Chapter 29: A Solo Confrontation
Unaware of the storm they had stirred with both the Marines and the Big Mom Pirates, the Spade Pirates arrived on Food Island. Located near the end of Paradise, their next major stop would be Sabaody Archipelago, and from there, the descent to Fish-Man Island.
True to its name, Food Island was a culinary paradise. Thanks to a sea train route, it was flooded with tourists. The island's natives were all master chefs, capable of creating any dish a visitor could name.
For Ace and Roy, the choice was simple: barbecue.
They had also arrived just in time for the island's annual Gluttony Bowl competition. For a mere 10,000 Beri entry fee, anyone could participate.
"You see that?" Roy said, nudging Ace with a grin.
"I see it. The eating contest," Ace replied, his own smile widening. When it came to eating, he feared no one except maybe Luffy. He knew Roy had a good appetite, but Ace had been trained by Garp—he was a bottomless pit.
"Roy, how about another contest?" Ace challenged.
"You mean the Gluttony Bowl? You want to add a side-bet to that?" Roy asked.
"Exactly. The loser cleans the ship for a week... and does everyone's laundry."
"You want to bet that big?" Roy was taken aback. Cleaning was one thing, but doing the crew's laundry was the worst chore on the ship. With a dozen grimy, sweaty pirates and a limited supply of fresh water, it was pure punishment. Ace was clearly going for the knockout blow.
"Absolutely. That's the bet."
Joseph and the others, overhearing the conversation, could barely contain their glee. A week without washing their own foul-smelling clothes? This was the best news they'd heard all week.
"You're on. Who's afraid of who? Just you wait tonight," Roy declared.
The two went to pay their entry fees. The rest of the crew, finding the whole thing hilarious, also signed up for the contest, though they wisely stayed out of the laundry bet.
"I'm heading back to the ship," Roy announced.
"Why? We just got to land. Don't you want to look around?" Joseph asked, puzzled.
"I need to fast and train if I'm going to win tonight. Ace is going down." Roy clenched his fist with determination.
"Uh... right. Good luck with that," Joseph said, nodding slowly.
As Joseph and the others wandered off into the town, Roy's expression sobered. He closed his eyes, and his Observation Haki flared out, sweeping over their docked ship. His senses locked onto a group of unfamiliar presences standing on their deck. The two at the head were unmistakable: Baron Tamago and Pekoms.
"They even chased us here," Roy muttered. "Fine. I need to work up an appetite for the contest anyway. Might as well deal with this now."
He turned and walked toward the beach, his presence a clear beacon.
Sensing his Observation Haki sweep over them, Tamago and Pekoms knew they had been discovered. But they were on solid ground now, and two veterans with bounties in the hundreds of millions had no reason to fear a rookie, bounty or not.
"He's found us. Prepare for combat," Tamago stated.
"That man has both Armament and Observation Haki. He is a troublesome opponent," Pekoms warned, his voice grave. It was rare to find someone proficient in both types of Haki outside the New World. In the Marines, such skill was a mark of a Vice-Admiral at least. This swordsman was no ordinary rookie.
Roy reached the shoreline and looked up at the figures on his ship.
"Get off my boat," he said, his voice flat and cold. "I don't want to have to spend our treasure on a new one."
"Hmph!" Baron Tamago snorted and led the way, leaping down from the deck. "You dared to destroy our ship. Mama is furious."
"Save your breath," Roy cut him off, drawing Shiroi. The white blade gleamed as he pointed it at them. "You shot first. Did you think we wouldn't fight back? So what if you serve an Emperor? If you're strong enough to bring the pressure, then bring it."
"So it is that sword," Tamago murmured, his wariness increasing. "Attack! Kill him!"
"Dragon Fang Slash!"
Roy gripped his sword with both hands, adopting a stance reminiscent of a golfer. With a powerful, sweeping motion, he unleashed a flying slash. Unlike a standard cut, this one spun through the air like a violent, spiraling tornado.
"Armament Kick: Gale Force!"
As a Longleg tribesman, Tamago's combat style was centered on his legs. His feet became a blur, hardened with Armament Haki as he met the rotating slash head-on.
BOOM!