"Pain?"
Sanji said incredulously, "But you're made of rubber!"
It was just the flow of air, at most like a bullet, just an impact, how could it feel painful?
After flicking his thumb open, Sage's ferocious body suddenly shrank back to normal. He glanced at the panting Ace and said:
"Whitebeard's just an old man with one foot in the grave, it's inevitable that he'll die sooner or later. Everyone gets old and weak one day. If you want to protect his dignity, prove it to the sea, not by barking at me."
That was just the most normal critique, and not even said to their face. They had already left, yet this guy heard it and insisted on fighting. Did he really expect an apology?
He's a Pirate, after all!
Sage stepped out of the pit and looked again at the pained Luffy, shaking his head, "For the sake of you treating my men, I'll let it go..."
...also because of that damn Garp...
Sage walked over to Lily, who pressed down the sword hilt to retract the exposed blade back into its sheath and draped the cloak over him.
He straightened his cloak and said, "If you're here for the feast, since you treated my men, you're welcome. But if it's a fight you want, then prepare to die."
With that said, he walked deeper into the street.
Renedia pouted, looking at Ace in the pit, flashing her small tiger teeth, "You're pretty tough for a freckled guy, but Sage is tougher, you can't win!"
"Oh dear, a narrow escape." Marika's smile reappeared.
Following behind Sage, Lily seemed to remember something, turned and said, "It's 270 million, not 70 million, the bounty has gone up."
"Ah~~!"
Sanji finally noticed Lily and her group, heart-eyeing, "On closer look, they're all beautiful ladies!"
Gin pressed his lips, feeling relieved, and smiled at the Straw Hat Gang, "Mr. Sanji, Mr. Luffy, I still hope you'll join us for the feast. Captain Sage is very generous, now that he's stopped, there'll be no more fighting."
At least...
Luffy won't die.
In that earlier situation, if this Straw Hat kid hit the Captain, he would surely die.
Luffy rubbed his forehead, seeming to still smoke, sat up, looked at the departing figures, blinking, tilting his head and said, "What, they seem like good guys..."
But then he saw Ace motionless in the pit, his expression changed, "No! They're bad guys!"
But upon closer inspection, Ace was still panting, not dead...
"Who are they, really..." Luffy wondered.
"Whoever they are, hurry up and save him, isn't that your brother!" Nami shouted.
Chopper had already run over, "Two casualties, two casualties here! Come quickly and help!"
"This guy is..."
Zoro noticed Ace being carried out of the pit by Chopper in his human form and saw the tattoo on his back. After looking at his face, he exclaimed, "Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Captain?"
"Whitebeard Pirates?" Sanji was also surprised.
Zoro sheathed his three swords, looked at Ace for a moment, then said, "I've been a bounty hunter for years, I've seen this guy's Wanted Order, it's 550 million, quite the formidable guy."
"Are all Grand Line bounties this high!"
Usopp cried out in terror, "Didn't you hear that woman say? That guy called Sage is also 270 million!"
"They're all heading to the Grand Line..."
Zoro's fighting spirit ignited, "Those guys are with us, we'll cross paths again! Luffy, you need to be ready!"
"Ah..."
Luffy stood up, pulled down his Straw Hat, grinned widely, "They're all strong, but I won't lose, I'll definitely become the Pirate King!"