Grand Line - The 'Merchant' Ship

The ‘merchants’ of the ship brandishes their muskets under the bright glare of the Dragonfire. It was as if they are sworn to fight to the very end of their lives. The rapiers, encrusted in gems of rubies and Lapis Lazuli, seemed beyond what mere merchants would be able to afford.

“Halt!” The men of the so-called merchant ship lowered their weapons, albeit reluctantly. “Those pirates aren’t of Ezequiel’s flag!!”

“If it's really Baron Ezequiel, he wouldn’t have approached you all so peacefully, not without Dreamhounds swarming on you all, Chancellor.” Still tied to the masts, Arafael’s grey eyes glinted at the tall man of greying hair, the bony hands caressing on the silver embroidered walking stick. The Scarlet Pirates’... Even after so long at this ship, Arafael still couldn’t believe on their stroke of ‘luck’. They have been attracting so much attention from all sorts of dangerous people.

“You can claim whatever treasure that we have,” The Chancellor threw an oaken stamp towards the Pirates’ side of the ship. A gangplank was raised between the two broadsides “And I can give you more if I still had access to the Kingdom’s Treasury.”

“You know Arafael?” Alesia was about to ask what in the world are those ‘Dreamhounds’, before picking up the stamp from that peculiar old man. Just the stamp alone, costs more than the White Pearl ship. A gold plated Emblem of an oaken tree and feather. No doubt, a Royal seal from some nation. Just as she thought they were just merchant ships, they got caught between affairs of another Kingdom. “So what’s the catch? Your Honor.” Alesia pieced together the last few words half-heartedly, boarding the ‘Merchant’ ship.

“Escort us safely, back to the Throne hall of Argin Kingdom. Duke Benniad is plotting against Prince Bayonnes,” The Chancellor handed Alesia an Eternal pose, opening the door to the Captain Cabin. “We barely escaped the Privateer Ezequiel’s pursuit, but Prince Bayonnes isn’t so… fortunate. His pendant is the only thing suppressing the influence of Duke Benniad’s foul abilities.”

The captain’s cabin was a messy room, though more opulent than those from her ship. From the outside Alesia could see a bedridden man of his 20s. Prince Bayonnes was unconscious, as if struck by some sort of coma. Alesia recognised the make of the pendent by colour and tint. A pendant of Sea Prism Stone.

@BladeSS4
The pirate Ezequiel, back when Bakuto was a marine, that pirate was known to be very quiet. There was his bounty poster of 65 million that he came across.

@Genon
The island of Argin Kingdom was known to be a political mess, that its hard to tell who is behind the reigning power of the Kingdom.

---

Something felt off from the account of the Chancellor’s story. From the more recent voyages along the East Blue, Alesia knows about Devil fruits, and their types, including the one that can transform into an animal. Alesia glared sternly at the former ship pet. Even from this voyage, the words of ‘suppressing Benniad’s foul abilities’ was hard to follow. This was right in the middle of the sea, with no islands or even a trail of seagulls at sight. Just what could that ‘Benniad’ possibly do, even if that seastone was removed from that Prince Bayonnes.

“Outsiders call him by this name, ‘Lord of the Evening’ Rel’chunk. A marine Admiral wouldn’t be obliged to bypass his privileges of immunity of the Seven Warlord…” The chancellor clasped his hand on the silver walking stick, his tone being formal and composed despite. “Rel’chunk ate the Dream Dream Fruit, a Devil Fruit as harmless as it may sound, but ‘Duke Benniad’ evokes Nightmares to the living and turns ‘Dreams’ against his foes. Prince bayonnes have unfortunately been ‘Marked’ by Rel’Chunk. Without that seastone pendant, the ‘Wrath of Dreams’ will consume us all.”

One of the Seven Warlords? Alesia contained her gasp in midst of the Chancellor’s talk. She thought it to be a simple matter of looting the treasury. The infamy of the Seven Warlords, known far and wide across the world. Former pirates that now serve the World Government. Even with all the money and treasure that could offer, they aren’t worth provoking.

“There are a few Marines still willing to help, one of them sitting at your ship. As ill mannered as he can be, it would be kind of you pirates to release Arafael.”

“... We will put your request into consideration for now. But we shall escort you all to the shores of your Kingdom. Only after then, we will set Arafael free.” As reluctant as she might, Alesia pieced together her words for the Chancellor. The first thing she wanted to do after kicking Arafael out is to sail as far as she could from the Kingdom of Argin.

---

65 Million, Valar’s bounty pales before such price in the head. Not even the first island, and those unsettling numbers are mentioned nonchalantly. Alesia was glad that she still have crewmates that are willing to support her cause,. But to challenge Rel’chunk, she wanted to be sure on how that man could be defeated.

It was 13 years since Rel’chunk became a Warlord and nobody is certain of that bounty. Except for Arafael, who knows the chancellor personally. That pet wolf holds more information than she thought, she might want to ask him should they embark on the place of the Eternal Pose.

---

Argin Kingdom’s Port - Puerto Arguin

The morning of the seas of the Grand Line was warmer than it used to be. Magpies, not seagulls, flown along the coasts of an island of the autumn climate. Bricks of cobblestones leveled the port of Argin, cannonades lined along the battlements of the city. Those cold grey fortifications marked a stark contrast to the marble rimmed Harbour. Alesia lowered the pirate flag at first light.

The Marine Arafael was awake, keeping his glance at the marble rimmed port, Puerto Arguin. Alesia approached Arafael in her glidy steps. The winds are warm and serene. “How will we fare against Rel’chunk?”

Arafael blinked a few times before giving her a blank stare. “Not even a chance. That man is even stronger than that Shakar you all are so afraid of.”

Puerto Arguin was a bustling port of merchant ships loading and unloading their cargo. It was hard to imagine such a place being as dangerous as others describe. There were too many knottings on that Arafael. Without further ado, Alesia sliced off the cumbersome rope that was holding onto the former ship pet as the seastone hilted sword tumbled on the ship deck. Seastone was something that Alesia, a Devil Fruit user, couldn’t touch directly. A prisoner isn’t a fate that she would allow herself to be in, she couldn’t imagine herself drowning on Sea Prism Stones for their whole lives. “The Chancellor told us to release you, ‘Scruffy’.” She said as the White Pearl prepared for port.

“One more thing, my Captain, Shakar and I are supposed to meet at church Aposta Meduse. Be wary of Rel’chunk’s right hand man Ezequiel, he is the one who dealt those scars on me.” Arafael transformed into his wolf form, his thick white furs covering the scars along his eyebrows and cheeks. He then walked down the gangplank. A big white cross was apparent on top of a Grey Cathedral building. That might be the church that the Marine was referring to. But for now, she had to secure some lodgings in a nearby inn. She wasn’t those religious types after all. She thought, after disembarking onto the Kingdom of Argin. “Better to lay our heads low and gather information at the inn.”

Arafael - Aposta Meduse

The church of Argin Kingdom was as quiet as always. As far as he needed for the trip of Argin kingdom, all he had to do is to gather a few more information from the side of his teacher and Captain Falir. So much as he hoped, the Lord of the Evening shouldn’t have much influence on Puerto Arguin. The snail transponder blurped, a faint glimpse of shadow is cast from the corner of his eyes. There shouldn’t be anybody? Not even a slightest creak from the door.

---

Alesia - Weaponsmith
The weaponsmith was on one quiet corner of the Port of Arguin. That was much to be expected, as it was the only smith shop that is said to be more trustworthy. However, they shouldn’t count too much on the hearsays, as that was what the chancellor knew before they set sail for the High Seas. Who were to be sure if there weren’t more of those ‘eyes’ from that ‘Lord Benniad’?

Purchasing a pistol from the Weapon shop, Alesia holstered it on the side of her cloak. A gun wasn’t a weapon that she was well familiar with, but its better having one more weapon than less. After all, its just a tiny pocket change from the crew funds.

The chancellor would have been securing the lodgings for their group. However, despite releasing Arafael, that man is still the last person that she would trust. “Shall we check on that church afterwards? I won’t trust that ‘Scruffy’, not after he fooled our whole crew.”

---

As silently as it goes, all that was left in the hall was remains of a man, traces of fur and blood splattered along the seats, colouring the White Cross with a few specks of red. Standing in front of the messy remains of Arafael was a man with a head worth 50 million, the ‘Cutthroat’. He was sure that a devil fruit of a Zoan wouldn’t survive, not after being torn apart into eighteen pieces from both the inside and the outside. Sheathing his dagger, the cutthroat goes to stalk towards his next prey. The ‘other two’ were as elusive as how his Captain Rel’chunk had described.

Argin Kingdom - Aposta Meduse Church

Alesia couldn’t comprehend on that sight. Scruffy?... It was just a few hours when she last saw the crew pet leaving the ship. She couldn’t believe someone like him would get himself killed so easily. “How did that…”

Sunlight shone through the glass of the Church Mural, glittering a disturbing ambience of The Bloodstained Cross.

“… Agreed.” Alesia held the sheath of the cutlass with an audible clink, reluctantly bringing herself towards the front of the Church Hall. The fresh smell of blood emanates sickeningly, but she was ready for any surprise attacks. The killing was so recent that blood still dripped along the Church Seats.

The back door leads to a Confessional. “We should check the-“ Before she could finish her sentence, something emerged under the door. A Devil Fruit User? A young, brown haired man somehow squeezed through the tiny door gap. His right hand which was missing a pinky finger, was holding a dagger stained in fresh red blood.

Him! Without ado, Alesia’s cutlass sprang off her scabbard, sending blades of wind towards the murderer of Arafael. She doesn’t know what his Devil Fruit was, but that man walked through the slicing wind. Its two halves sprang himself at her, his hand brandishing on the blood coated dagger. Is that thing even human?......

As it closens the distance, Alesia slashed the ‘Cutthroat’ down its head. It felt like cutting through nothing. Mist…? As absurd as it is to be, the right quarter of the ‘Cutthroat’ sent his dagger towards the back of her ribs. She eased her weight to evade that stab, not without it scraping a gash on her side. Alesia considered the situation ‘fortunate’, a flesh wound is much better than a vital one.

Alesia backed away after the first exchange of attacks, aiming her pistol at the ‘cutthroat’ whilst covering the wound with her left hand. “What’s with that man? I’ve never seen a Devil Fruit like this!”

The ‘Cutthroat’ Roarn Evans. A man of a 50 million Bounty who ate the Mist Mist Fruit. Clearly a fruit of a Logia Type.

Argin Kingdom - Aposta Meduse

“You didn’t see it but, that man could squeeze through the tiniest crevices. Perhaps that might be how he tore Scruffy apart from the inside… Urgh…” Alesia covered her mouth for two purposes, to keep herself from retching at the disgusting forethought of Arafael’s remains, and also to prevent that man from accessing her windpipe with that less than solid form. “I heard stories of Logia Fruits from Mister Flint, but this is worse than I thought.”

The air of the Church Hall was too musty, it would be difficult to churn out any big fire without going berserk. An effect of Evans’ Devil Fruit. Him being dispatched to this church might be more than a mere coincidence.

Alesia’s whirling blade crossed Evans’ body. She knew that wasn’t enough to do anything, but desperately she tapped onto her Devil Fruit abilities, putting all means she had with that one slash of hers, the grasp of her cutlass felt more distant than it looked…

The subsequent exchange of attacks disarmed the Cutthroat Evans’ dagger with a loud clang. That fruit only affects his body after all!

“Just topple it! We’ll regroup at the inn!” Alesia ordered. Despite so, the main support was already slipping from that Dragon Bakuto’s grasp. The silvered embroidered cross broke away. It is clear that the Church could not support itself any longer.

An attack like that was clearly beyond Alesia’s capabilities. It would have killed that man, had he not been a Logia user.

The church topples, the group would seize that opportunity to escape.

---

A man squeezed himself through the fine gaps between the debris and rubble. Literally so, the Mist man converged itself back on top of the Church Ruins. He had lost those pirates. Aren't the main target however...

---

Evening at the inn of Argin.

A woman of grey cloak entered the inn. Short for a figure to be wearing such a cape, but she gazed at the list of bounty posters among the inn's notice board. Numbers that are higher than those the Pirate Captain was used to. Even the lowest of the Board would be considered a notorious pirate had it been in East Blue. The 'Cutthroat' Roarn Evans and Ezequiel's were amongst the list. None of those weren't of the poster she was looking for.

Alesia 'the Gale' found herself bringing her dagger towards an old, browning wanted poster. All there was silence as the glass of the display plague shimmered into pieces. The Name, Face and Bounty of the enemy, Rel'chunk, one with a former bounty of two hundred and ten million, eight hundred thousand berries.