Iron Rooster

"But sir, that place doesn't let people in without money."

Little Wolf took one look at the three's odd outfits and immediately pegged them as not being wealthy.

"Don't worry, we've got plenty of money. Right, Buggy?"

"Hmph, I've got no money." Buggy twisted his head away, flatly refusing to spend a single Berry of his own.

"Buggy, this is a big merit. Think about it—if the captain finds out about this, he's bound to reward us. When that happens, won't you have as much money as you want?"

At those words, Buggy's eyes instantly turned into Berry coins. "Fine, but I'm only putting in a portion. Don't ask me for more than that."

"Don't worry, we won't make you pay extra."

Then the four followed Little Wolf onto a very lively street, packed with people coming and going, and lined with every kind of shop imaginable.

They tightened the scarves around their necks to keep the wind from blowing them off and exposing their faces.

"We're here, sirs. This is the place."

Standing before a gilded building, Little Wolf addressed the three.

"Whoa, this casino's something else—running so openly and brazenly."

Seeing such architecture for the first time, Shirakawa and the others couldn't help a small shock.

"This is a licensed, legitimate establishment. Word has it the owner is some noble from the royal capital."

Little Wolf explained the reason to the four.

"A noble, huh. No wonder they've got such deep pockets."

Shirakawa's impression of nobles in Pirate King was thoroughly negative, mainly stemming from the Celestial Dragons and Sabo's family in the Goya Kingdom.

"Alright, we don't need you anymore. You can leave."

Since they'd reached their destination, keeping Little Wolf around was pointless.

"Really, sirs?"

"What, you don't want to leave? If you'd rather stay, then stay here."

"No, no, sirs. I'm going right now."

With that, Little Wolf scurried off, zigzagging left and right, vanishing from sight in just a few seconds.

"Am I that scary?" Shirakawa asked Shanks and Buggy. "Did he have to run that fast? He even lost his shoe."

Right in their line of sight, a lone shoe sat abandoned, until someone kicked it, sending it farther and farther away from them.

"Alright, let's go in. If the First Mate isn't here, we'll have to think of another plan."

As the four reached the entrance, two men in black suits and sunglasses blocked their way with outstretched arms.

"Please present your assets or some proof of identity."

The speaker's voice was like a soulless machine, utterly devoid of tone.

"Buggy, you're up."

Shirakawa stepped back, handing the spotlight to Buggy.

"Damn it, they only remember me when money's involved." Buggy cursed inwardly.

To him, this money was like the flesh on his bones—every bit spent felt like a knife slicing into him.

After dawdling for ages, Buggy finally pulled a single Berry coin from his pocket.

Seeing that coin, Shirakawa and the others all covered their foreheads, as if to say they didn't know this guy.

The two doormen were also covered in black lines. Was he mocking them? Not just mocking—insulting them.

"Brothers, don't get mad. I'll get the money right now."

Seeing the two guards about to blow their tops, Shirakawa quickly stepped forward.

"Then hurry it up."

"Got it, bro."

"Shanks, hold Buggy down."

"On it." Shanks locked Buggy in a bear hug from behind.

"Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!" Buggy yelled.

"Heh heh, don't worry, it'll be over soon."

Shirakawa extended his wicked hands, rummaged around Buggy's person, and found two money pouches and several bills.

In a thief's eyes, this was a fat, juicy sheep.

Shirakawa pulled out the two pouches and showed them to the guards. "How about this? Enough?"

"Alright, come on in."

The two opened the door for Shirakawa and the others. As soon as they stepped inside, it was clear that inside and outside were two completely different worlds.

"May I ask what you'd like to order?" As soon as they stepped inside, a receptionist walked over and asked them.

Though the four of them were oddly dressed, in the eyes of the service staff, they were just four fat sheep ripe for the shearing—no one came here without spending money.

"Take us to the casino."

"Right away, please follow me."

Hearing they were headed to the casino, the receptionist immediately brightened up, her service attitude improving even more. The fastest place to burn through cash here was undoubtedly the casino.

The five of them followed a staircase down. Although this place was legal, they were used to converting the basement into a casino.

Here, Shirakawa could see all kinds of gambling tools.

"Sir, chips are exchanged over here. Please follow me."

"Any of you want to try something?"

"Not me." The first to speak was Buggy—how could he spend his own money on games?

"Not me either," Kaiser Lynn said. As a princess of a nation, there was nothing she couldn't play if she wanted.

"I'd like to give it a shot."

Thinking of Shanks' words, Buggy wished he could pop his eyeballs out. "You bastard, that's my money you're spending."

"Alright, then exchange ten thousand Berry in chips for him."

Shirakawa said it as casually as if ten thousand Berry wasn't even money in his eyes.

"It's not my money anyway."

Hearing that, the receptionist's mouth twitched, and her smile stiffened.

Ten thousand Berry might be a lot in some poor places, but here it was really nothing—in fact, ten thousand Berry wasn't even enough to qualify for entry.

"She really doesn't know how those two security guards at the door do their job," the receptionist complained inwardly.

"Very well, sir. Please wait a moment."

No matter how displeased she felt, she had to put on a good front and meet the guest's demands.

Otherwise, if they filed a complaint against her, the fine would be no joke.

Soon, ten thousand Berry in chips were brought over—only ten pieces, meaning each was worth a thousand Berry.

"Alright, you can go now. If we need anything, we'll call for you."

"Okay, have fun and enjoy yourselves."

After rattling off her professional lines with a fake smile, she quickly left.

"Am I really that scary? Why did she leave so fast? It's not like I'd eat her."

"Maybe she thinks you're too stingy. There's nothing to squeeze out of you."

"Really? It's my first time here—I don't know the rules."

"That doesn't seem to have anything to do with it being your first time."

Kaiser Lynn said mercilessly, "Your nature is just stingy."