At 17, Hailan had already grown to 185 cm.
If he kept growing like this, he might break two meters someday.
If this were Earth, he might be jokingly called a "giant."
But here, 190+ cm was the standard height for an average person, and at 180 cm, one was considered short—not to mention the more prominent individuals with mixed racial bloodlines.
Buggy found a quiet corner to call Kuro on the warship. When he returned, he saw Hailan arguing with a fat, foolish prince.
The battle had calmed down, and no more pirates were in the casino or streets.
As the citizens gradually woke up, some chose to leave, while others with bigger hearts returned to the casino to continue gambling.
"Are you the navy?"
Prince Wapol from the Drum Island Iron Barrel Kingdom appeared out of nowhere, regaining his arrogant demeanor. He pointed at Hailan and yelled, "Look at what you've done to this place!
Overturned tables, broken windows. What exactly are you protecting as the Navy? Is this your sense of justice?"
The casino owner hadn't even spoken yet, but Wapol complained first.
Some people are like that—cowards in the face of absolute evil but highly arrogant among their own.
Wapol was such a person, and even more so.
"Prince Wapol, please don't act like this..."
Even Dalton, carrying a surfboard, couldn't stand it anymore.
"Shut up!"
Wapol scolded Dalton and continued mocking Hailan, "These overturned tables, broken windows, shouldn't your navy compensate for all this?"
"Who is this fool?"
Hailan asked the others in the casino.
He acts like a Celestial Dragon...
Hailan had seen the arrogance of the Celestial Dragons in the Sabaody Archipelago as a child. Even from afar, he could feel their supreme sense of entitlement.
But he hadn't heard of any Celestial Dragons attending Princess Vivi's celebration in Alabasta.
"If you knew pirates were here, why didn't you come earlier to protect me? Do you know? Just now, I even talked to a pirate. Do you understand the risk I just took?
Can you compensate for my emotional distress?"
Wapol's spoiled attitude amused Hailan. "You keep saying 'Prince,' but who are you?"
Dalton quickly stepped forward, "Please don't get angry, sir. This is Prince Wapol from the Drum Island Iron Barrel Kingdom. He has a bit of a temper... Ow..."
Dalton fell face-first as Wapol kicked him from behind. "You lowly servant, are you talking bad about me?"
Hailan frowned, instinctively not wanting to deal with this arrogant brat.
He had seen many princes, but none as obnoxious as this one.
"You stop right there!"
Wapol angrily blocked Hailan's path, "You haven't compensated for the property damage and emotional distress."
The casino owner quickly intervened, "No need, no need..."
"Shut up, commoner! Do you have any right to speak here?"
Wapol scolded the casino owner and smiled at Hailan, "It seems you don't have any money, right?
How about this: kneel and apologize, and I'll pay for you. My dad is the king; we have money!"
Dalton quickly tried to reason, "Prince Wapol, please be careful with your words. He is a navy officer."
"So what if he's navy? Our Iron Barrel Kingdom is a member of the World Government, isn't it? The navy is just a force under the World Government. Shouldn't a navy officer kneel to a prince of a member nation?"
Wapol's expression was severe, and he saw no flaw in his logic.
He's like a Celestial Dragon without the actual status.
Hailan's hand moved to his sidearm, but Dalton quickly stepped between them.
"Sir, our prince is just a bit immature. Please don't take offense."
The canvas around the surfboard on Dalton's back fell away, revealing it was not a surfboard but a strangely shaped, sharp weapon with a handle like a shovel.
"An immature prince, huh?"
Hailan thought this was just a brat. "Brats are really the most annoying."
Dalton was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond to Hailan.
He also disliked Wapol's behavior, but as the captain of the Iron Barrel Kingdom's guard, it was his duty to protect the prince.
Hailan looked at Wapol, "Kneel? If we're talking about status, you should be the one kneeling to me!"
Wapol smirked, "Oh? This navy officer has a big mouth. I, as a prince, won't kneel to you. What can you do about it?"
Attacking a prince of a World Government member nation would be a massive scandal.
In some respects, Wapol was not entirely foolish.
"I said, kneel!"
Hailan raised his gun, aiming it at Wapol's eye.
Though he hadn't awakened his Conqueror's Haki, Hailan's extensive battle experience and numerous kills naturally exuded a cold killing intent.
At that moment, Wapol truly believed this navy officer might shoot him.
Dalton hadn't even had time to attack Hailan before he was shocked to see Prince Wapol kneel without hesitation.
Strong survival instincts.
Dalton was stunned, unsure of what to do.
If even the prince knelt, he couldn't precisely retaliate.
"You see, even the brattiest kid can be educated if you use the right method."
Hailan ignored Wapol's near-breakdown. He showed Dalton his gun and then holstered it.
"It seems three people took photos... I'll deal with them later."
As the crowd in the casino parted, Hailan walked out.
Dalton helped the terrified Wapol to his feet.
This time, he didn't blame Dalton but muttered to himself, staring at the empty doorway, "Revenge, I must get revenge. Damn navy, just you wait!"
4o