"Vaskeriel-sei?"
Suddenly, the voice of the owner, Chuck, rang out from the direction of the kitchen.
Hearing Chuck's voice, the manager Gang-zi felt as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. He hurriedly crawled on his knees to Chuck's side and recounted everything that had happened, down to the last detail.
As Chuck listened, his brows furrowed deeply. He patted Gang-zi's shoulder to comfort him, then slowly stepped in front of Vaskeriel-sei.
"Lord Vaskeriel-sei," Chuck began, "I know those customers were in the wrong for offending you. I offer my apologies on their behalf. I hope you can give our tavern a measure of face and let this matter pass. What do you say?"
Since their tavern could stand its ground here for so long, hosting the top figures of both the underworld and legitimate society without any major incidents, it proved they had their own capital. Facing a Celestial Dragon, Chuck didn't need to be entirely subservient.
One of his backers was also one of the nineteen World Noble families residing in the Holy Land, Mary Geoise! Furthermore, the status of the noble family behind him was equal to, if not higher than, the family behind the Vaskeriel-sei standing before him.
"Your face? What is that worth?!" Vaskeriel-sei snorted coldly. "I am telling you now: break those people's limbs and throw them outside!"
"I'm sorry, I cannot do that!" Chuck countered with a cold snort of his own, his expression gradually turning icy.
To his family, Rowan was of extraordinary significance. A mere Celestial Dragon thought he could move against Mr. Rowan in his shop? Chuck wouldn't allow it!
"Niu Wu, escort the guest out!"
At Chuck's low shout, a lean man wearing dark sunglasses and a black suit stepped out from behind him. He looked thin, but he radiated a bone-chilling coldness. He was like a venomous snake coiled and ready to strike at any moment with a lethal blow.
This was the gold-tier bodyguard stationed at this tavern, Niu Wu. While his strength couldn't match a Marine Admiral, he was a specialist capable of trading a few moves with one.
Under Chuck's command, the lean man walked straight toward Vaskeriel-sei and made a "please" gesture. His voice was devoid of emotion. "Vaskeriel-sei, please leave this place immediately."
"Chuck, you are intentionally choosing to oppose me, aren't you?" Vaskeriel-sei didn't even look at Niu Wu; he kept his eyes fixed on Chuck and sneered.
Chuck's portly frame stood ramrod straight. His face remained unchanged as he said calmly, "I wouldn't dare. It is simply that the shop is about to close, so I must ask Vaskeriel-sei to leave."
The customers in the tavern dared not make a sound as they listened to this needle-to-thread confrontation. They finally realized just how powerful the background of this tavern owner was—he didn't even give a shred of face to a World Noble. Moreover, they wondered about the identity of the group who had provoked the Noble. The owner was actually willing to offend a Celestial Dragon to protect them.
"Good, good, good! So that's how it is?" Vaskeriel-sei said the word "good" three times, laughing in extreme rage. "Very well! In that case, no one is leaving!"
With a wide wave of his hand, he roared, "Tear this tavern apart!"
"Yes, Lord Vaskeriel-sei!"
The bodyguards Vaskeriel-sei had brought immediately drew their weapons. Simultaneously, Vaskeriel-sei pointed his solid gold flintlock at Chuck and pulled the trigger without a second's hesitation.
BANG!
Gunpowder exploded in the chamber, and a round bullet whistled toward Chuck's head. Instantly, screams erupted throughout the tavern as customers scrambled for cover.
"White Horse" Cavendish took the opportunity to slip into a corner, peeking out with half his head to enjoy the impending drama. It was at this moment that Rowan, leaning back in his chair, let out a low bark.
"Luffy, Zoro!"
Before the words had even fully landed, two silhouettes—one red and one green—shot out like arrows from a bow.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. The bullet Vaskeriel-sei had fired was swatted away by Niu Wu's pitch-black, Haki-hardened arm.
Chuck's fury boiled over. He hadn't expected Vaskeriel-sei to completely disregard the face of his backer's family and actually fire at him. He was about to erupt when a shrill voice rang out beside him.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
Then, he saw a familiar red shadow streak past his eyes, trailing an arm that had been stretched incredibly long.
Is that Mr. Rowan's great-grandson? A Devil Fruit user?! Chuck's gaze narrowed as he instantly recognized the ability.
Before he could process it, the boy came to a halt in front of Vaskeriel-sei, who was still holding his gold pistol. Then...
BOOM!
In Chuck's field of vision, the boy's arm snapped back with violent speed. The retracted fist, moving faster than a bullet, slammed into Vaskeriel-sei's chest.
Chuck watched with wide eyes as the Celestial Dragon let out a muffled grunt. Immediately, the intense pain from the massive impact twisted the Noble's face into a horrific mask. Before he could even scream, Vaskeriel-sei was launched like a cannonball, turning into a white blur as he flew backward out of the building.
CRASH!!!
Vaskeriel-sei slammed heavily into a massive rock across from the tavern, creating a violent roar of impact.
"Heehee... finally knocked that annoying guy away," Luffy said with a grin, adjusting his stance.
"Wait... how is this guy... so reckless? Does he not know that was a Celestial Dragon?!"
Cavendish, peeking from the corner, almost had his eyes pop out of their sockets. Granted, the Noble's behavior was over the line, but to punch him that far away? Did he not fear the World Government coming for his head?
Is this kid just a total blockhead who fears nothing, or did that man Rowan order this?
At this moment, Cavendish felt a sudden urge to turn and run as fast as possible. He had thought he'd see a show of a Celestial Dragon putting Marine officials in their place. But now? This wasn't a show—this was a disaster!
Who starts a fight by escalating it this far?!