A dark aura swept through the entire tavern.
The pirates in the tavern couldn't help but shiver, and just when they were looking tense, they saw the man who walked into the tavern, and everyone's expressions instantly relaxed.
"Lord Kakuzu!"
"Has Lord Kakuzu returned?"
"Lord Kakuzu, would you like a glass of juice?"
As soon as Kakuzu entered, the tavern became lively again.
Although they were extorted for money by Kakuzu every month, Kakuzu was fair in his dealings and very friendly towards loyal customers.
To be honest...
If Kakuzu were willing to give up being a pirate, with his obsession with money and his way of dealing with people, he would definitely make a successful businessman.
"No, I've got something to take care of first."
After nodding to the pirates present, Kakuzu focused his gaze on the three members of the Straw Hat Pirates, slowly furrowing his brows: "Straw Hat Luffy, bounty of 130 million Belly, Roronoa Zoro, bounty of 60 million Belly..."
Clearly, the Straw Hat Pirates hadn't paid.
Luffy and Zoro tensed up instantly upon seeing Kakuzu enter because they knew there was a dangerous aura about him!
An overwhelming danger that couldn't be ignored!
While Nami watched Kakuzu walk in with trepidation, thinking he was there to trouble Luffy and Zoro, she heard Kakuzu's heavy question.
"Is Nami from the Straw Hat Pirates here?"
"Hmm?"
Nami looked bewildered, a bead of cold sweat immediately trickling down her face: "I don't... have any bounty on me! No, I'm not Na..."
"Eh? Looking for Nami?"
Luffy, with his thumb pointed at Nami beside him, casually called out: "Hey, Nami, someone's looking for you..."
"Ahhh... shut up, you idiot!"
Nami punched Luffy on the head, trembling with anger. This Kakuzu, a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, seeking her surely couldn't be good!
After all, she's just a navigator!
And a woman with no strength to speak of!
"Don't worry."
Kakuzu slowly opened his palm, calmly explaining: "I'm not here to trouble you. I remember you know someone named Uehara Naraku, and since I have a good relationship with him, he asked me to take care of you and not to charge your Straw Hat Pirates any protection fee..."
"Uehara... mmph mmph..."
Hidan's eyes lit up immediately.
Just as Hidan was about to speak, several strands of Earth Grudge Fear shot out from Kakuzu's palm, sealing his mouth shut.
"Uehara Naraku..."
Nami's expression immediately stiffened.
That guy really is her nemesis!
Every time Nami encounters Uehara Naraku, bad things happen. Now, she didn't expect that guy would actually have a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea take care of her...
That guy...
Does he have a shred of conscience?
But it seems she could take advantage of that guy's reputation?
With just a word from Uehara Naraku...
It actually saved Luffy's 130 million Belly bounty, Zoro's 60 million Belly bounty, and Nico Robin's 290 million Belly bounty!
She didn't expect Uehara Naraku's influence to be so great!
If they didn't have to pay such a high protection fee to Kakuzu, it would avoid conflict with him!
As a pragmatist, Nami certainly wouldn't pass up this opportunity!
"Yes, yes."
Nami nodded her head like a pecking chick, a sunny smile appearing on her face, and said reminiscently: "I've known Uehara Naraku for many years. We're good friends, and I didn't know he knew Mr. Kakuzu too..."
"Yes, I've already agreed to it."
Kakuzu nodded, leisurely continuing: "He told me you're always broke and even owe him ten billion Belly, so you can't afford the protection fee.
So ever since you entered the Grand Line, out of respect for him, I haven't planned to charge you a protection fee."
"Yes, yes..."
Nami nodded earnestly, her anxiety gradually easing: "I'm the finance manager of the Straw Hat Pirates, and we're indeed very poor, still in debt to him..."
Although Nami didn't know why Uehara Naraku claimed she owed ten billion Belly, if it meant Kakuzu wouldn't charge their Straw Hat Pirates the protection fee, that was enough!
Avoiding offending a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea...
For Nami, it's truly a relief!
Kakuzu gazed at Nami, nodding slowly, then suddenly turned cold: "But half a month ago, Uehara Naraku made me lose ten billion Belly and told me to come directly to you for that money..."
This matter wasn't something Kakuzu just made up.
Half a month ago, Uehara Naraku kidnapped Portgas D. Ace, directly causing Kakuzu to lose a bounty of one billion Belly. According to Kakuzu's theory, the bounty for all pirates in the First Half of the Grand Line should belong to him…
Moreover…
Kakuzu raised an objection to Uehara Naraku, believing that Uehara Naraku was wasting time. Uehara Naraku also provided a method to compensate Kakuzu for his loss.
But this method…
Doesn't seem to be very friendly to Nami.
Nami's face turned pale.
These guys… they're actually demons, aren't they!
Why was she so eager to admit just now that she and Uehara Naraku were friends, why did she accept the reason Kakuzu handed to her just now!
One billion Belly…
Why are they asking her for it!
Even if Luffy, Zoro, and Robin were packed up and exchanged as a bounty, it wouldn't be even half the money. That bastard Uehara Naraku, how does he have any conscience left? He's clearly a demon wearing human skin!
"Wait! Listen to my explanation!"
Nami frantically shook her head, speaking earnestly to explain, "Actually, I'm not familiar with Uehara Naraku at all, and I have never borrowed money from him."
"Aren't you friends?"
Kakuzu frowned and said in a muffled voice, "I will verify this with him in the future. If you're not friends, then in the meantime, settle this month's protection fee for the Straw Hat Pirates, which is a total of 480 million Belly…"
"…"
Nami hurriedly shook her head, once again earnestly looking at Kakuzu, "No, Uehara Naraku and I are good friends, but I have never borrowed money from him…"
"Hmm?"
Kakuzu slightly displeasedly furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "Then I'll trouble you to wait here for a while until Uehara Naraku comes down from Sky Island!"
"Uehara… on Sky Island?"
A trace of confusion flashed across Nami's face.
Wait, why couldn't Uehara Naraku be on Sky Island?
Sky Island is supposed to be the former Golden Land. With Uehara Naraku's personality, he's definitely gone to Sky Island to look for gold!
"Then let's go to Sky Island too!"
Luffy clenched his fist, a cheerful smile appearing on his face, "Since Uehara has already gone up, we can't fall behind, Nami, Zoro, let's go!"
"You can't leave yet."
Kakuzu's arm suddenly extended, blocking their path, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "Straw Hat Luffy, Uehara Naraku coincidentally also asked me to convey a piece of news to you…"
Kakuzu's gaze rested on Luffy as he calmly continued, "Your brother, Portgas D. Ace, and Sabo have been captured by the Navy."
"Are you kidding me?"
A look of shock flashed across Luffy's face, and the next moment his expression turned unprecedentedly ugly and somber, "I just parted ways with Ace and Sabo not long ago…"
Kakuzu coldly cut off Luffy's words and calmly continued to explain, "Two months ago, the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo, was captured in Log Town, which was recently headline news;
Half a month ago, Portgas D. Ace was captured in Alabasta, and that was just published as today's headline news…"
"It seems like that did happen…"
A pirate drunkenly opened his eyes and spoke in agreement, "I don't know that Ace guy, but it seems like a big shot from the Revolutionary Army was indeed caught… Lord Kakuzu is also keeping an eye on this matter?"
"…"
Luffy's fists suddenly clenched!
Just as Luffy was about to charge out of the tavern, Nami hurriedly stopped him, "Hey, Luffy, if you leave now, you won't even know what's going on, right?"
Nami turned her head to look at Kakuzu, urgently asking, "Hey, what's your purpose in telling us this news? No, what's Uehara Naraku's purpose in this?"
"I'm not too sure yet."
Kakuzu calmly looked at the drastically changed expressions of the three Straw Hat Pirates and shook his head, "Uehara Naraku just asked me to stop you and to convey that if you want to know how to rescue Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, just stay in Demon Valley Town and wait for him…"
After Kakuzu finished speaking, he slowly moved aside, speaking in a deep voice, "If after I've said all this you still want to leave, then feel free to do so…"
"…"
Luffy calmly sat down.
Zoro and Nami exchanged a glance and slowly sat down beside Luffy.
Just at that time, Usopp and Sanji of the Straw Hat Pirates hurried into the tavern, glancing around at all the pirates present.
When Usopp and Sanji saw Luffy and the others, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if they indeed had urgent business with these few people.
"Usopp, Sanji, what happened?"
"The latest newspaper delivered by the news bird at Demon Valley Town!"
Usopp hastily waved the newspaper in his hand, his expression grim as he said loudly, "Luffy, something big is about to happen!"
Having been sailing at sea all this time, the Straw Hat Pirates finally realized the usefulness of subscribing to the news bird, that is, to know the news happening in the sea at any time.
Just as the Straw Hat Pirates encountered the news bird, the headline on the sea had just concluded the Revolutionary Army special, publishing another heavyweight news.
"Fifteen Days of Fierce Fighting, The Great Battle Reaches Its End, Uchiha Sasuke Defeated! The World's Most Evil Bloodline, Portgas D. Ace, Captured!"