To be honest—
the Holy Lord was furious.
Damn it.
If you want my life, just say it outright, you unfilial little bastard!
There's no need for all these roundabout schemes…
If he actually handed over the Dog Talisman, forget about sleeping peacefully at night.
Even when he occasionally used the Enchantress Stone to relieve some stress, he'd have to inspect himself from head to toe beforehand—just in case some bug-level sorcery had been planted on him.
When that happened, it wouldn't just be his lower body rotting away.
Not even the Horse Talisman would be able to save him.
Thinking of this, the Holy Lord didn't hesitate for even a second.
He activated the Ox Talisman and swung his palm straight out.
Bang!
With a dull, heavy crash, the towering body of Demon Xiao Long was sent flying straight out of the tavern.
The Holy Lord curled his lips into a grin and said apologetically,
"Sorry for the disturbance. I need to discipline my unfilial son."
As he spoke, the Rabbit Talisman flashed.
In the next instant, the Holy Lord vanished from the tavern and chased after his foolish son to administer a proper dose of fatherly love.
From outside came a steady rhythm of dull impacts and miserable screams.
Inside, Shanks gave a wry smile and asked,
"Is it always this lively around here?"
Silvers Rayleigh took a sip of his drink and laughed.
"Of course.
"This place is interesting, and it attracts all kinds of talented people.
"Otherwise, why would an old man like me abandon his own bar and come drink here instead?"
Of course…
there was another, far more important reason.
Rayleigh was hoping that one day, a true heavyweight would show up and restore his kidneys to their youthful peak.
Even at his age, the old man still wanted to relive the madness of his younger years.
Shanks nodded lightly and chatted with Rayleigh for a bit longer.
When the music from the Den-Den Mushi broadcast ended, he placed a thick stack of Berries on the counter and slowly stood up.
"It's getting late. I should be going now.
"Vice-Captain—until fate brings us together again."
As he spoke, Shanks turned his gaze toward Ron.
"Boss.
"Whether it's the Navy's so-called Absolute Justice, or the pirates' decadence and freedom…
"When the world pushes any belief to its extreme,
"an unprecedented disaster will descend upon this sea."
Ron slowly lifted his eyes and replied calmly,
"So what you're saying is—
"the so-called balance of the seas before this, where pirates ran rampant, the Four Emperors held each other in check, and the Navy stood in opposition… that false equilibrium was perfect?"
He let out a faint chuckle.
"That was nothing more than a frog being boiled in warm water.
"You know this better than anyone. Unless either the pirates or the Navy completely rises above the other,
"the Great Pirate Era will never truly end.
"The current sea has only sped things up a little."
Shanks froze mid-step.
Ron's words might have been right—or they might have been wrong.
But if Absolute Justice and corrupted freedom truly went to war…
no matter who won, the sea would enter a completely new age.
One step to heaven.
One step to hell.
There was no third option.
Shanks' resolute expression grew heavy.
"Speeding things up will only lead to more casualties," he said.
"No matter what…
"I'll find a way to keep the current situation in check."
With that, he turned and walked out.
His steps were slow, yet unwavering, leaving behind a tall, upright silhouette for everyone in the tavern.
Rayleigh gazed out the window at the retreating figure and sighed softly.
"I really don't know what that kid is thinking anymore."
Ron lit a cigarette and smiled.
"He's thinking about when to go to Laugh Tale.
"And how to bring true peace to this sea."
He paused, then sighed.
"What a pity…
"If Shanks hadn't been taken from God Valley by you back then,
"he wouldn't be Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors.
"He'd be sitting in the upper ranks of the World Government—as a Celestial Dragon."
Rayleigh's heart skipped a beat.
"You know he's a Celestial Dragon?" he asked in surprise.
Even within the Roger Pirates, only Roger himself and Rayleigh had known that truth.
But then Rayleigh quickly understood.
If even Kaisha could analyze the hearts of everyone in this world, then Ron knowing this wasn't strange at all.
Before Ron could respond, Rayleigh suddenly changed the subject, grinning shamelessly.
"Kid.
"The booze that scammed Sengoku is almost gone.
"How about you give me some more?"
Ron froze, then sucked in a sharp breath.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?
"That was five full bottles of Tiger-Whip Wine and ten bottles of Goji Wine!
"You drink that like water?
"What, is Little Turtle an eternal motion machine now?"
In an instant, a vivid image formed in Ron's mind.
Rayleigh—the assassin—gulping down goji wine while unleashing a full-power assassination strike on Shakky, the veteran tank warrior.
No—
not just one strike.
An entire night of full-power strikes.
No wonder Rayleigh looked even more yellow these past few days, his body growing thinner by the day.
Rayleigh's old face flushed red as he shouted stubbornly,
"Just tell me—are you giving it or not?!
"One Devil Fruit for a week of tonic wine!
"No—two weeks!"
Hearing that, Ron immediately pulled out two bottles of Tiger-Whip Wine from the cabinet and handed them over.
"Deal."
Rayleigh instantly felt like he'd lost out.
But when he imagined tonight's battlefield—where he'd be able to cut down the enemy general under his blade—the old man happily popped the cork and began chugging straight from the bottle.
Just then—
Bang!
The tavern door was shoved open.
The Holy Lord walked in, carrying Demon Xiao Long—who was covered in blood—over his shoulder.
Judging by the state of him, the Holy Lord hadn't held back at all.
Still, blood or not, he was his son.
The Holy Lord immediately activated the Horse Talisman and began healing Xiao Long's injuries.
Once the wounds were mostly mended, the Holy Lord wiped his tears and said through sobs,
"My foolish son… don't ever make such stupid requests again.
"When I hit you, the pain is in my heart."
Demon Xiao Long, thoroughly traumatized, stared blankly ahead.
"Father… I won't do it again."
"Swear it."
"Alright, I swear. If I ever ask for the Dog Talisman again, my whole family will die."
"????"
The Holy Lord's brain shut down on the spot.
Whole family dies?!
Isn't that just wishing for my death?!
Damn it…
Without another word, the Holy Lord stopped the healing, grabbed Demon Xiao Long's half-broken body, and dragged him back out of the tavern.
Clearly, the fatherly love was about to resume.
Faced with this touching scene of father and son, everyone in the tavern was already used to it.
Honestly, if Demon Xiao Long ever became truly filial one day, everyone would probably feel like something was missing.
Just then—
Ding-ling…
The bell above the door rang.
As the door slowly opened, a middle-aged man in a white shirt and vest stepped inside.
He was thin, wore glasses on the bridge of his nose, and had a neatly trimmed mustache that gave him a gentlemanly air.
Yet for some reason, his face was full of caution and anxiety.
Especially after seeing the Holy Lord and his son fighting outside, his thin body—and even his voice—began to tremble.
"H-hello…
"May I ask… when I fainted earlier, was it this tavern that sent me the invitation?"
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