“Shanks and his crew aren’t cowards, you despicable bandits; apologize now!”
Icey and the drowsy Aqua had just finished breakfast in the restaurant when they heard Luffy’s highly recognizable shout from the tavern across the street.
Immediately after, there was a commotion of tables and chairs being overturned, accompanied by the unrestrained laughter of the bandits.
‘Indeed, the original plot is happening today…’
Hearing the disturbance, Icey slowly set down his soy milk.
Having mastered the basics of Observation Haki and Armament Haki, his aura was much more composed and skilled than before.
Yesterday evening, due to Aqua’s crying, Icey reluctantly took her to the tavern owned by Makino to drink. By chance, he learned from the landlady Makino that the Red-Haired Pirates would complete their voyage today and return to Windmill Village.
There seemed to be some form of communication between her and Shanks via Den Den Mushi, and their relationship was quite extraordinary.
Therefore, Icey, who guessed what would happen today, woke up Aqua early in the morning and quietly waited in the shop.
“Is that Luffy’s voice? Why is he arguing with the bandits?!”
Aqua, eating fried dough sticks with half-closed eyes, instantly became alert.
After spending time together as the Water Goddess, she had already accepted Luffy, the little follower with the rubbery body, and a worried expression appeared on her flawless face.
“Icey, should we go out and see? Those bandits don’t seem like the type to forgive just because the other party is a child.” Aqua stood up.
“Let’s go, but remember not to act rashly. There’s something I especially want to clarify.” Afraid that Aqua would act impulsively and mess up the situation, Icey solemnly instructed, “Listen to my commands in everything.”
For him, who had mastered both Observation Haki and Armament Haki with the enhancement from Aqua, the bandits led by Higuma were not much of a threat anymore.
However, considering the well-equipped bandit group as a whole, it was still challenging to deal with.
So he wanted to see if the Red-Haired Pirates would show up today and if there would be any deviation from the original plot. He also wanted to wait for the best opportunity, like a lurking snake, to deal with Higuma alone.
Yes, he had been thinking about Higuma’s head until now.
After all, it was not a small matter!
“Although I don’t know what you’re planning, this goddess has always been very measured!” A rare serious expression stunned Aqua slightly, then she reassured, patting her chest.
The best way would be to keep Aqua in the restaurant and not let her go out. However, considering her unparalleled ability to cause trouble, Icey hesitated long before bringing her along.
He could feel the most secure and reliable only by keeping her within his sight!
Stepping out of the restaurant, they saw the bandit Higuma, draped in a red-brown coat, dragging the struggling Luffy out of Makino’s tavern.
Under the crowd of bandits, they arrived at the empty street.
The commotion attracted the surrounding villagers, and they stood in fear, watching from a distance, afraid to approach.
“Damn bastard, I won’t be afraid of you! Let me go if you dare!”
Suspended in mid-air, Luffy continued to swing his fists at Higuma, but he was still just a weak child, and his soft punches had no effect on Higuma.
“Your body can stretch and bend like rubber, what a strange brat.”
Higuma sneered disdainfully, casually stretching Luffy’s cheeks and limbs.
Perhaps irritated by his constant shouting, he forcefully grabbed Luffy’s head and slammed it hard on the ground!
Thud!
The dull sound made the surrounding villagers tense up, clenching their fists involuntarily.
Knowing that Luffy, with a rubber body, could withstand such a blow, Icey remained expressionless, but Aqua beside him was stomping her feet in anger.
If it hadn’t been for Icey stopping her, she would have rushed over with her Conqueror’s Haki!
“Please spare Luffy. He’s just a child. If he has offended you in any way, I’m willing to apologize on his behalf and make reparations.”
The village chief of Windmill Village, Woop Slap, stood among the crowd, kneeling and begging the bandits to forgive Luffy’s recklessness.
Beside him, Makino weakly clenched his fists, his eyes moist, worry written all over his beautiful face.
Facing the ruthless bandits, these ordinary villagers with no power could only plead for mercy, and that was all they could do.
To gamble with their precious lives on the possibility of the bandits’ mercy would be extremely foolish, no matter how one thought about it.
But this was the reality of the world ruled by the Celestial Dragons!
“Village chief, you old fart still have some sense of propriety.”
“But unfortunately, this brat inexplicably came over here shouting and screaming, which really annoys me.”
Higuma lifted his leg and stepped on the struggling Luffy under his foot, his eyes fierce as he drew the long knife from his waist. “So, your apology is ineffective!”
As he spoke, just as Aqua was about to intervene, a group emitting a powerful aura suddenly appeared at the end of the dusty street.
“I was wondering why no one came to greet us at the port today. Turns out you’re here, Luffy.”
The leader wore a straw hat draped in a black cloak, with three shocking claw marks over his left eye, exuding dominance.
It was none other than Shanks, the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates!
The cold sea breeze blew from afar, causing the cloaks of the pirates standing in front of the bandits to rustle.
“Oh? Isn’t this the pirate captain who was trembling in the tavern before?!”
Higuma immediately recognized Shanks, tilting his head and sneering mockingly, “What’s wrong? Haven’t you left the village yet? Do you like the feeling of cleaning up trash?”
“Hahaha!”
The bandits with weapons laughed.
With the experience from last time, they didn’t even consider these cowardly and weak pirates.
Facing the undisguised mockery of the bandits, Shanks lowered his head slightly, walking towards where Luffy and Higuma were.
Click.
As he passed by a bandit, the sound of a gun being cocked rang out.
The dark and cold muzzle pressed against his forehead.
Shanks stopped, lifting his head to reveal the three fierce claw marks on his face, pointing at the gun on his head with a smile, “This thing isn’t used for scaring people.”
“Now that you’ve drawn your gun, let’s bet our lives!”
The bandit holding the gun was a bit confused by this unexpected remark.
This cowardly guy wasn’t kneeling and begging for mercy?
Bang!
Just as the bandit was still confused, a sudden crisp gunshot broke the silence at the scene.
Accompanied by billowing smoke, fresh red blood splattered.
The chef of the Red-Haired Pirates, Lucky Roux, appeared out of nowhere, biting a large leg of meat in his mouth, holding a gun with one hand, and directly shooting the arrogant bandit dead!
Including Aqua beside Icey, everyone was startled by this sudden turn of events.
“Bastards! You despicable lot, you dare to attack without even giving a warning?!”
Realizing what had happened, the bandits reacted by drawing their swords and entering battle mode.
“Despicable? Standing in front of you are not ordinary villagers who follow the rules, we are pirates!”
Compared to the bandits’ panic, the Red-Haired Pirates’ members were much calmer.
“Listen up, bandits, whether you smash bottles at me or spit at me, I can just laugh it off. But…”
Shanks continued to advance calmly; his gaze towards Higuma was calm, but his imposing manner was as sharp as a sword.
“I will never forgive anyone who dares to hurt my friend!”
At his words, Luffy, who Higuma was stepping on, widened his eyes in shock, seeming to understand something.
“Shanks…”
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