"Ah ah ah!! It's pirates!!"
"Quick! Someone notify the Marine!"
"Run!!"
The port, which had been bustling with life just moments ago, fell into chaos as townspeople, terrified out of their wits upon seeing the pirates land, scattered in panicked flight.
Three pirate ships, one of which was unusually large, indicated that the newcomers were not to be trifled with.
Venomous Snake Yue Keli, a Captain under the Rocks Pirates in the New World, boasted a bounty of 360,000,000 Berries!
In this era, compared to the later Great Pirate Era, Berries had not yet inflated over time, so a bounty of this magnitude at this point clearly showed Yue Keli's dangerousness.
"Ah!!?"
A woman, tripped by the panicked crowd, fell into the hands of the pirates; she was now overwhelmed with fear, able only to pray for a hero to be sent to save her.
Yue Keli was a small giant, over five meters tall, standing like an iron tower in the sunlight, with sinister eyes and an extremely discordant aura; an ordinary person would faint just from a glance.
A pirate of this caliber would absolutely be considered a Great Pirate in the first half of the Grand Line.
Yue Keli hooked the woman's chin with his finger; his pupils were vastly different from a normal person's, resembling those of a beast.
"I ask you, woman... where is the famous adventurer Reo, the big name in your small town?"
The woman trembled with fear.
"You... you're looking for Mr. Reo?"
Yue Keli: "That's right."
Woman: "..."
She should have been on the verge of fainting from fear.
But for some reason, the woman found a surge of courage from somewhere.
Reo was the pride of this town; most of the people here had watched him grow up from childhood, and some had even played with him.
Now that pirates had come calling, it could only mean trouble. As a member of Foss, the woman, despite immense pressure, dared to speak words that would sound absolutely rebellious to the pirates.
"I... I don't know! And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!"
Yue Keli showed a look of surprise, then burst into laughter.
"What an extraordinary woman.
You dare to refuse my questions?
Very well! Then I shall grant you a glorious death!"
Devoid of any compassion, as a pirate, Yue Keli had no intention of showing mercy.
Dare to refuse him, and she would pay the price with her life.
However—
"You scoundrel, how dare you disturb the peace of this town!? Get out of my sight!!"
A roar echoed through the sky, followed by an aura filled with intense Haki.
As a seasoned pirate who had fought for many years in the New World, Yue Keli also possessed considerable Haki cultivation, but even his Observation Haki, honed over years, couldn't react in time; by the time he realized danger was imminent, he had already been struck hard.
Boom—!
A violent and swift punch.
This punch was incredibly heavy; Yue Keli spat blood from his mouth and nose, his massive body rapidly retreating, crashing into the grinning pirate subordinates from moments before, leaving them either dead or severely injured, carving a bloody path through the ranks of several hundred men.
The woman, who moments ago thought she was about to pay a heavy price, was gently set down by a powerful arm.
Looking up, she saw that familiar, imposing figure.
The woman cried tears of joy: "Mr. Reo?!"
Reo glanced sideways with a confident smile: "Linni, thank you."
Linni nodded, then, realizing she would only be in the way, left the battlefield without a moment's delay.
Yue Keli flew back fifty meters, killing and injuring dozens of people, his shins almost submerged in dirt and flagstones before he finally stopped.
(What terrifying strength! I've only felt such a terrifying aura from the Grand Captain's high-ranking cadres...)
Yue Keli wiped the blood from his face, his expression surprised.
The surrounding pirate ruffians were all dumbfounded.
What just happened?
Suddenly, their Captain flew out, and their comrades, who had been laughing and chatting moments ago, were cruelly crushed to death?!
What on earth happened!?
Everyone looked ahead and saw a man standing there, his body seemingly emitting an aura capable of distorting the atmosphere; his absolute strongman demeanor and the earth-shattering display just now left the numerically superior pirate side utterly terrified and silent.
Makima also entered the scene at this moment; after witnessing what had just happened, her eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth curled slightly.
This was an opportunity to further understand the man's true capabilities.
(His strength and speed are both terrifying... Watanabe and that Guangxi are worlds apart compared to him.
Is this also a use of the extraordinary power in this world?)
Makima's curiosity was piqued, and her face showed a relaxed and pleasant expression of interest.
Reo looked directly at the pirate ruffians before him, his gaze sweeping past the small fry to focus on Yue Keli.
"Hmm... I think I remember you.
A pirate from the New World, right?
Being remembered by me proves you're a good hand in the New World, but I don't intend to verify your identity; since you've come here to die, I have no reason to let you go."
Reo's words were incredibly cold.
Years of training and three years at sea had forged his strongman personality.
When faced with such absurd clowns who dared to appear, he would make them regret provoking him.
Not to mention that the other party dared to offend Foss Town, a place called home here; he could not tolerate anyone defiling it.
Yue Keli knew he had kicked an iron plate; he was indeed the man that monster had taken an interest in. He immediately broke out in a cold sweat and waved his hands repeatedly.
"Don't be so quick to act!
Great Adventurer Reo, sir, I am here to invite you!
I am Venomous Snake Yue Keli, a Captain under the Rocks Pirates in the New World. I've come here specifically to invite you to join us because of the Grand Captain's high regard for you!
It was just a misunderstanding earlier, and besides, I didn't cause any casualties, did I?
Please don't be so angry!"
Reo sneered with disdain.
"Disgusting creature! If I hadn't intervened just now, that young girl's head might have been crushed by you!
Are all of Rocks' subordinates spineless scoundrels like you?
Since we've already torn off the pretense, you must bear the consequences of provoking me!"
Yue Keli also grew angry.
He had just humbled himself so much, what more did he want?
Just because of that commoner just now?
Since you're so arrogant, do you think I'm afraid of you just because you managed a sneak attack earlier!?
"Fine! Reo! Are you trying to pick a fight with our Rocks Pirates!?
You arrogant fool, do you think I'm really afraid of you!?
I'm a Great Pirate with a bounty of 360,000,000 Berries!"