"You know what it's like for a man to be interrupted during his moment of joy? That feeling of being stuck halfway? It's unbearable!"
Total mood killer.
Captain Bill looked utterly wronged.
"Rear Admiral Ayer, it's Klein—Klein's gone on another pirate-sweeping spree across the island!"
Crack, crack, crack—
Ayer clenched his fists so tight that his knuckles popped like snapping twigs. His face darkened like the bottom of a burnt pot, and the fire in his eyes was hot enough to reduce a man to ash.
"..."
He screamed internally:
You bastard—Holy Rookie—Klein, did a pirate wipe out your family or something!?
There are as many pirates in the world as there are fish in the sea! Even if you round up every last one in the Sabaody Archipelago, give it a month or two, and a fresh swarm will show up!
How are you going to kill them all???
First thing in the morning—and you're out hunting pirates?!
Can't a man get some sleep!?
Captain Bill shivered down to his bones at Ayer's rage, too afraid to utter another word.
It was his first time witnessing Rear Admiral Ayer exude such overwhelming killing intent.
Ayer stood there for a full ten minutes, silently digesting his anger, before finally exhaling.
"Tonight… Tonight, I'll make sure Klein loses everything. I'll have him shackled by money!"
"Get rid of this walking disaster!!!"
Meanwhile...
Klein had made a killing today—another solid haul of pirates, although slightly fewer than yesterday. Just a few hundred this time.
Most had either gone into hiding or fled.
Right now, the name on everyone's lips in Sabaody was "Klein." He'd become a local legend.
As usual, he sold the pirates to the slave auction houses, earning only a few tens of millions of Berries today.
Night fell.
When Rear Admiral Ayer brought Klein to the casino... every single person, including Klein—
Was stunned!
Over a dozen workers were going in and out of the building, hauling away everything inside the casino—tables, chairs, sofas, chandeliers, you name it.
Ayer was dumbfounded. He rushed up to one of the movers and asked,
"Why are you taking everything out of the casino!? Isn't this place open tonight!?"
"Sir... the casino's been sold," the mover replied nervously.
"...Sold?" Ayer was floored. It was running fine just yesterday—booming business, raking in cash...
And now they were just… gone?
The owner had to be insane!
Ayer couldn't make sense of it. His entire plan was now in ruins.
He stood frozen, unable to recover from the shock.
Plan's dead?
Damn it!
What do I do with this plague now!?
Even Klein was stunned.
"I was gonna restock tonight. The hell's this, shutting down the casino!?"
"You trying to block my cashflow?"
He had planned to take it slow—raking in a little bit every day, stacking up billions over time.
But now?
No casino, no money.
Air farming, anyone?
Disappointed, he muttered,
"Man... I wanted to try being like those gambling legends in the old Hong Kong movies—God of Gamblers, Saint of Gamblers, that kind of vibe."
He'd even dressed the part in a slick black suit. All he needed was a theme song and he would've been peak cool.
At that moment...
Deep underwater, aboard a coated ship, a man named John guzzled from a bottle of wine.
Gulp—
"Tch... Monsters like that? I'm not messing with 'em. But I sure as hell can run."
"And besides, I wanna see the New World. I hear it's packed with treasures."
"A Marine who sells pirates? That guy's got no damn shame. Whether he wins or loses at the casino, I'm always the one who ends up screwed!"
"So, screw it. I'm skipping town!"
Yup—he ran.
He knew Klein was a 'money-mad Marine lunatic' who did whatever he pleased.
Now that Klein had his eyes on the casino?
The place was doomed.
So he figured—why not sell the joint while the damage was still minimal, and bail to the New World?
He had money. He had power. He could always make a comeback.
"HAHAHAHA—they'll never expect me, the great John, to be this smart. I bet they're totally baffled right now!" He downed more wine and laughed like a madman.
"Bet ya didn't see that coming!"
"Hell, I didn't even see this coming! Hahahaha—!"
Of course, he didn't realize this was the last time he'd ever see the surface.
John the Casino Boss would soon become... Captain John.
Back outside the casino...
Everyone stood frozen, blinking at one another.
Klein's smile twitched, and he sighed. "What a joke. Let's go home and sleep in."
"Os, move out."
"What kind of casino just closes shop overnight? Weird."
"Yes Sir!" Os happily followed Klein. He'd been hoping to watch Klein clean house tonight.
What a shame.
Rear Admiral Ayer stood in the darkness, his face blending into the shadows.
After a long silence...
His eyes gleamed with a cold, feral light.
"Bill. Go contact those guys for me."
"Yes, Rear Admiral." The two men walked off to a secluded alley.
Ayer leaned in and whispered, "Here's the deal—do this and that, then that and this…"
"..."
Sweat beaded on Bill's forehead. His voice trembled.
"W-Won't this... get us in trouble?"
"Trouble?" Ayer's cold, sharp voice could cut steel. His face was like carved ice.
"He's the one who stirred up all the pirates. What's that got to do with me?"
"Go. If we don't kill him now..."
"Next time pirates show up, they'll come for us!"
He pulled out a silk handkerchief and dabbed Bill's forehead like a gentleman.
"In this ocean, the soft-hearted get eaten. Got it?"
"Y-Yes, sir." Bill turned and left, glancing up at the moon, veiled behind clouds.
He clenched his jaw and muttered:
"It's all Klein's fault for breaking the unspoken rules of this island. Greedy bastard."
"You're strong. You can survive a pirate's wrath. But us..."
"We don't wanna die just because of you."
The Next Morning.
Captain Bill arrived on Klein's warship.
"Rear Admiral Klein," he said. "Rear Admiral Ayer awaits you. He's prepared the 100 million Berries he promised."
Klein removed his sunglasses, eyes gleaming gold. He sprang to his feet.
"Say less! Lead the way!"
After instructing the deck crew to keep training, Os followed closely behind, ever the dutiful adjutant.
"Looks like Ayer came around," Klein mused with a grin.
"It's a win-win—my money, his military credit. What's not to like?"
Sabaody Archipelago, Area 3.
The Lawless Zone.
The streets were eerily quiet.
Os furrowed his brows. "Sir Klein... this area's never this empty."
Ahead, Bill—leading the way—kept his back turned, smiling stiffly.
"A hundred million's no small amount. For safety, Rear Admiral Ayer cleared the area."
"Ah, very thorough of him," Os replied, relaxing.
"Heh—" Klein chuckled coldly. His Observation Haki picked up the bloodlust all around.
Not even trying to hide it.
So... you're finally showing your true self, Ayer?
Klein smiled calmly.
I wonder though... did you bring the money?
He whistled as he walked, pretending not to notice a thing. Totally at ease, he even pulled out a bag of rice crackers and started munching.
Crunch~
Up front, Captain Bill sighed in relief.
Whew—he's totally unaware.
He led them to the center of the street—then suddenly bolted, vanishing into an alley.
Os blinked, confused.
"Hey! Bill, what the—!?"
Bang bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
Gun barrels poked out from windows, shadows, rooftops—and began firing wildly.
In an instant, Klein reached out and grabbed Os, launching himself skyward like a cannon blast.
From above, he took in the entire street with a glance.
Os, still in Klein's grasp, stared in horror.
"It's—pirates!!"
"That bastard... Bill's working with the pirates!? They're trying to kill us?!"