The trio marched their way into the forest of Amazon Lily, clad in their marine uniforms with a justice coat draped around their shoulders. It was a convincing disguise, all things considered; some might find it difficult to believe these handsome marine men were actually pirates in disguise.
But how long would their subterfuge keep their identities concealed?
The forest was immense and dense, its flora peculiarly alien, casting a terrifying aura. The trio observed the area, spotting a variety of exotic mushrooms and fruits. "Do you think these mushrooms are edible?" Gojo began to drool, his curiosity intensifying at the prospect of sampling them.
"We are uncertain of their toxicity, so it would be prudent to avoid them entirely," Ryuken muttered in a low tone, maintaining his razor-sharp concentration to evade any potential surprise attack.
"I advise we exercise restraint and refrain from touching any of these fungi. They could be poisonous and potentially contagious," Jake declared, sliding a cigar into his mouth and using his lighter to ignite it before puffing out a perfect ring of smoke.
After wandering for several minutes, a snake slithered from a nearby bush, startling them momentarily. "Oh, it is merely a small, harmless serpent," Ryuken murmured, wiping the perspiration from his forehead.
"Hey!" A sudden voice echoed from a distance, causing the three men to immediately assume a battle stance.
"That is a woman's voice, if I am not mistaken," Ryuken stated, placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword without yet drawing it from its scabbard.
"Damn! How have we been discovered so soon?" Jake bit his lip, acutely aware of the trouble they would face for trespassing on a Warlord's territory.
"Should we flee, or should we maintain the charade that we were dispatched here by marine HQ?" Gojo hummed with an air of nonchalant relaxation.
"Huh?"
A woman sprang forth from the foliage adjacent to the trio, her eyes instantly registering the three marine officers. Her initial smile contorted into a suspicious grin as she landed directly before them.
"Marines? What in the world are they doing here?" She whispered to herself upon landing. "Men?" Alerting her companion, she summoned her snake, which had fled from her earlier.
Her expression remained a scrutinizing glare fixed upon the men standing before her, despite their impeccable marine attire.
The snake hissed, coiling around her body before solidifying into a formidable bow. Marguerite is a young Kuja lady who is tall for her age, possessing short, unruly blonde hair, long slender legs, and a slim, curvaceous figure.
Her arrow was strapped beside her waist, her hands positioned expertly on the bow while the serpent encircling her torso hissed, prepared to act at a moment's notice.
She found the situation strange; the three men clad in marine attire stood perfectly still, exhibiting no movement or any overt sign of being a threat.
"What is the purpose of the marines here?" She chimed, attempting to resolve the situation without immediate bloodshed.
Gojo let out a measured sigh, taking a deliberate step forward while adjusting his marine cap.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, mademoiselle," he bowed with feigned politesse. "We marines were dispatched on a mission to escort prisoners to Impel Down. During our return voyage to Marineford, we were ambushed by a pirate crew. We managed to repel them but found ourselves shipwrecked upon the shore of Amazon Lily."
"Marguerite!"
A voice rang out from afar, causing everyone to turn toward its source.
A very large, corpulent Kuja warrior descended from above, a massive snake coiled around her neck.
"Sweet Pea!" Marguerite hummed in recognition.
Sweet Pea crashed onto the ground, dust swirling through the atmosphere momentarily before dissipating to provide a clearer vision.
"Huh? Invaders?" Sweet Pea grinned menacingly, nocking an arrow into the snake that had transformed into a bow.
"Wait a moment, Sweet Pea, let us hear what explanation they have to offer."
"Do you comprehend the consequences if the Snake Princess were to learn of this intrusion?"
With a loud, deliberate cough, Gojo redirected the attention of the two women back to himself. "As I was elaborating, we were ambushed by pirates following a mission and deduced we might find sanctuary within the domain of Boa Hancock, given her status as a Warlord."
"Are you marines not aware that this island strictly forbids the entry of men?" Sweet Pea bit her lip in frustration. "If your story is genuine, then you will surrender peacefully; otherwise, we will be forced to subdue you."
"Are we to be imprisoned?"
"Indeed. You will remain in custody until the Empress returns from the Warlord's meeting, at which point she will decide the fate of you trespassers."
"Is this not excessively harsh? We only just escaped imprisonment," Ryuken whispered to Jake, who responded with a sigh of resignation.
"Fine. We will surrender peacefully, as we have no desire to instigate conflict," Jake chimed in.
Following this, the snake unwound itself from Marguerite's body and slithered over to bind Jake's arms. The same restraint was applied to both Gojo and Ryuken as the Kuja warriors began leading the captives toward the city.
Sweet Pea issued an order to other warriors to locate the ship the marines had allegedly used and to conduct a thorough investigation to verify their story.
The weather was preternaturally calm, and countless eyes trailed the three prisoners as they were paraded behind Sweet Pea. The islanders and other Kuja warriors were rendered speechless by the rare figures in their midst.
"Sweet Pea, who are they? Are they female marine comrades?" Rindo hummed, not yet realizing their true nature.
"They are prisoners until the Empress returns from her mission in Marineford and determines their fate," Sweet Pea muttered. "These three prisoners are not females; they are marine men who have trespassed onto our island."
"Men?!" The islanders exclaimed in unison, some utterly dumbfounded, others with their curiosity intensely piqued, having never seen a man in their entire lives.
These creatures known as men were entirely unknown to the islanders, representing profound mysteries. Despite being held as prisoners, the curiosity of the islanders and Kuja warriors only grew as they trailed behind the procession heading toward the prison.
The undivided attention of the entire island made the captive trio profoundly uncomfortable; sweat slid down Gojo's face. He felt an urge to riot, to escape the scrutiny, but he suppressed the impulse to avoid causing a ruckus.
He let out an exasperated sigh. "Do you mind granting us some personal space?" A forced smirk appeared on his lips, intended to intimidate the ladies, but the effect was the opposite. The crowd was momentarily speechless, processing the uniquely masculine voice they had just heard, a sound entirely different from their own. This only made the ladies cling to them more intently.
"Are you kidding me?" Ryuken whispered to himself, now thoroughly convinced these Kuja ladies were all peculiar.
"Hey, can you speak again?" Cosmos smiled, dancing around them excitedly.
"Cosmos, you are becoming far too enamored with them. Do not forget they are prisoners for the time being," Sweet Pea chided.
She pouted, folding her arms and looking away. "I know, but I simply wish to learn more about these so-called men!"
"Very well, let us secure them in their cell first, before you begin your interrogation."
"Aww, I adore you, Sweet Pea!" Cosmos clung to Sweet Pea, elated that her request had been approved, and she could barely contain her anticipation to converse with the men after their incarceration.
After a protracted journey through the town, the warriors who had been dispatched to investigate the marine ship reappeared.
They leaped from the tops of buildings and trees with incredible agility, their snakes wrapped securely around their bodies, and descended to the ground without breaking a sweat.
"Sweet Pea," Marguerite called out, "we have located the marine warship they used to sail here and have conducted a thorough investigation as you ordered."
"Excellent. What is your report?"
"Their account appears truthful; they were not lying about the ambush. We found traces of blood and fragments of broken swords aboard the vessel, along with provisions sufficient for a month. There was no sign of any other marines aboard or in the vicinity."
"That is reassuring to hear. Let us proceed; we are nearly at our destination."
The warriors continued trailing behind the prisoners as they were led into the cell, which was both spacious and constructed from formidable, reinforced metal.
The trio marched inside, the irony of being imprisoned again so soon after escaping a previous hell not lost on them. They were confident, however, that this was a trivial confinement; they could break out and escape effortlessly, unlike the demon-guarded depths of Impel Down.
Footsteps echoed through the atmosphere, accompanied by birds chirping and the wind blowing, as the surroundings filled once more with Kuja warriors and curious islanders.
"Hey, can you speak again?" Cosmos demanded, a gentle smile on her face as she gripped the metal bars of the cell.
Gojo scratched the back of his head. "Good day, ladies. How are you all faring today?"
The ladies became instantly flustered and erupted into cheers upon hearing the distinct voice of a man, a sound they had never experienced in their lives.
"I-I am doing quite well, you know," one stammered, her face flushing crimson.
"Tell me, are all men the same?"
"Huh?" Jake coughed. "Hmm, how should I articulate this? No, we are all quite different, but guess what?"
"What is it?"
Before Jake could continue, Gojo interjected with a teasing smirk, removing his marine cap. "Men? Oh, we are like sunshine — too brilliant to look upon, too intense to handle, and yet you find yourselves incapable of looking away. Consider yourselves fortunate, for I am the quintessential example."
"That is so impressive!"
"Men are truly elegant!"
...
10 Chapters ahead on patreon.
Patreon.com/Hunchovroy848