A man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
Luo Xia's current fame was earned through his own fists, one punch at a time.
Having just joined the crew, he defeated the All-Star Drought Calamity Jack with three punches and took his tusks.
The veteran All-Star Queen the Plague was beaten for three straight days, receiving over a thousand slaps—rumor has it that Queen has been getting beaten again recently.
Even someone as formidable as King the Conflagration dared not face him head-on, often avoiding Luo Xia whenever possible.
There were even whispers that even Kaido himself had been forced to leave home because of Luo Xia.
Each of these feats was astonishing on its own.
Now, Luo Xia was the unruly demon king of the Beast Pirates, someone who made everyone tremble in fear.
Just like now—Holdem, who had been so arrogant earlier, was shaking like a leaf upon seeing Luo Xia arrive in person, cowering like a coward in the corner as Page One ransacked the place for food.
"Is Speed here?" Luo Xia suddenly spoke, remembering the horse-girl of the Beasts Pirates and deciding to hire her to pull the cart.
"Um, Lord Luo Xia, I'm Speed. May I ask what you need from me?" The trembling girl in the corner of the farm timidly raised her hand, utterly bewildered as to why she, of all people, had been personally summoned by Luo Xia.
"Ah, I almost forgot!" Seeing Speed still in her human form, Luo Xia suddenly remembered—this was before the artificial Devil Fruit trend had taken off.
In the end, the task of pulling the Grain Treasure Ship fell to Page One, though Luo Xia still brought Speed along.
After all, he couldn't personally handle distributing food to the families of employees in places like Bargain Town forever—he needed someone meticulous to take over.
Before long, the Grain Treasure Ship was loaded, and Page One transformed into his "Fisherman" form, hauling the ship out of Boroque Town at full speed.
Not long after Luo Xia's group left, the ground rumbled as a group led by Drought Calamity Jack arrived upon hearing the news.
"Lord Jack!"
Holdem scrambled over to Jack on his hands and knees, clinging to his leg as he wailed his grievances.
"Who—who was the bastard who dared to openly raid my farm? Was it those thieves from Mount Atama?"
Jack's eyes widened, veins bulging.
"N-no, it wasn't Ashura Doji... It was Lord Luo Xia!" Holdem whimpered.
"What?! Him again?!" Jack was shocked. "He's supposed to be in Queen's Udon, isn't he?"
Just two hours ago, he had kicked Page One out—how had they arrived so quickly?
"Where is that bastard now?" Jack gritted his teeth.
"H-he... I just heard they were heading to Bargain Town!" Holdem said.
"Bargain Town?" Jack frowned, growing even more confused.
"Lord Jack, maybe... we should just let it go?" Sheepshead tentatively suggested.
He was genuinely terrified of Luo Xia.
After all, he'd heard that Queen, the All-Star of Udon, was getting beaten up almost daily now.
"Let it go?" Jack's eyes bulged again. "Who the hell do you think I am? Do you know where we are? Kuri was entrusted to me by Lord Kaido—this is my territory! How can I let others come and go as they please, causing trouble?! Move out—to Bargain Town!"
Bargain Town.
A dilapidated town bordering Boroque Town.
This was where the lowest of Wano Country's citizens, those unworthy of living in Boroque Town, gathered.
Because they could only scavenge the trash discarded by Boro Town, searching for food in the garbage piles, the place earned its name.
"I'm so hungry~ I could die~"
"There are so many fish in the river... I want to eat them... gulp~"
"No! No matter how hungry we are, we can't eat the fish from the river—it'll kill us!"
Scenes resembling a living hell were commonplace here, with the elderly, weak, women, and children struggling to survive in this desolate land.
Every day, people died of starvation. For them, death might even be a form of release.
Yet between life and death lies great terror. Unless truly desperate, no one would willingly choose death.
Ragged children gathered at the village entrance, waiting for the garbage trucks from Boro Town.
Then, at one moment—
"They're here! They're here!"
The excited cries of the children stirred the entire dilapidated town.
However, their excitement was soon replaced by fear.
"That's... a dinosaur!"
"The Beasts... it's the Beast Pirates' dinosaur!"
"We're already like this—what more do they want from us?"
Panic spread rapidly among the crowd.
"Everyone, bring the children back!" urged Tsuru, the middle-aged owner of the Yamato Nadeshiko Teahouse, her face etched with worry.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The heavy footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping just outside Bargain Town.
Seeing the Grain Treasure Ship being pulled by the dinosaur, the residents of Bargain Town couldn't help but salivate.
If not for the adults holding them back, some of the starving children might have rushed forward.
Tap!
Luo Xia leaped down from Page One's back. Since subordinates weren't meant to be transportation, he naturally didn't feel dizzy.
"Yamato, is the Light Picture ready?" Luo Xia spoke into the Smart Transponder Snail.
"Yep! It's already on!" Yamato's voice replied.
Luo Xia nodded and then switched on the Smart Visual Transponder Snail.
Nearby, Page One, who had been pulling the cart, reverted to his human form, cleared his throat, and strode forward.
"Listen up, everyone in Bargain Town! This is my big bro, Luo Xia, the future vice-captain of the Beast Pirates. Right now, he's in charge of Udon..." Page One spoke on Luo Xia's behalf, explaining the welfare policies of Udon Co., Ltd. to the townspeople.
When they learned that the food on the Grain Treasure Ship was the result of their husbands' and sons' hard work—truly prepared for them—the residents of Bargain Town were stunned into silence, followed by overwhelming joy.
"Now, everyone, line up! I'll distribute the food!" Speed stood atop the treasure ship and announced loudly.
Under Tsuru's coordination, the elderly and children lined up first, while the adults waited patiently.
"Waaahhh!"
"Apples~ real apples!"
"Sniff... white rice... it's been so long since I've had any!"
"So sweet~ the Red Bean Mochi Soup is absolutely delicious!"
The elderly and children who ate first burst into tears of joy, cheering excitedly. The entire town was filled with happiness.
Meanwhile.
At the Udon Mining Field.
Watching the Light Picture of their parents, wives, and children finally free from hunger and able to eat their fill, many of the Samurai wept openly.
"Thank you... truly, thank you so much!"
"Lord Luo Xia, we are grateful for your mercy!"
"He went there personally... Lord Luo Xia truly keeps his promises!"
"From now on, I'll work even harder to live up to Lord Luo Xia's expectations!"
Many samurai immediately knelt and kowtowed.
At that moment.
Thud! Thud! Thud~
Another wave of heavy, chaotic footsteps echoed from outside Bargain Town.
From the direction of Boro Town, a cloud of dust rose over the desolate wilderness.
Drought Calamity Jack, has arrived!!!