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He and Robin both glanced toward Ross, who was sitting silently on the carpet, head lowered, lost in thought. She ignored their gazes completely.
If... she were to ask them for help, to defeat Laut Hayina…
On the True Gold and Silver Island, Ross followed behind the two, watching their backs grow distant, her eyes dimming and her heart sinking.
What good would asking for their help do?
Hayina wasn't Crocodile. Her bounty had once far surpassed that of another Warlord like the Sand Crocodile. Giorno could chase Crocodile across the skies, but Hayina?
That female pirate's bounty from seven years ago had already exceeded Giorno's current total bounty combined.
Besides…
Ross clenched her fists tightly, her heart drowning in a surge of guilt and self-loathing. I actually wanted to send two people who've treated me so kindly… to their deaths. How pathetic… how disgusting I am… If only I could just disappear, then I wouldn't have to feel this pain anymore.
"Ah, we've reached the city."
Liam's voice snapped Ross out of her dark thoughts. She lifted her head to see a town up ahead. At first glance, it looked bustling and prosperous, but upon closer look, it was clearly worn down and faded.
The townspeople wore the region's distinctive style of clothing, exaggerated patterns, intricate embroidery, and finely tailored designs that must have once come from renowned fashion houses.
But Robin quickly noticed that most of the flashy garments were threadbare, and some were patched up in several places.
"The so-called 'Land of Prosperity' on the 'True Gold and Silver Island,' huh…" Liam muttered, sweeping his eyes across the crowd. "This is what passes for wealthy?"
Given his towering frame of over two meters, his voice was not something that could easily be ignored.
Many passersby heard him, some glared, muttering under their breath; others shot him a resentful look, but after meeting his gaze, quickly lowered their heads and hurried away. A few people stared at him and the tall woman beside him with uncertain expressions, as if trying to recall where they had seen this pair before…
B.I.B. drifted up beside him, its black helmet disassembling and reforming over Liam's face. Through the narrow, faintly glowing visor, Liam saw a flash of memories projected by his Stand.
Comic panels flipped rapidly through his mind, and then froze on Chapter 524. The island where Brook had landed after being sent flying by Kuma…
The "Scrap Iron Island," home of the so-called "Poor Nation", the same Halahaitania Kingdom. In the manga, the island was nothing but ruins, dilapidated houses, crumbling walls, not a single complete building. Pirates didn't even bother with the place. The only ones who ever came by were bandits from Kenzan Island, the neighboring land of the Longarm Tribe, treating the locals like curiosities.
"Hey there, handsome! Miss! Want to buy some clothes?"
A man suddenly ran up to them, holding several beautiful garments and displaying them eagerly.
"These are top designs straight from the Sabaody Archipelago! For you, only '{30,000,000}' Berries each! What do you say? Thirty million and they're yours!"
Robin reached out to feel the fabric, it seemed authentic.
"Thirty million, huh…" Liam mused. "For that price, you could go to the East Blue and buy a whole pile of pirate heads."
'{30,000,000}' Berries, that was exactly the bounty Luffy had received after defeating Arlong for the first time. Yet here, it was just enough to buy two sets of clothes from an ordinary citizen of this so-called "wealthy nation."
The men's outfit was quite nice, and Robin actually considered buying it for Liam…
But before she could speak, someone nearby shouted angrily, "Tch! Thirty million? That's daylight robbery!"
The seller immediately snapped back, "How's that expensive?! I bought this three years ago for eighty million Berries, never even wore it once! Selling it for thirty now is a steal!"
"Fair point," Liam nodded thoughtfully. "But… eighty million, you said?"
Their eyes met, Robin's and Liam's, perfectly in sync, as if their thoughts were linked.
"Guess the 'Devil Child' was only worth two sets of clothes after all," Liam muttered. "The Marines sure are stingy."
"…"
The man who had interrupted earlier rummaged through his patched bag and pulled out two other pristine outfits, one men's and one women's. The women's was a black gothic leather-and-lace dress, the men's a white casual suit that would have suited Liam's build perfectly. Together, they made quite the matching pair.
Robin's expression shifted slightly. If the price isn't outrageous… she thought.
"Eight million Berries!" the man declared, holding up two fingers decisively. "These two outfits, I bought them five years ago on the Sabaody Archipelago for a hundred million Berries. Eight million and they're yours!"
Liam glanced down at him, this man's clothes were even more tattered than the last seller's. He was probably even poorer, more desperate for cash.
Soon, more hidden clothing peddlers emerged from the crowd, seizing the opportunity and swarming around them.
"I've got something better! Eight million? That's robbery!"
"Three outfits here! Seven million and they're all yours!"
"No exaggeration, I bought this one for fifty million Berries! If I didn't urgently need money to pay the Heavenly Tribute, I'd never sell it. Tell you what, flat price, five million!"
"…"
By the time Liam and his group managed to push through the mob and step into a cracked-sign restaurant, Robin was already carrying several shopping bags filled with clothes.
Ross followed in silence. She turned back once, looking at the chaotic crowd that had just moments ago gone wild trying to sell clothes to Liam and Robin. Now, they scattered in all directions, a scene of desperation beneath the island's supposed prosperity.
Farther down the street, a group of soldiers marched by. Several of the very same merchants who had been selling to them earlier were now crying in front of the soldiers. Ross faintly caught words like "Heavenly Tribute," "Sea Chess," and "Loans" drifting through the air.
The princess sat down with Liam and Robin inside the restaurant. While the two were placing their orders, she suddenly heard a voice behind her, one that made her heart skip a beat.
"Truly pathetic…"
Guns?!
Ross's pupils shrank as she slowly turned to look. Sitting at the table behind her, his back facing her, was a man whose silhouette she knew all too well, Commander Guns, the personal guard captain of her father, the king.
Why is he here?!
"The 'Land of Prosperity'… won't be called that much longer, will it?" Guns said quietly, still facing away.
His companion at the table took a sip of wine and looked out the window, chuckling. "Don't tell me you're feeling sorry for them?"
"No," Guns replied, turning his gaze toward the street. "I'm just admiring the view."
BANG!
A sudden gunshot shattered the calm. Outside the restaurant window, one of the soldiers arguing with a resident collapsed, blood bursting from his forehead.
"Gunfire!"
"Someone's been killed!"
Panic erupted instantly. The street outside fell into chaos as soldiers and civilians clashed, shouting and scattering. Inside the restaurant, the same confusion spread, people had clearly heard the shot nearby, yet no one had seen a weapon. There wasn't even a trace of gun smoke in the air.
Liam remained completely unfazed, continuing to eat heartily as if nothing had happened.
Robin, hearing the commotion, turned her head to glance around. In the confusion, the men at the neighboring table slipped out quietly.
Then she noticed Ross, head lowered, shoulders trembling slightly.
Ross's eyes were wide with horror. As Guns and his companion passed behind her, she clearly heard his voice, no longer the gentle tone she remembered, but a cold, almost amused whisper:
"This will make things… more interesting."
Guns.
It was Guns who fired the shot!
Ross's heart pounded in terror. Why? Why would he do this? Why is he here? What happened to him?
Commander Guns, the Gun-Gun Fruit user!
(End Of This Chapter)