Alvida didn't refuse.
She grabbed the mug of ale and downed it in huge gulps.
"I've joined your Thunder Pirates, sure— but I'm not gonna be some low-ranking grunt!"
"Lucky Drake, when are we fighting?"
She felt her strength fully recovered, and with the power of the Devil Fruit, she was stronger than ever—ready for battle.
"Anytime."
Lucky Drake replied calmly.
After all, she still carried a mission reward
defeat Alvida to earn lottery points.
"Oh? Then let's do it now.
I can't wait any longer.
But if you lose, the vice-captain position won't be enough for me!"
Alvida stomped one foot onto the stool, radiating dominance.
"Heh. Then follow me."
Lucky Drake smirked.
"Awei, find her a sturdy iron club."
"Got it!"
Soon after—
Lucky Drake and Alvida stood face-to-face in the middle of the street.
Alvida gripped an iron club.
Lucky Drake held a supreme-grade blade.
—Though no one recognized its true value.
A crowd had already gathered to watch.
"You ready?"
Lucky Drake asked lightly.
"What do you think?"
Alvida suddenly leapt high into the air, swinging the iron club downward.
Lucky Drake instantly activated Soru, vanishing from his spot and dodging the heavy strike.
He reappeared to the side.
Alvida reacted quickly, charging forward and swinging again.
But Lucky Drake used Soru repeatedly, weaving through every attack with ease.
"Humph! All you do is dodge?"
Alvida was irritated—his movement speed was simply too fast.
She was always a step behind.
"I'm just letting you see your weaknesses.
Your attack speed is far too slow.
As a member of the Thunder Pirates, you can't stay this weak."
Lucky Drake commented with a smile.
"Cut the crap.
All I need is one hit, and you won't be able to move!"
Alvida sneered.
"Hahaha, confident again?
Then try one more time."
This time, Lucky Drake did not dodge.
Facing Alvida's swung iron club, he casually swung the supreme blade in his hand.
Inner power from the Nine Yang Divine Art surged into the blade.
BOOM!!
The moment club and blade collided, a violent shockwave burst out.
Alvida was blasted backward over ten meters.
Lucky Drake didn't give her any chance to recover.
Since he had chosen to strike, he would crush her completely— let her truly understand the difference in their strength.
He followed with another slash, sending out a visible blade aura that chased after her.
"What?!"
Alvida had barely tried to stabilize her footing.
She hurriedly raised her iron club with both hands to block.
BOOM!!
But she couldn't withstand it.
She was thrown back violently, arms numb from the impact.
Only now did she realize—
She was absolutely not Lucky Drake's match.
His strength was terrifying.
How could such a weak-looking pirate crew have someone so overwhelmingly strong?
"Alvida, want to continue?"
Lucky Drake approached her slowly.
Alvida climbed up, dusting herself off.
She admitted honestly,
"Continue what?
I'm no match for you at all."
"I don't want the vice-captain position anymore."
The moment she surrendered, the system chimed in Lucky Drake's mind.
Ding!
Mission complete: Defeat Alvida.
Reward: 500 Lottery Points.
Lucky Drake felt joy bubbling inside.
Another 500 points!
He had squeezed a total of 1,000 lottery points out of Alvida.
"System, give me a five-pull!"
With enough points, Lucky Drake couldn't resist hitting the draw.
Ding! One year of inner power!
Ding! One year of inner power!
…
Five pulls,
five times one year of inner power.
Lucky Drake's eyelid twitched violently.
Seriously?
All inner power?
And only one year each?!
If the system loved inner power so much, why not just drop a hundred-year inner power at once?!
Whatever.
The five-pull also came with a bonus draw.
He prayed for something good.
Ding! Congratulations, you received: "Thank you for participating."
Lucky Drake's expression darkened instantly.
Alvida was frightened by the look on his face.
"S-sorry, Vice-Captain!
I'll never call myself 'old lady' again!"
Lucky Drake snapped out of it and said,
"See that you don't."
"I know!"
Alvida nodded meekly.
"Hmm?"
Then Lucky Drake suddenly noticed a familiar face among the crowd.
"Nami?"
The girl in the crowd stiffened when Lucky Drake looked her way.
Then she immediately turned and ran.
"Forget it…
We'll meet again."
Lucky Drake didn't chase.
He would eventually go to Arlong Park for more experience anyway.
Their paths were destined to cross.
"Make way! Our Captain Buggy is arriving!"
At that moment a large group of pirates, more than a hundred, pushed through the crowd.
At their center stood the man with a 16 million Berry bounty—
Devil Fruit user Buggy the Clown, the Chop-Chop Man.
Civilians panicked at the sight, fleeing into their homes and slamming their doors shut.
"Captain Buggy!
These are the ones who defied us!"
A Buggy pirate shouted proudly.
Buggy sat on an open sedan chair, carried like a local tyrant.
He opened one eye, glancing lazily at Lucky Drake and his group.
"Only this many?"
Buggy sneered.
"Heheheh…
You dare oppose the great Captain Buggy?
Who do you think you are?"
"State your names!
I don't kill nobodies."
Red stepped forward bravely.
"I am the captain of the Thunder Pirates."
"Thunder Pirates?
Heheheh.
Never heard of you!"
Buggy smirked.
"Still, you killed my men.
How do you want to settle this?"
"But I'm generous, kneel and submit to the Buggy Pirates, and I might spare your lives."
His tone was joking, but the murderous intent behind it was unmistakable.
Red laughed coldly.
"Stop joking.
We're here to challenge you!"
~~--------------------------------
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