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Chapter 30: A Dark Undercurrent
"Boss Blake!"
Luffy was the first one who couldn't hold back. He shot toward Blake like a small cannonball again, tilting his silly face up, his eyes shining with an unprecedented desire.
"We want to go again! We want to go on adventures in other worlds!"
He yelled and squeaked, waving his little fists in excitement.
"That world with the dragon was so much fun! Next time! Next time I'm gonna send a monster flying that's even bigger than that dragon!"
Blake leaned down slightly from his rocking chair. He looked at this ridiculously energetic brat, a playful arc hooking his lips.
He held up two fingers and slowly rubbed them together.
That extremely materialistic gesture made Ace's and Sabo's eyelids twitch.
"No problem."
Blake spoke lazily, his voice holding a drawl that made one's teeth itch.
"As long as the money's there, anything can be discussed."
He yawned and added slowly, "As long as you can pay the entrance fee, forget a world with dragons. Even a world full of monsters is fine."
Money!
Money!
Money!
This one word, at this moment, was like a raging fire, completely igniting the eyes of the three brats: Ace, Luffy, and Sabo!
BANG!
The weathered wooden door of Dadan's house was slammed open by a brutish force.
"I'm back, Dadan!"
Luffy's energetic shout exploded in the bandits' den like a clap of thunder!
He was the first to charge in, followed by Ace, who had his hands in his pockets and a pout on his face, and Sabo, who still had a slightly complex expression.
"So noisy! You brats!"
Dadan, who had been drinking with her legs crossed while picking her feet, was so startled she nearly dropped her bottle.
She shot to her feet, her portly body carrying a surprising amount of pressure, and was just about to curse at Luffy and Ace.
But when her gaze swept past the two and landed on the well-dressed, completely different blond brat, she froze.
Dadan's eyes went wide. She pointed a trembling finger at Sabo, then looked at Ace and Luffy.
"HAH?!"
"Another one?!"
"Garp! You old bastard!"
Dadan's hysterical roar nearly blew the roof off the house!
"Do you f*cking think this is a daycare! One, two, now three! Even if you're picking up trash, you don't do it like this!"
She was so angry her fat trembled. She grabbed a wine bottle, ready to throw it, but stopped herself halfway.
"Dadan! Meat!"
Luffy completely ignored the enraged Dadan and made a beeline for the kitchen, sniffing the air.
"Shut up! Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eat!" Ace kicked Luffy in the butt, sending him stumbling, then glanced at Dadan with his usual impatient look.
"So noisy, old hag."
"What did you say?! You little bastard!" Dadan's anger instantly shifted to Ace.
Only Sabo, watching this chaotic, messy scene, and then at the roaring but not really attacking bandit leader, his mouth twitched. He then gave a polite little bow.
"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Sabo. Sorry to bother you."
"Huh?" Dadan looked at the polite Sabo, then at the other two little hellions. Her brain completely shut down, unsure who to yell at.
Meanwhile.
Goa Kingdom, the noble district of High Town.
In Outlook III's mansion, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Smash!
An expensive porcelain vase was slammed to the ground, shattering into pieces!
"Useless! All of you are useless!"
Outlook III's chest heaved. His once-handsome face was now completely twisted by extreme anger and humiliation.
His mind replayed the scene in the forest, over and over.
The white-haired young man's lazy eyes.
The finger that had effortlessly blocked the longsword.
And those eight black, sucker-covered tentacles that had snatched him into the air like trash!
Shame!
This was the greatest shame he, a noble, had ever endured in his life!
"My lord..."
The old butler bowed, trembling, not daring to breathe loudly.
"Get out!"
Outlook III roared.
"Yes, yes..."
The butler, as if granted amnesty, was about to retreat.
"Stop!"
Outlook III, his eyes red, stopped him.
"The matter I asked you to handle. How is it?"
The butler's body stiffened. He turned, bowing even lower. "My lord... I used some channels to contact the 16th Branch of the Marines stationed nearby..."
"Get to the point!" Outlook III interrupted impatiently.
"Yes!"
The butler swallowed, speaking carefully.
"The Captain of the 16th Branch, a man named 'Nezumi'... he... he is willing to take care of that white-haired ruffian."
A grim satisfaction finally flashed in Outlook III's eyes.
Marines!
No matter how strong you are, can you oppose the entire World Government?!
"Good," he said coldly. "His terms?"
The butler hesitated, lowering his voice even more.
"He... he wants this amount."
He held up five fingers.
"Five million Beri."
"What?!"
Outlook III's eyes went wide!
"A damned Marine Captain dares to ask me for five million Beri?!"
He trembled with rage. He wanted to throw something else, but found there was nothing left to throw.
That guy Nezumi was rubbing salt in his wound!
But...
When he thought of Blake's face, of those three little animals who had cost him all his dignity...
Outlook III's face twisted with hatred again.
He gritted his teeth, nearly drawing blood.
"Give it to him!"
He forced the words out.
"Money is not an issue!"
His voice became incredibly venomous, like a demon crawling from hell.
"Tell that maggot Nezumi! I don't just want the white-haired one dead! Those three little mongrels... Sabo's two low-class brothers!"
"I want them... to completely... disappear... from this world!"
The butler shivered, bowing his head even lower, his breathing shallow.
"Yes, my lord..."
Outlook III panted heavily. He staggered a few steps to the large French window.
The twilight sun cast his shadow long and dark on the ornate carpet, making it look twisted.
He looked at the darkening sky, a trace of anxiety in his red eyes.
"Tonight..."
He muttered, his voice carrying a bone-deep cold.
"His Majesty is holding a banquet at the palace..."
He had to attend.
He had to appear before everyone in the guise of a perfect noble!
This thought made the hatred and humiliation in his heart burn even hotter!
He spun around, his bloodshot eyes nailing the butler to the spot!
"You! Go handle it! Now!"
He roared, spittle flying.
"Now! Immediately!"
"Tell that bastard Nezumi! I don't care what methods he uses! Before the banquet begins! I must hear the news I want to hear!"
He wanted the deaths of those peasants to be the most wonderful appetizer for his banquet tonight!
"Do you hear me!"
"Yes! Yes! My lord!" The butler, terrified by this murderous insanity, scrambled backwards and out the door.
"I'll go now! I'll go right now!"
The room returned to its oppressive silence.
Outlook III stood, his chest still heaving, but the madness on his face was slowly receding.
He walked to a mirror, looking at the disheveled, hateful man staring back. A look of extreme disgust flashed in his eyes.
He reached up, slowly, and straightened the collar of his expensive noble attire.
He used a handkerchief to wipe the spittle from the corner of his mouth.
He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
In the mirror, the twisted expression was gone.
In its place was the calm, arrogant face of the great noble of Goa Kingdom, Outlook III.