Serious; Salty and Johnny's travels; Chapter 4: Blue Stripe (Open to Max and myself.)

"Well, obviously we would be informed of your arrival, after all, you were to escort the captives of the Troll Pirates over here." Zamato responds, while simultaneously rubbing off his glove with a silky, pale blue, lacy handkerchief. Then, with his eyes now closed, he raises his hands, and claps a few times, instantly the guards and marines begin to take the prisoners away, and into their cells, that were actually around the large dining hall. Then they begin to clean up, while others go and carry some fine food towards one of the tables in the middle of the hall. "Let us speak more civilized, after all, you all are our guests, sort of speak." The man then adds, smiling, but his smile still reflects coldness and a certain level of sarcasm and underestimation on Salty's team.

The food presented is indeed great. Stuffed turkeys with crispy golden skin crust, soups of all kinds, delicious and juicy meatballs served in red sauce those scent was truly magical, jelly of various different fruits and many more tasty and eye-catching delicacies. Zamato sits along with two other marines, possibly his trusted assistants, and with a nod, implies to the others to sit as well. Considering the looks of the pirates from the distance, and the fact that it was unlikely that they'd actually be served of such wonderful food, that was quite the annoying and disturbing thing for them, to watch these guys eat all that awesome food, while they were stuck with just the basics.

"I'll have to apologize for the poorly executed welcoming, but I shall make sure that this certain brute that was sent to meet up with you, will hear for this. Either way... first of all, Bobby Dick, why are you up here?" When he heard his name, Bobby, who was, up to this point, happily eating, freezes, some rice falls down from his gaping mouth, as he's left with a face fault of horror. "Secondly, I don't understand how or why, but you seem to have left your captives to actually elude you. That's really something I will have to report, I am afraid." he then adds, apparently, he was believing that the pirates had actually escaped from them and were making a run for it. "But, thankfully, we got them and they are now transported to Level 3. Oddly, they were all still handcuffed, bar one. So, I believe that after this dinner, you are free to leave. Not that we want to sent you away but .." an arrogant smirk forms to his lips, "we have other business to attend to."

Salty did not pay attention to most things the Commodore said about the pirates. It was not that he did not care, it was just that he stopped in a single phrase the marine said. Apparently, he was stuck at the part about Bobby. Zamato was complaining to Bobby about being into the second floor and that really annoyed Salty. He could not hold it. "I don't care about the prisoners, at all." he said, with an angry look on his face. "How dare you, Commodore Zamato? How dare you? Just because Bobby is kind and innocent, not only you and the rest of the jerks who work here have forced him into doing all the job of level 1, but also you dare to scold him for leading us to the second floor after my request! That is unacceptable! I have already taken pictures of the place, Commodre Zamato... And I can assure you that when I report everything I found here to my superiors, you and the rest of the bastards who work over here will probably end up being sent into the Tower of Fallen Angels in the New World. THERE we will see if you really have the guts you try to show me and my subordinates when you speak about the prisoners! And guess what? I am going to take Bobby away with me! From now on, he will be a member of the Photography Department!" he continued speaking, clearly offended by the Commodore's words. Although Salty was kind with most people, those kinds of people disgusted him. "Oh and..." he kept talking, right before farting. "The banana." he finished.

"Oi oi, Salty, calm down.." Johnny starts to speak, raising his hand, but is stopped by his friend's torrent of words, and is left just letting out a soft sound of uneasiness and anxiety. Listening to Salty all the way through, without attempting to cut him off or defend himself, Zamato hears the commodore out, while everyone else, bar himself, are all showing signs of worry and turmoil, with the two marines next to Zamato being ready to get up, possibly to defend their superior. When he is done, Zamato simply looks down on his plate, and resumes eating, as if nothing had happened. Even the fact that Salty actually let out a fart, which got the other marines to nearly choke, he was unfazed. He actually continues on, not showing sighs to speak about all this, until Salty was about to comment on that, where, with his focus still on the plate, he responds.

"I am afraid I will have to inform you that the Marine HQ is perfectly aware of our methods to keep the prisoners in custody and in a good behavior. While some of our methods may seem controversial to a more run of the mill -he says that last phrase with a very mocking tone- marine, they are working and they keep the inmates stable. We do not intentionally torture them nor are we sadist. So instead of accusing us and threatening, which you are in no power to do, why won't you just enjoy the food? It's best served and eaten while it's still warm and soft."

That guy, he wasn't afraid of any accusations and threats at all, however he didn't seemed to care about Bobby and the fact that the other commodore outright claimed that he'd take the little dwarf in his team. "By the way..." Johnny cuts in, "one of the men you captured was part of our team, I'm afraid you were mistaken." he says.

"I am pretty sure you are lying! There is no way the Marine HQs would agree with the methods of a bastard like you are!" Salty said with an angry look on his face and then he turns his back at Zamato, speaking some final words. "As for your methods over the prisoners, I don't give a damn. You are taking advantage of an innocent subordinate you have and I am sure that our superiors of the HQs will keep that in mind." he finished talking, before listening to Johnny's words. "Oh and yes... Hand us over our team mate. He is an important member of our team and department." he talked once more, while thinking about Douche.

Salty's anger over Zamato and the rest of the people in Blue Stripe had frustrated him that much to the point that he even forgot asking Zamato to free Douche. Douche was a member of the team, after the incident in Whiskey Peak. He was a major member of the team, a friend of Salty, much like Johnny was. Even if Douche was the most annoying person in the world, for Salty he was very important. He was inspiring Salty to improve his Troll Style, he was the moving inspiration of the Commodore. He was a friend he trusted and cared for, after all.

"I am pretty certain that the Marine HQ won't really care about how we handle our weapons, machines and tools, so long as the work they want us to do is done. So go ahead and "report" us; it's time for delusional marines such as yourself to abandon fairy tales." Zamato responds, again with excellent composure, but always with a hint of sarcasm and underestimation over Salty. Whipping away the sauce left from the dish he was eating, from his lips using a silky napkin, Zamato's pressuring and intimidating stare falls upon Salty once again. "You will not tell me how to use my weapons, Commodore-san. And another thing ... we crossed our information and we know that his person you speak of, is also a member of the Troll Pirates. Therefore your request shall be denied."

Zamato was indeed one heck of a strict, absolute and arrogant man!

"Weapons, huh?" Salty said with a calm voice. "And you claim that Douche is a criminal, huh?" he kept talking with a calm tone in his voice. He would not turn his head to Zamato. Instead, he kept talking with his back turned, while keeping the same tone in his voice. He would not even bother looking at Zamato's face, he did not want to do so. He did not like staring at the face of a person he despised, after all.

"I will answer for both matters. Firstly, I am absolutely sure that the marines of the HQ will actually care about the person who is responsible about a prison's floor... Bobby is the only person who is actually responsible for the first floor and the circumstances under which he works are the worst. He works under no light and he is the only one working... I really wonder what the marines of the HQ will tell about this. As for Douche, I will give you another answer... Douche has no bounty on his head. And despite the fact that he was once affiliated with the Troll Pirates, he is not an acknowledged criminal. He has no record, apparently. You cannot touch him. If you touch him, it will be like you are touching an innocent civilian. The marines never deemed him a threat to give him a bounty. If you do imprison him, I am absolute that it will be like you are neglecting the opinion of your superiors who would not bother giving a bounty to Douche. And trust me, if you don't hand him over to the Photography Department in the next hour, I am going to report to my superiors what you are doing. Act as if you are calm, I don't give a damn. I am pretty sure that you are burning inside you... Do as I said and there will be no trouble for both of us." Salty kept talking with a calm voice, speaking words that under other circumstances he would never speak. It was his interaction with Johnny that made him such a man, after all...

Watching over Salty speaking, the other two marines are obviously starting to get uncomfortable and restless. Salty was obviously really capable a negotiator and talker when he wanted to, and it was seemingly going well so far. Seemingly, however, as once again, Zamato seems to be somewhat not paying attention, instead he seems to focus mostly on that lovely piece of black forest cake that he was served and was currently in the process of eating. Once done, he glares once again.

"Two things, once again. The HQ are perfectly aware of how we use our assets. Go ahead and ask them yourself. They will laugh at you for protesting about a piece of weaponry -Bobby looks down, with shady and vacant eyes, biting his upper lip a bit- and how it should be treated as human. Secondly .. this man that you speak of, was recognized as a member of the Troll pirates, and, unlike what you say..." another marine, sitting on the sidelines, is approaching, following the Commodore's nod. He gives Zamato a piece of paper, and then Zamato offers it to Salty. It's a wanted poster of a man with a really goofy and stupid facial expression, with long wavy hair and those really deep blue eyes. "His real name is "Bekorino Paprika", and he has a bounty of 9,000,000. Therefore, you cannot say a word regarding his release. You can say it yourself, it's that "friend" of yours, right?"
This wasn't looking good!

"He is a friend of mine, much like Bobby! And no matter what you do, I am not letting them in this mess you have put them in! I swear Commodore Zamato... You and your men might be having the upper hand by now but I will find a way and expose your pathetic prison! And by the time I do so, you will be begging me to take away with me Douche and Bobby. You don't want to mess with the Photography Department!" the commodore of the photography department said.

"Oi! Salty-sama! Calm down!" Fino tried to interfere, talking with his pitched voice, in an attempt to calm down the angry commodore. "You shouldn't worry! Douche is going to be freed, I am sure about it!" he finished.

"We also have to discuss about something else..." Johnny then cuts in, drawing the attention, and then nods to Salty, also placing his hand in front, in a "no no" stance. "We will handle the rest when it's time, don't forget what happened.." he says, and then turns to Zamato.
"I am all ears." Zamato says, again with the same sarcastic and somewhat underestimating tone towards everyone else.
"Do you have any paramecia-type fruit users locked in here? More specifically, users with abilities regarding manipulation of any sort." Johnny asks, and Zamato merely shakes his head negatively, somewhat narrowing his eyes. "That is a no, why do you ask such pointless and unrelated questions?"
However, as soon as he says that, one of the other marines then turns, confused. "Sir, what are you talking about, we do.."
"...What?"

"Wait a moment, that means that the bastard is also affected by that memory thing... It looks like somebody has affected his memories, as well..." Salty whispers as soon as he listens to the reply of the marine. "Of course, something else might be happening, as well, but I doubt it..." he thought but then he moved his heard around, finishing his thought "No, it can't be... He probably isn't responsible about this. I doubt there are corrupted marines anywhere.".

"So, that means that you are affected by the very same power we got affected, as well." were the words of Salty to the hated commodore. "That means that there is a problem in the prison..." he finished speaking.

"What are you exactly talking ab-wait, there is a certain man that .. I see. Follow me." Zamato says, apparently, whatever this weird thing or power was, it seemed to become weaker or even negated if the person was reminded of the memory altered. So, could this be that someone escaped from his or her cell, and affected the marine's memories and judgment so escape would be much easier?

Zamato reaches the elevator and clicks similar buttons that the team had earlier clicked to get up there. Turning his head, and with a somewhat shady and spooky expression, he speaks again. "There is a man with an ability that could be responsible for this. Be wary, however. We shall ascent to Floor 3." Bobby instantly gulped and fell on his posterior when Zamato stated that. Was that a bad sign?

Salty would ignore Bobby's gulping even if he saw it. No matter how much scary the third floor could be, it didn't matter as both himself, Fino and Johnny were strong enough to possibly handle anybody who was imprisoned in that floor. However, there was something else that was worrying him. Apparently, in level 3 there also were the Troll Pirates and Douche. As a result, after reaching the third floor, Salty and the rest of the Photography Department could try something risky... Something very risky. Salty had to scan the whole area in order to find a way and free Douche, without Zamato and the rest of the marines to find out anything and bring them trouble. Salty had to take advantage of the incident that was taking place in the prison of Blue Stripe to do what he had to do and free his annoying friend, even if he knew that he was the most annoying person in the world...

Level 3; 40+ Rooms
Reaching the level, the elevator's doors open, and, as soon as that happens, everyone is left speechless, and in shock and awe for a moment, at the sight of what was happening in front of them. All the marines close by were not conscious! Zamato runs towards the closest to them, and shakes him, looking down at him, before he turns towards the others. "He's .. asleep. What in the world is happening?" He mutters, sweat running down his forehead. What WAS going on here?!

"I got to have some evidence for this incident..." said Salty with a worried look on his face and he quickly grabbed his camera, taking a picture of the unconscious marines. "It looks like something fishy is going on here and I am pretty sure that this has nothing to do with our disagreement or the Troll Pirates. This looks like the action of a big fish. Who are the most dangerous pirates you have in here?" asked Salty with a serious look on his face so that he would find out by Zamato who could be the responsible culprits who may have defeated the majority of the marines at level 3.

Meanwhile, Fino is inspecting the body of one of the unconscious marines. While inspecting it, he turns his head towards the direction of Salty and the rest of the group. "They are asleep, just like commodore Zamato said... I am pretty sure that this might be the job of a fruit user. Who knows... There might be a fruit user with the Sleep Sleep Fruit, after all. It is not rare in prisons to find fruit users as there are fruit users in any pirate crew." he commented with his highly pitched as always voice.

"Fruit user or not, we have to be careful, that's for sure." said Salty, while waiting for Zamato's answer to his question.

"There once was a prisoner here with the Nemu Nemu no Mi; it's a fruit that bestows the user with the ability to induce sleep on anyone he pleases through a form of hypnosis. The problem is..." Zamato starts to answer Salty and Fino's questions, while also walking around quickly and inspecting every marine that was down on the ground; all of them being asleep after all. "This prisoner died 4 years ago. So that really doesn't make sense." He then adds, and rubs his chin. "Everyone is asleep, even the prisoners are asleep .. except .. actually, your "friend" doesn't seem to be around, nor are the captives, they must have been sent to Level 4, the last level of this Prison. It is also true that there is a prisoner in Level 4 with an ability regarding memorization, but I can't see how he could be related with such a thing..."

Johnny then steps in, rubbing his chin. "I think I have an idea about what might have happened. But it aint pretty nor very fun to hear." he claims, with a defiant and sure of himself expression on his face. What was it that he spotted?

"Hm... What do you have in your mind, Johnny-san?" asked Salty with curiosity as soon as he listened to his good friend's words. Salty knew that Johnny was a very cunning man and as a result, he would probably find out an answer to all the questions that had just risen. Salty was absolutely trusting his good friend, after all.

"I have something in my mind, as well, but that is not actually very good for the prison." said Fino with his high-pitched voice. "What if the user with the Sleep Sleepy Fruit faked his death to be freed and came here to free the rest of the prisoners?" asked Fino.

"Nah, that sounds too much." commented Salty who was waiting for Johnny to speak.

"That's close enough to what I was thinking, guys. But, what if he and that person with the power to alter memories and thinking teamed up and formed some form of plan to accomplish this?" Johnny says, while rubbing his chin with his free hand. Bobby just watches everyone, not quite understanding what they were talking about, well, he was quite the gullible and innocent person, also he was pretty absent-minded so, he was simply left watching over them, with star eyes, thinking that they are so brilliant and ingenious.

"The user of the Hako Hako no Mi is not here ... seems that we are in a tight situation. And with everyone here affected, I shall have to ask for your assistance." Zamato says, with a serious tone on his face. "We shall deal about our personal issues later." he then adds, and offers a handshake to Salty.

Salty smiles as soon as he realizes that he is getting asked for assistance. Apparently, Zamato was now in such a tight situation that he needed Salty's assistance. Without a second thought, Salty raised his hand and stared at his fellow commodore. He moved his hand, shaking hands with the marine who worked in the prison of Blue Stripe. "Okay. As fellow marines we are going to help you. I am not going to ask you to free Douche or leave Bobby with us. This is a serious issue and we have to work together, just like we are supposed to do in the first place. For everything you need, Commodore Zamato, the Photography Department is here." said Salty after shaking hands with the commodore.

Then, Fino turned his head towards Johnny. With his pitched - as always - voice, he spoke some words. "Then if that's the case their alliance is in very big trouble... Even if there is a pirate alliance between those two, there also is a marine alliance between Salty-sama and Zamato-sama... Our alliance is going to counter those pirates' jailbreak plan!" he said, as if he was not really worried at all. After all, the swordsman of the department was very confident in his mysterious skills over the sword...

"I have a feeling that whoever has caused this, is already on the move, perhaps he even left." Johnny remarks, quickly buzz-killing the high spirit that was beginning to built between his subordinates. He was right, however, this could be the case. After all, those people seemingly didn't started a riot, didn't released any prisoners and only selectively messed up with only the people that were in the way and would be the ones to be trouble if left at that. "You see, if they wanted to cause trouble, they would release prisoners across their path. This is a carefully plotted-down scam to allow the one in possession of the memory-related thing, to escape." he then adds, while casually drinking some mango juice.

"What does "Hako Hako" anyway?" Fino then asks, after making a long face towards Johnny for effortlessly bringing the high spirit down again.
"It stems from the words pigeon and hole, and the word pigeonhole literally means to forget something all together. The user, Maractus Zack, is a dangerous criminal with a bounty of 92,000,000 Beli." Zamato adds, while also explaining and answering Fino's question.

"Hako Hako, huh?" said Salty while slightly closing his eyes, obviously because of his curiosity over the weird fruit. "I have never heard of a fruit power like that, but even if I did so, I would probably forget it!" he continued speaking, obviously making a silly joke over the power of the fruit. Then, he would start laughing, as if this was funny, but he would stop doing so after realizing that nobody except from Bobby were laughing. "Oh well... I tried to make the atmosphere warmer." he explained before shutting his mouth.

"So... What's the plan? Salty-sama? Zamato-sama?" asked Fino afterwards, demanding to know what they were having in their minds to stop the prisoners.

"I have initiated the emergency signal just now, so all floors shall be locked, in case the escapees are still inside the building. We need someone however, or rather, a small group, to actually go outside and begin to scout around. Considering the situation, and the abilities involved, if your accomplice is correct, then the sleep user must have been a "marine" all these years, possibly by using the latter's abilities to conceal his true identity .. I don't see why they had to wait so long however .. but anyway, we need to get some men outside." Zamato calmly says, while looking across the people in the room. Apparently, while a rather arrogant and sort of matters person, he indeed was a capable leader and strategic enough to quickly come up with a plan.

Meanwhile, outside, a great distance away, a female turns her head towards the facility, her boobs bouncing along with her head turning, while a piece of cooked meat was sticking out from her mouth. She seems to be restless.

"Then I guess we have to split in two groups. That way we shall search through the prison for any escapees and the user of the sleep sleep fruit much more easily!" said Salty with a serious look on his face. "Zamato is going with me while the others will form another team! The more groups there are the more easy our job is going to be, don't you all agree?" he continued speaking and then he turned his head towards his two subordinates. He looked at them with a smile on his face as if he was trying to tell something. And indeed he wanted. Apparently the commodore had something in his mind he wanted the others to understand. Knowing how they used to act he wanted to have them separated from Zamato so that they would split up as well and search through the building not only for the culprits but also for Douche. After all he could not leave his stupid friend like that. He had to find him before he got in any trouble...

"Very well, it's settled... but I will take the juice drinker alongside me." Zamato says, and slowly walks towards a nearby wall. He then turns towards Johnny and nods to him to approach. "Get a hold of my back. I shall escort us." He calmly says, and then, to everyone's surprise, his hand seems to merge with the wall, sort of as if one thing was absorbing the other. "I ate the Kabe Kabe no Mi, I am a Wall man, to put it bluntly. I can sync with any wall, get inside said wall, and travel across it. I can also create walls, of course. And, I can also make others travel across the wall, as long as they or I hold them. Let's go; Chief Petty officers Greg and Marko shall guide you through the prison. Good luck to you." Finishing that, and with Johnny still being rather uneasy and not sure about this, the man leaps ahead and vanishes into the wall, with Salty's friend alongside him.

The other two marines, Greg and Marko immediately salute, once Zamato left, to Salty and Fino. "We shall do our best to be of any assistance!" So, it was on!

"Hey! I didn't say that Johnny should go with Zamato! I should go with Zamato!!!" yelled Salty as the two marines left. "Well, on the other hand, Zamato and I are the leaders of the two groups so it's natural for the two of us to split..." he commented after thinking a second time. While at first this team sounded as the team of weaklings at Salty's ears, after thinking a second time Salty realized that there was Fino on his team. Fino was a strong man, an expert swordsman and Salty knew it, even if he hadn't demonstrated his powers yet. Salty had the feeling that he could trust him completely, despite the fact that he was a quite cheerful personality which was sometimes acting in an even more stupid way than Douche did...

"Don't worry, Salty-sama! I am here!" said Fino with his pitched voice and then he took a wide smile on his face.

"I know, I know..." said Salty and patted Fino on the back. "Watch our backs, Fino. I am counting on you." said Salty.

"You are strong, as well, Salty-sama. You might be stronger than me, I think." said Fino.

"Huh?!" Salty was shocked. "Wait, wait... WE ARE DOOMED!" yelled Salty with a trembling voice.

"It seems that Mr. Salty is worried. He is not that strong." whispered Bobby to Greg and Marko.

"Oh, shut up! I have defeated pirates with greater bounties than you can imagine! I was even sent in a war against Yonko Anubis!" defended Salty himself, angry at Bobby.

"Sorry." said Bobby and moved his head down, while tears appeared in his eyes.

"Let's go!" said Salty afterwards and then he turned his head towards Zamato's subordinates.

"Greg, Marko... Can you guide our group through the prison?" he asked.

Meanwhile, hiding behind a wall, a figure is standing... The figure moves his head, taking a glance at Salty's group and then he hides it again... Who is the mysterious figure?

"Leave it to us." The pair of the marines, left to assist Salty's team, reply simultaneously, and then nod for them to follow. Bobby leaps on Salty's shoulder, and wraps his tail across the marine's shoulders and neck. "Let's get them, Master Salty!" he says, with star eyes, that part of Salty's talking about the Alabasta event apparently got him going and considering Salty as some sort of superhero.

Meanwhile, marines from the lower levels were alerted and begun searching and scanning around the place, to see if they can locate something. A large force was also sent to Level 1, the prisoners seeing intense light for the first time in probably some years or so. Meanwhile, others were sent to Level 3, to wake up the ones asleep. However, Fino soon points something out. "Why is no one going on Level 4?"