A cry of "Robbery!" startled the entire construction site.
The workers eating in the cafeteria all froze. It took them quite a while before they finally set down their bowls and chopsticks.
Then, amid several dull thumps against tabletops, a few workers suddenly collapsed onto the tables as if stricken by a sudden illness.
"HAHAHA!"
They bent over their tables, laughing uproariously as they slapped the surfaces hard enough to shake the room.
"Someone actually came here to rob us?"
The laughter only grew louder, and the atmosphere was not tense in the slightest.
Usopp and Kaya, who had instinctively panicked at first, also lowered their guard in this overly relaxed atmosphere, gradually feeling completely safe.
Axe-Hand Morgan, who had just shouted the word "robbery" but had not received the usual chorus of frightened screams, immediately raised his massive axe in embarrassment and anger, splitting open a brick wall beside him with one blow.
Yet the workers still showed no fear.
The workers were not nervous, but Kuro certainly was.
These ordinary laborers were not even afraid of a vicious-looking fugitive with an obvious background like Morgan. That meant they must have someone backing them. In other words—
Those two rich young masters hauling bricks were probably not merely rich young masters. They likely had some real skills and would not be easy to deal with.
"This is bad."
Kuro's scalp tingled, but reality continued developing exactly as he had feared.
Just as Morgan turned his gaze toward Kaya, who was hidden behind the workers, the straw-hatted, blond-haired, and green-haired trio suddenly stepped out from the crowd.
There was not a trace of fear on their faces. Instead, they strode straight toward Morgan and stared directly at him, his eyes bloodshot and his killing intent overflowing.
"Move!"
Morgan roared impatiently.