Cedric, The Gentleman #136
As Khalifa and Cedric strolled through the enchanting streets of Water Seven, she took every opportunity to show him the city's iconic landmarks and share intriguing tidbits about its history. Cedric, in turn, marveled at the intricate architecture and the vibrant atmosphere that seemed to permeate every corner of the bustling city.
As they meandered through the streets, Khalifa skillfully weaved her questions into their conversation, subtly probing Cedric about his origins and experiences. With a genuine curiosity, she inquired, "So, Cedric, where are you from originally? Tell me about your travels as a pirate..."
Cedric grinned, his eyes sparkling with a sense of adventure. "I hail from the South Blue," he revealed, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "I haven't done much traveling as a pirate, but before joining the Marines, I traveled a lot back in South Blue..."
Khalifa's interest piqued, and she leaned in closer, eager to hear more. "And what kind of enemies have you faced on your journey?" she asked, her tone laced with intrigue.
Cedric chuckled, his confidence evident. "Oh, where do I begin?" he mused. "There were the usual sea beasts and sea kings... I still remember that specific one that almost killed me when I was younger..."
"These days, the only thing I see when I look at these things is a good dinner, though..." He continued with a chuckle. "Then there were pirates, lots and lots of them.... some of them were ruthless, while others were just interesting..."
"Two pirates left an impression on me more than anyone else... one was Foxy, an idiot extraordinaire and a Davy Back Fight fetishist," Cedric explained, remembering the Foxy Pirates captain with a big smile. "Then there were people like General Gasparde..."
He paused for a moment. "My teachers back in Marine HQ always told us to stay professional in our work, but I definitely enjoyed delivering General Gasparde to Impel Down... the guy was a real piece of work..."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, each question leading to a deeper understanding of Cedric's past. He regaled Khalifa with tales of his adventures as a marine, recounting thrilling battles.
"I see you've had quite the eventful journey so far... you must have picked up many useful skills along the way..." Khalifa asked with a curious expression, trying to get more information.
With a touch of pride, he revealed, "That goes without saying. I've dabbled in the art of medicine, and I must say, I'm probably one of the best doctors alive."
He smiled and continued. "Besides that, I've learned martial arts at the hands of a master... when it comes to pure skill, I don't think I'll lose to anyone, except maybe that same teacher...."
Khalifa raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Cedric's bold claim. "Impressive," she acknowledged. "But tell me, Cedric, where did you learn such formidable martial and medical skills?"
Cedric's face lit up with mischief as he recounted a peculiar episode from his past. "Ah, well, that's a story," he began, his tone conspiratorial. "I learned medicine from a perverted old man with dementia on Karate Island..."
Cedric kept going, expertly dodging the topic of medicine as he prepared to change the subject. "It was an unconventional apprenticeship, to say the least, and it ended in disaster, but I still wouldn't change it for the world..." He added with a chuckle.
Their exchange continued, with Cedric steering the conversation away from the Torino Island natives. He waited until the right time before he started asking his own questions.
"It's not that I don't like talking about myself, but even my skin isn't that thick..." Cedric jokingly remarked after answering one of Khalifa's many questions. "How about you tell me something about you? You seem rather devoted to your job...." He added, his eyes glinting.
Khalifa's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability slipping through her usually composed facade. "I was an orphan," she revealed, her voice tinged with a touch of sadness. "From a young age, I was taught that survival depended on being useful, on excelling in whatever I do..."
As they traversed the city, their conversation unfolded like a dance, each step revealing more about their pasts, their motivations, and the intricate layers that defined their characters. The hours slipped away, and as the sun began to set, they found themselves standing before a quaint bar with an inviting ambiance.
Having steered Cedric toward the bar, Khalifa motioned towards the establishment, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation. "Shall we continue our conversation over a drink?" she suggested.
Cedric flashed a charming smile, extending his arm towards the door. "Absolutely," he replied, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. "I could do with something to wet my throat... it's getting dray after all that time talking about myself..." He added, shooting Khalifa a pointed look.
The air teemed with harmonious melodies of laughter and animated conversations as Khalifa and Cedric stepped into the lively bar. The vibrant atmosphere embraced them, and they found themselves amidst a sea of patrons, each lost in their own world of merriment.
The bar's counter was occupied by a tall man with a black beard, black hair styled to resemble bull horns, and distinctively large lips. Cedric's trained eyes quickly recognized him as Blueno, Khalifa's colleague and a fellow CP9 agent. A subtle exchange passed between Khalifa and Blueno, a signal that didn't escape Cedric's acute perception.
Finding a cozy spot to sit, Khalifa and Cedric settled into a comfy corner. They ordered their drinks, clinking glasses blending seamlessly with their conversation. They talked about the sights and attractions they had explored earlier, each memory adding to the tapestry of their shared experience.
Unbeknownst to Cedric, Blueno carefully prepared their drinks, following Khalifa's subtle sign. With precise movements, he spiked Cedric's drink with a powerful sedative, potent enough to knock out an elephant. Moments later, he brought the drinks over, his face betraying no hint of his less-than-well-meaning actions.
As the conversation continued, Cedric's acute senses detected a faint change in the aroma emanating from his drink. His sharp sense of smell allowed him to recognize the presence of the sedative, yet he chose not to reveal his awareness.
With a calm smile, he gulped down the drink, letting the foreign liquid flow through his system without causing any visible reaction.
On the other hand, Khalifa grew increasingly surprised by Cedric's lack of response to the spiked drink. Undeterred, she ordered another round, silently signaling Blueno again to spike Cedric's drink, believing he would succumb to the sedative's effects sooner or later.
She refused to believe that Cedric's tolerance for the sedative would surpass her tolerance for alcohol, which proved a grave mistake.
Cedric continued to drink with his usual enthusiasm, his constitution proving resilient against sedatives and alcohol. Khalifa, however, gradually succumbed to the intoxicating effects of the drinks after an hour of drinking. Khalifa's once sharp demeanor dissolved into a haze of tipsiness and eventually complete drunkenness.
With a mixture of amusement and concern, Cedric watched as Khalifa's movements became unsteady, her speech slurred. True to the gentlemanly nature passed down by his teacher, he realized it was time to intervene and ensure her safety. With a gentle sigh, he rose from his seat and approached Khalifa.
As Cedric lifted Khalifa in his arms, her alcohol-addled mind filled with mixed emotions, mainly suspicion, as she assumed the worst. Fear, confusion, and a glimmer of urging flickered across her eyes as she turned toward Blueno with a pleading expression.
However, Blueno's response shattered any lingering hope she may have held. A cruel grin played upon his lips as he purposefully averted his gaze, leaving Khalifa to confront her supposed fate with Cedric.
Bluenu's schadenfreude was a stark reminder of Lucci's warning that no one else would come to her aid should she fail.
Cedric, unswayed by Khalifa's inebriated confusion, maintained his composure. He noticed Khalifa's brief interaction with Blueno but opted not to say or do anything about it. With a touch of determination, he carried her out of the bar, his strides measured and steady.
Despite her intoxicated state, fragments of Khalifa's rationality clung stubbornly to her consciousness. As Cedric whisked her away from the bar, the flicker of panic became more pronounced on her expression.
Khalifa tried to struggle away, but her body failed, and she could only hang bonelessly on the young pirate's shoulder like one particularly attractive sack of potatoes.
Cedric, however, remained unfazed by Khalifa's misconceptions. With each step, he remained steadfast in his commitment to act as a true gentleman.
A visous killer she might be, but she was still a woman.