Grandline
On the vast ocean, a sleek, blackened hull ship with a sea serpent at the front coursed through the ocean.
The salty wind whipped across the battered deck of the ship as Pin Joker and Eldoraggo limped into view. Their bodies were wrapped in bandages. They groaned in pain.
"Those brats…" Pin Joker muttered. His eyes narrowed and lip curled in contempt. He thought back to the green hair man who he fought with three swords. He thought he had some strength.
Eldoraggo winced. He clutched his chest where bruises bloomed. "That damn kid with the Straw Hat got in my way," he said. His voice simmered with both pain and humiliation. He thought about how he got beaten by him.
Needles emerged from the deck. He crossed his arms. "I can understand that useless swordsman losing," he said. He looked at their bodies which had bandages all around. "But even you two?" he asked.
Pin Joker's head snapped toward him. "You? I didn't see you doing much fighting. You cowered while we faced them head-on," he said.
Needles cracked his knuckles. "Careful what you say, clown," he said as he took a step closer.
Before fists could fly a voice was heard. "Enough," said Gasparde as he strided forward. Behind him, Morgan followed.
Eldoraggo sneered as he looked at both of them. "You two didn't lift a finger back there," he remarked.
Gasparde stopped at the edge of the deck. He gazed out toward the horizon. He could see something in the distance. "We were handling something far more important," he remarked.
Pin Joker scoffed. "Important? What could be more important than our revenge against those Love Pirates" he said.
Needles threw a smirk over his shoulder. "That concept might be a little advanced for your peanut-sized brain," he said.
"I don't think you even have one," Pin Joker snarled. The two locked eyes.
But Eldoraggo's gaze lit up suddenly, greed flickering like fire. "This important mission… does it involved gold?" he asked.
Morgan's lips curled. "Something far more valuable," he responded.
"Nothing's more important than gold!" Eldoraggo barked as his eyes glinted with madness.
The quiet shuffle of boots announced Kuro. He was swathed in bandages. He thought back to the long nose. He thought long noses were everywhere and they were all annoying. He looked at Gasparde. "What did you find?" he asked as he touched his glasses with his hands.
Gasparde turned slowly. He had a sharp smile on his face. "Information," he replied.
Pin Joker's brow furrowed. "Information?" he asked.
Gasparde nodded. "Details people would pay handsomely for. Strategic layouts, intel on Cipher Pol agents, Marine deployments... Knowledge is power, and power is profit," he explained.
"While we got thrashed?" Pin Joker snarled. "That was worth it to you?" he asked.
"We could have had our revenge," Eldoraggo said. "However gold will do," he added. He thought of gold.
Gasparde stepped forward. "Don't be naive. We were outnumbered, Marines, Cipher Pol. We didn't stand a chance even with all the chaos," he responded. "But now," he said as he turned back to the sea. "We control the game board," he added.
Kuro grinned. "We can use that to buy weapons, ships… a fleet," he responded.
Gasparde mirrored the smile. "Indeed, the black market will pay handsomely and there has been a lot of activity recently in the black market, with those robots," he remarked.
Needles squinted into the distance. "We're approaching an island," he reported.
"We should stop and restock," Morgan said. He squinted at the island ahead. "We're nearly out," he added as he looked at Kuro, Pin Joker and Eldoraggo.
"Less than a day's worth left," Kuro added, brushing dust from his tattered coat. "We'll need food, fresh water and some medical supplies," he added.
Eldoraggo leaned against the railing. "You think this place has gold tucked away? I can feel it... a town like that, there's always someone hiding treasure," he remarked.
"Keep a low profile," Kuro murmured as he adjusted his specs. "We don't want any unnecessary attention," he said.
Gasparde grinned. He looked at the wounded crew still wrapped in bandages. "With half of us looking like stitched-up scarecrows, we'll stand out either way," he said.
"I can still fight anyone," Pin Joker declared with theatrical bravado.
Needles let out a snort. "Sure, if your opponent is a pillow," he responded.
"What did you say?" Pin Joker snapped as he turned around.
Morgan muttered. "You two arguing is worse than getting hurt," he remarked.
"What is this island called anyway?" Eldoraggo asked as he looked in the distance.
"Palmara Port," Morgan responded.
"It is a small island mainly used to re-stock various ships," Gasparde added.
As their ship crept into the harbor, they saw wooden piers jutted out like fingers into the sea. They were crowded with fishing boats, merchant vessels, and sky-sailed traders unloading crates.
They saw the dock handlers carry cargo around. There were street musicians playing jaunty tunes on fiddles and bamboo flutes. The sweet scent of grilled seafood drifted through the air.
The cobblestone streets were packed with townsfolk in patchwork clothing. The traders bartered loudly and children darted between legs. Bounty posters flapped lazily against lamp posts. A mechanical fountain sputtered in the town square.
The crew disembarked onto the wooden planks of the harbor. Their boots hitting the worn boards. They drew stares.
Kuro glanced at everyone. "Let's get what we need. No brawls. No drama," he said.
Eldoraggo muttered, "Unless someone tries to hoard gold." He thought all that mattered was gold.
"We don't want a repeat of what happened last time," Gasparde said.
"We ran into the Kidd Pirates," Morgan remarked. He thought back to that moment.
At that moment they heard a voice, "Captain is going to like this," a polar bear mink said. He wore an orange jumpsuit that bore the Heart Pirates' jolly roger. He also wore small brown boots and had sharp teeth and claws. He was carrying a large bag with him.
"He sure will Bepo," said an average sized lean man. He wore a beige overall, with their Jolly Roger displayed on the back and the chest pocket. He had brown boots. He wore a black cap with a yellow brim, a red pompom on top. He had a sword on his belt.
"Bepo had picked this for him, Penguin," replied an average sized lean man with red hair that reached his shoulders. He wore a beige overall and brown boots. He also had a blue hat with a red brim. He also had sunglasses and held a baseball bat in his hand. "Captain will love it for sure," he added.
"That is right Sachin," Bepo responded. "It will be just like gold," he added.
"Gold," Eldoraggo heard as he ran towards them and blocked their way. "Hand over your gold," he declared.
"Who are you?" Bepo asked.