The men quickly scattered to the sides when they saw the two undead step forward, leaving a clear path. If things turned violent, they weren't sure if the bartender could stop it.
Reiner didn't mind. He had the Chainsaw Demon sit at the bar, then followed him.
"My master is here for business," Reiner said bluntly, wasting no words. "We want Seastone goods in stock. Name your price if you've got them."
The white-haired old man glanced at him, then shifted his gaze to the two undead.
Reiner understood what he meant. He looked toward the Chainsaw Demon and made it nod in response.
Only then did the old man turn back to Reiner, silently thinking:
What are these things—cyborgs? They don't talk, or are they just too arrogant?
He was stationed in Loguetown as one of Joker's East Blue agents. Having seen all manner of strange things, his first thought was "modified humans." The fact that the two looked so similar only confirmed his suspicion.
After all, two identical Devil Fruits couldn't exist at the same time. The odds of two unrelated people looking this similar and joining together were almost impossible.
"Two pairs of Seastone handcuffs. Fifteen million Berries each," the old man said flatly. He had no doubt the other could afford it.
In East Blue, very few even knew about Devil Fruits, let alone Seastone—the material that could restrain them. The fact that this man had asked directly meant he wasn't ignorant.
"Do you have Seastone bullets?" Reiner pressed.
"Seastone is extremely difficult to process into bullets," the old man replied. "Six million per round. I have sixteen here. But you'll need special guns to fire them—eight million per gun."
Reiner glanced at the Chainsaw Demon, making it give a small nod of approval.
"I'll take the cuffs, the guns, and the ammo. Do you have more guns in stock?"
"Three."
"I'll take all of them."
"Are you sure?"
For the first time, the old man's expression changed. He had expected the customer to buy, but not to sweep the shelves clean.
That was a bill of over 150 million!
What kind of enemy do you need to fight to spend this much? Why not just hire us instead?
If Reiner could hear his thoughts, he'd laugh. For three hundred million, I'd ask you to go take out Crocodile and Enel for me.
"I'm sure. I want everything," Reiner said firmly.
"Check the money." The old man—finally introduced as Crook—nodded to the men on standby. "Go bring the goods."
Reiner tossed the heavy bag of money onto the bar. He hadn't counted exactly how much he'd brought, but it was plenty.
From Arlong's hoard, he had secured 400 million. One hundred million he left for Cocoyasi Village, and the remaining 300 million he brought here.
It was technically the crew's funds, but spent on weapons, no one would complain.
As Reiner unzipped the bag, Crook's breath caught for a moment.
Three hundred million, sitting right in front of him. In East Blue, resisting that temptation took willpower.
But he forced it down. Joker's business was worldwide. Killing a client would damage Joker's reputation unless they were eliminated instantly and completely.
Crook steadied himself, began counting the stacks of cash, and kept the Chainsaw-Blade Duo in the corner of his eye. He calculated the odds of taking them down.
Reiner, however, was disappointed. This old man was strong, but weaker than Arlong had been.
He almost wished the man would attack so he could pull off a clean black-market purge. As for Doflamingo… by the time anyone traced this back, who knew how strong Reiner would have become?
Even the Heavenly Demon would have to think twice before crossing him.
Maybe I should strike first? Worth it, even if the price is steep, Reiner thought. Not worried about losing—just about him running.
The counting continued, stack by stack, while both sides entertained their own schemes.
"Boss Crook, the goods are here."
His men brought out a suitcase and set it on the counter before retreating again.
That was when Reiner finally learned the old man's name.
Crook pushed the verified money aside, opened the case, and spun it around for Reiner to see.
Inside were two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, three plain-looking revolvers, and three magazines—two full of six Seastone rounds each, and one missing two bullets.
"We work for Joker," Crook said calmly. "If you came here, then you must know our reputation. Of course, you're welcome to test a round first."
"Ah, Mr. Crook, don't be like that. Of course, I trust you." Reiner chuckled and closed the case.
"Good. Then the deal's done. Once you walk out of here, no refunds, no returns." Crook pulled the stacks of cash toward him.
Reiner tucked the suitcase into his half-empty money bag and hefted it.
He extended a hand to shake, while the Chainsaw and Blade Demons rose and headed for the door.
Crook reached out as well—but his eyes stayed on the two undead, waiting for the slightest opening.
Their hands gripped tightly, then slowly began to release.
The room grew silent, the air tense as steel.
Bang!
Crook exploded into motion! Both palms slammed down on the bar as his legs launched him forward like a cannonball.
"Die!!!"
Kill them instantly, and the blond lackey could be dealt with later. Clean, silent—no one would ever know.
"Knew you'd try, you old lampstand!"
At the same instant, Reiner's trap sprang—the tavern filled with jagged rifts of dark space.
Several opened in front of Crook's men, and one directly behind Crook himself.
This was a fight that had to be decided in the very first strike. If he escaped, trouble would never end.
Both sides understood.
Though Reiner had baited him by turning his undead away, if Crook hadn't attacked, Reiner would've left peacefully.
But there were no ifs. Crook had attacked, so Reiner had to hit harder.
Crook's hands became blades, slicing down toward the Demons' necks.
At the same time, from the rift at his back, a pair of clawed arms shot out, aiming for his waist.
The undead couldn't see him from behind—but Reiner could.
In the instant Crook moved, Reiner had the undead spin around while drawing his Bone Chain-Sword, its serrated tip aimed at Crook.
You thought you were ambushing them? No, you just walked into a four-on-one, old man.
Three blades and three chainsaws slashed down on Crook, while the beastly claws from behind stabbed deep toward his waist.
"Fire!!"
The serrated chain-tip shot forward like a bullet!
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
In a single instant—
The Bone Chain-Sword pierced through Crook's chest. The Werewolf Demon's claws ripped into his side. And both undead carved into his shoulders, throat, and torso with their weapons.
Crook's body twisted grotesquely under the combined assault, collapsing forward in a spray of blood.
Fast. Ruthless. Final.
"H-how… can this be…" Crook's pupils dilated in disbelief. He collapsed into a pool of his own blood, coughing weakly. "I… work for Joker… if you kill me…"
Reiner didn't hesitate. He finished him with a clean strike.
"Killing you is the only way nothing happens, old man."
He then hacked down the other four men in the corner without mercy, before heading deeper into the tavern.
"Harvest everything, erase the evidence, then walk away."No worries. No witnesses. Nothing left.