Chương 44: Not dropped, in case you were wondering
...
"Hmph... So this in Arabasta? Well, something is better than nothing..."
"The millions are here sir! It will take a few minutes more for the billions and the rest of the executives to arrive! What should we do in the meantime?"
"All of you wait around the dock for the time being. And try not to gather too much attention while you are at it... We must be discreet"
"Yes sir!"
Standing imposingly in the middle of one of the stretchy streets of Nanohana, a man of enormous height, with a slightly darker tone of skin compared to the people around him, and huge bulging muscles all over his body could be seen gazing around with an impassive and cold face. Seemingly recognizing the place and gathering information from whatever was in sight.
He was wearing a sleeveless dark coat with golden edges, and very loose beige pants held up by a simple white sash tied around his waist. Probably having chosen those clothes to lessen the burden that the desert would take on him when he and other people try to traverse.
His whole appearance was enough to call him a very imposing man. However, there was one more feature that stood out the most about him. His bare chest had a huge tattoo there, one that was written in Japanese, and that represented the number "1".
He, as his imposing appearance made one suppose, was actually the strongest member of Baroque Works, Daz Bones, or as his underlings and companions called him, Mr 1. A man that if opposed, would surely be able to take hundreds of men on his own without a problem.
Like all the other executives of Baroque Works, he had the power of a Devil Fruit that offered him a great advantage against normal opponents. In his case, the Supa Supa no Mi was a Devil fruit that allowed Bonez to become a Fullbody-bladed human. Granting him the ability to convert most of his limbs into dangerous blades of steel, and also giving his body terrific endurance and durability on par with real steel.
Normal swordsmen and marksmen were nothing in front of him. Much less normal fighters, who were completely defenseless against Bonez's deadly limbs able to cut through almost anything.
Such a man was looking ahead, seemingly looking down on all the people walking across the dock unaware of his presence and his plans here.
For him, they were ignorant ants that didn't know what was about to come... To them and to their country.
And even if they were to know, they wouldn't be able to protest or raise against him... They were nothing but manpower waiting for him and his companions to exploit them once the kingdom of Arabasta was theirs.
'Crocodile might have been strong... However, he was but one man. We will triumph where he failed, as we nine combined are far stronger than what he could have ever been'
Glancing coldly at the city surrounding him, Bonez's eyes narrowed slightly for a brief moment before suddenly a melodious and flamboyant voice came from behind him and made him turn around with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Well, if it isn't Mr 1~? It seems you arrived first"
Behind him, was a strange man full of makeup and wearing ballet clothes with a swan theme. And behind him, were several men of similar attires dancing around and doing ballet pirouettes as if not concerned in the slightest about Bonez's presence.
The man was no one other than Bon Clay or Mr 2 as some called him. Another executive of Baroque Works and a Devil Fruit user just like Bonez was.
His fruit, however, was focused on copying other people's appearances and held no fighting capabilities.
Despite that, however, his strength was not to be underestimated, as his mastery of martial arts was something that almost no one would equal. His kicks, especially, were mortal if accurate enough, and could easily send a man flying through thick walls if hit accurately. That was why, despite his Fruit being extremely valuable for other purposes, his strength was an equally valuable asset, and could even rival Bonez's strength to an extent.
"Bon Clay... You better not mess up this operation, or I myself will deal with you later..."
"Don't worry, don't worry~ My boys and I are going to make sure to assist this operation with all of our hearts! Now, where are all the others?"
"They should be arriving soon... By the way, tell your men to stop playing around. We need to be discreet in this mission, and your group isn't helping"
"My my, alright. All for the sake of the mission... Boys, come with me~!"
Turning around and calling at the men dancing around, Bon Clay did a ballet pirouette himself, before he then gestured all of his men to follow him, and started walking away into Nanohana's dark alleys. Away from prying eyes.
Gazing as Bon Clay left with all of his crew behind him, Bonez's eyes narrowed for a moment before he then sighed and sat on the ground with a calm expression on his face.
And like that, he waited.
He didn't know how much time passed. But by the time he opened his eyes, a multitude was surrounding him.
More than a hundred men, all armed to the teeth.
"We are ready sir!"
And right in front of him, 7 people and 2 animals stood proudly with satisfied expressions on their faces.
Miss Double Finger, a tall and slender woman in rather revealing and "dominating" clothes, with curly dark-blue hair. She, like Bonez and Bon Clay, also possessed the power of a Devil Fruit. Though, in her case, it was the Toge Toge no Mi, which allowed her to create large and durable spikes from any part of her body and use them as piercing weapons capable of penetrating even solid concrete as if it was made out of butter. Additionally, she also had the ability to use these spikes to "dope" herself and increase her muscle mass for a few seconds, boosting her strength enormously as a result.
Mr 3, or Galdino as some called him. A man with the power of the Doru Doru no Mi, which granted him the ability to create and control candle wax to his desire, be it using it to trap his enemies or to protect himself from attacks, as when hardened, the wax is said to be even stronger than steel.
Miss Goldenweek, a young girl with painting skills superior to what one would think would possible. So much, in fact, that she is able to use her paintings to hypnotize, and change the behavior of her enemies to her benefit by using the said paintings.
Mr 4, a fat and incredibly tall man with humongous strength, capable of lifting and swinging easily a bat of 4 tons without a problem. Albeit he is not a man with much intelligence and is strangely slow when it comes to almost anything... Even speaking. Because of that, he often needs his partner "Miss Merry Christmas" in order to bring out his real potential as she is the one who handles the intellect part of their team.
Miss Merry Christmas, a stout, middle-aged woman with red hair, that unlike her partner "Mr 4", she was strangely fast on almost anything she did. She, like most of the executives of Baroque Works, also possessed the power of a Devil Fruit. In her case, it was the Mogu Mogu no Mi, which allowed her to transform into a mole-hybrid form and gain all the digging skills of one. And although her Devil Fruit wasn't especially combat-oriented, together with Mr 4 and combining their strengths and powers, they made it a very deadly weapon capable of killing anyone without problem by using their surroundings to their advantage.
And finally, Mr 13 and Miss Friday. The two animal executives (One being an otter and the other a vulture respectively) whom Nico Robin had given the news about Crocodile's defeat expecting them to leave the organization now that their boss was gone. They were the messengers of Baroque Works, as well as the executioners of those that failed their missions or represented a threat to the organization, and were highly trained in the skills of assassination.
Bon Clay was also with them, and he, together with the others, was looking at Bonez with a smile full of expectation as if waiting for him to lead the way to Alubarna.
"It seems like everyone is here... Very well"
Standing up, Bonez cracked his neck and immediately looked coldly at the enormous army that was surrounding him before shouting in a solemn voice.
"We still have some of our men infiltrated within lines of the Royal Guard. So when the moment arrives, and they give us their signal, we will enter the palace and decimate everyone in there... After that, Arabasta will be ours for taking"
""OOOOOOH!!""
"We will begin moving in a few minutes. Be sure to ready up"
Turning around, Bonez walked away from the crowd, as the people there began moving. H
The small speech was done... Now all they needed was to reach Alubarna.
Just thinking so brought a small smile to Bonez's face.
"Y-you!"
However, it was at the moment when a certain familiar voice reached his ears, that the smile from his face rapidly disappeared and a cold expression appeared instead.
Turning his head to look in the direction of the voice, Bonez saw a familiar man standing near the dock, looking at him with angry eyes, and widened his eyes in surprise.
How could he not recognize him? The man was once a member of them... Though, that was no longer... The man ended up being a traitor... a member of the same kingdom that they now planned to invade.
"Mr 8... No, I guess you are not going by that name anymore..."
With his long blond hair similar to a powdered wig, Igaram stood there with a large gun in his hands, seemingly ready to fight at any moment for his life. At that moment, he was completely surrounded by the Baroque Works army, who had noticed him as well when he called up to Bonez. However, despite being surrounded by enemies, he continued staring at Bonez with furious eyes, as if wanting to kill him with just his stare.
"Why, why are you so fixated on Arabasta?! We finally got rid of the problem that had been destroying our country for so many years... And yet, you still came here, ready to take advantage of our happiness!"
"It is the way it is. We aren't going to give up something we had been working for so much for the past few years"
Forming a steel blade on his hand, Bonez took a step forward, before he then glared at Igaram and raised his eyebrows interestedly when he saw him point the gun at him.
"You dare disturb our so-awaited peace? I won't forgive you!!"
Yelling angrily at the man meters away from him, Igaram aimed his gun directly at Bonez, before he didn't hesitate in the slightest and pressed the trigger.
-Boom!!-
"Spider"
Without flinching, Bonez muttered something, before suddenly his entire body hardened, and became incredibly firm in the place where it was standing.
-Chin, Chin, Ka-chin!-
Then, as if his body was made of metal, soon the bullets clashed with him and immediately bounced off his body, as if not able to penetrate his skin in the slightest.
Seeing that, Igaram took a step back in horror, before he then dropped his weapon in shock and fell on his knees.
"H-how... how is that possible?"
Not caring about Igaram shocked state, Bonez walked up to him, before he then raised his arm high into the air, and morphed it into a long and terrific blade.
Like an executioner ready to behead his prisoner.
"I thought you were dead... But I guess I was wrong. This time I will make sure you stay dead..."
"You are not going to take over Arabasta... The King will stop you"
Hearing Igaram, Bonez smiled a little bit, before he then tensed his muscles and prepared to bring down his arm. Not bothering to give a word to the man that was about to die.
-Clang!-
It was then, however, that suddenly he felt a bump on his head, and his eyes widened in surprise.
The bump hadn't been painful, no... It was as if someone had thrown a rock at his head, trying to catch his attention.
He couldn't have given it much importance. However, after that, a voice called out to him and made veins appear on his face because of anger.
"Hey baldy"
Squinting his eyes, Daz lowered his arm without caring about Igaram any longer and turned around to see who was the bastard that was so gutsy to call him baldy without fear.
Then, he saw it.
A man whose face was covered by a cow mask, and who was wearing a dark and ragged cloak was standing there... Menacingly.
And beside him, was Miss All Sunday... Or Nico Robin to the ones that knew her name.
'What is happening here?'
Confused and angry, Bonez walked up to the pair, before he then looked down at the man with the cow mask who was slightly shorter than him, and then turned to look at Robin, who was looking at him with an impassive expression on her face.
"Who are you...? Why are you with her?"
Speaking with a cold tone of voice, Bonez leaned forward and looked directly into the eyes of the man behind the mask with a chilling expression on his face.
-Pat-
However, unlike what he had expected, suddenly he received a pat on his shoulder, and from one moment to another he felt like his legs lost strength and involuntarily fell to his knees, making his face to be at the same height as the one of the man's.
Then, as if satisfied by the sudden event, the man nodded his head and chuckled briefly behind the mask.
"I don't like tall guys. You are much better like that"
"...!"
...
-To be Continued-
°°°
(A/N: I just survived an illness, and also got to read and finish a long fanfic here. So sorry for the wait. Anyway, I should be free for a while, so I will try to write another chapter for tomorrow since I took quite a long rest and left you guys without a chapter for quite a long time :P)
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