Chapter 23: Whiskey Peak's Welcome and the Bounty Hunter's Trap
[SYSTEM MISSION: INVESTIGATE WHISKEY PEAK. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: BASIC DISGUISE / INFORMATION GATHERING (MINOR). SECONDARY GOAL: EXPOSE BAROQUE WORKS.]
"Whiskey Peak. The 'town of welcome.' I know this is a trap. Baroque Works. This is a chance for a stealthy, non-combat skill. 'Basic Disguise' would be invaluable for infiltration, or 'Information Gathering' for extracting secrets. I need to get caught by a Baroque Works agent in a non-lethal way, then 'killed' by a more subtle, perhaps poisoned, method, something that emphasizes their deceptive nature. Time to play the unsuspecting tourist, and then get 'assassinated' for my troubles."
After the emotional farewell to Laboon, the Straw Hats continued their journey into the Grand Line, the unpredictable weather and currents making navigation a constant challenge. Their next stop was Whiskey Peak, a town renowned for its overly enthusiastic welcome to new pirates.
"This place seems too good to be true," Nami murmured, looking at her charts with suspicion. "A town that welcomes pirates with open arms? In the Grand Line? Something's off."
Luffy, however, was already enchanted by the town's festive atmosphere. "Free food! Free drinks! Shishishishi! This is the best island ever!"
My compass, which had been gently swaying, now pulsed with a distinct, almost sinister energy, pointing towards the town itself. A new system prompt, emphasizing deception and covert operations, appeared in my mind.
[SYSTEM MISSION: INVESTIGATE WHISKEY PEAK. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: BASIC DISGUISE / INFORMATION GATHERING (MINOR). SECONDARY GOAL: EXPOSE BAROQUE WORKS.]
"Whiskey Peak. Baroque Works. This is a classic infiltration scenario. I need a skill that helps me blend in or extract information. 'Basic Disguise' would be amazing for future undercover ops. Or 'Information Gathering' for knowing how to find secrets. I need to get 'caught' by one of their agents, but not in a direct fight. Something subtle, something that highlights their deceptive nature. A poisoned drink, a hidden trap, something that makes me look like an unsuspecting victim. Time to play the fool, and then come back with a new set of skills for espionage."
"Nami's right, it's probably a trap," I said, a wide grin on my face. "Which means it's the perfect place for some... undercover investigation. I'm going to blend in, see what makes this town tick. And then, probably get 'killed' by a very polite assassin."
While Luffy, Usopp, and Zoro indulged in the town's hospitality, I subtly separated myself. Using my Pussyfoot Maneuver, I moved through the crowds, observing the overly friendly townsfolk, noticing the subtle signals they exchanged. My Survival Instincts and Iron Will helped me resist the urge to trust them. I saw the tell-tale signs of a well-organized network, not a genuine welcome.
My eyes fell upon a particularly jovial woman, who seemed to be the ringleader of the welcoming committee. She was constantly offering drinks. This was my target.
"She's the key. A death by deception, by a hidden poison. This will give me 'Disguise' or 'Information Gathering.' I need to let her poison me, to experience the subtle, insidious nature of their methods."
I approached the woman, feigning drunken clumsiness. "My dear lady! Such hospitality! This drink is simply divine!" I held out my cup, allowing her to refill it. As she did, her fingers subtly brushed the rim, and I felt a faint, almost imperceptible tingling sensation. She had applied a fast-acting, potent poison.
I took a large gulp, letting the poison enter my system. It was quick, insidious. My muscles began to seize, my vision blurred, and a cold numbness spread through my limbs. It wasn't painful, but it was utterly debilitating, shutting down my nervous system rapidly. I collapsed to the ground, feigning unconsciousness, then my heart stopped, my breathing ceased. The last thing I felt was the woman's smug, satisfied smile as she leaned over me, confirming my "death."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DEATH RECORDED. KILLER: BAROQUE WORKS AGENT (POISON). ABILITY ACQUIRED: BASIC DISGUISE. REVIVAL INITIATING. PLEASE WAIT.]
"Basic Disguise! Excellent! This is going to be incredibly useful for future infiltration missions. I can feel it – an intuitive understanding of how to alter my appearance, my mannerisms, my voice, to blend in. No more sticking out like a sore thumb. Unless I want to, of course. Time to pop back up and completely freak out this Baroque Works agent."
I gasped, sitting upright, perfectly whole and alert. The woman who had poisoned me was standing over my body, a triumphant smirk on her face. She was about to signal her colleagues.
"Boo!" I said, sitting bolt upright, a wide, triumphant grin on my face.
The woman shrieked, stumbling back, her face draining of color. Her eyes were wide with terror. "Y-you're alive?! But the poison… it was lethal! No one survives that!"
"Oh, it was certainly lethal, my dear," I said, standing up and stretching, feeling the faint, new understanding of how to alter my appearance and mannerisms. "Very effective, I must say. A solid 9 out of 10 for subtlety. But you clearly underestimated my… resistance to lethality. And now, thanks to your generous lesson, I'm also a little bit better at… pretending to be other people." I then subtly shifted my facial muscles, altering the shape of my nose and the angle of my jaw, just enough to make me look subtly different, then back again. "Quite handy, don't you think?"
The woman screamed again, then bolted, running through the streets and alerting the other Baroque Works agents. The cover was blown.
Luffy, Usopp, and Zoro, who had been completely oblivious to the danger, suddenly found themselves surrounded by hostile "townsfolk" who were now revealing themselves as bounty hunters.
"Adam, what did you do?!" Nami yelled, exasperated.
"Just blowing their cover, Nami-swan!" I called back, already engaging the bounty hunters. "And getting a new skill! Now, let's show these 'welcoming' folks what happens when you try to poison a Straw Hat!"
The battle for Whiskey Peak began in earnest, with the Straw Hats facing off against the Baroque Works agents. My new disguise ability, while not fully developed, allowed me to subtly shift my appearance, confusing and disorienting the agents, making me an even more unpredictable opponent. The Grand Line was already proving to be full of surprises, and I was ready for them.
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