Post by Sam on Apr 21, 2020 11:12:41 GMT -5
-- CHAPTER VII // Raiders of the Lost Mausoleum
Nanohana, Alabasta...
Weeks after the massacre in Rainbase
SLAM
A fist came hitting the table swiftly, the person whom this fist belonged to was the renowned archeologist Mr. Chives from St. Poplar the island of the Spring Queen as it was called. A place where you could find many oddities if you knew the right person. Chives was an odd-looking man of about average size but with his white hair in the shape of an onion. He was dressed in a similar fashion to a cliche explorer with a handlebar mustache and safari hat which he currently had on the table. Likely something he used to keep his protection under the Island's harsh sunlight.
"So hows everyone?"
He asked with a friendly smile, despite his harsh impression at first he seemed to be much kinder. The people in the room stirred... it was filled with a couple of mercenaries, bounty hunters, and some actual explorers. Most people looking for a quick buck! Among them was Gen who stared blankly at the chubby archeologist in front of him. This had been one of his odder jobs in Grand Line but like everything, it was one he made out of personal choice.
Sort of, the story of how he got here was actually quite comical. You see, after arriving at Alabasta more specifically at its port town of Nanohana down in the southern tip of the Island he got approached by Mr. Chives who begged him as well as a batch of new arrivals to the island to assist him in a grand endeavor. Finding some hidden tomb of an ancient king! Or some nonsense like that.
Gen didn't mind, or rather he didn't really care. He was being promised money after all, and besides Mr. Chives offered water for free. Ample amounts of water something Gen was in the great desire of seeing as he hated this island.
No not because of it's people or culture... he was sure those things where lovely. No, the Tengu hated the heat... the sun! The damn thing was his enemy. He would go as far as to deem this Island worse than Resinbar. Except, he had met Miu in Resinbar and that automatically made the other desert island much worse than this one. Gen frowned, having reminded Miu made him very upset.
"Right... a quite crowd this one is."
Mr. Chives uttered, he looked around the room at the various faces who had agreed to help him. They all maintained silence, a few of the more friendly ones smiled but they didn't speak or say anything. The onion man turned around pulling down a map of Alabasta on the wall. He grabbed a thin long pointer and pointed at the map... more specifically he pointed at Nanohana which is where they were at the moment.
"We are here! In this nation's capital! But I suspect that King Apu-kahman's Tomb is somewhere down... here!"
The archeologist pointed at Erumaru, a city closer to the coast and just across the river. Gen tilted his head looking at this new location.
"This city was one of the oldest cities in all of this nation... of course now it's in ruin after a draught that happened two years ago."
The Archeologist explained, he moved a bit closer to his desk and opened a drawer. Out of it, he pulled a small basin the top of which was in the shape of a jackal one of the guardian spirits of Alabasta. It had a name engraved on it... barely legible due to wear and well the fact that most in the room couldn't even understand the language it was written in.
"This was found near the city... on it is written 'King Apu-Kahman's liver'... the ancient people of this nation accustomed to mummify their lords thorough and extensive and elaborate ritual which involved organ removal."
At this point most of the people in the room were looking at each other confused, it was clear that many of them were not as well studied as Mr. Chives who was in expert in this field. Nonetheless, most of them nodded in agreement as if to understand what was being told to them. The reality was they didn't care about the past... they just wanted money.
"This piece is proof his tomb is nearby. Finding it may uncover more about this nation's extensive past and through it, we can learn more about ourselves."
Mr. Chives smiled proudly, giving the conclusion to his statement.
"Any questions?"
He added Gen didn't have any. He had learned everything he needed from this individua and was pretty much bored with any next plan of action. The confused look of many of the hired muscle seemed to support this. But, there was always someone willing to dig just a little deeper. However, it didn't seem anyone was immediately asking anything... the Tengu wasn't one to ask much but there was something bothering him just a little bit. He shot his hand up first.
"Yes the red guy!"
Mr. Chives said pointing at Gen.
"Are we going to break into teams? If so how will we go about that?"
Gen asked, the Archeologist who opened up his eyes wide. It seemed like he hadn't exactly thought about this just yet.
"Well... that's a good question! We'll pair you up in twos... you can choose your partner."
He answered, it was cheap answer but an answer at that. Gen shrugged, fine by him... he didn't care who he had to work with just as long as it was someone worth his time. He turned to look at the others and it seemed like the lot of them were beginning to pair up already. Who to work with... Gen wondered.