Sloppy Seconds (3)

Wednesday was quick to sit up once she felt the 'constraints' on her body lift. Brody was next to her the entire time and looked around curiously, trying to find the mysterious figure who could drag people away without any issues. At the moment, the trio was on the other side of the city that had a similar ravine from which they entered with a port situated not too far away.

Not even paying any attention to Wednesday as she was quick to rush away to where Igaram was, Brody felt someone tap his shoulder, much to his surprise! Hurriedly looking sideways, Brody found no one but a small envelope near a large barrel. Frowning in confusion as he still failed to sense anyone, Brody went ahead and picked up the envelope.

— Forgive me for not showing myself but a man of your caliber is not to be taken lightly. If possible, accept the Boss' invitation and we'll let bygones be bygones.—

Scoffing, Brody crumbled the letter and threw it away. But he grew more interested in the ability that allowed someone to sneak up on him without an issue.

"Princess, are you alright?" Igaram whispered in a hushed but worried tone as Wednesday nodded and cast a cautious glance towards Brody who still seemed lost in his own search.

"Igaram, they know about us. Mr. 5 and Miss. Valentine was sent with us to deal with me after they invited that pirate over there," Wednesday bit her lip, "We need to return as soon as possible!"

*Caw*

Both of them looked up to find a vulture and an otter staring down at them. Both of their expressions changed as the otter suddenly threw a dynamite stick at them!

"The Unluckies!" Igaram yelled as he saw the pair and hurriedly pushed Wednesday aside with enough force that she went more than a few meters away!

The moment he looked up, Igaram saw the dynamite stick right in front of his face—

Bang!

"Oi? Pretty hair. You alright?"

Igaram opened his eyes after he heard someone speak and found himself in the arms of a red-haired youth grinning broadly at him.

"H- How?" Igaram couldn't help but mutter. He still recalled the dynamite stick right in front of his eyes merely a second ago...

Shrugging in reply since it's hard for Brody to explain to others of his strength, he looked at the vulture flying away and chuckled, "I just figured I'd screw with the plan of this boss of yours. He sure has weird animals working for him, huh? Though not as awesome as Pinky."

He looked around once again when he suddenly felt a tap over his feet and he flung Igaram away that covered his vision to look down only to find yet another envelope.

"Igaram!" Wednesday screamed in surprise as Brody bent to pick up the letter.

— Do you really intend to oppose Boss? How does it serve you any purpose?—

"Purpose?" Brody smiled. Not knowing where to find this opponent, for the time being, he chose to shout and let the mysterious figure hear the answer, "I'll tell you face-to-face!"

Heaving deeply, Brody looked at Wednesday and Igaram. Over these few days, he sensed a strange form of excitement but it was hard to pinpoint the source of it even now. He felt that this was the right way to go, that's why he followed Wednesday instead of sitting back but... where was it?

If anything, Brody felt a little frustrated.

He found a bomb-human, but he was weak as hell.

Now, he found a figure that could attack in any manner and he wouldn't be able to sense it but... they just wouldn't attack!

If anything, Mikita, or as she calls herself, Valentine was his greatest treasure after Pinky. She was perfect training equipment!

Just as he felt a bit despondent, not the way how he wanted his first island trip to come to an end, Brody felt Nami and Nojiko come out of their hiding and looked back with a pout, "This is boring... Not a single strong opponent..."

Pursing her lips, Nami adopted a disappointed expression, "I understand the feeling... it's like expecting an island full of treasure only to find dirt..."

"But..." Nami shifted her gaze towards Wednesday and Igaram with greed plastered in her eyes as she giggled, "I think we both can find something this time. A great fight for you... and a treasure for me."

"Which I will regulate, of course," The financial officer in the form of her sister poured cold water all over Nami's dream as she, too, adopted to pout similar to Brody and glare at Nojiko!

---

"Where do you think the two of you are going?" Before Alvida and Reiju could reach their ship, whom they saw walking on the surface by now a little farther from their direction, the stream of bluish liquid congealed in front of them before forming a terribly sharp and pressurized stream of liquid that shot towards Reiju and Alvida only for the latter to step forward and let the stream hit her. The next second, it slipped past her shoulder and crashed into the ground not far away, and left a deep gash.

"A devil fruit?" The voice gasped in surprise while Reiju looked back and noticed something strange.

For others, it might be hard to observe this but Reiju had spent her life being trained in more than just combat and realized that while the unknown enemy could control liquid to a certain extent, she did not pull back from the ground now wet and muddied. This also forced Reiju to recall how the first time the woman formed from the puddle left a rather dry ground as if the liquid wasn't in contact with the ground.

'Could it be...' Reiju wondered and chose not to engage with the enemy verbally and use the chance provided by the standoff to crouch and grasp a fistful of dirt, not caring if she pulled out some grass and weed alongside and shot in the enemy's direction while the ground began to tremble ever so slightly with Pinky raising havoc with her air cannons.

"Eh?"

The woman was surprised but let Reiju do as she saw fit. Maybe a bit too arrogant? But then again, the enemy was confident that Reiju and Alvida could not hit her—

*Smack*

A punch knocked her out as all the liquid congealed and shifted to reveal a slender, naked human with blonde wavy hair tied up by two bands.

Alvida was as shocked as Reiju as they observed the unconscious woman for a second.

"Why the hell is she naked? Smoker could turn his clothes, too..." Alvida questioned.

"Given that her hair accessories are still here... I think she's just an exhibitionist..." Reiju muttered. Truly, there was no reason NOT to be wearing clothes. Only after a few seconds did Alvida realize something once she hoisted the naked woman over her shoulders. There was no way they were letting a logia-user out of their sight.

"Hey, how did you hit her?" Alvida inquires only for Reiju to smile and clap off the dirt over her hands, "She cannot control mud from the looks of it so I just slapped her unconscious with dirt on my hand."

Clicking her tongue in response, Alvida continued back silently.

---

"I'm... Vivi Nefertari, Princess of the Arabasta Kingdom..." Miss. Wednesday spoke while looking at Nami seriously, "But I cannot ask you to protect me!"

Nami was in a daze for a second but Brody leaned forward and questioned with a curious expression, "Why? You think we aren't strong enough?"

"Because no matter what claimed to Miss. Valentine, you cannot defeat Boss," Vivi revealed, "And I cannot demand you, even if a pirate, to commit suicide by asking for your help."

"Do you know who this Boss is?" Brody continued eagerly as Igaram nodded, "We know. But if Princess Vivi wouldn't share anything then I'm afraid my lips are sealed, too."

Huffing, Nami looked at Brody with a frown, "Maybe we shouldn't let... our greed affect us. What is this Boss is really strong?"

Brody hummed and replied, "So? If he doesn't even have the balls to keep his identity public, I think he cannot be that strong... but I hope he's strong enough. Vivi..."

Looking at her with an intense gaze that even made Vivi gulp, Brody inquired, "Uh... didn't know you were a princess. I would have treated you the same as Reiju if I knew. You know, I wouldn't have made you clean your own po—"

Blushing fiercely, Vivi hissed, "No matter! Look, I'm grateful. I am. And... I know you are strong and unlike other pirates, you are kind! But, the enemy is relentless and unforgiving. The Boss kills the agents for the slightest bit of failure much less anything as extreme as knowing his identity! Not to mention, as one of the Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile is free from Marine's persecution and can do as he pleases until evidence of treasonous crims staggers over him!"

Igaram felt his mind go numb while Nami's lips parted in shock. Nojiko had to purse her lips and stifle her smile and Brody scoffed, "A Warlord? Sounds interesting. What are they?"

Vivi's lips twitched as Nami snapped, "Why'd you tell us the identity of your Boss after scaring us so damn much!"

"I'm sorry!" Vivi cried out wryly, too, her expression that of pure embarrassment and reproach!

---

"Ju Busho are the Ten Warlords of the Sea that are affiliated with the World Government who have their bounties frozen and can live a life free from marines while legally being pirates..." Vivi revealed with a look of frustration, "One of the warlords is now situated in our kingdom of Arabasta, and... he is trying to cause a civil war that would allow him to take over the kingdom!"

Brody listened quietly and as Igaram supplanted from the side, "Not only that, Crocodile is using Baroque Works to achieve his goals. At first, our intelligence was unaware of Crocodile being related to Baroque Works but we got a rather notable tip which made Princess Vivi and I infiltrate this organization. It's only recently that we realized the true identity of this Boss... and wished to collect some evidence."

Brody nodded again.

"You can say all that," Nojiko smiled and pointed at her sister and Brody, "But she's just waiting to ask for compensation for our help and he is just waiting to ask the names of all the Ju Busho and fantasizing of fighting them all alone..."

Vivi and Igaram looked at Brody who was already blinking drowsily and nodding off... not to their explanation but just sleeping without a care while Nami grinned and stuck her tongue out, "Aw... well, 1 Billion Berry!"

Vivi and Igaram grew pale the next second.

***

Alternate Title: Know-it-All Nojiko

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A/N: I won't be adding all Baki Characters but those that I add will be crazy! Not only with how strong they'll be with haki but all of them will either add more to the existing world-building or fit right into the setting as is. Needless to say, Shichibukai members are all crazy strong so instead of replacing any of them, I added to them. From seven to ten. Thus, Ju Busho. (I checked the translation but if you know a better word for Ten Warlords of the Sea, do tell me.)

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Shoutout to Ulesys, j n, No Title, and Judd!!

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Enjoying the fanfic? Then do give my other active works a shot—

1) Paradise of Infinity

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