Devil's Luck Pirates

The Sparrow Eye Tavern wasn't so difficult to find. A rather basic looking building along the coastline near the Shipwrights Workplace apart from the giant sparrow cutout with massive eyes on the front of the building.

The group swings the door open and enters the dark and dingy establishment. There aren't many people inside. A man working behind the counter cleaning some mugs, another man sitting alone in the corner with his feet up on the table wearing a bandana and drinking some ale. And two other men in the opposite corner playing some sort of card game.

-Well, in my line of work, the best way to acquire information at a tavern is by talking to the bartender, or talking to the people who are playing some type of game.

William says addressing his crew while taking off his bicorn hat.

-C'mon Duros, let's have a drink. – Ragnar says while heading towards the bar paying little to no attention to the captain's words.

-Ah yes, a merry drink of brothers! – Duros responds following him.

Pearl also follows them presumably to have a drink as well.

-I guess we're going to the game table then. – Says Verona

William and Verona go to the table where the two men are casually playing cards.

-Good evening gentlemen! Is there perhaps room for me and my friend here? – William says while pulling a chair and sitting down with Verona doing the same.

-Oh, good evening. I haven't seen you lot around here. Tourists at Gallows Island? – the bald old man greets them as they sit down – Nobody ever wants to come here. Unless they are on the run from something.

William remembers Pearl as an example of the old man's statement.

-Well, isn't that all of us a little bit there old-timer.

They both chuckle.

-Little Timmy are you ok with these two strangers playing with us?

The old man asks his young partner sitting next to him.

-Yeah. Mother always says to play card games with strangers. They always have the best money!

He might be quite young, but the boy knows his priorities.

-Oh yes, you fellas have money that you can wager?

William remembers how empty his pockets are. So, he decides to do what he thinks he does best: Deceive.

-I was expecting to have some information rather than money but if you insist…

He pulls out a silver spoon with the letter "M" engraved on it.

-You see, this spoon-

As he was about to deceive them, Little Timmy loses his shit.

-A SPOON?! We haven't had spoons on this island for years! I'm definitely playing for that!

William came up with this convoluted backstory about this spoon being some kind of relic passed down through generations on his family and that it can lead you to some great treasure hidden in the Grand Line. A treasure that is so grandiose that it could rival the One Piece even. But, looks like luck is on his side today.

-You see that Big Timmy? It's a spoon! A SPOON!

The old man is also visibly shaken by this simple object. Staring at it intensely with his mouth partially open.

After seeing their reactions, he puts the spoon away and grabs the deck of cards from the table

-Yes, I'll wager this magnificent spoon but only if you agree to wager some information I require. And some money of course. – He says while shuffling the cards in a very spectacular way.

-Information? Oh, I'll tell you anything you want to know for that spoon. And here – The young man pulls out of his pocket 10,000 Bellys – This is all the money that I have. So let's get into it.

-Very well then. – William says as he starts dealing the cards.

Time passes as they play their high stakes poker game. Little Timmy plays with a very confident look on his face. He knows what is at stake here.

-So, what is that information you wanted, stranger?

-The name is William. And about the information, we are looking for the son of the local shipwright. Samillion Frigeworth, if I'm not mistaken. He's been missing for a few days now.

-Samillion? I thought he was just sick. the food at this place is absolutely terrible.

-You thought huh?

William can clearly see that the boy is not telling him the truth.

-Hey man, you get the whole story if you win. Something that I don't know you'll be able to. – Little Timmy says while looking at his cards with a smile – So hurry up and take out that spoon 'cause it will be mine!

-Confident, aren't we? – William takes out the spoon again and places it on the table. The old man starts to stare at it intensely again – Let's see what you got then.

The young boy enthusiastically puts his hand down revealing his cards.

-Full House baby!

William just looks at the boy's cards with a smile.

-Oh Little Timmy. You played well but, it seems that greed got the better of you. – He puts his cards down – Royal Flush.

-God fucking dammit! – The boy is visibly frustrated – You're pretty lucky Mr. William.

-Luck has nothing to do with this, Little Timmy. It is pure skill.

William is partially right. As they played, he decided to do something that he really is good at. Card tricks

While he was shuffling the cards, he very stealthily tossed some cards to Verona, who hid them under the table and gave them to his captain when he went to take the spoon back out.

-Sigh, I'm a man of my word so here what I know about Samillion.

The boy gets a little closer to William and starts to speak with a lower voice.

-Listen, He came here a couple of days ago to meet someone that was going to sell him some…Goods. Which you know, isn't particularly legal. That's why he told me to not tell anybody about this.

William ponders for a moment about his information.

-Will the bartender then perhaps know something about this individual?

-Maybe, the guy is a bit awkward, but he's very observant.

William gets up and pats the boy on the shoulder.

-Very well, thanks for the information, Little Timmy. May your future bring you good luck and lots of spoons.

-I sure hope so…

While all of that was going on, Duros, Ragnar, and Pearl walk up to the bar.

-What can I interest you in today? – The man in glasses behind the counter greets them as they approach.

-Well, first of all, I and my friend Ragnar would definitely enjoy a drink, my good sir. – Says Duros as they sin on the tall chairs next to the bar.

-Umm, I'd also like a drink too. – Pearl chimes in from inside her hood. After they entered the tavern she seems to try and cover her face even more with the hood.

Duros looks at her for a moment. He didn't expect a girl like Pearl to be into drinking.

-Drinks are about 500 Bellys.

The three of them look at each other for a moment. Then look back at William who's just sitting down at the table to play some cards.

-You can put it on that guy on the corners tab. – Ragnar says quickly while pointing at William. Duros and Pearl know that the captain is as broke as them. And they hope that Ragnar knows it as well.

-Fair enough. Three ales coming up. – The man pours three mugs of ale and serves them professionally to his customers.

-This looks amazing. Cheers brother! – Says Ragnar lifting his mug

-Cheers! – Duros does the same and they clang the mugs and take a big sip. Pearl just starts drinking slowly but steadily.

-Now my friend, I have something that I wish to ask you. Have you heard of the local shipwright's son? He seems to have gone missing lately.

A single bead of sweat drips down the bartender's face.

-No. I have no idea what you're talking about. – He hastily responds.

It doesn't take much for someone to notice that this man right here is lying. Even Ragnar can tell he's not telling the truth.

Duros doesn't like to intimidate people too much. But the life of the shipwright's son may be in danger here. So he gently says:

-Now, now, Mr. bartender. You have a lovely bar here. I'm certain that you wouldn't what any trouble. So would you mind telling us what you really know?

The bartender looks at him and his companions. He can feel the pressure coming from them as Duros stares at him with his mug down on the counter and a simple but very intimidating look on his face. Ragnar, this big and very muscular man, still gulping down his ale also looking at him with his single eye. And Pearl, who keeps drinking slowly her beverage while also staring at him with her bright pink eyes.

They probably don't look as intimidating as the bartender thinks. But he never felt much comfortable while being the center of attention especially when said attention is coming from two big mean-looking guys and a mysterious hooded girl.

-Alright, alright! – He comes up to Duros and whispers in hushed tones – Ok, I was paid a lot of money not to share this information but I know that if I don't tell you you're gonna crush my skull and I don't want that to happen so – He pauses for a moment to catch his breath – He came in here to meet with the Anglers. They took him to the alleyway outside and after that, I heard screaming. And then, one of the Anglers came back in here and paid me some money not to tell anyone about it. That's everything I know, I swear!

-What do you know about the anglers? – Duros asks.

-They are a pirate crew from this island. They're led by Rodney Poldark. People call him "The Fisher"

After hearing all this. Duros lays back on his chair and finishes his drink.

-Thank you very much for your help, Mr. bartender. Now, what do you say about another round before we head outside, my friends?

-That sounds amazing – Ragnar says slamming his mug on the counter.

-Yeah, the drinks here are pretty good. – Pearl puts her mug on the counter gently.

-T-the drinks are on the house!

The bartender serves them another round and they start drinking merrily.

William and Verona then come up to them having finished playing their high stakes poker game.

-Gentlemen, I have procured us some funds! – William says with the 10,000 Bellys in his hand – Also, if you want anyone in this town to do anything just show them a spoon.

-A spoon? – Inquires Pearl confused.

-Yes. Don't ask me why. So, we discovered that the missing boy Samillion might have been in the purchase of some 'goods' here at this tavern, two days past.

-And we have discovered that some pirates called the Anglers have taken our boy somewhere. And perhaps there is a clue on this alleyway. –Says Duros drinking his ale.

-Huh. The mystery is afoot after all! – William tightens his bicorn hat – We should go there and-

Suddenly, the man with the bandana on the corner of the tavern interrupts him abruptly.

-The Mayor's mansion.

His voice is loud and rough.

William and the group look at him with curiosity.

-Excuse me, what did you say? – William asks.

-If you outsiders want to know where the Anglers are, they are in the Mayor's mansion. His wine cellar to be precise.

The crew looks at each other with suspicion. William in particular finds it very interesting that this random guy in the tavern that was completely ignored up until now would give them this type of information out of the blue.

-Umm, may I ask how do you know this information? – Verona asks.

-I work at the Mort the Warts Fishing Shop. We usually sell them some premium bait and I deliver it at the Mayor's mansion.

-And why would you sell out your business partners like that? – Asks Duros.

-I didn't know that they took poor Samillion captive. He's just an innocent boy. And since they're in the Mayor's mansion, I don't think the guards will do much about the situation. But, some pirates like you guys might be able to take care of them.

He takes a long sip from his mug and puts it down.

William, very much disappointed with his mystery case being cut short, adjusts his hat once more and says:

-Alright then. To the Mayor's mansion!