"Not going to make a move?"
Smoker was slightly taken aback.
These bandits had barged in fiercely, numbering over a hundred — they looked like a troublesome bunch.
But in truth...
Forget about him — even if he just sent out two of his elite marines, they could take down the whole gang with ease.
Perhaps Mr. Nao had his own reasons. Smoker didn't bother to overthink it. He bit down on his cigar and leaned back to watch the show.
"As you can see, we're bandits,"
The bandit leader swaggered up to the bar, a toothpick between his teeth and a grin on his face. "But we're not here to cause trouble. Hurry up and sell us some alcohol, or else—"
He glanced back at his men, did a quick headcount, and raised a finger:
"At least ten barrels."
"I'm sorry."
Makino was a little nervous at first, but after glancing at Nao, she quickly regained her composure and smiled politely. "Sir, I'm afraid the bar's alcohol just sold out."
"All sold out?"
The bandit leader raised an eyebrow. "Hey, hey, hey, that's a bit strange, isn't it? Are those Marines over there drinking plain water then?"
"There really isn't any left," Makino said apologetically. "We're just a small tavern, and all our stock is right here — that's all there is."
"Well, that's really unfortunate then."
Nao suddenly spoke up, raising his glass with a smile. "Looks like we're the ones who drank it all. If you don't mind, there's still one unopened bottle over there — consider it my treat."
"Hm?"
The bandit leader frowned and followed his gaze. Sure enough, there was an unopened bottle of sherry on the counter.
"One bottle?"
The bandit's eyes narrowed, and suddenly he lifted his right hand—
Smash!
The next moment, the sound of shattering glass filled the tavern, startling everyone inside.
Nao, who was sitting right beside the explosion, didn't even flinch as he calmly poured himself another drink.
The splashing alcohol, before it could even touch his skin, was instantly electrolyzed in midair — vanishing silently without a trace.
Only after he finished pouring did Nao turn to look down at the bandit.
At 3.4 meters tall, even while seated he towered over the man barely 1.7 meters in height.
"Are you kidding me, big guy?"
The bandit leader didn't notice the strange disappearance of the alcohol. He sneered, "Don't underestimate me! One little bottle like that isn't even enough to wet my throat!"
He whipped a bounty poster from his coat and raised it high in his right hand. "Take a good look! I'm an 8 million Berry wanted man — the great Higuma!"
"I've already killed fifty-six idiots just like you — self-righteous fools who think they're tough!"
"..." The Marines in the tavern exchanged puzzled looks.
"Honestly..." Nao didn't even glance at the bounty poster. He sighed as he looked at the shards of broken glass on the floor. "Cleaning this kind of mess up is such a pain..."
He bent down to pick up the pieces, asking casually, "Miss Makino, do you have a rag?"
"Eh?"
Makino snapped out of her daze, gave Higuma a pitying glance, and fetched a cloth. As she stepped out from behind the counter, she said softly, "Leave it be, Mr. White Dragon. You shouldn't trouble yourself with such things — let me handle it."
"..."
Higuma's eyes went cold as his right hand moved toward the sword at his waist.
These two — chatting like that, completely ignoring him?
They weren't taking the great Higuma seriously at all! How dare they — they were asking for death!
"So you like cleaning, huh?"
With fury boiling inside him, Higuma let out a wicked grin, drew his blade, and swung it across the counter.
"Then I'll give you plenty to clean up!"
Clang!
The blade had barely come down when it struck as if against a wall of forged steel, abruptly halted. The recoil surged back so violently that the whole area between his thumb and forefinger went numb.
Higuma almost couldn't keep hold of his sword. Startled, he turned his head and saw the big smoker who had been puffing a cigar in the distance a moment ago — somehow he was already standing beside him.
A huge black hand, like poured rebar, clamped tightly around the blade. Even using all his strength, Higuma couldn't pull it out or move it an inch.
"What are you thinking, bandit..." Smoker exhaled a mouthful of smoke and, expressionless, glanced down at him. "With me here, how could I let trash like you touch Mr. White Dragon..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly loosened his grip. Caught off guard, Higuma staggered back several steps and nearly fell.
"Boss!" several of the bandit lieutenants behind him cried in alarm and hurried to steady him.
"Get out of the way!" Higuma flung his arm and shoved them aside, then looked down at his sword in horror — the whole blade, starting from the tip, was covered in numerous large cracks.
Such immense strength!
His pupils shrank. He looked at Smoker's cold face, then at Nao, who was still bent over picking up glass shards, and his expression went pale.
Damn it!
He'd misjudged them. These Marines in the tavern were no ordinary punks — not like the cowards he'd run into before!
One of his men, seeing him silent, couldn't help but ask, "Boss, now—"
"What 'now'!" Higuma smacked him hard across the face and scolded loudly:
"What are you making such a fuss about? We only came to buy some alcohol! Making this much noise for what? huh? Disturbing people late at night! Don't you know? Neighbors have to work tomorrow!"
But it was you who broke the glass...
The man rubbed his reddened cheek, feeling wronged, and could only nod repeatedly without daring to argue.
"Let's go."
Higuma snorted coldly, waved his hand, and actually turned to lead them out through the shuttered door, muttering angrily, "What a lousy tavern — can't even buy any drink. Let's move, lads, go check the nearby towns. I'm never coming back to this dump!"
"Yes, boss."
The bandits finally sensed the wrong atmosphere and no longer dared to act arrogantly. One by one they hurriedly followed.
"Oooooh!!! So cool!!"
At the bar, Luffy immediately lit up with starry eyes. He glanced at Smoker, then, barely able to contain his excitement, turned to look at Nao.
So this is the Marine... Amazing. Those bandits were so many and so fierce, but now they're scared and running away?
And that was just that white-haired guy acting—if Uncle Nao personally stepped in, wouldn't these bandits be terrified out of their minds and scatter everywhere?
"Uncle Nao—"
Luffy had just started to speak when Nao smiled and raised a hand to interrupt, snapping his fingers with a sharp "pop."
Hina, who had already been stationed by the swinging door, understood immediately. She drew her sword and, expressionless, blocked the tavern's exit.
The other Marines silently stood and rose as well, closing in until the bandits were completely surrounded.
"..."
Higuma's face instantly turned cold. He spun his head and said fiercely, "Hey... Marine, I was already leaving. What is the meaning of this?"
"If you want to leave, that's your business."
Nao took a sip of his drink and replied calmly, "Did I give you permission to just walk out?"
"Boss..." a bandit asked nervously.
"This is going too far!"
A murderous rage filled Higuma's chest. He spat out his toothpick with a sneer and said coldly, "Since you're so clueless, then you'll just have to become the 57th soul to fall by my hand!"
"Boys, fight these damn Marines — make them know that my Higuma bandits are not to be messed with!"
"Yes, boss!"
The bandits, roused to ferocity by his words, drew their weapons and roared, charging at the surrounding marines!
…
One minute later.
The floor was littered with mountain bandits groaning in pain. Hina, Smoker, and the others, completely unscathed, sneered, clapped their hands, and returned to their places.
Cool!
Watching the Marines clear the room in no time — defeating many more opponents than themselves — Luffy whooped with delight. According to his grandfather's words, this scene deserved a big show-off — so he laughed loudly and drained his cup.
Too bad he was underage; his cup only held warm milk.
"Uncle Smoke!"
Wiping the milk from his mouth with relish, Luffy grinned at Smoker. "I didn't expect it — you're so awesome… Oh, by the way, what are we going to do with these bad guys?"
"What else can we do?"
Smoker lit another cigar and, blowing out a stream of smoke, said expressionlessly, "We'll interrogate them. Those who were forced into the gang and haven't committed crimes will be taken to prison — though I doubt there will be many of them."
"As for the rest, keeping them in jail would just be wasting food. Execute them on the spot, dump the bodies into the sea — the coast's not far from here, so it's convenient."
After saying that he subconsciously glanced at Nao.
"..."
Nao was silent for two seconds, then smiled and gave a slight nod.
—It seemed that, besides Aokiji, many of the Marine's supposedly mild, dove-like juniors had been influenced by him, and had walked down a very different path?
On the other side.
Smoker didn't notice Nao's strange look; he only knew he'd received his idol's approval, so he felt great. He tucked his cigar, rolled up his sleeve, and walked toward the bandits on the floor to put his plan into action.
"Wait!"
At that moment someone suddenly shouted.
Smoker turned and saw that Luffy had somehow climbed onto the bar. Eyes wide and incredulous, the boy stared at him.
"You—you, Uncle Smoker, do you mean you're going to kill all these bandits?"
"And if not?" Smoker frowned and countered.
"That's too much!" Luffy protested. "They only came to buy alcohol — they didn't do anything monstrously evil! Even though they were rude to Miss Makino and Uncle Nao, I'm angry too… but isn't beating them up enough?"
"If it's really bad, they can apologize and pay for the damage! Just taking their lives like that is — it's just…"
Luffy's vocabulary failed him for a moment; he pounded the table with a clench of his teeth. "Anyway, this is not okay! I don't agree!"
"Young man's right!"
Higuma, who had already sunk into despair on the floor, suddenly grabbed at the lifeline and blurted out, "I—I'll apologize! I'll pay! I've got money, lots of money. I'll pay for that broken bottle and everything else damaged in the tavern!"
"Did I tell you to speak?! Stay squatting!"
Hina was blunt. She slapped him hard; three bumps rose on Higuma's head, tears of pain sprang to his eyes, and he slunk back down, sulking.
Smoker looked at Luffy and frowned.
Bandits like these were no real threat — a bounty of eight million is normally reserved for those guilty of heinous crimes.
And now mere apologies and compensation would do?
What naive, childish thinking. Smoker sighed and was about to explain things to Luffy, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Nao give a small shake of his head. Smoker's thoughts flipped around and he immediately chose to keep quiet.
"I actually think Luffy makes a good point."
Nao looked at the fuming Luffy and said with a smile, "So, little fellow, you heard them — they say they have plenty of money. How much do you think they should pay?"
See that?
Uncle White Dragon actually listens to reason!
Luffy made a face at Smoker triumphantly, then turned back, pinching his chin in an exaggerated pose of deep thought.
"Hmm… let me think. They broke a bunch of bottles, and also tables, chairs… even the windows got smashed… all together, maybe… ten million Berries?"
Ten million Berries?!!
Higuma nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
Damn brat — do you even know how to count? Do you have any common sense?!
Ten million Berries — what kind of number was that?!
This shabby little tavern wouldn't even be worth that much if you opened ten more of them!
Hell, even if he sold his head for bounty, it'd only fetch eight million — where was he supposed to find ten million to give them?!
"Uh…"
Seeing Higuma's expression, Luffy started to feel maybe he'd gone too far. Nervously, he looked at Nao.
"Uncle, was that too much?"
"Nope, not at all — sounds like a fair price to me."
Nao ruffled the boy's hair fondly, then turned his gaze toward Higuma on the floor, smiling.
"You heard him — ten million Berries. Apologize sincerely, pay up, and then you can take your men and crawl out of here."
But where would I— Higuma was just about to argue, but the moment his eyes met Nao's, a chill ran down his spine. The words stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them back instantly.
"Hurry up! Hand over all your money!"
He turned to his men and hissed, "Don't any of you dare hide a single coin — use your heads for once! Whether we live or die depends on this!"
"Boss, I only have fifty thousand Berries left…"
"Same here, just a bit over twenty thousand."
"What?!" Higuma's eyes bulged as he glared at his most trusted lieutenants.
"Every time we raid something, I split a big share with you lot — and this is all you've got left?!"
"Couldn't help it, boss… spent it all last time, uh… at the pleasure district in Goa Kingdom," one muttered, hanging his head in shame.
"Bullshit! When have you ever paid for that crap?!"
"Boss, don't worry, I still have two thousand Berries!"
"I've got… huh? Why do I only have two coins left?"
…
After much scrambling and rummaging, they managed to scrape together only a few hundred thousand Berries. Added to Higuma's own 2.3 million, the total barely reached a little over three million.
All the small, mismatched bills and coins were piled on the counter in a messy heap.
"Th-this…"
Makino stared at the pile of money, flustered, then looked toward Nao.
"Take it," he said with a reassuring smile, before turning back to Higuma.
"Didn't we agree on ten million Berries?" he said with a snort. "Why is this only thirty percent?"
"Uh, that, uh…"
Cold sweat poured down Higuma's face as his mind spun desperately for an excuse — then a flash of inspiration hit him. He forced a smile and said,
"Sir, of course the money's there! It's just… we were out for a drink tonight, so we didn't bring much cash with us…"
"But rest assured, our hideout's not far from here! If you let us go back, I promise we'll deliver the rest tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow! I swear on my sword — as a swordsman — that before sunset tomorrow, the full amount will be delivered!" Higuma thumped his chest in oath.
"…" Nao didn't respond right away. He turned to look at the little ones helping Makino gather the money.
"Miss Makino, Luffy, what do you two think?"
"I don't really mind," Makino said with a gentle smile. "I'll go along with whatever you decide."
"...Emmm, I think that's fine too."
Luffy tilted his head, then looked seriously at Higuma. His small face stiffened into a stern expression.
"Hey! Me and Makino both agreed! But! A real man's word shouldn't be broken — not even four Sea Kings together could pull it back! You guys better not go back on your promise!"