Inside the noisy, luxurious casino—
"Big! Big!!"
"Open big! Open big!!"
"Big!!"
"Big!!"
Reiz Max sat calmly at a gambling table, while behind him gathered a crowd of gamblers—faces flushed, expressions bordering on frenzy.
At this moment—
a towering pile of chips sat before him.
In less than two hours, his initial 100 Beli had multiplied ten thousandfold, reaching nearly 1 million in value.
Naturally, such a spectacle drew the attention of countless gamblers—
many of whom began placing bets alongside him.
Meanwhile—
the dealer sitting opposite him was drenched in sweat.
His white shirt clung to his back, his face pale.
"A-Are you sure… it's big?"
The dealer's hand trembled as he held the dice cup.
If he kept losing like this—
he might not walk out alive.
Reiz Max didn't bother answering.
He simply nodded and pulled out a slender cigarette, placing it between his lips.
Before he could even light it—
dozens of gamblers behind him eagerly extended lighters.
"Open it already!!"
A roar erupted from the crowd.
Startled—
the dealer lifted the cup.
The result appeared—
Big.
Instantly—
cheers exploded across the casino.
Reiz Max exhaled a ring of smoke, shifting lazily in his seat.
His expression didn't change at all.
The surrounding gamblers had already clustered behind him, all betting the same way—
meaning the house's losses were spread thin.
But—
Reiz Max had never come here to gamble.
The dealer's legs gave out—
he collapsed to the floor.
Moments later—
two burly men in black suits dragged him away.
At that moment—
a middle-aged man in a light blue suit approached.
Blond hair. Elegant posture.
A white handkerchief in hand.
"Well, well… if it isn't the 'Legendary Gambler' Reiz Max."
He smiled brightly as he took the dealer's place.
"If you wanted to play, you should've said something. Games out here are rather dull—how about we head inside?"
As he spoke—
he tapped the table lightly.
The three dice began spinning on their own.
"I quite like it out here."
Reiz Max glanced at the spinning dice.
"If your dealer isn't up to it… you can take his place."
The blond man's smile stiffened.
So—
this wasn't a casual visit.
This was trouble.
Just then—
a sharp, impatient voice rang out from the staircase above—
accompanied by the clinking of metal ornaments.
Hearing that familiar sound—
the blond man immediately turned and bowed.
"Lord Buggy!"
Buggy strode down the stairs, then leapt mid-way—
landing beside the table.
"Someone dares cause trouble in my casino?!"
Reiz Max's eyes lit up.
Right on cue.
"Leave this to me, Lord Buggy," the blond man said respectfully.
Reiz Max slammed the table.
"Are we gambling or not?!"
"You call this the world's greatest casino—don't tell me you're scared!"
Buggy's face darkened.
Then—
he grinned.
Coldly.
"You think you're good enough?"
He glanced at the blond man.
"No problem," the man replied confidently.
"Good."
Buggy turned back, eyes fierce.
"You're the so-called 'Legendary Gambler,' right?"
"If we're betting—then we're doing it properly."
"But this time… we don't bet money."
"Do you dare?"
Reiz Max smirked inwardly.
"Nothing I don't dare."
"Afraid you might not."
He had already studied Buggy thoroughly.
His habits.
His personality.
Everything.
"Good! Then we bet our heads!"
"If you lose—I cut your head off."
"If you win—you can cut mine."
Buggy declared loudly, hands on his hips.
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
Everyone knew—
Buggy's Chop-Chop Fruit made him immune to slicing attacks.
This bet—
was rigged from the start.
Win?
He kills you.
Lose?
He takes no damage.
A perfect gamble—
for Buggy.
All eyes turned to Reiz Max.
"…What's there to fear?"
He flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it.
The crowd roared.
"Same rules as before."
"Highest is triple six."
"If tied—whoever sets the cup down first wins."
"Agreed."
Both men moved simultaneously.
Dice into cups—
shaking—
then—
slam!
The blond man finished first.
Reiz Max—
just a fraction slower.
Some gamblers sighed.
Others grinned in anticipation.
"Open yours first," the blond man said smoothly.
Reiz Max lifted his cup.
Triple six.
No surprise.
At this level—
that result was trivial.
"Legendary Gambler?"
Buggy laughed, already holding a blade.
"Seems overrated!"
The blond man opened his cup—
"Not triple six!"
"Six-six-five!"
The casino exploded in shock.
Reiz Max—
won.
"…Looks like I win."
He smiled, tossing his hat onto the table.
The blond man trembled.
"Impossible…"
Buggy's grin froze.
Then—
CLANG!
He tossed his sword aside.
"Tch. My loss."
"No need—you don't have to cut me."
"I'll take my own head off."
He grabbed his hair—
and lifted—
his head separated cleanly.
Just as everyone thought it was over—
BOOM!
The blond man suddenly kicked Buggy's body in the chest—
sending it flying.
At the same time—
he caught Buggy's detached head.
"You bastard! What are you doing?!"
Buggy shouted.
Reiz Max stood, grinning.
"Let me give you a lesson."
"There's no such thing as a guaranteed win."
"If there is… you're being played."
He pulled out a dark blue stone box and opened it.
"Went smoother than expected."
"Thanks to my acting."
The blond man tossed Buggy's head into the box.
Their exchange made it clear—
they were accomplices.
Snap.
The box shut.
Buggy's voice vanished instantly.
His body collapsed—
motionless.
Because—
the box was made of Seastone.
Silence fell over the casino.
Then—
panic exploded.
Gamblers fled in all directions.
Staff rushed forward.
Reiz Max held the box calmly.
"…It begins."
BOOM!!
An explosion tore through the casino.
Flames erupted.
Across Gran Tesoro—
chain explosions ignited like fireworks.
Meanwhile—
aboard the Whitebeard Pirates' ship—
Whitebeard sat atop a massive barrel.
IV lines ran into his arm.
Commanders gathered around him.
"Old man, why send Marco now?" Blamenco asked.
"Yeah, what's the reason?"
"Not worried about Marco?"
"Oi, don't underestimate him!"
Voices overlapped.
No one doubted Marco.
Because—
they were the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Gurarararara!"
Whitebeard laughed.
"Prepare to welcome our guest!"
At that moment—
a silver spatial gate opened.
Yuuki and Marco stepped through.
"Much faster this way, isn't it?"
Yuuki smiled.
Once away from Gran Tesoro—
there was no need to maintain appearances.
So—
he used Spatial Magic.
Whitebeard laughed loudly.
"What an interesting ability!"
"So, the Magic Eye Cross… was your doing all along!"
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