Garp held his wine glass, acting as if nothing was wrong, as if he wasn't a member of the Marine.
He looked at Gion, thinking that this girl's temper was still so fiery, truly Tsuru's sister.
Golden Lion watched Gion's receding figure, his ferocious smile slowly fading, turning his murky, malicious eyes toward the man who always wore a lazy grin.
"Flash Kid."
"As the Pika Pika no Mi ability user, the fastest man in the world, you're actually the last one to arrive."
He grinned, revealing a mocking smile.
"Quite the spectacle, making Boss Bai Ye wait for you personally."
As soon as he said this, everyone's attention focused on Kizaru.
This accusation was both grand and heavy.
Pirates truly were all rotten.
Kizaru was smiling on the surface, but cursing internally.
He exaggeratedly raised both hands, an expression of fear on his face.
"Oh dear, please don't speak nonsense, Your Excellency Shiki, that's truly terrifying ~"
He waved his hand lazily, looking innocent.
"I was just waiting for Little Gion and the others to come together. After all, we're colleagues; we need a bit of team spirit."
Garp looked at Kizaru, who was acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Pfft... Wahahahaha!"
"That's enough, Shiki!"
Garp put down his cup, his booming laughter echoing. He looked at Golden Lion, his eyes showing a hint of impatience.
"What kind of skill is it to bully these juniors? If you have energy you need to burn, come at me!"
Golden Lion Shiki's face instantly darkened. He abruptly turned his head and roared at Garp.
"Do you think I'm afraid of you?! Garp!"
The roar echoed, but it was nothing more than a roar.
That towering arrogance, upon meeting Garp's battle-ready eyes, involuntarily weakened by a third.
Shiki stopped talking, merely sitting back down in his spot with a gloomy expression.
The battle from two days ago was still vivid in his memory.
On a nearby Deserted Island, he had tested the waters and exchanged blows with this old rival.
The result, however, had scared him senseless.
That old bastard's newly acquired Green Steam and Lightning Mode, combined with fists wrapped in Armament Haki, and topped off with the ability to shatter the atmosphere—which should have belonged to Whitebeard... One punch!
Just one punch made him feel the pressure of life and death.
If not for the unparalleled mobility of the Float-Float Fruit, allowing him to escape in time, he probably wouldn't be sitting here now, but lying dead at the bottom of the East Blue.
That old man... Shiki's hand, holding the wine glass, trembled slightly and uncontrollably.
His current strength... might have already surpassed Captain Rocks of the past!
The farce in the tavern finally ended with Shiki's silence.
In front of the bar, White Night looked at the room full of gods before him and finally put down his swirling wine glass.
"Alright."
He spoke softly; his voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"It seems we are the only guests this week."
He swept his gaze around, his eyes moving from the silent Dragon, to the watching Garp, then to the lewd-looking Kizaru, and finally landing on the gloomy Shiki.
"Did you all bring the money?"
As soon as this was said, the atmosphere immediately shifted from highly charged tension to a subtle reality check.
Kizaru was the first to react. He pulled a thick envelope from the inner pocket of his suit, placed it on the table, and wore a flattering smile.
"Of course, of course. We Marines absolutely support Brother Bai Ye's business."
Dragon didn't speak, merely taking a small leather pouch from his jacket and placing it on the corner of the table.
Golden Lion Shiki, however, let out a cold snort and tossed a bulging money bag onto the table with a dull thud.
Garp scratched his head, "Wahahaha, I left in a hurry and forgot to bring it. Kid Bai Ye, just put it on my tab for now!"
White Night glanced at him but said nothing.
Dragon, standing beside Garp, silently pulled out another identical leather pouch from his jacket and placed it in front of Garp.
Garp: "..."
A brief silence fell over the tavern. Then, Ace and Sabo could no longer hold it in and let out stifled laughs.
Just then, a lazy voice sounded again.
"Oh dear ~ What generosity ~" Kizaru tilted his head exaggeratedly, his gaze sweeping over the two identical leather pouches before finally settling on Dragon's eternally stoic, icy face. "I didn't realize the Revolutionary Army was so rich now, Dragon... You haven't embezzled funds, have you? That would be truly terrifying ~"
Dragon's hand beneath the table clenched into a fist, veins slightly bulging. He raised his eyes, his deep gaze piercing Kizaru like a sharp sword, his voice icy and biting: "Do you think we are a despicable regime like the World Government? Stop spouting nonsense."
Garp didn't care at all. Instead, he burst into "Wahaha" laughter, grabbing the money bag Dragon had provided: "It's only right for a son to show filial piety to his father! Ignore that Flash bastard!"
White Night looked at the customers before him and quickly began calculating in his mind.
Since the business had grown, he had to start considering customer needs and after-sales experience.
Golden Lion Shiki was definitely preoccupied with how to recover or even surpass his peak power and wipe away his past disgrace.
He needed to find a world for him with a clear power system and a sufficiently high ceiling.
Revolutionary Army Leader, Dragon.
What he desired was probably not mere destructive power, but the "method" or "power" that could truly realize his ideals.
A power that could overturn the world... This required careful consideration.
As for that old bastard Garp... White Night glanced at Garp, who was full of excitement and anticipation, and couldn't help but smile.
This guy didn't care; he could have fun wherever he was thrown, as long as there was a strong enough opponent to give him a good fight.
And Kizaru... White Night's gaze shifted to the Admiral who was lazily leaning back in his chair, seemingly unconcerned.
Judging by this guy's personality, he's probably a Slacker too.
Finding him a world where he could easily slack off and still gain benefits might suit him best.
Hmm... White Night's fingertips tapped lightly on the bar counter, and images of countless worlds flashed rapidly through his mind.
He needed to arrange everything clearly for them.
"Very well. Payment received, goods exchanged. Fair dealings for all."
White Night's gaze first fell upon Gion and the others standing behind Kizaru.
These Marine Officers stood ramrod straight, their eyes filled with vigilance, curiosity, and a hint of suppressed nervousness.
"You are here for the first time, correct?" White Night asked.
Gion stepped forward, her cool face showing no emotion, only a slight nod: "Yes, Mr. Bai Ye."
"Newcomers visiting for the first time, don't be too nervous." White Night snapped his fingers.
"One million Berries per person. Go in and experience the charm of the instance. The beginner dungeon poses no great danger to you all; just treat it as a vacation."
As White Night's voice fell, the tense bodies of the Marine Officers behind Gion visibly relaxed somewhat.
They truly were nervous.
Gion stepped forward. She did not look at Garp, nor did she pay attention to Golden Lion. She simply bowed slightly toward White Night behind the bar.
"Thank you, Mr. Bai Ye."
Her voice was cool, yet carried a trace of genuine gratitude.
"As you suggested, please send us into the beginner dungeon."
White Night looked at her approvingly.
Smart women always live longer.
Especially since this woman was also very beautiful; beautiful women should always have some privileges.
"Very well."
White Night snapped his fingers, and several soft white lights appeared out of thin air, precisely enveloping Gion and the Marine Officers behind her.
"Now, I wish you all a pleasant journey."
The light flashed and vanished, and the figures of Gion and the others disappeared from the spot, as if they had never been there.
Quietness returned to the tavern once more.
But this time, the atmosphere was even heavier than before.
The small fry had left. What remained was the real main event of the evening.
Garp, Dragon, Kizaru, Golden Lion Shiki.
Representing the world's three top powers, four combatants standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid.