:)Ch51

This seems like the deal of a freaking lifetime and I almost raise my hand up to click [ACCEPT]….but that cost though. Talk about nothing ever coming for free. Am I really going to permanently commit to a cause just for a little immediate gratification? Just to earn some shiny metaphorical new toys?

"Jack? Are you still in there? Helloooo" Korka waves his hand playfully in front of my face, his inebriated state back in control. "I know it's a big decision." he says while patting me on the back. "You can take a day to think about it if you like?"

My mouth opens to say that I will but the words get stuck. I can't lie to him when I already know what my answer is.

"No... I'm sorry Korka. I won't claim to know what my future holds. Shit, I don't even know what I'll be doing two weeks from today when our four months is up. I won't say it's impossible that I'll sign up with you guys one day…but not right now. I value my independence just a bit too much. I'd rather discover my own cause than sell myself to someone else's." The Zoan user frowns but I can see in his face that this was the answer he was expecting. He lets loose a heavy sigh and shakes his head despondently, "Yeah. That's what I thought you'd say."

"Come on." I say with an offered hand. "Let's get you back inside. Maybe you can sleep off at least a little of this liquor before the sun gets up."

Centaurea, Revolutionary Base

"Sixteen kegs of gunpowder."

I remove the items two at a time from my [Inventory] and hand them off. "Check."

"Eight bolts of cloth."

I extract each roll one by one."Check."

"Seventy-two pairs of socks." "Yep. All in here." I say, pulling out a mid-size box.

Korka reaches the end of his list. "And finally, five cases of standard rifle shot."

"Way ahead of you boss." I announce, stacking the heavy chests on top of each other.

"Well...I guess that's everything then." My employer speaks almost sadly as he rolls up the record of everything I was storing for him. There's a brief pause as we look at each other. Neither of us sure what to say next.

"You sure I can't convince you otherwise?" He finally blurts out. "Almost everyone else has agreed to extend their contracts."

I shake my head with a smile. "Sorry. No dice. Four months was plenty. Time to move on."

"Y'know, technically Its not been four months until Monday." Korka teases lightly as he shakes the thick envelope in his hand. "I can still keep this for a few days and not be breaking our agreement."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "If you feel the need to dock my pay for the missed time then go ahead. It'll only be a few thousand."

For a moment I can see the man's actually considering the idea but he dismisses it just as quickly with his own shake of the head. "Nah. You've earned it. Especially with all the extra cargo we carried with that power of yours. Take it."

+2,000,000 Beri!

Korka watches me stash the manila package into my coat and smiles wanly. "Are you really sure I can't convince you to stay? If it's about money we can negotiate. How does an 8% bump sound? 2.7 million for another four months on my ship?"

I extend my hand instead. "Best of luck Korka." The revolutionary stares at my hand. "How about two months, 1.5 million."

"Korka..."

"Oh fine fine. Be that way." he complains as he completes the handshake. "Still, at least let me get your snail number. As you know I make it a point to have a long list of contacts on this ocean. You do have one right?"

"Hmm. Well," I extract the blue gastropod that I took off of Blackjack. "I have this little guy. Don't really know what his number is though."

"Oh that's easy." Korka says as he lifts the snail and points to the underside of the receiver. "Its dependent on the model sometimes, but usually you can find the number etched here on the bottom of the- wait. Pause! Were you keeping a living creature in storage with your Devil Fruit powers? Not something that was dead, but an actual living thing?"

"...it's just a snail." "Doesn't he need food! Water! Fresh air!"

"Umm...no?"

Korka stares at me in bewilderment before breaking out into uproarious laughter. "I'll admit I've heard of some crazy abilities on this sea but that right there might just be the strangest." Korka writes down the number on a notepad and returns the snail to my care. "Okay okay. Last question. If you keep that fella locked away most of the time, how can you tell when someone is calling you?"

'Uhhh... shoot. That is a good question.'

Would you like to be notified when this [Den-Den Mushi] receives a call?

'Oh thank god. Yes please.'

Request Acknowledged!

"I just can." I shrug to Korka's inquiry. "Fruit powers are wonky like that. I'm sure you can somewhat relate." That manages to get a small rueful chuckle from the man. "Well you're certainly not wrong about that. First time I transformed...gosh, what a mess it was...Well. Guess this is it Jack. Where you off to next?"

I hummed to myself, "Vacation most likely. Probably go find a sunny beach somewhere and lay on it for a few days. Just turn my brain off for awhile. After that, maybe I'll work in a trip to my hometown."

"And where's that?"

"Eh, it's a pretty tiny village. I doubt you'll have heard of it.

The revolutionary laughs as though I just issued a challenge. "I've sailed over every square mile of South Blue Parker. Try me."

"Kivuruk Isle."

His expression widens only slightly, "Kivuruk? Wow you really are from the middle of nowhere aren't you? Hmm, lets see… Kivuruk...Kivuruk..." Korka scans the line of ships in the harbor and then points at one in particular. "See that one there? If I'm not mistaken they should be heading in that general direction. It won't quite take you home but it'll at least get you close."

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