Boone's question was answered with a great bellow of, [color=turquoise]"Never seen it before!"[/color] Well that wasn't very helpful, was it? Regardless, according to the information Boone had learned, they would need to spend an unknown amount of time on this island for the special compass to log its magnetic field, then move on to the next one. Despite the apparent danger, they would have to brave the unknown and risk a fight with whoever owned this fortress. After all, they didn't have anywhere else to go.

As they brought the ship in, spotting a convenient dock, Kite was just finishing up with the last of the repairs needed to get the Rum Runner back in tip top shape. The Guppy pulled in on the opposite side of the dock, dropped anchor, and her crew disembarked along with the Red Rums. The dock only had a single path they could follow, an uphill walk that would turn out of sight. On either side of the path was sheer cliff that, with intense effort, could be climbed, but not easily. Either way, the only place they could go was to the castle nestled atop the island.

[b]BOOM![/b] The sound of cannon fire cried through the air.Those with particular keen senses would see a cannonball flying overhead, landing safely in the ocean a few hundred meters behind them, too far out to have even been at risk of hitting the ships. [color=black]"They know we're here,"[/color] Smith spoke in a hushed tone, instantly readying himself for a fight. Hachirou nodded and thumbed his nose, not taking a stance but tensing up all the same. [color=olive]"Washat? Hic! We ushing fireworksh? I thought the party wash ov-hic!-er?"[/color] Dr. Ken took another swig from his gourd. Trickshot Jo' just muttered something unfriendly beneath her breath.

[color=orange]"Do you hear that?"[/color] Hachirou asked, wiggling his ears. [color=orange]"People are coming. A lot of them."[/color]

Sure enough it was true. Those with good hearing naturally noticed first, the cries of voices and charging of footsteps. Gradually it grew louder and louder. Once everyone could hear the proverbially stampede, the crowd had shown itself. A huge number of people numbering at least a hundred rounded the corner, heading down the path. They were pirates, brandishing swords and pistols, cheering for action. Yet something was peculiar about these pirates. A good amount of them, maybe about half, wore marine jackets. Those who did had the marine logo  on it struck out and painted over with the same Jolly Roger on the flags flown by the castle.

The crowd stopped their marching forward about fifty meters away from the docks where both crews had been standing. What a motley group they came across today! Oh, but they didn't stop out of fear or bewilderment of these newcomers, oh no. They stopped because their captain gave the order. The crowd parted for a man to pass and take lead at the front of the pack. A man who was not only fairly tall at 6 feet, but also very stout and with great girth. His legs looked like toothpicks compared to the rest of his body, in particular his highly muscled arms. On his left arm he had a tattoo of the marine flag crossed out in a big X, while on the right arm he had another tattoo that read "AR-36" in big bold lettering. A marine jacket hung from his shoulders like a cape.

[color=darkslategray]"Well howdy boys! I see we got two crews of pirates visiting our island today! Boomboomboomboomboomboom!"[/color] His laughter was deep and traveled well. The man needn't speak very loud to ensure he was well heard. [color=darkslategray]"I'm the master of this island, captain of this crew, and the owner of the fortress. Pleased to meet you. The name is-"[/color]

[hider=Character Box][center][b][color=darkslategray][h3]AR-36 "Bullet" Bill[/h3]
Captain of the Buccaneer Pirates
0 berry bounty? Huh?![/color][/b]
[img]https://pre00.deviantart.net/7ad7/th/pre/f/2016/329/4/4/nordeus_pirates__strong_man_by_atomhawk-dapjc78.jpg[/img][/center][/hider]

[color=darkslategray]"-And you'll be my guests, on account of how ya got no choice. Boomboomboomboom!"[/color] The captain snapped his fingers, and as soon as he did two more cannonshots were heard, these ones much closer. The cannonballs hit the water on either side of the Guppy and the Rum Runner, very close to the ships. And after all those repairs Kite had just finished... Tracing the angle of the shot revealed that at some point two dozen cannons had been wheeled up on top of both sides of the cliff. The cannons were pointed not at the crews, but directly at their ships...

[color=darkslategray]"I like to call this little island of mine the Chokehold. You see, me an' the boys have taken up residence right here at the mouth of the Grand Line, capturing new entries, taking their booty, and tossing them back out into the ocean on driftwood! That is..."[/color] The captain took a second to flex his left bicep. [color=darkslategray]"Y'all think that you can best me crew in a contest of strength and skill. So you've got three choices. Hand over all yer valuables and yer ships, fight me officers in a tournament to win yer right to passage, or try something now and we blow yer ships to kingdom come, leaving ya stranded, outnumbered, and outgunned. What's it gonna be?"[/color]

A raucous cheer of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" errupted from the Buccaneers. It was clear which option they wanted.