Chapter 138

For a moment.

A large area right in the middle of the dock was cleared out.

The Falling Curtain smoothly moored and docked.

Those civilians and sailors who had just set foot on land again immediately went their separate ways, looking for passenger ships to take them back.

As for the few remaining slaves whose hometowns had been destroyed, they followed their earlier decision and prepared to settle down here for now.

Once they had saved up some money, they would make other plans.

One of the slaves was clearly far more emotional than the others; his rough hands gripped the railing tightly as he looked toward the town with red-rimmed eyes.

Siano remembered him.

He seemed to be called Pike, nearly forty years old, the oldest among the slaves Siano had rescued.

"What's wrong?" Siano asked, leaning against the ship's railing with a smile.

"It's the City of Food!"

Pike wiped the corner of his eye and couldn't help but laugh happily. "My lord! My luck is truly too good! So your next stop is actually here! This is the place where I worked for over ten years!"

Oh?

Siano was somewhat surprised; this luck was indeed extraordinary.

The other slave burly men also shouted and cheered:

"Eh? What a coincidence, Pike~!"

"Haha, so we've arrived at your old turf; from now on, we'll have to rely on you to take care of us!"

"Don't worry! I used to work as a porter here for so many years, so I know quite a few old acquaintances! I'll be able to help everyone find jobs soon!" Pike laughed heartily.

"Haven't you been back for a long time?" Siano asked again.

"Yes, my lord, a full six or seven years."

Pike sighed, "Over ten years ago, I picked up a child by the dock, and the two of us have relied on each other ever since, settling down here."

"Until later, when he grew up and could support himself as a porter with his great strength, I missed my parents, so I parted with him and went back to my hometown to live. In the blink of an eye, it's been so long since we've seen each other; I don't even know how he is now."

"So, you fellow, you can still reunite with your family."

Another burly man beside him put his arm around Pike's neck and shook him vigorously. "I'm truly envious of you, Pike!"

"It's all thanks to the grace of Lord Siano! Otherwise, how could I have returned here?"

"That's for sure, haha!"

The burly men teased and joked with Pike for a while, then thanked Siano and the others profusely once more.

Only then did they reluctantly bid farewell.

"Hehe."

Nami leaned on the railing, watching the figures of the three men as they walked away, and said with a grin, "Helping them regain a new life; this feeling is truly wonderful."

"Yes."

Siano rubbed her head and said with a smile, "Let's go; we should disembark too and explore this island."

Just like Zeff, he was very curious about the reason why this City of Food had recovered its prosperity.

Now, it was time to go and find out.

At the far northwest corner of the dock, in a civilian residential area located in the suburbs of the town.

Pike stopped in his tracks and stared blankly up at the house before him.

The mottled wooden walls, the faded blue doorframe; it was very ordinary and very dilapidated. The only special thing was that both the ceiling and the door had been modified to be much higher than the other surrounding houses.

At this moment, this familiar yet strange little house stood silent as ever under the sunlight.

Pike strained to stand on his tiptoes and, with his rough palm, stroked the few crooked scratches above the doorframe.

These were all records carved with a blade back then to measure the height of that foolish child.

That child, when found, was already nearly two meters tall; by the time he was fourteen or fifteen, he stood five or six meters high.

In the blink of an eye, it's been so long since we've seen each other; I don't even know what he looks like now.

His nose tingled with emotion, then he immediately grinned, suddenly pushed open this old wooden door that hadn't been touched in ages, spread his arms wide, and laughed loudly:

"Hey, Jack, you brat, where are you? Dad's back!!!"

At the same time.

In the town center of the City of Food.

There were four observation towers here, also the highest points on the entire island.

Siano led his companions up one of the towers, gazed into the distance, and looked toward another dock on the northern side of the island.

"I see."

His eyes flickered slightly as he pondered, and he suddenly understood the reason why this city had been brought back from the brink of death.

Compared to the bustling and lively southern dock, this northern dock had no passenger ships moored,

but a huge station platform stood there.

At this moment, everyone happened to hear the long blast of a whistle; amidst the "Woo-woo—" sound, a massive iron beast painted dark green was slowly entering the station, exhaling and inhaling steam.

"This is... a Sea Train?!"

Nami was stunned for a moment, but having read countless books related to navigation, she immediately realized the truth:

"No wonder this island could develop again; it turns out it was selected to become a pilot city for the Sea Train."

"The Sea Train technology was still in the experimental stage five or six years ago; I never thought it would have been extended to here by now."

Smoker narrowed his eyes while holding a cigar in his mouth:

"In this regard, the World Government rarely did something right; warships patrol irregularly along the train line, which keeps the pirates much more honest, plus there is stable transport of goods for trade..."

"That is why this place could become the City of Gourmet once again."

Siano first nodded, then shook his head slightly with a sigh, "It's just a pity that the Father of the Sea Train cannot witness this scene."

The designer of the Sea Train was Tom, Siano's master, who could be called the world's number one shipwright.

This shipbuilding master, who made Water Seven and several surrounding cities prosperous, had already offset the sin of building a ship for the Pirate King Roger with his merit of constructing the Sea Train.

Yet, because he possessed the blueprints for Pluton, he was framed by Spandam, the head of government agents, who pinned the crime of attacking a judicial ship on him, ultimately leading to his execution on Enies Lobby.

It was truly regrettable.

"Let's go, it's time to head down," Siano said.

Having clarified the reasons for this island's renewed prosperity, there was nothing left to linger for on this tower.

The crowd followed him down the stairs, preparing to split up and explore the parts of the island that interested them.

Robin wanted to visit the island's Gourmet Museum, Zeff went to procure ingredients, Smoker had finished his cigars and needed to restock, while Nami and Nojiko just wanted to go to Gourmet Street for a big meal...

Robin wanted to visit the island's Gourmet Museum, Zeff needed to procure ingredients, Smoker had run out of cigars and needed to restock, while Nami and Nojiko only wished to head to Gourmet Street for a hearty meal...

But, just as they were preparing to separate, a burst of hearty laughter suddenly came from the street opposite.

"Hey, what's going on? You've been really hard to find, Boss Siano, so you were over here!"

The speaker was a red-haired giant wearing a captain's hat, nearly three meters tall, draped in a scarlet cloak, with two serrated curved swords tucked at his waist.

With hands in his pockets, he laughed loudly, striding forward with an arrogant gait similar to a certain flamingo.

Behind him surged a massive group, totaling over a hundred people, each radiating a fierce aura and looking like trouble.

Behind him surged a massive procession of fully one hundred men, each radiating a fierce aura and looking utterly formidable.

Sister Sister Guyina stepped forward, drew Wado Ichimonji with a *swish*, blocked this group, and said expressionlessly, "What are you here for?"

"Oh my, don't be so scary, Sister Sister Guyina, we're on the same side!"

The red-haired giant smiled even more brilliantly; he exaggeratedly raised both arms to show he meant no harm and said with a grin:

"Everyone, let me introduce myself first; I am 'Blood Saw' Jax! My bounty is 112 million Berries, I command a large fleet of over a thousand men, and among the rookie captains who entered the Grand Line this year, I am the most dazzling Supernova!"

"Everyone, allow me to introduce myself first; I am 'Bloodsaw' Jax! With a bounty of 112 million Berries and a grand fleet of over a thousand men under my command, I am the most dazzling Supernova among the rookie captains who entered the Grand Line this year!"

The red-haired giant looked at Siano again, "You, who haven't even Entering the New World yet but already have a bounty as high as one billion, are my dream idol; hearing from my subordinates that you arrived on this island, I didn't think twice and rushed over immediately!"

"Judging by your tone..." Smoker said, holding a cigar in his mouth and raising an eyebrow, "you want to join our boss?"

"Exactly, Mr. Smoker!"

Jax grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth, "I came this time with all my sincerity, here to pledge my allegiance!"

"Men!"

He waved his hand sharply, and the subordinates behind him immediately carried out more than ten large boxes, slamming them onto the ground with a *clang* before flipping open the lids.

—Inside were clearly piles of gold, silver, and treasures towering like mountains, glittering in the sunlight.

He waved his hand sharply, and the underlings behind him immediately carried out more than ten large crates, slamming them onto the ground with a loud clang before flipping open the lids.

Just as expected, it was this same old trick; Nami boredly yawned, quietly tugged on Nojiko, wanting to drag her to tour the restaurants, but the latter made a *shh* gesture, as she still wanted to stay here and watch more of the show!

"This is all the wealth I scraped together after entering the Grand Line from the West Blue!"

Jax didn't notice this scene; patting his chest, he declared with heroic spirit:

"As long as you, Boss Siano, nod your head and allow me to join the crew, from today on, my life, Jax, belongs to you! My fleet, my officers, and all the treasures I've plundered will all be at your disposal!"

Isn't this sincerity sufficient!

As a fellow pirate, he didn't believe Siano wouldn't be tempted!

As for why he was willing to pay such a huge price to seek joining the crew...

It was very simple.

Even a Supernova needs a backer!

He was currently preparing to head to the Sabaody Archipelago, and after getting coated, he would go straight to the New World.

And in such an extremely dangerous place, relying solely on himself would not be enough to survive.

Today was lucky; unexpectedly meeting the person before him, how could he not seize this opportunity!

Looking across the entire first half of the Grand Line, this was the thickest thigh to cling to, bar none.

Following this person, he would soon become a focal point shaking the New World, just like Sister Sister Guyina and Smoker.

Even if this person was defeated and subdued by one of the Four Emperors after Entering the New World, he would likely be immediately promoted to a position like the second or third in command.

And he, as an old hand on the ship, would see his status rise with the tide!

"Why is this guy smiling foolishly?" Watching the red-haired giant grinning *ehe-hehe* and drooling, Nami quietly asked Nojiko beside her.

"Probably fantasizing about something again."

Nojiko shrugged, turned her head to look at Siano, and said, "Brother, what do you say?"

"Since his attitude isn't bad, just tell him to scram." Siano shook his head slightly, too lazy to deal with it, "Let's go, we should get on with what we need to do."

"Mm." Nojiko nodded, not surprised at all.

She was about to step forward and wave this guy away.

However, Ah Yin behind her finally couldn't hold back; after sniffing with his nose, he followed the scent to stand before the red-haired giant, stared at the cloth bag hanging at his waist, and emitted a low growl from his throat.

She was just about to step forward and wave this fellow away.

Behind her, Ah Yin finally could not hold back; after sniffing the air, he tracked the scent to stand before the red-haired burly man, staring at the cloth pouch hanging from his waist while emitting a low growl from his throat.

Jax was stunned by Ah Yin's action and instinctively stepped back half a pace, but quickly forced a smile and looked at Siano ingratiatingly:

"Boss Siano, this pet you keep is quite fierce, huh..."

Jax was startled by Ah Yin's action and instinctively stepped back half a pace, but he quickly forced a smile and looked ingratiatingly at Siano:

"Head Siano, this pet you keep is quite fierce, huh..."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Ah Yin suddenly lunged, biting down hard on that bulging cloth sack and tearing it off with a fierce yank.

Riiip—

The sack burst open, and several young girls' heads, their cuts smooth and neat without a trace of blood, rolled onto the ground, their eyes dilated and lifeless as they stared up at the sky.

"!!!"

The local residents, who had gathered around to watch the commotion, immediately erupted into an uproar.

"Wait, that's Ellie!"

"And Annie and Eve too..."

"They were all girls working at the tavern down the mountain! How could this..."

Siano had already been preparing to turn and leave, but catching sight of this scene, he halted his steps, his gaze instantly turning cold.

"Hey, bad doggy, what are you doing!"

Jax, flustered and scrambling, bent down to pick them up one by one while scolding, "These are all fresh treasures I just collected, prepared for my own enjoyment; they aren't meant to be eaten! If you're hungry, don't worry—once I've joined the crew, I'll feed you piles of roasted meat every day..."

"Sister Sister Guyina."

Siano said expressionlessly.

"Yes, my lord."

The young swordswoman's calm voice rang out.

The moment her words ended.

Whoosh!

A brilliant flash of white sword light streaked past, and Jax's muttering ceased abruptly.

He stared blankly down at the sudden line of blood appearing on his neck, and at Sister Sister Guyina, who had already sheathed her blade without him noticing.

"So fast..."

This was Jax's final thought.

Thud!

The pirate with a bounty exceeding one hundred million Berries fell stiffly straight into a pool of blood, the splashing crimson staining the treasure chest behind him red.

Sister Sister Guyina's figure materialized; without sparing a single glance at the corpse on the ground, she indifferently returned the Wado Ichimonji to its scabbard and quietly took her position behind Siano once more.

"Boss!!!"

"How could this happen!"

"We clearly came to surrender as our own people, Lord Siano!"

The underlings screamed in terror, instantly descending into chaos, while some loyal old subordinates, tears streaming from their eyes, drew their blades intending to avenge Jax.

Truly noisy to death.

Siano frowned slightly, his mind stirring as he leaked a fraction of his Conqueror's Haki.

Hum!

An invisible pressure swept over, and these hundred-plus pirates immediately flipped their eyes back and collapsed to the ground like wheat reaped in a field.

The street instantly fell silent.

"Do me a favor, and take these girls'... remains to their families."

Looking at the heads of those young girls on the ground, Siano sighed and spoke to the surrounding local residents.

"O-okay!"

Several bold residents hurried forward, carefully wrapping the heads in cloth, their eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"As for these pirates..."

Siano glanced at Jax's unconscious subordinates lying on the ground.

"I'll leave them to your disposal; won't Navy warships arrive at this island regularly along with the Sea Train? You can hand them over then."

"Thank you, Lord Siano!" The residents were overcome with tearful gratitude.

This Jax, relying on his formidable strength and fearless of the patrol ships that could arrive at any moment, had been running rampant on the island with his subordinates for two days, with no one daring to provoke him.

Now, he had finally received the punishment he deserved!

What is this?

Is it that evil people are naturally ground down by other evil people?

A few half-grown children also whispered quietly, "What's the deal? So there are good people among pirates too."

"I can hear you, brats."

Siano glanced over.

"Waaah!" Several youths immediately panicked, tears and snot flying as they huddled together.

"No need to be afraid; let me make this clear to you: I have never been, and will never become, a pirate."

Siano said lightly, "Come to think of it, quite a few pirates are still lingering on this island; you can also help spread the word: while I am on this island, they had better behave themselves. If they dare lay hands on civilians again, they will meet the same fate as Jax."

"Additionally, tell those fellows not to even think about coming to pledge allegiance; I have no interest in recruiting weaklings who can't even defeat the crewmen under my command."

After dropping these words, he departed from this street accompanied by his companions.

Watching their retreating figures, someone subconsciously shifted their gaze toward the dozen or so open treasure chests.

With so much treasure, if converted to cash, wouldn't it be worth at least several hundred million Berries?

A very few people felt restless with greed, but were immediately slapped on the head by a highly respected elder, who scolded them fiercely:

"Fools! Dare you harbor such thoughts? Are you looking to die!"

"That Lord Siano may appear easy to talk to, but if anyone dares touch his spoils and enrages him, the wrath we face would be more than this town can endure!"

That's right!

Recalling Jax's fate just moments ago, those few who had harbored greedy thoughts immediately broke out in a cold sweat; under the contemptuous gazes of the surrounding residents, they finally came to their senses.

"Then what should we do?"

"Isn't Lord Siano's ship docked at the southern pier? Let's all lend a hand and help Lord Siano get these crates onto the deck."

"Understood!"

Soon, the residents on the street spontaneously organized themselves, carefully lifting the treasure chests and forming a long line to walk toward the southern pier.

…………

In that ordinary wooden hut in the northwest corner of the pier.

"Old man?!"

The burly young man lying on the bed sat up abruptly, causing the heavy wooden bed to groan under the strain.

He rubbed his eyes, looking at the familiar silhouette standing backlit in the doorway; his face first showed disbelief, then broke into wild joy.

"Is it really you, Old man!"

Jack nearly jumped out of bed, his eight-meter-tall massive frame causing the floor to tremble violently.

Full of urgency, he rushed to Pike in three giant strides, wanting to embrace him like he did as a child, only to suddenly realize his mistake at the last moment and slam on the brakes.

—His current strength and weight far surpassed those of the past; if he really collided, he feared he would have to say goodbye again to the old man he had finally reunited with after so much trouble.

He squatted down, waiting with a simple smile for Pike to approach, then opened his arms, and they embraced.

"You brat, you've grown so big!"

Pike laughed loudly, reaching out to pat Jack's solid arms, but then suddenly noticed—

On the young man's exposed, knotted muscular arms were thick bandages, and looking closely at his face, it was bruised and swollen, clearly indicating he had suffered greatly not long ago.

"Who did you fight with this time? That gang from the east side of the pier?"

Pike touched these bruises with a pained heart, seething with anger, "These guys, after so many years, are they active again now? They haven't forgotten the grudges of the past and have come to bully you?"

"Simply unforgivable!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got; he grabbed a shovel from behind the door, "Wait here, Jack, Old man is going to avenge you right now!"

"It wasn't them, Old man."

Jack hurriedly stopped him, "Uh, actually, I'm a Devil Fruit user now, plus the strength of an adult Fish-Man; let alone those guys from back then, even if everyone on this island joined forces, they wouldn't be my match..."

"Eh?"

Pike was startled, "Devil Fruit? Isn't that thing extremely valuable? Where did you get it..."

"That's a long story, Old man; rest a while, drink some water, and I'll tell you slowly."

Jack helped Pike sit down by the wooden table and poured a cup of hot tea to hand over:

"Where should I start? Anyway, it was about two months ago; while I was moving cargo at the pier, I saw a strange fruit floating over from afar, and since I happened to be hungry, I just washed it and ate it..."

"But as soon as I took a bite, it tasted terrible, nearly making me spit it out."

Jack scratched his head, revealing a simple smile:

"But it still took effect; that day while bathing, I felt uncomfortable all over, so I went out to the seaside to catch some breeze; as I was walking, I tripped over a rock and fell; thinking I should brace myself with my hands to avoid injuring my forehead, I inexplicably turned into a particularly large mammoth..."

"This is a Zoan-type ability?" Pike was stunned.

"Yes, I only found out later."

Jack nodded, "Anyway, later a Warlord of the Sea named Boss Hua Zha came to our island for supplies; he happened to see my transformed form, and that guy seemed very interested in my mammoth form, so he forcibly dragged me onto his ship to become his subordinate."

"Warlord of the Sea? That's still a pirate in the end; how did you end up becoming a pirate?"

Pike looked somewhat unhappy.

"It was just forced, Old man; that guy Boss Hua Zha has a crew full of useless stingy bastards, but he himself treated me quite well, so I just stuck with him for a while."

Jack said cheerfully.

"Then why are you back now?" Pike frowned, "And who inflicted these injuries on your body?"

"Injuries on my body?"

Jack looked down, "They were bite marks from fish; I fell into the sea and drifted for a long time, nearly unable to get back up; I thought I was done for, but a Sea King chased and bit me; instead of biting me to death, it pushed me into shallow water; by the time I woke up, I had drifted near this island."

Pike listened with his mouth agape: "You brat... you really have a thick life!"

"You can say that again!"

Jack laughed heartily, "But Old man, I'm completely free now; that day I followed Boss Hua Zha and got into a fight with a guy named Siano."

"That guy is really strong; I heard he killed Boss Hua Zha in just a few moves, and the pirate crew was finished too; so I just didn't bother going out to sea anymore and decided to wait right here, thinking maybe one day you would return; I didn't expect that in just a few days, you actually did come back..."

"Haha, I also barely managed to return to this island alive; let me tell you the whole story from the beginning... Wait!"

Pike suddenly realized something, his laughter cutting off abruptly; he stood up sharply, eyes wide:

"Who did you say you fought with just now?"

…………

Gourmet City, within the town.

Everyone had already separated, either alone or in groups of two or three, leisurely strolling around the town.

Siano, bringing Ah Yin, went first to the dessert market in the north.

He had received flyers distributed on the street hearing that various strawberry products were sold here, intending to let a certain fellow who even had to ration strawberry milk on the ship indulge to his heart's content.

"Hey, Ah Yin, don't run off."

Siano patted the silver wolf's head; ever since stepping into the dessert market area, this fellow had been extremely excited, sniffing the sweet scent in the air continuously, his tail wagging like a propeller.

"Awooo!"

Ah Yin let out a low growl in protest, but was soon attracted by the display window of a dessert shop by the roadside, pressing his entire wolf face against the glass, drool dripping down in a stream.

Siano took a look.

"Signature Strawberry Chiffon Cake, Strawberry Shake Ice, Strawberry Pulp Milk Tea..."

Awooo!

A-Yin gazed up at Siano with wide, pleading eyes, full of longing.

"Tsk, you guy..."

Siano smiled helplessly, pushed open the door, and stepped inside the shop.

Then this place it is.

Ding-ling—

A crisp bell chime rang out; warm yellow light spilled within, filling the air with a rich aroma of cream and strawberries.

"Welcome!"

Behind the counter, a young female clerk wearing a peaked cap greeted them with a beaming smile:

"What would you like, customer? Our signature strawberry cake is the most popular on all of Pucci Island!"

"Then bring me one largest-sized signature strawberry cake, and also, every drink and snack that uses strawberries—give me one of each."

After ordering, Siano casually took a seat by the window.

A-Yin obediently squatted at his feet, staring eagerly toward the counter, tail patting the floor with a slap-slap rhythm.

Before long, the clerk returned carrying a large tray laden with an assortment of exquisite pastries.

"Enjoy your meal!"

The young female clerk set down the cake, then curiously glanced at A-Yin; what a handsome big dog!

Such a large dog was rarely seen; she couldn't resist reaching out to pet him, smiling as she asked, "Customer, shall I get one for it as well?"

"No, all of this is for it; I'll just have one bite to taste."

Siano smiled, picked up a fork, scooped a small piece of cake, and sent it into his mouth.

The soft cake base melted instantly on the tongue; the sweet fragrance of cream and the sweet-tart flavor of strawberries blended perfectly, while the garnishing chocolate biscuits added just the right touch—everything balanced to perfection.

Delicious, not cloying at all; instead, it made the cake's texture even richer.

However, his interest in sweets had always been limited; after that single bite, he set the fork down.

"Stop holding back; dig in."

Siano glanced at A-Yin, whose drool was nearly pooling on the floor, and laughed with mild exasperation.

If Nami or any other crew member had brought A-Yin here, the plate would likely already have been licked clean.

Only in front of him, its master, could it remain obedient, adhering to canine hierarchy, watching eagerly as he leisurely savored the cake.

Awooo!

Finally granted permission, A-Yin eagerly lowered his head, burying his entire wolf face in the cream, sweeping through it tooth-and-nail style, smearing cream all over his muzzle.

Such eating manners...

... were only slightly better than his own.

Siano shook his head, crossed his legs, ordered a cup of coffee, and was just sipping it leisurely when suddenly a commotion erupted outside the shop.

Glancing sideways, he caught sight of several figures hurrying past.

"Hey, have you heard? Lord Siano declared that anyone who can defeat any one of his crew members in a one-on-one duel may join his ranks!"

"Really?"

"Could joining a great figure's ship truly be that easy?"

"Of course it's true! Though I heard it from someone else, it's absolutely certain! Lord Siano said he has no interest in recruiting weaklings who can't even defeat his own crew members—isn't that exactly what it means?"

"Indeed, it does seem that way..."

The figures gradually receded, their voices dissipating into the wind.

Siano's hand, holding the coffee cup, paused mid-air.

"..."

The corners of his mouth twitched; how had the rumor twisted into something like this?

When had he ever said such a thing?

Those brats had distorted the message beyond recognition.

Earlier, when he had asked those half-grown youths present to spread a few words, the most important first point was to deter all pirates on the island, making them dare not bully the local populace.

That part seemed unchanged; along the way, he had seen no pirates daring to disobey or pick fights with the townsfolk.

But the second point—"he had no plan to accept pirates as new crew members"—

... seemed, through constant retelling, to have become utterly distorted and lost.

Truly headache-inducing.

Siano rubbed his brow.

Those pirates wishing to board his ship surely lacked the courage to challenge him personally.

But the rest of his crew, currently scattered and wandering around the island, might inevitably become targets.

"Awooo?"

A-Yin lifted his head, face smeared with cream, and glanced questioningly at Siano, as if sensing his shift in mood.

"It's nothing; keep eating."

Siano rubbed his head.

Never mind; it wasn't anything major anyway. He simply didn't believe any pirate on this island possessed enough strength to defeat his crew members.

After enduring a day's worth of beatings, they would naturally behave themselves without needing to wait until nightfall.

But right now—

some of his companions had probably already been approached by trouble, hadn't they?

South City, within the vegetable market.

Zeff, clad in his chef's uniform, was crouching before a stall, intently selecting fresh ingredients, when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Without even turning his head, he said flatly, "Kid, if you want to ambush an old man like me, you'd better go back and train for a few more years."

"Don't look down on people, old man!"

A young pirate wielding a long staff shouted as he lunged from behind:

"You're the ship's cook, right! What luck that I ran into a non-combatant like you; once I defeat you, I'll be able to board my lord Siano's ship!"

Where did this rumor come from?

Zeff frowned.

Still, was he really the first one picked, chosen as the breakthrough point?

"I'm being underestimated."

Feeling the sound of wind slicing through the air behind his head, Zeff sighed and kicked out with his right leg like lightning.

Boom!

That young pirate instantly flew backward faster than he had come, rolled his eyes back, and collapsed unconscious on the ground.

Zeff looked around; in just that short while, he had already spotted seven or eight highly suspicious figures in the crowd who had clearly also intended to challenge him.

But having witnessed firsthand his instant kill, they now hesitated, shrinking back in fear.

"Young people these days..."

Zeff shook his head and continued selecting his ingredients. "Pack this up for me, boss. I'll take this cabbage, and also the carrots, onions..."

Beside the tobacco shop near the dock.

"This batch of goods is of fine quality."

Smoker walked through the alley, counting the cigar boxes in his hand while exhaling clouds of smoke.

Suddenly, three pirates wearing captain hats blocked his path.

"Renegade hunter Smoker! We've finally found you; we challenge you!"

"Tsk, is it because of that rumor..."

Smoker glanced up, slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, and narrowed his eyes to size up this group of reckless pirates before him:

"Hey, what exactly gives you the confidence to pick me as your opponent?"

"It's obviously because you're weak!"

The lead pirate captain laughed loudly, "A bounty of 160 million Berries does seem terrifying indeed! Ordinary pirates would be scared to death, daring not to seek you out, but we are different; we have already investigated your background! Before joining my lord Siano's ranks, you were nothing but a minor Marine branch colonel in some place like the East Blue!"

"A branch colonel! And from the East Blue at that!"

Another pirate captain also laughed wildly, "Your bounty is so high only because you rode on my lord Siano's coattails, relying solely on your status as a Cadre of the Curtain-Fallers!"

"I, Laozi, am a great pirate with a 70 million Berry bounty! For a fraud holding a position like yours, I killed at least ten of your kind back when I roamed the North Sea! You will be no exception!"

"Take this, Smoker, stop dawdling!"

"That's right!"

"Hand over to us this glory that my lord Siano bestowed upon you but which does not belong to you!"

"Tsk, what a hassle..."

Smoker sighed, slowly raised his right hand, and thick white smoke suddenly gushed from his palm, instantly forming a giant fist that smashed fiercely toward the three before him!

"White Fist: Heavy Strike!"

The town square.

Sister Sister Guyina was resting with her eyes closed by the fountain; from the conversations of several groups passing by earlier, she had already learned of the rumor rapidly fermenting on the island.

Simply ridiculous.

She shook her head slightly; how could my lord Siano possibly take an interest in this motley crew?

It's just that...

One thing was very strange.

She had deliberately chosen such a conspicuous spot to sit, and several batches of pirates had passed by, yet not one had stopped to issue a challenge.

In fact, these people were intentionally veering to both sides to avoid her, not even daring to glance at her.

A mere 200 million Berry bounty was enough to frighten these people out of their wits.

The swordswoman maiden opened her eyes and let out a deeply bored sigh.

Not a shred of courage; that idiot moss-head is still more fun, no matter how many times he suffers defeat, he always retains the fighting spirit to go all out the next time.

In any case, it seems no one will come today.

She stood up, left the fountain square, and headed toward the bookstore.

I wonder how the rest of the companions are doing; with bounties exceeding 100 million each for everyone, they should be able to just as easily scare off this bunch of cowards, right?

Wait.

Sister Sister Guyina suddenly halted her steps, looked up in a certain direction, and her expression turned somewhat odd.

How could I have forgotten.

On the ship, there truly is one exception...

On a small stool in the center of Gourmet Street.

Nami was happily munching on a large box of takoyaki when she suddenly noticed that the surroundings had become unusually quiet at some point.

Eh?

She lifted her head in some confusion and looked left and right.

She saw that the exits at both ends of the street had, at some point, been completely blocked by a dense, black mass of people.

As far as the eye could see.

The entire street was now packed with at least three or four hundred individuals, all glaring at her with predatory intent, closing in step by step, their faces twisted in sinister grins.

It was as if, in their eyes, she were some succulent fat sheep ready for the taking.

W-what are they trying to do?

Nami tilted her head, her expression one of utter bewilderment.

(End of Chapter)