Lance and Alvida stood in front of the gate of the Marine base. A large metal door that had the Marine logo where the two doors met. One half of the logo on each door. There were two symbols written below the logo on each door. Together they read "Justice". "So this is it, huh?" Behind the metal gate were two tall buildings that were cylindrical. But were smaller in the middle than they were at the base or top. A perimeter around the buildings were surrounded by ten foot tall stone walls.
"Okay. So what's the plan? Are we gonna sneak in and get into their dungeons?" Looking over to her left, Alvida saw Lance had disappeared from his spot in front of her. "Huh?" She looked left and right looking for him. Her head stopped on a dime when she saw him climbing the wall to her left. "Captain! What are you doing?" She ran over to where he was on the wall.
Lance groaned as he gripped the top of the wall. His feet trying to help keep him up on the top of the wall. "Nngh. I'm trying to find where they have Kuina held up." His head was above the wall. Scanning inside the base for the Pirate Hunter they came here to recruit.
"She's not gonna be out in the open. The marines will have her tucked away in their prison in the base."
"Hey she's right over there!" Lance said.
"What?" Alvida yelled out. Taking a few steps back. Alvida got a running start for a jump that let her grab onto the top of the wall. As she pulled herself up. "What do you mean she's- huh?"
In the middle of the field the two were looking at. There was a wooden post stuck out of the ground. With another wooden stick running horizontal a little over half way on the pole. A woman of moderate height with black hair was tied to the post. Her arms were tied to the horizontal post by her elbows. The rope right next to the short sleeve of her purple top. And another rope tied around her waist on top of her white pants.
Her hands hung drooped from where her arms were tied. Her legs were in a sitting position as she was held up by the post. Lance looked in confusion at the woman. "Man this will be easy. If we untie her she could just walk away."
"You two!" Kuina called out to the two of them. Her voice is as sharp as a blade's edge. "You're an eye sore! Get lost." She barely lifted her head. But it was enough to get one of her eyes to look up at the two of them.
Lance smirked as he felt goosebumps run down his back as she gave him the evil eye. Alvida on the other hand was shivering in fear. Being this close to the Pirate Hunter. Not to mention literally being at a marine base. It was all finally too much to handle. "Captain. I don't think this is a good idea. She's liable to turn in our bounties rather than join us."
Clunk. The two looked over to find a ladder being propped up on the wall. Climbing to the top of the wall was a small girl with brown hair in pig tails. Wearing a light blue and white striped dress. She looked over to the two of them and shushed the two pirates.
Not wasting a second she jumped down to the ground inside the wall. With a smile she ran up with a little cloth in her arms. Kuina grimaced a bit. Yet her tone didn't have as much steel in it as with the other two. Yet she still had a strong annoyed tone in her voice. "What do you want?"
"I thought you might be getting hungry!" She opened the cloth to reveal some rice balls. "So I brought you some rice balls!" She raised them so Kuina could smell them.
Kuina tried to keep her annoyed tone. But concern began to drip through. "Just scram kid. I'm starting to think you have a death wish."
"But you haven't eaten anything the whole time you've been tied up. I've never really made these before. But I did my best so I think they're fine."
Kuina's eyes went wide when she heard that. Her expression turned soft before immediately turning sharp again. "You need to get out of here kid! Or I'll kick your face in!"
Before the girl had time to do anything, the gate that led to the main Marine buildings crashed open. Three men walked down the field towards Kuina. Two marine soldiers in the back. And in front of them a man wearing a flashy purple suit. With a mushroom shaped bowl cut. "Kuina! How naughty~ I told you no visitors!"
Kuina gave the men a side eye. "If it isn't the little idiot. Hiding behind his father."
"Idiot? A woman in your position shouldn't make such claims!" The men approached and grabbed one of the rice balls the girl held. "Oh~ A treat for me? How nice of you, Little Girl." As quick as he could take a bite he spat it back out. "Blugh! These have sugar on them! Rice balls should be savory, not sweet!"
The girl looked confused looking back up at the man. "Huh? but…I like sweets. I thought the sugar would be fine…" He slapped both rice balls down to the ground. Stomping them into the ground with his fancy white dress shoes.
"S-stop, Mr. Helmeppo! I worked really hard on those!"
"Oh well too bad." Reaching into his suit. He pulled a piece of paper from out of his chest. "Looks like you didn't hear. Anyone caught assisting the prisoner will be executed~" He snapped his fingers and both marines stood at attention. "You," He pointed at the man to his right with his thumb. "Toss the little girl over the wall."
There was a beat as both men looked surprised. "But…sir…"
Sensing the hesitation, Helmeppo grabbed the man by the collar. "I gave you a direct order to throw that little girl over the wall! Do you know what my daddy does to marines who disobey orders?"
"Y-yes sir!" The soldier picked up the little girl. And threw her like a baseball over the wall. Lance immediately jumped backwards off the wall. Catching the girl and landing on his back. Taking a majority of the blow.
Helmeppo moved in front of Kuina. "You are a stubborn one aren't you? You know i'll let you down if you promise to be my girlfriend, right?"
Kuina didn't pay him any special attention. Looking straight ahead and not making eye contact. "You bet I am. I'll make it through the whole month no problem. So you better be ready to uphold your end of the bargain."
Helmeppo laughed as he walked away. "Oh yes. I'm a man of my word~ If you can survive the whole month I'll let you go. Ahahaha!"
With the gate closing with the annoying man walking away. Kuina took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Only to open them and see Lance in front of her. "What the hell are you still doing here?"
Standing in front of the imprisoned woman Lance couldn't keep a smile off of his face. "I'll untie you. But only if you promise to become my woman and join my crew."
"Eh? Join your crew? Become your woman? What is it with you guys? There's no way I'd ever want to join up with criminals."
"Hmm? What's wrong with being a pirate?" Lance crossed his arms as he questioned Kuina. "Aren't you known as the "Demon Pirate Hunter "?."
"Let them think what they want. Unlike half those idiots. I haven't ever done a single thing I regret." Kuina looked up at Lance with a confident smirk on her face. "I'll make it through this month. And then I'll go on to accomplish my real goal."
Lance's face shifted a bit to concern as he rubbed his chin with his fingers. "Yea…that's great…" His expression quickly morphed to a smile before turning away from Kuina. "But I've already decided you're gonna join my crew! I hear you're one of the best swordsman around!"
"What do you think this is? Play time? You can't just decide for me that i'm gonna join your crew. Besides, no matter how good I am, that marine's idiot son stole my sword."
"Hmm. I guess I'll just have to get that back for you then." At that Kuina was a little shocked. "See ya, around!"
As he walked away. Kuina called out. "Hey wait!" Lance stopped to turn around. Hoping she'd accept his help. "That rice ball…give it to me." Kuina opened her mouth to eat it.
"Are you sure? This is more dirt than rice at this point." Lance bent down to lift up the barley held together ball of rice.
"Just do it! Don't miss a single grain!" Shrugging his shoulders Lance did as she asked and threw the rice ball into her mouth. As Kuina chewed it she was very visibly struggling with eating the rice. Meanwhile Lance looked at her like he had warned her this would happen. But as she swallowed Lance couldn't help but smirk as his heart skipped a beat. "Tell her…it was delicious…"