chapter 79

It's now the morning time of the day after Byron ate the mythical Zoan devil fruit. Last night was a pretty busy, eventful day, what with all the shenanigans at Don Chinjao's place and Watching Byron try out his new abilities.

However, the day ended very peacefully after Laffite returned and reported about the incoming marine ship, with all of us gathered on the deck drinking and eating to celebrate Bryon's new power-up.

We kept celebrating until most of us were too drunk or tired to continue, so we called it a day with those who were sober enough to take the first lookout shifts watching over the ship first.

Now, I am standing in my room, in front of a serious-looking Bob, saying that we need to talk.

"Talk away," I said with a shrug as I turned around to find a seat, promptly taking a seat and lighting a cigarette.

"It's about the old friend I met yesterday," Bob said with a sigh. "Before I get to that, you need to know some things about my past," he added with a blank expression.

"Let's hear it then," I remarked while gesturing for him to continue with my hand.

"I used to work for the world government, cp9 to be more precise," Bob said, dropping a bomb at me with his expression still blank as if what he said was completely normal.

"I figured you had something to do with the government," I replied while shrugging my shoulder. "So, how did you end up with Elly's dad?" I asked in a curious tone of voice.

"I..., I left cp9 after my superiors ordered me to do something I did not want to do," Bob said, heaving another sigh as he found a seat and slumped into it.

"Leaving the government's service like that was not easy. I was on the run for five years, constantly wondering where the next assassin would come from and where," Bob added while rubbing his forehead.

"I didn't know who to trust, and those I trusted ended up killed or had their lives ruined by my pursuers," the butler explained, his tone bitter with a tinge of melancholy.

"That all ended when I met the old friend I went to meet yesterday," Bob concluded while twirling his mustache, pausing his speech for a few seconds.

"He helped me fake my death and change my appearance with the power of a devil fruit one of his colleagues ate," Bob explained after taking several seconds to choose his words.

"He asked me to join them, but I refused because I've had of living in the shadows and fighting for people I've never seen or knew," the cook added while shaking his head.

"So I began exploring the world by acting as an escort to merchant ships from one island to another for several years," Bob remarked with a smile on his face, seemingly remembering better days.

"However, that also ended when one of the ships I was escorting ended up sinking because of an unexpected storm that destroyed the ship and left me lost in the sea," the cook added, heaving the third or possibly the fourth sigh since he began talking.

"That led to me being found by Elly's dad, and you know the rest," Bob concluded, his expression turning blank again.

"You had quite the hard life, eh? But you're with me now, so those days are over," I remarked in a joking manner with an assuring smile. "So what does this old friend of yours want?" I asked after a second of silence.

"He wants to meet you," Bob said with a sigh. "I owe him a favor, so telling you about this is the least I can do, but that's all. You don't have to meet him if you don't wish to," he added, shaking his head as he did.

"I don't mind meeting with him, but it can't be today," I replied with a smile. "I'm going to meet with that old coot Chinjao today, and dealing with him will be a headache on its own," I added while shrugging shoulders.

"I will inform my friend of your decision," Bob said with a nod as he got up and made his way to the exit. "One more thing, captain," he added as he opened the door, halting his steps.

"Thank you for listening," the cook concluded, leaving and closing the door behind him as he did, not waiting for me to reply.

-0-

Later:

I am now making my way to meet with Don Chinjao to iron out the details of our deal, accompanied by a smiling Laffite and unwilling Byron.

"Is it really a good idea to tell Chinjao about the devil fruit, captain?" Byron asked sheepishly.

"No, it's not, but the look on his face when he finds out what a loss he suffered will be worth it," I replied carelessly in a leisurely tone.

"It looks like you're still holding a grudge over the beating Chinjao gave you, captain," Laffite remarked from the side, twirling his red cane as he did.

"I swear to god, Laffite, you're spending too much time with Wilson," I replied while shaking my head as I heaved a sigh. "But yeah, I'm still holding a grudge, and I intend to rub this in the old coot's face to even things out, Rehahaha," I added with a beaming smile, laughing loudly at the end by just imagining the situation.

We kept chatting like that until we reached the Pagoda, the old pirate had taken as a residence, and one of the guards approached us as soon as we arrived there, promptly greeting us and taking us to meet his boss, Don Chinjao.

"Hey, old coot," I greeted casually as soon as I entered the room, prepared for the meeting, and saw the old pirate.

"It's you, brat. Are you here to finalize the details of our deal?" Chinjao asked with a blank expression, seemingly uninterested in bantering with me.

"That's right, but first," I replied while gesturing for Bryon, who morphed into his hybrid form with an exasperated sigh after I did. "Let me show what the devil fruit you gave us can do," I added with a shit-eating grin.

"It turned out to be a mythical Zaon devil fruit," I explained, a smirk still painted on my face. "The tori-tori fruit, model: Yata-Garasu," I concluded, my smirk widening at the old pirate's twitching eyes.

"Show him that thing with the flames, Byron," I ordered Byron, who turned back into his human form while rolling his eyes and conjured a small fireball in his hand.

"Not only does it allow the eater to turn into a giant crow that can sink ships by merely flapping its wings, it even gives the ability to control flames," I explained with a smile while smacking Byron's back, causing him to wince in pain.

"You've received a very powerful devil fruit, young man," the old pirate while sending Byron a dirty look, causing him to gulp. "You should be thankful to your captain for giving it to you," he added, his eyes twitching in irritation as a bulging vein appeared on his forehead.

"Oh, believe me, he is very thankful. Aren't you thankful, Byron? " I stated as I resumed smacking the blonde musician's back, causing him to nod with a wince.

"Anyway, with that out of the way," I remarked, after enjoying the old pirate's irritated expression for several more seconds. "Let's talk business, shall we?" I asked with a composed smile.

"Very well, brat. You can start by telling me how you intend to heal my head," the old pirate said after heaving a sigh to compose himself.

"Like I said. I know of several doctors who can fix your head. I also know where they are and how to get them to fix you up," I explained, still smiling.

"And who are those so-called skilled doctors? Chinjao asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't really expect me to tell you that, do you?" I asked while shaking my head. "Fair enough," The old pirate replied while shrugging his shoulders.

"You only need to show up at drum kingdom in the grand line when I contact you, and the doctors will do the rest," I concluded with a smile.

"And what do you want in exchange?" Chinjao asked after several seconds of silent thinking.

"I first wanted you to help me learn Hardening Haki," I replied with a shrug. "But as you can see," I added while raising my fist and coating it in Haki.

"I can give you a manual that explains how to develop your Haki by meditating without having to fight other Haki users," the old pirate stated while nodding. "And I'll owe you a favor," he added with a serious expression.

"The Haki manual alone will do, old man," I said with a smile. "You've already unwittingly done me two favors," I added while pointing a Haki-coated finger at Byron as my smile turned into a shit-eating grin.

"You brat are insufferable," Chinjao while heaving a defeated sigh, rubbing his forehead as he did.

"Why thank you," I replied with a beaming smile, causing everyone in the room to roll their eyes at my shamelessness. "I still have some things to do in Kano country, so I'll leave and make my way towards reverse mountain in a week or so," I concluded as I turned around to leave.

"Wait, brat," Chinjao said, causing me to stop walking as I turned around to look at him. "If you're going to stay here for another week, then I have an offer that could make both of us some money," he added with a smile.