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"Back off?!"
The gentle breeze stirred up the smoke and dust on the ground, forming a miniature tornado rushing into the distance.
Tashigi stood up from the ground in a slightly embarrassed manner and looked at Bartolomeo with blazing eyes.
"Bartolomeo! Are you planning to go against the Marines and protect the pirates?!"
As a well-known gang leader in Loguetown, Bartolomeo's identity was naturally no secret to Tashigi.
In the world of pirates, gangs - like commerce chambers, clubs, and other organizations - had legal status and weren't under Marine jurisdiction.
So unless Bartolomeo caused trouble in Loguetown, they would always keep their distance.
But today, Bartolomeo's actions had clearly crossed the line.
"I don't want to either ~ beautiful Marine officer-chan."
Facing Tashigi's question, Bartolomeo suddenly showed a mean smile.
It was almost like saying: "I just enjoy seeing you angry when you can't do anything about it."
He opened his mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs.
"Who told me I still have a deal to complete with this pirate!"
"Please give me some face..."
"When the deal between me and her is over, you can arrest her as much as you like. I will never interfere!"
"But..."
The corners of Bartolomeo's mouth grew wider, and he looked directly into Tashigi's eyes, speaking in an extremely arrogant manner:
"No one can take Alvida away until our deal is completed!!!"
"I said this! It won't be easy for anyone to change it!!!"
Swoosh!
As soon as Bartolomeo finished speaking, a transparent barrier appeared, completely separating him and the others from the Marines as they rapidly pushed forward!
"Not good!"
Tashigi let out a cry and slashed at the barrier with her sword, but she was still pushed back.
At the same time.
"A fight started?!"
From a tent in the distance, a figure suddenly flew out.
A red nose with big eyes loomed under the cover of a cloak.
It was Buggy the Clown, who had heard reports from his subordinates and came to check the situation.
Arriving high in the sky, his eyes immediately focused on Bartolomeo in the distance.
When he saw Bartolomeo alone forcing a group of Marines to retreat, Buggy's eyes couldn't help but flash with surprise.
"Is there such a strong person still existing in East Blue?!"
"As expected of Red-sama, planning strategy and winning battles from thousands of miles away!"
"Even though he just set out to sea, he had already witnessed such a distant future!"
Buggy was flattering in mid-air.
But at this moment, the confrontation in the distance suddenly stopped.
The Marines seemed to realize they were no match for Bartolomeo and actually withdrew their troops first.
Buggy could be seen clicking his tongue repeatedly: "They just left like that?!"
"Are the Marines in Loguetown really this pathetic?"
"With such little determination, how can they talk about upholding justice? How ridiculous!"
Buggy sneered disdainfully, but he didn't dare fly forward until all the Marines were gone.
Meanwhile.
Bartolomeo, who had rescued Alvida, suddenly led a group of delinquent-looking people to surround this fat, unattractive woman.
"You... what are you going to do?!"
Looking at the group of delinquent boys surrounding her, Arrita suddenly became inexplicably panicked and actually made a defensive posture with her arms folded across her chest.
Such a scene actually caused a physiological reaction in the gang members...
Of course, it was the kind that made them want to vomit!
"Stop being disgusting!"
At this point, Bartolomeo walked up to Arrita from the crowd with an unkind expression.
"You're the one who claimed to have the Devil Fruit, right?!"
"Because of you, I've now offended the entire Marine force!"
"If you dare trick me, prepare to feed the fish in Loguetown Bay!!!"
"Ugly!!!"
"What?!" Arrita was instantly furious when she heard the keyword, "Who are you calling ugly?!"
But the next second...
BOOM!!!
A transparent barrier suddenly pressed down from thin air, slamming her into the ground.
"I have enough problems today! I don't have time for nonsense!"
Bartolomeo leaned down, his demon-like face reflected through the barrier in Alvida's frightened pupils.
"Now! Immediately! I want to see the Fruit you mentioned?!"
"Do you understand?!"
"Uh...uh...uh..."
Arrita, whose mouth was squeezed like a sausage by the barrier, nodded vigorously.
The next moment, the barrier suddenly dissipated, and Arrita immediately began gasping violently.
Then she turned around and looked at Bartolomeo in shock: "You're a Devil Fruit user?!"
"Even an idiot can see that, okay?!" Bartolomeo glanced at her contemptuously, then said:
"Don't think about backing out of our deal and eating the Fruit yourself!"
"Among ability users, there are strengths and weaknesses!"
"If you offend me, Bartolomeo, I have a hundred ways to make it impossible for you to survive in these waters!"
"If you don't believe it, you can try!"
Bartolomeo, who had been involved in the underworld for many years, knew very well that when dealing with enemies, he must show ruthlessness and cruelty.
Otherwise, you become the target of harsh treatment!
So he never relented!
As predicted.
After being threatened by Bartolomeo, Alvida immediately shouted in panic:
"No, no, no! I have no such idea at all!"
Then she continued:
"The Devil Fruit is in the hotel where we're staying, and one of my men is guarding it! I can take you there now!"
"That's better!" Bartolomeo glanced at her arrogantly, then looked at Gambia beside him.
Thud!
A sack filled with Belly was suddenly thrown in front of Arrita.
Bartolomeo continued:
"Rest assured!"
"As long as the Fruit is real, I won't withhold the promised money!"
After seeing the banknotes, Alvida's eyes sparkled again.
But at this moment, she felt extremely regretful!
There were so many auction houses in East Blue that could help sell the Devil Fruit for just a 15% handling fee...
Why had she sought out an underground gangster in a moment of poor judgment?
In the end, before the fruit was sold, her crewmates were killed and arrested by the Marines.
She and Koby, who was guarding the Devil Fruit, were the only ones left in the entire Alvida Pirates.
"What evil have I done!"
Alvida stood up awkwardly, but after sailing the seas for so many years, she wouldn't be completely crushed by such a setback.
In any case, as long as Bartolomeo kept his promise, she could get at least 150 million Belly!
Buggy, who had flown over, happened to hear the conversation between the two word for word.
Seeing Alvida's tragic situation, he felt strangely melancholic:
"Is there really a curse on Devil Fruits that brings bad luck to everyone who tries to sell one?"
Recalling that he once possessed underwater combat abilities that even Captain Roger praised, but was forced to change his destiny because of a moment of greed...
He couldn't help but sympathize with Alvida.
However, even if the first half of his life had been wasted, the second half had just begun!
"Hahahaha~"
Thinking the time was right, Buggy descended from the sky with a loud laugh to attract Bartolomeo's attention.
"Who's there?!"
Bartolomeo was startled for a moment and immediately looked in Buggy's direction.
The next second, his eyes suddenly grew suspicious.
"Buggy the Clown! Why are you here?!"
"Wait! How can you fly?!"
"Are you also a Devil Fruit user?!"
"Hahaha, young man, this is nothing to be surprised about!"
Relying on his flying ability, Buggy pretended to be unflappable and spoke to Bartolomeo like an elder: "In this endless sea, there are countless ability users!"
"Don't be limited by the small East Blue!"
"I noticed your strength and couldn't help but come over to take a look."
"I must say..."
"Even on the vast sea, I rarely see such an outstanding young man as you."
"Your future shouldn't end here."
"What do you say, are you interested in conquering this sea with me?!"
Whoosh~
A strong wind suddenly blew past, billowing Buggy's cloak and revealing his full appearance.
He stood with his arms folded across his chest, hovering high in the sky.
His bright red cape fluttered in the air, making those who looked up seem to see a bright red flag!
What's even more outrageous...
The words he casually spoke were almost identical to how Mihawk had once addressed Zoro!
It was truly impressive.
No wonder the future Buggy the Clown, with just his ability to show off and his luck, would eventually sit in the position of Emperor coveted by countless pirates.
"What a handsome red nose!"
All of a sudden! Bartolomeo and his gang immediately revealed starry eyes and admired Buggy in the sky.
As delinquents, they simply couldn't resist the power of grandstanding.
On the other hand, Alvida was shocked:
'These delinquents, can't you see that the red-nose in the sky is just pretending?! Hello?!'
'Look, he's so afraid of you that he doesn't even dare fly down one meter! He's simply worried about being affected by your ability!'
For a moment, a light flashed in Arrita's eyes: 'Is it possible that these guys are actually very easy to deceive?!'
Meanwhile.
Buggy in the air suppressed his anger at being called "red-nose" and forced a grin:
"Hahaha, it's not me who's impressive, but you young ones!"
"If I guess correctly, you're the famous Bartolomeo in this area, right?!"
"Yes, that's me, Buggy-senpai!"
As if influenced by Buggy's theatrical aura, Bartolomeo's devil-like face actually showed a hint of a kind smile.
"Very good!" Buggy nodded calmly, then continued: "As it happens, I have something to discuss with you today."
"After seeing that scene just now, I feel we have even more to talk about!"
"I don't want to see outstanding young people relegated to obscurity, and I want to show you a clear path."
"But you seem busy with other matters now, so why not..."
"I'll wait for you here for a while. If fate is kind, you and I will meet again when you return."
"Sounds good!"
Upon hearing such a dramatic invitation, Bartolomeo instantly agreed.
After all, though the red-nosed man was impressive, getting the Devil Fruit couldn't be delayed.
But just before leaving, Bartolomeo suddenly turned back as if remembering something, and shouted to Buggy in the sky:
"Oh, by the way, Buggy-senpai!"
"I heard from your subordinates earlier... It seems you've joined the Straw Hat Pirates?!"
"I don't know why a magnificent person like you would become someone else's subordinate, but I heard from that female Marine officer just now..."
"It seems the Straw Hat Pirates have just arrived at Loguetown port!"
"Those Marines were eager to retreat just to surround and capture the Straw Hats!"