The So-Called BOSS

Night fell.

The nightlife in Loguetown wasn't dull; the streets were brightly lit with various markets.

This harmonious and peaceful atmosphere was like the calm before a storm.

Among the crowds, some Revolutionary Army members, using different methods, attracted the attention of the residents, subtly drawing the flow of people away from Loguetown's backstreets.

The Revolutionary Army member who had interacted with Linley looked in the direction of the backstreet, feeling a bit worried.

Meanwhile.

Linley had arrived at Number Five Backstreet, but the situation here was quite different from what he had imagined.

This wasn't a deserted street, but rather a rather lively market.

As night fell, the lights of various stalls came on, and the sounds of hawkers were endless.

Finding any trace of Kuro's crew in such a chaotic market would undoubtedly be very difficult.

However, Linley now realized a more serious problem—

He was a bit hungry.

Since landing in Loguetown, he had already fought over a dozen battles, though all of them were one-sided instant kills.

But because he had been constantly vigilant of that dangerous aura, Linley's Energy Value had been consumed faster than expected.

Linley chewed on the dried meat he had brought from the deserted island as he walked into Number Five Backstreet, observing the movements of Kuro's crew while also wanting to find something more to eat in the market, just in case.

Suddenly, Linley's nose twitched.

It was a familiar smell.

Linley approached a grilled fish stall. The stall owner was a young man with a headband and slight dark circles under his eyes.

Seeing Linley, the young man smiled enthusiastically, "Hey, old man, want some grilled fish?"

Linley looked at the grilled fish on the stall and grinned, "Is it Golden Salmon?"

The young owner nodded and added a few pieces of charcoal to the brazier in front of him, "Yes, it was just caught this afternoon, very fresh."

"Two skewers of grilled fish, please."

Linley smiled, but his eyes never left the grilled fish stall owner. "Golden Salmon is a super rare small Sea King, usually only nobles get to eat it!"

"Yeah," the young owner nodded.

"Boss, how long have you been setting up your stall here?" Linley suddenly asked.

The owner paused, then replied, "I've been selling grilled fish with my father in Loguetown since I was a child. I've been running the stall for almost ten years, and he taught me all his grilling skills."

"What a coincidence, I also know an Uncle fisherman who has been fishing for over twenty years, and his grilled fish skills are also top-notch," Linley said, watching the young owner's grilling technique.

The owner skillfully placed the fish meat on the grill, cooking both sides for a while, then brushing on sauce. The oil dripped onto the charcoal, and the aroma immediately filled the air.

However, when the owner handed the grilled fish to Linley, Linley didn't move. Instead, he suddenly grinned, "That Uncle once told me that Golden Salmon is a very delicate ingredient. When grilling, only the side with the skin can be cooked; otherwise, it will ruin the flavor of the fish itself. This is common knowledge that any fish vendor knows, yet you don't."

The young owner's eyes flickered, and then he replied, "Sorry, I... might not have learned my skills well enough."

"Indeed, your skills aren't good enough, and your mind isn't on the grilled fish at all."

Linley suddenly leaned forward half a step, "Looking at the muscles on your arms and the calluses on your hands, you probably rarely use fishing nets, right?"

"Hmm..." The owner silently bent down and said in a low voice, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Linley looked at the owner's posture and grinned, "Who are you?"

The young owner's expression became completely calm.

"Old man, you shouldn't ask that."

He took out two crutches with spherical designs at the ends from a box under the stall and said with a grim expression, "You should ask, 'Who are you people.'"

Hearing this, Linley's pupils suddenly contracted.

And all around Linley, the previously bustling street suddenly fell silent.

Everyone in the market, whether a stall owner or a tourist, every single one of them, simultaneously locked their gaze onto Linley!

"So that's how it is..."

Linley finally understood why this particular street, Number Five Backstreet, was so lively when the backstreets were supposed to be sparsely populated and secluded—

It turned out that all the people here were members of a pirate crew!

At this moment, Linley was at the entrance of Number Five Backstreet.

In front of him, the street, which stretched as far as the eye could see, was filled with over a thousand pirates, their eyes gleaming menacingly, holding Seastone weapons.

And that wasn't all; on both sides of the street, in the abandoned houses, many pirates had drawn their blades!

The young man wielding the twin crutches stepped out from the stall and approached Linley.

"With two pirate crews combined, there are a total of four thousand people. Don't you dare run, old man Linley!"

The young man smiled, his face grim. "After all, the person you're looking for is at the end of the street."

Linley looked at the young man and grinned. "Thanks, Hachi!"

Hachi blinked in surprise. "You know me?"

"I saw you on a bounty poster," Linley replied.

Hachi, not yet reformed by Sanji's kindness, was currently a complete subordinate of Krieg, a "Demon" who followed orders. Therefore, Linley didn't intend to persuade him with words.

What's more, the killing intent emanating from the street felt like a tidal wave.

In this situation, there was only one path: battle!

Linley clashed his fists together.

Bang!

The dull thud echoed like an invitation to war in the quiet street.

Hachi was stunned. "You intend to challenge our four thousand men by yourself?!"

Hearing this, Linley chuckled and said to Hachi:

"Do you know my nickname?"

Hachi nodded. "BOSS."

Linley tilted his chin up slightly.

"Do you know the true meaning of BOSS?"

"..."

Bang!

Suddenly, a heavy punch struck Hachi's chest. He managed to react, blocking the blow with his twin crutches, but felt the force of the punch penetrate the crutches and hit him directly!

"Ugh!"

Hachi cried out in pain. Before he could react, a glint of frost caught his eye.

Immediately after, an uppercut struck Hachi's chin, sending him flying!

Hero Skill: Subdue with Might.

After two consecutive heavy punches, frost began to spread from the soles of Linley's feet.

Hero Skill: Icebound Domain!

Linley's speed and perception abilities were greatly enhanced.

Before Hachi could even fall, Linley's fists met again.

Bang!

White mist from the frost coiled around Linley. He grinned at the four thousand pirates on the street and shouted:

"Come on, let's fight!"

Then, he stepped forward and charged!

Number Five Backstreet was long, but not wide on either side.

As a result, the pirates at the rear couldn't see what was happening at the front.

Some were even shouting for those ahead to go easy so they too could have a go at the Wanted Criminal with a bounty of 100 Million Beli.

But suddenly, the pirates at the rear witnessed an incomprehensible "spectacle"—

People were flying.

They rubbed their eyes, but they weren't mistaken; their comrades were soaring through the air in all sorts of poses!

Even more baffling and terrifying was that the places where these people flew seemed to be inching closer to the depths of the street!

What had happened?

Perhaps only Hachi, the "Demon," who had fallen to the ground and was barely conscious due to his physical resilience, could answer this question.

Before he lost consciousness, Hachi's mind was filled with Linley's words.

"Do you know the true meaning of BOSS?"

"The so-called BOSS is the ultimate objective of a game, which is why the BOSS is always the one being challenged."

"So, you said one thing wrong."

Linley's eyes glowed with a dark golden light, and he said excitedly:

"It's not me challenging your four thousand men."

"It should be your four thousand men challenging me, the BOSS!"

On this day.

Loguetown.

Number Five Backstreet.

Wherever BOSS Lynn Barek went—

people flew!

Everyone in the comments section is a talent, and they speak so nicely. I've been watching the comments and laughing like an idiot every day for the past few days, it's super fun!

Requesting some recommendation votes! Thank you!