Post by Sam on Feb 8, 2020 21:22:00 GMT -5
Karakuri Island - Grand Line - Flamingo Route
The Catch
It was cold. Plane and simple! It was a fact! It was freezing cold. Of course, that was to be expected in Karakuri Island a place that was stuck in a perpetual winter state. Not that a certain Tengu named Gen really mind... the grey skies shrouded the much-dreaded sun which would annoying for the Tengu's sensitive skin. But there was more to Karakuri Island than just ice and snow! It was the island of progress!
Apparently, some old bloke by the name of Doctor Vegapunk came from! Coming from Wano, Gen had absolutely no idea who this Doctor Vegapunk fellow was but from what he had heard he had made some crazy contraptions and helped out the millions worldwide. Or so he had been told by the sailors whom he came with to this island. Why had he come? It was simple really! After leaving Wano, Gen had simply been drifting from Island to Island with no real purpose in mind other than to catch baddies. However, in this case, he actually was after a particularly bounty.
The Tengu continued trudging through the snow until he arrived at a settlement from which warm yellow lights radiated keeping it bright. Before he went in he looked down at a bounty poster bumping into his nose as he'd pulled it too close. After looking over it for about a second he walked in forward and into an inn. The outside was made of bright chrome-like metal and the door had a pair of blast doors that opened on their own which took the Tengu off guard. But in he went into the warmth of the inn for they were places where information could easily be gathered.
Moments before Gen enter the Inn...
An anchovy Fishman sat on a table peacefully drinking some liquor as he counted a couple of million beri maliciously. Little did he know two good for nothing mooks were watching him a couple of tables away. Men about seven feet in height dressed in a black tuxedo with bald head... the typical meatheaded henchmen a mob boss usually kept around. After looking at the small Fishman for a while they nodded at each other and began to approach him. The Fishman who was counting his money stopped in his tracks when he noticed he was being deprived of light by two looming shadows. He looked up only to see the two henchmen.
"Hehe... Hi gentlemen how can I help?"
The Fishman said with a sheepish smile. The two henchmen just grunted as one picked him up by the collar of his shirt.
"Hey watch it! What's the meaning of this!?"
The Fishman waved his arms around frantically as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The whole Inn stood still simply staring at the scene that was happening. One of the two henchmen finally spoke up.
"You know what the deal is... you owe boss big time!"
The Fishman began to panic for real this time. He knew what was up, he had borrowed money from the local mafia about a year ago and now they were coming back for it. He didn't exactly have the money available at the moment to pay them back either! One thing was certain... he was in hot water... very very hot water. That's when Gen came in. The chrome blast doors opened up to let a certain Tengu in the sound of his wooden shoes clasping against the ground as he walked on the chrome floor. The Henchmen and the Fishman looked over at the odd red-man who looked out of place for the location. Gen reached into his coat pulling out a poster with the anchovy Fishman's face on it.
"Conman Octavius Rex! Wanted with a 7,500,000 bounty! Charges include but aren't limited to Theft, bank robbery, extortion, counterfeiting, exchange of illegal goods, and smuggling."
He placed the poster away. Placing it back into his coat. The Tengu then placed his hand over his sword's hilt. His intent was clear... the whole Inn still remaining silent at the bounty hunter. The henchmen holding Octavius dropped him on the ground and began to approach the slowly and loomed over him. The other henchman did the same. Gen simply stood still not budging it was clear he had no intent in backing off. He had tracked this bounty down and it was going to be his despite its small size! Seeing the Tengu was not budging one of the henchmen shot a punch at breakneck speeds headed toward the Tengu but to his surprise, he had missed. The Tengu flailed like a drunk man which had made him impossible to hit... his body had moved like paper. Drunken Stupor, Gen had used one of his techniques to dodge the attack. The Henchman was left baffled! This time he sent a flurry of blows at high speeds all of which completely missed the Tengu every single one being dodged with ease as his body flailed about like a piece of paper.
fwing
A sagittal cut appeared in the man's chest blood lightly dripping out. The Henchman fell his mouth agape... still breathing but with his tongue sticking out like a beast. He fell onto the ground with a loud thud as Gen moved out of the way of his falling body. The other henchman upon seeing his comrade fall immediately react going for a tackle! Something Gen couldn't even attempt to dodge. He pushed the Tengu into a table breaking it into various splintered pieces. A surge of pain went down the Tengu's back as he gritted his teeth. He shoved the man off with one of his legs sending him a few steps back and getting him enough time to stand on his feet. This time he jumped up landing atop the inn's bar table. The Henchman tried grappling the Tengu but alas! Gen had the higher ground! In an instant, Gen grabbed a beer barrel on the table.
"IMPROVISED ATTACK!"
He yelled as he shoved the barrel's bottom on the man's head! The barrel crashed open! The man's big dome-shaped head was now stuck inside the barrel in a comical fashion. Using this distraction Gen kicked the man's head sending him a few steps back! The henchman's head rattled inside of the barrel disorienting him. Gen then jumped at him kicking him in the gut as a final blow leaving the henchman's body covered in liquor twitching on the ground.
"You."
Gen pointed his long red slender finger at Octavius the anchovy Fishman who was now shivering in the corner after witnessing the beat down the Tengu had just dished out.
"You are coming with me..."
The Theft
Outside in the freezing cold once more! The Tengu stood but this time he had company as Octavius was next to him tied up by some chains. He had been Gen's catch fair and square! Now it was his job to deliver this catch the nearest Marine agency. Now... there came the problem the nearest Marine agency was actually on the other side of the island which would be an arduous trek on foot. If it was even possible to do on foot seeing as the quickest route to arrive had a large frozen lake over it much of which was covered in thick ice... even so, trekking on ice on foot was no laughing matter. Lucky for the Tengu the island had a chain of snowmobiles that connected many of the barren stretches the islands.
"Can we move? It's too cold out here!"
Said the geeky Fishman, it was true! It was too cold! But Gen didn't mind it and he wasn't particularly fond of accommodating criminals he caught. The Tengu was about to open his mouth to insult Octavius but stopped in his tracks instead of opting to grumble under his breath. He tugged on Octavius' chain and they began to move through the city. The odd scene caught the eye of many spectators! It wasn't every day you saw a Tengu tugging a geeky Fishman through a frozen wasteland of a town. Especially in a place like Karakuri island which found itself covered in thick layers of ice which made ship arrivals difficult thus making the weirdness influx a minimum compared to other grand-line islands.
As Gen made his way through the bustling streets of the town minding his own business he was unaware of the watchful eye not too far away. His actions had consequences... interfering in the actions of a local mafia where no laughing matter especially around these parts. The ice barrier meant fewer pirates but it also meant a greater unity within the community that was a gateway into organized crime. As community crimelords would rush in to get a hold on any underground business that would get them easy cash.
Gen finally arrived at the snowmobile station. It seemed similar to a makeshift train station made of chrome and steel with a shiny tile floor underneath. Next to the station many red-colored snowmobiles where parked. The Tengu approached one being manned by a... a bear? It was a polar bear mink. That was the first time Gen had ever met a bear a talking one! One that big! Was it an Onikuma? Ah well, no matter! Yokai were everywhere in this wild world! Meeting Miu had shown him as much. Gen reached into his coat and pulled out a couple of Beri handing it to the Polar Bear. He then bowed before speaking.
"Oh, great Onikuma! Take us to the Marine establishment on this island."
The polar bear mink nodded taking Gen's cash and gesturing the Tengu to take a seat along with his captive. These snowmobiles were a new thing to Gen he had only heard about them from talking to some locals. He wondered how this sled-like device could move without the help of sled-dogs or other beasts. That's when the bear ignited the engine of the machine! It's rumbling taking the Tengu off guard as the headlights of the machine lit up and the trio sped off into the distance.
A few moments later...
"You guys what!? Unbelievable! How could you fail me like this!?"
The voice of a large round man boomed! His body was shaped like a balloon. His arms and legs thin like noodles which really made you question how it was possible for his frame to be held up. The large man sat behind a desk as the two Henchmen that had been beaten up by Gen earlier stood.
"Sorry boss... he was just too strong!"
"Please forgive us Don Palloncino!!!"
The balloon-shaped man... Don Palloncino rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"No matter. I'll just have to call Dennis and capture this red-man you speak of... he is probably headed toward the Marine base as we speak."
Don Palloncino dialed a number on his Den Den Mushi. The device rang for a bit until someone answered on the other end.
"Yes?"
A calm voice with a vague southern drawl answered.
"Ah! Dennis my favorite customer!"
"What is it Palloncino?"
"Oh uh... yea I need you to take someone out... I suspect they are in the ice flats right now headed toward the Marine base. I'll pay you a couple of million Beri to get the job done I just need you to bring a weakling back alive. You'll see what I mean when you get there."
"Consider it done."
"Oh uh... tha-"
The phone had already been hung up before Palloncino could finish his sentence. He stared at his henchmen with a plain expression contemplating his decision.
"Honestly, that man always creeps me out..."
----
Back to Gen and friends...
This trip was rather boring in all honesty! Just a huge ice-flat that stretched for miles devoid of tree or animal. With only the sound of the snowmobile's motor to be heard. Heck! Even Octavius had fallen asleep and Gen had resorted to writing poetry on one of his notepads. Unbeknownst them a shadow was seen swimming under the ice-flat... followed by some rumbling... and finally out of the ice popped out a huge walrus! No walrus sea beast and ontop was a Fishman dressed in an attire that could only be described as cowboy meshed with a biker.
"Byayayayaya!"
The man laughed as the bear mink hit the break sliding to a halt on the side of the device! He stared at the scene in disbelief. It Dennis... the man who had been called in by Palloncino moments earlier. Gen stared forward with his mouth agape as Octavius was rudely awakened screaming in fear of what was about to come.
The Requiem
splash
The Tengu fell into freezing water! Gen felt his muscles tense and numb as his body sank into a deep dark blue abyss of nothingness. He was paralyzed... he couldn't move! His muscles numb and his brain dazed. Even so, he tried to scream! To yell! No avail... nothing but bubbles came out. This was it! His fate had been sealed or so he thought. Gen's eyes opened up, he got up looking around his breath in a frantic pace after the horrendous nightmare. Where was he? What had happened? How did he get here? The Tengu was in an ice cave lying on some furs and not too far was a fireplace where the bear mink who had been driving him around loomed over.
"You're finally awake."
The bear said turning to meet Gen's gaze.
"Where am I? What happened Mr. Onikuma?"
The Tengu blurted out. He couldn't recall getting here... if anything the last thing he remembers was being cornered by some crazy Fishman riding a Walrus Sea beast. It had been utter madness what he had witnessed... had he fainted? Farther where was Octavius? Gen looked around not taking sight of the geeky Fishman.
"You fought valiantly my red friend... but in the end you where defeated... you would probably be dead if I wasn't there to save you."
The bear replied. Gen simply blinked staring blankly at him. He couldn't recall any fighting and much less losing in one? The Tengu began to stand up feeling aches and pains in his muscles noticing the bandages the bear had used to patch him up.
"You fell in the water and I had to fish you... Oi! Oi! Oi! Watch it you are in no shape to stand!"
Gen stood up anyway reaching for his bag and pulling out some acupuncture needles. The bear stood still looking at him in amusement. The Tengu sat cross-legged in front of the bear and began to poke needles into various parts of his body. As he did so he began to feel pain and strain relief letting out an audible sigh. The bear blinked watching him do his thing. Finally, Gen began removing the needles one by one and placing them back into their storage. He stood up and began to stretch.
"I thank you for your help Mr. Onikuma! But I must get going..."
Gen bowed demonstrating his thanks to the bear mink who had saved his life. He was sure he would repay him at some point... some time... but now there were more pressing matters. The Tengu put on his coat and walked out of the ice cave. That Fishman who had beaten him up was probably a mercenary hired by whatever mobster controlled the town he was just in. He would treck back... back to that town and find out who was behind all of this. He had to know! He had business to attend to. Work to complete.
Meanwhile...
Dennis the mercenary Fishman dragged the poor Octavius through the ground still bound in chains. If anything this made Octavius wish he was back with Gen at least the Tengu didn't treat him that badly. Heck! Gen had even bought him a drink while still at the Inn. What bounty hunter does that!? Regardless, he would arrive at his impending doom soon... he would have to face Palloncino the Balloonman! This was something he dreaded... despite Palloncino's comical appearance he was no laughing matter having amassed a bounty of 21 million Beri and holding control over much the of the riffraff lowlife of the area. Finally, the time had come and Dennis dropped Octavius in front of the balloon-shaped mobster.
"I told you the job would be done without fail."
Dennis muttered. Don Palloncino simply nodded... indeed this mercenary had done better than his very own henchmen could ever do.
"What about the red man?"
He asked.
"Dead. I threw him into the freezing lake."
The mercenary answered, but little did he know that was not the case. Don Palloncino nodded and pointed at Octavius. His two meatheaded henchmen went to grab him making the geeky Fishman stand as they restrained him. He then threw a bag of money to Dennis who took it gladly and walked off.
"Octavius! Long time no see..."
The big man said forcing a toothy grin.
"Oh... uh, Don Palloncino! How are you? Long time no see."
Octavius responded awkwardly, he was totally dying inside with this whole situation.
"Hmm, I am good Octavius. You know... I am into collecting didn't you?"
"N-no sir I was not aware of that."
"Well let me show you my collection. Boys! Come on with me!"
Palloncino gestured to his henchmen to follow him. The group walked to a far corner of his office which lead to two large metal doors. The balloon man opened up the metal doors which released a draft of cold air. Inside were bodies... people's bodies of all shapes and size all frozen in ice blocks with terrorized faces. This was Don Palloncino's collection! All the people who had done him dirty or owed him debt were stuffed into the 'Ice Box' a machine that shot supercooled air and froze them into perfect ice blocks. Pallocino would then line up this entire room with the bodies of all these people to show off... a symbol of his status and power as a crime lord.
"You know... what's coming don't you Octavius?"
A sadistic smile came over the balloon man's face.
"No! No!!! Nooo!!!"
Octavius yelled trying to pull away from the henchmen who had him held down. He felt heat behind his eyes and in his cheeks.
"Ice em!"
Palloncino yelled, he smiles bigger than before as he was filled with anticipation! The anticipation to add his newest trophy to his collection! The henchmen dragged the reluctant Octavius into the 'Ice Box' closing the door behind him. One of the henchmen pulled on a lever as Octavius banged on the door. Yelling in the inside. Asking for help. White mist covered the inside as the machine shot out white supercooled mist coming from pipes on the top. After a few minutes when the yelling and banging stopped the machine popped out an ice block with a frozen Octavius trapped inside.
---
Two hours earlier...
It had been difficult but he had managed it! All it required was talking to the right people and possibly beat up the right people. Gen stood up walking past cracked wine bottles and a small pool of blood leaving behind the twitching body of a petty thief who was barely worth pocket change. He had been the one to tell him the location of Palloncino and Gen had beaten him to a pulp for the information. Something that while unsavory on the Tengu's part was nothing he had qualms with doing. He was a bounty hunter his job was to pick up bounties to bring people in dead or alive... preferably alive. In any case, he had to read. As he walked out of the alleyway he entered a telephone booth with a Den Den Mushi. He inserted a coin and began to dial a number.
"Hello? Yea, this is a call for the local authorities a local petty thief has been captured in a nearby alleyway on Popscile Street right next to the drug-store close to the telephone booth. Goodbye."
Gen puts the Den Den Mushi back and leaves the telephone booth. He left for the north side of town. Apperently there was a small mountain known as Mt. Shaza ontop of which Palloncino had an airship which served as a base of operations. Gen looked across the town and to the small mountain in the near distance.
"Hm."
He simply said to himself before making the whole trek to the place. The next phase of his plan was to break in. If it was even possible. But the trek up a mountain was the warm up he most certainly needed. The warm up before the grand fight to come.
The Break-In
Huge was the airship! Floating above the mountain-top a bridge connecting to a flat side with guard rails. Guardsmen patrolled the entrance of the grandiose base. It was large and wide made of a combination of metal and wood with various hot air balloons connecting them each with their own basket. A large propeller was on the bottom side of the ship spinning silently.
Gen watched the guardsmen from a distance... he needed to make his entrance quick and silent. The Tengu looked around noticing the plentiful amount of snow around him he grabbed some of it patting around until it was a soft round snowball. He then chucked it at one of the guardsmen making sure the snowball came from an incriminating angel.
"Eh!? What's wrong with you man?"
Said the one guard who was it.
"What is it?"
Says the other second guard.
"You hit me with a snowball! We are on the job! What the hell is wrong with you man!?"
The one who was hit said, the second guardsman simply looked at his comrade with a quizzical look on his face.
"You know what! Whatever!"
Gen chuckled from a distance... this time taking another angel and throwing a snowball at the second guardsman.
"Huh!? What! That's so petty of you! Why did you hit me! Didn't you just say we were on the job?"
The second guardsman yelled at the first one. This caused the first one to lose it.
"You're a f*cking retard you know that!? I didn't hit you stop pretending!"
This began to escalate slowly until both guardsmen engaged in combat with each other resorting to a full blow fistfight. Gen used the diversion to sneak past the two of them and into the ship. He snuck past various corridors and hallways until arriving at the main room... bossman Don Pollancino was there... conveniently all alone and looking over what seemed to be paperwork.
Sitting near the door, Gen began to evaluate his plan. He would use the door... slam it loudly as he entered and duck in sneakily hiding behind a couch. This would distract the mobster into checking and give in the the the opportune moment for the Tengu to pin him down!
"Yosh!"
The Tengu whispered to himself running into the place slamming the door only to dive behind the nearby couch. Palloncino's head immediately jerked up. He seemed rather confused as to what had just conspired so he decided he would go check. Was one of his men playing tricks on him? The balloon-shaped man stood up and went to investigate. That's when Gen saw his time to strike he grabbed a nearby vase and smashed it on Palloncino's head! Means to disoriented the mobster! With the opportunity in hand, he pinned the man who was almost twice his size on the ground. Gen unsheathed his Katana and stabbed it on the wooden floor below making sure it struck dangerously close to Palloncino's face which sat flat on its side atop of the floorboards.
"If you scream for help... I'll cut your tongue off..."
The Tengu threatened the balloon man. Palloncino began to sweat a bit he didn't know what to do... he couldn't ask his men for help either he was in a bit of a predicament. What did this red man want... red man... red man... the red man who had captured Octavius! He had survived! But how? It was impossible!
"What is it you want? Money? I'll give you money! I'll give you anything just... just leave me be!"
Gen shook his head. It wasn't money what he wanted... although money would be a useful asset. He just wanted revenge... that and well he also wanted to take back Octavius. Which little did he know... had long been dead and turned into one of Don Palloncino's sick trophies.
"Take me to Octavius... if we cross any men warn them if they make any sudden movements I will slit your throat... same goes for you... if you disobey one of my orders you're dead. Got that?"
Palloncino nodded slowly. Gen helped the man up and sat on his shoulders putting his blade around the man's neck. They moved through different hall-ways and corridors meeting various guardsmen all of which we're told to hold off. Any movement they made would surely end up with their boss dead. Finally, they both arrived at the fridge-room that Palloncino owned. Gen gestured at the man to open the metal doors which he obliged. As they entered all the guards began to form around the door as if waiting to get in next but Gen slammed it shut resetting its combination key.
"Where is Octavius?"
"Over here..."
Palloncino pointed at the ice block with Octavius trapped inside. The sight made Gen lose his cool. His bounty had been reduced to an ice block! Seriously!? The Tengu hopped off of Palloncino this time pointing his blade into his back. The Tengu looked at the 'Ice Box' he wasn't sure what it did but he could only imagine given by the name and the surrounding figures.
"Get in there."
Gen commanded.
"What!? No please!"
Palloncino commanded
"You want to die now? Or later? Answer with tact."
Gen commanded the mobster. Palloncino was starting to sweat like crazy despite being in a very cold room. The mobster made steps toward the entrance of the machine. The Tengu then locked him in but didn't start it up... instead he had a different plan in mind! An escape plan! Now with the mobster subdued he would run for it!
As the Tengu ran through the various trophies he found a vent that he used to escape in a timely fashion! Good thing too for at that very moment the guardsmen he managed to break into fridge-room opening up the door but leaving it gaping open. Gen moved through the vents until he was just outside of the fridge-room. The Tengu hopped out of the vent and landed in front of the door... there he ripped out the inner door handle and pushed the door shut leaving the whole mafia trapped inside of the fridge-room.
The Escape
Gen ran through corridors and hallways! Walked upstairs and such! Until he arrived at the upper deck! There he saw hot air balloons propped up on the sides... lifeboats? Or escape balloons? That's what they were right? More or less he guessed. No matter! Gen hopped onto the balloon cutting off the rope that attached it to the larger airship and flew off! As he was up in the sky he grabbed a baby Den Den Mushi which was available on the escaped balloon and called the local Marine base.
"Hello? This is Gen Momochi... bounty hunter in the making... I have captured Don Pallocino and his men as well as located Octavius Rex who is now dead... the coordinates of their base are as follows: [Latitude: 12.06454, Longitude: -132.37910, Distortion: 1.05]. The band of mobsters is trapped inside of their fridge-room."
Gen hung up and sat on his hot air balloon. Where would it take him? He had no idea! But he sure hoped it would he someplace wonderous where perhaps he could take a nice break.
