Whiskey Peak, a town boasting itself as a welcoming haven for all rookie pirates.
Located not far from the entrance of the Grand Line, one of the first islands at the start of this legendary sea, it prided itself as a "Welcome Island."
But in the merciless Grand Line, could there truly be such a paradise that greeted pirates with open arms?
Much like the "joyous" City of Gold in the New World or the "happy" Dressrosa, beauty often hid an unbearable darkness beneath.
Fortunately…
Whiskey Peak's weakness wasn't so severe that everyone who arrived would feel hopelessly powerless.
The truth was, it was merely a gathering spot for bounty hunters.
Unable to venture further into the Grand Line, they bullied newcomers here on the starting island.
Just a group of cowards preying on the weak, not enough to strike fear into too many hearts.
However, it also secretly housed a branch of the criminal organization Baroque Works. Of course, that fact was hidden.
Yet today seemed different from the norm.
The town, long dubbed the "rookie's nightmare," appeared completely altered. Even the previous facade of celebration had vanished entirely.
…
Walking deeper into Whiskey Peak now, one might still smell the faint, lingering stench of burned flesh.
Broken buildings, corpses strewn across the streets, blackened stains everywhere…
The entire town looked as if it had been ravaged by artillery, leaving only ruins in its wake, a desolate, pitiful sight.
Tap… tap… tap… tap… tap… tap…
Black leather shoes and pale lavender heels echoed across the ground.
From the rhythm, it was clear that the owners of these footsteps were unusually anxious, though the reason was unknown.
…
"Hey! Miss Valentine, have you found anything over there?!"
A tall man, looking like he hadn't washed in years, rummaged through door panels, trash cans, wooden crates… growing increasingly frustrated. Finally, he stood, shouting toward his partner.
The woman he addressed seemed even more anxious.
At his voice, she immediately bared her teeth, her pretty face twisted with anger:
"What do you mean 'found'?!"
"If it weren't for your arrogance just now, I could've handled her already!!!"
Miss Valentine, a beautiful woman, looked like a ferocious tigress.
She stomped one heel into a nearby charred corpse, twisting it viciously to vent her frustration.
"Tch!"
The man, called Mr. 5, didn't retort, he simply spat, his face growing paler with anxiety.
Baroque Works never tolerated slackers.
Those who failed a mission had only one possible outcome: death.
Having dealt with many failures themselves, the two knew this ironclad rule all too well.
So their current predicament, facing failure, was terrifying.
If they couldn't execute their target on this island, their exit would be their final one.
The man who shouted earlier, dirty and unkempt, was Mr. 5, a top-ranked agent and assassin.
Yet even his high rank offered no comfort.
Just hours ago, Mr. 9, similarly ranked, had died at his own hands.
Mr. 5 possessed the Bomb Bomb Fruit, which allowed him to turn parts of his body into explosives.
A powerful Devil Fruit, perfect for his profession.
His partner, Miss Valentine, was also a high-ranking Baroque Works agent.
She possessed the Kilo Kilo Frit, allowing her to manipulate her body's weight at will.
Light as a feather, she could float on her parasol, flying wherever she pleased.
Again, a rare and valuable Devil Fruit.
Of course, a fruit's true strength depended on the user.
Even with these Devil Fruits, in the early Grand Line, they were far from invincible, simply enough to survive.
But now, their Devil Fruit powers offered no help.
Fearful of punishment, the two killers frantically combed the town, searching every street and alley.
Hours passed, yet still, they found nothing.
Their target seemed to have vanished entirely.
…
After yet another fruitless search, they regrouped in the empty street.
Their faces were ashen, signaling that things were far from going smoothly.
"Found anything…?"
Mr. 5's voice dropped low, rough with irritation, no longer loud enough to bark orders.
Miss Valentine, usually proud and confident, wore a gloomy, silent expression.
Time felt suspended.
If not for the soft breeze brushing her miniskirt, prompting her to adjust it slightly, they might have stood there forever, hoping, perhaps, to escape Baroque Works' wrath.
…
Shhh…
Suddenly, a faint scraping sound echoed.
Like the brush of fabric against fabric, almost imperceptible.
Under normal circumstances, neither would have reacted.
But when facing death, even the slightest noise could not be ignored.
Their sharp gazes immediately fixed on the source.
A pile of corpses.
The very bounty hunters Mr. 5 had exploded during an earlier scuffle.
And it was a place both had overlooked.
Tap… tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps sounded again, but slower, deliberate, unlike before.
Though much of their strength came from Devil Fruits, as high-ranking agents, they possessed basic skills and instincts.
A sound emerging from beneath the corpses was not wind.
…
"Found you!!!"
Feeling tricked, Mr. 5 slammed his foot down onto the corpses. His Bomb Fruit powers erupted at full force.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion sent the bodies flying in all directions, revealing beneath them a blue-haired girl, terrified and completely unprepared.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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