Taunts and Counter-Taunts

Looking at the wounded soldiers still groaning in pain before him, Luffy said, "That Champion guy really went all out."

If these guys weren't so physically robust, that one strike would have killed them all.

"Isn't it normal for everyone to attack him together and be a little ruthless?" Xi Yan said.

He didn't see anything wrong with it, after all... everyone was attacking him!

In this situation, holding back is the most foolish thing to do.

"That's true."

Just then, a man walked over and said in a playful tone, "Ha, I didn't expect to see you here."

"Ha?"

Hearing the voice, Luffy looked at Bellamy in confusion. What was this guy talking about?

"My eyes aren't just for show," Bellamy grinned. "No matter how you try to disguise yourself, I can spot your bastard face at a glance."

As he spoke, Bellamy raised his hand and touched the spot where Luffy had punched him.

Although it doesn't hurt anymore, I can't forget how it felt back then!

"You... you are!"

Luffy recognized Bellamy at that moment, his expression changing as he said, "You're the guy who injured Uncle Rhombus, I remember your name is... Malo!"

"It's Bellamy!" Bellamy corrected.

He wasn't angry at the way the other person addressed him, after all, he was no longer the immature pirate he used to be.

"Oh, Bellamy." Luffy nodded, then asked, "Why are you here?"

"I'm not a resident of Gaya, so I can go wherever I want, right?"

"As for why I'm here..."

Bellamy paused slightly at this point, then pointed to the clown tattoo on his body and grinned, "Doflamingo is the pirate I've admired since I was a child, so I'm here to win the championship!"

If he wins this championship, he can become a member of the Donquixote Family!

At that time... his dream will come true!

Ha ha ha ha!

"You want the Diamond- Diamond Fruit Diamond Fruit too?" Luffy frowned. "I won't give it to you."

"It doesn't matter, I'll beat everyone on the field and win the championship anyway," Bellamy laughed.

Looking at Bellamy's confident face, Xi Yan slowly narrowed his eyes.

If I remember correctly, this guy is the Spring-Spring Devil Fruit User that Luffy and his crew defeated before they went to Skypiea.

Where does this guy get the confidence to say such a thing?

Could it be... that his Devil Fruit power Awakening?

Bellamy ignored Xi Yan's gaze; his eyes remained fixed on Luffy the entire time.

"Straw Hat, I'm not the same person I used to be," Bellamy continued. "I've been to the Skypiea you once mentioned!"

"Skypiea...?"

"Yes." Bellamy nodded and said, "Although I've lost my companions, my world has been turned upside down."

After the incident on the Skypiea, Bellamy realized how ridiculous and ignorant she had been in the past.

The world is so big, yet he's stuck on Jaya Island like a frog in a well. It's truly... ironic.

So from that moment on, he made up his mind to live a new life!

Becoming one of Doflamingo's executives is his first step towards the New World!

Thinking of this, Bellamy grinned.

Seeing Bellamy's smile, Luffy asked with a serious face, "Hey, you didn't do anything to those guys, did you?"

"Hehe, who knows?"

After grinning at Luffy, Bellamy turned and walked towards the exit, saying, "Anyway... I don't hate you anymore."

After all that happened, Bellamy no longer held Luffy.

After all... in a sense, he was also awakened by the other party.

Then, Bellamy paused slightly, and without turning his head, said, "The times are about to change dramatically!"

"To cross the inevitable giant wave, I will board Doflamingo's ship!"

"I... will never laugh at you again."

After saying that, Bellamy left without looking back.

Luffy didn't say anything more, and simply watched the other person leave.

"Who is this guy?" Xi Yan asked at the opportune moment.

"He was... one of the opponents I encountered before," Luffy said. "I just wonder how those guys are doing now."

Everyone has their own destiny.

After all, Luffy can't protect those guys on Skypiea forever, so they can only leave it to their own fate.

This time, Luffy didn't say anything, but just frowned and watched Bellamy's departing figure, lost in thought.

"Alright, Luffy."

Xi Yan withdrew his gaze and said, "Let's go watch the matches in Block B. After the matches here are over, it will be your turn."

Hearing Xi Yan's words, Luffy out of his daze, then nodded and said, "Let's go then."

Soon, the two returned to the spot where they had been watching the game.

Surprisingly, Cavendish was also here.

Looking at the guy's back, Xi Yan instinctively felt that something was wrong, but Luffy just walked over as if nothing was wrong, leaving Xi Yan feeling helpless.

After shaking his head, Xi Yan started walking and followed.

"Ah, you've come," Cavendish said.

"Ah, come watch the game."

Luffy nodded, then looked curiously at Bartolomeo, who was being scorned by everyone on the field, and asked, "Why is everyone so angry?"

"Because he made an appearance."

"He?"

Looking at the man with fangs, Luffy asked curiously, "Who is he?"

"Captain of the Bartolomeo Club, the Cannibal Bartolomeo."

"Cannibals?"

Xi Yan looked shocked and said, "This guy eats people?!"

This was the first time he had ever heard of cannibals.

"I don't know about that," Cavendish shook his head and said, "But that's what everyone's saying."

Listening to Cavendish's words, Xi Yan revealed a thoughtful expression.

Is it just a scary nickname, or did they actually do it?

He was somewhat curious.

Haha~

"It seems everyone is very enthusiastic!"

Bartolomeo pulled a small ball, which resembled a bomb, from his pocket and said, "Then let me give everyone a present!"

As he spoke, he threw the 'bomb' in his hand into the air.

The audience members who witnessed this all looked puzzled.

"What is this guy doing?"

Let me see.

A robot pulled out a telescope, glanced at the sky, and then exclaimed in horror, "It's a bomb!!!"

Those who heard the other party's words immediately showed expressions of horror, and then got up and fled for their lives without hesitation.

However, because the Audience seats were completely full, they were unable to escape quickly.

"Damn it, get out of the way!"

"Damn old man, are you trying to kill us by blocking the road like this? Get out of the way!"

"Get out of my way, let me escape first!"

"Let me go first, I'll give you whatever money you want."

"..."

In just a few seconds, the crowd vividly portrayed the full spectrum of human nature.

Finally, the small ball, which resembled a bomb, landed in the Audience seats, bounced a few times, and then remained still.

"Um?"

The people nearby were stunned for a moment after noticing this, then cautiously leaned over to take a look.

Their expressions changed immediately after they saw what it was.

"This is... a ball?!"

It wasn't a bomb after all!

"It looks awful!"

"It looks awful!!"

"It looks awful!!!"

Bartolomeo's voice grew louder and louder, and the expressions of the audience became increasingly unpleasant.

They... were actually scared like this by a ball?

That's so embarrassing!

"That's a brilliant taunt, kid," Dagama laughed. "Aren't you afraid they'll hate you?"

"Ha, so be it if you hate me," Bartolomeo sneered. "After all, I don't like being liked by scum either."

In his eyes, these spectators who enjoyed watching these duels were no good either, so naturally he wouldn't be polite to them.

Dagama clearly understood what he meant, but he simply smiled and said nothing more.

"He's still laughing," Luffy said, staring at the smirking Bartolomeo. "What a strange fellow."

"See? This guy's reputation is pretty bad," Cavendish said, taking out a rose, sniffing it. "He's nowhere near as good as a young nobleman like me."

As he spoke, Cavendish wore a blissful expression, seemingly lost in thought.

Xi Yan ignored what the guy said and instead looked at Bartolomeo with a thoughtful expression.

Is this guy... mocking the audience's somewhat distorted views?

Do you think that the audience members who come to watch this kind of game aren't good people either?

Haha, interesting.

"What an arrogant bastard!" the host said through gritted teeth, regaining his composure. "I hope this bastard dies in Block B."

After grumbling in annoyance, he grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Alright, let me introduce the last contestant!"

"This man is completely different from the madman Bartolomeo; he is a man who reveres King Doflamingo!"

"In order to gain His Majesty the King's approval, I brought back a huge Golden Pillar from a distant land to present to the King, and from then on swore allegiance!"

"After that, we ruthlessly destroyed those towns and countries that mocked our nation as a barbaric Pirate King kingdom, forcing them to surrender and making Dressrosa famous far and wide!"

"That's right, he is none other than Bellamy Dressrosa Fierce Bullet, who strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies!"

"Profound!!"

Upon hearing the host's introduction, the surrounding audience immediately cheered, their expressions increasingly excited.

He looked like he was seeing an idol.

"Cut."

Cavendish spat, clearly displeased with the audience's reaction.

"I see, so it was an opportunity bought with Golden Pillar?" Xi Yan said, stroking his chin.

So, this guy didn't empty out the Golden City on the Skypiea.

That's true, since this guy is only one person, it's impossible for him to empty the entire city of gold.

Upon hearing Xi Yan's words, Luffy subconsciously frowned.

Taking just one Golden Pillar shouldn't hurt those people, right?

But Bellamy's attitude just now...

Thinking of this, Luffy's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Lord Bellamy!!"

"Lord Bellamy!"

As the man walked onto the stage, the audience's enthusiasm grew even stronger.

Bellamy enjoyed the feeling, so she opened her arms in response.

At that moment, the host announced, "Today, this man has decided to use his victory to fulfill his long-cherished wish and be honorably promoted to a cadre of the Donquixote Family!"

"Bellamy!"

"Bellamy!"

"Bellamy!"

"Even though it's his home turf, that guy's popularity is just too high," Cavendish said, annoyed.

The more I look at it, the more annoyed I get, you bastard!

"Don't forget whose territory this is," Xi Yan said calmly from the side.

Although it's unclear how far Bellamy and Doflamingo have gotten together, this is, after all, Donquixote Family territory, so such a reaction is quite normal.

This time Cavendish didn't say anything, he just snorted in annoyance.

"There are so many people."

Luffy looked down excitedly and said, "If those guys are going to fight together, which one should I watch?"

Wow, there are so many amazing people here!

"You only need to look at the capable guys," Cavendish said.

"Why?"

"Although it's called an elimination tournament, it's really just the first round. The chances of the weak winning are almost zero, so just watch the strong guys."

In this kind of competition, the weak cannot stand until the end, so Cavendish felt there was no need to watch the weak.

"I see."

"Um."

Cavendish nodded, then said with a smile, "Let me introduce you to the people I follow."

"Really? Thanks a lot." Luffy grinned, showing his teeth.

"See that man with the boxing gloves?" Cavendish pointed to the man with the boxing gloves and said, "He is the King of the Prodence Kingdom, Battle King Elizabello II."

"King?"

Xi Yan looked surprised and said, "The king of a country will actually participate in this competition?"

"After all, the reward this time is Diamond Fruit," Cavendish chuckled.

Therefore, it is quite normal for this King to come here to participate in this competition.

"That's true."

After all, the Diamond Fruit is Devil Fruit that even the Four Emperors are interested in, so it's quite normal for King from a country to come here to compete for the championship.

But sorry... they won't be giving away this Devil Fruit!

Cavendish, unaware of Xi Yan's thoughts, took out another person's file and said, "See that fat guy next to him?"

"That's his strategist, Dagama."

"I've heard this person is incredibly intelligent; perhaps he really can help the King win first place in the knockout stage."

First?

Xi Yan shook his head. This isn't a place where you can win just by using your brain.

To win the championship in the knockout stage, fists are the only way!