A/N:
15 Chapters ahead at patréon
www.pâtreon.com/Blazuki
-x-X-x-
The royal soldiers of Alabasta started opening their eyes.
They originally had a mission to capture the weapon dealers and interrogate them with some of the rebels.
However, they never thought that two persons would be enough to take them down -- they, who are highly trained soldiers.
Not to mention, the mysterious woman who cracked their bones down. They were feeling pain in their arms, necks, and any place that can be dislocated.
"You have finally awakened."
The man, who stopped them from doing their job, was looking at them while hugging the blond woman from behind.
The man just made a small apology to them, saying what happened was necessary, and then he explained that he is the one who provided the information to Vivi.
The soldier captain was shocked at first. However, he had no choice but to believe them.
(A/N: If they had a spy in the guards, Crocodile would have called his agents or asked them to change the delivery location... )
If Josh really wanted to do something to them, he could slit their throat while they had been unconsciously lying on the ground.
"What do you want."
"I want you to say something to your king." Josh made his claim.
The head of the guards here didn't seem to believe him at first and expressed his worries.
"It's your right to feel worried," Josh said, "however, I'm worried as well from you." Josh showed that he doesn't trust them as well.
"How are we supposed to guide you then."
The head of the guard couldn't believe someone who doesn't show his face completely.
"Don't worry. Just do tell the king someone will be meeting him in the main hall tonight."
Josh smiled as he said with a very low tone.
"Wait, how are you going to do…"
Before he could complete his words, Josh's figure flashed. The blonde woman has vanished as well
The soldiers were confused. Few seconds after the vanishing of the mysterious people, a small cloud of sand rose.
"Take the weapons. We shall move back and report."
The soldiers were feeling a bit of shame.
They had come to stop the rebels, yet they are covered in dust and groaning in pain.
If people saw them, they would say that the rebels beat the guards and let them away.
This would serve the rebels more.
But as royal soldiers, they have no choice but to carry with the orders.
-x-X-x-
King Cobra, a tall muscled man, with long black curly hair, was sitting on his throne, putting his hand on his face after hearing the report from his soldier.
Last night, his daughter, who had vanished a year before, had come back with a report about what's going on in their country.
She had told him that she met a mysterious agent who knew her from one glance and even helped her with a piece of information. He even had said that he has more information, about the guy who is ruining the king's reputation and lit up the fire of rebelling.
Not only so, but he is selling the weapons to the rebels at a very cheap price.
This is a crisis. The king scratched his hair. Someone wants this country to fall.
However, there was one guy who had told his daughter, allowing them to stop the first weapon trade here.
But it's not over…
The king thought about the agent who helped his daughter.
'Can he be an expert mercenary?'
King Cobra rested his chin on his hand, elbow on the thrown.
The soldier just reported that the young man, who had been a bodyguard to the weapon dealers, said that he would visit them tonight.
King Cobra stood up and walked to the main hall.
He could ask Vivi about the look of Mr. 7.
But he wanted his tired daughter to rest.
Still, he felt it was a silly idea that someone would meet him in the main hall, bypassing his guards and all.
King Cobra shook his head, entered the main hall, and sat down.
"Leave me alone." He told his guard, who nodded and left.
"I almost got bored."
King Cobra's heart almost stopped when he heard a voice a feminine voice coming from the corner.
Turning, he saw a young brown-haired blue-eyed young man.
He was eating some cookies.
"Hope you don't mind. I took some snacks. I have left some berries back if you ask me." Josh said that to Cobra, whose facial expressions were frozen.
"Mmm… I think you didn't take too much." Came a feminine voice.
King Cobra turned his head to see a blonde woman floating across the room.
He quickly recognised them.
"Mr. 7. Ms Valentine." He addressed them.
Agents usually work in a couple. A blonde woman and a brown-headed guy, according to his daughter, are Mr 7 and Ms Valentine.
"He's recognised us, I told you." Mikita laughed a bit, as she started descending and landed on a chair.
Josh shook his head, ate the rest of the cookies, and then took a seat, before staring at the king.
Josh, who came from the 21st century, has no mentality of treating a king as a king.
He is used to democracy, where the ruling is in the hand of the people.
King Cobra shook his head and leaned back on his chair.
"You came earlier than my daughter had said." King Cobra said.
"So, you were expecting me." Josh noticed that.
"After beating my soldiers and making that declaration, yes."
"Good, very good." Josh nodded. "This way, we can skip a lot of talks."
Josh didn't want to waste a lot of time.
King Cobra, on the other hand, seemed to be in a quite difficult situation.
Although he is a politician, given the nature of his job as a king, found that Mr. 7 is a quite straightforward person who may be hard to deal with.
"Let me ask you. Are you mercenary?"
"No." Josh shook his head. "I'm just someone you bet on."
"How? By buying information?"
"No." Josh leaned forward and said, "it's by saving your people, and yourself, before it's too late."
King Cobra made eye contact that lasted for a while before he sighed and looked at the ground.
"Well, forgive me for forgetting my manners. Before negotiating about the price, let me thank you. Because of you, I have my daughter back." King Cobra lifted his hand. "Call Vivi."
"Wise choice," Josh leaned back on the chair. "She was there when we made the deal."
The King suppressed his urge to flinch.
But he sighed and said. "Now, can we discuss what kind of information you have?"
"Didn't the princess tell you already?"
"She did." The king nodded. "But I want to hear it from you."