Part five - Koby and the "Queen of the Monsters" 2/6

"Beheader" Johnny in sandals, shorts and red gloves with clipped fingers. "Butcher" Yosaku, like Johnny, wears sandals, shorts and two swords, more like oversized versions of knives used for butchering meat. And, of course, Roronoa Zoro, aka "Three Swords" Zoro, who is especially famous from all their group "Pirate Slayer", dressed in a thick green robe and black pants tucked into boots. Despite the fact that Johnny and Yosaku towered noticeably above the other hunters, and they were literally bursting with lumpy muscles, Zoro's names still caught up most of all. Koby didn't know why. Objectively, the swordsman looked less scary of the whole trio, but subjectively, he could hardly restrain himself from fainting at the sight of him.

Soon the boy experienced a new shock.

Koby suddenly realized exactly what the name of the stunning beauty who stood among the trinity of demons in human form was called. "Queen of Monsters" Nami or "Merciful Queen" Nami. He knew from rumors that she joined the rest of the hunters about six months ago, but before that she had already become famous as "Cat Bulgar" Nami, who, over the years, had successfully robbed pirates. However, after joining such a team, her old nickname, "Cat Bulgar", quickly changed first to "Queen of the Monsters" - and, looking at the group of hunters up close, Koby fully understood why she received such a nickname - and then and to the "Merciful Queen". "Merciful" because, again, according to rumors, she, unlike other hunters, did not kill her victims, but only bring to unconsciousness with her pole, with a lead core ... By the way, about the poles and cores. In addition to the flowery bikini, the girl wore a slightly odd sash that was connected to a loincloth. And on this belt and armband, in the manner of Zoro's swords, three thick steel rods were fixed. Given their thickness, the rumors of lead poured inside appear to have been entirely true.

- So, I think, by this second, you finally understood what an extremely interesting position you all found yourself in, - said the one who initially greeted everyone.

Kobы had no idea who the guy who was talking now was. Despite the two pistols, the grips of which were visible between his armpits, he looked completely harmless. Especially in those colorful shorts of his, the diving mask now pushed over his forehead, and the green dandelion-painted rubber ring around his belly, which would be more appropriate to look at the waist of a little girl. Next to the massive figures of the rest of the hunters, except for the "Queen", the guy looked especially defenseless. And the more unusual was the fact that it was around him that the rest of the team stood, as if ... as if he was the main one in their group. The girl stood still, hugging him from the back and resting her chin on his shoulder. And who, one wonders, is he? Among the rumors retold by the pirates, Koby never heard a rumor that int the famous bounty hunter group there is anyone else... or have he heard? It seems someone, something like that once mentioned in his presence. It seems like some kind of jester is constantly dragged along with the hunters, who never takes part in the battles. To Koby's eyes, the guy didn't look like a jester at all. Especially now, when he looked the most important on the whole beach. And this one with a rubber ring for little girls around the waist!

- It is not interesting to kill you just like that, you are too small fry for us, so I offer you a deal ...

- Hey! Why is this ... - began to say Kavi, to immediately collapse into the sand with a bullet through his head.

In Alvida's team, he was always considered a complete idiot, which he successfully proved once again and definitely the last in his life.

- The essence of the deal is, - as if nothing had happened, the guy in the hat continued to say, as if it was not he who had just shot a man, - so that you defeat our beautiful "Queen", - raising his hand, he stroked the girl hugging him on head. - If you can defeat her, then we will let you go, if not ... in general, you yourself understand.

- One-on-one battles? - Alvida asked with clearly audible enthusiasm in her voice.

Koby immediately realized that the ugly fat woman was really eager to get the opportunity to beat the girl who had so infuriated her with her beauty.

- One on one? - The guy in the hat raised an eyebrow. - Cool anecdote, but not funny. No, my dears, your entire team is against our "Queen". Otherwise, it will be completely uninteresting.

Three dozen jaws fell onto the sand at once, including those of Koby and Alvida.

- You better not underestimate our charming navigator, - the guy chuckled. And then he "reassured" everyone: - Your chance of winning does not exceed one percent.

- One percent? - Alvida's eyes were bloodshot. - We'll see!

- Then give us five minutes to prepare everything, and then you can start, - the guy smiled happily. - Guys, take out all our things! - Looking at the rest of the male part of the hunter team, he added enthusiastically.

As it turned out, by the word "things", he meant beach chairs, umbrellas and portable ice coolers full of misted bottles of beer. After five minutes requested by the Hat, as Koby mentally christened him, everything was ready. The hunters, having taken beer and bags, seemingly with salted nuts, lounged lazily on the sun loungers, in the shade of colorful beach umbrellas. Not far from them, the "Queen" was doing the most ordinary warm-up. As if she was not going to fight, but to swim. And all this frivolity of the group of hunters frightened no worse than any direct threats, probably even more. Everything in their actions literally screamed that they did not consider Alvida and her team as any significant threat. Koby involuntarily recalled how many different rumors he had heard about this team of pirate hunters. The boy had no idea which of them were true and which were not, but even if only a fifth were true ... then it is not at all surprising that they did not take Alvida and her team seriously.

- Nami, are you ready? - The Hat asked loudly.

The girl, instead of answering, one by one, pulled out all three steel rods and with well-defined movements that speak of great practice, quickly assembled a single pole from them.

- Are you ready? - asked the Hat, turning to Alvida and her team, and therefore to Koby himself.

- Ready! - barked the fat woman, hitting the sand with her huge club.

- Then ... start! - the joyful guy waved his hand, as if he were announcing not the beginning of a duel, in which the lives of more than thirty people were at stake, but about funny beach games.