Screw It, I'm Going Out to Find It!

Chapter XLII: Gamer Gamer No Mi

Jaune quickly spun around, all but slapping his hand over Sun's mouth. "Don't ask him that!" Jaune hissed. "And don't you dare tell me," he added to Rayleigh.

"You don't want to know?" Rayleigh's voice feigned curiosity, as if he had already known the answer from the start.

There was no hesitance in the look Jaune gave him. The epitome of determination marked his features with sturdy eyes, unflinching and leaving no room for leeway. "I set out to find the One Piece — not to be told where it is. I won't sully my quest by asking for it."

Rayleigh lifted his glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid before sipping it. "Don't ever lose that heart of yours, kid. Physical strength can only take you as far as your heart will guide you."

Jaune then felt his hand vibrate as Sun tried to give a muffled apology behind it. Having completely forgotten where his hand had been, the determination that had marked his face melted away to sheepishness as he pulled it away from Sun.

"Sorry," Sun repeated. "I didn't realize it was so important to you, man."

"See," Blake whispered sharply to Nora. "He didn't lick his hand."

Nora looked at her, then interrupted the conversation at hand. "Hey, Jaune! Wanna know what Blake —"

Jaune shifted his attention, but Nora had already been abducted by the time he looked. "Must have been the wind," Jaune said to himself, not noticing Blake holding Nora captive behind Ren. This time, she used Nora's own hand to cover her mouth.

"You should know," Rayleigh captured their attention once more. "There are several rookies here right now with high bounties — you included, if I'm right. The marines have taken to calling them 'The Most Annoying Fucking Generation.' I would be wary of them, if I were you."

Jaune gently rested his hand on his chin. "I bet that woman was one of them. She was pretty strong, and a bit annoying with how aggressive she was."

Rayleigh shifted, preparing his coating supplies without leaving his stool just yet. "I say this since it will take a few days for me to coat your ship. After that incident, I have no doubt that the marines will be looking for you, so you shouldn't stick around here. So, you'll need to be careful of everyone else here."

"Wait, what about the payment?" asked Ren.

Rayleigh shook his head. "You helped a friend of mine. I couldn't ask anything of you after that."

***

Oscar had never been in a fight before. The thought alone of confronting the Straw Hats had him on edge as his ship approached the archipelago. Marines began gathering around, which he found odd. Lining the edge of the root before him, forming a blockade that would prevent him from landing. Nervously, Oscar took a step back, earning an annoyed grunt from the goat with him.

"I warned you that they would be upset," chided Ozpin. "It shouldn't be too difficult to clear this all up. Just let them know that you plan on capturing the Straw Hats."

Oscar shook his head, continuing to shuffle backward. "Th-they're pointing their guns at me now," he stated as the blockade came to resemble a firing squad. Ozpin's voice slowly tapered to a whisper in his mind as Oscar stared at the ends of the line of gun barrels. His captured boat hit the root of the giant mangrove tree with a pathetic sound.

"Surrender!" The closest marine shouted at him. "I suggest you come quietly!"

Ozpin was urging him to comply, but Oscar wasn't listening. Everything was beginning to feel distant, his breath quickened, and his heart was thundering in his chest. He took one more step back, and Yagi sounded very upset. Oscar hadn't realized he was backing the goat against the railing of the boat. Oscar suddenly found himself knocked into the air by a sharp pair of horns. He landed ungracefully with his back laying on Yagi as the goat began to charge forward. As Oscar began to slip off, he instinctively twisted around and managed to wrap his arms around Yagi's neck to hold on.