Makino's Bar!
Laino successfully stole the scene.
Sig the Mountain Bandit King watched from the side.
He would never know what he had just missed.
Seeing Makino in a difficult position, Shanks turned to help her out.
"Little brother, I'm really sorry. It seems we've drunk all the sake here. My apologies."
Shanks held up the remaining bottle and said, "If you don't mind, this is the last bottle!"
It was time!
Laino, who had been preparing for this, was quick of hand and sharp of eye, and grabbed the bottle.
Then!
Smash!
The bottle shattered on Shanks's head. The flying glass shards startled Luffy, who was behind him.
Sig and the bandits looked on in astonishment.
Benn Beckman, Lucky Roux, and the other pirates shot them cold glares.
Makino couldn't help but cover her mouth.
The atmosphere in the tavern, in an instant, became dead silent and dropped to a freezing point.
Laino was extremely nervous.
But, in his heart, an indescribable feeling of thrill and excitement rose up. His whole body was filled with one word: Awesome.
Staring at Shanks, he shouted loudly, "Who are you treating me like? Who is one bottle enough for? Don't look down on me!"
A smile crept onto Sig's lips. He appreciated Laino more and more. This kid, he was really to his liking!
The sake flowed down from Shanks's straw hat. It soaked his hair, slid down his cheeks, stained his shirt, and dripped onto the floor.
Shanks didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, he looked down and said, "Oh my, the floor is all wet."
With his magnanimity and spirit, he naturally wouldn't bother with a group of ants. Besides, this was Makino's bar. The origins of this group were unknown. Killing them wasn't a problem. But what if they had accomplices? If his group left, would it bring trouble for Makino?
Laino silently counted to ten in his head. The system gave no notification.
He had no choice but to grab the wanted poster and shove it in front of Shanks.
"Hey, look closely! My boss Sig's head is worth 8 million Beri! He's a top wanted criminal!"
"He's killed 56 arrogant guys like you before."
"Now that you've seen it, you'd better be careful in the future!"
Laino's loud warning and boastful tone made Sig extremely satisfied. This kid has a future!
Blowing your own horn is one thing, but how can it compare to others blowing it for you?
"Damn, that Laino guy, I thought he was an honest fellow, I didn't expect..."
"Damn it, at this rate, my title as the number one Sig-sycophant is in jeopardy!"
"That cunning Laino!"
The bandits were dumbfounded. So this is how you suck up? It was a real eye-opener.
"No way, we can't let Laino have all the glory!"
The other bandits quickly followed suit.
"Hey, Laino's right, our boss is the man who will become the King of the Mountain Bandits!"
"That's right, mountains and the sea are two different things!"
Amidst the bandits' flattery, Sig's vanity was greatly satisfied.
However, Shanks turned a deaf ear. He and these people were from two different worlds. Saying even one more word to them was an insult to himself.
He squatted down and picked up a piece of broken glass.
"Sorry, Makino, do you have a rag?"
"Ah... no need, I'll clean it up."
Faced with Shanks's disregard, Sig's smile vanished, and his hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
But before he could draw it, a flash of a blade swept across the bar, knocking all the plates on it to the floor.
Shanks protected his hat with one hand, letting the plates fall on him and then to the ground, creating a complete mess.
"Since you like cleaning so much, this should make you even happier, right?" Laino taunted.
He gripped his sword, but a chill ran down his spine. He could clearly feel the temperature in the tavern dropping. The Red-Haired Pirates' patience seemed to be reaching its limit.
Humans don't care about ants jumping around in front of them, but if they bite you a couple of times, would you still not care?
He shook his head and said to Sig, "Boss, these guys are no fun. There's no sake here, should we find another place?"
Sig had seen enough of a show and gained enough face, so he had no objections. He wasn't out for a fight today, just for some fun.
"See you!"
"A bunch of cowards!"
"No sake, how outrageous! Let's go to another town!"
The group of bandits left the tavern, laughing and joking.
The moment he stepped out the door, Laino felt as if he had escaped from the gates of hell. The palm of his hand, tightly gripping the sword, was covered in a cold sweat.
He took a deep breath. To be able to hit Shanks like that, it was worth it.
Although he hadn't hit Luffy, given the situation just now, if he had, he probably wouldn't have been able to walk out that door. That matter would have to wait until Shanks left Windmill Town.
[Ding! Outsmarted opponent. Scanning talent: Conqueror's Haki (A-Rank)]
[Talent successfully copied.]
[Talent Description: A potential of the will, the disposition of a king. Your spirit and will determine its power.]
The system's notification sound was like music from heaven.
Conqueror's Haki? I can't believe I drew this talent!
Laino was thrilled. This was a symbol of the strong. A huge win, an absolutely huge win.
Laino looked up at the rowdy bandits. Now that he had Conqueror's Haki, the idea of leaving Sig's bandit group formed in his mind.
Inside the bar.
"Captain, are you alright?!"
"Are you hurt?"
Shanks waved his hand, signaling Makino that he didn't need help. "No, I'm fine!"
He let out a breath.
"Hahahahaha, the captain looks so pathetic!"
"He got bullied so badly!"
Seeing this, Lucky Roux and the other crew members suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!!"
Shanks, taking off his straw hat, laughed along with them.
Suddenly, Luffy clenched his fists and shouted, "Why are you laughing?"
"Hmm?"
"That was so humiliating! Why didn't you fight back?!"
"Even if they had numbers, a man who can laugh after being bullied like that is no man at all, and no pirate either!"
Luffy was furious.
Shanks was surprised. This kid...
He put on his straw hat and said, "I understand how you feel, but it was just a little sake poured on me. It's nothing to get angry about, right?"
But Luffy didn't understand. He turned away in a huff, "Hmph, I don't want to see a coward again!"
"Hey! Don't go! Luffy!"
Shanks grabbed Luffy's arm, and then, to his astonishment, he saw Luffy walk further and further away as his arm stretched longer and longer.
"Huh?"
"Wha??"
"His arm stretched?"
Shanks and his crew were all stunned.
Luffy also noticed the problem.
"Why is this happening?"
He was pulled back in front of Shanks by the elasticity of his own arm.
Lucky Roux nervously opened the treasure chest on the bar, his eyes widening. "It's gone!"
"What?!" the crew exclaimed.
"The Gum-Gum Fruit we took from that enemy ship!"
Lucky Roux quickly took out an encyclopedia and pointed to a picture for Luffy. "Luffy, did you eat something that looks like this?"
On it was an illustration of the Gum-Gum Fruit.
Sweat dripped from the back of Luffy's head. "Yeah, I thought it was dessert? But it didn't taste good..."
You ate it?!
Shanks was speechless. He grabbed Luffy and said, "The Gum-Gum Fruit is also known as a Devil Fruit! It's a treasure of the sea!"
"Whoever eats one will become a rubber man, and you'll never be able to swim for the rest of your life!"
"Eh?! No way!"
Luffy's jaw dropped in shock.
Shanks didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shook his head, "You idiot!"