One Piece: Sticky fingers

The 6th Day of Sailing

Victor sat at the large table in the VIP room on the "Croissant," surrounded by zipper samples of different styles and materials. He was deep in thought, trying to figure out the best way to use the Chain Chain Fruit he had gained.

When he fought the "Three-Finger Fox," he understood why the Marine would consider the Chain Chain Fruit useless. Unlike Sticky Finger" from JOJO's Bizarre Adventure, which could break down anything it touched, the Chain Chain Fruit couldn't affect living creatures. Instead, it could only break down clothing.

However, after some experimentation, Victor realized he could use the fruit on himself, which gave him greater flexibility. The fruit also had the abilities of other Paramecia-type fruits, like super strength and a powerful body.

Now, Victor's goal was to develop new moves by studying different zippers.

Knock knock knock.

The rhythmic sound of the knock brought him back to reality. It was Kransner.

"Come in."

Kransner opened the door and reported, "Boss, the captain says we can already see the port of Kano. We'll be able to dock in about 40 minutes."

"Got it," Victor said. "Tell everyone to get ready to disembark."

Thirty minutes later, everyone gathered on the deck, watching the busy port of Kano. Ships of all sizes crowded the harbor, and what surprised them most was the large number of pirate ships docked there. The local civilians and guards didn't seem to care.

Perona jumped down to the pier first, excited. "Hehehe! We've finally made it to Kano! I heard the food here is amazing!"

"That's right!" Mihm, who had reluctantly agreed to go with Perona, joined in. "The spicy food in Kano is famous!"

Capone Bege, who had just stepped off the boat, was not as thrilled. "Wait a minute! What are we here for? Are we here to eat or do business?"

Victor glanced at the lively surroundings, nodding. "Let Cransner handle the cargo, then we'll head to Upside down Mountain."

"Upside down Mountain?" Bege asked, surprised. "Isn't that where the Happo Navy Pirates are based?"

The Happo Navy were known for their strength and for being one of the eight most dangerous pirate groups in Kano. Their leader, Chinjao, was said to be one of the strongest pirates in the world.

"Yes," Victor answered casually, "but I have a connection with the next leader of the Happo Navy. We'll be fine."

With that, Bege and Kransner got to work organizing the cargo, and soon everything was ready.

After storing the goods in Capone Bege's castle space, Victor, Perona, Bege, Kransner, and Mihm set off for Upside down Mountain, leaving the rest of the gang behind on the Croissant.

Meanwhile, back in Alghero Town at the Marine Base, Marine Commander Crohn was relaxing, enjoying a baked cheese doughnut when he got the report.

"Sir, Caldwell and his group have arrived at the port of Kano," a seaman said.

Crohn waved it off, still enjoying his snack. "He has special anti-monitoring techniques, so pull back the surveillance. He's probably just there for business… or maybe trouble, but either way, he's not our problem."

He took a sip of his coffee, lost in thought. Crohn had plans of his own. When Zephyr, the Marine teacher, arrived in West Blue, Crohn was sure to make a good impression, hoping to get on Zephyr's good side in case Victor rose to power.

Just then, the personal phone on his desk rang.

"Commander Crohn, don't get alarmed," came the voice of an old man on the phone. It was Zephyr.

"Admiral Zephyr!" Crohn said, a little embarrassed. "I didn't expect you to call!"

Zephyr cut him off, "I can't come to West Blue for now. The Fleet Commander wants me to supervise the training ship this year."

Crohn was stunned. "Then… what about Caldwell Victor?"

Zephyr's tone turned serious. "You keep an eye on him. Don't provoke him unless he goes to Upside Down Mountain. I'll be back in about two months, but until then, you're in charge."

"Understood, Admiral Zephyr," Crohn said, saluting the phone.

Zephyr hung up, and Crohn immediately ordered more troops to monitor Upside Down Mountain. He didn't want Caldwell to get into trouble with the Happo Navy, as that could spell disaster.

In Kano, Victor and his team finally arrived at Upside down Mountain, the base of the Happo Navy. 

The Country of Flowers, Upside Down Mountain.

The surrounding mountains loomed majestically, with the highest peak known as "Upside Down Mountain." Legends whispered of ancient times when fierce beasts and terrifying tigers roamed its heights, wreaking havoc on the villages below. The people, desperate for salvation, sought the help of the Happo Great Monk, the revered founder of the First Generation Happo Navy. Moved by their pleas, the monk ascended the mountain and, after a grueling seven-day battle, subdued the monsters and restored peace to the land.

Victor Caldwell and his party ascended a winding mountain road, their path leading toward the heart of the Happo Navy' domain—Water Curtain City, nestled deep within the folds of Upside Down Mountain. To their surprise, the gate guards allowed them entry after a brief interrogation, exuding a calm confidence in the forces stationed within the city.

Water Curtain City was a marvel of architecture. Eight towering pavilions stood connected by an intricate network of cable bridges, spanning dozens of levels down the valley. The central structure, the Great City Tower, dominated the skyline, its grandeur a testament to the power and influence of the Happo Marines. Guided by a local escort, Victor's group crossed the main cable bridge leading directly to the Great City Tower's central hall.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. A heated argument between two men filled the air. One was a burly, black-haired man with an air of authority, while the other was a younger man with long orange hair tied in a ponytail.

"I'm telling you, Boo," the black-haired man, Sai, growled. "That ridiculous lady from the Second Division —meet her yourself if you're so eager! I'm not going, and anyone who pushes me on this will lose their heads!"

Boo, the orange-haired man, looked exasperated, his voice rising. "Brother! She's has summoned you! She's your fiancée by the old man's decree. The leader of the Second Division agreed to this political marriage for unity. Who else should go if not you?"

The surrounding onlookers nodded, murmuring their agreement. Sai, clearly annoyed, scratched his head in frustration, muttering words like "arranged marriage," "ugly muscle girl," and "a nightmare." Turning away from Boo, his gaze landed on Victor and his group entering the hall.

"Wait a minute… You're Victor Caldwell!" Cai Yi exclaimed, his face lighting up. He strode toward Victor, his booming voice filled with enthusiasm.

Victor raised an eyebrow, amused. "Mr. Cai Yi, I see you're as lively as ever."

Cai Yi didn't let Victor finish before grabbing him by the arm and dragging him into the hall, shouting, "Victor! My good friend has come all this way to see me! Abu, take care of your Second Division business. I'll catch up with you later!"

Boo sighed, clearly out of options. He gathered his men and left, muttering under his breath about stubborn brothers.

Once Abu was out of sight, Sai let out a relieved breath and turned to Victor with a sheepish grin. "That look of yours—you always seem like you know everything. I owe you a favor, so you better not hold it against me."

Victor chuckled. "Not at all. But yes, I've come for business… and some news."

Recognizing the gravity of Victor's visit, Sai led him and his crew through a side corridor to a private banquet hall. The room was lavishly decorated, with a buffet-style spread featuring the finest delicacies of the Country of Flowers. Victor encouraged his companions to enjoy the feast while he and Sai moved to the quieter second floor.

Pouring Victor a glass of fragrant rice wine, Sai got straight to the point. "All right, what's this news that brought you here personally?"

Victor swirled the rice wine in his glass, appreciating its rich aroma before speaking. "The Kingdom of Kano is on the brink of war with the Kingdom of Saybrim, isn't it?"

Cai Yi froze, his hand clutching his own glass. He gave a slow nod. "You're well-informed as always. What else do you know?"

Victor's gaze sharpened. "Saybrim is stockpiling weapons. A substantial shipment will arrive in just a few days. If the balance tips in their favor, the Kano—and the Happo Navy—will face serious consequences."

Sai paled, his usual boisterous demeanor giving way to a grim seriousness. "That's… dire news. Is your source reliable?"

Victor leaned back, taking another sip of rice wine. "Reliable enough to bet on. But I didn't come here just to deliver bad news. I brought something that might even the playing field."

With a gesture, Victor produced a detailed inventory of weapons stored within his organization's arsenals, offering them to the Kingdom of Flowers. "I'm willing to part with these at a reasonable price. But there's one more thing I want in return."

Sai's eyes narrowed. "Name it."

"Armament Haki training," Victor said, his voice calm but firm.

Cai Yi hesitated only for a moment before nodding. "Done. The Kingdom's survival is worth far more than a training method."

Excusing himself, Sai disappeared into another room, returning minutes later with a worn notebook. "This is my personal guide to Armament Haki. I've written down every insight I've had over the years. It's a bit crude, but it works. Promise me you'll burn it once you've read it."

Victor accepted the notebook with a solemn nod, tucking it away into a zipper he opened in midair. "You have my word."

Satisfied, Sai pulled out a map, pointing to a marked location near the entrance to Upside Down Mountain. "Saybrim's weapons are likely being smuggled through this point. It's well-hidden, but your information checks out."

Victor studied the map before leaning back with a small smile. "Good. Now, let's not let your chefs' efforts go to waste."

The banquet that followed was a lively celebration of friendship and alliances, filled with laughter, music, and the vibrant flavors of the Country of Flowers. Yet, beneath the festivity lay a shared understanding: war was imminent.