[CENTER][sup][h1][center][/center][b][center][color=black]M O R G A N B R A N D [/color] [color=#FC8A17]M O R G A N B R A N D[/color][/center][/b][/h1][/sup][/CENTER] [hr] [u]Solstone[/u] Finding out that the renegade prince was a target of an assasination plot piqued Morgan’s interest. It was never hard to understand why someone would want the prince dead - Aztec was perhaps the most outwardly detestable of the royal family. It was a matter of figuring out who and getting them to call off the hit. Few had the guts to attempt to attack the royal family, especially those who did not come from the island and no islander would hire an outside assassin to do so. It was quite the conundrum, one that Morgan pondered over his next few pints at The Ashes. Brust and Darnold had left him, once he had given them the clear that he would need to think the situation over, he wasn’t sure if he could aid them in their search, nor if he really cared. The relationship between the Marines and the politicians on Sunstrider was always complicated, the base was located in Solstone, as the main kingdom never truly accepted Marine assistance, wanting to sort its issues out on their own. Furling his brow and letting out a slight sigh. [color=#FC8A17][i]Or because they had secrets they didn’t want the world government putting its nose in. [/i][/color] Finishing his drink, he figured it was about time to head back home, Stede was cleaning the bar and Jack sat in the back, smoking his hemp pipe while listening to some old codger tell him a story from his youth for the 10th or so time this week. The old warrior always enjoyed hearing tales of old, even from times before his own. [color=#b2beb5]”Truly want me to believe there was a man who fought using three swords in that country of Wano?”[/color] Jack chuckled as the old man, Graz Coots, carried on explaining the details of his many travels through the Devil's Sea, before the new world had even given birth to its king and namesake. Graz nodded intensely “Yeah! They said he had made a deal with death, once so intense that if he ever opened his mouth to speak, the miasma would leak out and spread chaos and death! So the bloody samurai did the only thing he could, kept a sword in his mouth!” Jack laughed heartily as smoke left his lungs. Noticing that Morgan was about to leave, Jack’s eyes grew sharper, himself getting ready to follow his ward. Morgan waved him off. [color=#FC8A17]”Rest a while more, Jack. I’ll return shortly. Got a short detour to take before I’m heading back to the manor for the night.”[/color] Jack nodded in response, turning his gaze back to Graz and his story about the Devil’s Sea. Stede waved bye to Morgan, raising the remaining of his ale to the Councilman’s health. Morgan exited The Ashes, took a deep whiff of the cool air outside, producing his cigarette case from his pocket he put the cigarette to his mouth and ignited it with his lips, the flame traveling along the paper of the cigarette past the filter almost invisible, until it grew in size at the end of the cigarette, expanding and perfectly ignited the tobacco. Walking a few blocks, Morgan stopped, leaning against a stall that had closed for the night. [color=#bfafb2]“The sun is gone.”[/color] A voice, determined and enigmatic spoke, first half of a codex to ensure the safety of the meeting. [color=#FC8A17]”But yet I have a light.”[/color] Morgan responded, completing the code from the stranger on the other side of the stall, invisible to the councilman. [color=#FC8A17]”What do you know about Hexxer? What does the West Blue’s most dangerous assassin seek here on our island?.”[/color] Bonet chuckled. [color=#bfafb2]“What does anyone seek here, dear Baron? I know precisely little about the killer known as The Hexxer, which is a lot more than anyone else. But you cannot afford that information, Brand.”[/color] The spy assured Morgan who scoffed, Bonet was never an easy man to do business with. [color=#FC8A17]”Are the marines right in fearing for the prince’s safety?.”[/color] [color=#bfafb2]”If Hexxer is indeed coming for your prince, then Aztec is already ruin.”[/color] [color=#FC8A17]”That’s not an answer.”[/color] [color=#bfafb2]”You don’t pay me for speculation. You pay me for the truth. They do not know for certain that the prince is the target of the assassin, but if he is there is little that can be done to save him.”[/color] [color=#FC8A17]”Do you know where Aztec is?”[/color] Morgan asked, dragging from his cigarette as Bonet chuckled. [color=#bfafb2]”Do you fear for his safety, Baron?”[/color] [color=#FC8A17]”No. I fear for my country. Principcide would shake the stability of our already fragile nation. Besides, I doubt Aztec would go down without a fight and I’ve seen that boy grow into a man since we were both children. He’s always had a near insatiable appetite for destruction. ”[/color] [hr] [u]Zenith:[/u] The docks erupted into chaos as explosions rang out, a battle erupted between a few rogue members of Solstone and the Solar Triad, protecting their turf as each believed the other faction was overstepping their boundaries in recent weeks. “You stank ass solstoners have no right to do business on the Triad’s turf, you better tuck your tails between your legs and get outta here ‘for you get blown up!” One of the Solar Triadmen shouted, they numbered six triad members, four citizens of Solstone. “You triaders have been cheating us for too long! Our deliveries have been getting shortchanged for the past month. This is a formal complaint!” The solstoner, Tagoma, shouted back, holding up a filed paper from the Solstone courthouse. A gun was raised and the lead tore the paper to smithereens. Tagoma and the others ducked for cover. “Sorry, I don’t see any formal complaints or letters of safe passage!” Lao responded, a shit-eating grin on his face. His fellow gangsters joined in SHIHIHIHI they laughed as Tagoma cursed. “I have copies!” He shouted, chucking a object from his pocket towards the triad, plugging his ears with his fingers as his three cohorts did the same. Lao looked at the object, still laughing “SHIHIHI you throw this garbage at me?? A bomb? C’mo- wait a BOMB” He caught himself, his and the other triad members eyes bulging out of their skulls as they all ducked for cover . [b]SOLBOOM.[/b] Leaving a two meter-wide crater in the alley, damaging the walls slightly, spraying debris around. “You freakin’ solstoners are crazy!” He shouted, hiding behind some crates. “Come out and fight instead you bastards!” He yelled, his body still postulated on the ground, Tagoma rose up, gun in hand as he and his three allies got ready to make a stand. From the side of the alley another figure moved, only revealing his [img=https://i.imgur.com/f8PVyWs.png]white grin and yellow eyes[/img] through the darkness. [color=#90EE90]”You guys having a fight? Without inviting me?”[/color] The voice spoke, sending a chill down the spines of all 10 combatants who were ready to let loose on each other. “WHAT THE HELL IS THE PRINCE DOING HERE?!” “NO WE DIDN’T MEA- PLEASE HEL-” Tagoma and Lao both screamed, as shouts and yells woke up half of Zenith.