CHAPTER 2

"Hey Hughie?" Through the sounds of the ocean, my voice broke through. The poor bastard that I safely acquired yesterday is still a heaving mess of fear, shock and maybe a slight bit of PTSD. His eyes are so clouded he looks like he's dead already.

Calling out his name pulled him out of whatever trance he was in though. Snapping him back to reality like a whip to a horse.

"H-Huh?" His tone stiff, mimicking his posture. Rest my chin in my hand, I observed the hunk of meat and found it fun to do so. He acts like a frightened puppy.

"Since you're a pirate and basically my first bounty I've collected... Do you know where I go to turn you in for money? I'm a little lost." I could feel the shock practically burst out of him as he stiffly shot a look in my direction.

"You can't seriously believe I'm going to help you put me in jail for a measly fifty-thousand beli! I'd rather die!"

"You're going to die regardless if you tell me, there's no escaping that. Whatever I did to you back there, the Marines would probably do worse." Shrugging, I lay back. What I said wasn't a lie. The Marines are merciless assholes who probably torture pirates for fun on their days off.

Whether or not Hughie tells me what I want to know doesn't really matter. I'll find it eventually. Glancing back over to the man of the hour himself, I found that he was shaking in his black, steel pointed toe boots.

For a pirate who takes lives he's quite the coward.

I don't know what he expected awaited him when I hand him over for the money. Whatever it was, what I just said brought him down to earth. 'A pirate crew and a reputation and he still has happy go lucky idea's?'

Half-scoffing half-laughing, I focus back on the clouds. My boat creaked and groaned like it was crying in pain. A small wave was like torture to this little thing. I guess I was a little rough with it this time around... Eh, I always expected this to happen anyway.

This things shitty.

"...I-If I don't tell you, are you going to be the reason I die?" Hughie finally spoke up, pulling me out of my idea's about getting a new boat with whatever money I had left over after a meal. My stomach never once let me forget about how empty it was. It was painfully obvious that my mood was worsening by the second.

Sighing, "Dude. I'm going to be the reason you show up limbless if you don't tell me. Just spare us both the interrogation process so we can be on our way. Fuck." I snapped, glaring at him as my stomach gave a low growl.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Hughie shook with either fear or acceptance. I couldn't care- No, I didn't care.

"A-any Marine base would be acceptable I think... I've usually avoided these types of situations so I don't know much surrounding it." He paused, sneaking a glance in my direction. He shriveled back in fear and gulped it down.

"A-and the closest one to us is at Shells Town. It's due east of where we are now and it shouldn't take us long to get there. Especially with your... abilities." Flashing a fake smile, I patted the old hoot on his back, making him stiffen even more.

"Oh come on~ Relax! I'm not going to kill you! Your head's worth less if its not functional!" Laughing heartily at my own words, I stood up and kicked my foot in the water. I'd rather make this quick, my stomach is killing me.

'Yeah... I'm never waiting this long to eat again.'

...

It didn't take long to find the island he mentioned. Especially when he seemed so enthusiastic about getting there. Maybe he had a change of heart and realized that maybe... Maybe being a pirate wasn't such a good idea!

Yeah, that has to be it!

Docking my boat at the designated place, Hughie stood up with great vigor, his back was as straight as a pole. I cocked an eyebrow at his weird behavior but all I got in response was a unsure chuckle. This man is quite strange.

"Now that we're here. I'm guessing those towers in the back is where I go to turn you in? Or is there more to this process?" I question the prisoner, dragging him by his hair. The onlookers- well, looked at my actions and wore conflicted expressions.

I ignored them, obviously.

*GRRRRMBL*

Patting my roaring stomach, I sighed.

"Msh! Ysh jsh gsh Pwa!"

"Huh? The hell was that?" Due to the fact his face was being dragged through the mud, his words became coherent. That wouldn't have happened if he was short! See? Being tall isn't all that amazing!

"Oh, yeah. Oops." Turning him over on his ass, I dragged him from his hair like before, but this time his tush was the one being scarred. Grunting through the pain, Hughie spat out the sand in his mouth.

"Pwah! Pwah! Ugh... Yes, just keep heading over there. You'll find someone standing at the entrance of the facility. From there, you'll get your bounty!"

"Mm." Nodding, I took in the surrounding buildings, it's people and it's roads. Checking the sky every once in awhile as well. Something feels off but I can't put my finger on it. I don't know if it's this town in general... Or the people who inhabit it.