"Attack!"
Falcone's roar overlapped almost perfectly with Sami's command.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—!
Gunfire exploded instantly.
A storm of lead bullets rained toward the three of them like a sudden downpour!
But just before the flames burst from the gun barrels—
Isaac's massive, bear-like body erupted with explosive power.
With a brutal kick, he slammed his foot into the heavy wooden booth beside them.
BOOM!
Wood splintered everywhere as the enormous booth slid sideways like a wooden shield, blocking the three men.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud—
Bullets buried themselves into the thick wood in rapid succession, the dull impacts sending chills down the spine.
"Aldo!" Sami barked.
"Leave it to me! Hahaha!"
Aldo burst out laughing.
Charging from behind the booth like a raging bull, he swung the spiked club in his hands with terrifying force.
CRASH!
A heavy oak table exploded into flying shards and splinters, scattering like shrapnel toward the gunmen on the flank.
"My eyes!"
"Damn it!"
Screams erupted immediately.
The dense wall of gunfire was instantly torn open.
"Quick! Take down the one with the club first!"
One quick-thinking mob leader shouted desperately.
The remaining gunmen swung their barrels toward Aldo, trying to concentrate their fire on the exposed target.
But at that exact moment—
Isaac and Sami moved.
Isaac charged forward like a tank, smashing straight into the crowd.
He didn't need weapons.
His iron fists were more than enough.
Each punch carried the weight of a falling mountain.
Anyone struck had bones shattered and bodies sent flying like broken sacks.
The scene turned violently chaotic.
But compared to the brutal, head-on fighting style of his two officers—
Captain Sami moved completely differently.
The instant Aldo and Isaac drew most of the gunfire and attention—
Sami moved.
His figure blended into the dim yellow light and the flying splinters.
Like a faint shadow impossible to track with the naked eye, he slipped into the gaps between the mobsters.
He made no obvious attack.
No punches.
No kicks.
He simply moved through them like a slippery fish gliding through water.
The gangsters only felt something brush past them.
From the corner of their eyes they thought they saw a shadow.
A faint sensation touched their skin—like cold seaweed lightly grazing their bodies.
"…?"
"What the hell was—"
Before the thought could even finish—
Sami had already appeared at the far end of the crowd.
His back now facing the dozens of gun-wielding mobsters still standing there in confusion.
Sami raised his left hand, covering the left half of his face.
Tilting his head slightly back, a mischievous grin could be seen through the gaps between his fingers.
"Feel the pain."
"The feast begins!"
Poison Fist — Thousand Needle Banquet!
The moment the words fell—
It was as if some invisible switch had been flipped.
"AAAH—! My arm!!"
"My hand! It feels like it's being stabbed through!"
"My leg! I can't move my leg! It hurts!"
"My stomach—something's drilling inside! Help!"
Screams erupted everywhere.
The mobsters who had only felt that faint brush moments earlier collapsed like dominoes.
They clutched the spots Sami had touched—arms, hands, thighs, or waists.
It was as if countless invisible poison needles were piercing them repeatedly.
The pain was unbearable.
They lost all ability to fight, writhing and screaming across the wrecked tavern floor.
The intense gunfight had instantly turned into a hell of agony.
"Hehehe…"
Sami lowered the hand covering his face and turned around.
Looking at the results of his attack, he couldn't help but chuckle proudly.
Of the thirty-plus gangsters—
Isaac and Aldo had already taken down a portion.
The rest had been completely incapacitated by Sami's Thousand Needle Banquet.
Only a handful remained standing.
And Falcone—whose courage had already shattered.
Clutching the wound on his head, Falcone watched as most of his men were cut down within minutes.
He finally understood.
A 69 million Berry bounty was not something he had any business challenging.
"M-monster! Retreat! Retreat!" he screamed in terror, turning to flee toward the tavern's back door.
Unfortunately—
Just as his hand touched the doorframe—
A hand gently landed on his shoulder.
Sami had somehow appeared behind him.
"Yo, Mr. Falcone."
Sami smiled harmlessly.
"I'm not done having fun yet."
"Where do you think you're going?"
Falcone's legs gave out instantly.
He collapsed to the ground and shoved the briefcase in his hand toward Sami.
"S-Sami Boss! Please don't kill me!"
"I was wrong! I have money! I'll give you all of it!"
"Please spare my life!"
Sami took the case and opened it.
One glance was enough for him to estimate the amount.
"Thirty million."
He closed the case.
"That sounds like a fair price to buy your life—and the lives of all your men. Right?"
Falcone nodded frantically, tears and snot covering his face.
"Yes! Yes! Very fair! Thank you Captain Sami for sparing me!"
"Mhm."
Sami nodded calmly.
"I'm a very fair person."
Just as hope began to appear in Falcone's eyes—
Sami crouched down.
"So I'll take the money."
He lightly patted Falcone's tear-covered cheek.
"And your life…"
"…I'll take that as a bonus."
"See? Isn't that fair?"
"No—!!!"
Falcone's plea turned into a choking scream.
A faint purple color spread rapidly beneath the skin where Sami had touched him.
His eyes bulged.
His body convulsed violently.
Within seconds—
He died silently in unbearable agony.
Sami flicked his hand with visible disgust.
As if brushing off dust.
His cold gaze swept over the remaining survivors—who were already kneeling and begging desperately.
"Get lost."
"Take this trash with you."
The survivors scrambled away in panic, dragging bodies and injured comrades behind them.
Within moments the tavern was empty.
Sami didn't bother looking at the wreckage anymore.
Carrying the briefcase, he left the shattered tavern with his officers.
Outside, the sunlight was blinding.
The sea breeze smelled salty.
Aldo took a deep breath of the fresh air and grinned.
"Boss, going out with you is always fun!"
"Now our funds are full again!"
Sami smirked slightly.
The cold killing intent from earlier had already vanished as if it never existed.
Suddenly—
He stopped walking.
Then turned around and went back into the ruined tavern.
The owner was still hiding behind the bar counter, trembling violently.
Seeing the killing god return nearly made him faint.
Sami ignored his terrified expression.
He opened the briefcase again and casually pulled out several stacks of Berries.
About one million.
He placed the money on the dusty bar counter with a slap.
"Here, boss."
The owner stared at the money.
Then at Sami.
His brain completely blank.
Sami jerked his thumb toward the destroyed tavern behind him.
His tone carried a faint smile.
"Use it to buy new tables and chairs."
"And renovate the place."
With that, he turned and walked back into the sunlight.
Aldo and Isaac exchanged glances.
Both saw the same smile in each other's eyes and quickly followed.
Aldo leaned closer and whispered.
"Boss… you're too polite."
"You even paid him."
Sami walked toward the harbor with his hands in his pockets, replying lazily.
"We're pirates."
"Not mindless vandals."
Then he glanced back at the crooked sign of the Old Violin Tavern.
His voice carried a strange tone.
"Besides…"
"Maybe someday we'll come back here for a drink."
Aldo scratched his head.
"Oh…"
"Enough talking," Sami said, quickening his pace.
"Let's go meet Hans and the others."
"It's time to leave this boring sea…"
"…and head for the Grand Line."
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