Always expect the unexpected

March, 1514

In a bar on Toroa, West Blue

"Did anyone succeed or noticed anything strange so far?"

"No."

"Nothing."

"Me neither."

"*sigh* Damn it. She is more careful than I thought."

"Why do we even need to recruit her. You seem kind of desperate about this, Captain."

Law asked but seeing the others nodding it's obvious that they too were curious about my reason.

"I already told you about Poneglyphs. She is the only person alive who can read and understand them."

We were sitting in a bar in west blue after sailing the reverse mountain because we are searching for Nico Robin. It's just that it's most unlikely for us to find her if even the world government couldn't find her for years and coincidentally meeting her like it happens in fan fictions seems just as unlikely.

So instead of searching for her I had the idea to lure her out with rumors. Together with the others we have been spreading rumors about us knowing locations of Poneglyphs in every bar and restaurant we went to for the past 2 weeks.

Either by talking loud enough for it to be heard or directly interacting with people asking them wether they knew about Poneglyphs and if they could read them.

"I understand that part but how is it important for our journey?"

"How could it not be important? In fact it's very important!"

"…?"

"Forget it. Just think of it as me being curious and stubborn about it…"

"… Aye Aye!" (everyone)

"But Jackson-nii, if what you told us is all true won't the world government soon be informed about rumors regarding Poneglyphs being spread?"

"So what? Without being able to understand them, they are worthless to everybody, so they shouldn't care too much about it."

'But it's a different matter for Robin.'

She who is searching for the Poneglyphs should be interested in the rumors of us knowing locations of some. Considering that she worked for an intelligence trade group, she should be able to investigate from where the rumors spread and contact us soon.

'If you can't find any prey, hide yourself near it's favorite food source and make it find you.'

After finishing the food we were about to walk around the town for a bit but even before we could step out of the bar, someone shouted loudly from outside.

"Jackson the Goliath! Here speaks commodore Bastille from Navy HQ. We know that you and your crew are inside. You all are arrested in the name of justice! Slowly step out with your hands raised! The bar is surrounded so any form of resistance is futile!"

"… Hey Jackson-nii. Could the appearance of a commodore from HQ be related to the rumors we have been spreading lately? The ones you said not to worry too much about?"

"…Not necessarily… Maybe they sent him because I went a bit too far when I played with the marines from the 80th branch last week?"

"Captain… whatever the reason might be you're definitely to blame."

"Agreed!" (Shachi and Penguin)

"Shut it Law! It's not like it's hard to get rid of them!"

"Jackson the Goliath! You have 10 seconds to step out or we will have to use force and drag you out! 1…2…"

"Come on Jackson let's just get it over with."

"See guys! Be a bit more like Kuina! Take action instead of searching someone to blame for!"

"…" (everyone)

Ignoring their accusing stares I sensed the surroundings with haki to get a clearer picture of our situation.

There were 5 groups with 50 soldiers each. Two on the back of the bar and three in front.

There was another noteworthy presence I sensed, not any weaker than Bastille himself. A few miles away on a hill just outside the town.

The strange thing was that despite being so far away that person's attention was clearly on us.

'Wonder who that is.'

We stepped out of the bar and saw a lot of gun barrels pointed at us. The soldiers were in a neat formation showing their discipline.

Bastille who saw us coming out in a relaxed manner seemed to have misunderstood us.

"Smart choice. Now raise your hands above your head and don't resist the arrest!"

"Sabo, you have the honor."

"Aye Aye!"

Sabo put his hands on the ground and used his devil fruit powers to raise an earth wall that shields us from the guns.

"Fire!"

Bastille seeing this ordered everyone to shoot but the wall was formed and the bullets couldn't penetrate it.

Kuina then jumped over the wall right into the group of 50 on my right while Bepo, together with Shachi and Penguin jumped into the one on the left side.

Law went to the back exit to take care of the two groups and prevent them to come to the front before we stepped out but I don't have to worry about him.

Soon the battle started.

Kuina who jumped right into the group instantly struck a few of the soldiers down. The rest of them didn't rush at her but surrounded her instead.

Under the command of someone who looked to be this troops leader, they formed a circle formation around her and abused their numerical advantage.

Kuina has to get close to the soldiers to prevent them from shooting at her, since they could hit other soldiers if they shot while she was fighting others at close range.

Using that against her the soldiers retreaded when Kuina rushed at them while the once from her side and back attacked her.

Like that they would either tire her out or kill her before she can attack or hide amiss the soldiers.

At least that's how it should go according to the plan.

Soru!

Instantly accelerating she arrived in the mids of the retreating side and began to mow them down with her sword. The soldiers were forced to meet her in close combat but they were no match for her.

"She knows rokushiki! How is that possible?!"

Bastille was shocked after seeing her using soru. How could a pirate know their secret martial arts moves?

He decided to go after her but was interrupted by Sabo who used soru and then shigan. Obviously, given his current mastery of the techniques which was still lacking, Bastille managed to defend quite easily but his shock only grew.

He looked over to me probably wondering if we all new rokushiki but I only smirked before using rankyaku to answer his question.

To my surprise he managed to evade it using soru even though I didn't give it my all but thanks to that the building behind got sliced into two.

"Shit! I'm sorry that wasn't my intention!"

I sensed that there was no one inside so they probably evacuated the area before confronting us.

'Smart. With this they don't have to worry to much about civilians besides the one in the bar. Had I paid more attention to this before I would have noticed that there isn't anyone in the buildings around the bar.'

Bastille seemed to have cold sweat run down his face… at least that's what I think is the case since his mask blocked me from actually seeing his face.

Still his attention was now clearly on me giving Sabo the opportunity to go wild against the 50 man troop behind Bastille.

Bastille took a huge cleaver like blade from his back, a different one from the one shown in the anime and swung it with all its power.

I dodged the attacks with ease. No feints or tricks, just pure strength and speed. Predictable.

Taking out one of the two swords on my hip I counter his attack and cut the blade in two.

Bastille jumped back startled by his loss.

At this time Kuina, Sabo and the heart trio finished dealing with the soldiers. Law also came back in a relaxed manner. The commodore realized that he lost his troops but for some reason it didn't seem like he was giving up.

"Hey, can't you see that you lost? Hurry up and piss off with the soldiers that survived."

"… Not yet. This might be an embarrassment for us navy soldiers but you can't be allowed to survive and grow."

Saying this he raised his hand and gave what seemed to be a signal. The moment he gave the signal something came flying at my head. Catching it with my teeth it turned out to be a bullet.

'So it's you!'

"A sniper? Does the navy hire bounty hunters nowadays? Quite the letdown to be honest."

Law somehow figured out that it most probably wasn't a navy soldier who shot just now.

Bastille was shocked again after seeing me catching a bullet with my teeth but he isn't worth my attention at the moment.

Looking towards the sniper I felt earlier outside the city I mouthed my next words clearly, knowing that he can see me and read my lips.

"Our meeting is fated but bloodshed between us is not. Go ahead and try everything you want but after you're done struggling join my crew!"

It has to be Van Augur! He is someone who strongly believes in fates and dreams so if I can make him believe that joining my crew is his fate he most probably should agree.

Sure enough he started shooting away. Five bullets almost arriving at the same time and all aiming for another critical zone.

'Impressive!'

But not enough. With my observation haki in addition to future sight there is no way I wouldn't be able to defend against his shots.

Bastille grew more shocked by the second. It seems like Van Augur is also known by the navy otherwise there would no reason to be shocked if he didn't know about his capabilities.

Anyways the shooting game went on for almost two hours from different angles and an ever changing rhythm. I almost believed that he has an infinite amount of ammo!

Bastille retreated with the survivors after witnessing that his trump card couldn't shoot me. To his luck almost everyone of his soldiers survived but most very injured so they could only leave while they had the chance and took the bodies of their comrades.

None of us paid them any attention. Meanwhile I had explained to the others why I was letting myself getting shot earning me one of those 'I'm looking at an idiot' looks.

'Fuck you! What do you know?!'

Van Augur finally stopped shooting and I sensed him coming towards us. Soon we stood in front of each other as he raised his rifle towards my head.

The others were ready to attack him but I stopped them in time.

"If you survive this shot I'll accept joining your crew as my fate and will follow you as my captain."

"Then go ahead and shoot."

*Bang*

'Damn that sure isn't a pleasant feeling.'

With this we unexpectedly gained a new crew member even though it's not the one we were looking for but after this incident it shouldn't take long until she comes and find us.

'Thinking about it I really would like to see Sengoku's expression when he reads that a pirate group know how to use the rokushiki.'

(AN: Hey everyone! Haven't been able to write the last few days so I tried making this chapter a bit longer. I read that you didn't like the Jolly Roger design too much but the JSAL is a little something for later and I'm not keen on changing something that's already been written. Many thought I would have the first big time skip before they enter the grand line but guess what… you thought wrong. Anyways I hope you enjoy the ff and keep reading. Till next time!)