Chapter 17 - Puppeteer Part 1

Roshwan island, is a relatively large island compared to other islands of South-Blue waters. It is situated not too far from the Calm Belt and likewise from the Reverse Mountain's entrance. The Roshwan Kingdom is a city-like area located to the south of the island, occupying one-third of its landmass, and home to nearly one million citizens.

Other than the city area, it has many palm trees and cabanas, just like what you would expect from a tropical island.

The Roshwan Kingdom is affiliated with the World Government and thus holds a marine branch apparently to protect the citizens from notorious pirates. Ironically, almost all South-Blue ships, especially pirate ships, pass through to stock up on supplies for the Grand Line, since Roshwan Kingdom is in a convenient location very close to Reverse Mountain, just out of sight of the Red Line.

The 6th Branch Base is a Marine Base, and the seat of the 6th Marine Branch in South-Blue. It is located at the edge of the city near the coast, and is commanded by a Marine Captain named Leonas.

At this moment a seven feet tall, handsome young man wearing a black-colored turtleneck shirt under a midriff-exposing flak jacket, black pants and black shoes stood in front of its entrance holding what appeared to be a cotton bag. The bag appeared to hold something round inside and had drops of red liquid dripping down from its bottom corner.

Although his appearance looked handsome, the people walking nearby seemed to avoid him as if he was a dangerous animal.

"Hey, isn't that the pirate slayer Victor. Look at what he's carrying… I bet it's a head of another pirate…" one of the citizens nearby whispered to the person next to him.

"That's him. Look at the appearance. There isn't a single drop of blood on his clothes, as if he takes a shower then wash his clothes every time he comes with a decapitated head to collect bounty money." The other person next to him responded.

*BANG!!*

The entrance door of the marine base opened abruptly, and two Seaman wearing standard marine uniforms hurriedly walked out.

Before Victor could speak, one of the seamen ran right in front of him, "Victor… Victor the slayer… we've been searching all across the South-Blue for you for over half a year now." He spoke while showing a face full of excitement and relief.

Victor became confused and even forgot to present the pirate's head, "Me? What does the marine want with me...?" he asked. It was not because of the question that he forgot about Black Anchor captain's head, but because he had a feeling that his plan could finally begin.

"You… Do you know how much effort we put in, searching for you? Please come inside with us. Captain Leonas wants to meet you, ASAP!" The other seaman also came running, then spoke while standing too close for Victor's comfort.

Taking a half step back, "Find me? Am I being arrested or something?", Victor asked, already noticing another, a decently stronger aura slowly approaching the gate from inside the base.

And just as he asked, a heavy voice came from inside, "If we arrest you, it is us who would be sent to prison, instead of you."

Victor followed the voice. He saw a middle-aged, tall, muscular man with tanned skin and blue hair, walking in his direction. "Captain Leonas… We-We were just about to escort Victor-"

"That's ok men. You may leave and let me speak with our young friend here." The muscular man, now named Leonas, said giving a gentle smile that gave Victor a weird chill down his back. Like most of the captain-ranked marines, he also wears a marine coat, with a dark green button-up shirt under it.

"Un… Y-Yes sir…" The two seamen quickly ran inside leaving Leonas and Victor, and the severed head of one certain pirate.

"Will you follow me inside, friend? There are too many onlookers here and that bloody looking bag I presume is another pirate head." Leonas asked standing next to Victor.

"Victor nodded with an "Umm…", but before walking, "Will you at least tell me a little bit about what's happening… I'm just a small time bounty hunter… For you marines to get worked up like this… I'm worried… did somebody frame me or something? Is this an ambush?" While he spoke, the acting skills he never knew he had, had kicked in. His facial expression changed from calm to worried, then to vigilance.

"Hahaha," Leonas started laughing, "I can promise you we have not arranged an ambush nor are we going to do something like arrest you. But we do have something very, very important to talk about."

"Important...?" Victor didn't take a step forward, still showing an expression of hesitation.

"Ok... Ok... Victor… can I call you Victor?" Leonas asked.

Victor nodded, to which Leonas continued, "somebody very important wants to meet you. I don't know why, but it's definitely not for bad intentions… *Sigh* Six months ago-"

"Ok... Ok... let's go inside and talk…" Victor interrupted, confirming his speculation.

"…"

"... Yes… let us go inside… And please bring 'that' with you." He pointed the bag beside Victor.

-A few minutes later

"So, mister… Leonas, what were you going to tell me?" Victor asked Leonas, who was now sitting in front of him, behind a large wooden desk. They were now inside the marine base at the office base in charge's office.

"Yes, well… It all started two years ago when we got report of a gruesome crime on an island southwest from here." As Leonas spoke he observed Victor's expression that suddenly changed into anger, then fury.

"This is the kid alright…" Leonas thought but didn't say it aloud.

"I'm sorry son, to make you remember something unpleasant …" He said, followed by a sigh, then continued, "after a thorough investigation, we found out that it was the work of "The Black Anchor Pirates." A group of lowkey pirate thugs who we assumed were just petty criminals.

We connected the genocide to a serial massacre that had been happening every few years, but we had yet to find the culprits. It was only after this case we found them to be the perpetrators behind the serial massacre of small villages. The Black Anchor Pirates."

Seeing that Victor didn't want to speak, he continued, "We found a survivor this time, after inspecting two fresh graves, and by the writing left behi-"

"Mother… Father…" interrupted Victor, murmuring, along with misty eyes.

His drama had started, and there's no stopping now.

"Yes… It was your mother and father's grave, that you made… I'm sorry to make you remember it…

Next, we sent all the information we had gathered, to the headquarters. At the same time, began our search for the group, The Black Anchor Pirates.

But.

We were never able to locate them.

Days passed, after one and a half years, that's six months ago, we suddenly received an urgent phone call from the headquarters. It was Chief Instructor Zephyr. He inquired about the case, and especially asked about you. He ordered us to invest all available off duty manpower, in to searching for you." Leonas explained.

Victor smiled inwardly but didn't break character.

His face showed a puzzled expression, "Why would an Admiral, want to find me, a nobody?"

"Yes, that... Well... When admiral zephyr inquired about you, we were also a bit puzzled… We assumed you escaped… or survived. We never found your body, and… the South-Blue Sea is big... We didn't have the resources…

Any way… Now that we had orders from HQ, we allocated more… to finding your whereabouts… Some days later, a few of my men noticed the familiar name that had been spreading, one year after the 'Kani' island massacre. Victor… Victor the Slayer... Every time he kills a bunch of pirates, he would leave a 'V' shape sign, the same sign on the headstones of your mother and father...

Five months ago, we went to inspect the remains of a pirate group… It had your signature sign 'V', while on that same island, from a guest house logbook we found a similar name, 'Victor.' We interviewed the receptionist, and that's when we further connected both of your appearances and concluded.

Victor Von Doom is Victor the Slayer."

Leonas paused, but after seeing no inquiry from Victor, he continued, "we informed admiral Zephyr, and mentioned that you were now a bounty hunter roaming around South-Blue… Catching pirates… Claiming bounty."

Leonas explained everything, and Victor listened to the events he had orchestrated, to this day.

"You still haven't told me what a Marine Admiral want with me... I am just a 15-year-old boy, born to a couple who lived on a remote island where it didn't have even a marine branch base."

*Cough* Well Admiral Zephyr… I mean Instructor Zephyr did not mention the reason. He only ordered us to find you, and to inform him as soon as we do so." His words finished, and the moment opened a drawer on his desk.

*TUK*

It was a familiar-looking little animal, although calling it just an animal would be an understatement. He placed the Transponder Snail on top of the table and dialled a number.

*Buru Buru* Buru Buru—*

*Cachah*

The other end of the line picked up, followed by a low voice, "Did you get any new information?"