'A fight, is it?'
A hint of disappointment appeared on Issho's face.
However, he didn't think Cyrus was joking.
His Observation Haki could perceive some of Cyrus's condition; such a powerful aura couldn't be hidden.
'That astonishing life force.'
Cyrus looked at Issho, not rushing him for an answer.
The other patrons inside the Rain Banquet were also drawn to the situation here.
Many had already taken notice earlier due to Cyrus's winning streak.
And now, seeing what looked like a confrontation, their faces filled with anticipation.
Although they didn't know the identities of Cyrus and Issho, watching a fight after a bout of frenzied gambling was a form of stimulation for these jaded individuals.
But for those who knew Cyrus's identity, it was a different story.
The people of Baroque Works already knew that Cyrus had come to the Rain Banquet.
And those stationed at the Rain Banquet naturally knew about Cyrus's situation as well.
This was a man who could clash with a Marine Admiral.
If a fight broke out here, would the Rain Banquet even survive?
No, perhaps it wasn't just the Rain Banquet; even this oasis city could suffer devastating destruction.
The dealer Cyrus had been staring at earlier hurriedly left to report Cyrus's words to his superior.
The name Crocodile was unfamiliar to those of insufficient rank.
They might not even know what the Shichibukai were.
But among the upper echelons of Baroque Works, many knew who their president was.
The person who received the news didn't dare to delay and immediately reported to Crocodile.
The Rain Banquet was still quiet at this moment.
Many people were watching the tall Issho, waiting for his answer.
Cyrus was doing the same.
This challenge was actually a spur-of-the-moment idea for Cyrus.
He truly hadn't expected Issho to appear here.
If one were to ask who was more valuable, Issho or Crocodile, the answer was undoubtedly Issho.
After all, he was a powerhouse on the level of an Admiral.
Although Crocodile wasn't weak, in Cyrus's eyes, he was merely a tool to build the structure of the Hunter Association.
And such a tool was replaceable, with more than one alternative.
Since he was going to fight Issho, Cyrus could no longer be bothered with how Crocodile might react.
It all depended on whether that guy dared to come and see him.
"You seem to know me!"
Issho tapped the tip of his cane sword on the ground, his whitened eyes facing Cyrus.
Although Issho was giving him the whites of his eyes, Cyrus didn't mind and nodded directly upon hearing his words.
"I do know you. As for how, you don't need to ask now. We can talk after the fight." Cyrus said as he stood up.
At just over two meters tall, he was a bit shorter than Issho, but his presence was not the least bit weaker.
The hearts of the Baroque Works members managing the Rain Banquet were in their throats.
The other people in the Rain Banquet showed excited expressions upon seeing this scene.
Boom!
Conqueror's Haki erupted from Cyrus, instantly sweeping across the entire Rain Banquet.
Issho's expression turned solemn.
"Conqueror's Hak.... Fine, I accept. However, this is not the place to fight." Issho said, turning to walk out of the Rain Banquet.
Seeing Issho agree, Cyrus turned to glance at Robin.
"Be careful!" Robin reminded him.
"If Crocodile comes, have him wait here for me."
"Mm!"
Robin nodded lightly, then watched as Cyrus walked out of the Rain Banquet.
She was actually curious about this fight as well.
For Cyrus to take him so seriously, this blind uncle's strength must be extremely formidable.
A clash of this caliber was a rare sight.
But then again, not just anyone was qualified to spectate a fight between people like them.
The mere shockwaves from the battle could be enough to kill those who weren't strong enough.
Cyrus and Issho left the city one after the other, walking into the desert outside Rainbase.
...
At Spiders Cafe, the true headquarters of Baroque Works.
Crocodile received the report from the Rain Banquet.
"This guy's target is me?"
Crocodile frowned.
He had known before that Cyrus had clashed with Jinbei and Doflamingo.
But Crocodile felt that he himself had never provoked Cyrus.
So he really hadn't thought that Cyrus's target was actually him.
He had also deliberately hidden his presence in Alabasta.
To think that this Cyrus would tell him to wait for him—such words made Crocodile a little uncomfortable.
But he was more curious.
He couldn't be here to capture him; things were surely not that simple.
And then there was Nico Robin.
If he wanted to find Pluton, Nico Robin was indispensable.
"President?"
Mr. 1, Daz Bones, a Superhuman-type Dice-Dice Fruit user, was currently Crocodile's number one subordinate.
"Since he wants to see me, I'll go meet this guy. Besides, I'm also curious about who that blind man Cyrus challenged is."
With that, Crocodile abruptly stood up.
Things were already developing in an unknown direction.
Although he had other objectives at the moment, his courage was still intact.
In fact, Crocodile had also considered a possible future.
If Cyrus could cooperate with him, it would be a great help to his plans.
...
In the desert outside the city, two figures sped across the undulating sand dunes.
It wasn't until they were far enough from Rainbase that Issho stopped and turned to look at Cyrus, who had caught up.
The sound of a blade scraping against its sheath rang out as Cyrus drew his sword, his eyes locked on Issho.
"I ate the Press-Press Fruit. I can control gravity!"
Raising a hand to grip the hilt of his sword, Issho didn't draw his blade but instead spoke of his ability.
Cyrus was stunned.
"You're just telling me like that?"
"This fight is just a wager. There is no enmity between us; there's no need for a duel to the death."
In Issho's Observation Haki perception, there was no ill will from Cyrus that he disliked.
This was also why Issho had agreed to Cyrus's challenge.
His Observation Haki was very sensitive to such things.
"In that case, I'm a user of the Logia Type Flame-Flame Fruit. Hmm, i'm a Flame-man!"
Cyrus thought for a moment and said.
"A Logia ability? I see."
Issho was also taken aback, a hint of surprise in his tone.
"Please, make your move. Don't underestimate me just because I am blind."
"I would never underestimate you!" Cyrus replied.
As his voice fell, he was already in front of Issho, his sword held high, then brought down in a fierce slash.
Clang!
The cane sword left its sheath and swept horizontally.
Boom!
A horizontal wave of gravity swept out.
Cyrus's body faltered for a moment.
His sword, already descending, slashed down past Issho, who had sidestepped to avoid it.
The slash hit the ground, blasting open a trench and sending yellow sand flying.
The swirling sand converged due to the horizontal gravity strike Issho had just unleashed.
"Gravity Wave!"
Issho, who had sidestepped the slash, had a solemn expression.
'The gravity blade just now had such a small effect on him?'
If it were Elemental Transformation, that would be one thing.
Gravity affects flame, but not that much.
But in his Observation Haki perception just now, this young man had withstood the effects of the gravity blade with his physical body.