Lara's POV;
Noa has put the sails inside our storage and we were now inspecting his ship. “I have made it myself. The old man didn't help at all”, explained Noa while he opened the door to a small shipyard.
The building was only large enough to have enough space for a ship with the size of the Going Merry. Inside of it was a single ship. It was maybe a little smaller than that of the Straw Hats. The figurehead was a fox head with a cannon sticking out of its maw.
“This is Fox, my twenty-sixth attempt on a ship. I gave him a test last week and there are no problems. I built him to be sailed with only myself, but another one will greatly help”, he further said and began to undo the ropes. There was a small river that would bring us out into the sea.
“So what exactly are we going to face?”, I asked and jumped on board. Everything looked to be easy to handle and really made for only one person.
“Well, there is the usual, strong currents, sea kings, riffs, targets, and the race itself. And then there are the dirty players. The worse is the Qual Shipyard. They are known for intimidating other participants and using tricks as well as direct hostility during the race.
The three idiots were sent by them.” Noa was now finished with the ropes and began to open the floodgate that separated us from the river.
“So we can safely assume that someone will try to stop us with other means than just speed?”, asked Lia. She has had taken a position on the crows nest. There she has the best view and is centralised. Something that we found out is helping her if she wants to manipulate a ship.
“Yup, last time they peppered someone's ship in the middle of the sea king nest. It's against the rules to shoot at others, but the organisers aren't able to place Den-Den-Mushis around the nest. Strangely enough boarding actions are allowed. You're just not allowed to kill. And even then, mistakes happen.
There are also cases where other ships are run over. The bigger ones use their size and protection to take out the smaller ships at the start. Finishing the race will not automatically make you the winner, it gives points, the faster you are the more you will get. So this strategy is often used at the start, and most likely something that will happen to us as well.
This event is also called 'The Deadly Race' by some.” The dock was now flooded and Noa jumped on board and behind the oar. “Well then, let's go to the starting line. I drew a fine place, we are in the second line.” He was grinning when pulled a lever and the ship slit down into the river. From there we turned around and sailed towards the harbour.
I like him, he does not fear a possible death for something insignificant as a race. He wants to do this and does it. This is the perfect mind for an adventure.
“The handling of the ship is quite easy. Fox may not be as durable as the big guys, but he is fast and easily able to change course at a moments notice”, praised Noa while patting the ship fondly.
It will take us a few minutes to reach the starting line, so I took the time and inspected the ship. It was fully built and designed as a real ship, not only as a racing ship. There were rooms, a kitchen and a storage room. Everything not equipped, but still in good condition.
“Why did you built it like a normal ship? Wouldn't it have been easier to exclude the unnecessary things?,” I asked after looking through the ship.
“Sure, that would make Fox faster, but is also not allowed. This race is not meant to show who has the fastest ship. Well, it is, but not literally. The shipwrights and shipyards are tasked to design and built a ship that can survive the Grand Line. So we have to built quarters, storage rooms, living rooms and even weapon systems. We will be tested on every part and the points will be then be summed up.
While it is not necessary to equip everything, it is still liked to be seen. Sadly I have not the money for that”, he explained and laughed awkwardly at the end.
“But that test is already over, the jury came yesterday and inspected the Fox. I earned six out of ten points”, he continued with a grin. Six points are good. Not the best by far, but at least a solid middle. Noa said he has done everything on his own, the other participants will most likely have had help.
But it meant that the race was not the whole thing. With him having already done the design test it leaves the weaponry and functionality to be tested. The later will be done during the race, but what about the cannon? Our cannon won't be able to match other, bigger ones. Maybe Lia and I can do something there?
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“Say, Noa, how much against cheating are you?”, I asked.
“Cheating is almost a given in this race. It's just that not everyone can do it or comes out unseen. So what do you have in mind?”, he asked back with sparkling eyes.
“Lia and I might be able to help you with the demonstration of your cannons, but it won't be the cannon itself, more like us that will affect the cannonball. So firing it when we are gone will not show the same results”, I hinted. It's cool that he's not one of these die-hard-fair-players.
“That would be great, but, how will you do it?”, he asked after looking up to Lia.
“We both have eaten a Devil Fruit, with it we can make your cannonball reach farther and explode with more Wump”, I said and lifted one of the cannonballs next to the cannon up. I aimed it out to the sea and threw it off. Then, just shy before it would be out of my reach, I let the chemicals inside the cannonball vibrate and energise. The hyper energised mixture reacted stronger than normal and exploded in a fireball that was five times bigger than what would be normal.
“That's nifty, what can Lia do?”, he asked with an impressed nod.
“I can make it fly faster”, she said simply. Both of us were also training for a combo attack. She will put pressure on the ball, with me energising it. This way the explosion will be contained, while still getting stronger. The downside is that the cannonball would hover the moment Lia applies her pressure. It's more like a mine. We both have not yet the control to apply our power with such control and move the object.
Influencing something we don't touch is harder for us. If done while touching we can increase the explosion manifold. But then we would be inside the blast radius. Something that neither of us really likes. Both of us can somewhat damper the effect of an explosion, but not one this strong so close.
“This will give us some good points, we won't be able to keep up with what the Rosewelts have made. Those guys built a warship, but the overall score decides the winner.” Noa was nodding his head after thinking over possible points with such a cannon. I almost missed him saying that. Should be more careful, I tent to drift with my thinking.
“How exactly are they testing the scores?”, I asked. If they can't place cameras near the sea kings then it wouldn't be during actual combat.
“We have to shoot at some targets right after the currents and only a single turn before the sea kings. Each ship has to hit one target before they are allowed to proceed. The targets itself are of different material and get you more points the farther away and durable they are.
It has the added effect of riling up and angering the sea kings. An attack is almost guaranteed.” He laughed at the end. Did he just tell us that we are sure to fight sea kings? Shouldn't he have told us sooner?
“Well then, we're here”, he then said a moment later and began to steer the ship in the correct position. A small buoy with a number was showing us our place. Soon an organiser was rowing over to us and Noa showed him his starting number. We were then told that the race will start in ten minutes.
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With the other members of the Kage Pirates
“Have you seen Sis Lia and Lara? They said they will be here with us.” Jonny, who has asked this, was looking around to find the two. It shouldn't have been so hard to find two small elven like twin sisters. They stand out like a horse between camels. Bad comparison, but still true.
“No, last time I saw them they were going back to the Shadow with some blond guy. He was carrying sails, so they should be here by now”, answered Nojiko. She too was looking around, but not worried. Those two were strong enough to take care of themselves. Lara most like just found some tasty chicken and Lia is stuck with her eating at the stand.
“And here is our Number Three on our second line. The ship is on the smaller side and named Fox. The builder is Noa Franklin from the shipyard owned by Yarn. He has the help of two young sisters”, called an announcer.
“You think the same I think?”, asked Josef from Nojiko's side. Nojiko could only nod before the Den-Den-Mushi-camera turned over to the helpers.
“They are Lia and Lara, two sisters who sail the world for adventure,” continued the announcer. Lara was waving into the camera with a cheerful expression while Lia only glanced over from her position on the mast.
“Great”, sighed Josef. He has already seen a few Marines looking at the wanted poster from both of them.
“Think we have to prepare the ship?”, asked Nojiko, she too has seen the Marines. Jonny and Yosaku were too occupied with cheering.
“Would be a good idea,” agreed Josef. He turned around to Igaram, who has listened in. The curled haired man nodded before jogging back to their ship. He would prepare it for a quick departure.
“Let's see and watch how much could they even destroy?,” joked Nojiko with a forced smile.
“Last time Lara cleaved a whole town apart for a chicken”, reminded Josef and Nojiko's smile got even more forced.
“This is so cool! Go Sis Lia and Sis Lara, you win this!”, shouted both sword fighters of their crew.
At least they will be entertained.
Back to Lara and Lia; Lara's POV:
“Marines are checking the posters”, called my sister down.
“Posters? Are you wanted pirates?”, asked Noa. He didn't sound fearful or wary.
“Yes, got into a hassle with a Marine Captain and now are stuck with a bounty”, I admitted with a shrug.
“What happened?”, he asked while getting prepared for the start.
“He was a bastard who tried to make a girl cry, so we killed him”, I answered. “And stole his ship”, added Lia.
“Huh, must have been a dick then. You two don't look to be brutal.” Not when people can see us.... But nice to hear that we are not seen as what we are.
“Anyway, you might want to prepare for a run. The Marines are often using this event to hunt for any helper. It is not uncommon for some pirates to help in this race”, advised Noa.
“Will you be in trouble?”, asked Lia. She is most likely gathering some info, if he has trouble it will be easier to recruit him afterwards.
“Depends, only if your bounty is high enough. Is it over a hundred million?”, he asked, this time a little bit wary.
“Nah, mine is 25 and Lia's is 12”, I assured him with a wave of my hand.
“Only because you got the credit for the kill. And then forbid me to kill the others, you meany”, mumbled Lia quietly. Too quiet for Noa to hear, but loud enough for me.
“Love you too sis”, I called up with a grin. She was not amused about this, she wanted to have a bounty that is at least as high as mine.
“Then I won't have a problem, but you will. They always have two larger sized ships ready at the end of this race. Not warships, but close. Sorry,” he apologised at the end with a clap of his hands.
“Eh, let's finish this first. It's not like they can do anything of importance”, I waved him off and gestured towards the starting line. A man was standing on a small platform and speaking into a Den-Den-Mushi.
“Everyone, please get ready. The race will start in a minute. Participants, please raise your anchors.” I did as the commentator said and lifted our anchor.
“Good, Lara, you said you can take care of the sea kings and anyone who thinks it would be good to board us am I right?”, asked Noa one last time.
“Sure, and Lia can help with stirring the ship and making us faster”, I answered in affirmative. Noa looked at Lia with a raised eyebrow but didn't ask how she will do that, most likely correctly thinking that it has to do with her Devil Fruit.
“And Start!”, shouted the commentator.