One hoped that this larger ship would have provided a much more comfortable method of transportation compared to the rafts or small ships he had stolen or snuck aboard on to travel between islands in this sea, but alas it was not to be as something rocked the boat which disturbed his rest as Morgan snorted before he groaned as he got up and walked up to the main deck.
What he saw seemed to be one of this fish-men people he had heard of who warned that these waters belong to this other captain and they'd need to pay a penalty to avoid trouble. It seemed the crew had a predictable response as all seemed ready to fight at the word of the captain though even as Morgan produced a bamboo blade he merely smirked the way of the "guest" of the ship.
"Now now, who says this has to get violent. Perhaps a mutual deal can be made? I'm sure you'd like to avoid being beaten off deck and perhaps you could return with something of value. For the right price. No reason we can't be civil." Morgan said, as he appeared to be the one to offer some compromise rather than go for the immediate fight here. Though really the deal merely was to see what he could get for his crew and naturally himself out of this if they had been willing to make a deal. If not well...no skin off his bones what happened next to their guest.
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The islands of the North Blue seemed to make it hard to stand out in a crowd.,
Least that had been what a young woman thought to herself as she stepped off the deck of a ship and walked along the docks. Granted, coastal towns such as this likely made it so new faces were common sights but still back home a girl in a Marine uniform and wearing a purple mask that covered half her face she figured it would have drawn some stares beyond the occasional glance. Still, she could not complain as it allowed her to focus on the task at hand as she pulled a folded up paper from her coat's pocket and began to read it.
The woman's name had been Elizabeth Winthrop, former heiress to the Winthrop royals of East Blue, but that name had not been what she referred to herself in in a long time. No, she was Justine....the Vanguard of Justice and in a more practical importance the newest and most promising graduate of the Navy Academy. She had been transferred over from East Blue to the shores of the North Blue as she was given her official captain she'd serve under for the foreseeable future. The captain in question was one of infamy among the rumor mill of the academy...one Captain Xavier Ursa. Justine had not known anything personally about Captain Ursa, all she had heard was he was a Captain who was famed for his strength but also been a target of criticism as he seemed to not take things seriously. How much either side had been exaggeration or fact was impossible to know until she had time to judge the man herself. And given she was specifically told to meet him at the check in office by 9:00 with tardiness not being accepted she made sure to quicken the pace past the docks and she soon enough arrived at the designated building. With some time to spare as she prepared to enter the door.
"G-give that back you thief!"
"Piss off brat, less you want to bring a wallop back home with you."
A commotion down the street caught Justine's ear, as she turned and while she couldn't make out in detail it seemed a couple of figures at he end of the street had gotten into into a scuffle. Now given that there was a marine station right in front of her she could presume an officer would be sent to investigate the scene and she had no need to get involved. Not with a key meeting she had no time to avoid being late for.
But those factors never once crossed her mind, as in a flash she moved to go check out the scene which attracted a small crowd. The two figures, one a small boy with dark hair and a bruise on his cheek and a a man with a well build physique, shirtless frame, white hair and what seemed to be multiple sword holsters as he seemed to carry a smirk while he held a bag as he taunted the boy.
"Get out of my face you shrimp. Like I told your folks, there is a certain "payment" one has to make when they visit this town and consider me the tax collector." The man said with a smirk as the boy glared and shook; both in fear & fury.
"T-that's my mom's necklace! And my dad's locket! They mean everything to them, give them back!" The boy cried as he bravely but perhaps foolishly tried to charge to grab the bag before he was kicked in the gut as he had been sent flying back. The small crowd were disgusted, but the man quickly placed a hand to a sword handle which prevented any from jumping in. The man focused back on the kid as his cold smirk turned to a manic grin.
"Having a bit of trouble there? Don't feel too bad, around this town I am the one who calls the shots, I am the most feared swordsman of this port. So if you know what is good for you you'll run back to your mommy. I take what I want and nobody ain't gonna do a thing about it!" The man laughed out loud.
"Oh how scary, you can beat on an unarmed child. Truly you are one to fear in these waters."
The dry quip caught the man's attention, as he turned to see Justine stand before him as the masked woman glanced with a determined resolve stained on well the half of her face not obstructed as she assumed a combative stance.
"My name is Justine, Petty Officer of the Marines. And if you do not return your stolen goods & pay penalty for your crimes, you will be forced to answer to me." Justine said, her tone carried one of focus and malice behind it, but all that got was the larger man to begin to laugh at her.
"Oh you gotta be kidding me, if a little lass like you can be a Marine than it is no wonder the Pirates rule most of the sea. Much as I hate to strike a little lady well...if you insist in getting in my way..." The man said, his teeth flashed a smirk as he draw his swords. All seven of them. Two he held in hand, one in his mouth. Two held in his armpits, and two on his legs as he stood on one led to tuck a blade under his right thigh while he balanced one on his raised left. This caused the boy's eyes to widen in concern as the crowed seemed concerned, though Justine herself remained unphased and stood at the ready; seemingly having not even drawn a sword or revealed any weapon to her name.
In spite of this, and the boys cries for her to run away, Justine merely winked with confidence at the kid before the two charged each other.
SLASH!
"G-gah!"
The two stood having crossed to opposite sides in silence before the man suddenly cried out, as a slash was shown on his chest. Enough to draw blood though it avoided vitals. At the same moment each of those 7 blades he had shattered at the hilts and with a groan the man flopped over unconscious while the woman stood tall without so much as a scratch on her. Her boots in turn revealed twin blades that stuck out of the heel that had red stains on them she quickly worked to wipe with a cloth before she retracted them and turned to the downed mugger.
"All those swords, all that talk and not an ounce of skill to speak of. What a shame..." Justine said to herself as she went and bounded the man's wrists and ankles so he'd be left for medical care & more importantly the authorities as she grabbed his stolen items and turned to return it to the boy who stood in aww.
"W-wow, you were amazing! T-thank you!" The boy said as he took his parent's treasured items as Justine smiled crouching so she met the boy at eye level as she gave a light pat to the head.
"No, what is amazing was you standing tall even in such the presence of such a forceful bully. That courage is admirable, but it is better to go to those with the power to help rather than risk your own well being. Still, keep that character true to your heart and you will go far. Now stay safe and have a good day."
"I will!"
The boy left to return the items in high spirits, as Justine smiled because while the adventure and fun of exploring the high seas was appealing this was the very root of why she desired to be a Marine to begin with. Even if this stop likely made her late for her expected meeting with this captain, which she now turned to go back to that check-in station in order to try and make up for this lost time.