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Chapter 298: Still Saying You're Too Weak After Beating Kaido? Red Hair's Mental State Collapses
Although the heat wave inside the tavern had dissipated, the shock in Shanks' heart could not settle for a long time. Not a Devil Fruit. No fluctuation of spiritual energy like Haki. Pure natural elements.
"Incredible..."
Benn Beckman stubbed out the cigarette that was about to burn his fingers, his eyes grave to the extreme.
"If this power can be popularized."
"Then the World Government's 'Absolute Justice' will probably become the biggest joke."
Luffy grinned, about to show off more fun things from the dungeon to Shanks.
Ding-a-ling—
The brass bell on the tavern door rang crisply again.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Steady, powerful footsteps came from the door, step by step. It was an old man with wild golden hair dancing like a male lion. He wore a black kimono, draped with that iconic golden-striped haori. A cigar dangled from his mouth, smoke swirling.
Shiki the Golden Lion.
This legend of the old era who had just kicked Kaido around like a ball outside, and was even tricky for Whitebeard to handle. At this moment, it was like he had returned to his own living room. He didn't even glance at the Red Hair Pirates, who were facing a formidable enemy. He walked straight to the most prominent seat at the bar.
"Yo, little Red Hair."
When Shiki passed by Shanks, he blew a smoke ring extremely casually. That attitude was like greeting a naughty kid from next door. Even carrying a trace of obvious disdain.
"Don't block the way."
"This is a VIP seat only for noble players with Membership Cards."
The corner of Shanks' mouth twitched slightly.
Membership Card?
VIP seat?
What the hell were these titles?
But before he could counterattack, Shiki had already sat on the high stool in the center of the bar with legs wide apart. He extended a finger and tapped lightly on the wooden countertop. Those eerie pupils possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan now retracted all killing intent. Leaving only the familiarity and laziness of a regular patron.
"Girl Makino."
"The usual."
"A glass of the strongest rum, on the rocks."
Golden Lion Shiki's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance. He crossed his legs, his feet—once severed but now perfectly intact—dangling in mid-air. As if silently showing off some kind of miracle.
Makino skillfully took out a bottle of vintage rum from under the counter. Ice cubes hit the glass wall, making a crisp sound. The amber liquid poured in slowly.
"Here you are, Mr. Shiki."
Makino's smile remained gentle, showing no fear facing a legendary pirate. After all. In this tavern. She had seen too many storms.
Shiki raised the glass and downed it in one gulp. That heroic posture was like a lion drinking blood.
"Haa—!"
Shiki slammed the glass heavily on the table.
"Refreshing!"
"The booze here still has the best kick!"
"Um..."
Shanks just wanted to open his mouth to exchange a few pleasantries.
Shiki didn't even lift his eyelids. Ignoring him completely. Those eyes with strange patterns stared dead at Makino, who was wiping a glass.
"Hey, girl."
"Is the Boss back yet?"
Behind him, Yasopp almost couldn't hold back his laughter. The dignified Golden Lion. The man who once nearly destroyed the world. Actually had a day where he waited honestly for someone.
But Makino shook her head habitually.
"The Boss isn't back yet."
"He said the world he went to this time is rather special."
"Something called... the 'Conan-ology' world?"
"Although the people there are physically weak, everyone is talented and speaks nicely."
"The Boss said he was going there for a vacation."
"Hah? Vacation?"
Shiki's hand holding the glass stiffened abruptly. The ice cube he was about to put into his mouth looked extremely awkward at this moment. His eyes possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan widened in disbelief. Even the cigar in his mouth almost fell into the glass.
"Girl, you're not joking with me, right?"
"What's the situation outside right now?"
"Four Emperors gathering! Navy moving! The World Government is going crazy!"
"Every powerhouse in the world wants to gouge their eyes out and stick them to the ground of Foosha Village!"
"And you tell me..."
"That kid went for a vacation?!"
Shiki's voice unconsciously raised a few octaves. That wild golden hair moved without wind, as if a lion whose tail was stepped on was about to go berserk. Terrifying Conqueror's Haki was about to vent out subconsciously.
However.
The second before that Haki was about to erupt, Shiki was like an old rooster choked by the neck. He forcibly swallowed all the anger and pressure back into his stomach!
Gulp.
One could even hear an obvious swallowing sound.
"Cough, cough..."
Shiki coughed twice awkwardly to cover up his loss of composure just now. He sat back on the high stool. Carefully smoothing the corner of the table he almost smashed.
Even the Golden Lion who had never cowed before Roger and Whitebeard. At this moment, actually revealed a trace of an ingratiating smile toward the empty bar counter.
"Um... it's nothing."
"Vacation is good, vacation is good."
"Work-life balance, work-life balance!"
"I... I'll just wait here."
"However long it takes!"
Watching this scene, Shanks, sitting next to him, couldn't help his eye twitching wildly.
This was the Admiral of the Flying Pirates who once nearly destroyed the world?
This was the ruthless man who kicked Kaido around like a ball outside just now?
Why, at the mention of that "Boss Blake"... Did he become like a little kitten who had been wronged but dared not yowl?
"Senior Shiki."
Shanks shook his head with some amusement and poured himself a glass of wine.
"It seems the psychological shadow that Boss left on you is deeper than I imagined."
"You have to look at the air's face even to complain?"
Hearing this, Shiki turned his head violently, glaring viciously at Shanks.
"Shut up, little Red Hair!"
"You don't know shit!"
Shiki grabbed the glass and downed another mouthful fiercely. The spicy rum flowed down his throat, but couldn't quench the anxiety in his heart.
"I must become stronger as soon as possible."
"Current me..."
"Is still too weak!"
Pfft—!!!
Shanks, sitting next to him, had just held a mouthful of fine wine. Instantly transforming into a high-pressure water gun, spraying directly onto Beckman's face opposite him.
"Cough cough cough! Cough cough!"
Emperor Red Hair choked until his face was completely red, coughing violently without any image. He didn't even care to wipe his mouth. Staring with wide, unbelievable eyes at the Golden Lion.
Like looking at a lunatic who just escaped from a mental hospital.
"Hah?"
"Too weak?"
Shanks dug his ear, wearing a face that said 'are you kidding me.'
"Senior Shiki."
"Excessive modesty is hypocrisy."
"Just now outside, you kicked Kaido into the sea like a ball."
Shanks pointed outside the door, his tone exaggeratedly raised by an octave.
"And look at yourself."
"Legs grew back, wheel is gone, physical functions returned to peak."
"You even mastered those weird eyes and gravity ability."
"In your current state, even if Whitebeard and I teamed up, we wouldn't dare say we'd win against you for sure."
"And you sit here telling me..."
"You're too weak?!"
At this moment, not just Shanks. Even Beckman, who had been calmly wiping his face, and Lucky Roux, who was gnawing on a chicken leg. All stopped their hands. Looking at the Golden Lion with eyes viewing a "humblebragger."
This old thing. This isn't how you show off, is it?
However.
Facing everyone's doubts and eye-rolls, Shiki the Golden Lion didn't mean to joke at all. His face became even gloomier instead.
"Hmph."
"Frog in the well."
Shiki slammed the empty glass heavily onto the bar counter.
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