"Ah!!!!"
A female diner in the restaurant screamed, dropping her utensils and covering her head as she closed her eyes:
"Monster!!!"
Hawkins' terrifying scarecrow form was truly horrifying.
That grotesque figure, more phantom than human, frightened the customers so badly they scattered and fled.
"Run! There's a monster here, a creature!"
Terrified, the customers rushed desperately toward the front and back exits.
"Customers, please pay your bill…"
The restaurant manager watched the fleeing crowd, wanting to cry, but unable to stop them.
If he weren't the manager, he would have run too.
…
Click!
"How frightening!"
Shirogai looked at the straw sword, tinged with an eerie aura, brandished at him. With a calm smile, he snapped his fingers and said:
"Straw-Straw Fruit, a unique Devil Fruit power. It's a pity you haven't mastered it, instead becoming its slave."
He mocked Hawkins' ability, then lowered his head and continued walking forward as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring Hawkins raising his straw sword in attack.
"I, I…"
Hawkins, transformed into a nightmare figure, stood with the straw sword inches from Shirogai, drenched in sweat, unable to move it.
Not only that, he had completely lost control of his own body.
"Is this the power of a 5 billion Berries pirate?"
Hawkins could only stand frozen, held stiff like an odd statue, unable to take even one step.
"Just by snapping his fingers, I can't move anymore!!!"
Hawkins' straw visage was locked with disbelief.
Through divination he already knew this opponent was powerful, but he never imagined that a simple finger snap could immobilize him.
Is this what a pirate with a 5 billion Berries bounty is truly capable of?
No wonder when he measured the danger earlier, his straw card exploded — that card's explosion already signified an unpredictable threat.
Now, can he avoid that 99% death fate while frozen here?
Terrified and helpless, he could do nothing but watch events unfold.
"Idiot, how dare you lay hands on Darling?"
Shalria, clinging to Shirogai's arm, turned her head, chin raised proudly, glancing at Hawkins.
"Foolish pirate, the gap between you and Darling is even greater than the difference between candlelight and the sun. As long as Darling wishes, if he so much as looks at you, you would already be dead!"
As a Celestial Dragon, Shalria had personally dispatched CP-0 to gather intel on Shirogai. She knew exactly how strong he was.
Even for Celestial Dragons, the Marine Admirals were the strongest combat force they could call upon.
Yet even so, they could not deploy three Admirals at once to protect him.
And Shirogai was a powerhouse who could contend with three Admirals plus countless Marine Vice Admirals!
"Darling, why don't you kill this lowly pirate who dared attack you?"
Shalria clung coquettishly to Shirogai's arm, unconcerned that her ample chest pressed against him.
"Killing him would ruin my appetite," Shirogai replied with a smile, glancing at the other Supernovas who were too hesitant to act.
"Gentlemen, a restaurant is for eating, not fighting. Anyone who wants to fight will end up like him. If you want to fight, wait until I go outside."
Bang!
Someone slammed a table forcefully.
"Ah ha ha ha!! Arrogant Emperor Shirogai, truly arrogant!"
Kid struck the table, an unruly laugh twisting his mouth.
He looked at Shirogai, who walked forward with a beautiful companion, completely dismissing them, the Supernovas, and stood with a sinister smile.
"Hmph!"
He stepped closer, gaze fixed on Shirogai.
"Do you think subduing a weakling can intimidate me?"
Killer rose, revealing the scythe on his wrist, warning Kid as he watched Shirogai intently:
"Kid! Be careful!"
"Don't worry! For a 5 billion Berries pirate, I'm going all out!"
Kid grinned and raised his hand, palm glowing a ghostly blue as he grasped at the air.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle…
Magnetism emanated from his palm as he tried to attract nearby metal, intending to shape formidable weapons.
"Heh heh, some people just don't listen to advice!"
Shirogai turned his head slightly toward Kid, smiled, and snapped his fingers again.
Click!
A crisp snap echoed through the nearly empty restaurant.
"What?! I, I can't move!"
"Bastard! What kind of ability is this?!"
Kid and Killer both froze in place, just like Hawkins, unable to move a muscle.
"Damn it!!!"
Kid struggled in disbelief, but his body remained immobile, as if submerged under a great weight.
…
Seeing Kid and Killer paralyzed, the other Supernovas finally checked their arrogance, faces tightening with seriousness.
"What kind of Devil Fruit ability is this? Just two finger snaps, and it traps people immobile?"
In the corner, the Captain of the On Air Pirates, Scratchmen Apoo, with a bounty of 198 million Berries, watched Shirogai with rising wariness and fear.
He fancied himself experienced, having encountered many powerful Devil Fruit users, even facing some in combat.
But with just two simple snaps, two ordinary finger motions, he could see no clear technique at work.
Why were these pirates — all with bounties over 100 million Berries — unable to move?
"Hey, you shorty over there, did you figure anything out?" Jewelry Bonney asked Capone Bege, who was equally surprised.
"Crude woman, what did you call me?" Bege glared angrily.
If not for Shirogai's silent authority, he would have already ordered his crew to open fire on Bonney.
Bonney, chewing her food indifferently, replied:
"Shorty? What should I call you then?"
"Hmph, I'll forgive your rudeness this time, but there won't be a next! Call me Godfather!"
Bege snorted coldly.
"However, I really didn't catch what Devil Fruit ability this Arrogant Emperor used."
"You're no good either! Shorty Godfather!" Bonney pouted.
…
Bege took a deep breath, lifted his head, and glared fiercely at Bonney.
Alright, rude and ill-mannered woman!
I'll remember you!
Next time, I will definitely put you down to erase this humiliation!
_____
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