The pirates quickly lowered their heads, unable to meet Ren's gaze.
Just that single glance had struck them like lightning! Their pupils actually stung, as if silver needles were piercing their eyes!
But sometimes, the more fear one feels, the more the heart struggles against it.
The stinging sensation from earlier had merely been a manifestation of fear, not actual physical harm. Now, in front of his crew, the tall man's cowardice transformed into an equal measure of shame and anger.
'Damn it!'
'That guy is just some unarmed bastard — how could I possibly be afraid of him!'
"That feeling just now must have been an illusion!"
He kept denying the terrifying sight he had witnessed, and this big man actually raised his head again, looking toward where Ren stood.
But that spot was now empty.
"Hah…"
He inexplicably let out a breath of relief, his shoulders slumping. But his mouth was still tough: "S-see? What Raiden Shogun? He's nothing special. Saw me and ran off immediately!"
The more he spoke, the firmer his tone became, as if that were the truth all along.
But his crew members all wore speechless expressions. Having sailed from the Four Blues all the way here, they naturally knew their captain's personality. Arrogant and self-important was one thing — sometimes he was also very good at self-deception.
But fooling the brothers was one thing — don't fool yourself too!
"What? You guys don't believe me?" Seeing his crew's looks, the big man was instantly displeased.
"Let me tell you, the only reason I didn't fight just now is because I was in a good mood. If he dares show up in front of me again, watch me handle him!"
The crew stared at him with wide eyes.
"What are you looking at? Still don't believe me?" The big man was seething. What kind of looks were these? Who did they think they were looking down on?
"N-no… Captain, behind you…" A crew member tremblingly pointed a finger, stammering.
"Hm?"
The dim-witted captain turned his head in confusion and immediately saw a figure floating in midair.
The cold expression and the crackling lightning sent his heart straight to freezing point.
"Even a dog tied up in Inazuma would get a four billion bounty?" Ren floated in the air like a thunder god, his outstretched palm's shadow covering the man's face.
The lightning snakes dancing in his hand crackled and exploded!
"Gulp…"
The pirate went completely rigid, swallowing hard.
He couldn't speak at all now. His entire body was frozen, dominated by fear, unable to move.
Ren didn't bother listening to any explanation. Every person in this world had a different personality. If it had been Shanks facing this insult, he wouldn't have cared. But if it had been Shiki the Golden Lion, he'd probably be furious by now.
Actually, Ren didn't care either. But that didn't mean he could tolerate people being this brazen in front of him.
"Thunderclap!"
Intense lightning burst from Ren's palm in an instant!
The violent electrical energy turned the man into charcoal in a flash!
And it formed an energy pillar several meters wide, shooting straight up to the highest point of the Sabaody Archipelago!
When the lightning faded, all that remained was a pile of ash and a bottomless, enormous crater!
"Slap!"
The rest of the pirate crew immediately collapsed onto their backsides, their faces twisted, covered in snot and tears.
"S-spare us…"
"You're a great man with great mercy — please let us garbage live…"
These people reacted quickly. After their terror, they immediately jumped up and knelt before Ren, kowtowing nonstop.
"Hmph." Ren didn't say a word, not even glancing at them.
He had never intended to touch them. Otherwise, they'd already be dead alongside their captain.
Ren was reasonably fair. From the start, only that captain had been running his mouth. These small fry weren't worth his attention.
Ren left, but the pirates kept kowtowing forcefully. It took about ten minutes before they dared to stop. By then, their faces were covered in blood.
"He's gone…"
"We're alive…"
The men first breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately stood up, planning to turn right back to the Four Blues.
The Grand Line was way too terrifying!
Waaah, Mama, I want to go home!
…
A massive pillar of lightning had risen, visible from everywhere on the Sabaody Archipelago except the side blocked by the mangroves. Saya and the others, happily playing in the Bubble Park, naturally noticed it too.
"Looks like some short-sighted fools went looking for trouble with Ren," Iris said.
"Seriously, Ren's bounty is already over four billion Berries. What are these idiots with bounties of just tens of millions thinking?" Saya was thoroughly annoyed, feeling like those fools had ruined her mood.
She didn't know those idiots had also said that with Inazuma's scale, even a dog in the shogun's position would get a four billion bounty. Otherwise, who knew how crazy she'd get.
A four billion bounty and still being looked down on — it seemed Inazuma had been too gentle with the world. If word of this got back, Yukiko and the others would definitely plan something big, to show those fools why Inazuma was Inazuma!
"Regardless, let's hurry back. This isn't something Ren should have to handle personally." Ayame finished her ice cream in a few bites and spoke.
But she didn't notice she'd eaten a bit too fast — some ice cream residue was left around her mouth.
Iris was about to reach out and wipe it clean for her mother, but Saya was faster. She stuck out her tongue and pounced.
"Slurp."
Saya savored it for a moment, then said, "Alright, let's go. I'm bored of this place anyway. Let's see what interesting things the auction house has."
The three sensed Ren's presence and headed toward Area 1.
The Sabaody Archipelago was big when it was big, but not that big when it wasn't. If they actually hurried, getting from Area 70 to Area 1 wouldn't take much time.
When Saya and the others arrived, Ren had also just reached the entrance of the auction house.
The auction house director had long been waiting at the door to receive guests. A shrewd man like him naturally knew who not to offend. In just the short dozen minutes, news of the Raiden Shogun's appearance at the Sabaody Archipelago had already spread everywhere.
[
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