Chapter 70: Jaya – Bellamy's Mockery & the Spark of Conflict
"Hey, look at that guy over there…"
"Which one?"
"The one with pink hair! Look at the wanted poster—it's definitely him! 'Fire Dragon' Sol with a 100 million Berry bounty!"
"Hey, you trying to get yourself killed? That's clearly cherry-blossom pink hair!"
"For real? What's a big-shot pirate like that doing in a dump like this?"
Whispers spread through the marketplace like ripples. Sol was focused on picking out fruit, but he keenly felt the burning stares around him. A few bold ones couldn't hold back anymore and approached with fawning smiles.
"Lord Sol! Please let us follow you!"
"A big shot like you must be planning something huge, right?"
"Take us with you—we can do anything!"
Sol's brow furrowed. The apple in his hand cracked audibly.
Suddenly a scorching aura exploded outward from him, the surrounding temperature spiking instantly. The onlookers recoiled as if burned; several fainted on the spot.
"Annoying." Sol muttered under his breath, tossed a bag of Berries to the stall owner, grabbed his purchases, and strode away.
But as he left the market, a smirk curled his lips: "Gotta brag to Luffy later—let him die of jealousy over my fame~ Heh heh."
Meanwhile, in a small tavern in town.
"The Log Pose needs four days to fully record." The tavern owner wiped a glass without looking up. "As long as you behave yourselves, you can leave safely in four days."
Nami stared at the slowly turning Log Pose in her hand, veins throbbing on her forehead: "Four days?! I can't stand this hellhole for even two!"
"Hey, old man/boss!" ×3
Nami, Luffy, and another person spoke in perfect unison.
The owner lazily raised his eyes: "Hm?"
At that moment, a burly man with a scarred face and missing front teeth slammed the table next to them: "This cherry pie is delicious as hell!"
Almost simultaneously, Luffy stuck out his tongue in disgust: "This cherry pie tastes awful!"
"Huh?" Both turned at once. Their eyes met—sparks practically flying. They each grabbed a cup and downed it in identical fashion.
Luffy: "This booze is so good!"
Big guy: "This booze tastes like crap!"
"Hm?!"
Their gazes clashed fiercely in mid-air, almost visible lightning crackling between them.
The owner kept wiping glasses indifferently: "I'm not the cook—taste doesn't matter to me."
"Kid, your taste buds broken or something?" The big man grinned with his gap-toothed mouth, provoking.
"Your brain's the one that's broken!" Luffy shot back without backing down.
Luffy got tired of arguing and turned to the owner: "Old man, I want fifty portions of meat to go—as gifts!"
The big man immediately cut in: "Boss, give me fifty-one cherry pies!"
"I changed my mind—fifty-two portions of meat!"
"Then I'll take fifty-three pies!"
"Fifty-four meat!"
"Wait—I'll change to fifty-five pies…"
They kept raising the numbers like squabbling children, quickly reaching absurd levels.
Nami and Zoro silently continued drinking and watching the show, thinking it was just harmless bickering.
"Hey, you looking for trouble on purpose?" The big man rolled up his sleeves, glaring viciously at Luffy.
Luffy rolled up his own sleeves without hesitation: "Wanna fight? I'm game!"
Zoro finally couldn't stand it: "Come on, what's worth getting so worked up over?"
Nami stood up and grabbed Luffy's shoulder: "Luffy! Remember what you promised me? And Sol already went to buy supplies—we don't need that much meat!"
The big man suddenly narrowed his eyes, sizing Luffy up and down: "You're a pirate?"
"Yep!" Luffy puffed out his chest proudly.
"What's your bounty then?" The man sneered.
"100 million Berries!!"
The man bared his gap-toothed grin in contempt: "You? 100 million? At least make your lies believable!"
"I'm not lying! It's true!!" Luffy shot back directly.
But eventually the two stopped arguing. The man grabbed a slice of cherry pie and left the tavern.
At that moment, the tavern's wooden door was kicked open with a bang. A blond man strode in—his left eye marked by a vicious scar that stood out even in the dim light.
He scanned the room and shouted: "Hey! Is Straw Hat Luffy here?"
It was Bellamy, captain of the Bellamy Pirates—"Hyena" Bellamy, bounty 55 million Berries! The air in the tavern instantly froze; the once-noisy patrons fell deathly silent.
Bellamy crossed his arms, a condescending sneer on his face as he looked down at Luffy: "You're the straw hat brat?"
Luffy lounged casually at the bar, tilting his head: "What do you want?"
Zoro took a swig of sake and glanced over: "This guy doesn't look like he's here to make friends."
Nami frowned, remembering: "Bellamy? Isn't he the one who reserved that entire restaurant earlier?"
Bellamy strode to the bar and rapped the counter: "Boss, give me your most expensive bottle." He glanced at Luffy and scoffed, "And pour one for this kid too—on me."
The owner nodded silently and turned to pour.
At that moment Bellamy's crewmate Sarquiss walked in with hands in pockets, face full of disgust: "Tch, this place is filthy and stinks. How can you guys stand it?"
He scanned the room, saw the front seats were full, and immediately lost patience. He drew his Nepalese kukri and slashed down at a patron: "Hey! Didn't you see this great me arrive? No sense of respect!"
The owner silently placed two glasses in front of them. Bellamy pushed one toward Luffy: "Drink up."
Luffy grinned widely, completely unguarded as he accepted: "Thanks! So you're actually a good guy! Haha!"
But the instant he tilted his head back to drink—BAM!!
Bellamy slammed Luffy's head straight down into the counter! The glass shattered, alcohol splashing everywhere.
"Hahahaha! Nice one, Bellamy!" Sarquiss and the others roared with laughter.
Bellamy was gloating when suddenly a cold, gleaming blade pressed against his throat.
"What do you think you're doing, you little punk?" Bellamy glanced at the sword at his neck without concern.
Zoro's eyes were ice-cold; Sandai Kitetsu didn't waver: "That's my line."
Nami hurriedly tried to stop him: "Wait, Zoro! We still haven't gotten information about Sky Island!"
Zoro sneered: "Shut up! Right now I just want to cut this bastard down!"
At that moment—
Tap, tap… Luffy dusted himself off and slowly stood back up.
Bellamy raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Pretty tough, huh?"
Luffy wiped blood from his lip, his expression unusually serious: "Good… get ready."
The onlookers in the tavern burst into mocking laughter: "Hahahaha! This kid actually wants to challenge Bellamy?"
Bellamy spread his arms wide and laughed arrogantly: "Don't get it twisted! This isn't a fight—it's a test. Let me see just how much you're really worth!"
"Luffy, wait!" Nami grabbed his shoulder and turned to shout at the owner: "Old man! We want to go to Sky Island—do you know anything about the skyward current?"
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