The men immediately scattered at the sight of the two undead walking forward, retreating to either side. If a fight broke out, they did not know whether the man behind the bar could stop it.
Reiner did not care. He controlled the Saw Devil to sit down before the bar, then followed behind it.
"Our lord is here to make a deal," Reiner said directly, without any unnecessary words. "We want ready-made Seastone products. If you have them, name your price."
The white-haired old man glanced at him without speaking, then shifted his gaze back to the two undead.
Reiner naturally understood what he meant. He looked at the Chainsaw Devil and controlled it to tilt its head at him.
Only then did the old man look back at Reiner, secretly thinking, Are these two cyborgs? Arrogant, or unable to speak?
He had come from the Grand Line to the East Blue to manage Loguetown's base. He had seen all kinds of strange things.
Looking at the appearance of those two figures, his first thought was that they were cyborgs. On top of that, their designs were extremely similar, making him even more convinced.
After all, two identical Devil Fruit abilities could not exist at the same time. Similar abilities were possible, but the odds of two such people appearing together were minuscule.
"Two pairs of Seastone handcuffs. Fifteen million per pair," the white-haired old man said calmly. He did not doubt that they could afford them.
In the East Blue, very few people even knew about Devil Fruits. Even fewer knew of Seastone, which could restrain ability users.
Since they had come directly to ask about it, they were clearly not ignorant.
"Do you have Seastone Bullets?" Reiner pressed.
"Processing Seastone into bullets is extremely difficult. Six million Beli each. I have sixteen rounds here," the white-haired old man replied. "They also require specially made guns to fire them. Eight million per gun."
Reiner deliberately looked at the Chainsaw Devil, then controlled it to give a slight nod.
"I'll take all the handcuffs, guns, and ammunition. Do you have any spare guns?"
"I have three in stock."
"Pack them all up," Reiner said decisively.
Wasn't it common sense to have backups, and backups for those backups?
"Are you sure?"
At last, the white-haired old man's expression changed. He had guessed they could afford it, but he had not expected them to come and clean him out.
That came to a hundred and fifty million Beli!
Who were they planning to fight that was worth spending this much on? Wouldn't it be easier to hire them as thugs instead?
If Reiner knew what he was thinking, he would have laughed out loud. Double it to three hundred million, and you could go take out Old Sand and Enel.
"Sure. I want it all."
"Check the bills." Kurok calmed himself and told the men who had retreated to the side, "Go bring the goods out for him to inspect."
Reiner placed the money bag he had been carrying directly on the bar. When he had set out this time, he had not known how much money would be enough.
Of the four hundred million he had taken from Arlong, he had left one hundred million for Cocoyasi Village and brought the remaining three hundred million with him.
Although this was pirate crew funding, no one would complain about money spent where it mattered.
When Reiner pulled open the bag's zipper, the old man's breathing noticeably paused.
To be honest, the white-haired old man was tempted. In a place like the East Blue, anyone would be tempted by three hundred million sitting right in front of them.
But the white-haired old man did not make a move. Joker's business was spread across the world. If he attacked and failed to take them down on the spot, it would severely damage Joker's reputation.
Suppressing the urge to strike, the white-haired old man began counting the money while glancing at the Sword-Chainsaw Duo from the corner of his eye, calculating his chances of taking them down.
Reiner, on the other hand, was somewhat disappointed. The old man was not weak, but Reiner could tell that he was still weaker than Arlong.
Reiner had been hoping the old man would make a move and give him a chance to rob the robber. As for Doflamingo—
As long as he kept things clean, it would be ages before they could trace it back to him. By then, who knew how strong he would be?
Even Doflamingo would probably have to weigh whether he was up to it.
Should I strike first later? Is there any need? It's not like I can't afford this money, Reiner silently calculated.
He was not afraid of being unable to win. He was afraid the other side might escape.
Reiner kept taking out stacks of bills from the bag while the white-haired old man slowly checked them.
Both harbored their own hidden schemes.
"Boss Kurok, the goods are here." Several men emerged from the back, each carrying a suitcase.
Only then did Reiner learn the old man's name. The men set the suitcases on the table and retreated.
Kurok pushed the counted money aside, then opened the suitcases and turned them around, displaying their contents for Reiner.
Two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, three ordinary-looking revolvers, and finally three revolver cylinders. Two were loaded with six Seastone Bullets each, while the third had two empty chambers.
"We work for Joker. Since you found your way here, I assume you know our reputation. Of course, you can test-fire one first."
"Oh, Mr. Kurok, listen to yourself. How could I not trust you?" Reiner gave an awkward laugh and closed the suitcases.
"Fine. Then the deal is officially complete. No returns or exchanges once you walk out that door." Kurok collected the money from the bar.
Reiner placed the suitcases into the half-empty money bag, then lifted it.
He extended one hand to shake Kurok's, while controlling the Sword Devil and Chainsaw Devil to stand and leave.
Kurok extended his hand as well, though the corner of his eye remained fixed on the Sword Devil and Chainsaw Devil's movements.
Their hands clasped and squeezed several times.
Reiner controlled the two undead to turn toward the door. When Kurok saw their backs, a vicious gleam flashed through his eyes.
As the Sword-Chainsaw Duo slowly took a step forward, Reiner and Kurok began releasing each other's hands, their hands slowly drawing back through the air.
The room was silent, as if the air itself had frozen.
Bang!
Kurok exploded into motion!
Both hands slammed onto the bar while his legs kicked off the ground. With the combined force, his entire body shot forward at terrifying speed.
"Die!!!"
As long as he instantly ambushed and killed the two of them, he could take his time dealing with that blond lackey.
As long as he kept things clean, no one would ever find out.
"I knew you were a fucking bastard!"
At the exact moment Kurok attacked, several rifts in space opened throughout the room.
Several opened before the four men, while another appeared directly behind Kurok!
This was a battle that would be decided the instant either side made a move.
If they took the other side down in this room, nothing would happen.
But if the enemy escaped, endless trouble would follow.
Both sides shared the same thought.
Although Reiner had deliberately turned the two undead around to lure Kurok in, if Kurok had not attacked, Reiner would have simply left.
But there were no ifs. The other side had attacked, so Reiner had to be even more ruthless.
Kurok turned his hands into blade palms and chopped toward the Sword-Chainsaw Duo's necks from behind.
At the same time, a pair of clawed arms extended from the rift behind him, viciously stabbing toward his waist.
The Sword-Chainsaw Duo had no eyes in the backs of their heads and could not see Kurok, but Reiner saw everything clearly.
The instant Kurok moved, Reiner controlled the undead to turn around while drawing the Bone Chain Sword, its tip aimed at Kurok.
You thought you were ambushing the two of them?
This was four against one, you old bastard!
Three long blades and three chainsaws slashed at Kurok at once, while several claws had already reached his waist from behind.
"Shoot him dead!!!"
The serrated tip of the Bone Chain Sword suddenly shot forward!
Splat! Splat!
Splat! Splat!
In an instant.
The Bone Chain Sword pierced through Kurok's body. The Kong Wolfman's claws sank deeply into his waist, while the two undead drove their blades and chainsaws into his shoulders, neck, and chest.
Kurok lost his balance in midair. Struck from several directions, his body twisted grotesquely before crashing heavily forward.
If you were going to do it, do it fast and do it hard!
"H-how..." Kurok's pupils dilated in disbelief. He collapsed miserably into a pool of blood, coughing up blood as he said:
"I'm... cough... one of Joker's people. If you kill me..."
Reiner ignored him completely and finished him off. "Only by killing you will nothing happen, old bastard."
He then hacked the four men in the corner to death and slowly walked toward the back of the tavern.
"Harvest another round, then destroy the evidence and leave."
I'll take his money and be on my way. Nothing will happen.