"Woo—!!!"
With a long, high-pitched whistle, a massive black iron train let out clouds of white steam and slowly pulled into the final station.
This was the gateway to the Blacksteel Empire—Ironforge.
Although Stahlburg was the political center of the empire, it was located deep inland. To return to the G-17 Branch, Aiden and Issho had to take the train back to this port city.
Thanks to the country's strict order, even though news of the king's death had spread, the empire continued to function as if nothing could stop it.
After the long trip, it was completely dark by the time the two men blended into the bustling crowd and walked out of the station. The sea breeze hit them, carrying the smell of coal dust and salt. It was a reminder that they were back at the edge of the ocean.
"It looks like we won't make it back today."
Aiden looked out at the dark sea in the distance.
He had driven a modified high-speed boat here, so he didn't need a Marine warship to pick them up. However, driving a boat through the Grand Line at night was not a smart choice.
Besides, after everything that had happened, Aiden was tired. There was no need to fight the waves just to save a few hours.
"Let's find a place to stay for the night and leave tomorrow morning."
Aiden led Issho to a high-end hotel in the port area that looked clean and checked into two rooms.
Outside, workers remained at their posts. Their eyes were sad, but they kept working. Black cloth hung from shop doors, and people silently placed flowers at street corners.
"The king did it for us—" a bakery owner sobbed quietly. He wiped his tears and went back to kneading dough. "For the empire, we cannot fall."
These were the citizens of the Blacksteel Empire. They deeply loved the king who had traded war for bread, even if the rest of the world called him a tyrant.
Aiden and Issho stood by the hotel window, looking down at the solemn streets. Their moods were slightly relaxed.
After all, they were the only ones who knew the "dead" tyrant was actually safe in a basement. Since they knew the truth, the tragic mourning below felt a bit absurd.
"Staying in this depressing atmosphere for too long makes me feel like I'm wasting a good night. We should find some fun."
Aiden rubbed his chin and looked toward the streets near the docks.
Even if the locals were mourning, Ironforge was still a busy trade hub. The sailors and merchants from all over the world didn't care who died; they only cared about where to find booze and excitement.
Near the docks, the sound of loud music and drunken shouting could be heard from several streets away. It was a different world, full of noise and cheap pleasure.
Issho seemed to understand what Aiden wanted and suggested, "Sir, it would be a waste to simply sleep through such a long night."
"True."
Aiden turned to see a simple smile on Issho's face. It was clear the man couldn't stay still either. Aiden gave him a knowing look. "Speaking of which, back at the pit, I said I'd bet with you. In the end, you didn't even look at the coin. For a gambler, that must be a regret, right?"
Issho blinked, then laughed loudly while rubbing the back of his head. "Indeed. Missing the moment the result is revealed is a real regret."
"In that case—"
Aiden snapped his fingers. His Observation Haki spread outward, instantly covering half the city.
A few seconds later, he pulled back his senses and pointed toward the noisiest part of the street. "There's a good place over there. It sounds lively. Want to go try your luck?"
"Of course, I'd be delighted." The wrinkles on Issho's face smoothed out. He didn't look like a man who could become an Admiral at all; he looked like a gambler who had found his favorite table.
The two agreed immediately and walked out of the hotel.
The Golden Hook Casino
This was the largest gambling den in Ironforge. When they pushed open the heavy oak doors, a wave of heat mixed with cheap tobacco and alcohol hit them.
"Big! Big! Give me big!"
"Damn it! Even again!"
The shouting of gamblers, the clinking of chips, and the arrogant laughter of winners mixed together. It was loud enough to make their ears ring.
Most of the people waving cash here were foreign sailors and caravan guards. The locals of the Blacksteel Empire rarely visited such places because of their strict laws and practical way of living.
Because of this, the collapse of the capital's palace didn't make this place any less crowded. For men who lived dangerous lives at sea, drinking and gambling today was all that mattered.
Aiden and Issho found a corner to exchange their chips.
"We're already here, might as well play a few rounds," Aiden said confidently, weighing the chips in his hand. "We're Marines, but relaxing once in a while helps us work better."
To experience the real thrill of gambling, Aiden intentionally turned off the Observation Haki that allowed him to see the future.
"After coming to this world, my luck can't be that bad."
However, half an hour later...
Aiden stared at the empty table in front of him, his face dark. He began to doubt himself.
"This is weird—"
He watched in disbelief as the dealer took his last chip. His mouth twitched. "Fifteen losses in a row? The odds of that are lower than getting hit by lightning."
"This isn't scientific!"
Aiden felt like the universe itself was messing with him.
From dice to roulette, from poker to high-low, he perfectly avoided every winning option. His ability to pick the wrong thing was so accurate that the gamblers around him started using him as a guide. Whenever Aiden bet on something, they bet the opposite, and they actually made a small profit.
"It seems your luck in battle doesn't extend to the gambling table," Issho said.
Issho sat nearby holding a cup of hot tea. Though he hadn't won much, his pile of chips remained steady. He hadn't gained or lost a single one.
Looking at Aiden's shocked expression, Issho let out a gentle laugh. "Hehehe... Sometimes, having too much luck is a burden. Maybe all your luck went into fighting, so it has to be taken back elsewhere."
"Cut it out," Aiden rolled his eyes. "I don't believe in this jinx. Again!"
Just as he was about to take out more money to win back his losses, an unfamiliar voice interrupted him.
"Hey, old man."
A thug with a scarred face and a skull tattoo on his arm walked over and sat across from Issho. Several other unfriendly men followed him, slowly surrounding Issho.
"You look new here. First time?"
The tattooed thug played with a dice cup, his greedy gaze moving over the pile of chips in front of Issho. "Since you're at the Golden Hook, why play small? This table is too crowded. Why don't you join us in the VIP room in the back?"
This was a classic casino scam. They would find an easy mark who looked easy to bully, trick them into a private room, and then rob them blind.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. He was about to speak, but Issho raised a hand to stop him.
"The VIP room isn't necessary."
Issho's smile remained kind, as if he didn't notice their bad intentions. "I am just a passing wanderer with few chips. I'll just play a few rounds of dice here in the hall for fun."
"Hey, don't get smart with us!" another thug shouted, reaching out to grab Issho's collar. But the tattooed thug stopped him.
The tattooed thug smiled mockingly and gave a hidden signal to the dealer. The dealer understood immediately. This was a silent agreement they had—if this old man wanted to be cleaned out in the hall, they would do it here.
Issho didn't seem to care about their rudeness. He kept his polite, harmless smile.
"Fine, let's play dice."
The tattooed thug grabbed the dice cup and shook it loudly with flashy movements, attracting the attention of the surrounding gamblers.
"Place your bets! Old man, since you're up there in years, I'll let you go first."
"Then I shall accept your kindness."
Issho pushed a few chips forward. "I bet on Small."
"Good! Then I bet Big!"
The tattooed thug slammed the dice cup onto the table, a cruel smirk on his face.
The moment he slammed the cup, his pinky finger tapped the base hidden from view. It was a rigged cup. With the right technique, he could make the dice show whatever he wanted.
This round was definitely three sixes. A guaranteed win for him!
"Open!" the thug shouted, reaching for the lid.
However, the moment his hand touched the cover...
Snap!
A large, clumsy-looking hand suddenly moved like lightning, firmly grabbing the thug's wrist.
"Huh?" The thug froze. He tried to pull away, but the hand felt impossibly heavy. No matter how hard he pulled, it didn't budge.
"What are you doing? Trying to cheat?" the thug yelled, trying to act tough despite his fear.
"Cheat? No, no."
Issho slowly raised his head.
His eyes, which were usually squinted shut, were now slightly open. His pupils were clear, showing a sharp, cold light.
Staring into those eyes, the thug felt like his throat had been caught. His arrogance vanished instantly, and cold sweat poured down his face.
"Young man, your hands are a bit dishonest."
Issho's voice was calm, but everyone nearby heard him clearly. "I enjoy gambling, but these eyes of mine saw your little trick very clearly."
As he spoke, Issho's fingers tightened.
"Ow, ow, ow! It hurts!"
The thug screamed, and his hand instinctively flew open.
Clatter.
Several spare dice fell out of his sleeve and bounced onto the table.
The crowd gasped.
"He's cheating! These guys are cheating!"
"I knew it! No wonder I kept losing!"
The gamblers erupted in anger, all glaring at the group of thugs.
"Damn it! Old man, you're dead!"
Humiliated after being exposed, the thug grew desperate. He pulled a dagger from his waist and lunged at Issho's arm!
"Die!"
The surrounding gamblers cried out, expecting a bloody scene.
However...
Ding!
A crisp sound of metal hitting metal rang out.
The sharp dagger didn't pierce skin. It stopped an inch above Issho's arm, as if it had hit an invisible wall.
A second later...
Snap!
The blade of the dagger couldn't handle the sudden force of gravity. It shattered into several pieces of scrap metal.
"What—what kind of sorcery is this?!"
The thug was terrified. Before he could react, something pressed him down from above.
Thud!
His knees buckled, and he slammed into the floor. The force was so great that the hard floor tiles shattered beneath him.
"I only wanted to play a few rounds. Why must everyone use weapons?"
Issho remained in his chair. He hadn't even moved an inch. He looked down at the shivering thug with a smile. His tone was gentle, but the force pressing down on the room made it hard for everyone to breathe.
"A Devil Fruit user?!"
Someone in the crowd finally realized what was happening and screamed in terror.
The other thugs tried to run, but their legs felt as heavy as lead. They could only watch as the man in purple slowly pulled his hand back.
Aiden sat nearby, playing with his last chip. He shook his head and gave the pale thug a look of pity.
"Tsk. It turns out being able to see isn't always a good thing for you guys."
Aiden shook his head. If Issho were still blind, he might have ignored the thugs. But now that he could see, anyone trying to cheat him was going to have a very bad day.
Seeing that their casino trip was over, Aiden stood up and signaled for Issho to leave.
Suddenly, Aiden's eyes stopped on someone.
In the corner of the crowd, a weathered man who looked like a pirate was staring at Aiden with wide eyes. He pointed a trembling finger. "You—you're that Rea—"
He had clearly recognized the face that had been appearing in the newspapers lately.
Before the old pirate could finish his sentence, Aiden glanced at him. There was no real threat in his gaze; Aiden didn't feel like killing every pirate he saw tonight.
But the old pirate froze. A chill ran down his spine. The words got stuck in his throat, turning into a strange gagging sound. He covered his mouth and shook his head frantically, terrified that making a sound would lead to his death.
"Shh."
Aiden put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
After the commotion, neither of them felt like staying in the smoky casino. Eventually, amid the panicked apologies of the casino manager, Aiden and Issho walked out the front door with the compensation for the trouble they had taken from the thugs.
"That was a bit of a letdown."
Once outside, Aiden stretched. The cold wind cleared his head.
"Still, after all that noise, I'm actually hungry."
Aiden rubbed his stomach and looked at Issho. "You sleep better on a full stomach. Want to find some late-night food?"
"I would like that very much," Issho nodded with a smile.
They walked along the street for a while. After turning a corner, the rich smell of bone broth hit them. Under a dim street lamp, they saw a ramen stall decorated with paper lanterns. White steam rose into the cold night, adding a rare bit of warmth to the iron city.
"Lucky us."
Aiden was surprised. In a country like the Blacksteel Empire, which valued efficiency and basic food like bread and potatoes, finding a foreign ramen stall was unexpected.
"As expected of a port city," Aiden remarked. "This place has more variety than the capital, Stahlburg."
"Boss, two bowls of tonkotsu ramen! Extra pork and green onions!"
Aiden slapped a pile of cash onto the counter—the Belly he had just taken from the thugs.
Issho held his bowl but didn't eat immediately. He looked down at the green onions, the dark broth, and the white noodles. A moved look appeared in his eyes.
"What? Not to your taste?" Aiden asked through a mouthful of noodles. The taste wasn't as good as his own cooking, but a hot bowl of noodles at night felt great.
"No... it smells wonderful."
Issho shook his head, a warm smile appearing on his face. "I was just thinking. I used to think the world was too filthy to look at. But now I see that if I had truly closed my eyes forever, I would have missed something as simple as this bowl of noodles."
"Seeing the world with your own eyes is a kind of happiness."
He wasn't just talking about the food. He was thanking Aiden for stopping him from blinding himself and letting him continue to see the world.
"Alright, stop getting philosophical and eat. The noodles will get soggy."
Aiden finished his soup in one go and sighed in satisfaction. "In the future, you'll have plenty of chances to see more interesting things. Just don't complain when things get troublesome."
Issho laughed loudly and began to eat heartily. "That goes without saying. Since I have chosen to follow you, then no matter how dangerous the road ahead is, I shall follow without hesitation."