White Ghost was very satisfied with Van Augur's sense.
Or perhaps he was very satisfied with the word "fate."
When the people in the tavern heard the word "dream" again, their expressions varied.
Some were disappointed. Some watched the show. Some sneered.
Of course, the ones sneering were Bellamy's group.
He had already wanted to deal with these four and rob them.
After all, pirates did not need a reason to steal.
Pfft.
Bellamy did not hold back and laughed out loud, his laughter arrogant to the extreme.
"Hahahaha! Another idiot with a ridiculous dream!"
They laughed so hard tears nearly came out, each of them slapping the table.
The people in the tavern also wore expressions of watching a good show.
Sai, Enel, and Container all frowned and were about to move.
White Ghost shook his head. He took out a Devil Fruit and placed it on the table.
"I'll wait for you outside. Don't disappoint me. Except for that blond, I don't need the others."
The tavern went silent at once.
Because that mysterious man had taken out a Devil Fruit and placed it openly on the table.
Bellamy's eyes turned blood-red as he stared hard at the Devil Fruit.
He was arrogant and conceited, but he was not stupid.
Could someone who casually took out a Devil Fruit possibly be simple?
Since White Ghost and the others had disguised themselves, it was normal that they had not been recognized.
Van Augur picked up the Devil Fruit excitedly, his hands trembling slightly.
Everyone knew that no Devil Fruit in White Ghost's hands was trash.
Sarquiss stared greedily at the Devil Fruit and stepped forward.
"Hey, brat. Hand that over, and we can spare your life."
He was extremely envious of his captain's Devil Fruit too.
He also wanted one.
How could he let such a good opportunity slip away?
Van Augur ignored him. He opened his mouth and bit down.
White Ghost and the others walked straight out of the bar.
"You're courting death!"
Sarquiss drew his blade, preparing to cut down this brat who did not know how to read the room.
At the side, cold sweat poured from Bellamy's body.
Just now.
In that instant.
That man had only casually glanced at him.
Yet Bellamy could not stop trembling.
Just a look had been that terrifying.
He knew he had kicked an iron plate this time.
Van Augur chose to finish eating the Devil Fruit, then silently picked up the rifle he had set aside.
Bang, bang, bang.
After three gunshots, Sarquiss, who had been charging over, stopped in place and no longer moved.
Everyone looked over.
One by one, their mouths fell open in shock.
They saw blood flowing from three places on the man's body: his forehead, throat, and heart.
Click.
Van Augur reloaded and looked coldly at Bellamy's group.
"You are people abandoned by fate."
"Wait!"
Bellamy still wanted to say something, but he saw the man raise his gun.
Bang, bang, bang, bang.
Outside, White Ghost and the others smoked while enjoying the night scenery.
"His marksmanship really is good," Container commented.
Under his Observation Haki, nearly everyone inside had been shot through the head.
"Someone our lord has taken interest in cannot be simple," Enel replied calmly while chewing on his favorite apple.
White Ghost said nothing. He turned to look at Sai beside him.
"Do you want a Devil Fruit? I still have some."
Sai rubbed his chin.
"Captain, let's wait for a while. I don't want to eat one for now. Most people on the ship are Devil Fruit users, so I should make preparations."
Enel nodded in approval.
This was a good crewmate, someone who knew how to consider things for his captain.
White Ghost shrugged.
"When you want one, just tell me."
Before long, the gunfire inside stopped.
Van Augur walked out while dragging Bellamy, whose legs had been shot.
Thud.
Bellamy was casually thrown to the ground.
Van Augur dropped to one knee.
"Captain, the task is complete."
White Ghost nodded.
"You didn't disappoint me. Are you satisfied with the Devil Fruit?"
Van Augur raised his head.
"Captain, I'm very satisfied. Thank you, Captain."
White Ghost chuckled.
"As long as you're satisfied. I won't say anything unpleasant. After we return, make a Vivre Card. You understand."
Van Augur said nothing.
Trust was something slowly built.
Besides, the Devil Fruit he had received this time was something he had never even dared imagine before.
"You can't kill me! I'm a subordinate of Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords! You can't kill me!"
Bellamy raised his head in terror and looked at White Ghost.
It was obvious this man was the one in charge.
Only the heavens knew what he had just experienced.
His subordinates had been dropped one by one by that man's bullets.
As for him, both legs had been shot before he even had time to react.
He was afraid.
He was truly afraid.
They killed people too, but they had never killed this cleanly.
White Ghost stepped on his head.
"You're worse than a sewer rat. At least those things still have the drive to move forward."
"Spare me!"
Bellamy's body trembled faintly, because White Ghost and the others had stopped hiding their auras.
White Ghost pressed down harder with his foot.
"Just now, did you say you were Doflamingo's subordinate?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Bellamy hurriedly answered.
He hoped this man would show some restraint because of that. Then he could survive.
White Ghost took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.
Although it was midnight, that guy would answer.
Ring, ring, ring.
The Den Den Mushi rang for a short while before it was picked up.
"Fuffuffuffu. I didn't expect a great figure like you to contact me this late. What an honor."
Hearing Doflamingo's voice, Bellamy's eyes lit up.
He thought he was about to be saved.
White Ghost exhaled a smoke ring.
"Just now, one of your subordinates called me an idiot. How do you think this matter should be settled?"
"Hm?"
Doflamingo paused, as if thinking.
"Aren't you at Mock Town? I don't think I have any subordinates there."
Sai lifted Bellamy from the ground, signaling for him to speak.
"Doflamingo-sama…"
Bellamy's voice was weak. He had lost too much blood.
After a while, Doflamingo's voice sounded again.
"Fuffuffuffu. So it's Bellamy.
"Looks like you lost. Then, do you still remember what I once told you?"
White Ghost was too lazy to waste words with him.
"Say how you want to settle this. You should know, this bastard's insults were quite unpleasant."
"Fuffuffuffu. Kill him, then. Clean up my house for me."
Doflamingo knew White Ghost wanted to extort him, so he used that guy's life to pay the debt.
"Dofla!"
Bellamy stared at the Den Den Mushi in disbelief.
White Ghost grabbed Bellamy's neck.
"Give me Caesar. Find someone else to handle that matter. Once I enter the New World, I'll cover you. Kaido isn't reliable."
Bellamy tried to pry White Ghost's hand away with both hands, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not succeed.
"Fuffuffuffu. I can't deny that you have the strength to say such things. But don't forget, you have plenty of enemies too."
Crack.
White Ghost snapped Bellamy's neck and casually tossed the corpse to the ground.
Then he led his people back.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios