"Blind Uncle, is this the friend who can give you money here? Let me tell you, if you try to trick us, hmph, I will make you both blind and deaf!"
Amid the chaotic footsteps outside the house, a crude curse rang out.
"You can rest assured, you can rest assured…"
The calm voice of Admiral Fujitora Issho echoed from outside the door.
"My two friends absolutely have money and will definitely make up for the gambling debts I owe the casino."
"Huh?"
"This…"
Admiral Silver Snake and Vice Admiral Onigumo, both dressed in plain clothes instead of Marine uniforms, exchanged glances in surprise.
Was Admiral Fujitora actually being detained by a casino over gambling debts?
Thump, thump, thump!
A sharp knocking sound followed by Fujitora's bitter voice came through the door.
"Two old friends, could you open the door for me? I would like to borrow some Berries from you…"
"Stupid blind man, get out of the way!"
The door was unceremoniously yanked open.
Bang!
It slammed violently against the wall.
"Get in!"
A purple-haired, bald, burly man with a ferocious expression, wearing only a purple kimono without a Justice coat, shoved Admiral Fujitora inside.
"Oh dear!"
Fujitora stumbled and fell onto the tatami mat. He lifted his tightly closed eyes and gave an awkward smile toward the two men inside.
"Sorry, both of you. I lost quite a lot of Berries to them, and they caught me."
"Tch."
Silver Snake rolled his eyes.
Just keep pretending.
An Admiral of the Marines, captured by a bunch of street thugs?
Who would believe that?
"Enough nonsense!"
The tall, nearly five-meter-tall brute bent down and entered the room with a sinister grin.
Four sharp fangs were exposed from his mouth, clearly marking him as a Fishman hybrid.
"The Tiger Bro Gang is here to collect debt. If you do not want to get hurt, cooperate."
Behind him, a group of thugs swaggered into the room, all of them armed with daggers, chains, and bottles.
"We apologize for disturbing your drinking session. This blind uncle is your friend, right?"
Tiger Bro, the gang leader with orca Fishman blood, looked down at the drunken Admiral Silver Snake and the dazed Vice Admiral Onigumo. He pointed at Fujitora and smiled maliciously.
"His luck was bad today. He owes our casino twenty million Berries. You two gather the money and pay up."
Vice Admiral Onigumo felt his scalp tighten.
Extorting two Admirals at the same time.
This man was either suicidal or completely ignorant.
"Twenty million Berries?!"
Fujitora raised his head in shock.
"Did I not only lose ten million Berries? How did it double so quickly?"
"Uncle, you owe the casino ten million."
Tiger Bro sneered.
"But do you think our time is free? We escorted you all the way here so you would not collapse on the road. That is another ten million as a service fee.
Right, brothers?"
"That is right!"
The thugs burst into laughter.
"Ten million for protection is already cheap!"
"You three look rich, do not tell me you cannot afford twenty million!"
"What bad luck. I came here for a drink and ended up paying for a blind man."
Silver Snake lazily took another sip of alcohol and glanced at Fujitora.
"Why not just chop him up and sell him? See if he is worth twenty million."
"You brat! Do you know who you are talking to?!"
Tiger Bro's eyes widened. He grabbed a bottle and smashed it down on his own head.
Smack!
Glass shattered across the floor.
Tiger Bro stood still, his head completely unharmed.
"Hmph! Look carefully!"
The thugs erupted into applause.
"Amazing, Tiger Bro!"
"That is our boss!"
Vice Admiral Onigumo's mouth twitched.
"So he injures himself first before fighting…"
An insult to combat itself.
"Did you see that? This is my strength!"
Tiger Bro leaned close to Silver Snake's face.
"Do you know how many pirates I have killed? Even those with bounties over ten million Berries!"
The three Marines fell silent.
They usually dealt with people worth hundreds of millions.
"Scared now, right?"
Tiger Bro laughed proudly.
"If I cared about Marine salaries, I would have been an Admiral long ago. Even Fujitora's seat should belong to me!"
Fujitora quietly lowered his head.
He regretted not being deaf.
"Pfft… hahahaha!"
Silver Snake burst out laughing.
"So terrifying. Looks like we have no choice but to pay the twenty million Berries."
"Hmph. Hand it over."
Tiger Bro stretched out his hand.
The thugs closed in, weapons raised.
"Pay up!"
"Not a single Berry less!"
Silver Snake smiled.
"You can have the Berries. Close the door first, I will get them from the kitchen."
Tiger Bro waved his hand.
"Close it."
Bang!
The door shut.
The lights instantly went out.
"Huh?"
Tiger Bro frowned.
"Who turned off the lights?"
Zzzzz!
Silver-white lightning exploded in the darkness.
The thugs froze, bodies convulsing violently as electric currents surged through them.
"Ahhhh!"
Screams echoed through the room.
Their silhouettes trembled against the walls, smoke rising from their bodies.
Three minutes later, the door opened again.
"Please…"
Tiger Bro, now completely blackened and smoking, bowed deeply.
Silver Snake walked out smiling.
"Feel better?"
Tiger Bro trembled.
"Yes… much better."
Silver Snake glanced at Fujitora.
"Lead the way. We are going to the casino."
He was suddenly curious.
What kind of place could attract even Fujitora's interest?
===
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