Post by Mr. Moon on Feb 23, 2021 12:55:43 GMT -5
Gabriel #1
Unfortunately, Gabriel wasn´t in position to pay her as much attention as she deserved because...well he was nervous. Fighting against pirates or some backwater brawlers was one thing. Facing with the most talented martial artist of East Blue´s underworld completely another. To cope with his nervousness he tried to focus his mind as best as he could. Meditation, sparring with Myra, even writing, but nothing helped. Not really. He was restless and it affected the way he acted. The most prominent evidence of this showed itself the third day, when acquaintance and rival of his called to tease him about auction the professor missed last week. Apparently, one of the item there was a very old martial arts scroll. Missing volume from a series he almost finished collecting. Angered, he immediately called Eric and gave him instruction to do whatever was necessary to secure the scroll. Regretting his hastily decision only few seconds later. He wanted to call him off, but didn´t bothered trying as he knew way to well, that once the Wolves were released there was nothing that could stop them. And so he made a trip to the city and deposited necessary sum of money on Eric´s name, before returning back. More angry and frustrated than before.
That was nothing like him. This trip was getting the better out of him that was for sure. One part of him wanted to leave. Finish this stupid tournament and go back to his old life. The other part...the other part wanted to prove the world that the Imperial Fists he created. His only legacy was worthy to be remembered. That it was worthy to be counted among the best styles in the world. This disparity was tearing him apart. Quite literally, but there was nothing he could do with it. Well, at least not for now. The only path opened for him led forward and so he had to follow it.
Than, the day finally came. According to the Python´s instructions, that were delivered the day before by some young messenger, they were supposed to arrive to the port at 8 a.m. sharp. That was puzzling, because as Gabriel recalled there were no building suitable to host tournament of this proportions, especially if the organizers wanted to make a good impression and find as many sponsors in the underworld as possible. But these were the only instruction they had and so at 7 a.m. after light breakfast, the professor called his team and together they headed out. They were rather strange sight even for a city so close to Grand Line. But curious looks and quiet gossiping asides, no one dared to bother them. So they reached the port without meeting any real obstacles, quickly realizing, that there was no need for any further instruction as the goal of their journey was pretty clear.
Overshadowing all other ships in the port, there was cruiser so big, that it could be easily comparable to Marines battleship. It wasn´t marked by any flag nor sign however the small procession of weirdos heading in it´s way was clear signal that that´s the destination of their journey.
Joining the queue, the quartet passed quick ticket control done by two bodyguards, before they were allowed go up the gangplank to the upper deck of the ship. There, they finally met the other fighters and it was sight to be seen, especially for Myra and Koda who probably had some overview about people wanted in the East Blue.
There was Komaeda Inoue with bounty of 4 millions, large and heavily muscular man with wild mane of black hair. Karate Ka from the infamous Karate Island who was rumored to work as human wrecker, working for an East Blue Mafia.
Tomashino Gen, short and wiry man in his early thirties with fingernails as long and sharp as animal´s claws who worked as bodyguard and occasional assassin for some shady entrepreneur, with bounty of 3,5 millions.
Mammoth Woody, incredibly large and slightly overweight man with almost bald head who used to be pirate with bounty of 7 millions before he retired and started working as an enforcer for mafia.
Kiozan Haryiama enormous sumo wrestler with bounty over 6 millions Beli. Although he wasn´t known to be involved in any illegal activities, his huge strength together with careless nature and somehow delinquent nature caused so much damage and chaos around him, that it earned him his bounty.
Zion Robinson, this at first glance good-natured and friendly priest was in fact infamous assassin working for one of the most powerful underworld boss in the whole East Blue, with bounty of 9 millions.
Fu Chien, rumored Eel from Grand Line, trained in the infamous hard of Eel Kempo and assassin for hire with the bounty of 7,5 millions.
And the last and most prominent two, whose mere presence made even the other fighters and criminals wary.
Sakon Kiyomori young man coming from long lineage of assassins who were using their bare hands and martial arts to kill their target. It was rumored that just a year ago at the age of 18, he led mutiny against his own father and won, which would make him the head of their whole clan and proud owner of 15 millions bounty.
And Namkhai Monkhbat large and physically imposing man, originating from nomadic tribe that was sailing through whole East Blue. He was the man widely considered to be the strongest martial artist in the East Blue. His strength and fame was so great that he was scouted by several pirate crews, aspiring warlords and criminal bosses, however as a sincere martial artists he refused, and beaten them all for their insolence. His bounty of 13 million´s beli was based on incident, where cowardly yet influential marine captain tried to recruit him as his personal bodyguard and enforcer, yet ended with almost all bones in his body broken.
Seeing all these men gathered together with their sponsors and employers on one ship without any marines in sight made one wonder how much influence or bribe money was invested into this event. Maybe...just maybe Gabriel and Beast who were completely oblivious to the company they had were the lucky ones.