"Who… who did this?"
Shoujou looked at Cricket and Masira, who were lying on the ground covered in wounds, his eyes filled with rage.
Luffy and the others also had solemn expressions at this moment.
They had all heard the story of Cricket and were deeply moved.
Seeing their tragic state, everyone's hearts were filled with a surge of anger.
Chopper immediately went to treat the two of them.
Shoujou also went to check on their condition.
When Masira saw Shoujou appear before him, he struggled with all his might and spoke with difficulty, "The… gold… was… taken by… Bellamy's… crew!!!"
Hearing that name, Shoujou's eyes immediately blazed with fury, and he gritted his teeth, roaring in an incredibly angry, low voice, "Bellamy…"
With a furious roar, Shoujou was about to go and avenge them, to reclaim the gold.
Seeing this, Cricket immediately endured the pain and cried out in alarm, "Stop… stop, Shoujou!"
"You… you're no match for Bellamy, don't go and die in vain!"
"Forget about that gold, we can just salvage it again!"
Hearing this, Shoujou roared with unwilling anger, "But that gold is what you, old man, spent half your life desperately salvaging from the bottom of the sea."
"That's proof of your desperate struggle!"
"How can we just watch those scumbags… take the gold like that?!"
"Didn't you always want to prove it, old man?"
"Prove that the Golden City… exists!"
"Now that we've finally found so much evidence, how can we let this evidence fall into the hands of those scumbags?"
Shoujou's words made Cricket clench his teeth and fists.
How could he not want to reclaim the gold?
But against Bellamy, they had no chance of winning!
Just then, a strange voice sounded in Cricket's ear.
"I'll help you get the gold back, and you help us go to Sky Island!"
Hearing this unfamiliar voice, Cricket and Masira immediately looked in the direction of the sound and saw the man wearing the Straw Hat.
"You… who are you?"
Cricket asked in confusion.
In fact, he had wanted to ask about the raccoon dog treating him earlier, but because of Shoujou, he hadn't gotten around to it.
Luffy heard him and said indifferently, "I am Monkey D. Luffy!"
"We are a group of pirates who want to go to Sky Island!"
Hearing this answer, Cricket was stunned.
In this place, saying such things would make everyone laugh at you like a fool.
So, besides them, Cricket had never seen any other "fools."
But now, before him appeared such a "fool" like them!
Especially seeing Luffy's determined eyes, the corner of Cricket's mouth curved upwards, and he slowly said, "We appreciate your kindness, but let's forget about getting the gold back!"
"You are no match for Bellamy."
"He is a great pirate with a bounty as high as 55 million Berries."
"On this Jaya Island… no one is his match!"
Cricket and his crew didn't know much about Luffy and the others.
They were busy salvaging every day and hadn't paid any attention to the Straw Hat's live broadcast.
After Cricket finished speaking, he couldn't help but sigh.
Bellamy was too strong!
They had no hope of getting the gold back.
However, just as he was sighing helplessly, he heard Luffy say with disdain, "55 million?!"
"Trash, that's all!"
"It's settled then, I'll help you get the gold back, and you help us go to Sky Island!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy turned to Shoujou without waiting for Cricket's reply and asked, "Where is that Bellamy?"
Shoujou was stunned by Luffy's confidence.
Calling a pirate with a 55 million Berries bounty trash, could it be that Straw Hat's bounty was even higher than 55 million?
Could he be a great pirate approaching 100 million Berries?
Shoujou thought in shock, staring blankly at Luffy, and said, "Bellamy's crew is in Mock Town on the West Blue Coast!"
Hearing this, Luffy immediately called out to Vivi, "Vivi, take me to that Mock Town on the West Blue Coast!"
"Okay!"
Vivi responded, then transformed into her Azure Phoenix form.
Luffy seized the opportunity and leaped onto Vivi's back.
The two instantly soared into the sky, disappearing from everyone's sight in a flash.
A speed of a thousand meters per second, it was that overwhelming.
This scene made Cricket, Shoujou, and Masira exclaim in admiration, their eyes filled with shock.
"So… so fast!"
However, after their astonishment, Shoujou suddenly cried out in a panic, "Oh no! I forgot to tell them something."
"That Bellamy also has a very powerful subordinate, Sarquiss."
"Even if Straw Hat's bounty is a bit higher than Bellamy's and he's confident he can win."
"But if those two team up, I'm afraid Straw Hat won't be a match!"
Masira also became flustered upon hearing this and said to the remaining people, "Quickly contact Straw Hat and tell him to come back first."
"Once we've rested and recovered, we'll go together to reclaim the gold."
Cricket also nodded in agreement.
"Although we're injured, we still have some fighting power."
"Let's wait until we recover, then go together to reclaim the gold."
"It's too much to ask just the two of them to go."
The three of them cried out in panic one after another, wanting the Straw Hat to stop Luffy.
However, what puzzled the three of them was that they didn't see a trace of worry on the faces of the remaining people.
Even the swordsman was directly leaning against a tree stump and sleeping.
This leisurely appearance made Cricket and the other two feel a surge of worry and emotion.
This pirate crew was too lazy and careless!
Facing a great pirate with a 55 million Berries bounty, they were still acting so relaxed!
Just then, they heard the yellow-haired man smoking a cigarette say unhurriedly, "You guys just focus on recovering!"
"Don't worry about Luffy!"
"That guy is now… a man with a 500 million Berries bounty!"
Boom!
The three of them seemed to be struck by a bolt of lightning, their mouths agape in shock, their faces covered in cold sweat, and their eyes filled with disbelief.
"You… you said… how much?!"
"5… 500 million?!!!"
The sound of shock echoed through the sky!
...
Jaya Island isn't very big; it only takes Vivi tens of seconds to fly from the East Blue coast to the West Blue coast.
After spotting a town below from the sky, Luffy didn't wait for Vivi to land. He leaped down, landing on the streets of Mock Town.
Boom!
With a loud bang, smoke and dust billowed.
It caused countless passersby to tremble and look terrified.
They all stopped and looked towards the cloud of smoke.
"Wh-what happened?"
"It looks like a person!"
"What's wrong with this guy? He fell from the sky!"
Just as a person nearby was wondering in surprise, he saw the man who had fallen suddenly turn his head and look at him, asking,
"Where is Bellamy?"
Even though Luffy didn't look that dangerous at the moment, the thought that he had fallen from the sky and appeared unharmed made the person gasp in admiration. He tremblingly pointed in a direction and replied,
"In that tavern up ahead!"
Luffy nodded at the words.
"Thanks!"
After thanking him, he ignored the strange looks from the surrounding people and walked straight towards the tavern.
The people on the street watched Luffy's retreating figure, each filled with doubt.
"Who is that guy?"
"I don't know! He actually said he was looking for Bellamy! Bellamy is the most troublesome person in this town! Is that guy looking to die?"
"N-no way?!"
Suddenly, someone in the crowd let out a terrified gasp.
The others immediately looked at that person in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you suddenly so scared?"
The person buried his head in his hands, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief, and said in a trembling voice,
"Look quickly! That man's Straw Hat! Although I didn't see his face clearly, that Straw Hat... you can't possibly not recognize it, right?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd fell into shock, and everyone instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
How could they not know about the Straw Hat, who had recently become famous throughout the world?
Everyone stared blankly at the back of the man wearing the Straw Hat, their hearts filled with dread.
"That man... he couldn't have really come to this town, could he?!"
...
Inside the Mock Town tavern!
"Wahahahaha..."
"That big monkey was so funny back then, beaten into such a grotesque state, with blood all over his face, snot and tears crying there, old man... hahahaha..."
"If you like that weirdo so much, then protect him! Don't you agree? Hahahaha..."
"Heh heh! Don't make things difficult for them! How can they compare to you, Bellamy? No matter how much those fools fight, they can't be your opponent."
"Hahaha... that's right, that's right! Bellamy is the strongest pirate of the new era!"
The tavern was a noisy uproar.
Creak!
Just then, the door was slowly pushed open, and a figure entered the sight of everyone in the tavern.
Immediately after, a calm voice sounded.
"Who is Bellamy?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire noisy tavern instantly became incredibly quiet, and everyone shifted their gaze to the figure at the door.
"I am! Is there something you need from me?"
Bellamy stuck out his tongue, like a hyena, his eyes revealing killing intent and the excitement of seeing prey.
"I'm here to get the gold back."
Luffy said calmly.
As soon as these words were spoken, the tavern fell silent again.
The next second.
A burst of laughter erupted!
"Wahahahaha... he actually said he came to get the gold back."
"Did that strange old man and big monkey send him? Haven't they been beaten enough?"
"It seems we were too lenient! They still dare to come and ask us for the gold back!"
"Hey! Kid! Who the hell are you? I haven't seen you in this town before! How dare you provoke our Bellamy crew!"
"Don't you know how terrifying our Captain Bellamy is? Go around this town and ask, who doesn't know that our Captain Bellamy is a great pirate with a bounty of 55 million Berries?"
"Hey! Kid! Are you a pirate too? What's your bounty? Tell us so we can hear if you're even qualified for our Captain to make a move?"
While Bellamy's crew were mocking and insulting Luffy to their heart's content.
The onlookers in the tavern were also whispering as they watched Luffy's figure.
"Who is this guy? He actually dares to provoke Bellamy!"
"He doesn't seem to be from this town! Is he new?"
"This guy is really looking for death! He doesn't know Bellamy's terror at all."
The onlookers whispered, their eyes filled with schadenfreude, preparing to watch Bellamy teach this arrogant kid a lesson.
However, just then, a person at a certain table looked down at the bounty poster on the table, then looked up at the figure standing at the door.
Down, up, down, up.
Suddenly, that person's expression became as if he had seen a ghost, his face instantly turned pale, covered in cold sweat, his eyes filled with endless fear and dread.
A person nearby noticed his appearance and immediately asked in confusion,
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
The person maintained his ghost-like appearance and said tremblingly,
"Th-that man is... he is..."
"Straw Hat with a bounty of 500 million Berries!!!"
Creak!
Bang!
When he finished speaking, the person was so scared that he fell directly off his chair.
And at this moment, the tavern seemed as if time had stopped, becoming incredibly quiet.
Everyone, upon hearing the name Straw Hat, carefully tried to confirm it.
Soon, cold sweat enveloped everyone present.
The air seemed to instantly become incredibly cold.
Making everyone present shiver.
And those subordinates of Bellamy who had previously insulted and mocked Luffy were all trembling with fear, unable to utter a single word to Luffy.
Just as everyone was trembling with fear and dared not speak, Bellamy suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his eyes filled with fighting spirit as he looked at Luffy.
"Are you Straw Hat?"
"Let's fight to the death!"
Hearing Bellamy suddenly say this, Sarquiss was instantly shocked as if struck by lightning, saying in fright,
"Bellamy, are you crazy?"
"Didn't I tell you not to think about such foolish things?"
Saying that, Sarquiss turned his head to look at Luffy, and said tremblingly,
"Mr. Straw Hat, please don't listen to Bellamy's nonsense, we will return the gold to you right now."
With that, Sarquiss immediately threw the bag of gold they had stolen to a subordinate beside him.
"Quickly return the gold to Mr. Straw Hat."
"Huh? Why me?"
That subordinate looked terrified, hesitating to take the bag containing the gold.
"You bastard, do you want to die?"
Sarquiss's eyes showed killing intent as he threatened in a low voice.
The subordinate's fear escalated, and he had no choice but to take the gold, walk over tremblingly, and hand it to Luffy.
Just as that person was about to retreat, he heard Luffy suddenly speak.
"It was you... who called me a bastard just now, wasn't it?"
Upon hearing this, the person's body stiffened, as if his heart had stopped beating in that instant.
When he turned his head back in extreme fear.
Bang!
A dull thud sounded in the tavern.
That person's face was directly deformed, bloody and disfigured.
Such a scene made everyone in the tavern instantly feel as if they were in hell, their breathing stopping.
Only Bellamy still looked full of fighting spirit, looking at Luffy and saying,
"I saw your battle."
"That Crocodile didn't seem like much, did he?"
"He didn't make any decent attacks throughout."
"If it were me, I could easily defeat that kind of guy too."
"So... Straw Hat!"
"Let's duel!"
"As long as I defeat you, I can become famous worldwide, and I can be recognized by that man and join his family!"
"Let's fight to the death! Straw Hat!!!"
Bellamy's final roar echoed throughout the tavern and the street outside.
Everyone who heard these words was terrified beyond measure.
Fearing that Straw Hat would, in a fit of rage, level this town.
Luffy looked at the battle-ready Bellamy, as if looking at a frog in a well.
Crocodile hadn't shown any decent combat power at the time because he was simply powerless to exert it against Luffy.
But this made Bellamy think he could do it too.
To this, Luffy could only sigh, 'A frog in a well!'
However, he hadn't planned to let Bellamy off so easily anyway, and since the other party had provoked him, it was a good opportunity to resolve everything at once.
Luffy looked at Bellamy, enunciating each word coldly, saying.
"Duel… means death!"