about you. You are a beautiful and charming girl. I want you to join my crew," Ben said.

"Kyahahaha. I join you?" she laughed.

"You know Crocodile does not care about you at all. He will betray you if it means reaching his goal," Ben continued.

Mikita thought for another minute. He was right. Mr 0 or Crocodile is crafty and sly he will do whatever to achieve his goal.

"He would never," she lied.

"Do you know his true goal?" Ben questioned.

"Why should I tell you?" Mikita said.

"He is leading a country into a civil war for some weapon that may or may not exist. Countless life lost for something that could not be real," Ben exclaimed.

"Can you sleep peacefully knowing that you were directly involved in the destruction of a country? That your actions caused women and children to die. Families destroyed," Ben continued.

Mikita's mind was all over the place. She knew what she was doing but why is she feeling bad now. There were tears dropping from her eyes.

"I He will kill me," she muttered.

"No he won't," Ben said. He walked up to Mikita and hugged her.

"I know you are a good person. Someone who is capable of protecting someone else. Someone who could bring a smile on someone's face. Join me and my crew," Ben said.

In tears she cried on this man`s shoulder.

"I will protect you. I will be with you forever, be with me," Ben said.

"I will join you," Mikita said. Her face was buried in his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. It sounded and felt strong yet welcoming. She thought there was a place for her there. She moved her hand and gently stroked his chest. Ben wrapped his arms around her. She felt protected. Her mind was still all over the place but hearing his heartbeat was calming her down.

"So you have betrayed us, Miss Valentine?" Mr 5 said and added, "Mr 0 will have your head."

Mikita's eyes widened. Ben saw this and got Mikita behind him. "Now," before Mr 5 could finish his sentence Zoro came flying in and knocked over Mr 5.

"Luffy you idiot," Zoro said, who had a few scratches.

"These people gave their food to us and treated us well but you had to hurt them," Luffy said.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol," Luffy said as his hand stretched out but Zoro dodged.

"Let's do this," Zoro said.

"Yes," Luffy said.

They both walked to each other and were about to strike when all of a sudden two fists landed on Zoro and Luffy's face , throwing them to the ground. "Knock it off," Nami shouted. They could be seen to have a large bruise on their face.

Nami, one scary lady, Ben thought.

"You two are idiots," Nami scolded.

"But," Luffy tried to say.

"They were going to steal our food and supplies. There are bounty hunters," Nami explained.

"What?" Luffy said in shock.

"Yes that is true," Ben said while hugging Mikita.

"Hey Ben, I see. Shishish, sorry Zoro," Luffy laughed. Ben thought Luffy.

"Idiot," Zoro remarked.

"You are with another girl," Nami commented. She was feeling a bit envious of her being held like that.

"Yes, my newest member Mikita, former member of Baroque Works," Ben said.

Mikita still had a few tears in her eyes. She buried her face back into Ben`s chest. "She is a bit shy," Ben said.

"Shishishi. Well it's nice to meet you, I am Monkey D Luffy who will be Pirate King," Luffy introduced himself.

"He is such a womaniser," Nami remarked.

At this moment a blue haired woman came riding a yellow duck. Ben saw her. The blue-haired woman saw Miss Valentine wrapped in this man's arm.

"Hi Vivi," Ben greeted.

"How do you know my name?" Vivi asked.

"I know alot about you and I would like you to join my crew," Ben said.

"Womaniser," Nami muttered. She thought about her sister and how she was on his crew.

"Hey, no fair," Luffy shouted.

"Come on Luffy, I asked her first" Ben said. Luffy pouted.

"Fine," Luffy said as he crossed his arms.

"I refuse," Vivi replied.

"I know about your country and what Crocodile is doing. Princess Nefertari Vivi," Ben stated.

Mikita was shocked to hear this.

"Princess," Nami said with beli symbols in her eyes.

"How did you know this?" Vivi asked and added, "Don't say his name. He will hunt you down."

"I know you have been working undercover to find out who is trying to ruin your country. The man who is causing a civil war. He is Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. A World Government approved pirate," Ben explained.

"Please don't say his name out loud. He will come after you." Vivi said in a panic.

"How about we make a deal?" Ben proposed.

"What deal?" Vivi said suspiciously.

"We defeat Crocodile and you join my crew," Ben said.

Vivi thought for a second. Her joining a pirate crew when she was the princess. This man knows a lot and looks pretty strong. He has some ability to draw women. He is friends with Luffy. However she doesn't know him. She took a bet when joining Baroque Works but she bet again, for her country, for her father, for her people.

"Fine, we have a deal," Vivi replied.

Ben smiled. He thought two girls in one day. The power of talks lives another day.

Luffy, who looked crossed, smiled and said, "So we gotta beat this Wani up?"

"Luffy, have you been listening? He is the member of the Warlord, a fierce pirate of the sea backing up the government," Nami said and added, "I am going to be leaving before anyone finds out about this and I get hunted."

"They already know," Zoro said and pointed at the top of a building.

They looked up and saw a small, brown furred otter. He was wearing a long-sleeved, light blue jumpsuit with purple dots and black sunglasses. Next to the otter was a large, black feathered vulture, with white feathers toward the neck. Her beak was light yellow and she wore a yellow aviator cap and black goggles.

"Mr 13 and Miss Friday the messengers for Mr 0," Vivi gasped. Mr 13 got onto Miss Friday and flew away.

Nami ran up to Ben and grabbed the collar of his shirt, "You could not keep your mouth shut. I am going to be hunted," she said.

Mikita was in Ben`s arms when Nami was shouting and crying to Ben. "Nami we got this," Ben replied.

"Shishish, looks like we got a warlord after us," Luffy laughed.

"Not bad," Zoro agreed.

Luffy laughed. Nami let go with dramatic tears and said,"I have just entered the Grand Line and I have been marked with death by a warlord."

"We get to fight on so soon," Zoro glorified.

"Yes, I wonder what he will be like?" Luffy said.

"Shut up," Nami said.

"Nami, we got this," Ben said.

"It's your fault but it's not too late I can walk away. Bye," Nami said and added, "They don't know what I look like."

"Where are you going?" Luffy asked.

Mr 13 then appeared in her path, with a pen and paper. He showed Nami a sketch of her face. "You are good," Nami exclaimed. He also had a picture of Luffy, Zoro, Vivi, Ben and Mikita.

Mr 13 then jumped on Miss Friday and flew away.

"Nooooo," Nami said.

"Where were you even going?" Zoro asked.