One Piece: Gold And Fire

[Ragna POV]

The Marine branch wasn't exactly what I anticipated it to be, I thought it would be like a Police Station but rather it looked like an office, we only found one skinny man sitting on a counter, processing papers alone while muttering something, probably something about the boring task.

"Here, we have to go towards the bounty department for your bounty." Tashigi led me from one room to another until we reached the man. I could say that she was a good girl, her enthusiasm about being a Marine might be only second to her liking for swords.

I couldn't help but sneak a glance at the sword she had at her waist, I was meaning to ask her about that sword but she was like a non-stop bullet train, explaining about this town and her life as a Marine and I heard her repeating the word 'sword' at least eight times by now, but she spoke with excitement.

It was kind of cute and thus I kept my mouth shut and listened to everything she said.

"Ah, here we go, Ian please process this person's bounty reward." Tashigi gave a vibrant smile to the now-named Ian while pointing at me.

"Tashigi, do you know this man ?" He was a bald man with small eyes, he didn't look that old though but was still bald for some reason.

"I just met him outside and thought about helping him out since he was new here." Replied Tashigi with again a smile on her face.

"Hmm, fine… tell me whose bounty you want to exchange ?" Asked while taking out a list of many bounty orders to identify the suspects, since I didn't bring a captive with me, it was apparent to him that I already had killed the Pirate.

"This one here…" I just handed over the bag to him to check, could have just told him but I'm sure that there should be a screening process.

"Golden Hook ?" The man looked inside and said with a little surprise on his face, he then looked at me with a little scrutinizing gaze.

"Did you kill him ?" He asked not believing that a new face, a no-body bounty hunter had taken out a 5 million bounty pirate, it wasn't unheard of but not common either.

"Yes, I did," I replied without any hesitation, there was no lie to it, I really killed him, it was just that I didn't do it for the bounty exactly.

"Do you have a hunting license ?" Asked Ian with a suspicious look on his face.

"Ah.. am no this is my first Bounty Claim, didn't know that we needed one." Why we even need a license for something like this in the first place, was my thoughts right now.

The man looked at the decapitated head of Golden Hook again and then back at me, like pondering something but then let out a sigh seeing Tashigi there, not sure what he was thinking but then Ian just took the head and then took out 5 Million Beli from the side and handed it over to me.

"Here, it's 3.5 million beli. Due to you killing the man, the bounty will be 20% less and then there are taxes which will be another 10%.

That makes 3.6 million beli, I took hundred thousand from it as you will need to make a hunting license if you wish to continue this work,' he said making me stunted.

Why do they cut the money on not bringing the people alive, isn't it written in the bounty that he can be accepted dead or alive? Then why cut the money.

And what the hell with the taxes, I died, came to another world with fantasy, a big sea, pirates, anime-like powers and this man telling me that I still had to pay taxes?

I can't help but paused there in indignation and maybe seeing me like that, the man once again opened his mouth and said.

"Usually I don't pay the bounty until someone shows their bounty License, you are lucky, since it was Tashigi introducing you, I let you go…Huff." Said the man with a glaring look.

I can't help but sigh at this, though I never paid taxes since I was still underage when I died but it's irritating seeing even in this world I will have to pay taxes.

"Thank you for your help." I just thanked the man, not planning on talking with him for both of your health, took the money and turned around.

"OI, remember to come here by tomorrow, I'll hand over your Hunting License…" Ian said to which I just nodded.

"Ah wait." Tashigi also followed me after giving a thanks to Ian.

---

"Sorry about Ian, he means well, you see there are too many pirates that take the bounty while concealing their identity, even some bigger pirate send their crewmates who are not that famous to exchange bounty." Tashigi looked a little apologetic and only when she said this that I understand why the Licence was important.

It's not the Licence but rather the time the marine gets while making a license for a new bounty hunter which is important. In that time they do their research and find whether the person is affiliated with any pirate or not.

This also ensures that the money is not going to a Pirate. Probably he gave me money just because I was with Tashigi.

"Don't worry, I understand. In fact, I should thank you that I got the money faster because you helped me out. Thanks for that…"

"OH, you don't have to worry about something like that, it's fine." Tashigi cutely wave her hand with a slight blush on her face.

"By the way, what is the minimum age for Marines to take recruits ?" I asked, now intrigued at how young Tashigi was.

"Oh, do you want to enter the Marine. I can help you with that, if you wish then I can set up a meeting for you with your branch commander." Tashigi's eyes lit up.

"No no, I still plan to act like a bounty hunter for some time, don't misunderstand. I asked because you look very young, that all."

"Young, what are you saying, I'm already an adult. Same age as you." Tashigi huffed, the reaction was enough to tell that she gets this a lot.

"I'm 15 though, do Marines take 15 years as a recruit."

"What !" Tashigi was taken aback and then looked at the boy who was almost half a foot taller than him with surprised. She wasn't that surprise by the height though, in this world the average height of people varies a lot, she was surprised how the boy carried himself.

It didn't even feel like he was that young, Tashigi was expecting someone in his early 20s.

"Huh, I thought you looked young but didn't expect you to be really 3 years younger than me…" She muttered to herself.

"Sorry, but Marines don't take anyone under the age of 17. You can only be assigned as a trainee or a chore boy at this age." She said, with a disappointed expression on her face.

'I never said I want to become a Marine though.' I shooked my head but let it go, it wasn't worth poking that hornet nest again.

"Say Tashigi, I was meaning to asked you about the sword you have on your waist, is that a famous sword ?" I asked, no matter how hard I tried my attention was kept on going to her sword.

Seems like my inner child who finds swords cool is still alive somewhere.

"Oh no, it's just a common sword, I'm not strong enough to hold a famous sword in my possession yet," Tashigi replied, first she looked a little surprised at the sudden question but then he let out a sigh.

But as soon as she was done and I was about to console her, a light appear in her eyes as she snapped her head towards me and said.

"But one day, I will retrieve all the famous swords in the sea which are in the possession of pirates, that's my dream," Tashigi said with a gleam and determination in her eyes. I could tell that this was not just mere words, she really believed that she could do it.

"I-I see." Not sure what to say, I just agreed to her dream, it was a strange dream, I certainly didn't understand what purpose a dream like that served, it didn't help neither the society nor herself but if she's happy then who am I to say anything about her dream.

"Are you also interested in Swords?" But then her tone changed suddenly, after her fierce declaration she turned into a curious baby with shiny eyes who met a new friend with same hobbies as hers.

"Yeah, I like swords, they are cool." And I completely understand that feeling, the feeling when we meet a like-minded person and we can talk with them for hours about our favourite subjects.

"Nice, are you also a swordsman ?" She asked with excitement in her voice. Like a schoolgirl learned her favorite ice cream was on menu today.

"NO… I wanted to learn but there was no one to learn from. Let alone learning I don't even own a sword…I was poor when growing up so I couldn't afford one." I replied with a dejected expression on my face. I really want to be a strong swordsman.

"Oh…" Tashigi too looked dejected but then suddenly she perked up as she looked at the 3.5 million I was carrying.

"Ragna…" She almost shouted.

"Huh…What ?" Almost making me jump in freight as well.

"If you don't mind spending a little then why not we go to the Logue Town's Famous Sword Shop. I'm sure you can find a good sword for yourself there." She beamed up, just the thought of swords shopping seemed to be enough to make her smile, it didn't matter whether the swords were for someone else.

I was taken aback at the sudden offer but then my eyes also fell on the money I was carrying and that put a smile on my face.

"Sure, now that I got some money, It will be a crime not to get a good sword of my own. I can leave learning swords to future me…" I smiled and nodded.

xxx

[Word Count: 1750]

A hunting License wasn't cannon but it makes sense, that why I add it, I will adding this extra things just to flush out the stories as time goes.

Hope you like the chapter, I know the story is slow at starting, I will rampt up as more chapters goes.

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