"This big brother, you look so handsome and reasonable. Look what you did to my brother — you have to give us some explanation," the young girl said, supporting the youth as she stood with her hands on her hips in front of the bar.
"Look, so many people are watching. But you hurt someone. 'An eye for an eye, a life for a life,' and debts must be paid. You owe some compensation for the medical bills, right? What do you all think?"
"Exactly. Killing someone is one thing, but no one's dead here. Just pay some compensation."
"If you don't want to pay, then just kill him outright."
"Then come to my ship afterwards — I'll save you a seat."
"Hahaha!"
The crowd enjoying the spectacle only got louder. The girl noticed the conversation shifting — how did the compensation suddenly turn into threats of killing? What kind of place was this?
A few days ago, the brother and sister's ship had been caught in a storm. They woke up on the beach of a place called Loguetown, though they didn't know its name yet.
All their money and treasure were gone. Left with no choice, they went back to their old tricks, hoping to scam a few coins.
Their target was Weiss.
...
The siblings had seen Weiss step off a luxury ship — obviously a wealthy man who had brought all this trouble upon himself.
But to their surprise, their usual schemes didn't work.
"No matter, just pay up quickly. My brother's bleeding a lot — a million berries should cover it," the girl said, spreading her hands like she was demanding money.
"So young," Weiss muttered — referring to her age.
"One million berries? That much? I saw your brother just spit a little blood, it shouldn't cost that much," Weiss pretended to think, as if bargaining.
The girl's eyes lit up — as long as there was negotiation, there was hope. "No way! Look at him, his lips are blue and swollen — he must be poisoned. That's medical expenses too."
She opened her brother's blue lips like a specimen to prove her point.
"Poisoned? Impossible. I don't carry poison. Maybe he hurt himself by accident?"
"I just saw him bite a flower with his mouth. That flower is highly poisonous. At first, there's no feeling, just a slight pain on his back."
Weiss said this while noticing the youth twisted his back uncomfortably — he was clearly in pain. No wonder, the poor guy had fallen onto a table hard.
No one had mentioned it before, but once brought up, he instinctively focused on the pain, making it feel even worse.
"Then his ears will feel clogged — that means the toxin is starting to work. Soon, severe pain will hit his thigh."
Weiss flicked his finger, and something was shot out quickly. The bar's dim lighting and the speed made sure no one noticed.
Suddenly, the youth clutched his thigh, sweat pouring as the pain forced some blood from his face to wash away.
"Luckily, the toxin doesn't cause serious harm, but..." Weiss paused deliberately.
"But what?" The youth doubled over, clutching his thigh, feeling as if the bone was broken.
"Big brother, don't fall for it! He's just trying to cheat you out of compensation," the girl said, turning away, not noticing her brother's condition.
Weiss glanced at the twin-tailed girl and muttered, "Just a man with a little… weakness."
The youth's expression changed drastically. "How do you cure this poison?"
"Well, if it's mild, drinking two buckets of clear oil will flush out the toxin."
No sooner had Weiss finished than the youth limped out like the wind, ignoring his sister's calls.
"Don't move from here. I'll be back!" the girl called after him before chasing off.
Weiss rubbed his nose, feeling like he'd been taken advantage of but couldn't say anything. In this world, it was eat two bites yourself, and give the rest to others.
"How do you know that flower is poisonous?" Karina looked excitedly at the flower on the bar — this could come in handy!
"It's not poisonous — I was just bluffing," Weiss told the bartender as he paid the bill. After that scuffle, he didn't feel like drinking anymore.
"But why did he look so genuinely poisoned then?" Karina was puzzled — the youth hadn't seemed to fake it.
"Simple," Weiss said. "Words can guide the mind, and with some tricks I used, he convinced himself he was poisoned."
The truth was often simple: many things are just illusions, reinforced by suggestion until they feel real.
"Sir, that's 100,000 berries total!"
"What? That expensive?" Weiss thought he was being ripped off.
"Well, sir, you and the lady ordered our priciest wine — two glasses for 100,000 berries is a bargain, and that doesn't include the seat you broke."
"Fine." Weiss tossed a wad of cash on the bar and left. After the chaos, he didn't want to drink anymore.
As they stepped outside, a table full of people exchanged glances and quietly followed.
By the sea, a pirate ship flew a clown flag, sailing through the waves — the ship of Clown Buggy. Since Weiss had robbed him last time, Buggy had supplemented his treasure on another ship and was now in pursuit.
"Captain, Loguetown is ahead. Do we need to dock?" a crewman at the lookout asked through his spyglass.
"Find a place to land quietly. Once ashore, find that bastard who stole my treasure."
"I want to kill him!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Mohji and Cabaji watched the busy new pirates nervously. Could they really win this fight? Last time, so many people, cannons, and smoke were involved — even the captain barely fought back before being taken down.
Could these low-level pirates really beat such a foe?
Worry was useless. They dared not dissuade Buggy. Weiss had insulted Buggy's red nose and stolen his treasure — Buggy's hatred was blinding him. He was determined to kill Weiss.
The two could only hope Weiss had left Loguetown so they wouldn't have to face him — allowing them to enjoy the East Blue in peace.
---
Currently at chapter 390 on Ko-Fi
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27