Oh no!
Inside the small tavern, the moment she saw Helmeppo appear—
Aunt Shea cried out inwardly, This is bad!
Don't be fooled by this blond brat in a purple suit. He looked skinny and frail, like a strong breeze could knock him over—
—yet he was infamous throughout the town as a full-blown delinquent.
Relying on the fact that his father was Colonel Morgan, the commanding officer of the G-153 Marine base, he acted however he pleased.
He often ate in Shells Town without paying a single coin, and even used his father's name to forcibly collect "protection fees."
Worse still, he had harassed quite a few young girls in the town.
It could be said that this guy was the very definition of a local tyrant.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
Aunt Shea's heart sank.
The most troublesome thing of all was that she'd heard that after Raynor joined the Marine base, he had clashed with this brat more than once…
"Oh my, isn't this Young Master Helmeppo!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Aunt Shea stepped forward.
Before Raynor could respond to Helmeppo's words, she walked up and positioned herself between the two of them.
Holding a menu, she forced a warm smile and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Young Master Helmeppo, it's been such a long time. Look at you—your face is so thin, you must be starving."
"Come, come! What would you like to eat today? It's on the house!"
To be honest, Aunt Shea truly despised this spoiled brat.
After all, it was because of Helmeppo's dog causing trouble in her tavern that the pirate hunter Zoro had stepped in to protect Rika—only to willingly accept a bet and end up bound at the Marine base.
In Aunt Shea's heart, she hated this bastard to the bone.
But every time Helmeppo went out in town, he always brought two Marine officers with him.
They were burly men, their arms bulging with muscles thicker than her own head.
If Raynor were to clash with them today, he would definitely be the one who suffered.
So, to keep Raynor out of trouble, she could only suppress her disgust and plaster on a smile.
"Hahaha, Boss Shea is right! It's been a while since Young Master Helmeppo came to town—we've all missed you!"
"That's right, Young Master Helmeppo. It's already noon, why not dine here with us common folk?"
"Haha, just look at him—he really carries Colonel Morgan's presence. Every move so imposing!"
…
Aunt Shea's loud voice instantly eased the tense atmosphere in the tavern.
The patrons, who had gone quiet earlier, slowly started chatting again.
They had no choice—if they didn't flatter this guy a bit, everyone present might end up in trouble today.
"Hm? Did I allow you lowly peasants to speak?"
"I was asking my father's rabid dog!"
"Raynor, today is the day my father's great statue is being erected. Why aren't you staying at the base? Why are you out here?!"
"Hmph! Are you looking to taste my father's iron axe?!"
Helmeppo completely ignored the flattery around him. He raised an eyebrow and locked his gaze onto Raynor.
At the Marine base, because he came from a civilian background, Raynor had always been deeply disgusted by Helmeppo's lawless behavior.
So, to give the townspeople some justice, he had reported Helmeppo's misdeeds to Colonel Morgan several times.
Colonel Morgan didn't care about Helmeppo's daily behavior—but if the town's "tributes" decreased, that was something he couldn't tolerate.
As a result, Morgan had severely punished Helmeppo more than once.
And just like that, a grudge was formed between Raynor and Helmeppo.
To get revenge, Helmeppo constantly referred to Raynor as his father's rabid dog—a dog that followed orders blindly and was trained to be vicious.
"What, do I need to report to a piece of trash like you where I go to eat?"
"Besides, the statue ceremony doesn't start until the afternoon. I'll head back then."
Seeing Helmeppo repeatedly directing his hostility at him, Raynor didn't avoid it.
Instead, he glanced at Helmeppo and slowly stood up from his seat.
"You crazy dog… you dare talk to me like that?!"
After hearing Raynor's response, Helmeppo nearly exploded with rage.
"Raynor! What did you just call me?! Say it again!"
Furrowing his brows, Helmeppo swaggered over to Raynor.
Then he leaned in, nostrils flaring, and slammed his hand hard onto the table in front of him.
"If you like hearing it so much, then I'll say it a few more times."
"Helmeppo, you're a worthless trash. Trash. Trash…"
Raynor's eyes burned brightly as he stared at Helmeppo, speaking slowly and calmly.
He wasn't the same person he used to be.
Back before he obtained the system, he had still needed to play nice with the Morgan father and son at the Marine base.
But now?
He possessed power he could never have imagined before—and he feared nothing.
"Damn… how does Raynor dare speak like that? That's insane!"
"It's over. He's just a low-ranking Marine private—saying that is basically asking for death!"
"Sigh… that kid Raynor is still too young. He's probably going to be thrown into the Marine prison."
…
As soon as Raynor finished speaking, everyone in the tavern turned their eyes toward him and Helmeppo.
All of them were sighing inwardly—Raynor really should have endured it.
The air inside the tavern instantly became suffocatingly tense.
"R-Raynor, what nonsense are you saying?!"
"Hurry—hurry up and apologize to Young Master Helmeppo!"
When Raynor spoke, Aunt Shea's face had already gone pale.
Now, hearing the hushed whispers of the patrons, she completely panicked.
She rushed to Raynor's side and grabbed his arm, then bent forward toward Helmeppo.
"Young Master Helmeppo, Raynor is still young. His temper can be a bit impulsive."
"Please, for the sake of him being a Marine, forgive this act of disrespect just this once!"
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
Raynor wasn't her child—but she had watched him grow up over the years in this town.
The Marine prison was a place meant for pirates.
They said once you went in, you never came out alive.
She couldn't just watch him walk to his death.
"What?! You're begging me for mercy for the bastard who insulted me?!"
"Do you want to die with him?!"
Seeing this, Helmeppo's fury only grew stronger.
Who did he think he was?!
He was Colonel Morgan's son!
After being insulted, they thought a little begging would make him spare that piece of trash?!
Who did this lowly woman think she was?
Did she really think she had that kind of influence?!
"You filthy woman—get out of my way!"
Helmeppo grew more and more irritated just looking at Aunt Shea.
As he spoke, he raised his hand—
And viciously slapped it toward her face.