21 chapter 21

"So when do you think you'll be ready to get out of here and come with us," I asked after calming down and smacking Laffite's shoulder long enough to be satisfied.

"I'll need to resign formally and then tie a few loose ends, but it shouldn't take more than a week," Laffite answered while rubbing his shoulder with his ever so refined and polite tone of voice.

"I was hoping we can leave immediately, but maybe I can use this time to work on a technique I've been thinking about for a while now, so it's all good," I said while rubbing my chin thoughtfully.

"very well, captain, let me sign these papers so you can collect your bounty first, then I'll write my resignation letter and send it to the capital," Lafitte said and returned to his desk to start working right away while I nodded silently.

"by the way, where should I look for Wilson and you when done tying up my loose ends?" Lafitte asked as he handed me the papers that I will need to receive my compensation.

"the bar, the inn, or onboard our small carvel at the docks. it's a shame we can't buy any den-den mushi here, it would make things much easier, but I guess we can buy them at the capital." I said as I received and stood up to make my way for the exit.

"I'll see you later then, Laffite," I bid him farewell as I waved my hands at him without turning around.

"see you later, Captain," came Laffite's simple answer as he took an empty paper and started scribbling his resignation letter.

Once outside the sheriff's office, I made my way to the quartermaster and handed the papers over to him. The man only took a cursory glance at the documents as he had seen me dragging the wanted sam bass into this building earlier and then opened a small safe to take out my just reward and hand it to me.

I stuffed the money in my backpack and then started making my way outside to meet Wilson, who was waiting for me at the street as he chooses not to enter in favor of not making Laffite too nervous.

"So how did it go? that man is not dead, is he?" Wilson said with a smile when he noticed my good as I exited the building five million and four hundred thousand bellies richer.

"oh, you're still here. I thought you'd get bored and leave after a minute of waiting," I answered with a smile on my face, deliberately not giving Wilson a clear answer.

"don't change the subject. Just answer already. you didn't really kill that guy before I got the chance to fight him at least once, did you?" Wilson repeated his question impatiently as he aggressively shoved his face in front of my own.

"too close, you bastard," I said as I pushed his face away with my hand. "I didn't even fight him, not only that, but he'll be joining us in a week, and you can fight him to your heat content then," I said in a good mood as I started to make my way to the docks for some well-earned rest.

"oh, an entire week? what are we going to do during this time, johnny?" Wilson asked while scratching his head like the gorilla that he is.

"the same thing we always do every day, Wilson. We train and try to improve our strength," I answered in a loud voice with my arms spread open to my sides and then threw my head back while laughing at the reference that only I understood.

Wilson also started to laugh for some reason as we made our way through the street, not minding the people that looked at us as if we were mentally ill while whispering and even pointing fingers when they thought we weren't looking.