Soon, the *Freewill* gradually approached the island and sailed straight for the port to dock.
After arranging for someone to stay behind and guard the ship, the rest of the crew began to disembark one after another.
Allen and the others jumped off the ship and strode into the town.
Looking at the clean and bustling street scenes around them, Nami smiled with delight. "I never thought there'd be a day when we could openly disembark at a port. This feeling is absolutely wonderful."
"It certainly is a novel experience, not having to worry about the Marines' movements. Plus, this town looks quite prosperous," Sanji remarked around the cigarette in his mouth, glancing left and right at the various vendors.
The warm, golden sunlight slanted down, casting the shadows of the houses across the stone-paved road. As Allen's group walked down the center of the peaceful street, they occasionally drew strange looks from the people around them.
"I have to say, isn't that cape of yours a bit too conspicuous?" Nami couldn't help but sigh in exasperation as she watched Allen naturally draw everyone's attention wherever he went.
How was this any different from writing "Pirate" on his face? Sometimes, she really felt like this guy was infuriating.
Allen scoffed at her words. *A woman with short hair and even shorter foresight.*
Looking across the entire Great Pirate Era, what famous great pirate didn't have a cape or a fur coat!
*If you can't manage the small details, how can you conquer the world? If you don't wear a cape, how can you call yourself a king!*
This was clearly called paying attention to the details!
Just as he was preparing to give this foolish woman a proper lecture on what it meant to have the demeanor of a king, a heavily armed group of pirates walked out from a fork in the street ahead, laughing arrogantly.
The leading pirate was a man over three meters tall, wearing a shark-themed coat. He had a muscular build and carried a broadsword on his back. The man grinned fiercely at Allen.
"Gyahahaha, is that the newly appointed Warlord of the Sea, the one known as this year's strongest rookie?"
Hearing the voice, Allen glanced at the man without offering any greeting. Suddenly, with a loud *bang*, one of the man's subordinates fired a rocket at them!
"Hmm?"
Amidst his confusion, Allen's eyes darkened. Before he could make a move, a yellow blur darted out from beside him as fast as lightning.
*Whoosh!*
Sanji flashed in front of the incoming rocket. With his hands in his pockets, he swiftly kicked upward, using the tip of his shoe to launch the rocket high into the sky.
*Boom!!*
The rocket suddenly detonated in mid-air, creating a violent burst of flames mixed with billowing smoke.
The sudden commotion startled the nearby pedestrians, who all whipped their heads around in panic.
"What's going on! Is there a fight?!"
"Someone's causing trouble!"
"Run!"
In an instant, screams and the frantic sound of hurried footsteps echoed throughout the entire street.
Sanji, biting down on his cigarette, stared coldly at the opposing group of pirates and said in a deep voice, "Throwing around such a dangerous thing... what if you hurt our lady, you scum?"
"Gyahahaha, barking like a dog hiding behind its master. As expected of a Warlord's underling! But my target isn't a small fry like you who doesn't even have a bounty!"
The tall pirate leader curled his lips into a sneer. He drew the broadsword from his back with one hand, pointed it straight at Allen, and laughed maniacally.
"As long as I can take a Warlord's head, my name, 'Shark Cutter', will join the ranks of the Super Rookies!"
"A Warlord... Could that be the new Warlord of the Sea, Demon Lion Allen?!"
"So they're here to challenge a Warlord."
"'Shark Cutter' Zarks, with a bounty of 71 million Berries. I see, he's doing this to break the 100 million Berry mark before reaching the Sabaody Archipelago."
The bystanders shrank back against the nearby buildings, watching the tense situation unfold in panic as they whispered among themselves.
Meanwhile, Sanji lowered his head, his face completely dark.
"A small fry without a bounty... you bastard... I'll slaughter you today...!"
Having his sore spot poked, Sanji clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with anger. Two balls of fury burned in his eyes as he glared at Zarks, squeezing the words through gritted teeth.
"Heh, a fool who doesn't know his place. In that case, I'll use you to blood my blade first."
Zarks gave a cold laugh, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. He dragged his broadsword across the ground, sparking a trail of fire as it effortlessly sliced through the stone pavement like tofu, leaving a deep gash behind.
Sparks flew as their eyes met.
In the next instant, Sanji and Zarks moved at the same time!
*Bang!!*
The broadsword slammed violently into the ground, sending countless shards of stone flying.
Sanji dodged the attack with a sidestep, stepped onto the back of the blade embedded in the ground, twisted his foot, and delivered a spinning back kick squarely into his opponent's sturdy chest!
*Bang!!*
The heavy, powerful kick sent Zarks flying backward, his feet skidding across the ground for over ten meters.
*Such a heavy kick...!*
Feeling the dull, throbbing pain in his chest, Zarks looked at his opponent with wariness, gritting his teeth.
His subordinates behind him watched this scene unfold, their faces filled with disbelief.
"He actually knocked the boss back."
"What's going on? This guy clearly isn't on any wanted poster."
"To actually think that not having a bounty means not having strength... how truly laughable," Sanji said slowly. He exhaled a puff of smoke, took the cigarette butt from his mouth, threw it on the ground, and crushed it out with his shoe. Then, he locked his eyes on Zarks, his gaze darkening.
"Shave!!"
*Whoosh!*
Under Zarks' shocked gaze, Sanji's figure suddenly vanished from his spot!
"What's going on! Where did he go?!"
The bizarre sight made Zarks freeze, his feet unconsciously taking a panicked step back.
In the next instant.
Sanji's figure suddenly flashed right in front of him, his long leg whipping out explosively toward his face!
"Collier!!"
*Bang!!*
"Blergh—!"
The force of the kick was so immense that it directly snapped Zarks' head to the side, sending broken teeth and bloody froth flying from his mouth.
"Veau Burst!!"
Sanji landed and quickly crouched down, then let out a loud shout as he pushed off the ground. He launched himself upward like a spring, delivering another vicious kick from the bottom up right into Zarks' chin.
*Bang!!*
The terrifying power instantly sent Zarks flying. His massive body soared through the air like a human cannonball, crashing heavily into the fountain pool beneath a statue at the end of the street!
"Boss!!" the Shark Cutter Pirates cried out in unison, all turning their heads to look.
They saw Zarks with his eyes rolled back, half of his body floating in the fountain pool, completely motionless. He had clearly lost consciousness.
Amidst endless terror, the pirates turned pale. Like stiff machinery, they slowly turned their heads back to look at Sanji, whose face was still dark.
*Bang!!*
"Uwaaah—!!"
*Bang!!*
"Aaaagh—!!"
*Bang!!*
...
After a series of brutal noises and wails, the entire Shark Cutter Pirates crew lay scattered across the street, every single one of them beaten black and blue.
"Becoming a Warlord means we won't be harassed by Marines and bounty hunters, but now we've become targets for other pirates. It's going to be way too annoying if it's like this every time."
Sanji looked down and lit a cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. Facing the groaning pirates on the ground, he said in a deep voice, "Spread the word. From now on, don't bother coming here to embarrass yourselves if your bounty isn't over a hundred million. We don't have the time to play house with you."
"S-So strong...!"
"So this is... a Warlord's underling..."
"To think a guy without even a bounty could be this strong..."
Seeing the scene before them, the surrounding bystanders were all completely shocked, frozen in place with disbelief.
However, hearing these words, Sanji gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.
*They're clearly meant to be compliments, so why do they sound so grating?!*
Allen stepped forward and continued walking. As he passed by Sanji, he reached out and patted his shoulder, smiling meaningfully. "Good job, guy with no bounty."
Sanji rolled his eyes and glared viciously at Allen, baring his sharp teeth as he roared, "Hey! Even you're doing it! I'll kill you, bastard!"
...
*Clang— Clang— Clang!*
The clock tower chimed melodiously, announcing the arrival of noon. The reputation of Allen's crew also began to spread little by little through the whispers of the people.
Shortly after they left.
...
Inside a certain tavern in the town, the main hall was in complete disarray. Smashed tables and chairs were scattered everywhere as wooden splinters, and spilled liquor mixed with broken glass covered the floor.
A group of fierce, vicious-looking pirates sat in the hall, while in the corner lay another group of pirates who had been beaten bloody.
The owner stood trembling behind the bar, looking nervously at the red-haired man sitting across from him.
*It's hard to imagine that someone would beat people half to death over something as trivial as fighting for a seat.*
*The "Captain" Eustass Kid, with a bounty of 315 million Berries. What a brutal and powerful pirate!* the tavern owner thought in panic and fear.
Just then.
"Captain! Big news, a Warlord is here!"
A panicked shout suddenly rang out from outside. Inside the tavern, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the door.
A pirate rushed into the hall in a hurry. Under everyone's gaze, he shouted in a panic, "It's the new Warlord of the Sea, Demon Lion Allen! They've come to this island too! They just clashed with the Shark Cutter Pirates over at the Clock Tower Square!"
Hearing this, the pirates in the hall couldn't help but look shocked, and they began to speak up one after another.
"Why would a Warlord be here? Is it a coincidence?"
"Hard to say. A Warlord's duty is to crack down on other pirates. What if he's coming for us?"
"Heh, that guy's bounty isn't even as high as Kid's. If he dares to come, we'll just kill him."
"Don't underestimate him, idiot. If he was chosen by the World Government to become a Warlord, he definitely has some skills."
"Tch, who knows what the World Government is thinking. No matter how you look at it, Kid is way more qualified to be a Warlord than that guy!"
In the hall, the members of the Kid Pirates had varying expressions. Some looked grave, while others boasted loudly. But most of them turned their gazes toward the figure sitting at the bar.
"A Warlord? Tch, I have no interest in colluding with the World Government, but..." Kid said dismissively, slowly setting his glass down on the bar. A cold smirk suddenly curled on his naturally fierce face. "I would like to see just what kind of level someone who became a Warlord has."