What's going on?
Igarapoi froze for a second, though his practiced smile didn't waver as he turned his head.
Looking toward the three-masted ship, he chuckled lightly. "Ah, seems I was mistaken. So this is the real captain who makes the decisions?
Don't worry. Our town welcomes pirates. We make our living through music and brewing fine liquor.
Our favorite thing is to throw feasts for pirates, offering good wine and food while listening to tales of your grand adventures."
"How interesting."
Ren finally spoke, his crimson eyes sweeping over everyone present.
His gaze lingered on the children among the crowd—some stared at the pirates like hunters sizing up prey, while others looked different, uncertain.
He sighed quietly, then stepped down the gangway and stood before the flamboyantly-haired Igaram.
"This is my first time seeing a town that welcomes pirates. Aren't you afraid some nasty bunch might just plunder you all?"
"Hahaha! Impossible! We've never met such terrible people before."
Igaram stepped back slightly, lowering his brass instrument and raising both hands. "Of course, I understand your caution.
But please believe us—this town is truly friendly. We love having pirates visit.
If you insist otherwise, we can always cancel the feast. After all, no host should force their guests to have fun."
He looked harmless—almost pitiful, even.
"Is that so? Then let's begin your so-called feast.
Though I won't be joining. The sea may have been calm, but sailing is always tiring."
Ren turned toward Bonney's crew. "Bonney, take this chance and eat to your heart's content."
With that, he turned and walked into the town, heading straight toward the wilderness beyond.
Apparently, he intended to take a stroll around the island.
Zoro silently followed behind.
Nami and Nojiko exchanged a brief glance of surprise, then remembered Ren's earlier instructions and went to join Bonney's group.
Igaram hesitated at the sight but didn't dare show suspicion.
A pirate with a bounty over twenty million… and someone capable of making that pirate submit.
Yes—better weaken them first.
"Though it's a pity those two won't join, the feast isn't for individuals alone.
We also selfishly wish to hear tales of adventure. If no one objects, shall we begin?"
His warm smile met only silence.
Two of the unfamiliar, beautiful women in the group just stared at him curiously, giving him the uncomfortable feeling of being… observed.
Like a monkey performing tricks. And he was the monkey.
Just as Igaram began to feel uneasy, Bonney suddenly snapped out of her daze.
Her eyes lit up as she lunged forward, grabbing Igaram by the collar and lifting him into the air with one hand.
"A feast? All-you-can-eat, right!?"
"O-of course!"
Igaram nodded furiously, terrified by her strength. His body weight wasn't the problem—his hair concealed both a machine gun and a mini-cannon.
And she lifted him with one hand?!
A monster pirate with a bounty over twenty million indeed!
"Then hurry up and start!"
Bonney's eyes practically turned into slabs of meat. Dery and the others twitched at the sight but didn't stop their captain.
Whatever that man planned, if these townsfolk tried anything, the captain alone could crush them.
Nami and Nojiko said nothing—just watched the townsfolk prepare for the feast, expressions full of expectation.
Though, truthfully, they were expecting something else entirely.
Nojiko slipped a hand into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the Dragon Talisman.'So tempting to burn them a little…'
'Now, where would the treasure be?'
Nami's sharp eyes quietly scanned the layout of the buildings.
Meanwhile—
At the island's edge, Zoro followed behind Ren.
Once they were far enough from the townsfolk, he finally asked, "Wouldn't it be easier to just crush them at the harbor?"
"There's been a slight change," Ren murmured, narrowing his eyes. His Sharingan contracted as he looked up at the cactus-shaped rocks, where countless white dots marked the cliffs.
"Zoro, how many of them do you think are bounty hunters?"
"No idea. Probably most of them—but I can't say for sure. Haven't been around long enough."
"I only realized after we arrived," Ren replied calmly, walking toward the rocky ridges. "There are children here. Some of them must be the hunters' kids.
Most are barely ten years old, yet their eyes burn with killing intent when they look at us.
But not all of them.
Makes sense, though—pure killers can't build a town.
Some of these people are combat-trained bounty hunters, sure, but others just handle logistics—brewing, music, trade."
"In the end, aren't they all enemies?"
Zoro frowned slightly, confused.
To him, Ren wasn't someone known for mercy.
Calling him a "good person" would be a joke—one you'd better not tell in front of the corpses he'd sent to the underworld.
"Yeah. Enemies, all the same… but unavoidable ones. After all—we're pirates."
Bounty hunters existed to hunt pirates.
Ordinary civilians would never be their targets; they were lawful, in their own way.
Unfortunately, in their eyes, Ren's crew and Bonney's crew were both pirates—the chaotic evil to their lawful order.
Ren himself didn't care much for that distinction, yet he couldn't deny it either.
Once the Navy branded them with bounties, the world saw them as pirates.
Just like how, in his past life, words spoken by "the beacon of justice" across the sea were treated as ultimate truth.
Because the power of public opinion wasn't in their hands.
Still, that didn't mean Ren would change his mind.
His dream was to reshape the world into something he liked—to turn ideals into reality.
Truth be told, he didn't despise bounty hunters… nor even the Marines outside the 16th Division.
Maybe it was instinct—seeing them as lawful, while not seeing himself as the enemy of order or justice.
That confusion came from the fusion of Keya's heart and his own.
Logically, Ren should've adjusted his mindset—but that wasn't who he was.
His ideal was simple: change the world into what he wanted. Which meant he wouldn't do anything he disliked.
Like, say, wiping out the entire town of Whiskey Peak.
Still, enemies were enemies. His personal feelings wouldn't change that.
He'd let the bounty hunters finish their little play—
Then, once they believed the night belonged to them…
He'd end it.
Just like his answer to the Bloodhand Gang's leader back then: "Destroying you—what's it to you?"
This mercy was granted only because he wanted to grant it.
"You're as arrogant as ever, Ren," Zoro muttered.
"Any objections?"
"No. Honestly, without that arrogance, I wouldn't call you my captain."
"I'm flattered."
As they talked, they reached the base of the cactus cliffs.
The white dots became rows upon rows of gravestones—hundreds of them, each carved with a name.
Ren stepped forward and waited, expecting someone's arrival.
Zoro glanced around, whistling softly.
"Looks like Baroque Works killed a lot of pirates here.
Makes sense. The proud fools who reach the Grand Line always think they're invincible.
Getting fooled by tricks like this—no surprise there."
"Humans are self-centered creatures. You and I are no different."
Ren turned his head slightly—something was approaching.
Zoro's hand moved to his sword, alert.
Moments later, dust rose on the horizon—a birdlike creature sprinted across the plains.
It looked like a duck, but up close, it was enormous—taller than a man, carrying a rider on its back.
Its speed was astounding.
"Legs like a cheetah… and it can keep that pace."
Zoro commented coolly, unsurprised. His captain always planned for "two birds with one stone."
Within seconds, the strange duck stopped nearby, and a beautiful woman leapt down.
She hesitated briefly before walking toward them.
Her long, sky-blue hair was tied in a single ponytail, with two loose strands framing her delicate, aristocratic face.
The faint flush on her cheeks, the pale fur coat outlining her curves, the stockings hugging her thighs—all combined into a striking, almost classical allure.
Zoro glanced away. Ren didn't.
Vivi felt the black-haired man's gaze and remembered Igaram's instructions.
She knew these pirates weren't simple. If she could invite them to the feast, she'd earn Igaram's favor—and be transferred back to Alabasta's capital, continuing her investigation.
Because she wasn't just any woman.
She was Princess Nefertari Vivi of Alabasta.
She had risked everything to infiltrate Baroque Works, determined to uncover the mastermind behind the organization that had plunged her kingdom into chaos.
A year of investigation had shown her the truth: Baroque Works was the source of Alabasta's suffering.
No rain for years. Civil unrest. Rebellion fueled by Dance Powder.
She had to find the cause—no matter the cost.
Within seconds, Vivi steeled her resolve and put on a bright, friendly smile.
"Excuse me, may I have your names? I'm Vivi, a winemaker in this town."
"Vivi?"
Ren tilted his head, his eyes narrowing.
So, you're using your real name as your alias?
No—more like using your alias as your real name.
He thought for a moment and replied, "Ren."
"Zoro," his companion followed curtly.
"I really admire pirates," Vivi continued, her tone full of admiration. "I'd love to hear your adventure stories.
Coincidentally, a new batch of fine grape wine just finished fermenting. Would you like to try some?"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked—at Ren.
Most people found Zoro more approachable, but to her, the black-haired man radiated danger, like a blade waiting to strike.
Her instincts whispered that Zoro wasn't interested in women at all.
But—
At the mention of wine, he wavered!
Perfect. One down.
Now she just had to deal with the man whose eyes were devouring her whole.
"Wine, huh? That's more your thing, Zoro."
"Fine wine's worth tasting," Zoro said calmly.
"Then do as you like," Ren murmured. "After all, the real fun begins tonight."
"Right. See you later."
Zoro walked off without another glance.
He trusted Ren completely—not because of the woman, of course. Though… top-grade wine did sound tempting.
One down, Vivi thought triumphantly. Now for the other one. These people are evil pirates anyway—tricking them is justice!
She clenched a fist over her chest, feigning nervousness with rhythmic movements that made certain… distracting sounds.
'Seriously, what kind of constitution is this? Even Nami made that sound once…'
Ren twitched an eyebrow. From her composure, he couldn't detect a single flaw.
As the saying went—The prettier the woman, the more convincing the lie.
Or perhaps, the prettier the woman, the more willing people are to believe the lie.
He smiled slightly, pushing stray thoughts aside. His cold resolve remained.
"I'm not interested in wine," Ren said smoothly, his grin turning sharp. "But you… you're interesting."
Caught off guard, Vivi's expression cracked. Then she quickly masked it with an embarrassed, hesitant look.
"Mr. Pirate… if your story is fascinating enough, well… I wouldn't mind."
"No. What I mean is—"
Ren's smile darkened, revealing a hint of predatory intent.
"—I'm interested in you, Princess of Alabasta. Nefertari Vivi."
At that instant—
Vivi's pupils shrank. A deafening explosion went off in her head.
He knows!?
Before she could recover, the black-haired man's voice came again—soft, almost a whisper from the devil himself.
"Vivi… you don't want your kingdom to fall, do you?"
(End of Chapter)