| abstract | - Dimitri: Ohohoho… That’s interesting. Caspian: What is? Dimitri: Yhaa?! Caspian: Waah?! Dimitri: who are you?! Caspian: Umm… the doctor? Your crewmates called me in? Dimitri: Why? Caspian: Your wound. Dimitri: It’s just a scratch! Caspian: Well, they know that now.. But apparently you did suddenly collapse yesterday, so it figures they’d be worried. Dimitri: Collapse?... Now you mention it… I was pretty tired then... Caspian: Yeah, that’ll be it. I’ve known anything that serious looking to turn out to be so trivial before. That was some false alarm. Dimitri: So… I’m guessing this is that Sarra place- Caspian: Sarabanto Dimitri: That’s the one… So what’s been happening since we got here? Caspian: I’m probably not the right person to ask… But from what I heard? It’s quite a long story. Cathcart: Oh! Morning Corvus. You’re up early. Byrn: You know, I could hear your training routine last night all the way down the hall. Marley: Look, all I'm saying is it's a good idea to be prepared. And I'm almost certain I've worked out how to read that technique now! Next time will be different! Corvus: I had some difficulty sleeping. Cathcart: Well that's understandable, after what happened to your place. I don't know what I would do if the pirates struck here. Corvus: Well, we're too far from the coast for them to use canons. Fighters, maybe. More subtle. Livingstone: Mooooorniiing! Where's the captain? Cathcart: They never make it past the blockades you know. Roku and Clancy keep them out. Corvus: For now. But if it turns out they can't stop them all, and pirates get this far... Corvus: I would very much like to cut down some pirates myself! Marley: Hi! Corvus: I have never been very fond of piracy. Jessica: He seemed pretty angry. Cathcart: He lived in the port district before they were evacuated. His house was hit by cannon fire during the bombardment a few nights back. You'll have to forgive him if he's somewhat… on edge. Livingstone: So.. what’s the plan then? Byrn: Ask around and find out who wants the mayor gone? To be honest, I have other concerns besides finding the mayor. Dimitri might have a better idea when he wakes up, but otherwise- Caspian: Umm… Dimitri is the captain, right? As in.. The guy I had to patch up? Jessica: Yes? Why? Caspian: Well… He’s… He’s already left. I told him what was going on, and he ran off shouting something about exits. Didn’t you see him? Dimitri: No.. No good.. then how... ??: What are you doing? Dimitri: Oh... I'm.. Looking for a mayor, apparently. Girl: He disappeared. Dimitri: That's why I'm looking. Girl: He's not in there. Dimitri: No, I guess not. Somebody would have heard if he was. Where does it go anyway? Girl: I don't know. Nobody knows. Some of them go into the sea. Who are you? Dimitri: Ah.. Dimitri Marcellus. How about you? Kat: Sparrow Katrina. But nobody calls me that. Call me Kat. Dimitri: Ok then. So how many other ways are there to the sea? Apart from these streets? Kat: There aren't very many. There's cliffs in the way. There were canals, but they closed them off. Dimitri: Because of the pirates? Jessica: Captain! Dimitri: Oh hello Jes! This is a pretty interesting town, don't you think? This Kat girl here was just telling me about- Dimitri: Oh. Jessica: This- ... Never mind that. You just ran off without telling anyone! Why? Dimitri: Well, I was hardly going to waste time catching up! Where are they all? Jessica: They were waiting for you. Back at the inn! Dimitri: Ah... Whoops. Jessica: What are you doing out here?! Dimitri: Investigating! Jessica: What, already? You have a plan? Dimitri: .Umm.. no.. I don't. But I had an idea! Jessica: So what's that? Dimitri: A group of pirates appear, and the mayor disappears. It's got to be connected, right? So the first guess is obviously that the pirates have him. But he was in the middle of town, and the pirates aren't. There's a super powerful masked fighter in the way, right? Jessica: Rokku. Yes. And there's the defence force. Dimitri: Yeah. So I was looking for- Dimitri and Jessica: Woah! Clancy: Ah! Hello again young lady. My apologies for the circumstances yesterday. Though it appears you were able to find assistance nonetheless. And you must be the captain! Good to meet you! Dimitri: Yep! Good to meet you too Mr... Clancy: Cornelius Clancy. Clancy: Magnificent, aren’t they? My own design. I’m quite proud of them. Dimitri: Oohh.. That is interesting. Steam powered, right? Clancy: Indeed. Very reliable, in my experience. Jessica: So you use them to clear rubble from the attack? Clancy: Indeed. This area was heavily damaged by sustained cannon fire. I’m afraid we probably won’t be finished clearing till late afternoon. You don’t have too much important business in the port? Dimitri: Not really. We’re looking for the missing mayor. Clancy: Well, as far as I can tell he is not hidden in the port. Dimitri: I thought you might say that. Actually I was trying to figure out how the pirate invaders could have snuck into town to kidnap him, and I’m running out of ideas. Half the alleyways are blocked up. Clancy: That was my doing. I took precautions where I could. Dimitri: Yeah. And apparently the canals are cut off from the sea. I even thought about them sneaking through the pipes or something, but they make too much noise for that. And even if you missed a back alley somewhere, it’s hard to see how they could have avoided Rokku on the rooftops. Clancy: Unless of course, he himself is part of the plot. Jessica: What?! Clancy: It is quite simple when one applies a process of deduction. The pirates cannot have got into town without being detected. Therefore they are unlikely to be the perpetrators. Who else could have done it? The residents remain indoors at night for their own safety. Rokku, however, can somehow evade my guards and pass unnoticed. And his actions on that night are unaccounted for. If you want to find the mayor, I can only recommend finding him. Dimitri: Ahaaa! And now I have a plan! Can’t believe I didn’t think of this already.. I need to look There next! Jessica: hmm? Clancy: I’m happy to help. Just one thing though.. You arrived yesterday, right? Dimitri: yeah. Clancy: So that… vessel… in the harbour.. is yours? Dimitri: Yep. Made her myself. Clancy: It’s an unusual design… It does actually sail the ocean without trouble? Dimitri: Of course. Windy can handle anything. Why? Did something happen? Clancy: Oh no. It’s quite unharmed, if you were worried. The attackers seem inclined to ignore the larger ships. I was just curious as to how well it performed. Though I recommend not flying that Jolly Roger in future. It’s an amusing joke, I admit, but the world government is rather strict about these things. I mean, anyone might think you were actually pirates! Jessica: We’ll keep that in mind, thank you. Corvus: Clancy needs a better course. No challenge to it at all. Marley: Moving targets would be better, right? Corvus: You. When did you get here? Marley: About five minutes ago. Didn't want to interrupt, but I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm George Marley. The top swordsman for the- ah... Our crew. Corvus: I see. You were at the inn earlier. Traders are you? Marley: Um.. kinda. We travel a lot. Been a while since I got a chance to talk to another serious swordsman. That's an interesting technique you have. Corvus: It’s a pirate hunting style. A grand Line pirate could have any number of tricks up their sleeve, so you need to end the fight before any of them come out. Marley: ... Fair point. Hey, why don't we try a sparring match? Corvus: You? Marley: Why not? Would be good practice, right? Corvus: You don't have a sword with you. Marley: I don't like carrying normal swords. Seems a bit dangerous. Besides, I can just snap my fingers and do this. Corvus: Devil fruit powers. Marley: Yeah. Corvus: Perhaps a battle would be a good excercise. This training ground certainly is not. Doctor: Yes? Byrn: Dr Albert? Doctor: No, no! Everyone gets that name wrong. It's Doctor Albert-Ross, actually. Byrn: Riiight... Albert: Ah! Robin! Punctual as ever! Mrs's Gull's prescription is ready for you already! Robin: Thanks Doctor. I'll run that over straight away. Albert: Nothing. Of course it's nothing. Just taking care. So what can I do for you? Byrn: What was that about just now? Albert: Oh.. Minor illness. It’s reminiscent of a very serious one from several years ago, but fortunately nowhere near as fatal. Robin has been delivering the medicine for me to keep my schedule free. Fastest delivery boy I’ve ever had... Byrn: Your schedule doesn’t seem very free. Albert: And just what do you mean by that?! Byrn: Nothing. Just that I'm somewhat surprised you even have time to deal with a minor illness when Clancy's men somehow occupy all your available time in the evening. Albert: You don't understand what you're talking about! It is precisely because I continue to deal with whatever minor ills this town has that I am entirely occupied by the defenders in the evening! Albert: There are too many orphans in this town after the outbreak. If there is even the slightest chance something like it could happen again, I must prevent it at all costs, and I shall. The current siege is also very important to me. If the defenders fall because I didn't keep them well this whole town will be overrun all the same. The massacre then could surpass any plague. To me, there are two fronts on which I might have to defend this town. Byrn: You're trying to hold the entire town up yourself? Albert: I’m the doctor. Supporting those around me is my chosen duty. And besides, I’m the only one who can. Robin is a good assistant, but it’ll be a good few years before he’s ready to do the job, and that’s without the siege taking up my time. Yesterday we were cutting it too close as it is. Anyway, sorry to be impatient, but what is it that you need? Your captain, was it? Byrn: No, he’s been dealt with. We found unlikely help. What we do need is supplies. Bandages, medicines. Things we can use for emergencies. Everyone else is a bit distracted, but I figured one of us should stock up. Albert: Yes, of course …Well, you certainly came to the right place for that. Let’s see what I can do Clerk: Hello! Welcome to Brambling’s! We- ah. Clerk: Umm… Can I help you? Livingstone: Yes, thanks. I need a machete sharpening. Clerk: Ok, I can do that easily. Clerk: That was a machete? Livingstone: Can you sharpen it? Clerk: There’s practically nothing serviceable here! What the heck were you doing with that?! Livingstone: Shaving! Clerk: But that doesn’t make- Clerk: Right. Well, frankly I’d have better luck trying to put an edge on a rolling pin. Livingstone: Oooh! Haven’t heard that before! Can you do that? Clerk: Umm.. No. I can’t. Which was kind of the point. I can offer you a replacement for your blade if you want. Livingstone: Ok! Doone! And do you have any woodworking knives? Clerk: You mean for whittling and stuff? Yeah, I can sell some of those. Anything else? Livingstone: That’s all thanks! Livingstone: Good shape… This one should do perfectly. Livingstone: Excuuuse me! Can I use your upstairs window?! Livingstone: I thought so.. It's like a different set of roads. Kat: The high roads. Or my roads. Livingstone: This is how Rokku gets around so fast, isn’t it? Shooortcuts!! Kat: Why do you have a tree on your head? Livingstone: It’s an ancestor tree! Kat: Why are you up here? Livingstone: I saw you! And I think Rokku runs around up here at night. So I wanted to see what it looked like! Kat: You’re with the man in the black coat and hat aren’t you? Livingstone: the Captain?! Kat: He was looking for Rokku as well. He’s gone to the town hall with a girl. Livingstone: Tooown Haaaaaaalll?! Great Thanks. I’ll go there and- Livingstone: Where is it? Kat: Follow me. I know a shortcut. Clerk: Excuse me! What are you doing up there? Secretary: Good morning sir. We regret to inform you that our mayor has yet to reappear after his recent disappearance. Magpie and myself have no choice but to maintain a very tight schedule indeed in his absence. Caspian: Griffin's gone still? Secretary: That would be Mayor Theydon Griffin. And, it is as I said, he remains absent. Caspian: You could have just said that in the first place you know.. Secretary: Formality is the cornerstone of manners which is the cornerstone of civilized society. One should take pride in how one presents themselves. Caspian: Yeah... I'll just skip to the point. I'm going to need another boat. Mine sank. Secretary: A boat, you say? I am afraid that under the circumstances the prospects of acquiring a vessel are highly dubious. Dimitri: That's a no, isn't it? Jessica: Sounded like it. Caspian: Ah?! Caspian: You guys! Hey! Jessica: Hello again. Secretary: Good morning to you, sir and madam. I am mr Adamson Lapwing, second secretary to our mayor's office. How may this establishment be of assistance to you? We regret to inform you that at this present time- Dimitri: You're going to tell us the mayor isn't in, aren't you? Lapwing: Ah... That is the case, yes. It would appear that- Jessica: We know. That's why we're here. Can we see his office? Lapwing: That would be rather irregular, but under the circumstances I shall endeavour- Jessica: Thank you. Show us in Jessica: Is he.. writing up reports in his sleep?! Caspian: Now that's efficient.. Lapwing: Ah! Please wipe your feet! Caspian, Dimitri and Jessica: Eh?! Lapwing: Forgive me.. please refrain from treading dust into this carpet. Cleanliness is important for an office such as this one, you understand? Dimitri: So this is where he vanished from? Lapwing: That is the case, yes. My associate mr Magpie will be able to provide you with a clearer explanation of what transpired. Magpie: Aack?! Lapwing: Mr Magpie please be careful! We must take care not to disturb the room- Livingstone: Aaaaaaaaaaaagh…. That was a terrible idea! Is my tree ok?! Livingstone: That chimney reeally needs cleaning! Magpie: Ugh.. How many times.. I need to sleep sometime.... Dimitri: Sorry... Magpie: Phe.. No worries! Nice hat. Jessica: Livingstone? What are you doing here? Livingstone: That girl with the goggles told me you were coming here! Jessica: Girl? Dimitri: That... sounds like the girl who was talking to me in the port. She said her name was Kat. Magpie: Katrina, sounds like... Sparrow Katrina is her full name. Jessica: You know her? Magpie: About as well as anybody. Not very. She's an orphan. Her family died several years ago during a plague, and since then she seems to have been living on the streets. Most of the townspeople know about her, but she won't let them help her. Doesn’t even let them get close half the time. We just turn a blind eye when she steals food. Can't really do anything else. Jessica: That's sad. Doesn’t she have anywhere to stay? Magpie: Several places and people have offered to take her, but she won't go anywhere near them. Don’t know where she does stay. Anyway... Why did you come here? Jessica: We're looking for the missing mayor, and we thought it would help if we saw where he disappeared from. Magpie: Well.. Here you are. He was right here. I was in the room down the corridor. Me and Lapwing only brought our desks in here to sort out some of the papers he left behind. I didn't hear anyone come in or out, and nothing was disturbed afterwards. Kinda mysterious, huh? Dimitri: Was this open? Magpie: Sure, It was unlocked. But two floors of smooth wall ain’t easy to climb. And directly beneath here is Lapwing’s office. He’d have seen if somebody had tried to drop down from it. Dimitri: But not if they went along instead. Magpie: Along? What? Livingstone: The rooftops! That’s how I got here! Dimitri: Right. And who do we know who uses them to get around? Jessica: You don’t seriously think Rokku’s the kidnapper, do you? Jessica: Cathcart said he has been defending the island for a long while before this happened. He’s a hero to the town. Caspian: Pfft. Hero indeed. Don’t be ridiculous! Jessica: Just what do you mean by that?! Caspian: Hero is just a word! Only a fool really believes in them. And that doesn’t mean there actually is such a thing! Jessica: That’s not true! Caspian: Really? Then tell me this. Where’s Garp now? Jessica: Huh? Caspian: This island could use a guy like him now. He’s supposed to be a hero, isn’t he? Where is he? Where are the marines?! They never come to incidents like this! Jessica: There’s Clancy. Caspian: A freelance contractor. Nothing more. And he’s not done the best job of stopping attacks, given how much of the port his being smashed up overnight. Jessica: At least he’s trying! That’s all it takes. Caspian: If you say so. But if there’s one thing I can say for certain, heroes are never as good as they look at first. Jessica: Either way, why now?! What is so significant about this moment that Rokku would suddenly decide to stop protecting and kidnap somebody?! Dimitri? Jessica: Dimitri? Dimitri: This town makes no sense. Jessica: What? Dimitri: There’s a street here with no way of actually getting onto it. Just a set of dead ends. Magpie: Oh that? Disused section of canal. There’s ways onto it, but they’re underwater. It was closed off by the previous mayor in order to- Lapwing: What?! But this is intolerable! Lapwing: Forgive me for my bluntness, but I must object to the condition this room is in! The amount of dust and wood chips is appalling! Livingstone: Soorrrry! Livingstone: Whoops. Caspian: Well that could have gone better. Did you see anything? Dimitri: Of course. The rooftop way in seems to be the only obvious one. Jessica: But it doesn't make sense to me that Rokku kidnapped him. Like I said, why? Dimitri: Either way, I think the next job is finding Rokku. The two may well be connected. Marley: Well that's lucky! Hey Bro! Dimitri: Marley? Marley: I've found him! I know who Rokku is! Caspian: What?! Already?! Jessica: How? Marley: It's that Corvus guy. He was carrying swords when we got to the inn last night. Same as Rokku. Then the next morning he's talking about how he hates pirates. Same as Rokku. So I challenged him to a fight to see what happened. Dimitri: Who won? Marley: ... umm... Never mind. Jessica: That could be coincidence, though. I mean, not many people like pirates. Marley: How about this then? They have exactly the same fighting style! When he's disguised he just makes the attacks a lot faster and shouts more, but it's definitely him. I'm a swordsman, I can recognise the same style and build. It's almost impossible to copy something like that. Even if one of them taught the other there should be more differences. You gotta admit, that's solid evidence. Jessica: So, Corvus is Rokku? ??: Corvus is Rokku?! Dimitri: Umm.. well.. We're not sure of that.. Marley: Yes I am! Boy: That's awesome! I didn't think anybody knew before! I need to tell everyone about this! Dimitri: Well.. Guess the secrets out. Or about to be. Jessica: Then we need to find Corvus again. Quickly. Clancy: so you've reached the same conclusions I did, pirate. And that's all the proof I need. Now it is time to act. Marley: Hey Corvus! Dimitri: Mind if we talk. We kinda need to ask a few things. Corvus: what's wrong? Marley: You're Rokku ain't you? Corvus: What? Marley: Come on.. I recognise the fighting style. Corvus: That's ridiculous. I'm not a vigilante. I hunted pirates for a time before I settled here. I'm done with that now. Marley: Well, how do you explain the technique then? Rokku has your pirate hunting style. Corvus: Anyone could learn that. Marley: But not copy it exactly. You don't need to worry.. We won't tell anyone Caspian: Except that boy who heard us might. I may need to... Deal with him. Dimitri: besides, we want to ask about the mayor. That's the important thing here. Corvus: What about him? ???: Kyeeeeeeeeeheeeeeee! Pirates! All: What?! Rokku: I told you! Foolish pirates! Stay off the streets at night! Corvus: Pirates?! Livingstone: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!?! What?! Marley: How the heck?! Byrn: You made a mistake, Marley? Marley: But that can't be right, I was sure... Uh oh! Dimitri: Plan B! I've got this under control! Jessica: Dimitri, wait! Caspian: Wait.. you guys are actual pirates?! Corvus: Pirates! I am not letting you run amok in this town! No holding back! Marley: That's not good... Rokku: rawrk! Dimitri: Get back here! Rokku!
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