Island Rubeck Island

[Fly God]

Speech”
Narration
Thought

"You must be strong, son. Perhaps strong enough to finally replace a retiring dog. What do you think about killing a multitude of criminals in lieu of bags of gold?"

“I like to think I do good for myself, but I know I’m not strong in tha grand scheme of things. Espoo was jus a weakling with an overinflated ego is all. My first day hea and I’m already in line for a promotion? I see why you been in business so long Don Tom”

“Well that would depend huh? How much you paying?’

"You see, Tessio right here is no longer a fan of killing. He just killed a man before you two met. Back in the day, he'd go for killing even the innocent ones. He's no longer that man."

“Ah, tha dead bodies started piling up in ya conscious huh Ole School? Makes me wonder, how many people saw you last before they lost their lives, hmm? Also, what kinda fishing business man has his lackeys kill other people, let alone civilians?”

I carefully peered at each of the two mean after I’d posed my question. The story Tessio told me and what Tom was explaining to me and was potentially offering me didn’t line up. But the opportunity to gather more intel and get more money was worth the risk of trusting the shady men

"I will give rewards for each of their heads. Listen carefully."

Tom handed him several bounty posters released by the government. Each of the faces has corresponding prizes on their heads, dead or alive.

"What say you, son?"

“Ohh? All I gotta do is kill these fucks? Do I get to keep all tha money on tha posters or you gonna try to keep a percent?”

Well shit….that’s slit of money for these guys. Yea this definitely ain’t no damn shipping business. To hell what they say

Scanning my eyes over the papers I took in each of the individuals faves and details. It seemed simple and easy enough till I saw the last bounty poster. It was of a woman in her mid to late 30’s. Seeing her among the faces I was gonna be paid to kill made me cringe a bit….

“Hey, I’m kool wit tha others. But is tha woman dying necessary? I’d feel kinda off bout killing a woman, it don’t feel right…man”

@Gambit

 

[Gambit]

The discussion set off. Tom described the plan, while Tessio listened to his master. The young Yama shared his thoughts on the subject matter.

“I like to think I do good for myself, but I know I’m not strong in tha grand scheme of things. Espoo was jus a weakling with an overinflated ego is all. My first day hea and I’m already in line for a promotion? I see why you been in business so long Don Tom”

“Well that would depend huh? How much you paying?’

"One does not need to be the strongest. He only needs to have that license to kill. And I think you already ahve that.", Tom lit a cigarette and offered one to Yama. He puffed a good one and exhale them smokes skyward before it dispersed quickly.

“Ah, tha dead bodies started piling up in ya conscious huh Ole School? Makes me wonder, how many people saw you last before they lost their lives, hmm? Also, what kinda fishing business man has his lackeys kill other people, let alone civilians?”

I carefully peered at each of the two mean after I’d posed my question. The story Tessio told me and what Tom was explaining to me and was potentially offering me didn’t line up. But the opportunity to gather more intel and get more money was worth the risk of trusting the shady men

"He has ended each and every people that stood in our way. You see, son, our business needs to reach the New World but before it could happen, the other families, they are on our way, so they need to disappear.", he puffed again. "Civilians are nothing but a necessary casualty. We didn't intend that."

"Our fishing lines, it's not that easy. Our clients are the most influential people in this world. Let alone being protected by the Navy."

Tom and Tessio shared a glance as the wind of the flower field blew past them. Tom narrowed his eyes as he turned back at Yama. He stood from his chair, gathering his walking baton adorned with wooden carvings on its top end.

"We transport the grandest and rarest of marine resources. Most cuisines love it. But most especially, mermaids are optimally the most important part of the meal. Imagine dining in to finest place escorted by these wonderful creatures.", he put his left hand on Yama's right shoulder and continued, "We good, son?"

"Oh and yes, that woman included. She's the same butcher that slaughtered many. She deals illegal drugs. Worst than slave auction, no?"

Tom now awaits for his response. The tension intensifies.

 

[Fly God]

Narration
“Speech”
Thought

"Oh and yes, that woman included. She's the same butcher that slaughtered many. She deals illegal drugs. Worst than slave auction, no?"

Taking the offered cigarette, I propped it in my mouth while mulling over the offer….

Tch, I’d rather not kill a woman. But I damn sure need that money and besides, if she’s this deep in crime and shit, she’s accepted what comes with it…

“Yea, I’ll do it. But like I said, I’m keeping tha money on their heads. Deal? Also, do I know I can even trust ya? I mean I think we both know that trusting people like us is a quick way to get a knife in tha back”

I motioned towards Tom if he had a light for the cigarette I had. After all I couldn’t ignite it with my mind….as cool as it would’ve been….

"We transport the grandest and rarest of marine resources. Most cuisines love it. But most especially, mermaids are optimally the most important part of the meal. Imagine dining in to finest place escorted by these wonderful creatures."

“So bout you guys transporting sea things to all these different places, you mentioned mermaids. Are they basically people? So y’all selling to cannibals or something?”

Rolling the cigarette around in my mouth, I breathed out a sigh and shrugged my shoulders

"We good, son?"

“Yea, we good. So how you want me to do this and where would I even find these fuxkin people”

@Gambit

 

[Gambit]

Yama finally agreed to the deal the Lucchese Family offered him. There have been questions before about who took it but Tom and Tessio would only say a few words before they would depart. "Mermaids, they need them for pleasure, not for dinner."

"Tessio, please give him the instructions as you go outside.", Tessio would nod in response before reaching the back of the young would-be criminal. He turned to Yama, "And, son. Welcome to the family.", before he ended with a smile and a small gesture of packed A-class tobacco for his journey.

Tessio would walk back to the lobby before providing the man with all the locations of the targets. "You see, son. The families never leave their places. They are all confident that they are well-guarded. But that's not the point. Even if you managed to hit all the bodyguards and the Family's Mafioso like me, the respective Godfather is always a tier or two stronger. So you better be careful."

"Here are the details."

Tessio handed over a piece of parchment to the new Lucchese as the locations of each target are written down in blood.

Spoiler

The Bonnano Family: Mansion in the East
The Colombo Family: Mansion in the West
The Gambino Family: Mansion in the Northeast
The Genovese Family: Underground Mansion in the South

"We stand in the Centre of the island, go take the easiest route to the south first."

 

[Fly God]

“Speech”
Narration
Thought

Tessio handed over a piece of parchment to the new Lucchese as the locations of each target are written down in blood.

Taking ahold of the parchment, I looked at its contents for a moment before noticing the words were written out in blood. I slightly recoiled in disgust at the revel

“Damn do y’all not import fuckin’ ink or sum shit? We in tha modern era, ain’t no reason to be this damn cheap. Y’all have this boomin mermaid trade right?”

"You see, son. The families never leave their places. They are all confident that they are well-guarded. But that's not the point. Even if you managed to hit all the bodyguards and the Family's Mafioso like me, the respective Godfather is always a tier or two stronger. So you better be careful."

“That’s usually how it goes, people get comfortable doing tha same thing over and over again. Builds up a false sense of power and control. Plus with how small this place is. Other than tha other families, it ain’t too much competition”

My ears percked up at hearing Tessios claim that the other families would have strong fighters especially the Godfathers

“That so huh? Well this got more fun. So does that mean tha Don is much stronger than you too?”

Stashing away the high quality tobacco in my left pants pocket, I looked back to Tessio as he was telling me more about where to find the families I was supposed to exterminate

"We stand in the Centre of the island, go take the easiest route to the south first."

“Hmm….that’s tha Genovese family right? Aight guess I’ll get to it then, I better have my money at tha end of this shit old man?”

My piece said, I turned and headed down the path through the courtyard we came from and through the mansion. Once I exited to the front of the house, I took out the parchment Tessio handed me, thankfully it came with a map drawn onto it(a good map too to my relief). Turning to the east, I lept onto the sidewalk and started the trek to the Genovese stronghold

@Gambit

 

[Gambit]

As Tessio escorted Yama outside the manor, the latter kept talking and talking but the old man would no longer respond to him. Instead, he just simply nodded, showing agreement with everything the man said. But his silence would come to an end before Yama hit the courtyard. "Be careful, son.", he said before he tip his hat.

Yama strode through the east and leapt to the sidewalk going to the fortress of the drug queen, Genovese. Unbeknownst to him, what lay ahead would cement his glory as the new mafioso of the Lucchese Family.

Underground Mansion in the South
Underneath the range of hostels in the Southern marketplace, lay a 2-kilometre plaza. The plaza had a basketball court, a lawn tennis court, and two in-ground swimming pools across the courts. The sports plaza was surrounded by a three-lane concrete mansion about 2,000 sqm floor area. It was a single-storey dwelling with clay tile roofing, cross-gable in shape. There was a patio on the left side of the pool, and women in bathing suits were partying in daylight. Although there was no natural sunlight in the area, it was concealed by the road surface. About 29 women chuckling and giggling with business owners in trunks, as a woman in a tiger skin bathrobe was coming from the lobby of the middle house. She was holding a glass of martini. When she reached the entrance to the pool, two men in suits strode, the other one picking the glass of wine, while the other one, removing her bathrobe. The Godmother of the Genovese flaunted her skin with a white thin silky two-piece. Every man gazed at her body as she picked up her wine once again. "I hope everyone's enjoying the party.", she said calmly with a nice gentle smile on her face.

And the music started to beat. A touch of ballad and jazz played in the background as her guests started dancing, kissing, and playing in the pool. She heaved her head and raised her left brow before sipping from her wine glass. After that, she emptied the wine into the pool and exited. Damn, she did not even soak her body in the water.

 

[Lamby]

Bounty Hunting Part #1
@God_Usopun
-​

"It seems almost everybody wants to dip their fingers into the pools of Godlike judgement. I don't envy those who revel in the idea that they have access to that decision since majority of them don't truly intend to have their hands royally soiled with blood and dirt. They hire mercenaries like myself to fulfill their malicious plans." Monologued Izean. His pale overhanging hair swayed above his forehead in the rushing gusts which slapped him in his face, he was falling from the skies! There was no logical explanation as to how and why he's now plummeting from the skies. His face remained unnerved and excessively calm, his scarlet eyes focused on the fast approaching ground below, the inhabitants and the innate signs of civilization.

​

With an extremely precise and well executed concussive blast of Fire from the base of his boots, he manages to halt himself mid-air opposing his speed of descent right above a massive Building situated over a concrete protrusion off the main isle itself, his body recoiled and his cape curled and slapped from the force; he descended another few meters and landed atop it's roof. His Breathing was steady, his focus was extremely sharp and his arrival to the Island was... somewhat discrete. "The Bonanno Family, Their boss Sonny Bonnano specifically called for me, I have no knowledge of this place and it's people however their directions were quite clear in how I am to contact them. Their mansion's nearby, North-West by my recollection of the briefing they handed me." He said.

Izean cloaked himself, taking his cape and wrapping it around his body to cover up what he wore; He dashed off! With movements of extreme swiftness and elegance he bounced from building to building seemingly undetected as he headed North-West; He came upon what seems to be an extreme terrain; a High hill with the Mansion of the very Family that had called for the Bounty hunter, The Bonanno Family. He leapt down to the front of the main base and awaited a greeting from the personnel that may have been guarding about nearby. "I don't like to be kept waiting." He thought, a flame sparked and short blazing mask erupted atop his face. It hid his features but kept his Bright Crimson Eyes peaking through.

 

[God_Usopun]

Bounty Hunting Part #2 @Lamby ​

The Bonanno Family mansion loomed, its imposing façade serving as a formidable gateway into the heart of organized crime. A testament to the family's influence and affluence, the structure stood as a silent guardian of the secrets held within its walls. Its intricate architectural details exuded an air of authority far beyond mere aesthetics.

The grandeur of the entrance, with its ornate double doors and imposing pillars, was a visual proclamation of the Bonanno Family's standing in the criminal hierarchy. Perched atop a high hill, the mansion's strategic placement was deliberate, offering a commanding view of the surrounding city and providing a bulwark against potential threats. This elevation, a tactical choice for defense and dominance, showcased the family's keen understanding of the intricacies of power in Rubeck City.

From this elevated vantage point, the Bonanno Family could survey the sprawling expanse of their domain, maintaining a watchful eye over the labyrinthine streets and alleys that comprised the city below. The hill symbolized their supremacy, an elevated throne from which the family could assert control over the criminal underworld.

The imposing structure, with its robust architecture and strategic location, became a focal point that resonated with the criminal history of Rubeck City. It wasn't merely a mansion; it was a symbol of the family's legacy, an embodiment of their influence that stretched far beyond the physical walls of the building. The Bonanno Family mansion, perched atop its high hill, was a formidable fortress, a sentinel that stood watch over the clandestine machinations of the criminal empire it sheltered.

The entrance crackled with unspoken tension as the mysterious bounty hunter made his presence known. The guardians of the Bonanno Family stronghold, seasoned individuals well-versed in safeguarding their territory, turned their attention toward the figure who had breached their threshold.

Their eyes, sharp and perceptive, narrowed with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Their collective gaze bore into the intruder, attempting to discern the purpose behind his audacious intrusion. In their line of work, recognizing threats was a skill honed through years of experience, and this man's arrival triggered a subtle disturbance in the air. This anomaly set off silent alarms in the minds of those deeply entrenched in the criminal web.

The atmosphere tensed with unspoken queries as the enforcers, standing as the first line of defense for the Bonanno Family, cautiously approached the bounty hunter. Their postures conveyed a readiness for action, hands subtly hovering near concealed weapons while the air hummed with an undercurrent of tension.

Without uttering a word, the enforcers inquired through the language of their imposing presence, silently demanding an explanation for this uninvited visit.

 

[Lamby]

Bounty Hunting Part #3 (Turn 2)
@God_Usopun
-​

Izean stared at the guards cautiously approached him, he was distasteful of their chary inspection. "Wasn't it your boss that had called me here for the job? Your reluctance sickens me, though my motives remained unclear to you I still have a great enough notion to capture the bounties of all I can whilst I am here; even if that means slaughtering fodder like you." He thought, he continued to berate them within the confines of his mind however due to their interaction it would have been best to speak else they would have seen him as a threat. The Flames around his face continued to rage on, he doused their intensity, "I am the Bounty Hunter, Flame Pillar. Through very careful instructions; I was asked to come meet with your boss pertaining to an assassination Job he wanted done."

Now they knew his reason for being here, It would be a complete Fluke had they not let him through here. The reason Izean traveled thus far was simply because he was called to this Island or merely drawn to it. The Information passed about all the individuals that had and had not been given Bounties, he knew them and he memorized their faces. The Same would be occurring here, Izean's crimson pupils locked onto and snagged onto the guards before him; he could detect even the slightest of movements and with his Blade he possessed more than enough capability to take them down.

 

[God_Usopun]

Bounty Hunting Part #4 (Turn 2)​

Initially wary and apprehensive, the guards exchanged furtive glances as the man revealed his identity and purpose. The mention of the Flame Pillar, a title that carried an aura of both dread and respect in the criminal underworld, flickered in their eyes. The subdued flames around his face added an eerie glow to his features, emphasizing the gravity of his words.

Their reluctance began to falter, giving way to a momentary pause in their defensive stance. The realization that the mysterious figure before them was indeed the infamous bounty hunter called by their boss dawned upon them, lifting a veil of uncertainty.

One of the guards, a burly figure with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward, his expression a blend of wariness and begrudging acknowledgment. "Flame Pillar, huh?" he muttered, his tone a gruff acknowledgment of the reputation that preceded him. "Boss did mention something 'bout a hunter comin' for a job." He exchanged a glance with his comrades, a silent communication passing between them.

The air, once thick with tension, now carried a tentative understanding. While still vigilant, the guards seemed to recalibrate their perception of the situation. The bounty hunter, Flame Pillar, stood at the threshold, a harbinger of a covert mission.

"Alright, you can go through. Boss is probably waitin' for you inside," the scarred guard conceded, gesturing toward the looming entrance of the Bonanno Family mansion. The others reluctantly eased their defensive postures, allowing him to proceed.

As the imposing doors of the mansion creaked open once more, a corridor of dimly lit opulence awaited, concealing the mysteries that unfolded within the heart of the Bonanno stronghold. The guards, their initial skepticism tempered by a grudging acknowledgment, watched as Flame Pillar ventured further into the world of the criminal empire, leaving behind the shadows of the entrance and stepping into the murky depths of the Bonanno Family's inner sanctum.

 

[Lamby]

Bounty Hunting #Part 5 (Turn 3)
@God_Usopun
-​

"I've never imagined that such pompous guards would be aligned at the outskirts of such a weak organization, or rather I've grown strong enough to take them down without difficulty." He commented within the safe confines of his mind. "This wouldn't prove to be interesting enough for my skill set if they're battle spirits are that shallow from a glance, nevertheless I had signed up for a job and if I don't deliver then I'd have wasted my own time."

The grace of his fiery feathers floated and illuminated the slightly dim hallways of the mansion. It was hard to ignore this intruder since he had showcased himself in quite a flamboyant manner.

He crept upon a well designed door; It was lavish and decorated with finely crafted wood, one could tell by the intricate carvings engraved into it's handiwork. This Must've been it; he thought and so he pushed the doors wide open and entered into the room hoping he'd meet who he came to meet.

 

[God_Usopun]

Bounty Hunting Part #6 (Turn 3) @Lamby​

Opulence oozed from every corner of the room, mahogany gleaming in the soft glow of lamps. Plush armchairs invited repose, yet they stood empty around a vast desk—a throne room for a king of this concrete jungle. Behind it, Sonny Bonanno, the family's patriarch, was a study in quiet power. Like a practiced auctioneer's, his gaze swept over Flame Pillar as the bounty hunter entered, every twitch a silent assessment.

"So, this is the Flame Pillar," Sonny's voice rumbled, authority laced with a sliver of curiosity. "Tales of your exploits precede you. Sit. Let's discuss the business that brought you here."

Sonny leaned back in his chair, the leather groaning faintly, and studied Flame Pillar with the intensity of a hawk eyeing its prey. He saw skill, but something else too—a spark that could ignite empires or set them ablaze—a quiet moment stretched between them, thick with unspoken calculations.

"Things have shifted, Flame Pillar," Sonny finally admitted, his tone measured. "The winds of circumstance have blown, and your particular brand of firestorm seems less necessary. But a man does not summon a legend like yourself only to send him away empty-handed."

A silent signal and an assistant materialized with a briefcase, placing it on the desk with a soft thud. "Consider this," Sonny gestured, "a token of appreciation. The dance may have changed, but the music still plays. And who knows, Flame Pillar, your inferno might illuminate a path we haven't seen yet."

 

[Lamby]

Bounty Hunting Part #6 (Turn 3) @Lamby​

Opulence oozed from every corner of the room, mahogany gleaming in the soft glow of lamps. Plush armchairs invited repose, yet they stood empty around a vast desk—a throne room for a king of this concrete jungle. Behind it, Sonny Bonanno, the family's patriarch, was a study in quiet power. Like a practiced auctioneer's, his gaze swept over Flame Pillar as the bounty hunter entered, every twitch a silent assessment.

"So, this is the Flame Pillar," Sonny's voice rumbled, authority laced with a sliver of curiosity. "Tales of your exploits precede you. Sit. Let's discuss the business that brought you here."

Sonny leaned back in his chair, the leather groaning faintly, and studied Flame Pillar with the intensity of a hawk eyeing its prey. He saw skill, but something else too—a spark that could ignite empires or set them ablaze—a quiet moment stretched between them, thick with unspoken calculations.

"Things have shifted, Flame Pillar," Sonny finally admitted, his tone measured. "The winds of circumstance have blown, and your particular brand of firestorm seems less necessary. But a man does not summon a legend like yourself only to send him away empty-handed."

A silent signal and an assistant materialized with a briefcase, placing it on the desk with a soft thud. "Consider this," Sonny gestured, "a token of appreciation. The dance may have changed, but the music still plays. And who knows, Flame Pillar, your inferno might illuminate a path we haven't seen yet."

Bounty Hunting Part #7 (Turn 4)
@God_Usopun
-​

Izean's flames crackled loudly and continued to rage as he silently stood there, listening to the words of the boss he had come to meet. "My flames are burning out, though I am confident in my skills compared to the rest that surround me, my time is cut extremely short. I will take your appreciation and express gratitude of my own; My services were done with the most extreme of loyalty and I commend your willingness to hire me." He replied.

His boots struck the floor, ever so faintly as the strong silence between them spoke many words which were not. He reached for the briefcase and got hold of it. "I thought there'd be an additional job for me, but it seems I was wrong." He said one last time before turning his back to the boss. He headed off on his way, reaching the door of Sonny's office. Quietly he opened them and began his leave.

"...Something says that I will be back one day, but not today. See you soon, Bounty Board."

 

[God_Usopun]

Bounty Hunting Part #8 (Turn 4) @Lamby​

Izean melted into the twilight, the Bonanno manor doors sighing shut behind him. The dimly lit passage, witness to countless clandestine exchanges, swallowed the echoes of his departure. The fiery halo that had once crowned him flickered low, mirroring the waning embers of his association with the Bonannos. The briefcase in his grip, a hefty testament to his skills, weighed heavy, both with compensation and finality.

From its lofty perch, the mansion resumed its vigil over Rubeck City, secrets coiled within its opulent shell-like vipers in a nest. Izean, the Flame Pillar, had closed a chapter in organized crime's grimoire, leaving behind a whisper of mystery and the unspoken promise of a future return.

Shadows swallowed the sanctum whole as the doors sealed the encounter. The enigmatic bounty hunter vanished into the city's labyrinthine embrace, his footsteps an echo in the symphony of shifting alliances, unmet expectations, and the macabre waltz between hired killer and syndicate.

The Bonanno mansion, stripped of Flame Pillar's presence, stood stoic, a silent sentinel to the criminal undercurrent's relentless tide. Its imposing facade guarded the secrets whispered within, a monument to the encounter that had briefly illuminated its gilded halls.

 

[Aro]

Rubeck Island #1
@Marin @Hiei

The Smoke Beneath the Streets

Rubeck Island — North Blue. A city where the sun sets red and the streets run hotter than the law.

Rubeck City was no place for the honest. From its rust-stained harbor cranes to the oil-slicked gutters of Market Row, the entire island was one sprawling metropolis where concrete cracked under the weight of dirty money and older grudges. There were no seasons here, only heat—dry, stifling heat that clung to the air like sweat on a liar’s back.

Five families ruled this furnace of a city:​

• The Bonannos ran the docks and everything that passed through them: guns, slaves, Devil Fruit fragments, and worse.​
• The Gambinos ran the underground casinos and information rackets, where fortunes vanished over a game of dice and a whispered name.​
• The Colombos wore suits and smiles, charming the upper crust while dealing in politics, poisons, and backroom hits.​
• The Genoveses controlled the arms trade, operating out of war factories and junkyards littered with smelted ships and scrapped dreams.​
• The Luccheses—the ones no one ever saw coming—ran extortion, blackmail, and contract killings from behind shuttered windows and silent rooftops.​

Their territories were carved in blood, mapped by graffiti and bullet holes. The city breathed corruption—its lifeblood flowing through bribes, brothels, and broken promises. For years, the families maintained an uneasy balance. Turf lines were respected, betrayals were rare, and the city’s engine kept churning.

But in the distance, something stirred. A whisper on the lips of smugglers, a new name spoken behind closed doors: Lucifer.

No one had seen him. No one knew his face. But offers had begun to arrive—sealed in black envelopes, delivered by nameless men with lightning-burned eyes. Offers of power. Of unbreakable alliances. Of control.

The Devil was coming.

And he wasn’t coming to play by their rules.​

 

[Marin]

Marin was on the ship belonging to the pirate crew called the Devil Tides pirates. As a new recruit, she hadn't met too many of the crew members yet or if there were any female members. She hoped that her mink powers would help her with whatever business on this island this crew had. With Shepard's crook in hand, she approached the person whom she thought was in charge of the operation.

"Marin Baan reporting for duty, Captain! What would you have me do?" The shy sheep mink asked politely while saluting to the captain. She was definitely ready for anything with her Aries Style Ram Fu and Electro abilities that were going to be put to the test.

The young mink wore a blue shirt with a Ram's head facing the front and matching pants with her white tri-cornered hat that bore her name "MARIN" in blue letters. Her sheep horns and ears poked out of the hat. She waited for the captain or whoever was in charge to speak.

 

[Hiei]

[Rubeck Island]​

Post 1 - @Aro and @Marin ​

The Devil Tides' ship glided through the fog toward the crooked silhouette of Rubeck Island, its skyline a jagged mess of rusted iron, broken neon, and smoke that clung to the air like a warning. This was no ordinary island—this was the gutter of the sea, run by mobsters with gold rings on bloodied hands. The stench of corruption seeped into everything. Lucifer had sent them for espionage—quiet entry, careful eyes, and subtle movement. No mistakes. No noise. He had chosen three recruits to test their capability... or throw them to the wolves.

Major stood at the bow, her crimson jacket still and taut in the wind, violet eyes scanning every inch of the approaching harbor. She looked carved from steel, yet there was a quiet attentiveness in her gaze, sharp as it was. When footsteps approached behind her, she turned slightly, hand resting at her hip—ready, but not hostile.

The newcomer spoke.

Major studied the girl briefly. “Marin Baan,” she repeated, confirming the name more than greeting it. “Noted. Stay alert. You’re not here to impress anyone—just survive and report.” There was no edge in her tone, just efficiency, a soldier measuring another piece on the board. After a moment, she gave a subtle nod. “Stick close if you want eyes on the ground. This island doesn’t forgive curiosity.”

Ranger shifted his weight from the railing and stepped forward, cloak billowing slightly in the sea breeze. His golden hair caught the fading light, his expression somewhere between bemused and sincere. “Well met, Marin,” he said with a smile that was both polished and kind. “New faces are rare around here, rarer still when they salute.” He gave a short bow. “Ranger, at your service. Don’t mind the cold shoulders—you’ll find warmth in time, if you don’t trip over someone’s corpse first.”

Then came the low, rasping breath. Artorias turned his head, the light catching his pale, weathered face from beneath his helm. “A sheep,” he said, voice low and cracking with disdain. “Soft... bleating… ripe for the slaughter.” His hand flexed near the hilt of his massive blade, as if by instinct. “Hope you don’t slow us down.”

Major shot him a glance—not warning, but restraint incarnate. “Enough. We have a mission.”

Ranger exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “He means well. Or what’s left of him does.” Then, more gently to Marin, “You’ll get used to him. Or you won’t. Either way, keep your wits sharp.”

The ship thudded as it kissed the edge of the dock. Ropes flew. The groaning of worn wood and rattling chains marked their arrival.

Major stepped off first, already vanishing into the dark, her path silent and focused.
Ranger followed after with a final glance toward Marin. “Come now. Let’s see if this cesspool is as charming as the stories say.”
Artorias paused just long enough to glare back, low growl rising in his throat before turning toward the city.

The mission had begun—three shadows and one hopeful light descending on the filth of Rubeck.
Only time would tell which would survive it.

Spoiler: OOC

@Marin make sure you post your stats in your first post and you don't need to after. This would be considered a Rule Break when evaluating for EXP if you don't post your stats

Also the post count is Aro is first then its either me or you, whoever posts first early.

Stats for Major, Ranger and Artorias can be found here.

 

[Marin]

Marin followed Major, whom she assumed was the captain of this operation, closely, holding her staff tightly as she hoped her Ram Fu would help in case they needed to fight. "So, what are we here for again, sir? Whatever is ahead, I'll be ready." She steadies her breath and continues to follow Ranger and Major. She studied her captain's movements. She was glad to see another female, and one in charge of this operation as well. The one known as Ranger was very nice, but the one called Artorias gave her a cold chill.

 

[Aro]

Rubeck Island #2
@Hiei @Marin

The Bonannos – At the Docks

Bonanno Shipyard, Midnight. Cargo cranes creaked like old bones over shipping containers marked with iron brands.

The eldest Bonanno, Sonny Bonanno, stared at the letter in his calloused hands. The paper was black, wax-sealed with an inverted trident—Lucifer’s mark. Around him, lieutenants watched silently, the crashing waves doing nothing to cool the tension.

“This ain’t no business proposal,” Sonny growled, placing the letter beside a tray of half-finished Devil Fruit cores. “It’s a warning dressed as a deal.”

His underboss, Vincent, leaned in, eyes narrow. “He’s offering to ‘consolidate the harbor,’ whatever that means.”

“Means he wants our routes. Our port. Our trade.” Sonny slammed a rusted cleaver into the wooden table. “I built this empire from barnacles and bootstraps. Ain’t no ghost gonna walk in and claim it.”

Still… he didn't throw the letter away.

---

The Gambinos – Under the Tables

Velvet Room Casino, 34th Floor. Laughter echoed below, but at this table, no one smiled.

Fredo Gambino, dressed in a black suit and diamond rings, read the letter aloud as his family’s capos sat in silence. His eyes never blinked.

“‘The game is fixed. But I offer a better table.’” He smirked. “Poetic. I hate poetic.”

His consigliere adjusted his cufflinks. “He knows our code words, Fredo. Knows our drop points. Knows.”

“Of course he does. That’s what concerns me.” He folded the letter carefully. “He wants to run the house.”

“Do we let him?”

He lit a cigarette with a flaming hundred-beri chip. “Only if we rig it better.”

---

The Colombos – Behind the Curtain

Rose Theatre, Dressing Room 7. Perfume masked the smell of poison. Mostly.

Micheal Colombo, charismatic as ever, lounged in a velvet chair, sipping wine as the letter was read aloud. His lovers flanked him, daggers in garters, waiting on his smile.

“A man with no face wants to be king,” he said softly, “and offers nothing but riddles and reach. Curious.”

His lutenient Willi frowned. “You think it’s real?”

“I think if a shadow can get this close without me seeing it, we’re already behind.”

He poured his wine onto the carpet. “Start calling in favors. The ones with blood on them. I want to know where this Lucifer breathes.”

---

The Genoveses – In the Guts of War

Old Rubeck Ironworks. Sparks flew, machines screamed, and bullets were born from molten steel.

Connie Genovese, dressed in smooth red silk, crushed the letter in her hands. Sweet aromatic oil dripped from her wrists like sweat.

“He says he wants ‘order.’ Says he can give us a monopoly on munitions.” Her voice sounded unimpressed. “Only way I get a monopoly is if everyone else is dead.”

Her top enforcer lit a cigar and took in it's addicting fumes.

“He’s not a businessman,” said Peter. “He’s a breaker.”

Connie nodded slowly. “So we build for war. More guns. Bigger bombs. If the Devil’s knocking, we open the door with a rocket launcher.”

---

The Luccheses – From the Shadows

A rooftop in Old Rubeck. No names. No lights. Just whispers.

The letter was already in flames, dropped into a metal bowl as Tom Lucchese watched it curl to ash. No one spoke. None ever did in his presence.

He stood, facial expression unreadable as he traced a gloved hand over a chalkboard map of Rubeck—already marked with Xs.

“He’s coming,” He said softly. “And he knows too much.”

His right hand man, eyes following his every movement, nodded. “What now?”

“We vanish,” He whispered. “We slit his eyes before he sees us. Or we sell the others to him and thrive in the ashes.”

From the darkness behind him, his assassins began moving.

-------------------------------------------------------

Five Families. Five fires lit. And somewhere across the sea, the Devil grinned.

The war for Rubeck had begun.​

 

[Hiei]

[RUBECK ISLAND]​

Post 2 - @Aro @Marin ​

The docks of Rubeck were a festering artery of movement—guards slouched in rusted chairs, dockhands glanced nervously at passing ships, and watchers lingered in windows just long enough to be noticed. The smell of oil and old blood never truly left the air. This place wasn’t merely corrupt—it was proud of it.

Major was the first to step into the city's throat, the heel of her boots echoing down the filth-streaked alley. Her gaze was cold and analytical, movements crisp and without hesitation. She paused beneath the decayed remnants of a shattered sign, expression unreadable beneath her dark bangs.

Then, she issued the order.

“I’ll infiltrate the inner circle. Alone.” Her voice left no room for debate. “I’ll gather intel—names, patterns, power structures. I want the full layout of their hierarchy, from the petty enforcers up to the top. If I disappear, you burn this place to the ground.”

She looked to Ranger and Artorias, sharp violet eyes settling on each in turn. “You two will create pressure. Controlled chaos. Draw attention away from me and toward yourselves. Force them to panic. Force mistakes. But do not—do not—jeopardize the operation. If I find bodies stacked at the entrance of their inner compound, we’ve failed.”

Artorias tilted his head back, eyes wide with a glint of madness, lips parting in a low, rasped chuckle. “Ah… finally. The leash is loosened.” He stepped forward, dragging his sword along the stone, leaving a screeching trail. “I will carve open their truths. Let their screams lead you to the rot.”

Ranger folded his arms, the silver thread of his cloak catching the light. “A bit crude, but effective.” His tone remained calm, though the glint in his eye betrayed the thrill of the hunt. “Consider the streets ours. We’ll keep them dancing, Major. You just stay alive long enough to bring back something worth the blood.”

Major didn’t respond. She simply turned and vanished into the smoke-filled maze of alleyways, becoming part of the city’s shadow.

Artorias turned slowly toward the nearest block of shops, already licking the air for fear. “Let the guilty hide. Let the innocent run. I will hear them all.”

Ranger exhaled, glancing briefly at Marin but saying nothing. The time for pleasantries had passed.

Then they split—one ghost, one wolf, one storm—loosed upon a city built on crime and ready to be unraveled.