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Chapter 112: Where Do the New Dungeons Lead
Garp held his cup, acting completely nonchalant, as if he weren't a member of the Marines at all.
He looked at Gion, thinking to himself that this girl's temper was still as explosive as ever. Truly worthy of being Tsuru's sister.
Golden Lion Shiki watched Gion's retreating back, his ferocious smile slowly fading. He turned his cloudy, malicious eyes toward the man who still wore a lazy smile.
"Sparkles Boy."
"As a Glint-Glint Fruit user, the fastest man in the world, you were actually the last to arrive."
He grinned, revealing a mocking smile.
"Quite the grand entrance you made, making Boss Blake wait for you personally."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze focused on Kizaru.
This was a big, heavy hat to pin on someone.
Pirates, as expected, were never up to any good.
Kizaru was smiling on the outside, but cursing internally.
He raised his hands in an exaggerated manner, a look of fear on his face.
"Oh my, oh my, please don't speak nonsense, Lord Shiki. That is too scary."
He waved his hand lazily, looking innocent.
"This old man was just waiting for Little Gion and the others to arrive together. After all, we are colleagues; we should have some team spirit."
Seeing Kizaru acting like a dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water, Garp finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Pfft... Bwahahahaha!"
"Enough, Shiki!"
Garp put down his cup, letting out a thunderous laugh. He looked at Golden Lion, his eyes holding a hint of impatience.
"What kind of skill is bullying these juniors? If you have energy to spare, come at this old man!"
Golden Lion Shiki's face darkened instantly. He turned abruptly and roared at Garp.
"Do you think I'm afraid of you?! Garp!"
The roar echoed, but it remained just a roar.
That soaring arrogance weakened unconsciously by three points upon meeting Garp's battle-hungry eyes.
Shiki didn't speak again. He just sat back down with a gloomy face.
The battle from two days ago was still vivid in his mind.
On a nearby deserted island, he had exchanged blows with this old rival with the intention of testing the waters.
The result, however, scared him out of his wits.
That old b*stard... the newly acquired green steam and lightning mode, coupled with fists wrapped in Armament Haki, and topped off with the ability to shatter the atmosphere that should have belonged to Whitebeard...
One punch!
Just one punch made him feel the pressure of life and death.
If not for the unparalleled mobility of the Float-Float Fruit allowing him to escape in time, he probably wouldn't be sitting here right now; he'd be a sunken corpse at the bottom of the East Blue.
This old guy...
Shiki's hand trembled uncontrollably as he lifted his cup.
Garp's current strength... had probably surpassed the Captain Rocks of back then!
The farce in the tavern finally came to an end with Shiki's silence.
Behind the bar, looking at this room full of 'deities,' Blake finally put down the glass he was swirling.
"Alright."
He spoke softly, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"It seems these are all the guests for this week."
He scanned the room, his gaze moving from the silent Dragon to the entertained Garp, then to the sleazy-looking Kizaru, and finally landing on the gloomy Shiki.
"You all brought the money, right?"
With these words, the atmosphere instantly shifted from tense confrontation to a somewhat subtle reality.
Kizaru was the first to react. He fished out a thick envelope from his inner suit pocket and placed it on the table, wearing an ingratiating smile.
"Of course, of course. The Marines absolutely support Little Brother Blake's business."
Dragon didn't speak. He simply took out a small leather pouch from his robes and placed it on the corner of the table.
Golden Lion Shiki snorted coldly and tossed a bulging money bag onto the table with a dull thud.
Garp scratched his head. "Bwahahaha, this old man left in a hurry and forgot to bring it. Brat Blake, put it on my tab for now!"
Blake glanced at him and said nothing.
Beside Garp, Dragon silently took out another identical leather pouch from his robes and placed it in front of Garp.
Garp: "..."
The tavern fell into a brief silence, followed by the sound of Ace and Sabo unable to hold back their laughter.
Just then, that lazy voice spoke up again.
"Oh my, oh my. Such generosity." Kizaru tilted his head exaggeratedly, his gaze sweeping over the two identical leather pouches before finally landing on Dragon's perpetually stoic iceberg face. "I didn't expect the Revolutionary Army to be so rich now, Dragon... You didn't embezzle the funds, did you? That would be too terrifying~."
Dragon's hand under the table clenched into a fist, veins bulging slightly. He lifted his eyes, his deep gaze piercing Kizaru like a sharp sword, his voice bone-chillingly cold: "Do you think we are a despicable regime like the World Government? Stop talking nonsense."
Garp didn't care at all. Instead, he laughed "Bwahahaha" and grabbed the money bag Dragon gave him. "It's only natural for a son to show filial piety to his father! Ignore that sparkling b*stard!"
Blake looked at the customers before him, calculating quickly in his mind.
Now that the business was growing, he had to start considering customer needs and after-sales experience.
Golden Lion Shiki... this guy's mind was definitely full of thoughts on how to recover or even surpass his peak strength to wipe away his shame.
He needed to find Shiki a world with a clear power system and a sufficiently high power ceiling.
The Revolutionary Army Leader, Dragon.
What he wanted was probably not simple destructive power, but a "method" or "power" that could truly realize his ideals.
A power capable of overturning the world... this required careful consideration.
As for Garp, that old b*stard...
Blake glanced at Garp, who was full of enthusiasm and expectation, and couldn't help but smile.
This guy didn't care; he'd have fun wherever he was thrown, as long as there were strong enough opponents for him to fight to his heart's content.
And then there was Kizaru...
Blake's gaze turned to the Marine Admiral leaning lazily back in his chair, acting as if none of this concerned him.
This guy's personality... he was probably a slacker at heart.
Finding him a world where he could easily slack off while still gaining benefits might suit him best.
Hmm...
Blake tapped his fingertips lightly on the bar counter, images of countless worlds flashing through his mind.
He had to arrange everything clearly for them.
"Very well. Money and goods exchanged, fair trade for all."
Blake's gaze first landed on Gion and the others behind Kizaru.
These Marine officers stood straight, their eyes filled with vigilance, curiosity, and a trace of suppressed nervousness.
"This is your first time here, right?" Blake asked.
Gion took a step forward. No emotion could be seen on her cold face as she nodded slightly: "Yes, Mr. Blake."
"Newcomers here for the first time don't need to be too nervous." Blake snapped his fingers.
"One million Berries per person. Go in and experience the charm of a dungeon. The beginner dungeons pose no great danger to you all; just treat it as a vacation."
As Blake's voice fell, the tense bodies of the Marine officers behind Gion visibly relaxed a few degrees.
They were indeed nervous.
Gion took another step forward. She didn't look at Garp, nor did she pay attention to Golden Lion. She simply bowed slightly to Blake behind the bar.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Blake."
Her voice was cold but carried a trace of sincere gratitude.
"As you said, please trouble yourself to send us into the beginner dungeon."
Blake gave her an appreciative look.
Smart women always managed to live longer.
Especially since this woman was also beautiful, and beautiful women should always have some privileges.
"Very well."
Blake snapped his fingers. Several beams of soft white light appeared out of thin air, accurately enveloping Gion and the Marine officers behind her.
"Then, I wish you all a pleasant journey."
The light flashed and vanished. Gion and the others disappeared from where they stood, as if they had never been there.
In the tavern, silence returned.
But this time, the atmosphere was even heavier than before.
The small fry had exited the stage. What remained was the real main event of the night.
Garp, Dragon, Kizaru, Golden Lion Shiki.
Representing the three top factions of this world, four combat forces standing at the apex of the pyramid.
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