Sabaody Archipelago, shrouded in night, was still bustling; bars, casinos, and other entertainment venues were packed, with conversations revolving around the Marine's impending public execution of Ace.
The liveliest place was undoubtedly the largest casino in District 7.
Inside the casino hall, smoke billowed and voices clamored.
There were no usual cards or roulette here; all gambling tables had merged into one giant betting platform. On the wall behind the platform hung a massive wooden board, with today's sole wager written in freshred paint.
[Marineford VS Whitebeard Pirates]
[Marine Victory, Odds 1:5]
[Whitebeard Pirates Victory (Successfully rescue Ace and retreat), Odds 1:20]
Below were numerous smaller side bets, such as "Will Ace be successfully executed?" and "Will Whitebeard himself die at Marineford?"
The entire hall was distinctly divided into two factions.
On the left were pirates from the Four Seas and the Grand Line, all bare-chested and reeking of alcohol, slamming bags of gold coins and jewels onto the Whitebeard Pirates' victory area.
"Gahahahaha! My entire fortune, thirty million Berries, all on Whitebeard to win!" A burly man with a mace and a scar on his face slammed a heavy box onto the gambling table, scattering gold coins. "Twenty times the odds! What the hell is this if not free money!"
Glock, a pirate Captain with a 60 million Berries bounty, was also a staunch admirer of Whitebeard.
Beside him was a curvy female pirate Captain, codenamed Red Scorpion Kara, puffing on a slender pipe.
Kara elegantly poured a small bag of diamonds onto the table. "While I'm also betting on Whitebeard, it's not because of some damn admiration. How could the world's strongest man lose to the Marine!"
On the right side of the casino, the atmosphere was much more peculiar.
This area gathered human traffickers, bounty hunters, and some shady merchants. They were impeccably dressed, with indifferent expressions, forming a stark contrast to the pirates on the left.
A corpulent man in a pink suit, with gem-studded rings on all ten fingers, slowly walked to the betting table and sneered, "A bunch of fools who only know how to fight."
He paused slightly, then contemptuously glanced at the pirates on the left, his voice sharp. "Wars aren't won by who shouts the loudest. Dealer, I bet on the Marine to win."
He casually tossed out a check.
"One hundred million Berries."
At these words, the pirate side instantly erupted.
Glock abruptly turned his head, his wide, coppery eyes fixed on the fat man. "You fat bastard! Who are you calling a fool?!"
"So confident in the Marine, are you planning to surrender yourself to Impel Down?"
The fat man in the pink suit was Don Gioruno, the manager of Sabaody's largest human trafficking syndicate.
Gioruno, far from being angry, smiled even more broadly. "Just place your bets, don't talk nonsense. If you're not convinced, we can have a fight here first."
He extended a greasy finger and pointed at Glock and Kara. "Coincidentally, a few esteemed Celestial Dragons have reserved two pirate Captains with bounties over fifty million Berries as slaves from me. I think you two would be perfect."
"You're asking for death!" Glock roared, grabbing his mace.
Just then, a hoarse voice came from the corner.
"Come to the casino to enjoy the fun of gambling, don't bark like dogs here."
A cloaked man, whose face was obscured, slowly stood up and plunged a blood-stained dagger into the table. "Who walks into this casino without some trump card? If you insist on causing trouble,"
At this point, the man paused slightly, his gaze from beneath the cloak sweeping over Glock and Kara. "I'm a bit short on cash lately, and your combined bounties aren't bad. Delivering you to a Marine base for the reward should keep me happy for a long time."
At these words, the three factions drew their swords, the air in the casino almost solidifying, filled with murderous intent.
"Bang—"
Just then, the casino's heavy door was kicked open from the outside, the enormous impact instantly silencing all the clamor.
The entire casino hall fell silent.
Everyone's eyes simultaneously turned to the doorway.
A man of impossibly handsome looks, surrounded by a group of stunning beauties of various charms, strolled in at a leisurely pace.
The man leading them had a languid expression, as if he hadn't noticed the tense atmosphere in the hall.
The women beside him were all exceptional: the proud and aloof Empress, the charming and alluring princess, the youthful and vibrant orange-haired girl, and two women who, even in casual clothes, couldn't hide their heroic and dashing demeanor.
This group was completely out of place in the smoky and chaotic environment of the casino, like deities from another world. It was Ian and his companions!
Before anyone could react, Ian had already walked directly to the giant betting table.
He glanced at the odds on the wall, then turned to Nami beside him and said, "Bet on the Marine for the final victory, wager one billion Berries."
Nami was startled, then her face fell. She leaned into Ian's ear and whispered, "Young Master, we don't have that much cash!"
Ian blinked and waved his hand indifferently, "Then bet as much as we brought."
"Alright!"
Nami instantly revived, she cleared her throat, and like a proud little moneybags, she slammed a briefcase full of Berries onto the gambling table with a "clank." "We're buying the Marine to win the final victory! Bet, one hundred million Berries!"
It wasn't until Nami's voice faded that the various factions in the casino suddenly snapped back to reality.
Glock's bloodshot eyes scanned the women around Ian, finally settling on Hancock's captivating face, and he broke into a bloodthirsty grin.
"This young man, you have good taste." He walked over step by step, carrying his mace, not bothering to conceal the greed and lust in his eyes. "Can your beautiful companions come over and have a drink with me? As long as you keep me happy, I'll cover all your expenses today—"
He hadn't finished speaking.
Gunko, who had been standing beside Ian, silent since they entered, suddenly turned her head.
Her icy eyes held no emotion, and her unique Arrow-Arrow Fruit Ability silently activated.
"Whoosh!"
An arrow, formed from bandages, appeared out of thin air with a sharp whooshing sound.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone, the arrow shot forth with a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, in a flash of lightning.
The entire process was incredibly fast.
By the time everyone reacted, Glock's massive body was already entangled in bandages, suspended in mid-air.
A solid arrow had pierced through his chest, yet not a single drop of blood flowed out.
His wide, coppery eyes were bulging with extreme terror, his mouth tightly bound by bandages, only able to emit desperate and helpless "woo woo woo" sounds.
The casino hall once again fell into a dead silence.
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