The atmosphere in the tavern became incredibly strange at this moment.
Legends of the old era, heroes of the Marine, and world criminals—the top existences of three forces—were as if pressed into their seats by an invisible hand, maintaining a fragile and absurd peace.
They were all waiting.
Just then.
"Creak—"
The weathered wooden door of the tavern was slowly pushed open.
The warm afternoon sunlight was blocked by a tall, slender figure, casting a long shadow on the ground.
The newcomer wore a bright yellow pinstripe suit, dark brown sunglasses, and that characteristic, inscrutable, lewd smile on his face.
The Marineford's highest combat power, Admiral Kizaru, Borsalino.
Behind him was the upright and icy-faced Marineford Vice Admiral, the Great Swordsman Gion.
Further back were several Marine officers and captains with steady auras, bearing stars on their shoulders.
Their appearance instantly shattered the strange silence in the tavern.
Garp grinned, revealing a smile that showed he enjoyed watching a good show.
Dragon's gaze lifted from his wine glass and fell on Kizaru; his deep eyes showed no emotional fluctuations, yet they caused a strange palpitation in the Marine officers behind Kizaru.
Golden Lion Shiki, on the other hand, raised his head, a hint of disdain on his face.
"Oh my…"
Kizaru spoke lazily. He surveyed the "guests" in the tavern, and as his gaze swept over Garp, Dragon, and Shiki, the curve of his lips widened even more.
"It's really lively~ I didn't expect that even rushing, I would still be late."
His unique, drawn-out tone sounded particularly grating in the quiet tavern.
"Jie hahahahahaha!"
A morbid and harsh burst of laughter erupted from the corner without warning.
Golden Lion Shiki leaned on the table and shakily stood up. He looked at the scene before him, at Garp, at Dragon, and then at Kizaru, who had just entered, and laughed uproariously.
"How ridiculous!!!"
"Marine, Revolutionary Army, Pirate!"
He stretched out a finger, pointing at each one, his face filled with madness and self-mockery.
"I never thought that one day, the few of us would gather together so peacefully!"
"What a huge joke!"
Marine, pirates, Revolutionary Army… the top figures of the three forces actually sat in the same tavern like ordinary guests.
What an absurd scene.
The wild laughter echoed in the small tavern, making the windows hum and every heart in the room contract.
Kizaru's smile briefly faltered, then returned to its usual annoying expression.
The Marine officers behind Gion all had ashen faces, their hands instinctively resting on their sword hilts, barely suppressing the urge to draw their blades.
"Jie hahahaha!"
The laughter abruptly stopped.
Golden Lion Shiki's cloudy eyes fixated on Kizaru, who had just entered.
He casually picked up an unopened bottle of rum from a nearby table, bit off the cap with a "pop," and poured a full glass for himself.
The amber liquid swirled, reflecting his twisted and mad face.
He raised his glass, ignoring everyone, and directly toasted in the direction of Kizaru and Gion.
"I drink to you."
Golden Lion Shiki's voice was hoarse and grating, every word seemingly forced from his throat.
"Officers!"
"Boom!"
The last three words, like a clap of thunder, rang in the ears of all the Marines.
What an insult!
It was not respect, but the ultimate mockery of their identity!
"You fellow…"
Beside Gion, the young Navy Captain could no longer endure it. With a flick of his wrist, his blade instantly unsheathed half an inch, and a sharp killing intent burst forth.
However, the clang of the blade was immediately suppressed by an even colder voice.
"Step back."
Gion did not turn her head; her cold phoenix eyes, like two unsheathed sharp blades, pierced directly at Golden Lion Shiki.
She stepped forward, her high-heeled military boots making crisp "clack, clack, clack" sounds on the wooden floor, each step lowering the temperature in the tavern by a degree.
"Don't be too arrogant, Shiki."
Gion stopped three steps away from the Golden Lion, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"The reason we tolerate your breathing here is not because we fear you, nor because we have no way to deal with you."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over White Night, who was calmly composed.
"This is simply out of respect for Mr. Bai Ye and to abide by the rules of this island."
Changing her tone, Gion's eyes became incredibly sharp, and the edge of a Great Swordsman made the smile on Golden Lion's face stiffen for a moment.
"You'd best pray you never leave this island."
"As long as you dare to step one foot off this island, I promise you, I will personally tear every bone from your body, then package you up and send you back to Impel Down!"
The air, at this moment, completely solidified.
Everyone held their breath.
This was a Marineford Vice Admiral's direct declaration of war against a legend of the old era.
Golden Lion Shiki's facial muscles twitched a few times, and his stiff smile slowly transformed into a ferocious curve.
"Jie hahahaha…"
He let out a low chuckle, as if he had heard the biggest joke imaginable.
"Little girl, your tone isn't small."
He downed the strong liquor in his glass and slammed the glass heavily on the table.
"If you can do it, come and try!"
"Buzz—!"
Gion's famous sword, konpira, at her waist, let out a soft hum, as if sensing its owner's fury and unable to hold back.
Just at this moment of intense tension, on the verge of erupting.
A lazy, drawn-out voice suddenly rang out.
"Oh my… how cute~"
Kizaru had, at some point, walked between the two, spreading his hands with a helpless expression on his face.
"Don't casually say such scary things about fighting and killing, little Gion."
He glanced at Gion, then at the Golden Lion.
"This is Brother Bai Ye's territory, and if you break Makino's tables and chairs, you'll have to pay for them, you know. I haven't even received my salary this month yet."
His words instantly shattered the extremely tense atmosphere into pieces.
The Marine officers behind Gion's eyes twitched wildly.
Admiral! Is there something wrong with your priorities?!
This is the legendary Great Pirate Golden Lion! This concerns the honor of the Marine! How did it become a problem of paying for tables and chairs?!
However, Gion understood.
It was still those two words: rules! Engaging in a verbal spat with a pirate here would only lower her own standing.
She took a deep breath, the anger in her chest as if forcibly pressed into a deep pool by a giant rock; though it still surged, it no longer erupted.
She turned, her movements crisp and decisive, and walked towards an empty table in the tavern.