"Cough, cough..."
The merchant with golden glasses coughed violently a few times, finally able to speak, tremblingly saying:
"Boss Hanafuda! You've misunderstood, it's not the Royal Family being slow, it's that the territory of this country is just too expansive!"
His caravan journeyed far and wide, visiting many places. In the entire world, Alabasta has one of the broadest land areas.
From Royal Capital Alubarna to the mouth of the Santora River, even if riding the fastest sprint duck, day and night, it still takes a whole day!
Not to mention, the process of message delivery and the Royal Family's reaction also takes time.
"Oh, I see!"
Hanafuda realized, clicked his tongue, the scythe twirled in his palm, "Damn it, spent too many years in the New World, almost forgot there are countries this big back in Paradise."
He squinted, looking towards the horizon shrouded in yellow sand, a sinister smile curling his lips.
"...Since it's so far, it's understandable that the Royal Family is taking their time."
"Yes, Boss Hanafuda." The merchant with golden glasses just breathed a sigh of relief, but then saw Hanafuda suddenly lean forward, the scythe's tip pressing against his throat:
"But I don't have the patience to wait that long!!!"
"M-Master..." The merchant trembled all over, "You've already waited almost a whole day, it won't be long now, I estimate a maximum of three... no, just two more hours, and they'll be here!"
Hanafuda turned to look at the end of the river, the desert's heat waves distorting the distant view, still no trace of the Royal Guard.
Another two to three hours?
"Click, seems I'll have to spice things up."
Hanafuda licked his lips, suddenly spoke, "Jack!"
"Yes!"
The tall young man with blond hair straightened up, showing a height that exceeded eight meters.
"Go, choose a few merchants, slit their bellies to bleed them, hang them on the mast, for every ten minutes I have to wait longer, add another merchant up there."
Hanafuda grinned, "Since they think the road is far, let the scent of blood drift far, see if it can smoke out those cowardly tortoises in the Royal Family sooner!"
Bleeding?
Jack scratched his head, he'd only bled chickens and ducks before, hadn't done it to humans yet.
He hesitated a bit, but since it was Boss Hanafuda's order...
In the end, he pulled out his weapon from behind—a scythe similar to Hanafuda's, and strode toward the bound merchants.
The merchants were instantly terrified, struggling desperately, but the ropes were tied too tight, completely futile.
"Boss Hanafuda!"
Someone shouted in grief and indignation, "This will kill a lot of people, we haven't offended you, why must you do this!"
"Yes! How has the Royal Family offended you to warrant such ruthless means?"
Royal Family?
Hanafuda sneered, ready to say something, when a beautiful slim figure rushed over from behind, offering a Radio Snail:
"Boss Hanafuda, it's a call from the Alabasta Royal Family!"
"Hmm?"
Hanafuda raised an eyebrow, took the Radio Snail, the fierceness on his face slightly receding, replaced by a playful smile.
"Hello?" He lazily started speaking, with a tone of mockery, "Finally willing to contact me? King Cobra?"
Silence on the other end for a moment, then a deep serious voice echoed:
"Mr. Hanafuda, I am Igaram, captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard."
Hanafuda's smile turned icy.
"Just a mere guard captain, worthy of speaking with me?"
He sneered, "What about that old Cobra, is he too guilty, lacking the courage to talk to me personally?"
"His Majesty the King is recently bedridden with illness, unable to attend."
Igaram's voice remained calm but slightly strained, "However, as a gesture of sincerity, our sole princess, Princess Vivi, is leading a reception team at full speed towards the river mouth!"
"Within at most two hours, they will arrive. The Royal Family, despite not knowing the reason behind your sudden arrival and blockade of the Santora River, hopes to use all efforts to reconcile with you."
"Reconcile?"
Hanafuda appeared as if he'd heard a joke, bursting into laughter.
In the next moment, the laughter vanished, the scythe's tip tapping lightly on the deck, expressionless:
"Sure, hand over the two Devil Fruits Crocodile promised me, and I will immediately leave, not disrupting your kingdom or these merchants' businesses."
"Devil Fruits?"
Igaram was taken aback, and when he spoke again, his voice was clearly filled with surprise:
"We don't have any Devil Fruits… by your words, you have an unfinished deal with Sir Crocodile, and because of his unexpected death, it wasn't completed? Why come to us for it?"
"Why?"
Hanafuda's veins bulged, roaring:
"Don't play dumb! The entire sea knows Crocodile's good relations with your Alabasta Royal Family, good enough to wear the same pants!"
"Moreover!"
Hanafuda yelled angrily, "From the start, Crocodile sought to buy weapons from me under your Royal Family's name! That guy, with no subordinates, what does he need so much military gear for, obviously buying it for your Royal Guard!"
"Over the past few months, I delivered weapons on time every time, but what about the result? What about the result?"
"Ultimately, the promised two Zoan-type Devil Fruits for exchange were never delivered! Now Crocodile is dead, if I don't come to your Royal Family for debt collection, who should I turn to? Who should I turn to? Answer me!!"