This was the isolated island silver mine near Dressrosa. At the center of the island stood the enormous Silver Fortress, its radiance making the surrounding sea gleam brilliantly.
At that moment, Desire arrived at the shore with her team, riding sharks. Several people came over to meet her. "How were the results?"
"Another huge haul."
In a dark corner of the Silver Fortress, someone was stuffing ore into his stomach. Once he swallowed it, it seemed to ferment inside him, releasing a massive amount of gas. This person ate ore as if it were food.
In another corner of the Silver Fortress, Bartolomeo held a pickaxe and said, "For Luffy-senpai... hey, how did things end up like this?"
He was being watched as he mined. The moment he stopped, someone suddenly lashed him with a whip, sending Bartolomeo flying. He immediately cried, "That hurts!"
The yellow-haired man said, "Stop slacking off. Have you found any ore?"
Bartolomeo said, "Is Luffy-senpai okay?"
The yellow-haired man tilted his head. He was too tall to stand upright in the tunnel, and when his head struck the dirt ceiling, he cried, "Ow, that hurts."
He added with a grin, "He's fine for now, but I can't guarantee that'll still be true ten minutes from now."
Bartolomeo said, "He's fine for now? If you dare lay a hand on him, I'll never forgive you!"
He raised his pickaxe with all his strength, trying to strike the yellow-haired man.
The yellow-haired man dodged, then whipped Bartolomeo again. Bartolomeo immediately cried, "That hurts!"
The yellow-haired man said, "Quit talking and dig."
Then the yellow-haired man walked backward, saying, "There'll also be..."
Then he suddenly hit his head again. "Ow, that hurts! Again! Ow!"
Bartolomeo charged at him. "You guard—!" But halfway there, he fell flat on his