Double Six #37

As we reached the docks of Spider Miles and secured our ship with a solid anchor, I turned to address the crew. However, before I could get a word out, a man sauntered up to the ship, spouting nonsense. "Hey! Get your captain out here, now!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the air.

I glanced at him, taking in his stereotypical thug appearance, and exchanged a puzzled look with Law. He mirrored my confusion, indicating he knew as little about the man's intentions as I did.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I approached the railing and addressed the thug. "What's the problem?" I asked, my annoyance evident in my tone. "Make it quick. We've got things to do."

The thug bristled at my words. "You disrespectful brat! You got no idea who you're dealing with!" he spat, jabbing a finger in my direction. "I'm a member of Mr. Double Six's crew, the big boss of the toughest gang around here!" he boasted.

Curiosity piqued, I stroked my chin in contemplation. "Oh? And what exactly does Mr. Double Six desire from us?" I inquired, genuinely interested. 

The thug's grin widened, clearly believing his boss's reputation was enough to intimidate us. "The docking fee!" he proclaimed proudly. "This port belongs to Mr. Double Six's gang, and your disrespect means the fee just went up!" he continued with an air of authority. "It's now one hundred thousand Berries!" he demanded, extending his hand toward the ship expectantly.

Suppressing a chuckle, I turned to Law. "What do you think? If this guy's boss has been extorting fees from the port, he must have quite a stash," I mused aloud. "Maybe we can start with him," I suggested, a grin playing on my lips. Law considered for a moment before nodding in agreement. 

"That sounds like a plan, but we need to gather some intel first to assess the strength of the enemy," he reasoned. "Let's catch this fellow and grill him for information first," he proposed, gesturing toward the thug.

With a nod to Blake, I sprang into action without a word. Utilizing Soru, I materialized right in front of the thug and delivered a swift punch to his throat with two knuckles. He collapsed instantly, gasping for air and clutching his neck. 

Though I caught sight of several people running toward the direction of the town, I paid them no mind as I hoisted the thug up by his collar and used Geppo to propel myself back to the ship.

"All yours now," I remarked, tossing the thug onto the deck. "This place is a shithole, but I still want to have a proper look around," I continued, turning my attention toward the town with a grin. 

Law shook his head, falling into step beside me as I leapt back onto the docks. "Actually I'm heading out as well," he declared. "I need to scope out the area and gather intel on the local gangs and factions." 

I arched an eyebrow at him. "You sure it's wise to leave Bepo and the others alone on the ship?" I questioned. "More thugs might come our way," I added, giving him a skeptical look.

Law sighed in response. "Don't underestimate them. Bepo's a mink, and the other two can handle themselves better than you think," he assured me. "Besides, Shachi and Penguin were thugs themselves once, so they're more than capable of interrogating our friend here," he added dismissively.

I shrugged casually. "If you say so," I replied. "Sif will stay, so it'll be fine... she didn't seem too fond of the smells around here," I added with a chuckle, taking in a lungful of the pungent garbage scent. 

As we made our way toward the exit of the docks, I intended to bid farewell to Law, but I halted as a child collided with me, darting swiftly toward the nearest alleyway, clearly in a hurry.

"That guy just swiped money from your pockets, you know?" Law remarked, giving me an odd look. 

I simply smiled in response and nodded. "I'm well aware," I confirmed. "That's why I let him go... I'm curious to see where the kid is headed," I explained in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Law paused, looking pensive. "Well, young pickpockets like him are usually under some gang's influence," he mused, seemingly coming to a realization. "You might stumble upon something valuable if you trail him back to the gang. It's not a bad idea..." he suggested. 

I shook my head at Law's deduction. "It's not quite that calculated or practical... you see, if there's one thing I detest, it's bastards who prey on children," I said calmly. "I just want to find the culprits behind the kid and give them a piece of my mind, nothing more," I continued, my tone unconsciously growing colder.

Law rolled his eyes at me. "It's not like we have anything better right now than to play heroes..." He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "That said, I'm not particularly fond of such pests either..." He added, looking at the alley where the boy disappeared. "Just don't go too wild, though... we don't need to announce our presence on the island."

...

Perched on the rooftop's edge, I observed the boy's cautious movements as he disappeared into yet another dim alleyway. 

"This kid sure is careful," I muttered to myself, noting how he checked behind him to ensure he wasn't being trailed after slipping through several alleys and walking in circles for thirty minutes straight. before slipping into an abandoned building. 

"Finally...." With a resigned sigh, I leaped down, following his path.

Inside, the dilapidated state of the building caught my attention immediately. It was devoid of light, every wall marred by cracks. Dust carpeted the floor, not a single piece of furniture in sight. 

"What's the deal here...? This doesn't scream 'gang hideout'..." I pondered aloud, scratching my head in perplexity. Shrugging off my confusion, I resolved to proceed cautiously, trailing the boy upstairs.

Stealthily ascending the creaky stairs, I ensured each step was silent. Soon, I found myself peering from the doorway of an upstairs room, observing the boy kneeling on the floor. 

His hand traced along the dusty tiles before prying one open, revealing a glint of gold. As he emptied his pockets, a cascade of jewelry and cash notes spilled out.

"And here I thought you'd lead me to some nefarious gang lair... turns out you were just going for your secret stash, you little scamp," I chuckled, projecting my voice so the boy could hear as I entered the room. 

The boy jumped, clearly startled, but quickly composed himself, brandishing a knife with a steely glare. His surprise swiftly turned to determination, and he lunged at me with determination. 

I couldn't help but chuckle at his decisive actions. "You're more vicious than the average thug, I'll give you that much," I remarked with a grin, activating Tekkai as I moved closer. With a swift motion, he aimed a stab at my thigh, but my hardened muscles repelled his blade effortlessly, much to his disbelief. 

Undeterred, he pressed on, attacking with renewed vigor, his strikes growing more desperate as he tried to land a blow to stop me, though his efforts continued to be futile.

I chuckled at the boy's audacity, shaking my head in mild amusement as I continued to sift through his stash. Despite his attempts to halt my exploration, he lacked the strength to impede my progress, now reduced to a panting, worn-out figure beside me.

With a satisfied hum, I turned to face him, my grin widening at the sight of his defiant glare. "Quite the fortune you've amassed here," I remarked casually, gesturing towards the trove of valuables before us.

His response was a silence laden with disdain, his glare intensifying with each passing moment. "What are your plans for all this?" I pressed, unfazed by his hostile demeanor. "What's with the look? I'm not interested in robbing a little kid, and I'm not here to hurt you either. I'm simply curious," I added with a chuckle.

Finally, the boy broke his silence, his words dripping with contempt. "My affairs are none of your business," he spat, his scowl deepening as he addressed me. "So you should take your curiosity and stick it where the sun doesn't shine old man," he retorted, his impolite words complimented by a raised middle finger.

"O-old man?!" I exclaimed, my indignation evident in my tone. "Who are you calling old you brat? I'll have you know I'm barely nineteen!" I protested, shooting him a pointed glare.

The boy regarded me skeptically, squinting his eyes in a way that honestly grated my nerves. "Nineteen? Shit, you look at least thirty-five, old man," he countered, his defiance unyielding.

...

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