The three words, 'Throw a punch,' sounded like a death knell, making Bellamy tremble violently.
He looked up, a gentle smile on his handsome face, but in Bellamy's eyes, that smile was more terrifying than any demon.
There was no choice.
He knew he had no choice.
In front of a Celestial Dragon, he didn't even have the right to commit suicide.
"Rock... paper..."
Bellamy's voice was dry and hoarse, and his hand trembled as he extended it.
He threw scissors.
Meanwhile, Ian leisurely spread his palm.
It was paper.
"You lose," Ian's voice was soft, yet it struck Bellamy's heart like a heavy hammer.
Bellamy froze in place, his mind a blank.
"Boss! Save me! Save me, Boss!"
"Don't kill me! I don't want to die!"
In the iron cage, his companions, who believed in instant gratification, were now experiencing the most extreme fear, their faces contorted by despair, frantically shaking the bars and letting out piercing wails.
Ian raised his wine glass, took a small sip, and watched the scene with interest, as if enjoying a splendid play.
"Choose one, hyena."
These four words completely shattered Bellamy's psychological defense.
He whirled around, his bloodshot eyes fixed on his companions in the cage. The look in his eyes was no longer that of a boss looking at his subordinates, but of a hungry wolf choosing its prey.
"Do it," Ian urged.
Bellamy let out an inhuman roar, his legs turning into springs as he suddenly shot forward, plunging his dagger fiercely into the heart of a former companion.
Blood splattered across his face.
The bar was dead silent, save for Bellamy's heavy breathing.
Kaya and Princess Sally were scared pale, instinctively leaning towards Ian for protection, and Nami's face was also white, her fists tightly clenched.
Only Gion stared intently at Ian with her beautiful eyes.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
As a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Gion's perception of Haki far surpassed that of ordinary people. Just at the moment of the rock-paper-scissors game, she detected an extremely faint, yet exquisitely precise fluctuation.
That was—Observation Haki!
A thought exploded in her mind, then she became utterly flustered.
Ian actually used Observation Haki to predict Bellamy's move!
There had long been rumors in the Holy Land that This Young Master of the Nerona Family was exceptionally gifted, having awakened Haoshoku and Observation Haki from birth. But rumors were just rumors; no one had ever witnessed it firsthand. After all, those who had seen him truly make a move had all disappeared from this world.
Gion had always believed that, given Ian's status, he wouldn't bother with cultivation. The guards around him were members of the God's Knights, which itself represented the pinnacle of power, enough to crush everything in the world.
But now, she believed it.
It was just that—
Using top-tier Observation Haki, which could foresee the future, for a childish game like rock-paper-scissors?
Throughout the world, perhaps only this most powerful crown prince of the Holy Land could do such a thing.
"Second round," Ian's indifferent voice rang out again.
Bellamy numbly turned around and knelt before Ian once more.
This time he was smarter; he thought of throwing rock, but at the last moment, he suddenly changed it to scissors.
However, Ian's hand was a steady fist.
"You lose again."
Despair completely engulfed Bellamy.
The cries in the cage ceased abruptly, replaced by a deathly silence. They understood; in this game, they had no way out.
Bellamy, like a walking corpse, walked towards the iron cage again, dragged out a companion, and with a swift motion, a knife fell.
Third round.
Bellamy lost.
This time, he approached the female companion who had previously been doused with red wine by Ian and then stuffed with fruit.
The woman didn't even beg for mercy, only looked at him with empty eyes.
Bellamy expressionlessly twisted her neck.
So-called instant gratification, in the face of absolute power, death was also part of instant gratification... The game continued.
Fourth round, lost.
Fifth round, lost.
When only three members of the Bellamy Pirates remained, Ian finally yawned, seemingly bored with the game.
"Boring."
He gestured a throat-slitting motion to Gunko, as if speaking of something trivial, and said lightly, "Kill them all!"
Gunko didn't hesitate in the slightest, and Bellamy, having lost all will to live, gave up resisting.
As the sound of bodies being pierced echoed, Ian stood up and casually tossed a thick wad of Berries onto the table.
"This Young Master will cover all expenses for tonight."
He surveyed the guests in the bar, who were already terrified into silence, and flashed an evil smile, "Continue the music, continue the dance."
No sooner had he spoken.
"Whoosh—"
Everyone in the bar, as if hearing a devil's pardon, swarmed towards the door, pushing, screaming, wishing they had been born with two more legs.
In less than ten seconds, the once noisy bar became empty, leaving only the mess on the floor and Ian's group.
"How disappointing," Ian pouted, no longer in the mood to continue having fun.
At the same time.
In the waters outside Mock Town, a crude raft made of giant logs was riding the wind and waves.
At the bow of the raft, an exceptionally tall man with rotten teeth was laughing loudly.
"Ze hahahahaha! Our era is about to begin!"
It was none other than Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, who had killed Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, stolen the Dark-Dark Fruit, and then defected!
Behind him stood several unusually-looking men.
The helmsman with a championship belt and exaggerated muscles, Combat Champion Jesus Burgess.
The navigator with a top hat, a walking stick, and a walk like a tap dance, Demon Sheriff Lafitte.
The lanky, expressionless sniper who always observed the world through a scope, Supersonic Van Auger.
And the perpetually sickly ship doctor, Doc Q, whose mount was also listless.
"Captain, where are we heading next?" Burgess asked in a booming voice.
Teach grinned widely, revealing an ambitious smile: "Of course, we're looking for great pirates with bounties over 100 million Berries! We'll deliver their heads to the World Government as our grand entrance onto the stage!"
"Ze hahahahaha! Let's start with this lawless Mock Town!"
Soon, the Blackbeard Pirates' raft docked.
"Split up!" Teach waved his large hand, "Find the strongest guy on the island!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The group quickly dispersed, blending into the chaotic night of Mock Town.
Lafitte, with his elegant and eerie dancing steps, gently tapped his walking stick on the ground. Before long, he arrived at a bar that had just experienced a mass exodus, with debris still scattered at its entrance.
He pushed open the door and saw the mess on the floor, as well as Ian's group, who were preparing to leave.
Lafitte's steps halted. His eyes, which always held a hint of a smile, for the first time showed a grave expression.
His Observation Haki was frantically warning him.
The man before him was a monster even more terrifying than Sea Kings!
—