Joker, Clown?

Several men, upon seeing the two undead approaching, immediately scattered, retreating to either side. They wondered if the "adult" behind the bar could stop them if things came to blows.

Lina paid them no mind, controlling the Chainsaw Devil to sit down in front of the bar before following it himself.

"My associate is here for a transaction," Lina stated directly, without any unnecessary words. "We need Seastone products in stock. If you have them, name your price."

The white-haired old man glanced at him but said nothing, his gaze returning to the two undead.

Lina naturally understood his meaning. As he looked at the Chainsaw Devil, he subtly gestured with its head towards the old man.

Only then did the old man look back at Lina, thinking to himself, Are these two modified humans? Arrogant, or perhaps unable to speak?

He was from the Grand Line, responsible for the Loguetown branch. He had seen all sorts of strange things.

Seeing the appearance of these two figures, his first thought was modified humans. The fact that both of them looked so similar only strengthened his conviction.

It was impossible for two identical Devil Fruit users to appear at the same time. While similarities were possible, the probability of two such individuals appearing together was infinitesimally small.

"Two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, one pair for fifteen million Belly," the white-haired old man said plainly. He didn't doubt their ability to pay.

In the East Blue, very few people knew about Devil Fruits, and even fewer knew about Seastone, which countered Devil Fruit abilities.

Since they came directly to ask, they were certainly not ignorant people.

"Do you have Seastone bullets?" Lina pressed.

"Processing Seastone into bullets is extremely difficult. Each one costs six million Belly. I have sixteen rounds here," the white-haired old man replied. "Additionally, you'll need a special gun to fire them. Each gun is eight million."

Lina deliberately glanced at the Chainsaw Devil, then controlled it to nod slightly.

"I'll take the handcuffs and all the bullets. Do you have any extra guns?"

"I have three in stock."

"Pack them all up," Lina said decisively.

Isn't a spare and a spare for the spare common sense?

"Are you sure?"

The white-haired old man's expression finally changed. He had guessed they could afford it, but he hadn't expected them to clear out his stock.

This alone added up to over one hundred and fifty million Belly!

What kind of fight requires this much money? Why not just hire us as muscle?

If Lina knew what he was thinking, he would have laughed out loud. Double it to three hundred million, and we'll take out Crocodile and Enel for you.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'll take it all."

"Check the money," Kruke said, slowing down. He motioned to the men who had retreated to the side. "Go get the goods for him to see."

Lina directly placed the money bag he was carrying onto the counter. He hadn't known how much money would be enough when he came out this time.

Of the four hundred million Belly he'd obtained from Arlong, he'd left one hundred million for Cocoyasi Village. The remaining three hundred million he had brought with him.

Even though this was the pirate crew's funds, no one would complain about money spent wisely.

As Lina unzipped the bag, the old man's breathing visibly hitched.

Truthfully, the white-haired old man was tempted. In a place like the East Blue, anyone who presented three hundred million Belly in front of him wouldn't be tempted; that would be strange.

However, the white-haired old man didn't make a move. Joker's business spanned the globe. If he attacked and failed to take the opponent down on the spot, it would severely damage Joker's reputation.

Suppressing his urge to act, the white-haired old man began counting the money, while his peripheral vision scanned the Blade Saw Duo, contemplating his chances of taking them down.

Lina, on the other hand, was a little disappointed. The old man wasn't weak, but he could tell the old man's strength was inferior to Arlong's.

Lina wished the old man would make a move and stage a black-on-black situation. As for Doflamingo...

Just be clean about it. By the time he traces it back to me, who knows how strong I'll be? Doflamingo would probably have to weigh his own capabilities carefully.

Should I just strike first? Is it even necessary? I can afford the money, Lina mused inwardly.

He wasn't afraid of losing; he was afraid of the other party running.

Lina pulled out stacks of money from the bag one by one as the white-haired old man slowly verified the bills.

Each of them harbored their own hidden intentions.

"Boss Kruke, the goods are here," several men emerged from the back, one carrying a briefcase.

It was at this moment that Lina learned the old man's name. The men placed the briefcase on the table and withdrew.

The old man, Kruke, pushed the counted money aside, then opened the briefcase and turned it to display its contents to Lina.

Two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, three ordinary-looking revolvers, and finally, three revolver magazines. Two of them were filled with six Seastone bullets each, and one magazine had two empty chambers.

"We work for Joker. Since you were able to find us, you must know about our reputation. Of course, you can test one shot first."

"Oh, Mr. Kruke, why would you say that? I trust you completely." Lina chuckled sheepishly and closed the briefcase.

"Alright then, the transaction is officially complete. Once you leave this shop, there are no returns or exchanges." Kruke collected the money from the counter.

Lina placed the briefcase into the now half-empty money bag and then picked up the bag.

He extended a hand to shake Kruke's, while simultaneously controlling the Blade Devil and the Chainsaw Devil to rise and leave.

Kruke also extended his palm upon seeing this, but his peripheral vision was fixed on the movements of the Blade Devil and the Chainsaw Devil.

The two palms clasped together and squeezed a few times with force.

Lina controlled the two undead to turn and walk towards the door. When Kruke saw their backs, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

As the Blade Saw Duo slowly stepped forward, Lina and Kruke began to release each other, their hands slowly retracting in mid-air.

The room was silent, as if the air had solidified.

"Bang!"

Kruke exploded into action!

He slammed both hands onto the bar counter, and with his legs pushing off the ground, the two forces combined, sending him flying out at extreme speed.

"Die!!!"

If he could kill them both in an instant sneak attack, he could deal with that blonde follower slowly.

If he cleaned up his tracks, no one would find out.

"I knew it, you idiot!"

At the exact same moment Kruke exploded into action, several void rifts instantly opened throughout the entire room.

Several opened in front of the four men, and one appeared behind Kruke!

This was a battle where the outcome would be decided immediately upon engaging.

Taking down the opponent in this room would mean nothing would happen.

If they managed to escape, endless trouble would follow.

Both sides harbored the same thought.

Although Lina intentionally lured the opponent by having the two undead turn around, if Kruke hadn't attacked, Lina would have left just like that.

However, there was no "if." The opponent attacked, so he had to be even more ruthless.

Kruke's hands turned into blades, slashing towards the necks of the Blade Saw Duo from behind.

At the same moment, from the void rift behind him, a pair of clawed arms reached out and fiercely stabbed towards his waist.

The Blade Saw Duo had no eyes in the back of their heads and couldn't see Kruke, but Lina saw it all clearly.

The moment the opponent made his move, he controlled the undead to turn around, and at the same time, drew his bone chain sword, pointing the tip at Kruke.

You thought you were sneak attacking the two of them?

This round, it's my four against your one, old man!

Three long swords and three chainsaws simultaneously slashed towards Kruke, and at the same time, several claws reached his waist from behind.

"Shoot him!!!"

The tip of the bone chain sword suddenly shot out!

Slash! Slash!

Slash! Slash!

In an instant...

The bone chain sword pierced Kruke's body, Wolverine's claws dug deep into his waist, and the two undead simultaneously plunged their blades into his shoulders, neck, and chest.

Kruke lost his balance in mid-air. The impact from the attacks from multiple directions sent his body tumbling forward in a twisted posture.

If you're going to do it, do it fast and do it ruthlessly!

"H-how..." Kruke's pupils dilated in disbelief. He fell into a pool of blood, coughing up blood, "I'm... cough... joker's man. If you kill me..."

Lina ignored him and delivered the finishing blow, "Nothing will happen if I kill you, old man."

He then proceeded to hack the four men in the corner to death and slowly walked towards the back of the tavern.

"Harvest this wave, then destroy the bodies and leave..."