Under the suffocating pressure of killing intent, the entire street seemed to change color. Everything within sight was dyed a maddening, blood-like red.
The closer one got to where Weiss stood, the more vivid that crimson hue became—as if blood itself was flowing, clinging to the walls and paving the street in a sinister tide.
Two pirates collapsed under the sheer force of that oppressive aura, their eyes rolling back into white as they fainted. Strangely, the bystanders remained unaffected, oblivious—an effect of Weiss's precise control.
As the pirates hit the ground, the red tide receded like a vanishing hallucination. It was as though nothing had ever happened.
"Boss, how much is this?"
"For you, honored guest, this whole bag of fruit is free—no charge at all!" The vendor, trembling behind his stall, didn't even dare to take money. Those two pirates hadn't even exchanged a word before they passed out.
One could only imagine how terrifying the man before him truly was!
Weiss could tell from the vendor's expression that there was no way he'd accept payment. With a flick of his wrist, he dropped 1,000 Berey and walked off, bag in hand. A young man quickly caught up to him.
"What are you doing here?" Weiss asked, looking at the flamboyantly dressed Theodore. Wasn't he supposed to be back on the ship?
"Big bro, wherever you go, I go!"
...
...
"Don't call me that. I don't have a little brother like you—I can't afford the trouble." A junior who went around picking fights with every strong person he saw? What, did he think Weiss had too much free time?
"Aw, come on, Big Bro! Didn't you already accept my tribute? You're not going to pretend that never happened, right?" Theodore put on an exaggeratedly dramatic expression.
"Wait—what tribute? I never received anything from you." Weiss thought about it. He truly hadn't accepted any money or gifts from Theodore.
Karina and the others definitely wouldn't take anything without his permission. So this "tribute" was just nonsense.
"I'm talking about the goods worth ten million Berry!"
"What?! Ten million Berry? That much?!"
Weiss was stunned. He had figured Karina might have freeloaded a bit, but never imagined it would be that excessive.
That much in supplies… Whether they could even consume it all was one thing, but storing it? That was a real issue.
"I double-checked with the hotel manager. You were served only the finest ingredients, and even after rounding down, the bill was a solid one million Berry. But I gave a total of eleven million Berry!"
"I'm not a stingy guy. Ten million? I can afford it. Let's just call it my boarding fee."
"How about this—we call it even? I won't return your money, and you don't come aboard my ship. Deal?" Weiss offered.
"No can do. I never take back what I give! Besides, do you even have that kind of money?"
Theodore folded his arms with that same cocky flair. He had already done his homework—Weiss and his group weren't true pirates. They never robbed merchants or did anything lawless.
Which meant… they probably didn't have much money.
"Pay me back? You think you can? No way! This time, I've got you right where I want you. I'm getting on that ship, and no one's going to stop me!" Theodore thought confidently.
"Captain, actually, I—"
As he turned to continue speaking, Theodore realized the spot where Weiss had been standing was now empty. His hand, half-raised in greeting, froze awkwardly mid-air.
He didn't know how long he stood there.
"Mommy, is that a new statue? It looks so real!" a little girl passing by pointed innocently at the stiff Theodore.
Her mother yanked her away. "No, sweetie—that's a weirdo. Don't go near him!"
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the wind scattered leaves across the street, the golden rays of the setting sun bathed Theodore's proud figure.
It was the first time in his life someone had called him a pervert.
...
"Tch. Trying to stick to me like glue? As long as I run fast enough, I can pretend I never heard you. Then it doesn't count."
Weiss actually didn't dislike Theodore. The guy had gone to sea for the sake of his declining family, challenging powerful foes across the world to sharpen his skills—even willing to die in the process.
That kind of person was admirable. But bringing him aboard?
That was just asking for trouble. With his family's influence hanging over him, Theodore would always put their interests first—not his crewmates'.
Better to admire him from a distance.
Unless...
As night fell, Weiss stepped into a local tavern. It was his ritual whenever he arrived on a new island—sampling the local food and drink.
Of course, the finest liquor was never found in taverns. Those were privately owned, hidden in the collections of nobles and elites. Sadly, Weiss didn't know anyone like that, so the tavern would have to do.
Because of the auction, Flying Bird Island was swarming with all sorts—merchants, mercenaries, pirates. Lawless thugs were practically around every corner.
The tavern was lively, the noise almost deafening.
Weiss ordered a drink and sat quietly at the bar, enjoying his solitude. The dim lighting obscured his face, keeping him out of sight and mind.
"Hey, Captain. That's not the best wine in this place, y'know."
The moment he heard that voice, Weiss froze mid-sip, his hand tightening around the glass. Sure enough, Theodore was sitting across from him.
Weiss felt a wave of irritation. This guy reminded him of Matt—a thick-skinned type you couldn't shake with words. You couldn't yell, you couldn't scold—nothing worked.
Kick him out? The man had already delivered supplies, treated them to a lavish meal… Could Weiss really do that?
For the first time in his life, he understood what it meant to feel beholden to someone. Who was freeloading off whom here?
There really was no such thing as a free lunch!
"Fine. I'll have Karina deliver the money back to your ship—plus an extra ten million in interest," Weiss said. It was the only solution he could think of.
If Theodore still insisted on boarding, then he had to give up his family ties and only return after he had become strong enough. Not some brat sailing under his family's name, provoking every powerhouse at sea.
Come to think of it, the only reason Aokiji let him go might have been the Carmeline family name and the fact Theodore hadn't committed any crimes. Otherwise… how could anyone get someone back from an admiral? What did they think he was, a Yonko?
But Theodore just smiled.
"Captain, my family's fallen far from grace, sure. But we're not short on a few tens of millions of Berries. A single banquet can cost hundreds of millions. A dinner can run several million easy."
"If you board my ship, you'll have to give all that up. You'll be running across the world with me. You still want that? Your family is hanging by a thread right now—you're the only powerhouse they've got left."
"If you leave, the Carmeline family is finished."
"Can I still use the Carmeline name?" Theodore asked hesitantly.
"…I guess?"
"Then it's settled! No problem at all!" Theodore agreed instantly, as if afraid Weiss would change his mind.
"???"
Weiss was completely dumbfounded. What happened to all that talk about family ties? The glory of the clan above all? Fighting to revive the family name?
You agreed… that easily?!
You're not following the script!!
After thinking about it some more, Weiss still couldn't wrap his head around it. He just left a "Let me think about it" and vanished.
Theodore watched him leave, something unspoken flickering in his eyes as he drank alone.
A man dressed like a butler stepped out from the back of the tavern and walked straight over to Theodore.
"Young Master, is this really worth it?"
The only reason Theodore had found Weiss so quickly was because this tavern… belonged to the Carmeline family.
"Butler Izel," Theodore said softly, "our family can't afford to wait any longer. The hyenas have already smelled blood. What we need now… is a lion."
"The name 'Sword Demon' carries far more weight than 'Theodore.'"
"If pirates can raise their flag on an island… then the Sword Demon can raise his inside the family."
"The price? Just one person."