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Chapter 46
After putting the Higuma matter behind him, Jepack finally understood the story between them.
After chugging a glass of rum, he turned to Hachi and asked:
"So you guys are here to rob the place right now? Bandit King Hachi!"
"Pfft pfft pfft—what kind of stupid name is that? Seven-ge, eight-ge, it's so damn awkward! Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're calculating how much attack range three snipers get in TFT!"
"Kid, what the hell are you spouting?! How dare you insult our Boss Hachi! Brothers—surround him! Let him taste the power of real bandits!"
Before Hachi could even speak, his subordinates were already riled up and ready to move!
They were just waiting for Hachi's order to attack Jepack.
"Kid, I was planning to let you off easy since you recognized my idol Boss Higuma. Looks like you don't know how to appreciate kindness. You even dared to insult the great name of Hachi!"
Hachi finally snapped out of his stunned state and glared viciously at Jepack. The hand gripping Jepack's shoulder slowly tightened!
Jepack felt nothing from the grip. He even turned to Makino behind the bar and asked for another glass of rum, took a small sip, then spoke:
"Hey Bandit-King-Turtle-Hachi, did you skip breakfast or something?"
"Huh? Answer me!"
This sentence carried the tiniest thread of Conqueror's Haki—his aura suddenly went "Duang!" and surged.
The drunken Bandit King Hachi was instantly stunned by that sliver of pressure. His eyes went blank and he stood frozen in place.
Just as Jepack finished his second glass and was about to ask for a third, Makino told him there was no more liquor. He immediately got angry.
He shoved Hachi aside, stood up, and glared at the bandit subordinates in the room, cursing loudly:
"You… bastards!! You damn idiots—trying to rob all the liquor in the tavern? Tell me—if the tavern has no liquor left, what the hell are you gonna sell? Your asses?!"
"Answer me! Tell me why!"
His question, laced with Conqueror's Haki, knocked every single bandit subordinate unconscious—except for Hachi, who was still standing there in a daze.
Jepack walked over, patted Hachi's shoulder, lowered his voice, and whispered in his ear:
"Now it's just you left, oh great Bandit King~ What style of fainting would you prefer?"
Under Jepack's devilish whisper, Hachi snapped back to reality. He frantically waved his hands and backed away fast, his mouth mumbling something like "Back! Back! Back!"
Jepack beckoned toward the rapidly retreating Hachi, still murmuring:
"Come back, Hachi-ya-lu~ You still haven't answered how you want to faint."
Watching Hachi grow more and more terrified as he neared the door, Jepack shook his head and said casually:
"Since you won't choose, I'll pick for you. I just learned a new move recently while sleeping on the lookout platform—perfect time to test it on you!"
"Rankyaku – Morning Screeching Bird Smackdown!"
It landed perfectly on Hachi just as he stepped out the door. BOOM! The Bandit King fell 20 meters from the tavern entrance in a kneeling repentant pose, head tilted back toward the sky.
"Nice! So this is the fainting style you chose? You even calculated that far ahead, Bandit King Higuma!"
Jepack walked over quietly to check the situation and sighed with emotion at the sight.
...
A little while later, the Navy arrived in a hurry and took all the bandits away. Makino managed to protect the small amount of liquor she had left.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Jepack!"
"No need to be so formal, Makino—just call me Jepack!"
"No…"
After Jepack insisted several times, Makino finally agreed to drop the "Mr."
"Please let me thank you properly, Jepack."
"If you really want to thank me, how about helping me prepare some supplies for sailing? We'll be setting off in a few days. The crew is busy training, and I need a hand. Consider this your way of saying thanks—how about it?"
"Of course! Jepack-sen… Jepack!"
Makino almost said "Mr." again but was stopped by a look from Jepack.
"Then it's settled. Your tavern also needs some repairs for the damaged spots."
After deciding on the form of thanks, Makino looked at the mess in the tavern and started calling people to come fix it.
While that was happening, Jepack also helped move things around. After a while, the repairmen were still working on the damaged areas—there was nothing left for Jepack to do.
Taking the chance, Makino suggested they go shopping for supplies now, since the tavern was under repair and couldn't open for business anyway.
"Then you lead the way since you're the local!"
Jepack agreed, and the two headed out together.
Makino took Jepack here and there—buying fruit in one place, grains in another. To help Jepack save some beri, she even haggled fiercely with every vendor.
Jepack could only follow behind carrying the bags, smiling helplessly.
And just like that, the whole afternoon passed…
At dusk, the two sat down in a high spot to rest, looking up at the sunset glow in the sky.
"Here—Pepsi. Just open it like this and drink."
Jepack handed a slightly sweaty Makino a Pepsi, personally demonstrating how to open it.
Makino curiously opened it and took a sip. The bubbles dancing in her mouth made her hesitate to swallow at first. Only after seeing Jepack gulp it down did she swallow too.
"Looked like your bargaining battle earlier was way fiercer than the fight in the tavern."
Jepack noticed Makino was still a bit reserved and threw out a new topic.
Makino quickly waved her hand and laughed:
"No way it compares! By the way… that aura you gave off during the fight earlier felt kinda familiar. I don't know why."
Jepack remembered—maybe Shanks had also unleashed Conqueror's Haki here before. Being a Bandit King really is a high-risk job.
After thinking for a moment, Jepack said:
"Maybe my fighting style reminded you of someone familiar?"
"Huh? Reminded me of someone?"
Makino, who had been thinking hard, suddenly clapped her hands excitedly:
"I remember now—it's Shanks! His presence during fights has the same powerful aura as yours."
"Shanks, huh?"
"You know Shanks too?"
Makino suddenly got very exci
ted when Shanks was mentioned.
"I don't know him personally, but I've seen his name in the newspapers. What kind of person is he?"
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