♬

As the crew exited the catacombs, the light shone brightly along the cliff which was cut horizontally, creating a passageway towards the broad stone structures that plastered the Kingdom of Gubo. The ground was mucky, enough to collect mud onto very thin material based shoes but not enough to slow down movement. In the distance was a stall, carrying custom sandals made specifically for traversing the streets of Gubo, at least the unpaved areas that hadn't been lined in the regular cement and thin stone slab surfaces. Now that the passageway was verified and clear, Junbei ordered a few of his forces to remain at the boat, mainly Charlotte and a few of the snipers. A hundred of Junbei's men gathered around the outskirts of the town, which was carried a sign made out of a cartoonish font, 'Gubo - Kes'. The district of Kes was mainly a tourist attraction area, various dealers and vendors camped out around the main street, trying to get sales from any locals who'd managed to make it into the underground oasis. The streets were literally packed, with a combination of pirates, merchants and even some marines, however, at the sight of Junbei, those who'd known who he was tried not to pay the man much mind, mostly out of fear. "Alright. Search the city for any more of those masked freaks. Stay in packs of four and avoid killing if possible." Junbei commented. "I NEED FOOD! SO GOOD LUCK FINDING THIS KAS DUDE!" Junbei exclaimed, dashing off into the city. Before he could even make a few strides, a group of townspeople encircled him. "Are you the Yonko, Junbei Von Echo!? The man who roughed up those masked ones outside of town!?" one of the villagers shouted, with a disgruntle look on his face. "Ugh... Nah. It's that guy over there... with the fedora." Junbei said, pointing towards Nico, iterating in a sarcastic tone. "No! I'm sure... It's you!" another woman shouted. Walking aggressively, rifles in hand towards the mob, Junbei simply rose his hands to his men to stop in their tracks. In an instant, the townspeople surrounded the Frog, Nico and the remainder of the Songbirds. "OUR HEROES!" one of the men shouted, dropping onto his knees and clutching onto each members legs.

"Eh?" Junbei exclaimed extremely lost. "SLAYERS OF THE MASKED! KILLERS OF THE FALSE PROPHETS!" a man shouted loudly from the centre of the pack. "Oi." Junbei exclaimed, slightly annoyed, only because he had no clue what in the world was going on, tapping on the shoulders of the townspeople asking for information about why in the world would they be heroes for defeating those loons. "Aren't like those masked people the authority here or something?" Junbei inquired. "Authority!" the eccentric man who was now at the hind of the pack, scrambled over towards the Auburn Songbird. Twirling his moustache, "Moustaches are glllooorrrious!" the man shouted. "Eh?" Junbei exclaimed superbly lost. Grabbing the Yonko's hands, "We've been under these crazy peoples rule for almost a year now." the man announced. "I'm the mayor by the way!" the man twirled his moustache with pride as he broke contact with the Yonko to announce. Being a busy body, he snatched Junbei's hands once again, "It all started..." the man trailed along. "Mayor of where... Sure. Tell me your life story... I'm so interested." Junbei exclaimed sarcastically with a blank expression hating long stories. "Ugh. Give me the spark notes version please." Junbei requested. "Come again, Oh Great Saviour?" the mayor inquired. Grabbing the man by his collar, "GODDAMNIT I SAID SUMMARISE THE DAMN STORY, I'M HUNGRY." Junbei shouted. Panting, the townspeople looked on with sparkles in their eyes. "Well! If you were hungry, you should've just said so! UP!" the Mayor shouted. Suddenly, with no effort, the townspeople hoisted the Songbirds on their shoulders, all but Octavia, who was playing with the local kids at this point, playing piggyback, and ushered them into the city. Sighing, Junbei just went along with the flow, the fresh air the filled Gubo, carried the scent of the sea water and the aroma heavy flowers that filled the mosses covered surfaces of the rocks formations around Gubo.

♬

Ushered off by the mob, the Songbird pirates were on high alert. Junbei on the other hand couldn't have cared less about the townspeople intentions, honestly, his genuine hunger shone through as he was carried above the townspeople's head with care. As he stared at the ceiling of Gubo, the separating dolines shone flickers of light through their geographical make, lighting up the city as if it was surface level, however, the cascading shadows still added a level of intimacy to the chamber. In the town hall, oddly, preparations had already been made, roasted chicken, turkey, gravies and ale filled the tables from brim to brim. The Songbird's crew dashed off first, having been at sea for days, most of his men were famished. "Oi! Don't forget to take some back to Charlotte and the others back at the Dutchman." Junbei shouted. Turning to the mayor, "How much do I owe you for such kindness? Money really isn't a problem. Rishi Rishi." the Auburn Songbird announced. "Money... No need. You are our heroes..." the mayor announced nervously. "Besides... money means nothing here in Gubo." one of the townspeople whispered, loud enough only for those around her to hear, removed three meters from Junbei, but his every active waves picked up on the most subtle of noises. Walking over to the Frog, "They seem super friendly." Junbei whispered to the Frog. "Is it fear or do they have something else on their mind, Rishi Rishi." Junbei whispered once again, walking away form the Frog and taking a seat at the head of the table.

Reaching up a pitcher of ale, Junbei noticed a few of the townspeople staring at him intently. Drool dripped from their mouths, as if, they hadn't eaten for days, odd, why was such a feast provided to them, outsiders but the locals stood idle, and didn't indulge themselves. "Send word back to the ship! Bring two days worth of supplies to the village! And Sake! We're going to kick the feast off right!" Junbei shouted. "NO!" the Mayor shouted at the top of his lungs almost panicked. The merriment from the Songbird's paused, an awkward silence filled the town hall. "I know we're pirates... and my name carries many evil connotations to it... but why are you so against taking provisions when I can clearly tell from these children and the starved out look of your faces that you hadn't eaten anything in maybe weeks." Junbei stated. "What's also odd... Why did the marines who occupied this city didn't even bat an eye when they saw us?" Junbei continued to drill the Mayor. "But.. Umm.. Well..." the man began to stammer. "It's because your our last hope, Songbird." a voice echoed from the crowd. "Rishi Rishi... Really?" Junbei inquired. Propping his feet on the table, slamming his shoes through the provided plates and sipping on the ale, "How so?" Junbei inquired further.

"My name is Lux. I'm the actual Mayor of the Kingdom of Gubo. Aid to our ruler the Paintress. I've issued a no contact law against the Songbirds. This food is a simple bribe... After you'd eaten and bid merry, I'd ask you to pay off your debt. Simple." Lux, the tiny golden trimmed locked hairstyle male commented, his drained face removing his youth of twenty-six, he looked more like he was in his thirties. "And what would this bribe had gain you?" Junbei inquired. "Revenge. You've been the only visitors who've made it into the city in almost a year. And you made it hear by violence not in chains or by Kaz's invitation." Lux commented. "So you wanted to use me to kill this man by the name of Kaz?" Junbei inquired, finishing off the ale. "Yes." Lux simply responded. "Surely he can't be that big of a deal?" Junbei inquired once again. "He's murdered over 100,000 thousands women and female children for his 'ritual' since being here. Does that sound serious enough to you?" Lux asked with a grim expression. Nico chimed in, "And what did the marines have to say about!?" the man exclaimed outraged, slamming his hand on the table. "They won't touch someone with Royal Blood like his. And even if they tried... they'd die to his worshipers... His sect is one of the biggest growing religions in Paradise... Next to the followers of Occulto." Lux stated. "He literally has an army of thousands." Lux said reluctantly, clutching at his fist in his own weakness. "Frog!" Junbei shouted. "What say you? Rishi Rishi." Junbei exclaimed chuckling.

♬

Grinning at the Frog's response, "Of course. We decided that long before this farce." Junbei exclaimed. "Alright. Men take arms!" Junbei commanded. In that instant, all of the gunmen at the table stood, take lock onto their rifles and pistols, Nico drawing a pistol from one of the grunts waist, putting it to better use. Octavia was frolicking around the city, collecting ingredients for her candy. "As of today, this city is under the control of the Songbird Pirates, temporarily, I guess. I'm a pirate. Not a hero. If I want your food, I'll take it. Besides... You can't bribe a man whose not bound by material things... Foods nice... Treasures better... but none of them fill my thirst." Junbei stated. Raising his hands to show surrender, the Mayor sighed, "So women then? Is that what peaks your fancy?" Lux inquired. "Rishi Rishi... A wise man once told me... People often reflect their own temptations and strives onto you. I only have one interest... Pirate King." Junbei stated bluntly. Within hours, Junbei's crew had locked down the city's and it's perimeters, summoning the remaining Songbird's from the ship, leaving Charlotte and small unit to guard the ship. "Now shall we talk, Lux was it?" Junbei said grinning. Signalling for the men to drop their weapons, Junbei continued the feast, this time, urging the townspeople to join in. As Junbei's fed men guarded the perimeter from any suspicious activity, Junbei, the Frog and Nico remained in the Townhall, listening to Lux's instructions. "Kaz isn't an ordinary man. He's a vampire according to rumours. As such, he lives in the area of Gubo that's less lightened by the dolines. It's a place called Bedrock. Also known as the 'Kingdom Below'." Lux chimed in. "The Kingdom Below?" Junbei inquired. "Centuries ago. Gubo was actually a Kingdom that was housed above land. However, it became extremely barren for it's people to maintain life above surface. The 'Ancient Ones' lived below Gubo and flourished quite well by living off the aquatic life, living in this place called Bedrock, said to be the literally bed to these rare stones that bared the fate and history of the Gubo people's oldest ancestors. Watching how the surface people began to suffer, everyone migrated below the surface, and eventually the cities were brought to ruin by the odd weather in Paradise. Gubo was much more expansive underground, and it was split into three parts. Bedrock, where we currently are, Kes. And intermediate in between, a district known as Byron." Lux explained.

"A Kingdom split into three." Junbei stated. "Mhm. The Paintress commands rule over all three sections, however, she's currently absent. Kes is usually very well guarded but most of the men joined Kaz's side due to his weird ability to turn people into mindless zombies. I've never seen a man with so much power. Honestly, the situations isn't as bad as we depict it was. One Year ago, a Shichibukai by the name of Mona Barbados was dispatched here. She managed to weaken Kaz, taking away his mind control over the Kes district and liberating Byron. However, Kaz managed to lock himself away in Bedrock, using it's thick maze as a defence. Mona couldn't waste time smoking him out, so she left a few of her generals behind. However, as soon as she fled, Kaz managed to get a lock on Mona's followers, and they've been keeping her at bay with false reports." Lux sighed concluding. "Maze? This Bedrock place is covered by a maze?" Junbei inquired. "IS THAT WHAT YOUR CONCERNED ABOUT!?" Nico exclaimed. "Jun. If Mona Barbados is already involved with these matters and the Celestial Dragon is gone, we should pull out." Nico shouted almost scared of the woman's name. "Mona isn't someone to be trifled with... Her Voodoo is top class. If this Kaz fellow clashed with her... He's already knocking on deaths door." Nico concluded. "Rishi Rishi... I guess the world is filled with all types. Voodoo huh? Vampires? I'm intrigued." Junbei commented. "Your man is correct Songbird but what he speaks is only half truth. Had Mona's man, a man by the name of Umber, not join his ranks, Kaz would indeed be dead. However, he's managed to reverse the voodoo's effects drastically with his council. Our spies in the camp say it's only a matter of time before he regains his full strength." Lux reported.

Standing up and stretching, grabbing a large turkey drum by the bone, "I've got enough information. Well, Nico did. I stopped listening halfway through. Where's this Byron and how do we get to Bedrock?" Junbei inquired. Lux eyes open widely, startled at the nonchalant nature of the Yonko's responses, "Head East. You'll arrive at a sign much like ours that marks the entrance of Byron. The further east you go, you'll stumble upon a large maze that spans for miles. At it's centre is Bedrock. Be careful, the ruins is connected and runs concurrently with a large river filled with aggressive aquatic life." Lux stated. "And there's a weird miasma that covers Bedrock. Some say inhaling it's contents weakens your over all energy levels. Many people have been found lost and dead from lack of oxygen within the mazes walls." Lux stated. "Rishi Rishi... Trust me. I'll find the centre easily. As long as abilities chimed in, I'll able use my Echo Map to locate the dummy routes." Junbei explained, not really expecting anyone to get it. "You said the river runs within the mazes walls right. Aquatic life huh?" Junbei said. Whistling a certain frequency, dashing from the hull of the ship, as the sound echoed and carried throughout the underground surface, Junbei's pet alligator, Wani, awoke. Turning to Frog and Nico, munching on the Turkey leg, "Let's go and kill 'god' again." Junbei exclaimed grinning his teeth, making a reference to the events in the sky, from which Nico looked puzzled for a moment, responding with, "Oh, you're referring to the incidents in Skypiea?" Nico said grinning. "Wouldn't be the first time we've took down someone claiming to be a God." Nico concluded. Ordering his men to hold down the fort, Octavia, Nico, Frog and Junbei began to travel towards Gubo, aback the Giant Gator Wani, who could traverse the river much faster than movements by land.