Chapter 73: Black Crew? Hand Over the Money!
Soon, the two ships, one large and one small, arrived in the waters near Jaya Island. Reiner leaped up to the crow's nest and could already vaguely make out Mock Town.
He briefly explained the situation to Masira, who gave him a map of Jaya Island marked with an 'X' – the location of their base on the east coast.
"Well then, goodbye for now! We'll head home first and wait for you!"
"Okay! See ya!"
Luffy stood on the sheep figurehead, waving goodbye to Masira. The Going Merry separated from the salvage ship and headed towards the port.
"Look! Those really are all pirate ships!"
"Woohoo! Adventure! Adventure!"
Luffy impatiently jumped down, with Zoro following close behind.
"Wait up, you two!"
Nami hurriedly chased after them. "This place is full of outlaws! Letting the two biggest troublemakers loose together will definitely lead to major problems again!"
The three set off first. Aboard the Merry, Reiner also prepared to go into town and check out this so-called lawless place.
"Oh no... I've contracted the disease where I die if I set foot on the island... I can only stay behind and guard the ship." Usopp clutched his chest dramatically, collapsing onto the deck with a pained expression.
"Rein... Reiner... quick! Summon Blue Ogre and Red Ogre! You have to protect the Going Merry properly!"
"Usopp, what's wrong!? Doctor! Doctor, quick!"
Chopper yelled frantically, running around in circles before suddenly pausing. "Ah! I'm the doctor!"
"Guarding the ship is fine. Guarding you is quite unnecessary," Reiner said speechlessly, summoning the Katana Devil, Chainsaw Devil, and some Fish-Man undead.
After the battle in Alabasta, several crew members had grown considerably stronger, especially Zoro, which in turn significantly boosted the Katana Devil's power.
Leaving them to guard the ship, probably no one on this island could get close.
"Then let's go purchase some things."
"Yeah, we didn't get any supplies on the last island. Here."
Click!
Amidst swirling smoke, Reiner and Sanji jumped off the ship, summoned Frieren, and headed together deeper into Mock Town.
Two blond men in suits, escorting a little girl with twin tails walking between them – it presented quite a heartwarming picture, yet seemed incredibly bizarre in the context of Mock Town.
"Every time I see her, she's just so cute~~"
"Hey! Snap out of it, Sanji! That's an undead!"
"What are you saying, bastard! I'm not that much of a pervert!"
"Speaking of which, Reiner, let's give her a name."
Sanji looked down at the small figure with white twin tails walking between them. "How about 'Snow Biscuit'?"
"Dame." (No)
"...Or Snow Lotus? Got it! Let's call her Little Lily!"
"How is that even a name? Stop using food ingredients... just don't name her, okay?" Reiner sighed helplessly, scratching his head.
"By the way, Miss Nami took the map. Where's the market?"
"I prepared a copy right here." Reiner pulled a map from his coat, unfolded it, and looked down.
Just then...
"Hey. Stop."
A hoarse, deep voice sounded from behind as seven or eight men surrounded them.
The leader had long red hair and wore only a matching red leather jacket on his upper body, his torso covered in various tattoos.
The red-haired tattooed man smirked menacingly as he walked up. "You two handsome fellows look unfamiliar. Must be new here, right? Where are you headed? For a small fee, I can show you the way."
"Ah, found it."
Reiner, without looking up, pointed at a spot on the map. "Market's right here. Let's go."
"Thanks, buddy, but we know the way," Sanji casually replied to the red-haired man, turning with Reiner to walk off in another direction.
"B-Boss... looks like they're ignoring you," one of the pirates stepped forward, looking up to remind the tattooed man frozen in place.
"No shit! I know that!" The red-haired man's face flushed with shame and anger. Gritting his teeth, he yelled after the two departing blond figures, "Hey, stop! What I meant was, pay the toll fee! You two bastards, stop right there!"
Click-clack!
Seeing the two showed no sign of stopping, the red-haired man directly pulled out a flintlock pistol and aimed it at them.
Hearing the sound, the two finally stopped, turning to glance back at the red-haired tattooed man. Sanji spoke coolly:
"Hey. That's not a toy. Don't point things like that at me."
"Heheheh! Scared now, are we?" the red-haired man grinned menacingly.
"So what if I point it at you? I'm with the Bellamy Pirates! Why don't you try making a move?"
BANG!
A gunshot exploded. A spray of blood erupted from the red-haired man's chest. He looked down, face filled with confusion, then fell backward onto the ground.
Smoke drifted from the muzzle of the gun in Reiner's hand. He lowered his arm. "Tried it. What now?"
"Boss!"
"Bastard! Avenge the boss!"
The remaining pirates drew their guns. But just as they raised their hands, a black figure suddenly appeared before them. Before they could react, all they saw was a black leather shoe filling their vision.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Sanji, hands casually tucked in his pockets, dispatched the opponents with swift kicks in a few turns, sending them flying into a nearby wall where they slid down like soft mud, piled in a row.
"Told you not to point things like that at me..."
"This place really is chaotic. Let's go."
"We just got here. Probably lots more 'entertainment' to come," Reiner replied nonchalantly. One Piece has its own Florida.
First, the new era pirate Bellamy, later the 'meh-heh-heh' Blackbeard... this place is full of talents.
After walking for a while...
The two reached the market and split up. Just as Reiner finished his purchases and was preparing to find Sanji to regroup, a weak, hoarse voice sounded from behind him.
"Cough... Mister... cough cough... Can you help me?"
Reiner subconsciously turned around. A large white horse stood there, looking listless. At its feet lay a man clad in a black overcoat, looking sickly as he lay sprawled on the ground. In his hand, he held a basket of bright red apples. The plea for help had come from him.
Yo, isn't this that guy?
Reiner instantly recognized the man: the ship's doctor of the Blackbeard Pirates – 'Grim Reaper' Doc Q.
He wasn't faking it; he genuinely was born frail and sickly, relying on his medical skills to keep himself alive. He had a penchant for offering apples to people who helped him everywhere he went.
However, it was an extremely dangerous death game. Those who ate the explosive apples would be instantly blown to smithereens; only a few extremely lucky individuals would get ordinary apples.
Basically a random lucky draw. What a sick hobby.
Hehehehe... Coincidentally, so am I. Reiner hid the sinister smile on his face and walked forward.
"Are you alright, Mister? Let me help you."
A warm voice reached Doc Q's ears, feeling like a refreshing spring breeze.
Following the voice upwards, his eyes landed on a figure in a blue shirt... wearing black-framed glasses, a gentle smile on his face.
A refined-looking man extended a hand towards him...
"Cough... Thank you, young man," Doc Q rasped, reaching out and taking the offered hand. He was pulled up, and the man even lifted him back onto his horse.
Such an amiable and elegant person!
Doc Q faintly sensed that this blond man before him was definitely not ordinary.
Since that's the case... let me see if you possess the same luck as that Straw Hat brat.
Lying slumped over the horse's back, Doc Q looked like a dying man, his face devoid of color. He slowly reached into his basket, picked out the reddest apple from the few remaining, and held it out, saying weakly:
"Young man... cough... You truly are a good person. This apple... please accept it as thanks."
Such a kind and gentle person... the taste of being killed by your own goodwill must be unbearable. Hehehehe.
"An apple, huh..."
Reiner looked at the apple before him. Frieren's Observation Haki had already clearly sensed the malice emanating from his opponent.
Slowly extending his hand, he accepted the bright red apple offered... The next moment...
Air Force Kick!!!
Reiner leaped into the air, kicking out forcefully with both legs, sending both the man and his horse flying.
BOOM—!
Doc Q and his beloved steed slammed hard into a wall. The collapsing wall kicked up a cloud of dust.
"Trying to fob me off with a rotten apple!? I just saved your life, damn it! If it weren't for me, you kidney-deficient old man would've been beaten to death by the thugs here! Hand over all your money as thanks!" Reiner yelled furiously.
Only a scumbag can defeat a scumbag!
"Cough cough cough!"
Doc Q lay amidst the pile of bricks, lifted his head, utterly baffled. He thought of the man's earlier gentle, spring-breeze-like demeanor, then looked at his current expression... Rage instantly surged within him.
"You! You! Me!"
"Barking dog? Keep this rotten apple and eat it yourself!"
"W-wait!"
Forcefully throwing his hand out, he tossed the bright red apple towards his opponent. Doc Q watched the red apple arc through the sky, his face instantly contorting in terror.
Just as the apple touched the pile of stones before him, an intensely blinding white light flashed out. The next moment, soaring flames accompanied by a deafening, violent explosion erupted.
BOOM!!!
"What happened!?"
"Stay away! Must be a pirate firefight!"
"No! I think I saw that old man on the horse earlier!"
"You mean that weirdo who entertains himself with exploding apples!?"
The thunderous explosion instantly alerted everyone nearby. Watching the rising flames, they discussed animatedly amongst themselves, while also attracting other uninvited guests...
"Wiiiihahahaha~ Looks like you took quite a hit there, Doc Q."
Amidst the panicked crowd, a tall figure walked against the flow. He wore only a thin black shirt, his sturdy physique stretching the fabric taut, a gold belt fastened around his waist.
From the thick smoke at the center of the explosion, Doc Q clutched his chest, coughing up mouthfuls of dark red blood. His overcoat covered in dust, he pushed himself up with trembling hands, glaring ferociously at the newcomer mocking him, snarling in a low voice:
"Shut up, Burgess! I don't need you here to laugh at me! Careful, or I'll kill you too later!"
"With that sickly body of yours? You'd probably die peacefully in your sleep before even reaching me! Wiihahahaha!"
Burgess loudly mocked his own teammate, seemingly completely unconcerned about the life of this person who had only recently become his comrade. Instead, he turned his burning gaze towards Reiner, grinning wildly.
"Hey! Fight me! Let's have a duel to prove who the real fighting champion is!"
"Are you nuts? Just got discharged from the hospital?"
Burgess: "."
(End of this chapter)
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