Luffy and Zoro stood straight and unyielding.
Blood streamed down from their foreheads, their mouths stained red, but neither took a step back.
"Luffy, Zoro, what are you doing?!"
Nami clutched Luffy's Straw Hat tightly against her chest, her eyes swelling with unshed tears.
"Why are you letting these guys push you around? Fight back! Just beat them already!"
She couldn't understand what was going on in their minds. Why weren't they resisting?
"Shirogai! Hurry!"
Her heart prayed desperately for Shirogai to appear.
If he were here, he would never let his comrades be humiliated like this.
"Fight back?"
Sarquiss sneered as he glanced at Nami.
"Hah! Useless. Your crew knows they're too weak to challenge us. They don't dare fight back!"
He licked his lips and stepped toward her, eyes gleaming with malice.
"Still, that kind of cowardice saves lives. And you, little lady, you look very nice…"
Nami instinctively backed away, clutching the hat tighter.
"What are you planning?!"
"Oi!"
Luffy's voice cut in, low but firm. He glared at Sarquiss.
"Whatever you're after, come at me. Don't touch our navigator!"
"Huh? Just a foolish woman…" Sarquiss smirked, lifting his foot to move closer.
But then—he froze.
"…Heh."
A chill ran down his spine. He felt it—the stare.
Cold, merciless, like the gaze of a predator that saw him as nothing but prey.
Forward.
Death.
"…!"
His pupils shrank. His body stiffened, trembling uncontrollably.
Fear screamed in his mind, again and again:
So scary. So terrifying. That gaze…
"Sarquiss! What's wrong with you? Did you lose your nerve over that woman?"
The sharp voice of his companion, Lily, jolted him back. She shoved him, and he stumbled, gasping as though waking from a nightmare.
"Ah!"
He staggered backward, eyes darting around the tavern. No monsters. No phantom beast glaring at him. Nothing.
Lily scowled at him.
"Don't tell me you actually want that woman. Should I just—"
"No! Don't go near her!"
He grabbed Lily tightly, his body trembling, pale as ash.
"I—I'm fine. Just… a little drunk."
But deep down, he knew better.
Whatever that sensation had been, it was real. And if he touched that woman, something disastrous would follow.
"Those eyes… so terrifying…"
He shook as though feverish, leaving Lily staring at him in disbelief.
Meanwhile, the mockery of Luffy and Zoro continued.
The navigator of the Bellamy Pirates sneered, pointing at them.
"A Pirate Captain who doesn't fight back… you've brought shame to the very idea of pirates!"
Their fighter, Roux, scoffed.
"The World Government must be swimming in riches. Even trash like you is worth thirty million Berries."
At the bar, Bellamy tilted his head back, drinking deeply before slamming the bottle down.
"Pathetic. To stand there beaten, with no fight left, calling it 'endurance.' That's your way of surviving?"
He wiped his chin with the back of his hand, then grinned at them with contempt.
"Weak, spineless fools who cling to dreams they'll never reach. That's all you are!"
His crew howled with laughter.
"Bellamy, you're right!"
"Hahaha! Just a pair of worthless dreamers!"
Bellamy grabbed another bottle and drank, then let out a disappointed sigh.
"Really thought a man worth thirty million Berries would be someone. Guess I was wrong. Oh, right…"
He grinned wickedly.
"I heard you've got someone on your crew with a bounty of one hundred million Berries?"
The tavern went silent.
The pirates froze, laughter caught in their throats.
"…Did I hear wrong?" one slurred nervously.
"Bellamy said one hundred million Berries…" another whispered, trembling.
Their faces went pale.
"Damn it! We were mocking them! What if that monster comes back for revenge?!"
Bellamy snorted in disgust.
"Idiots! You think a captain who doesn't even fight back could have a crewmate worth that much?"
His underling chimed in, sneering.
"Must've been a mistake by the Marines. Added an extra zero. That guy's probably nothing but a fraud!"
The pirates sighed in relief.
"Ah, that makes sense. For a moment I thought—"
Bellamy cut him off with a slam of his boot as he swaggered toward Luffy and Zoro.
He took a swig of wine, swished it in his mouth, and spat it full into their faces.
"Pfft!"
The alcohol splattered across them.
"Didn't you say your crewmate—Shirogai Yamikuro—the so-called Plunderer, fought Admiral Kizaru one-on-one?" Bellamy mocked with a sneer.
"Then let him come back here. Let him reclaim your crew's dignity himself."
Luffy raised his head slowly, eyes calm.
"…"
Bellamy twisted his face mockingly.
"Don't tell me a pirate worth a hundred million, who dares fight an Admiral, would be too scared to fight me, Hyena Bellamy?"
The room exploded with laughter.
"Hahahaha! A rookie against an Admiral? What a joke!"
"No way that's real!"
"Even if it was, he wouldn't compare to an Admiral's power!"
"Haha, a bunch of nobodies who don't know their place!"
Bellamy spat once more at Luffy, then waved lazily.
"Throw them out. They're an eyesore."
Two of his men rushed forward, booting Luffy and Zoro through the doors.
Bellamy sat back on his stool, a cruel grin spreading across his face as he glanced at Nami.
"Woman, take those two cowards and leave. Save them while they still breathe."
Nami's teeth clenched as she pulled her friends out of the tavern, fury burning in her chest.