Golden Lion said nothing. Instead, he slowly took a cigar from inside his coat, then leisurely fished out a lighter and began preparing to smoke.
Ron watched Golden Lion's fluid series of movements, his brow quietly furrowing. Why did this scene feel so familiar?
Oh? Thinking back carefully, Ron had a sudden flash of inspiration and remembered that Golden Lion had acted exactly like this when Ron admitted defeat while they were playing a game.
"Careful not to laugh while you're smoking. You'll suck it into your mouth again," Ron teased with a chuckle.
That seemingly well-meaning reminder was like an invisible needle, unexpectedly piercing a tender spot in Golden Lion's memory.
Then his raised hand abruptly froze, and those memories flashed through his mind in an instant.
Golden Lion's gaze hardened. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled the cigar to the ground with a smack, then asked Ron, "Where... did you get the Devil Fruit?"
"Why ask? I stole it, of course," Ron said flatly.
The moment he finished speaking, Golden Lion's eyes flew wide, his pupils contracting as he raged, "Are you kidding me? You two bastards snuck off behind my back to do something big! Damn you! I knew it! Why were you suddenly so generous, giving me all the money? So... so you were trying to lull me into letting my guard down!"
The corner of Ron's mouth twitched slightly. This bastard was acting up again. "Stop barking at me. The Celestial Dragons moved the auction forward. If we hadn't acted, this whole trip would've been for nothing."
Golden Lion's expression darkened, then a strange, sinister cackle burst from his throat. "In that case... I should thank you?"
"No need, because I'm not giving you a share," Ron said, waving a hand indifferently.