The Deterrence Brought by the Madman

Luo Ze and Ellie quickly finished their lunch. Afterward, the two let out satisfied burps, while Ellie asked the waiter for an extra glass of juice.

When it came time to pay the owner, he refused to accept Luo Ze's money.

He was a businessman. Though he lacked even the strength to truss a chicken, his mind was exceptionally sharp. The reason he had managed to build his business up and keep it running in this chaotic world of pirates was that he understood many rules other merchants did not.

For example, although he was a businessman, he divided his customers into three categories.

The first category was ordinary locals.

These customers were the main source of his shop's income. They paid the normal price for their meals, and not even a single Beli could be miscounted.

The second category was moderately capable pirates or newly established pirate hunters.

Customers of this sort had to be served attentively, and one could not be too presumptuous in speech, lest they be offended.

He was not worried that these pirates would not return for another meal. After all, pirates drifted around at sea; after coming once, who knew when they might return? He only needed to serve them well, make them feel comfortable, and have them willingly pay for that meal.

As for the third category, they were pirates who were either renowned or exceptionally powerful in the South Blue.

Such people were powerful and temperamental. If even the slightest mistake displeased them, his shop could suffer utter ruin.

Therefore, whenever customers of this sort appeared, although the owner cursed furiously inside, he still had to serve them like ancestors on the surface. Whatever they said went; whatever they wanted to eat had to be prepared immediately, and whatever intelligence they wanted had to be reported honestly. But as for the meal money, he absolutely could not accept it.

In the owner's mind, Luo Ze belonged to the third category. He felt he should be thanking the heavens as long as Luo Ze did not tear down his shop. How could he dare entertain such a death wish as charging him for food?

Luo Ze, however, insisted on paying. Though he could be considered a bloodthirsty madman, he had principles in what he did. The rule of paying for one's meals was not something he would break.

He placed the money on the owner's counter, ignored his expression, then turned and led Ellie toward the door. Along the way, whether pirates or pirate hunters, everyone voluntarily moved aside to open up a broad path, seemingly using this to show their fear and respect for Luo Ze.

Luo Ze did not care about this. In this world, strength represented everything. Since he had strength, receiving such treatment was only natural.

The streets were packed with people, all kinds of figures mixed together in the crowd—pirates, Marines, and pirate hunters alike.

But precisely because the streets were so chaotic, ambushes and killings often occurred on the road.

This particular area was unusually open.

Local residents and passing pirates had all obediently made room, watching the two groups ahead engage in a frenzied clash.

In the middle of the open space, a pirate man dressed in green led a group of subordinates in a fierce battle against another pirate crew.

The pirate man in green was a famous pirate in the South Blue.

His name was Pelucci, and his bounty was 65 million Beli. He was known as Three-Gun Pelucci because he carried three flintlock pistols.

As for the captain of the other pirate crew, he too was a renowned pirate in the South Blue. He was known as Fast Axe Aite, with a bounty of 67 million Beli.

Earlier, the two pirate crews had clashed fiercely over some friction between them.

Both pirates were famed figures in the South Blue, hot-tempered men who would pull out their weapons and start fighting at the slightest disagreement. Their battle had caused quite a commotion.

"Hmph! Die, die, die! Damn Fast Axe, go to hell!"

Pelucci's face was cold as he held a pistol in each hand and madly fired bullets at Fast Axe Aite. As the bullets flew, he sneered.

"You overestimate yourself. Watch this boss chop you into ten pieces with my axe!" Fast Axe Aite showed no weakness either. Holding a massive axe, he charged wildly toward Pelucci. The bullets fired at him were like tofu, all cleanly cleaved apart by his axe.

"Die!"

The members of both pirate crews also fought savagely, every slash cutting flesh and every shot drawing blood. Before long, both sides were battered and bloodied.

Just then—

"Haha, Brother, why are those guys over there fighting? Should we go take a look?"

A girl's voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. The two captains casually glanced in that direction, but after seeing the face of the man beside the girl, they froze in place like statues. Their subordinates also seemed to sense something strange; after looking in that direction, they too stood there dumbfounded like idiots.

"Killing Sword Luo Ze! Why is this madman here?"

Both captains involuntarily swallowed. As major pirates in these waters, they naturally knew of Luo Ze.

In their minds, this guy was a complete lunatic. Whenever he encountered pirates, he chopped them up. Anyone who ran into him was unlucky.

"Nothing worth watching. They're just a bunch of lackeys."

Luo Ze cast a glance in their direction, startling the two pirates into shuddering. But he quickly withdrew his gaze and smiled at Ellie.

"Alright. If that's the case, forget it. Let's go instead. Brother, let's go play over there."

Ellie nodded obediently, then pointed toward a building in another direction as she spoke to Luo Ze.

"Mm, alright. Let's head over."

Luo Ze patted Ellie on the head and quickly left with her.

"Whew, that was close. Thank goodness, thank goodness."

Seeing Luo Ze leave, the two great pirates unconsciously wiped the sweat from their foreheads, speaking with lingering fear. Luckily, Luo Ze had no interest in them, or they would have been finished.

Both sides remained where they were for a moment, but soon put away their weapons.

"Hmph! Let's leave today's matter at that. This boss has things to do, so I won't hold it against you."

Fast Axe Aite put away his axe and spoke to Pelucci.

"Consider yourself lucky! I've got things to do today too, so I'll spare your dog life. If I run into you again next time, I'll turn you into a hornet's nest."

Pelucci had no intention of continuing the fight either, but he refused to lose in terms of momentum, letting out a cold snort.

Soon after, both sides began to withdraw.

"Men, we're leaving. We'll come back and settle the score with those bastards next time."

The local bystanders who had been watching from the sidelines were completely baffled. One of them muttered strangely to himself, "Why did those pirates stop fighting in the middle of it? I haven't had my fill yet!"

What they did not realize was this:

Though the two pirate crews left looking grand and imposing, the moment they were out of the bystanders' sight, they broke into a frantic run without the slightest concern for appearances.

"Hey, men, let's get off this island fast! That lunatic Luo Ze is here—who knows when he'll come charging over to kill us!"

Fast Axe Aite quickly ran to the docks and shouted at the group of pirate grunts behind him.

At the same time, many pirates who had seen Luo Ze on the island earlier also quietly left the island.