A smattering of claps echoed through the din.
Luffy twisted back at the sound, unguarded curiosity lighting his face.
There stood Bege, alone, applauding with deliberate slaps of his palms.
Another wanted man, poster in circulation—but Luffy had no clue. The unfamiliar mug drew a puzzled tilt of his head. The applause, it seemed, was all for him.
Bege tapered off after a few more claps, his grin sharpening as he spoke.
"Not bad at all. Hell of a show."
"Old man—who're you? Pirate, right?"
"Yep. Name's Bege. Commit it to memory if you've got the bandwidth."
"Huh."
Luffy's nonchalance rang clear—bored drawl, eyes already wandering.
An open book, this one. Killer's mask had sparked awe; Bege's tailored suit? Crickets. No malice, just pure impulse—pirate freedom incarnate. But that transparency? A glaring flaw, ripe for exploitation.
Bege sized him up coolly, slipping a cigar between his teeth.
A subordinate sidled up from the shadows, flicking a lighter to life. Flame caught; smoke curled lazy from Bege's lips.
Grinning still, he closed the gap, extending a hand—easy, disarming. A handshake, plain and simple.
"Meeting here's fate, yeah? Let's keep it civil."
"Shi shi shi. Sure thing."
Luffy clasped it with a beaming grin—zero hesitation, like greeting an old chum. The sheer trust yanked a disbelieving chuckle from Bege.
Fingers locked firm, the shake sealed.
But Bege held on, testing waters with a pointed edge.
"Damn trusting, grabbing hands like that."
"Hm?"
"If I'd rigged this grip? You'd be toast the second we touched—no complaints. Could've nixed a rival early. Why so quick on the draw?"
Luffy blinked owlish, then cracked a fresh smile.
"Then I'd just blast ya away. Easy."
"Hah—straight shooter. So you clocked the risk and rolled anyway."
"Shi shi shi."
"Tough nut. More than just a meathead."
Bege released slow, hands diving pocket-deep.
No drama, no strike—the letdown hung brief. Luffy shrugged it off, dropping his arm casual, rooted in place.
His body told a war story: gashes, bruises, blood-streaked and brutal.
Bege snorted, glancing to the crew clustering at his back.
"Patch him up. Captain Kid's spot's free."
"Yes, sir."
"Helpin' me out? Thanks."
"Payment for the entertainment. You strike me as worth the bet."
At the nod, Bege's men ushered Luffy to the recessed nook—tables and chairs scattered amid the wreckage. They eased him into a seat, breaking out bandages and salves.
Bege claimed the spot beside, settling in.
No grand scheme—just talk, it seemed.
Then, breathless, Usopp, Nami, and Vivi burst onto the scene.
"Luffy!"
"Oh—Usopp. You guys made it. Perfect—let's grub."
"Grub?! You idiot— you okay?!"
Usopp's face drained white, hollering from a safe remove.
He'd clocked the suited bruisers, the off-kilter vibe. Worry warred with wariness in his stare.
Nami scanned the faces, landing on Bege—her own twisting sharp.
"Gang Bege...?! No way—another big-bounty pirate?!"
"B-Big bounty?! Oi, Luffy—back off him! Dangerous!"
"Relax—no harm here. Just curious."
Bege leaned back, arms crossed, face stern but devoid of threat.
Hell, his men tended Luffy with practiced ease. The trio—fresh off the sprint—traded baffled looks, tension coiling tight amid the confusion.
Intent murky, but the peace held real.
A barked invite from Bege extended seats their way.
"You lot his crew? Park it. No beef from us."
"Can we trust 'em...? Luffy—you good? Nothin' funny, right?"
"Hm? All good. Just gettin' fixed up normal."
Luffy lounged carefree as wraps bound his wounds—no red flags.
Doubt lingered, but bucking the captain's call? Recipe for mess. Worse: Luffy patched while peril loomed. No need to escalate.
Grudging, they sank into chairs.
Bege exhaled deep, eyeing Luffy anew. Face matched the papers, the headlines.
"Running into the hotshot rookie this quick? And this time of year—you're here for the race, yeah? Heh... or not. Asking's pointless."
"Race? Oh yeah—that flame-head mentioned it. What's the deal?"
"Hah? You rolled up blind?"
"Yup."
"Wild. You know how to reach this rock but skipped the race intel?"
Bege shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated.
Kid had dropped it too: settle it in the race.
Bege knew the score. Luffy, mid-wrap, leaned in.
"Spill it—the race thing."
"What a sap. Fine... Every few years, this island hosts a blowout—uses the terrain, no holds barred. The Dead End: illegal pirate race."
"Dead End... Vivi—ring any bells?"
"No... Never heard of it."
Nami glanced Vivi's way; instant headshake.
Even Grand Line born-and-bred, she drew blanks. Pirate-exclusive, then—danger dripped from the secrecy. Usopp and Nami stiffened; Luffy's eyes sparked early.
"Simple gig: follow the handed-out Eternal Pose to the finish. That's it. But entrants? All pirates. Plenty don't crawl back."
"Wh-Why?"
"Told ya—no rules. Use your imagination."
Bege's sly grin hit Usopp like a gut punch, face spasming.
Luffy? All grins, hooked.
Par for the course—Usopp and Nami's freakout? Textbook.
"Sounds fun."
"Hold up— we can't! Not now!"
"Exactly, Luffy—we're racing to Alabasta. Vivi and Kiri need us—"
"Winner bags a prize. Three hundred mil berries, this year."
"I'm in."
"Already?!"
Bege's offhand bomb flipped Nami's switch—eyes glazing gold-mad, greed bared raw.
Usopp's jaw dropped at the speed-run betrayal.
Prize money? Unforeseen twist.
Logically, yeah—lure the sharks. But here? Poison. Luffy's veto just evaporated.
Usopp jabbed; Nami wheeled, terror shed like snakeskin.
"Gold fever? We just hit Whiskey Peak—fat stacks already! Skip this death trap!"
"With Luffy? Money's a black hole. And three hundred mil? Who passes that up?"
"But dying ends the party! Hell don't take Berry!"
"We'll manage—haven't croaked yet."
"That's sloppy thinking! This is Grand Line!"
Usopp's wail ignored, Nami seized Vivi's shoulders, peering intense.
Eyes screaming avarice, she wilted—fervor veering to outright dread.
"Vivi—sorry, detour ahead. But cash fuels sails. Miss this shot, Alabasta's a pipe dream. You get it, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
"That's coercion! Fight it, Vivi! For your home!"
The trio erupted; Luffy, oblivious, turned to Bege.
"Shi shi shi. We're in."
"Hit the top floor—bookie's lair. Snag your entry Pose."
"Thanks. You joining?"
"Nah. Side gig here."
"Why?"
"Enjoy the ride."
Bege's grin cut short.
He scanned the sprawl: post-brawl buzz amped higher, fights flaring fresh in the wake of their dust-up.
"But watch your step. Once-in-years blowout—powerhouses swarm for it. Spotted a few right here."
"Huh."
"Wanna know more?"
"Sounds intriguing. Lay it out."
"Brief him."
A subordinate stepped up, looming over Luffy.
Bandages flew; treatment wrapped quick.
Luffy perched cross-legged, all ears.
"Dead End's a betting bonanza. Locals handicap winners—crowds bet blind. Odds already cooking; favorites locked."
"Huh. Any I know?"
"Captain Kid—the guy you scrapped? Second pick."
"That flame-brain? Big deal, huh."
Luffy gaped, hooked—shockingly attentive.
Sub confirmed, pressed on.
"Starts tomorrow—roster's near full. Fifth: Bobby and Pogo duo. Giant pair helming Big Runner. Surprisingly speedy for their size."
"Giants? Whoa—Grand Line's got those?"
"Giants news to you? Not rare here. Were down bottom earlier... whatever."
The man fished a poster from his coat, glancing as he spoke.
Bege lounged arms-crossed, eyes lidded—biding.
Luffy tuned him out, locked on the rundown.
"Fourth: Willy's Fish-Man crew. Ex-Jinbe underling, Arlong's rival whispers. Solo now, though."
"Arlong's rival, huh. Wonder what he's up to."
"Right—you posed with Arlong."
"Yeah—holding his for Kiri."
Nod of approval; on to next.
"Third: 'Surgeon of Death' Trafalgar Law. Was here till lately. North Blue schemer—ships of pirates and Marines alike, ghosted by him."
"Oh—the bear guy's pal? They crewmates?"
"Second's Kid, like I said. Temper? Top dog. You felt it up close."
"Yeah... Gotta settle with him someday."
Luffy absorbed it all, arms folded, nodding sage.
Beat. A pregnant pause.
"Top dog: Gasparde. Ninety-five mil bounty. The 'General' pirate."
"Gasparde?"
Nami piped up at the name; Luffy whipped around.
"You know him?"
"Yeah... 'General' Gasparde. Navy's blackest mark. Ex-Marine—hijacked a warship for the pirate life. Wins at any cost; folks despise him for it."
"Ninety-five mil?! Near a hundred?!"
"Beats Crocodile's entry bounty—eighty-one mil."
"Gahhh?! Above a Warlord? No way! We're out—monsters like that? Dead meat!"
Usopp detonated hotter than before—body English screaming refusal, vowing no-play. Nami sighed; Vivi tensed, wordless.
Bege cut in—not the sub, but himself. Couldn't let that slide; he commandeered the correction.
"Not above Warlords. They shed bounties on join—frozen unless they bolt. Croc's old news—years back. You think he stalled at eighty-one mil power?"
"S-So... stronger now?"
"Over a hundred, easy. Traded blows with Whitebeard."
"Uwaaaah?! Beat that?! Vivi—pirate pit! Rally allies! Swarm a Warlord—numbers win!"
"But then those pirates might raid the kingdom."
"Right! Can't trust scum!"
Usopp ranted wild to Vivi—ideas bouncing, death-proof schemes spawning. Vivi engaged grave; Nami half-rolled eyes, half-invested.
Luffy alone eyed Bege—dead serious.
"Who wins—Crocodile or him?"
"Well, never eyeballed Croc myself—"
Smoke trailed a sigh; Bege's grin deepened.
"But nine times ten? Croc. Different league."
"Huh."
Luffy's laugh turned feral.
Usopp's panic, Vivi's stakes—easy guess at their mark. Calculated ask.
No flinch, just fire? Unshakable.
Not your average fool.
Bege warmed to it, intrigued.
"Your call how you play. Wanna test mettle? Hustle that signup."
"Yeah. Top floor it is."
"Race entry, then. Beat the cutoff."
"Wait—you guys! We talk this out!"
"Usopp-san... think it's futile. Nami-san's eyes, you know..."
They rose, resolve set for the next leg.
Bege stayed planted, unopposed.
Luffy glanced back, grin flashing.
"Thanks for the fix, old man. Off to register."
"Do it. If you make it unscathed."
"You cool? Winner's three hundred mil."
"Plenty ways to stack Berry sans racing."
Cigar plucked free; Bege's gaze sharpened, advisory.
"Rush in all you want—but captain up? Learn brains-over-brawn survival. That long-nose? Sharp instincts. Shadow him."
"Shi shi shi. Nah— I don't think, so Usopp does. Kiri said it: need both, not one."
"Heh. Grateful for the coward and your number-two, eh?"
"Yup. Already am."
Words done, purpose served. Luffy led; crew trailed. Rowdy as the riffraff, but... altered, somehow.
Bege watched 'em go, rooted, smirking soft.
This Dead End? Chaos brewing.
Kid's rage, Luffy's spark—he savored it, grin wicked.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
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