"What's this? Just three Marine recruits — you gave me a scare!"
"Tsk tsk tsk! Do you even know where you are? And you dare to walk in?"
"Hahaha, I bet they'll wet themselves soon!"
"..."
The pirates burst into raucous laughter.
If Hyaku's group had proper military rank, the pirates wouldn't be so brazen. After all, pirates are still pirates — they're supposed to flee at the sight of the Marine.
"Officer Hyaku... should we...?" Coby felt a chill run down his spine as dozens of pirates glared menacingly at them. He instinctively moved closer and whispered.
"Ignore them." Hyaku stated.
He didn't have time to bother with them anyway. His priority was to find out if Blackbeard was currently on Jaya.
"Bartender, I'd like to ask about someone." Hyaku walked straight to the bar and sat down casually.
The bartender, a stubbled man in his forties called Terry, hesitated noticeably.
"Young Marine brother, you'd better leave quickly. This isn't a place for a rookie like you." Terry advised sympathetically.
"It's fine, I just want to ask about someone called—"
CRASH!
Just as Hyaku was about to speak, the sound of breaking glass interrupted him from behind.
He remained calm, but Coby and Helmeppo were so startled they fell right to the floor, looking quite pathetic.
"Hahaha..."
"Marine!"
"So this is the Marine!"
Another contemptuous laugh rang out from behind as they witnessed Coby and his companion's sorry state.
A blonde man stood up from his seat and walked out.
Hearing the commotion behind him, Hyaku slowly turned around. The blonde man who came into view had a very prominent scar over his left eye. He wore sunglasses and had a wicked smirk on his face.
"Hey, isn't that Bellamy?"
"These three Marine recruits are in trouble."
"Bellamy has a bounty of ฿55,000,000."
"And they say he's got quite the temper."
Hyaku studied the man as the crowd's excited whispers filled the air.
Standing before his group was the man known as "The Hyena" — a Devil Fruit user with a ฿55,000,000 bounty and wielder of the Bane Bane no Mi.
The Spring Human, Bellamy.
"You three, if you don't want to die, get out of here now. This isn't a place for Marine rookies like you." Bellamy sneered.
His eyes, filled with contempt and mockery, lingered on the two recruits sprawled on the floor.
Humiliated by the pirates' jeers, Coby and Helmeppo wished they could disappear. They looked desperately toward Hyaku.
"Don't look at me. If you don't even have the courage to face pirates, I'll have to reconsider whether you two are fit to follow me." Hyaku stated calmly, "We are the Marine! There's no place in this world we can't go! If anything, pirates should be the ones running away when they see us!"
His words sparked something in Coby and Helmeppo's eyes. Their fists clenched as determination replaced their fear.
Then, the two stood up.
Coby took a deep breath, "You're the ones who should get out! How dare you insult the Marine!"
Silence. Dead silence.
After his voice rang out, the bar fell silent. Everyone stared in shock at this sudden outburst.
"You brat! Do you know who you're talking to?"
"You must be tired of living!"
Tables and chairs crashed as dozens of pirates leapt to their feet, weapons in hand, ready to tear Coby and his companion apart.
"Hahaha..." Bellamy, their leader, began laughing — a sound that grew increasingly mocking.
Then his head dropped, and the laughter cut off abruptly.
"Looks like I'll be adding three more Marine lives to my count."
As he spoke, Bellamy crouched low, his calves transforming into compressed springs.
THUMP!
✣ Bane Bane no Mi ⭄ Spring Sniping! ✣
The springs released, launching Bellamy's body like a cannonball toward Coby and Helmeppo.
Mid-flight, he clenched his right fist, his arm transforming into a spring that compressed with mechanical clicks. In a flash, he appeared before the two Marines.
WHOOSH!
His spring-loaded fist shot forward, the released tension sending it slicing through the air with devastating force.
Seeing the terrifying blow coming, Coby and Helmeppo instinctively threw up their hands in defense.
SWOOSH!
CLANG!!
But the expected pain never came. Instead, they heard only a sharp whoosh of wind followed by the piercing ring of metal striking metal.
Realizing they were unharmed, Coby and Helmeppo opened their eyes. There stood Hyaku before them, as if he had materialized from thin air.
He gripped his sword Ryūka with both hands, its blade angled defensively. Bellamy's attacking fist pressed against the steel.
With perfect timing, Hyaku had intercepted the attack meant for his companions.
"Since when did you become qualified to discipline my people?" Hyaku's cold voice carried murderous intent.
"He blocked it!"
"He actually blocked it!"
"Isn't that kid just a recruit? How could he block Bellamy's attack!"
The pirates stared in astonishment at Hyaku's effortless defense.
Bellamy's expression darkened considerably.
"Seems you've got some skill." He said coldly, glaring at the man before him.
"I actually think your strength isn't much to speak of." Hyaku replied with a dismissive smirk.
WHOOSH!
Bellamy's face contorted with instant rage at Hyaku's words.
Click Click Click—
With a swift jump, Bellamy withdrew his fist and created distance between them.
"Kid, you've successfully made me angry. I'll break your arms and legs, make you regret those words." He said with a cold smile.
His legs transformed into springs once more as he crouched low, compressing them.
"Coby, Helmeppo, step aside." Hyaku commanded, recognizing that his opponent was preparing another Devil Fruit attack.
✣✣✣
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