"Yeah, well lets-" Mashyuu went silent at the sound of two dock hands talking near the ship. "I don't think there have been enough ships docking this month to pay the fee. Do you think the Master is going to pay out of pocket? He can barely afford to pay us as is." One of the men stated. "Yeah... I've lost three days this week. I'm barely keeping my family fed at this point." The other stated with a sad look on his face. Mashyuu glanced at Dai while Sky walked up to the Fishman's side and rested her head on his shoulder. "So. Is the Gentleman with the strong grip gonna offer these men his help or his he going to be a pirate through and through and make things even worse for them?" She asked. Mashyuu didn't wait for an answer as his wings spread and flapped twice, carrying him off the ship to land next to the pair of workers. "Protection money? Someone putting their influence on the Docks or the district in general?" Mashyuu asked, almost fuming, knowing that he needed to track down the person who was in charge of the fight club and helped to capture Mashyuu just a few days ago. The two men looked at one another, unsure if Mashyuu was someone to be trusted or not yet then pointed to a long house at the edge of the docks. "We shouldn't say. If you want to know, you should talk to our boss. He's in that long house." One of the men stated. Mashyuu nodded his head then turned back to Dai and Sky. "Hey come on, we might have a job to do, or a lead on someone who is dealing damage to Nill District instead of helping it flourish!" In his mind, before the Raiders arrived on Baltigo, Mashyuu was going to set things right here and the Nill District was the perfect place to start.
Mashyuu walked towards the long house, the building put together with nails and sheet metal. He could already feel how flimsy and easy it would have been to pull apart and take down. Mashyuu sighed with sorrow at the terrible state of the buildings here. It was terrible how these people were living and it made Mashyuu's blood boil. "Dai, we are gonna turn this place around. Nobody should ever live the way I did and this is almost worse. They aren't slaves but they have no chance to better their lives.... Sky, go scout the building out, make sure nobody is lurking around the outside of it while Dai and I have a talk with the guy inside." Mashyuu stated with a dark tone. The normally flirty Sky reached down and grabbed her boomerangs, ready to draw the bladed weapons if needed and walked off towards the side of the building to start scouting.
Mashyuu flicked his wrist and the door to the building pulled open, the metal door creaking loudly. Mashyuu gave Dai a moment to ready himself then stepped up to the building and entered it, making sure to shut the door behind the Pirates. "You must be the dock master. I'm Mashyuu Ishi and this is Dai." Mashyuu gestured between the two Pirates and stepped up to a desk at the end of the building where a tall slightly older man with grey streaks in his hair sat. He wore a purple suit that had clearly seen better days but he was trying his best to look like a professional. The man took one look at Mashyuu and Dai then held his hands up. "Look, I told your boss that I can't pay this month and I'll gladly pay double next month to make up for it!" The man shouted. Mashyuu stopped and looked to Dai confused for a moment. "You got us pegged for someone else. Do I look like I run in a gang?" Mashyuu stated while flicking his wrist at the door and causing it to lock.
Slowly Mashyuu took a seat across from the Dock Master and folded his hands on the desk. "We are actually here to offer you some help. We heard some of your men talking by our ship about paying protection money and not being able to pay them. So I'd like to make you a counter offer. I'm the Captain of the Phantom Raiders, maybe you've heard of us. This is one of my crewmates, Dai. Tell us about this gang. If you do that and pay us a quarter of what you pay them.. and might I add, only one time. We will hunt these guys down and make sure they don't ever pester you or anyone else in Nill District again." Mashyuu glanced to Dai as if asking if he had anything else to add or say.
"The Phantom Raiders? Holy crap! You're wanted criminals, and not the kind to take lightly! If you're the Captain.... Do you know what your bounty is!?" Mashyuu chuckled under his breath and nodded up and down. "One hundred and twenty-" "You don't know your own bounty!? It's gone up a bit.... Look. I can't afford your help and I don't want any trouble." Mashyuu sighed and felt a swell of pride, he had no idea what his bounty was apparently but it was higher than he remembered and that was a good thing to him. "I already told you our price. You save money long term, and short term. Plus you can pay your workers again. We are gonna make sure the people of Nill District live a better life." The dock master frowned for a moment then drummed his fingers along the desk and shrugged. "Guess I really don't have anything to lose on this one. You're looking for a group called the Hopeless Ones. There are six of em. Their leader is a guy named Lance. He carries a large ball on a chain. There is a young woman with them too. I think it's his girlfriend or something, she carries a flute or something like that. But it looks like a weapon too. Then there is a guy who is almost animal like, sharp fingers and sense of smell. A man who carries spiked yo yo's and twins. The twins came by yesterday and said if I couldn't pay them, then they would burn the docks down tonight. I thought you were members of the gang I haven't met before. If you can really take these guys down you're going to do a lot of good for the docks and help Nill District out in the process."
"Well we know when they will strike, and where. All we really have to do is wait for them to show up. Dai, think you and Sky can handle half of them? I'll take the other half. Sky isn't much of a fighter, but she has a bit of skill and is good support. She will at least be able to keep things from getting too overwhelming for you." Mashyuu then extended his hand towards the Dock Master. "Don't worry, the Phantom Raiders will keep your docks as safe as possible and I'll have my men on stand by to help put out any fires if needed." The man stood and shook Mashyuu's hand firmly, accepting the deal. After all if Mashyuu failed the man would lose everything anyway. What did he have to lose?