(Samuel's POV)
"So you are not going to tell us?" Captain Rhea said as she leaned down to my face, "Stubborn one, aren't you?"
"So I know how to fight." I said with a scowl, "Big deal."
"Big deal?" She said as she straightened up, "Big deal, he says! Big deal!"
I noticed all the other marines were looking at each other awkwardly as Rhea stepped back and began to chuckle while she crossed her arms.
"The Rokushiki Techniques are high-level and nearly elite form of martial arts, of course you would know that." She said with a serious scowl, "Elite for an East Blue native, that is. But considering how you can use two of them with ease, I sincerely doubt you are who you say you are....who do you work for? What is your end???"
I sighed, "I do not have to tell you anything." I said, "That and I do not really know anything, woman. I can use Tekkai and Rankyaku, what does that mean to you."
"Even Marine Officers do not use the Rokushiki." She said, "And you are telling me a random shopkeeper can? You are full of crap."
"I guess so." I shrugged, "Can I be let go? I really did not do anything."
"So you have nothing to do with the man known as Dante?" She asked, "Are you sure?"
"I am pretty sure." I said, "And I did not beat up your guys so there is no reason for me to be in your custody."
"Hm...." She narrowed her eyes, "I will be the judge of-"
She was cut off by the sound of the Den Den Mushi ringing.
"Purupurupurupuru...purupuru..."
"Oh, Captain!" one of the grunts said as they passed her the snail, "Here..."
"Gacha!"
She had picked up the receiver, "Hello?"
"Rhea, it's me, Smoker." I heard a voice say
That voice sounded familiar.
"Oh, what is it?" Rhea asked with a raised eyebrow, "I am in the middle of an interrogation."
"We got a problem." the voice said, "Turns out that the shopkeeper is more involved than we thought."
"Oh, is that so?" Rhea said as she looked at me, "How so?"
"I encountered the Revolutionary, Dragon." the man said, "He was here in Loguetown."
She widened her eyes, "What?!" She exclaimed, "Are you serious?!"
"He got away after he helped Straw Hat escape." the man said, "But before he did, he named-dropped the shopkeeper. His name is Samuel, correct? Apparently, he is working with the Revolutionaries."
"I knew it!!" Rhea exclaimed
That voice did sound familiar. Wait...
It sounded like the guy who burned the pants!!! The moron with the two cigars!
"Hey, you bastard!!" I shouted, "You were the moron with the cigars, right?! You owe me for those pants, they were high-quality! You just told me off and left the shop, you asshole!!!"
Rhea frowned, "What are you talking about?"
"Do you really think you should worry about some pants?" the man said, "Right now, we got you in our custody. You are involved with the Revolutionary Army, with Dragon, and with Dante. There is nothing you could do that can take our attention out of that."
"Alright, I am going to say this once." I said, "I do not know any Dante, I do not know any Dragon....and I sure as hell do not work with any Revolutionary Army."
"We will be the judge of that." Rhea said with a scowl, "Smoker, what is the next move?"
"I suppose we can head on to the Grand Line." Smoker said through the snail, "Make sure he speaks by the time we get there. I have no doubt that Dragon has allies in there....whatever Dante had, he must have given it to that Samuel.....and we need to know where he has hidden it."
"Hidden what?!" I scowled, "I do not know anything!!! No amount of torture is gonna get anything out because I do not know anything!!"
"Do not make me laugh...." Rhea said, "Smoker, Do we know what Dante could have had?"
"Whatever it is...." Smoker said, "The higher-ups want it bad...some commotion was caused and we need to get this done. Vice-Admiral Garp told me himself that it was bad."
"Well do not worry." Rhea said, "I will make him talk."
"It is only a matter of time."
**************
I spat blood as one of the marine officers stepped back from where I sat, "Damn...." I said, "You fuckers hit like girls...."
"Tch...." he scowled, "This is getting us nowhere, Captain....he is not budging...."
I do not know how long it had been, but I was starting to get annoyed. I had been getting beaten up for what felt like hours. They really were sure that I was hiding something from them.
It did not make sense.
I bothered nobody. I was just minding my own business at the shop.
Who the hell was this Dante?
Why was Dragon, The Revolutionary involved with this? And why did he drop my name?
"Can we wrap this up?" I said with a slight smirk, "I am starting to get bored and I need my sleep..."
Rhea walked up to me, "Any ordinary man would have broken...." She said, "Mentally....and physically....this just adds to my suspicions....and well, the fact that Dragon of all people name-dropped you. You should just spit it out already, it only gets worse from now..."
"Hehe..." I smirked, feeling blood trickle down my lip, "You gonna have to beat me up a bit more..."
"Is that so?" She said as she smacked me
Her blow was hard, almost knocking me out as I nearly toppled the chair over.
"Shit..." I said as I spat more blood on the ground, "Y-You....you do not hit like a girl...."
"I am a Marine Captain, do you think I am weak?" She said seriously, "I need you to speak...otherwise I will have to go a bit harder on you."
"Alright...." I said as I coughed, "What is it that you know? What did Dante have?"
"We do not know." She said, "That is why we are asking you."
"Hm..." I said with a chuckle, "I assume that a Pirate is looking for the same thing because he had sent some thugs for me...."
"So it seems...." She said seriously
"This Pirate...." I said, "I can only assume that he wants what Dante had.....and it will not take a genius to figure that out..."
"So tell us." She said
"Well, I really don't know." I said, "But I am assuming it is a Devil Fruit....more specifically.....a Legendary Beast Zoan....well, it makes sense....they are allegedly all the rage nowadays...."
"That is plausible." She said, "Now....where is it?"
"Fuck should I know?" I said with a smirk, "I don't have it."
"Sure you don't." She said as she smacked me again, her strike hitting me hard in the chin
"Gahh!" I exclaimed, "T-Take it easy....shit...."
She took a step forward, "I will not ask again." She said, "Who are you and where is the item that Dante gave you?"
I was going to say something snarky and funny but the door to the room opened and a marine walked in.
"Captain!" He exclaimed, "This is bad! We just crossed the Calm Belt and we have a serious storm outside, we need to dock somewhere for safety!!!"
"Curses...." She said as the room began to sway, "I am starting to feel it....I do not miss the Grand Line, honestly....."
"There is an island not too far from here, shall we head there?" the marine said
"How bad is it?" Rhea asked
"It is very bad!" he said
"ugh, fine." She said,
"We'll get to safety."