Big Brother Lei

Hachinosu · Shakuyaku's Extortion Bar

It was lively, noisy, and chaotic, yet under Shakuyaku's presence, it maintained a miraculous "order."

The Rocks Pirates occupied the most conspicuous spot in the center, where a group of monster-class pirates were drinking merrily.

Holding a cup, Shakuyaku sashayed over to Rocks, who sat in the very middle with a blissful smile on his face.

She turned slightly, her voice soft and teasing. "What's wrong, Rocks? You look so happy you can't hide it..."

Narrowing her eyes, she curled her lips into a smile. "You've got someone you love, don't you? I'm so heartbroken~"

"Pfft—!!!"

Rocks nearly sprayed his drink into Newgate's face across from him.

"Huh?? What, what nonsense are you talking about!!!"

Linlin threw back her head and laughed wildly, her voice making the wineglasses tremble. "MAMAMAMA—! A woman's intuition is terrifying!"

Rocks's face instantly turned bright red. He slammed the table. "You're too loud! Linlin, shut up!! This kind of thing needs to be kept completely secret, understand!!!"

Across from him, Newgate was gnawing on a meat bone. Hearing the table slam, he looked utterly baffled. "What happened?"

Tiny Buckin beside him rolled her eyes and shouted, "You big lug, you're dense as hell!!"

She pointed at Rocks's face, which was practically "glowing with happiness." "Can't you tell? This guy definitely has a woman! Maybe he's even about to have a kid!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Rocks nearly jumped to his feet in panic. "All of you, shut the hell up!!!"

Just as these world-class pirates were arguing loud enough to shake the heavens—

Bang!!!

The tavern doors were violently kicked open!

The next second, a familiar, punchable voice rang through the entire place. "Shakuyaku—!! I'm here~~~~!!!"

Roger rushed into the bar with his arms spread wide as though he were performing at a concert.

All the pirates: "???"

"Whoa! R-Roger Pirates are here!!!"

Gaban poked his head in and waved with a grin. "Shakuyaku-chan~"

Behind him, the Roger Pirates flooded inside, instantly sending the bar's energy through the roof.

Shakuyaku merely glanced at him. "Ah, Roger."

Rocks's expression immediately turned so green it was nearly black. He shot to his feet, strode to the entrance, and pressed his forehead against Roger's.

"Roger!! How many times have I told you—this is my island!!!"

Roger grinned and shoved back just as hard. "This is Shakuyaku's bar, so you have to follow the rules, right? You can't fight inside."

"So stop barking like a damn porcupine—!!!"

Veins bulged across Rocks's forehead in fury. "There was such a long line outside, so how the hell did you get in?!"

Roger put on an innocent expression. "A line? Huh? I didn't see anyone lining up."

Then he turned and shouted, "Boys! Start drinking!!!"

"Ooooooh—!!!" the entire Roger Pirates crew answered.

The view pulled back to outside the bar—

The long line of pirates that had originally been neatly waiting was now a complete disaster.

Pirates lay sprawled everywhere. Some were facedown on the ground, some hung from streetlamps, and some had been flung into the bushes.

Their faces were bruised purple and blue, and they sucked in breaths of pain.

They muttered weakly, "Damn it... that bastard Roger..."

"It wasn't even my turn yet..."

"Let me... let me line up again..."

—Inside the tavern

The clamor, clinking glasses, and pirates' wild laughter and insults blended together, as though the entire tavern were about to be blown apart.

Amid that chaotic atmosphere, Shakuyaku quietly slipped past the drunken pirates sprawled all over the place and approached Roger.

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her voice was as soft as a kitten acting cute. "Roger... where's Big Brother Lei?"

Roger had been basking in the pirates' praise, but the moment he heard that question, he instantly turned into a lovestruck fool. His eyes became hearts, and his whole face twisted in delight. "Of course I asked him to come with us—"

"But he said he wasn't feeling too well, so he's resting on the ship."

The light in Shakuyaku's eyes dimmed slightly for an instant.

Just as Roger was about to say something else—

"Roge—r—!!!"

A fragrant breeze swept in along with a shout like a crashing tsunami!

Gloriosa slammed into Roger's arms like a cannonball, knocking him back three steps!

"I missed you so much!! You have to take me aboard your ship today!!!"

Roger looked as though his soul had left his body. "Pwah!! G-Gloriosa!!!"

He desperately tried to push her away. "Who would take a woman like you aboard when you leap at every man you see!!!"

"If I'm taking anyone, it'll only be Shakuyaku!! She's the exception!!!"

Gloriosa instantly bristled at his words and roared like a lioness whose tail had been stepped on. "What kind of ridiculous logic is that!!!"

Gloriosa had Roger so tightly entangled that he was nearly suffocating, but from the corner of his eye, he caught Shakuyaku's disappointed expression. His heart softened at once, though he still couldn't breathe from being strangled.

At that moment, Linlin approached with a wineglass in hand, swaying her hips as she walked. Her smile was meaningful. "Come to think of it, Roger, how did you find this place?"

"Shakuyaku's bar has only been open for a few days. The news couldn't have spread that quickly, could it?"

Newgate had found Roger and the others too noisy and had already risen to leave.

Then Roger casually said—

"Ah~ We met a boy who can control lightning while sailing!"

Newgate, who had been getting up, dropped right back into his seat. His eyes widened as he asked, "Control lightning? You mean Rock?"

Roger immediately perked up. "Yes, yes, that's him!!!"

"He told us Shakuyaku was on this island, so we came straight here!"

Roger grew more excited as he spoke. "I heard he even beat up Shiki here? That guy really had it coming, hahahahaha—!!!"

The moment those words fell, the tavern atmosphere froze. The next second, it completely exploded!

"He actually beat up Shiki? Is that for real!!!"

"The ability to control lightning... damn, that kid is way too dangerous!"

The pirates who had come here to see Shakuyaku also perked up their ears, all looking intensely interested.

The Rocks Pirates simply pushed their tables together and sat with the Roger Pirates, beginning to gossip about that "monster boy."

Just as the arguments between both sides grew fiercer and the atmosphere reached its peak—

Thud—!

Shakuyaku suddenly went pale, swayed lightly, and collapsed!

"Shakuyaku fainted!!!"

"Move! Don't step on her!!"

"What's wrong with her?! Did she drink too little?!!"

The tavern instantly went from celebration to utter chaos!

Gloriosa immediately jumped out and waved everyone away. "Don't touch her! Let me take care of her!!!"

Just then—

Boom!!!

The tavern doors were violently shoved open!!!

A blond figure rushed inside as though he had sprinted ten miles, his face full of anxiety and panic.

There was only one place in his eyes: Shakuyaku, lying in Gloriosa's arms.

Seeing that familiar yet bedraggled figure, Roger's lips slowly curled upward, and he murmured softly:

"Idiot..."