Post by BlacKitten on Jun 6, 2015 16:29:05 GMT -5
Mission #132
On Jreum Island, the Sticky Pirates have managed to sneak past your defenses. They've invaded Command and are holding a large amount of Recruits hostage. The Captain is requesting all of your treasure and, if you don't comply, he will start killing off hostages every three minutes. The Captain of the Sticky crew is the infamous 23,000,000 Bounty, cruel and brute "Professor" Jeremy B. Black known for his well executed traps he is not to be taken lightly.
A grey blanket of stormy clouds covered the heavens, ominous and heavy-looking. Wind blew swiftly, violently, and unexpectedly in direction; manipulating the waters to crash into the shores. Not a single droplet of rain had fallen yet, but it was long anticipated that a storm would soon bestow them. Most of the marine ships were anchored by the only dock on the island of the Business block, playing it safe by not venturing into the deep seas as of now.
The depressing weather had many off the streets, taking shelter from the non-existent rain. In a small plaza where merchants and civilians dwelled, he settled upon a stool with his feet off the floor. Directly across from the small round table was an empty seat, but a steaming cup of tea settled on a little round plate on that end, much like the teacup on his end. Staring blankly out the window, a black-haired adolescent leaned his face against a palm with the elbow pressing on the tabletop. His protective black vest and minor metallic armory around the forearms and shins made him more distinctive than everyone else around him.
Soon, an energetic girl sprinted back to her stool across from him with vibrant violet eyes glaring at the side of his head. Her arms wavered at her side, “Pluto! Big news!”
“Hmm?” His own eyes darted towards his little sister with an uninterested expression, “What is it?”
“You know how this island is flooded with marines?” she started off with a question to set the mood.
“There’s a marine headquarter that practically rules this place,” he shared his knowledge to prove that he did knew the existence of marines that he had seen patrolling around since their arrival. Although, lately there hadn’t been much sight of them, but he assumed they had important duties of their self-proclaimed justice to attend to such as capturing criminals.
Rebecca nodded before continuing, “Yes, and the Sticky Pirates have taken many marines soldiers as hostage. The higher ups probably didn’t want the public to know about this, so this mostly spread around as just rumors. But they can’t really hide it; the pirates are here on this island after all.” While away, she had overheard private conversations. Many were concerned that their source of protection was being successfully threatened.
There was something rather intriguing about this news, and the fact that it was occurring right now at this island made it more psychologically impactful. It was almost as if it mattered to him. “That’s quite clever. Normally, pirates would just attack on sight of any marines that opposes them, but I’ve never actually heard about pirates taking marines as hostages. That’s quite strategic of them,” he praised the pirate crew for using their brains for once. “Still,” a question hatched into his thoughts, “what do they want in exchange for the hostages’ lives?”
“Treasure,” the younger one answered with a single word. Afterwards, she lifted her cup, gently blowing the steam away before taking a soft sip of tea.
“That’s quite traditional. I wonder how this will play out,” he treated the news as merely a form of entertainment. If an entire marine base as large as this one couldn’t handle the situation well enough, their reputation shall go down the drain.
“I didn’t fine a bounty poster, but…,” she paused to pile up the suspense, “the captain has a bounty on his head that is worth 23, 000, 000 beri.” Still, the last bounty that her brother unintentionally captured was worth 35 million, and on top of that, Scarlette –their new ally- killed the first mate whose bounty was 18 million. Their financial status remained in the green zone, and it will stay in that zone for quite some time. They were in no desperate need for money.
“Are you perhaps trying to persuade me into getting involved?” he questioned the girl’s intentions. It wasn’t like her to be interested in money. To go so far in telling him all this, there seemed to be something that bothered her.
With a saddened expression, she nodded slowly, “For every three minutes that the captain doesn’t get what he wants, a hostage will be killed.” Her fingers curled into fists, “I don’t want any more lives to be taken away. Pluto, please stop them.”
Death was something he had hidden from her eyes for a very long time. To keep her untainted by the world’s evil side and to protect that kind innocence, he dirtied his own hands in blood just for her sake. She had never made such a huge request before in the past, but for her to accept the risks of endangering her own brother into this matter, she had faith in his skills. Rebecca had watched him train and grow in strength; she was always with him. However, there were many secrets that even she did not know about him. Siblings as they may be, they only met each other two years ago. Growing up in different environments, the two of them had polar opposite personalities and views, yet they stuck together, keeping a mutual balance.