Entrance to the Grandline January, 1513:
{Author Note: I actually forgot when I set the timeline so I'm gonna leave a note at the beginning of some chapters from now on.}
Markus walked across the shore line at the entrance to the grandline before looking to Anderson, "The Logpose set yet?"
"Not yet captain. I thought it would take a day at most but it's been almost a week!" Anderson complained while doing sit-ups. The crew spent the last five days training for what's ahead. They were slowly getting frustrated at waiting for the next adventure, except Markus.
"Did I say you four could stop!!!" Markus was a slave driver in training, getting them to push themselves to another level. He had Harlen punching the redline with Armament. Rebecca dodging live bullets. Anderson and Hector working on their bodies with strength training.
"Come on Captain, we've been working for days now, can't we get a break?" Rebecca begged before ducking under a bullet and glaring at Markus through her blindfold. Markus kept shooting while punching the redline himself with Advanced Haki.
"If you have time to complain you have time to train! We don't know when the logpose will reset or what dangers we'll face once we set sail so sweat more now, bleed less later." Markus slammed his Armament-covered fist into the redline before quickly turning and shooting towards Rebecca causing her to jump over a bullet and squeal in anger.
"Fine! But when it's your turn to train Observation I'm shooting you until we have no bullets left!! AH!" Rebecca barely dodged a bullet zipping past her face and glared through her blindfold.
Markus ignored the glare and kept training. Anderson, who was doing handstand push-ups, grunted in exhaustion before noticing the logpose spinning rapidly. He fell over and landed on his back before jumping up in excitement seeing the compass stop.
"Captain!" Markus turned around and was about to get Anderson to keep training just for Anderson to cut him off, "The Logpose is pointing to the next island!"
Markus quickly smiled in excitement and started jumping up and down.
"Alright everyone! Set sail! Onward to adventure!!" The crew all stopped training and quickly boarded the Sailing Dragon before shipping off to their first stop in the Grandline.
They sailed through dangerous waters struggling to get used to the unpredictable waters of the Grandline. It took nearly two weeks of rough sailing before Anderson was confident in sailing through the Grandline as they swiftly approached a new adventure.
"Captain! I see an island!" Hector shouted from the crows nest. Markus jumped up and down rapidly as the ship approached a large island. Once close enough Markus's eyes flashed red before he jumped off the ship and unsheathed his sword slashing in a wide arc.
Over twenty cannonballs were cut in half and exploded midair. Markus landed on the main deck of his ship and glared out at the island, extending his Observation to find three ships full of pirates at the port. Markus smiled and quickly used a combination of Soru and Geppo to launch himself towards one of the ships with Harlen following behind going for another ship.
Markus slammed into the deck and unleashed his Conqueror's before raising his sword and slashing the boat he was on in half from Starboard to Port side. He laughed wildly before jumping towards another ship and doing the same. By the time he jumped to the last Harlen was beating the captain of the ships to a bloody pulp.
"Alright! Now that that's over, let's explore this island!" Markus pulled a huffing Harlen away from the dead pirate captain before sinking the ship. He watched as his ship moved into the port and docked.
"Halt! All travelers must pay a fee to dock here!" A tall woman with extremely long legs walked up to Markus and Harlen. Markus marveled at her height, having not met a member of the long leg tribe before.
"Wow! You got legs for days!! How much is the fee?" The woman stammered and blushed seeing Markus before coughing.
"The standard fee for a ship your size is 2,000 berries but since you're pirates the fee is 2,500." Markus nodded and gestured for Harlen to hand over the money before he slid an extra few berri.
"So anything or anyone interesting in this town?" Markus spent some time buttering up the woman with sweet words quickly learning the layout of the island. After thanking the woman he headed back to his crew that were all looking unimpressed.
"Learn anything interesting while flirting?" Markus nodded happily.
"It pays to be as handsome as me. The island is called Pooke Island, home of the Pooke royal family. This town, Elden Village, is the closest to the royal palace and specializes in wine and tobacco! You know what that means right?" Markus smiled evilly.
"Buy a bunch of wine and raid the royal palace?" Harlen answered quickly, making Markus look to him like a proud parent.
"This is why you're the Vice-Captain!" Harlen smiled sheepishly while the others sighed.
"Are you sure about raiding a royal family Captain?" Hector asked worriedly. Markus simply nodded with a smile.
"They worship the Celestial Pigs! Of course we have to show them who they should truly fear!" Markus unleashed a wave of Conqueror's that eased his crew's nervousness before they gathered around him. "Meet back here in three hours! We raid the royal palace tonight!"
"Aye Captain!" The crew sounded off before going their separate ways. Markus wandered around looking for anyone interesting to potentially join his crew, Anderson went to search for the black market he rightfully assumed was on the island, Rebecca went to buy food supplies, Hector headed to buy medical supplies, and Harlen stayed on the ship to guard it.
Markus found a nice looking tavern and started drinking the local wine, finding it extremely delicious, almost like juice. He asked around to learn more about the village, easily mengaling with the locals not exposing his identity as Captain of the Celestial Dragon Pirates. He learned the royal family wasn't well liked by the locals being extremely arrogant and forward with selling any 'criminal' to the World Nobles.
He already planned to take care of the royals but hearing their atrocities first hand angered him. He drank his wine faster before leaving and exploring more of the village.
Anderson surprisingly found the black market quite quickly inside a small pub. They led him to a secret basement where various goods were being sold. He stocked up on ammo for cheap before exploring the black market. He bought various goods from knowledge on the grandline to an eternal pose for Water 7, costing him most of his remaining money.
After buying what he needed or wanted Anderson spent the next two hours exploring the black market before freezing. He looked at one display that made his blood run cold before leaving quickly. He fixed his fishing rod onto his back and headed back to the ship with a solemn look on his face.
Rebecca bought large quantities of new, extravagant, and exotic ingredients only found in the grandline. She even found a market for Sea King meat though it was expensive. She hauled the meat back to the ship before leaving to buy more ingredients; however, she was stopped by Harlen and Anderson leaving her to protect the ship much to her confusion.
Hector walked around a small clinic picking out various medicinal pills and ingredients for medicine along with medical supplies and a few first-aid kits. He took his haul of supplies back to the ship where he found Rebecca lazing across the deck.
"Where's Harlen?" Rebecca took a sip of some iced tea and turned to see Hector struggling to carry so many supplies.
"Don't know. Anderson came back and took Harlen with him saying I should stay to watch the ship, not that I'm complaining. Kinda bored though." Hector shrugged and took the supplies into the medical ward on ship before taking stock of what they had.
Harlen followed Anderson seriously and walked into a small pub. Anderson used the same method he learned before to enter the black market. Anderson led Harlen to a small stall surrounded by cages and examined the product on display. Harlen's face grew cold as he slipped on brass knuckles and let his Armament cover his fists.
Anderson unraveled his fishing rod and cracked his neck before casting his line. His fishing line snagged the main seller by his neck and pulled, dragging the man over the stall and through the black market ground. People started looking at them, seeing the commotion before Harlen stepped forward and slammed his fist into the man's skull, shaking the ground causing a few people to fall and the man's head cracking open like a walnut.
"Some crazy fucks are causing trouble in the black market! Call security!" A shop owner shouted.
"Holy shit! It's 'Dead-Man' Harlen! The Celestial Dragon pirates are attacking the black market!" Anderson walked up to one of the cages with a small smile and using a key he took from the now dead shopkeeper unlocked the cage and let a little dirty girl go. He proceeded to unlock each cage one by one releasing over ten children and thirty women before turning around and seeing Harlen bashing two black market guards heads against each other.
"Thank you sir!" A few of the former slaves bowed and thanked Anderson before running off. No one tried to stop them as Harlen and Anderson easily took out the guards protecting them. Anderson looked back to see one more cage and his eyes widened.
He walked up to the cage while Harlen fought off the remaining guards. He slowly unlocked the cage and released a large fishman with droopy eyes and black lines running down his body. The fishman was injured and slowly stumbled out of the cage looking at Anderson warily.
"Don't worry we won't hurt you. You look seriously hurt. We have a doctor if you want to join us?" The fishman growled and almost denied him before coughing violently and held his side.
"Fine but if you try anything you're dead!" Anderson nodded understanding his apprehension of humans before leading him out of the black market. The pub owners were about to pull out guns and stop them before Harlen walked out behind them covered in blood. They fearfully lowered their weapons and let the three pass.
Anderson led them back to the ship while everyone parted, not sure if they should be more afraid of the fishman or blood covered Harlen. Anderson was much calmer, quickly leading them through town. They boarded the ship to see a stunned Rebecca before leading the fishman to Hector.
"Whatcha want?!" Hector turned from a book slightly annoyed before seeing the roughed up fishman with Anderson and Harlen. He quickly stood up and led the fishman to sit on a bed. He turned to Anderson and Harlen with a questioning look, "What happened?"
"Slave traders." That was all Hector needed before sighing and started running an examination.
Meanwhile Markus laughed heartily winning another game of poker with some local folk. He used Observation to cheat each time with a sly smile.
"Alright boys! As much as I enjoy cheating you out of your money I gotta dip!" The men all looked bewildered before getting angry.
"Cheating?! We knew it!! Get back here you bastard!" The men chased Markus out of the bar and down a few blocks before giving up. Markus made like a bandit and booked it full speed back to his ship, almost a million berri richer.
"Too easy!" Markus skipped back to his ship greeting a few people and helping an older woman with some groceries before seeing the port. He happily walked towards the ship and boarded it to see Rebecca sipping some tea and a now clean Harlen working out. He greeted them before his Observation picked up another presence on the ship.
He raised an eyebrow and walked into the cabin before making his way to the medical bay. He knocked on the door to the super mario theme getting Hector's attention. Hector opened the door and was glad to see Markus and let him in.
Markus turned to see a bandaged fishman and smiled. The fishman just snarled, making Markus chuckle.
"Hello! I'm Markus, Captain of the Celestial Dragon pirates!" The fishman was stunned and looked at Markus with slight fear but mostly anger.
"Celestial Dragon Pirates?! You work for those bastards!!?" Markus chuckled before unleashing his Conqueror's and glaring angrily at the fishman making him flinch.
"I work for no one but myself. My goal is to kill all those disgusting pigs and rule this world myself! Compare me to them again and I'll kick you off this ship!" The fishman fearfully nodded before Markus's Conqueror's disappeared. "Sorry about that! So what's your name?"
The fishman gulped and looked to Hector who stayed quiet throughout the whole ordeal before looking to Markus and quietly remarking, "Urnest Malcolm." Malcolm gave a small nod while Markus's smile grew.
"Cool! So how about joining my crew?" Hector and Malcolm were both caught off guard before Malcolm scrambled out of bed.
"Join pirates?! Why would I do something so dangerous!?" Markus laughed loudly.
"Come on now! Just being a fishman in the grandline is pretty dangerous! Why not join my crew and see the world! Fight the Celestial Pigs and look cool while doing it!" Malcolm was stunned with each word before sitting back down.
"Why would you even want someone like me?" Malcolm spoke in a self deprecation way that caused Markus to purse his lips. He walked up to Malcolm and raised his hand before smacking him.
"You seem like a cool guy so join us! Join me! We're gonna need all the help we can get once I start killing world nobles and what better help than some badass fishman?" Markus answered plainly. Malcolm looked up at Markus with surprise before tears filled his eyes.
"I watched those royal bastards kill my brother in front of me! They enslaved me simply being a fucking fishman!! I'll kill them all! I slaughter every last one of them!! Will you get in my way?!" Markus smiled again.
"Pooke Royal family?" Malcolm nodded angrily, making Markus's smile widen.
"Good news, Malcolm! We were planning on raiding the royal family's castle tonight! Join my crew and the royal heads are yours!" Malcolm was stunned once more at Markus's audacity before clenching his fist and standing up.
"As long as you let me kill them! I'll join your crew!" Markus laughed loudly and patted Malcolm's back roughly with Armament Haki causing him to stumble and glare at Markus.
"Then let's go!" Markus led the two out onto the deck where Harlen was still training, Rebecca was tanning, and Anderson was fishing. "Come on everyone! To the royal palace!"
The crew stood up and followed their captain. Their plan was quite simple. First, raid the royal palace. Second, let Malcolm kill the royals. Lastly, celebrate.
2500~ Words