Murder on the Costal Express

[momo]

A flicker of relief filled Francis as the oni missed him. While the heat of his brand could be felt, it was clear that it had likely only hit stray away parts of his clothing and avoided skin entirely. However, he did not bother thinking too deeply on it as his situation was clearly more important. While he had managed to find purchase on one of the red oni's horns, it attempted to puck him off. From experience, he knew it was better to not linger as things would merely become dangerous the longer he stayed and any creature would want him gone. Common sense would deem that one sword would make this entirely difficult.

He could think of two ways to go for this: the head or the neck. One would be easier than the other. Not having much time to contemplate, he went for the one he considered easier. Attempting to swing himself forward, he he aimed an upper cut towards the red oni's neck. He quickly let go, his knees groaning as he fell to the ground. Quickly, he attempted to get out of the way, knowing it best to not be too close.

The blue oni, on the other hand, did not seem to have thought, if it was even capable of such an action, too far in its action. As a result, its hand landed on its own face. With the attack that Gen had made for as well, it was clear that the painted being was fairly dazed, stumbling on its own feet.

It had no chance to even attempt to defend its when Gen made to attack it again. If anything, its attempt to do so could only be described as blind. While damage was certainly made, it was far off the mark, leaving only a cold gust. 

Despite the blue oni's size, the wind seemed to have no trouble lifting it in the air. He landed not with a mere punch, but seemed to harshly be cast into it, drilled into as if he were to be part of the painted earth. Once landed, it was clear that the painted being was not a real oni, if they existed at all. Instead, hues of blue seemed to spread about the ground.

[Sam]

Blue paint seeped into the ground below. Gen looked at the oni as it melted into its primal state. An end had been cast to this vile creature. The Tengu huffed out loud, he turned to witness Francis in his own struggle... one that he ended up winning as he landed his final strike on the oni and fell on the ground. The red construct began to melt much as its blue-skinned brother had before him. Gen rushed over to Francis offering to help him get on his feet but as he did so the Vandal could be heard cackling from the other end of the room.

The cacoon he had fashioned for himself began to wiggle and writhe until he escaped the confines of the grotesque sack. His vile transformation had completed, a hidden technique of his to transform his body with his own paintings. His arms now outstretched and longer, his figure was deformed and lank as two thin eagles like wings now protruded from his back. The Vandal removed his mask slowly revealing his true face. Oval shaped with a long black hair shaved on its side... curved tusks sticking from his lips... small slanted long eyes with tiny red pupils. A third more almond-shaped eye was on his pupil... seemingly open and closing as he blinked another one of his most vile of illusions. Fake... everything the Vandal did was fake.

"Good... you defeated my Oni... blyayayayaya!"

He laughed out loud, his laugh as foul as his now monstrous appearance. Gen felt a chill go up to his spine as he stared at the man in front of him. If he could be called a man at all. This was no man... this was no human. No, he was a creature beyond that an alien a monster something beyond human. Beyond angel. Beyond demon. A monster from another similar yet different world. A mockery of the worst kind. Before Gen could react, the Vandal reached into his coat and pulled out a small ball. No. Not a ball. It was a bomb. The man threw it out at the center of the room causing it to explode into a blast of paint that changed the scape of all things. Leaving only the small area where Gen and Francis stood blank and devoid of change.

"Special Attack! Act Two!"

The Vandal yelled, changing the illusion in the room instantly... now instead of a volcanic ash covered scape, it was a room of mirrors. Something normally innocent... a room for jokes and laughs in carnivals for the enjoyment of children now twisted beyond belief. A room with mirrors everywhere... what was a reflection? What was a reality it was hard to know? Gen turned around looking right and left throughout the maze of mirrors. An attack could be incoming at any time from a now empowered Vandal.

---

Vandal #4d119b

[momo]

Francis was fairly glad that he had jumped away. While it was clear that he would likely have not been too injured, if at all, had he not, the paint that managed to make its way to him as the construct melted away was enough of a sign that he would be much worse off had he not. The familiar discomfort from before settled in as he found himself practically swimming in red paint. "Disgusting," he muttered. He would have preferred to be standing in the rain right about now, even if it was entirely likely that that would have just made him sick.

Quickly, he accepted Gen's hand to help him up. While he was righted, his gaze flickered not to the tengu but the muffled cackle of the only other individual who could still be within the room: the Vandal. He wasn't particularly sure what to expect. The Vandal had fashioned himself within a cocoon, but he was not sure what the purpose was. While his paint clearly did things, it was clearly that all of it acted quite similarly to real paint: all an illusion but no true substance. It was not to say that it did not make him fomidal, but there was no doubt that he was not nearly as threatening as he appeared to be.

But, what happened when the painter made himself part of his artwork?

He couldn't quite hide his grimace as the Vandal had finally emerged. Everything the Vandal had created thus far had seemed to hold an element of beauty. He took murder and covered it with paint, as if to hide the horror of it. The worlds he created were extravagant and pleasant to the eye. However, what was before them now was far from that, appearing far more like it had been plucked from a nightmare.

Perhaps there had been some truth to Gen's belief that the Vandal was just a madman. 

He had planned to retrieve his second blade once he cut the oni down, but with all the paint and their current situation that would clearly take too much time. Clearly, he would have to adapt to the fight with only one sword. He only hoped it was enough. His eyes widened as the Vandal seemed like he was about to throw what could only be described as a bomb. However, before he could get remotely far it seemed to hit its mark.

He blinked owlishly as the area stood blank, truly not changed. However, what the man was planning became apparent quite quickly. Mirrors soon covered the entire room. "Well, crap." He had to wonder if the Vandal was playing with them or stalling.

[Sam]

"Well crap, indeed."

Gen simply muttered holding the handle of his blade. As he looked around at each and every mirror, it was clear what the Vandal wanted. He wanted them to get lost in this maze of mirrors so he could pounce from any corner and take one of them by surprise. He fought dirty likely because he couldn't fight the duo head-on. In any case, it seemed the mad artist was testing them... gauging their power before settling on their fight. This was probably the catalyst to some sick magnum opus of his. This is what this all was... some sick joke.

"Francis, head me out... we should stick together. Getting lost in this house of mirrors is the last thing we want."

The Tengu looked right and left into every mirror only seeing the occasional reflection of himself or Francis. The way they should go was unclear and where the Vandal would appear was also unclear.

"Blyayaya..."

A distant cackle was heard, but wether the Vandal was close or near was something Gen was unaware of. This was his game... his domain! It was impossible to know. Suddenly he appeared! On all the mirrors around them! The Vandal in his grotesque appearance staring at them. Which one was real? Which one was fake!? Gen's eyes widened, he felt his heart begin to pace rapidly as the desperation of not knowing where the Vandal actually came from made him afraid. It was a primal fear... not like when he had run from Miu in Resinbar. This was a different kind of fear. A cold kind that pierced the bone and into the marrow.

Swish

An attack was made as the Vandal swung his clawed hand. The direction unclear but the wound evident as it appeared on Gen's chest. The Tengu felt a surge of pain in his already damaged body. This would not be an easy battle if it could be called one at all. The Vandal was using to things at this moment. One a quick flying slash of compressed air created with his nails and two the element of surprise via the multiple reflections.

"I... this..."

Gen was at a loss of words as he fell to his knees. The Vandal only cackled more before disappearing from the reflections. It was clear, however... that would of them had to be real for a true reflection could never attack. Unless the Vandal had somehow bent the laws of nature more. No, that was impossible.

"One of them is real Francis... what should we do?"

The Tengu wheezed, his legs wobbled a bit as he tried to get up from his vulnerable position.

[momo]

Francis attempted to consider how to handle the situation. It was hard to know what the Vandal was doing. He could have easily been playing with them or was genuinely attempting to fight them on his own terms. After all, what he was doing could easily do both. While the mirrors could act as little more than a taunt that just made things difficult even if they got through them with force, it would also likely work as a cunning way to fight both of them. They had realized that the Vandal was significantly weaker than them. As a result, it was entirely likely that he would be able to fight them head on. Keeping them at far enough a distance, however? If he did it for long enough, Francis was sure that the Vandal was sure he might actually have a chance at winning.

"Very well," he agreed. Gen wasn't wrong. Getting lost would only make things difficult and it would be worse if they split up, potentially working by entirely different plans that could get at least one of them killed. Better to stick together, work by the same plan, and be able to defend each other.

At least a hint of what the Vandal might have in store for them became clear as he appeared on the mirrors around them. It wasn't immediately clear which one was real and which one was fake. Strangely, as the Vandal moved, his attack managed to largely hit Gen, remnants of it catching Francis. Whether this was because one of them had been real or something else entirely he was unsure.

He grimaced, trying to collect his thoughts. "The...cup game," he said, unsure if he was making a lick of sense, "It's like when you hide something under a cup and then move them about, only to demand someone find it. His cup is the mirrors." If his logic was sound, the others should effectively be nothing, mere paint. "So, the others should be...nothing. If we attack a mirror, it might just turn into paint. If not...then you just need a tell. We have paint, so we'd just have to get it on him the next time he attacks."

[Sam]

The cup game? Right! The cup game! You keep guessing where the ball is under the cup until you find it. Francis was onto something, that would have to be their strategy... for now at least. However, there was one problem. While this seemed like a solid plan of action it was something that left them very open. Too open... Gen knew he was durable but by no means was he durable at a near inhuman level. He suspected that perhaps Francis was on the same boat as him.

"Right, let's play the cup game... but you're on your own... you attack I defend!"

Gen says, placing his hand on his handle. His eyes darted left and right trying to see the location of the Vandal. While dodging or blocking would be near impossible in this situation since the trajectory of the Vandal's attacks was unknown he was still determined to put it to a halt. He took a deep breath... this one was on instinct, he couldn't figure where the slash would come from but he could stop it just before it reached. A game of speed... meanwhile Francis would lash out and try to find the real Vandal.

tip tap tip tap

The sound of footsteps against the hardwood floor was heard as the Vandal became visible on the mirrors again. His face contorting into a vile grimace. The now deformed man raised his clawed hands and went for a wide strike.

"Now!"

The Tengu yelled unsheathing his sword rapidly to block the attack. It was successful as the slash of an air kit against his blade. Beads of sweat formed on Gen's forehead as he felt his body fill with adrenaline. His senses now in alert... his body entering into fight mode. He had been successful in his strike, his heartbeat quickly. It was Francis whom he depended on now. It was his time to shine.

[momo]

Francis was well aware that the plan had its flaws, though he largely suspected that there was no plan that would not keep them open. No doubt that was likely what the Vandal was counting on, no matter whether he was just planning to toy with them or was treating them as a serious threat. What he was largely counting upon were things he had not told Gen such as the fact that he appeared to be far more durable than the other male, to a fairly inhuman level. It had not come into play yet and he hoped it did not need to.

"Sounds good to me," he said. Breathing deeply, he kept a grip on his sword, merely waiting. For a long moment, there appeared to be nothing but silence. It was only broken by what appeared to be the sound of footsteps. Perhaps a sign that the Vandal was physically here and physically moving, using the paint as little more than a curtain to hide what he was doing.

Gen certainly didn't have to tell him to strike before he did not so. Deciding to keep it simple, he made to strike the mirror. As his blade, hit against the mirror, it turned into paint as he had suspected it would. However, he waited a moment to see whether it was the Vandal who stood there or not.

[Sam]

Francis' strike phases through the glass breaking the illusion. The paint shatters like a real mirror would... the pieces clatter on the ground like real glass and then in an instant melt into the paint. The strike, however, did manage to make the Vandal flinch as was evident in the other projections. It was clear that he likely didn't expect something all too clever from this group. But that's where he was wrong! The Vandal dashed once more switching positions and readying for a new attack the sinister smile on his face didn't radiate the same confidence as before.

His trick had been discovered and with that, he would have to try a little harder. In part, a positive of being as slippery as he was... was that he never had to deal with bounty hunters head-on. In turn this made much of his bounty number due to his mass-murdering but little to do with his actual fighting skills many of which were garnered more toward killing his 'prey' as he often referred to them. Avoiding bounty hunters if anything made him weaker as he didn't develope any crazy combat skills. It was obvious his tricks wouldn't fool more experienced fighters. Especially ones that trekked through the Grand Line openly. Not to mention he had never fought two people at once. The battle was against the odds though... not just for him who had no experience fighting two people. But also for Gen and Francis who still didn't know the whole scope of the Vandal's powers.

"Enough of this nonsense! I'll end you NOW! This game got boring..."

The Vandal exclaimed raising his hand going for yet another attack. The slashing projectile flew at the bounty hunter duo... but again Gen blocked the strike with incredible speed. The criminal grimaced, the Tengu was skilled... it was clear he'd have to change his technique. He dashed once more changing positions and ready for an attack. This time his hand catching on fire as he readied an attack.

"Wrong... it is us who'll put an end to your sick games Vandal."

Gen kept his hand on his handle. He was feeling more and more exhausted by the minute. Even so, he still had some adrenaline in his viens to keep him going just a bit longer. That and his fighting spirit which burned proudly at the moment. He hoped this battle would eventually come to its end. Sooner rather than later. They heavily depended on Francis's luck right now.

[momo]

A deep sense of satisfaction filled him. If there was any doubt that what they were doing might end up leading towards a dead end, then it was diminished by the reaction from the Vandal. Clearly, they had caught upon the flaw in his scheme and he had not expected it, something that struck him as a clear sign of hubris in their enemy. After all, how many times had they almost encountered the Vandal? Moreover, hadn't Gen been chasing after this individual for much longer than himself? 

They needed to end this soon though. Considering they had just come out of another fight, he doubted that they both would be able to last against the Vandal for a long period of time, especially since, despite the criminal likely being weaker than both of them he had also not been spending his time fighting as they had been but relaxing. 

As it was quickly becoming clear that the Vandal had moved to a different mirror, he quickly made to attack once more. Yet, which one? He could hardly be sure, even as his gaze flickered over the mirrors for a brief moment, searching for something entirely off about one of them. Thinking he might have spotted something, he aimed for the one to his direct left.

[Sam]

Swink

The Vandal's eyes opened wide, blood sputtered from his mouth and the flames he was preparing with his hand began to dissipate. Francis had hit the mark this time striking the Vandal right in the abdomen. The criminal put his hand on his chest covering the sudden wound... his face now in a scowl of pain and anguish. He couldn't hide now... where ever he sped to next would leave a blood trail which would reveal him to both Gen and Francis. 

"Blyayayaya."

He laughed, this time a weaker laugh with a slight wheeze to it. It was clear he had nothing knew to say... any confidence he had before was now squandered. His goal now was to survive! To escape! The Vandal raised his vision to look at Gen and Francis, a crazed look in his eyes. The look of a man who was losing it... he reached into his coat pulling out another bomb this one looking green. The words 'Paint Thinner' was written on it. He slammed the bomb on the ground releasing a clear substance that coated the entire room and caused the paint world he created to meltdown slowly.

"Thinner Bomb!"

He exclaimed, before running at a nearby wall and drawing a hole to escape from leaving a trail of blood behind him. Unlike before however, he didn't bother to close the painted hole behind him. The Vandal was desperate now. His actions getting sloppy. Gen grits his teeth and pointed toward the hole with his sword.

"After him!"

He yelled, running through the hole and into the next room panting heavily. He was super tired but his determination to stop the Vandal fueled his every step. Once he crossed he was suprised to see a series of holes that lead into the outside world... they'd done it. Forced the Vandal outside. This was the final showdown. This was the last cart... the caboose. He had nowhere to run and as a Devil Fruit user, he had nowhere to swim. 

[momo]

Whether because of luck or keen observation, Francis had seemed to find his mark. His expression became a touch more terse in the face of such a clean hit that had not even been attempted to be blocked. Just a glance at the Vandal's face made it clear that he was just as surprised, if not more so, than the brunette that he had been hit at all. While the bounty hunter had thought he might have his mark, he had certainly not considered he would get it this quickly. Such luck felt almost...abnormal and he could not help but think that something bad was bound to happen.

Surely...this was not all that the elusive murderer had up his sleeve? It seemed unlikely. A mouse that was good at evading the trap usually was made up of nothing but counter plans. But then, perhaps he was overthinking this and his pessimism was speaking. The Vandal had struck him as an arrogant individual, incapable of truly doing anything except underestimating his opponents.

He could only describe the man before him as a cornered animal as he briefly took in the crazed look in the wounded man's eyes. However, before he could properly attack the man again, he had thrown something down, a bomb from the sounds of it. On instinct, his free arm went to cover his nose and mouth.

Crap,  he thought as he spotted the Vandal making to get away. He found his legs moving before Gen had even spoken, heading after the wounded man. It was notably difficult to move, exhaustion pulling at his limps. Worse, whatever the Vandal had thrown clearly made him slower, having made the ground sticking as the world around them began to melt away. 

Quickly, he headed into the next room.

[Sam]

The chase was on as the Vandal made hole after hole until he reached the very end of the cart. Gen rushed after the elusive criminal whose works got sloppier and sloppier desperation. Going as far as leaving trails of blood and paint in his wake. Seeing himself trapped the Vandal turned around looking at the sea ahead, he looked left and right as the paint in his body slowly began to melt off into puddles of brown and grey under his feet. Finally, as if out of animal-like instinct he began to climb onto the roof of the train.

Gen rushed out, he was now outside viewing the Vandal climbing up the train. The rain was now more aggressive than ever as wind and water swirled about and lighting crashed into the waves nearby occasionally painting the gunmetal grey sky in flashes of white with a bluish hue. The Tengu did what he felt was appropriate next that is climb after the Vandal, he would occasionally turn around to see if Francis was still behind. He like the boy was getting exhausted, his muscles feeling more and more numb by the minute if he wasn't chasing a man whom he deemed of the worst caliber he would have given up to his body demands.

His spirit, however, was stronger than his body... exhaustion was now no longer a problem. There was something deeper within himself fueling his inner fury. It had been doing so for a while now. Sometimes the passion of a person's is greater than their raw strength and that is what pushes him beyond his power. Gen was determined, nothing would stop him now. No would get in his way. This was his big chance to stop Vandal once and for all. Finally, he got the top of the sloping train's roof. It was slippery trail one foul step and you'd fall into the raging waters below likely filled with the likes of Sea Kings and other maligned creatures.

The Vandal was at a halt in the middle of the train his back turned to Francis and Gen... his back arched as his legs were opened wide and his arms stuck out. He slowly turned his head revealing his pale face with gaunt features... a hooked nose, pronounced cheekbones, and a pointed chin. His hair, long, slick, and auburn in color. His eyes orange and snake-like... seeming like coals that glowed in a fireplace. A wretched smile formed over his almost black thin lips. His eyes opened wide... making his very pupils dilate something that despite the dark setting was subtly noticeable as nothing but madness radiated from his eyes.

"End of the line Vandal!"

Gen said the Tengu stood amidst the grey scene as the heavens screeched and clamored in the background. A tapestry of utter chaos painted grim. He dared not move a muscle as the situation was now tense the very atmosphere was thick as the men stood atop the still train carts. The Tengu frowned, this man had put everyone in danger... one side of him wanted to kill him right then and there... but another side of him told him not to. Yes, the Vandal was evil but Gen felt that didn't give him a right to take a life. Death was not a deserving punishment for him. The Tengu unsheathed his sword slinging it into his shoulder. Cold rain pelted Gen's exposed skin bringing him out of his momentous pondering. It wasn't time to think now... it was time for action. 

"Your move... surrender now and we'll turn you in. Otherwise..."

He looked at his sword.

"We'll have to take you by force."

Gen finished, he looked at the Vandal awaiting his response. Then at Francis for a moment to see his view.

[momo]

Francis wasn't entirely sure why the Vandal had made multiple holes? Had they been there before? He supposed it was merely a testament of the state the criminal was in if it had not crossed his mind how useless the action would likely be. After all, he was leaving a trail of blood. While not gratuitous, there were small signs of it as they followed him that could be seen, helping them figure out which way to go.  

Following in Gen's wake, he followed the other man onto the top of the train. It felt like they were repeating steps they had already done. The only difference was that the Vandal was far less likely to escape this time, likely far too wounded to do the same as he had done before. Moreover, this time they were exhausted, their moves clearly having to be far more well thought out. As they came to the top of the train, the wind blew around them and water splayed at them as waves crashed against the train. 

Having corned the Vandal, so to speak, Francis could not help but notice what a poor picture the man himself seemed to paint. As sly as the man clearly was, there was a distinct madness to him that seemed to now be on full display. The brunette wondered for a brief moment if Gen had been right about the Vandal or if they both had been. After all, it was clear now that the man was mad. However, Francis was able to tell that this did not mean that he was without a sharp mind. Though, whether he had method had yet to be seen. Perhaps they would never know. Despite this fight, he could not say he knew even a sliver of why the Vandal killed. Perhaps it just out of malicious nature.

Like a ruined picture, he seemed to leak not only blood but paint as well. It was an admittedly strange sight. He was not sure if he should feel bad for the man. He had little doubt that if the man tried to escape it would not end well. With his clear weakness against water, he would not get far with the waves crashing against the train.

Francis' gaze bored into the Vandal, awaiting a response from the Vandal, distrust written across his face. He did not expect surrender. The Vandal might have been cornered, but he would be surprised if he did not try to escape...or worse. After all, a cornered animal rarely reacted well. As such, his posture was tense, ready to react at moment.

[Sam]

The Vandal came full circle, a teeter that was slow and telegraphed. As if he had preemptively thought through his every move... a good idea all things considered any sudden movements could mean a slip for those who were not as balanced. A slip that would land you in cold unstable water filled to the brim with sea beasts... the last portion of the Vandal spin was done swiftly as he extended his arm revealing his pistol from earlier. His crazed look plastered on his face... a bright flash of lighting brightening up the scene.

"Like I would listen to you bastards! How about you die! Blyayayaya"

He exclaimed.

boom

The sound of a gunshot mixed with thunder boomed across the scene. Gen flinched half expecting to have been shot... but nothing. No bullet wounds. No blood. No cold pain piercing his flesh or that of Francis. Instead, the instead of angry grunting was all that filled his senses. The Tengu was suprised with the scene of a tangled up Vandal in a net! The gunshot had come from elsewhere. Now, a bright light shined on them from a boat below! The deck of which was filled with various Marines... a large brute of a seaman held what must have been a net gun.

Next to him was a man dressed in a tan trench coat with a deerstalker on his head he looked like the stereotype of a detective. His name was Clark Sherwood, a government agent working for CP-7... Clark was a tall man in his late forties early fifties standing a little over six feet tall with a square jaw and blue eyes. He had a small curved pipe sticking out of his mouth, he stood looking at the whole scene unfold before him his arms crossed. One of the nearby seamen brought him a Den Den Mushi to speak to, he immediately grabbed the transponder snail and began to speak through it.

"Halt! In the name of the law! You are surrounded! I repeat you are surrounded!"

He exclaimed, his eyes locked on the Vandal as he spoke those words. As those words left his lips seamen began throwing grappling hooks that attached themselves onto the still train cart.

"Good job you two... you did something none of my men could in two years. Go to help them! They must be exhausted! The rest of you make sure the civilians are doing well."

They began climbing over... a band of them going after the Vandal and the rest coming to assist the two bounty hunters. As another handful hopped on rowboats to check on the civilian two carts down.

"Well done Francis..."

Gen, let out a sigh of relief... he felt the energy that was pulling him through dissipate as his full body went numb and fell to his knees. Darkness began to engulf his eyes and with a smile, in his face, he passed out on the ground right in front of Francis. Whatever spirit had taken him forward was now gone as his deed was done. His body simply giving in to the mental and physical strain. Two Seamen grabbed the Tengu and began to move them to the ship, they tried helping Francis over as well. Once they arrived at the ship Agent Sherwood approached Francis.

"You, I need to speak to you and your red friend tomorrow in the morning. For now please rest."

Agent Sherwood said, he had a poker face something that was all things considered normal for him. However, for those that didn't know him, it made him seem cold and unenthusiastic. Rain pelted his coat and hat, as smoke slowly rose from his pipe. He looked at Francis with his calm blue eyes, despite the near robotic nature he seemed to impose no threat at all. But perhaps that was simply a side effect after the hectic night that everyone had been pushed through. Agent Sherwood motioned for a nearby seaman to help Francis and escort him to a resting place so he could be patched up in case he had any wounds like Gen.

---

Gen - #ee1d41
Sherwood - #4d4c4f
Vandal - #4d119b

[momo]

Predictably, the Vandal was not about to give up. Despite being cornered, he reacted like a wild animal, bearing his claws instead of rationally seeing there was nowhere to go and he would likely get himself killed if he pushed too much. Entirely ready to act, Francis was admittedly caught off guard when it was not the the Vandal's gun that shot but one from an entirely different party. Tired and confused, it took him a moment to catch up to exactly what was happening before him.

Ice filled him. Crap.

Admittedly the last thing he had wanted was the Marines getting involved. Francis might be a bounty hunter, but he had little love for the World Government. Some of it likely had to do with the fact he'd grown up dealing with people speaking about him as if there was some unspoken secret or dealing with the common man, dealing with people who worked by the same rules as marines, treat him like crap. However, the majority of it really had to do with the fact that he just...didn't like the black and white way they worked. Francis tended to purposely ignore certain bounties , uncaring of the amount when a person clearly wasn't bad. From what he saw of marines, they didn't care about the details or justice when you were not falling in line.

Though, he supposed it probably also wasn't good considering his trip in Alabasta had gone. He hadn't seen any bounty posters with his face on them, but who knew what had happened since he had last checked. Could people get bounties for helping nobles run away? He didn't really want to find out. That would make things...complicated.

Francis waited just a moment before pocketing his sword. The other one, he absently reminded himself, he'd have to get. He wasn't about to buy another one unless he had to. 

He gave a sharp nod. "You as well." He didn't entirely think he deserved the thanks. After all, Gen had done quite a bit and he was certain he could not have done this without him. Besides, a rather large part of him thought this was more of Gen's win than anything. Hadn't the other man been tracking the man for a month or something like that? 

He wasn't entirely sure he was heard though as Gen seemed to pass out. A sound of surprise escaping him, he made to try and catch him before he could call on the metal of the train or, worse, fall off the train. However, two seamen seemed to get to the tengu before him. Coldly, he refused the offered help and made to get into the ship on his own, every part of his being screaming caution about this entire thing. Francis had admittedly never been quick to trust others, thinking himself as the only person he could truly trust. Gen...Gen was someone he could probably trust right now, but this was a thought born out of having fought beside the other man.

These marines? He did not know them and frankly he was sure every single one of them would stab him in the back even if he'd caught the King of Pirates himself. 

His lips thinned at Sherwood's words, but he did not refuse. Hell, he was not entirely sure that was an option. Silently, he followed the seaman who had been ordered to escort him before putting up with being patched up. Reluctantly, he made mention of his sword to someone, in hopes it could be fetched in case he might not be able to go back to the train himself.