Swordsman, the Source of Darkness

With a cold smile, he glanced at Issho. But when he looked down, his expression suddenly changed, as though he had seen something unbelievable. "This..."

The other gamblers also turned their eyes to the gambling device. When they saw the numbers inside, their expressions changed abruptly as well.

The numbers inside were exactly the same as Issho's bet!

"Eh? What's wrong, everyone? Why has everyone gone quiet? Did I win?" Issho still scratched his head, as though he had not noticed what was happening.

Seeing this, the people at the gambling table exchanged glances and signals, sneers appearing on their faces.

The dealer smiled. "What a pity, blind man. You were so close to winning, but unfortunately, the last number was wrong. You lost!"

"That's right, you lost!"

"Blind man, you should know what that means! Since you lost, you have to cover all the gamblers' stakes!"

"This time, you lost over a hundred thousand Beli!"

"Pay up, blind man. If you don't have the money, we can only sell you as a slave. You may be blind, but you should still be worth over a hundred thousand Beli!"

The surrounding gamblers all stared at Issho with cold smiles, as though they were looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter!

"I see. But what I clearly 'saw' was the number I bet on. Are you gentlemen planning to break the rules?" Issho smiled, his tone still barely changing.

"Hm?" Everyone present was startled, and their expressions immediately darkened.

If this blind man could see, did that not mean he had been playing them all along?

And how had he done it? He had actually guessed the right number!

This definitely was not a coincidence. There could not be such a coincidence. The only explanation was that this blind man had cheated!

The dealer narrowed his eyes. Then, anger appeared on his face. With a bang, he kicked the table over and stared coldly at Issho. "You dared to cheat here, blind man? Do you know where you are? Cheating in a casino... you've got some nerve!"

The commotion instantly changed the lively atmosphere in the bar, and everyone turned to look in their direction.

When they saw that Pleasure Street was making a move, and dozens of burly men in black were approaching from all directions, their expressions changed. None of them dared to linger any longer.

On this island, Pleasure Street was the one force no one could afford to provoke.

Not even the two criminal organizations that jointly controlled Gold Coin Island dared to provoke Pleasure Street!

"Once the game began, I made no movements at all. How could I have cheated? Ah, I understand. You gentlemen simply do not intend to follow the rules, do you?" Issho naturally sensed the dozens of people surrounding him, but his expression remained unchanged, as though he did not take what was happening before him seriously.

The dealer swept his gaze around. After seeing that no one else remained besides their own men, he stopped pretending and sneered. "Rules? Here, Pleasure Street is the rule, because Pleasure Street is the largest force on this island!"

"There are far too many filthy and despicable people in this world, too many things one cannot bear to witness..." Issho sighed. "Even though I cannot see, countless foul deeds still enter my sight. It is truly the misfortune of this world..."

The dealer sneered disdainfully. "Blind man, don't think spouting a few incomprehensible words will keep you safe. If you dare cause trouble on Pleasure Street's turf, there is only one ending for you!"

"This filthy method is likely not the first time you have used it..." Issho looked toward the dealer. His white eyes fixed on him, bringing the dealer an inexplicable sense of pressure.

"If it had been an ordinary person, they might already have fallen for your trick and plunged into an abyss from which there was no return."

As he spoke, Issho slowly reached his right hand toward the sword cane at his waist. "My strength may be limited, but I cannot allow such filthy actions to continue..."

For some reason, everyone present felt an indescribable pressure, as though a mountain were pressing down upon them, making it difficult for them to breathe...

Heh, looks like there's a good show coming... In a corner of the bar, Ian held a glass of red wine and watched the show.

Everyone else had been frightened away, but naturally, he would not leave. Besides, he could not be bothered to move somewhere else now.

The spectacle before him interested Ian somewhat. He had been drifting at sea for so long that he was bored out of his mind. Now that there was a good show to watch, he was naturally happy to stay.

Still, he found it rather absurd. These people had some nerve, setting up a top-tier powerhouse of the world. What were they thinking?

Were they tired of living?

However, after seeing Issho's clothes, Ian understood. Who would take someone in worn-out clothes, even with visible patches, for a powerhouse?

At that moment, Issho was only slightly better off than a vagrant. No one would consider him an important figure...

But the next moment, Ian's Observation Haki and Future Sight showed him a meteor falling from the sky shortly afterward. It was neither too large nor too small, just enough to completely destroy this bar...

Seeing this, Ian was naturally displeased.

It was true that he was watching a show, but he did not want anyone ruining his enjoyment.

Even if Issho went all out and summoned a meteor ten times larger, it would not harm Ian in the slightest.

But if the meteor fell, he would have to find another place to drink. What a hassle...

So Ian swirled his wineglass and spoke. "Hey, you can make your move if you want, but don't destroy this place. I haven't finished enjoying my wine yet..."

Upon hearing his voice, Issho paused slightly. He sheathed his partially drawn sword cane and could not help giving Ian an apologetic smile. "My sincerest apologies. I did not consider your presence for a moment and nearly disturbed your enjoyment."

When Issho's sword cane returned to its sheath, the strange pressure in the air seemed to disappear. It had lasted only a brief moment, and everyone present merely thought they had caught their breath. No one paid it any mind.

Ian merely shrugged. After taking a sip of red wine, he said indifferently, "You kill your people, and I'll drink my wine. Just don't disturb me."

As the two exchanged words, the ignored dealer's expression turned ugly. These fools truly did not know what was good for them. Could they not see the situation clearly?

He seemed to hold a fairly high position here. After coldly sweeping his gaze over the two, he directly gave the order. "Capture them. We're short on manpower underground, so they can go move things."

"Yes, sir!" The dozens of men in black around them revealed vicious grins and closed in on the two from separate directions.

"Heh, kid, you've got some guts. Can't you see the situation? Pleasure Street is handling business, yet you didn't know to leave? Then go move things with that blind man! Heh heh, I think you'll like it there!" One of the men in black grinned viciously at Ian as he approached step by step, murderous intent radiating from him. Clearly, he did not take Ian seriously.

He was just a brat. He looked under twenty, and his frame was thin. At a glance, he looked weak...

Ian raised his gaze slightly, amusement appearing in his eyes. He ignored the people surrounding them and instead looked at Issho. "This mess was caused by you. I won't need to step in, right?"

"Of course not. How could I trouble you to act?" Issho smiled, though inwardly, he had become curious about Ian's identity.

When Ian had looked at him earlier, he had noticed it. However, he had not used Observation Haki to examine Ian. That would have been impolite.

But his sharp senses still allowed him to tell that this person was clearly no ordinary fighter!

No, he was very strong!

Perhaps even stronger than himself...

"Damn it, they actually dared ignore us?"

"Boss, I can't take it anymore. How can they be so arrogant?"

"Hmph! Courting death!"

Seeing that the two had not taken them seriously at all, the men in black were filled with inexplicable rage. Dozens of them charged at the two, intending to teach them a lesson!

They would not kill them, but what awaited them would be no better than death!

Because they would be forced to work day and night until they died from exhaustion!

Beneath this island was a hidden underground port responsible for handling all kinds of contraband. Weapons, drugs, supplies, slaves, and other goods were transported elsewhere from there.

And the people carrying those goods were the people they had captured!

There were civilians seized from nearby islands, as well as pirates. All of them had been captured and thrown into the underground port!

Ian remained seated, with no intention of acting. Since Fujitora Issho had said he would handle it, Ian was naturally happy to take it easy.

He knew Fujitora's strength well enough. Could someone who had become an admiral through an exceptional promotion possibly be weak?

Dealing with these small fry would naturally be effortless.

Issho's sword cane slid slightly from its sheath, and a strange power spread from his body. Then, with a faint hum, a purple glow suddenly appeared, and enormous pressure descended upon the entire area!

With a boom, the pressure came down like Mount Tai crushing everything beneath it, a heavy and immense force dragging them toward the ground.

The force was incomparably powerful. Even using every ounce of their strength, they could not resist it.

A series of bangs rang out. Aside from Ian, everyone present was pressed to the ground. As the force grew stronger, they could no longer bear the pressure. Their bodies were flattened against the floor, their bones cracking and shattering as though crushed beneath overwhelming weight. Blood continuously flowed from their eyes, ears, mouths, and noses!

Ian extended his Observation Haki slightly and sensed an incredibly terrifying pressure pressing down upon those people. It was controlled with astonishing precision, affecting only a certain area while leaving everywhere else untouched.

This should be Issho's ability—the Paramecia-type Gravity Fruit!

Ian sat up straighter and extended his right hand to the side, reaching it into the range of one person pinned to the ground.

Immediately, Ian felt an extremely powerful force descend onto his right hand, trying to drag it downward.

But Ian only exerted a little strength to resist the pressure. Looking at Issho, he praised him slightly. "A Devil Fruit ability? This power... gravity? Impressive."

"Your strength is truly unfathomable," Issho said as he closed his sword cane and canceled the Gravity Fruit's power. However, everyone present had already lost their lives. Issho glanced at Ian and said calmly, "With your strength, you should be a famous figure on the seas, shouldn't you?"

Ian chuckled. "Isn't your strength also unfathomable? Someone capable of detecting the trajectory of meteors in the sky and using his power to drag them down... I don't believe someone with such strength would appear out of nowhere. Yet I've never heard of any great figure in the world with such an ability!"

Issho was startled. Then, as though he had thought of something, his remaining white eyes turned toward Ian. He let out a breath and shook his head. "I am merely a blind man traveling the world. I do not deserve to be called a great figure."

Ian shrugged. "Then I'm the same. I'm merely a lone wanderer drifting aimlessly across the sea."

Issho smiled. "You truly have refined tastes. I admire that..."

"Unable to see, unable to witness darkness, yet still willing to act righteously. I admire your conduct," Ian said with a smile, his meaning clear.

Issho looked toward Ian. "My abilities are limited. I merely do what little I can."

"A chivalrous man who secretly upholds justice?" Ian nodded and looked underground.

Beneath this place was a massive underground port. Ian's Observation Haki spread down there, and he discovered many emaciated people with vacant, lifeless eyes mechanically moving goods.

Issho sighed softly. "I merely cannot bear to see darkness unfolding before me, so I do what I can."

Ian laughed softly, drained the wine in his cup, and stood. "The darkness in this world cannot be eradicated. As long as the source remains, darkness will continue to emerge. You alone cannot wipe it out."

After saying that, Ian waved at Issho and left.

Issho "watched" Ian's departing back and pondered inwardly. If the source remains, darkness will continue to emerge?

But then he let out a breath and muttered, "Someone with Observation Haki at the level of Future Sight... who exactly is he?"

Without dwelling on it further, Issho turned and left the bar as well, heading in one direction. There lay the entrance to the island's underground port!

As someone with a powerful sense of justice, Issho had naturally come here for a reason.

On a nearby island, he had "seen" darkness. Criminals had been raiding everywhere, seizing ordinary people and taking them away.

Issho had followed the clues to this island, tracking them step by step until he entered this bar.

That was how the previous events had come about...