OP: Fleet Strategist Chapter 06 (Patreon)

Nami looked at me like I just kicked a puppy before I explained. We can always sell them later.” She still looked confused so I further expl

Nami looked at me like I just kicked a puppy before I explained. We can always sell them later.” She still looked confused so I further explained. “We’re saving a country going through upheaval, they’ll need all the money they can get. Most kingdoms have a half dozen devil fruits they can give to their enforcers if the worst comes to pass. I’d guess with how large Arabasta is you have two if not three times that many. We can always sell a devil fruit but you can’t always purchase one. If I was being honest, I’d rather take two devil fruits if I knew Nami wouldn’t be mad at that suggestion.”

She was thinking short-term. If I was being honest, the best option would be to stick around near the beginning, gathering strength and crew members while also looking for devil fruits, but I knew no one but I would be willing to do that. We were going to save Arabasta no matter what so maximizing the rewards was absolutely necessary.

We discussed the deal further and I had Vivi sign the contract with her signature and a blooded thumbprint. I yelled out loudly. “Are you going to reveal yourself?” It remained quiet for a few more moments before someone dropped off a rooftop and approached us from the shadows. As she approached I reached the ship with the prisoners, the members of Baroque Works.

As they began to move I ambushed the two creatures who were watching everything. It was… An otter and vulture? Both seemed insanely competent for animals. It led me to believe they could be tamed and that’s what I planned to do. I would possibly have to clip the vulture's wings so it could only fly short distances but perhaps beating their leader would gain their trust faster.

As she finally left the shadows, before we stood the Miss All Sunday. I couldn’t help but smile as I poofed her in a seat. I asked. “Wow, it’s been a while hasn’t it? It’s so good to see you again.” Another clone poofed in a table and the last began to set it with a tea set before it poofed away as well. She sat down and gave me her placid smile. “It’s nice to see you again One-man army Storm.”

I smiled as we each called each other nicknames not tied to our true identities. She sips her tea before asking. “So, the hermit bounty hunter finally makes his move then? That’s surprising, I wonder what you see in him.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “He reminds me of Roger and has the devil's luck on his side. If he can survive long enough I have no doubt he’ll change the world.”

Everyone had sort of waited for me to take the lead but finally Vivi shouted. “That’s the second in command of Baroque works! She’s obviously an enemy!” Everyone pulls out their weapons before she slaps them out of their hands with her powers. She grabs Luffy’s hat making him freak out and I grab it out of the air before it makes it to her and toss it back in his direction. I couldn’t help but chuckle before asking. “Do you plan to attack us, Miss Sunday?” 

She just smiled again before saying. “No that seems too bothersome. I’ll stick with calling in that you and Vivi have grouped up. It seems you’ve captured our little eavesdroppers so it will earn me some brownie points with Crocodile so that I can learn information about you.” I poof in my papers with the information on the positions of all the known Cipher Pole members I know and hand them over to her.

“For old times sake… You really got to settle down or join a real crew. No one can be alone and untrusting for that long without it hurting their soul.” She stood up still not giving away any indication that what I said upset her. “That’s not your decision to make Storm. Have a good day.” She walked off and jumped on a giant turtle that sailed away. Usopp couldn’t help but whisper. “Woah, what a cool lady.”

Luffy laughed. “Shi shi shi shi. I like her.” Nami screamed at him. “Luffy, that’s our enemy! We should be questioning Storm about his relationship with her if she’s going to leak our information.” I just tsked. “She is with Crocodile for a reason. What could she possibly want from Arabasta that would have her teaming up with a Warlord of the sea.”

Everyone pondered before what I said finally caught up. Usopp freaking out immediately. “W-w-warlord! Help! We can’t help Vivi, we’ll all die!” Nami fell to the ground as she cried. “Nooooo! We’ve already signed a contract stating we’ll help her! We’re already doomed.” Zoro smirked as Luffy laughed. “Shi shi shi shi. Well, all I have to do is beat him up when we get there.”

Nami ran over and punched him in the head. “No! Our contract is to only bring her to Arabasta. We can just leave when we make it there.” He just laughed before speaking again. “Yeah, but while we’re there I might as well beat him up if he’s a bad guy.” Nami is about to attack him again before one of my clones that were searching the structures yells out.

“I found their loot over here!” Nami went running off completely distracted by that. Igaram sailed off to be a decoy for the troops and I loaded up twenty clones with him to help keep up the ruse better. I also loaded up the three smaller boats to bring along to sell once we got to a prosperous island. Altogether, they had about a million in loot and with the boats, it would be close to another five hundred thousand.

We took off towards Little Garden. Igaram was headed to Nanimonai and the two spare ships loaded with the bounties were headed to Kyuka. I would sell the boats and listen to rumors, scout the island looking for possible new recruits before deciding to buy/steal another boat or just poofing my clones after storing the money.

Alvida called out. “I’d like to make a wager. I want my freedom and I’m willing to fight you for it.” I chuckled as I said. “So a Davy Back Fight(High stakes gamble) then? What are the rules?” She smiled at me like she already won. “We’ll do a Davy Back, if I win you give me my freedom and one of these boats. If you win I’m willing to serve as your Vice Captain.”

That smile didn’t fade at all as I thought about it. She gains her freedom no matter what but with her low bounty it is barely worth turning her in. I also might get outed as a member of Luffy’s crew but Smoker didn’t seem the type to file paperwork right away when he was chasing down a pirate. Tashigi maybe but I was hoping it didn’t make it this far yet if she did file that I was no longer a bounty hunter.

Still… I was lacking a fighting force, she filled that role handily and I was just too good of a counter for her powers. Now though, I had sixty clones locked up manning the ships. If I won and she did mutiny I might not be able to stop her before she wipes out my clones… Was it worth the risk? I looked into her eyes, her reputation wasn’t very good. She had dramatically changed since she lost the weight, her anger issues were mostly gone. She did seem more stable to say the least but the main question… Was she a woman of her word?

I thought about it but all my instincts were telling me to not trust her. She looked like she was wholly sure she’d win no matter what. After deciding I wasn’t going to say yes I asked out of curiosity. “Well, what type of game would you play to secure your freedom?” She sensually licked her lips as she uncrossed and crossed her legs before saying. “We’ll have sex. The first to cum is the loser.”