21. Deal

"Demolish the building!"-Pecco grin

Pecco's mens come forward with weapons and move toward the restaurant. Mantis have a horror look on her face, and she move to stand in front of her restaurant.

"YOU WON'T DEMOLISH ANYTHING TONIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO DESTROY MY RESTAURANT, THEN YOU NEED TO DEFEAT ME FIRST!"-Mantis

"How is it, boss?"-Toti

"Just catch her, pecco~!"-Pecco

The thugs then grin and about to attack Mantis, when suddenly,

*BANG*

A gunshot is heard, and a thug fall on the ground. They all stopped and look at the source of the shot. It's Cricket who shot his flintlock to a thug on his right side.

"Oioioi, don't ignore us like that! We're lonely you know."-Buggy

"Y-you..."-Toti's hand trembled while he point at Buggy & Cricket

"What? Never see someone get killed before? Well, don't worry, i didn't kill him just now. But he will die if you don't treat him, so it will be your fault if he didn't make it."-Cricket smirk

The other thugs tremble after seeing their friend got shot, and hear Cricket's words.

"Bastard, just who are you?"-Pecco is angry

"Pirates. Now, you know who you're facing with."-Buggy

"If you're not afraid of death, then come!"-Cricket

The thugs seem hesitant, and many of them back off. Pecco grit his teeth seeing his mens backing off.

"DON'T BE AFRAID! Did you forget who is standing behind our back, pecco~?"-Pecco

"Ah!? He's right, we have them behind us, we don't need to be afraid."-Toti

"Them?"-Buggy

"Hehehe, we have the Great Mafia behind our back, Red Hammer."-Toti

".... Who?"-Buggy

"Red Axe Gang, a Mafia group with total of 50 million beri on their head. Leader 'Red Axe' Visco have 35 million beri on his head. His mafia group is famous for their weapon, axes, which will turn red from their enemy's blood, hence the name Red Axe. His right-hand man 'Chainsaw' Taki have 15 million, and he use nail gun like a pistol."-Mantis

".... Are they a mafia group or lumberjack group?"-Buggy

"PFFT, HAHAHAHA, THEY CERTAINLY USE WOOD CUTTING TOOLS SO THEY LOOKS LIKE ONE."-Cricket

"DON'T LAUGH! They're a strong group and have done many bad & cruel deeds in the past. They're one of the biggest mafia on North Blue, and also these guys' backer."-Mantis

"Why would a big mafia group like them backed up a group of thugs like this?"-Buggy

"Because we are their subordinate group."-Toti grin

Mantis explain that she have a big debt to the group. She took debt for her mother's medical fee, but her mother died even after she took the big loan. Mantis want to pay her debt slowly and she was sure she could do it, because her restaurant was the best here, it was.

But then, the Mafia Leader's son took a liking to her. He said her debt will be erased if she want to marry him, but she don't want to. He could send his mens to force her, but he want her to come to him and agree to marry him by herself.

The Leader's son, Wisco, then sent his mens to attack her restaurant, so that she won't have any place to return, as the restaurant is also her house. That's why it have broken walls & windows. But then Mantis made a deal with them. She will pay her debt in 3 months even though it should be a 3 year contract.

The term is for Wisco to not make any trouble in her restaurant. Wisco agree, but he have another plan. Less than 3 months ago, he hired a group of thugs to harass the town's people. They threaten people in town to not eat in her restaurant. They also cut off all her source of money, including winning prize from the competition.

They want to make her run out of money, and her only choice will be to marry Wisco. The deal is to not make trouble in her restaurant, not the town. The deal also stated that she won't make trouble with them, that's why she never attack them. But now with Buggy & Cricket attacked them, the deal is broken.

"Hehehe, now we can destroy this place, so you won't have any choice but to marry Boss Wisco, pecco~"-Pecco

""HAHAHAHA.""-Thugs

Mantis grit her teeth, because if the restaurant is destroyed, she really can't make any money now.

"How much?"-Buggy

"Huh?"-Pecco

"How much is her debt? I'll pay it."-Buggy

"..... Pay? You? HAHAHAHA, YOU WANT TO PAY IT? YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY, PECCO~."-Pecco

"You don't even have any bounty yet, right? We'll heard about you if you have bounty, so you must be a new crew that didn't have any money."-Toti

"I said how much? Don't you hear me?"-Buggy said in low angry voice

Buggy get very pissed and he have a scary expression. The thugs tremble seeing him and they take a step back.

"Fi-5 millions, and with the interest, it have turned into 7 million, pecco."-Pecco

"Cricket, take the money! And you, call that son of a b*tch to come here!"-Buggy

Cricket nod and go to take the money on their ship. Pecco also send Tito to call Wisco here.

"What are you doing? This is my business, don't meddle on it!"-Mantis grab Buggy's collar

"It's also my business you know."-Buggy

"Huh? How so?"-Mantis

"I asked you to be my crew's cheff right? That's why i will pay your debt, so now your debt is on me. To pay that debt, you will need to be my crew's cheff? It's better than being that guy's wife right?"-Buggy grin

Mantis widen her eyes at Buggy's reason.

"Why? Why'd you really want me to be your crew's cheff, to the point where you're willing to pay my debt?"-Mantis lower her head

"Because my crew's health is important. We don't know what will happen on the sea, and we can get sick anytime. Good food with balanced nutrition will make us healthier & stronger, and good food come from a good cheff."-Buggy

"Tch, i said i don't like pirates, right? Even if you pay my debt, i won't be a pirate. I will pay my debt slowly to you."-Mantis

"You shouldn't judge everyone with black & white, lady! You shouldn't judge all pirates to be the same and hate them all. You don't even know me pesonally, so how could you hate me just because i'm a pirate?"-Buggy

"That's-"-Mantis

"Wait! Let's continue this talk later, the guest have come."-Buggy

A group of people in black dress suits walk toward them. Buggy look at them, and count that there are roughly 50 people there. In front of them is a fat man in red leather suit and wear red leather hat. He ride a big black dog that growl all the time.

"Wisco."-Mantis have a disgusted expression

"Oh my beloved Mantis, you're still beautiful like usual. It seem now you will really be my bride, darling."-Wisco

"Tch, in your dream!"-Mantis

"Aah~, that disgusted expression, i can't have enough of it. It will be very exciting to tame you, a~h~."-Wisco have perverted expression

Buggy is flabbergasted, and he look at Mantis while pointing at Wisco.

"Don't ask!"-Mantis

".... Okay."-Buggy

"So you're the one who will pay her debt? You look poor, can you really pay it?"-Wisco

"Well, just wait and- Ah, you don't need to wait, the money is here."-Buggy

Cricket have arrived with a black case filled with money. Cricket give it to Buggy, and Buggy check it. He nod and throw the case in front of Wisco. Wisco check it, and he click his tongue.

"7 million, cash. Now our business end here, so get lost!"-Buggy grin

"I refuse it! She need to pay the debt by herself."-Wisco throw the money case back

"Sigh, so that's what you want."-Buggy

"What should we do, Captain?"-Cricket

"What else, we finish what we started."-Buggy grin

"Sounds good to me."-Cricket also grin

______________________________________________________________

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