The next day, after seeing Umit and the others off, Vivi dragged Ryuuto and Bonney out for a shopping spree first thing in the morning. Despite having been on the Sabaody Archipelago for some time, she hadn't had a proper chance to explore. Bonney, fresh off a boring sea voyage, was just as curious about the bustling islands. Thus, the shopping trio was formed.
Hopping on their bubble cycles, the three of them sped directly toward Grove 40.
The area from Grove 40 to 49 was the tourist and shopping district. It was famous for its high-end stores, specialty restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The ground was covered in colorful bubble clusters, and the buildings, adorned with coated glass, shimmered with a dreamlike quality.
They didn't even make it to Grove 40 before Bonney pulled them over to Grove 39, her eyes captivated by a sparkling carousel. At the end of the day, she was still just a ten-year-old kid, and the temptation was too much to resist. So, the three of them spent some time indulging in the childish pastime.
Afterward, Vivi made a beeline for Grove 46, a shopper's paradise filled with every kind of clothing boutique, jewelry store, and bubble-themed souvenir shop imaginable.
By noon, the three emerged, laden with bags of all sizes.
"Let's grab lunch at the 'Bubbles & Brews' restaurant in Grove 41! I heard they have drinks that you can only get on the Sabaody Archipelago," Ryuuto suggested as his stomach grumbled.
And so, the trio made their way to Bubbles & Brews. The restaurant was a semi-open-air establishment with a glass dome ceiling, its entrance marked by a three-meter-tall sculpture of a bubble champagne bottle. Inside, glowing bubble lanterns floated overhead, and even the seats were formed from hardened bubbles.
As Ryuuto stepped inside, several pairs of eyes turned in his direction.
"Phew, we finally made it!" Vivi dropped her mountain of shopping bags onto a chair, a smile of pure relief on her face.
"Hey, owner! Bring us all your best food!" Bonney plopped into a seat and pounded her fists on the table.
Ryuuto's gaze swept across the room, landing on a familiar face. A knowing, almost mocking smile played on his lips. "Looks like things are about to get lively," he murmured.
As if on cue, his words were proven right.
"Yo, isn't that Captain Ryuuto, the man with the highest bounty? I hear you're worth five hundred million Beli! But in the New World, that's not even enough to buy a drink! Apapapapa~!"
A grating voice suddenly cut through the air. A man dressed in an outfit with an Eastern flair stood up, wearing a bright yellow jacket over dark, wide-legged pants and a pair of simple cloth shoes. His appearance was just as distinctive: a green mohawk-like hairstyle, a long face with a pointed chin, and a perpetually mocking expression. He was a member of the Longarm Tribe, and his teeth resembled a keyboard.
It was none other than Scratchmen Apoo.
"What? That's Captain Ryuuto, the one who's been making a name for himself?"
"The pirate with a five hundred million Beli bounty!"
"Run! Run for your lives!"
Apoo's words sent a wave of panic through the restaurant. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the air as the other patrons scrambled to escape.
"Captain of the On-Air Pirates, Apoo! Are you looking to test how sharp my blade is?" Ryuuto said with a light chuckle, casually taking a seat and looking at the man.
"On-Air Pirates?" Bonney muttered, looking at Apoo with curiosity.
"Captain, is he one of the Supernovas, too?" Vivi, vaguely recognizing the name, leaned closer to Ryuuto and asked.
Splash!
In an instant, Apoo flung the "Explosion Soda" cocktail in his hand straight at Ryuuto. He watched with a jeering look, expecting to see an explosion of rage. But he was bound to be disappointed.
The red liquid stopped dead in the air, hovering as if frozen in time.
It was Vivi who had acted. As a user of the Sake-Sake Fruit, she could effortlessly control any alcoholic beverage.
Bonney glanced from Ryuuto to Vivi, noticing Vivi's right hand raised in front of her chest. It was then she realized who had intervened.
Seeing this, the smile on Ryuuto's face grew wider.
Now it was Apoo's turn to get angry. He slammed his hands on the table, treating it like a turntable.
"Scratch - Shan!" Apoo shouted. A sound wave instantly took shape, flying toward the trio like a razor-sharp discus.
"You should really pick your targets more carefully," Ryuuto said calmly, standing up as Vivi and Bonney watched without a flicker of concern. His entire body was instantly coated in the dark sheen of Armament Haki.
BOOM!
The sharp sound wave slammed into Ryuuto, causing a violent explosion. When the smoke cleared, he reappeared, completely unscathed.
"How is that possible!" Apoo was stunned. His attack could slice through solid metal, yet it hadn't left a single mark on the man before him.
"Captain Apoo!" his nearby crewmates shouted, sensing the grave danger.
But after provoking him, there was no way Ryuuto would let him simply walk away. Apoo had joined the Beasts Pirates long ago and was only on the Sabaody Archipelago to stir up conflict among the Supernovas. His plan was sound, but he had chosen the wrong person to mess with.
"Ultimate Ichimonji!"
With a soft cry, Ryuuto gripped the hilt of his sword. The sharp, silver blade of Yukiwashiri instantly turned black, crackling with arcs of black lightning.
Before Apoo could even react, all he saw was a flash of black lightning streaking toward him. A chilling sense of dread washed over him.
"Dental Note: Shield!"
Acting on pure instinct, Apoo elongated his teeth and began tapping his tongue against them, trying to form a sound wave barrier to block Ryuuto's attack.
But he was too slow. The wind-up was too long.
Before the sound could even form…
Schlick!
A black flash crossed Apoo's chest. He felt a crushing impact, followed by excruciating pain, and coughed up a huge mouthful of blood.
Looking again, he saw that Ryuuto was already standing behind him.
Clang!
As Ryuuto sheathed his sword, Apoo's chest seemed to erupt. Countless sprays of blood burst forth as the sheer force of the blow sent him flying backward.
"Captain Apoo!"
The last thing Apoo heard before darkness claimed him was the desperate cries of his crew.
Thud!
He crashed heavily onto the ground, his condition unknown.
"You're too weak, Apoo," Ryuuto said, turning to look contemptuously at the fallen man. A few terrified pirate grunts stood nearby, paralyzed with fear.
"He's too strong!"
"Captain Apoo was defeated in a single blow!"
The grunts collapsed to the ground, staring at Ryuuto in horror while muttering in disbelief.
"So noisy," Vivi said sharply. Unable to stand it any longer, she took action.
"Liquor Bind!"
She controlled the alcohol in the restaurant, shaping it into a long dragon of liquid that shot forward and instantly wrapped around the cowering pirates, silencing them.