Everyone in the tavern stared blankly at the scene.
What just happened?
That was the thought in all their minds. Then, as one, their eyes turned toward the arrogant young man by the bar.
They saw that his leg had transformed into something like a spring and was still stretching and contracting slightly.
"A Devil Fruit user?"
That was everyone's first reaction.
On the Grand Line, Devil Fruit users were nothing new. It was not like the Four Seas, where country bumpkins made a fuss every time they saw one.
Bellamy swept his gaze across the crowd.
Everyone he looked at lowered their heads without realizing it.
The big man who had just been sent flying had a bounty of twenty million berries.
He had been blasted out for so long, and there was still no movement. There was no need to think about it. He definitely could not get back up.
Bellamy looked over the crowd with disdain.
"Listen up, you trash. Stop dreaming about stupid things like dreams. Isn't staying alive good enough? Why insist on chasing that kind of fantasy?"
Someone in the crowd could not stand his arrogance anymore. He stood up and glared at him.
"Damn bastard. You dare mock a pirate's dream? Kill him!"
Once there was a first, there was a second.
A group of people grabbed their weapons and rushed over.
"Die, brat! A man's dream isn't something you can laugh at!"
"A bunch of idiots with ridiculous dreams."
Bellamy grinned widely. He turned his right arm into a spring, then compressed it tightly toward his elbow.
"Spring Death Fist!"
Bang!
His fist smashed into the person at the front.
That man's eyes bulged, his face twisting in pain as he flew backward and crashed into the people behind him.
"Ah!"
The group charging forward was knocked back.
Boom!
Tables in the tavern shattered. Those who had rushed over rolled their eyes and twitched on the ground.
Bellamy stood up arrogantly.
"Anyone else unhappy? Come on, all of you."
"Hahahaha!"
The crew behind Bellamy laughed loudly.
"Dreams and all that are only for when you're asleep. These people are way too funny."
The tavern owner calmly wiped his glass.
He was not nervous about what was happening at all.
After all, who didn't have someone backing them?
The ones who had not attacked lowered their heads and did not dare meet Bellamy's eyes.
They were not pirates with the courage to face death. Otherwise, they would not be staying here, drifting along and wasting their lives.
Vice Captain Sarquiss laughed loudly and looked around.
"We're pirates of the new era.
"Those unrealistic romances and dreams? Stop dreaming already.
"People should chase real pleasure right in front of them. Do you understand, you idiots with ridiculous ideas?"
As soon as Sarquiss said that, the crew members slapped the tables and laughed even harder.
Van Augur sat alone in the corner, drinking. Bellamy's information surfaced in his mind.
Bellamy, captain of the Bellamy Pirates.
Arrogant, conceited, and known as the Hyena.
That was because he loved stealing things others had worked hard to obtain.
A Spring-Spring Fruit user. A spring man.
An affiliated pirate crew under one of the Seven Warlords, Doflamingo. They had been in Mock Town for two years.
Van Augur calculated in his heart how many shots it would take to bring him down.
In his eyes, Bellamy and his people were clowns.
A group of scum calling themselves new-era pirates, doing no proper work and only stealing things before eating and drinking wildly.
"Boss, bring more wine!"
Bellamy slapped the table impatiently.
"Coming."
The owner calmly served wine to these arrogant fellows, not worrying that they would refuse to pay.
Most pirates who mixed in this world paid their bills. Only a small number of ignorant small-time pirates acted recklessly.
Just as Bellamy and the others drank and mocked stupid dreams—
A tall man walked in through the door, followed by three bodyguard-like figures.
The people in the tavern assumed they were here to drink and ignored them.
But Van Augur, sitting to the side, was shocked the moment he clearly saw that man's face.
The person who had arrived was naturally White Ghost.
By the time they reached this place, the sky had already gone dark. White Ghost also wanted to experience Mock Town's local flavor, so he had originally planned to walk around alone.
Who knew Ain and the other women would strongly demand that he bring people with him?
They were not worried about his safety. They did not worry about that at all.
What they were worried about was this bad man sneaking off to eat outside alone. With people beside him, he would at least restrain himself a little.
White Ghost had no choice, so he brought Enel, Sai, and Container with him.
After asking around and learning Van Augur's whereabouts, the group headed straight for the tavern.
White Ghost swept his gaze across the room and saw Van Augur in the corner, staring at him in shock.
Van Augur watched the man walk toward him and quickly stood up, taking off his hat.
"I never imagined you would personally come here. Is this fate after all?"
White Ghost sat down across from him.
"There's no fate or anything like that. I just arrived here and wanted to drink. I heard there was a sniper here, so I came to take a look."
Container also looked at the man across from him with interest.
In his perception, this guy's aura was very weak. So weak he could take him down with one shot.
But the captain had said his marksmanship was good, and that he had room to grow.
Container also looked forward to having another sniper on the ship.
He was used to handguns. As for the sniper position, he had only taken it because there had been no other option.
The tall, burly Sai walked to the bar and placed a stack of berries down.
"Wine."
The owner accepted the money with a bright smile.
"Please wait, dear guest. I'll bring it right away."
"Mm."
Sai nodded and walked away, not even glancing at Bellamy's group.
Bellamy and the others' expressions turned ugly.
This person actually dared ignore them.
Sarquiss swept his gaze over White Ghost and the others.
Although each of them looked powerful and sturdy, that was all.
In Mock Town, who could Bellamy not handle?
Sarquiss leaned closer to Bellamy.
"Captain, these guys look pretty rich. Look at their clothes. They're the kind only nobles wear."
Bellamy looked over.
Sure enough, they looked wealthy.
Especially that man. The belt he revealed looked like gold, and there was a gold bracelet on his wrist.
"Should we find a reason to make a move?" Sarquiss continued.
Bellamy began thinking.
That group did not look simple. Each of them was muscular and solid. He had a feeling that they were not ordinary.
Just as he hesitated, on White Ghost's side, the wine was served, and several of them sat down to drink.
White Ghost drank a cup of wine and looked at Van Augur.
"You should know why I came. I don't want to waste words.
"Follow me. As long as you don't betray me, what you want, including the dream in your heart, I can give you."
Van Augur immediately stood, dropped to one knee, and said,
"My captain. Fate truly brought us together. For my dream, or perhaps for your dream, I am willing to join."
The corner of White Ghost's mouth lifted.
"Blackbeard's capable men are all under my command now. Only he himself is left. When I get the chance, I'll take him down in one go."
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