Games

After stating their objectives, Hancock, Luffy, and the Supreme Five moved to complete them. The first thing they needed to know was Felix's past. They went into town to find clues. 

"We have to ask people who were here 20 years ago when he first came here. Preferably those who aren't a part of the singular presence." 

Frantz laid down their action plan. 

"That's easier said than done." 

"What do you mean, Astrid?" 

Everyone turned to Astrid. 

"I don't know if you guys haven't realized, but most of those who share a singular presence are on the older side. It's why we believe it's some kind of phenomenon that occurs when you're on the island long enough." 

"Oh, shit. He's right. The majority of the elders on the island share a singular presence." 

Jessie said. 

"But it's not like it's only old people, a lot of people our age share a presence as well." 

Caria interjected. 

"Then it's not an age thing? Ah! This is confusing!" 

Luka shouted. Hancock turned to Luffy. 

"Are you okay, Luffy? Are you following what's going on?" 

"Nope. However, when we need to punch something, I'll be ready. Just point me to the bad guy and I'll handle the rest." 

"How assertive~!" 

Hancock was lovestruck while Caria shook her head. 

"Is there anybody who fits the criteria we need?" 

Luka asked. Everyone thought about it for some time, before Jessie spoke up. 

"I know one." 

"You guys want to know more about Felix?" 

The gang was inside Tiffany's, the tavern owned by the money-loving waitress Kelly. They were talking to her about the past. 

"This is about the mayor's death, huh?" 

Kelly wore a face of anguish. 

"Do you guys think he did it?" 

"No, but we need to know what's going on. We believe if we look into the sheriff's past, we'll find the answers." 

Caria spoke to Kelly as she sat on a chair in front of everybody. 

"I see. Then what would you like to know?" 

"Do you remember when he first arrived?" 

Frantz asked the first question. 

"I do. He arrived on a ship with Tate, who was the leader of the Supreme Five of his generation. Tate introduced him as a mercenary he met in the Grandline. He said they went after the same pirate crew, fought for a bit, and became friends over beer. Other than that, I don't know anything about what he did or where he came from before arriving." 

"What kind of person was the sheriff back then?" 

Astrid asked. 

"Hmm, I would say a lot like Jessie but smarter. Meaning, he was wild and loved to fight. He and Tate would fight over the simplest things. The sheriff would win most of the time though." 

"Then, do you remember when people on the island started sharing a presence?" 

Caria asked. 

Kelly didn't answer immediately. She pondered for a bit before answering. 

"I don't when it exactly started but I noticed around 15 years ago when I learned Haki. When I asked about it, no one could provide an answer." 

"What about Felix? Did you ever hear him say anything about it?" 

"He did. He said it was creepy he suddenly shared a presence with other people and actively searched for ways to cut the link. He gave up after 3 years when he became Sheriff." 

(Then is it a coincidence or was he just acting?) 

Hancock thought. 

"How did Felix become Sheriff?" 

Jessie suddenly asked. 

"I just realized I haven't met any of the previous Supreme Five, the former sheriff, or the last mayor." 

"Now that you mention it, you're right." 

Caria agreed with him. 

"That makes sense since their existence was purposely erased from the minds of the new generation." 

Kelly answered. 

"Why?" 

"The Scarlett Night Incident." 

"What's that?" 

Jessie and everybody else wore confused expressions. Kelly paused for a bit before answering. 

"12 years ago the then mayor, Sheriff, and Supreme Five minus Tate were slaughtered in one night." 

"?!" 

Shock stained everybody's faces. 

"Something like that happened? It's the first I've heard about it." 

Frantz mumbled. 

(Tate never mentioned anything about that. I also didn't find anything about that when I was gathering information.) 

"From the way this conversation is going, is it safe to say it was Tate and Felix who killed their predecessors." 

Hancock's words drew everyone's attention. Kelly nodded with a serious expression. 

"Wait, why?" 

Luka asked frantically. 

"It's because the previous mayor plotted with the Supreme Five and the sheriff to gain independence from the World Government." 

"?!" 

(That's exactly like what we were planning!) 

Frantz looked at his comrades and they were all thinking the same thing. 

"Were they opposed to it that badly? I mean, did they need to kill them?" 

Hancock spoke when the others couldn't. 

"They didn't kill them just because they wanted independence. The former regime wanted to declare war against the World Government. Tate and Felix argued if they do that, it will result in the island's destruction. They plead they should take a cautious route and lay in wait for a chance to break away. The previous regime rejected their plan. They said they rather die fighting of their own will than die being dogs of the government." 

"I kinda agree with that." 

Luffy said and Jessie nodded. 

"Well, Tate and Felix didn't agree. The island was on the verge of a civil war between those who agreed with them and those who agreed with the previous regime." 

Kelly grimaced. 

"In order to prevent us from killing each other, Tate and Felix challenged the previous regime to a death battle. The winner will take control of the island. It was 6 vs 2, the island's strongest clashed under a full moon. Before sunrise, Tate and Felix had dyed the night in the blood of the previous regime. That's how they became Mayor and Sheriff." 

"Wow...Something like that happened." 

Jessie mumbled. 

"Then is history simply repeating itself?" 

"What do you mean?" 

Kelly responded to Luka's mumbles. He was immediately dismissive. 

"Don't worry about it. I just misspoke." 

(We learn more about Tate and Felix's time on the island, but not before...We also haven't discovered why people share a presence.) 

Frantz thought. 

"We learn a lot but not enough-" 

Hancock's eyes flashed red. 

"Everybody, brace yourself!" 

The door of the tavern was ripped to pieces as bullets flew into the building. Hancock hardened her body with Haki. The bullets bounced off her body. Her eyes widened when she saw something get thrown inside the building. It was a bundle of grenades tied together. 

"Bombs!" 

The grenades exploded and spikes flew at them. Her eyes flashed red. She moved through the spikes and reached the door. As she stepped outside, a click reached her ears. She was swallowed up in an explosion. The explosion destroyed the entrance of the tavern. 

"Ugh!" 

Hancock flew out of the flames. She scanned the area with bloodshot eyes. There were countless people around her looking in confusion. 

(They blended with the crowd.) 

She clicked her tongue. 

(This presence sharing thing is messing with Observation Haki.) 

She clenched her fists. 

"Would it be faster to start kicking everybody who shares a presence?" 

"You can't do that." 

Caria and everybody else came out of the tavern. None of them had suffered any injuries. 

"Until we figure out what's going on we can't go around attacking people." 

Hancock took a deep breath and relaxed. 

"Those attacks just now were most likely a provocation. After all, there's no way they could've taken us out." 

Frantz spoke as he examined the ground that exploded. 

"It's safe to say whoever is behind everything is playing with us." 

He clenched his fist. 

"Arrogant bastard." 

"Arrogant? I beg to differ." 

Someone was in the crowd watching Hancock and the others. 

"I'm not arrogant, I'm just playing by Felix's rules." 

They exited the crowd without anyone noticing. 

"He wants to reveal everything and give you all a fighting chance, so I'm going to play the role of the evil mastermind and disrupt you every chance I get." 

They walked past a shop window and they "switched" to someone else. 

"Unlike La Parca, I have no issue playing around. After all, playing a game is more fun than silently getting rid of everybody. A lot more flare, a lot more festive." 

They spun in the streets while laughing, yet no one noticed them. 

"This is so exciting! I wonder why I'm so worked up?!" 

They skipped and vanished into thin air. However, their voice lingered. 

"Well, I am El Nino. Maybe that's the reason."