Haki Target: Shanks!

"These past few days, using the Will of the Overlord hadn't brought in much. It only increased my chakra reserves a little and gave me a few C-rank ninjutsu. And repeatedly using Haki on the same target basically yielded nothing."

Brando tallied up his gains from the past few days and found them somewhat lacking. They felt more like consolation prizes.

"Looks like I have to do what everyone in the ninja world does and unleash the Will of the Overlord on those lofty bastards. Even if they're aliens, I still can't go easy on them!"

Brando viciously tore into the grilled fish in his hand.

By now, he no longer had to fear falling into the water. He had learned water walking and tree climbing, so he could run across the sea like a ninja from now on. If he learned a few Water Release techniques, he would become a hard counter to most Devil Fruits out on the ocean.

"Hm?"

"Are they finally here!"

Brando was positioned high up on the village hillside, making it easy for him to spot a large, rowdy group emerging from the forest.

In Foosha Village, aside from the Red-Haired Pirates docked at the harbor, the only ones who could be this noisy were Higuma's band of mountain bandits!

Brando wolfed down the rest of his grilled fish and immediately followed them.

He had actually seen Shanks over the past few days and had struggled to resist using his Haki on him. But he feared his mouth would get him killed on the spot. Still, Brando had noticed that Shanks hid his edge whenever he was in the tavern with Makino.

So Brando believed the tavern was the most suitable place to unleash his Haki.

"Sigh, my Will of the Overlord still isn't strong enough. I need to keep improving it. I'm actually this scared of dying!"

Brando quickly caught up with the bandits and trailed behind them.

At the same time, he lamented that his will was not strong enough and that he still had much to learn.

Bang! Crash!

Higuma kicked open the door to Makino's tavern. One of the swinging doors was sent flying to the floor, instantly silencing the lively tavern.

Everyone in the tavern turned to look at the entrance.

Higuma the Bandit King strode in arrogantly. Looking at the strange assortment of so-called pirates inside, he revealed a disdainful expression.

"Sorry to disturb you!"

"So these are the so-called pirates? Every last one of you looks like an idiot."

Higuma swaggered inside with more than a dozen lackeys.

After insulting them and seeing that none of the pirates around him reacted, he despised them even more. How could these so-called pirates possibly compare to him, the Bandit King?

"We mountain bandits aren't here to cause trouble. Hurry up and bring out your finest liquor. We want to buy ten barrels!"

Higuma walked to the counter and spoke to Makino in a cold tone.

At the same time, he glanced sideways at the red-haired man in the straw hat seated at the bar. Seeing that the man did not even dare meet his eyes and only kept eating, Higuma assumed his oppressive presence had scared the guy senseless.

"I'm sorry, but we just sold out of alcohol."

Makino answered gently, though she showed no fear.

"Is that so? Then are these pirates drinking plain water?"

Higuma's face darkened at once.

He was being looked down on.

"Uh, because the alcohol we sold them was already everything we had."

Makino hurriedly explained, afraid of angering him.

Higuma felt slighted. He thought it was time to let everyone here know how formidable he was.

"I'm terribly sorry, then. Looks like we drank it all. My apologies."

"If you don't mind, you can have this bottle. It hasn't been opened yet."

Seeing Makino's troubled expression, Shanks apologized to Higuma and handed him the unopened bottle beside him.

"Hm?"

Higuma lowered his head and looked at Shanks.

His previously gloomy face broke into a smile. Then his right fist swept out, smashing the bottle to pieces. Glass shards scattered across the floor, and liquor splashed all over Shanks's head.

"Hey, brat, what do you take me for!"

"I'm a wanted criminal with a bounty of 8 million Berries. One bottle isn't even enough for me to rinse my mouth!"

"I've already killed fifty-six self-righteous fools like you."

Higuma arrogantly pulled out a wanted poster bearing his own face, proving just how ruthless he was.

He felt incredibly cool right now. Those pirates around him were probably scared stupid.

But Shanks ignored him. He crouched down to pick up the broken bottom of the bottle, looking somewhat regretful.

"Sigh, the floor got wet. Sorry, Miss Makino."

"It's fine. Leave it to me."

Makino hurried out from behind the counter, intending to clean up the glass shards.

But Higuma was furious. Was he being ignored?

Without hesitation, he drew the longsword at his waist and swept it across the bar, knocking every plate and cup off the counter.

"You seem to enjoy cleaning. Now this is really worth cleaning up!"

Higuma said sarcastically.

But Shanks merely leaned against the counter with his head lowered and did not answer.

Seeing this, Higuma found it boring and sheathed his sword.

"Hmph, boring. No booze means no fun. Let's go, boys."

After sneering, Higuma the Bandit King turned around and swaggered out with his lackeys.

Luffy, sitting at the bar, was so furious at the sight that his face turned red and his teeth clenched.

"Are you all right, Shanks?"

Makino bent down and wiped the stains from Shanks's body with a towel, her voice full of concern.

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt."

Shanks said it casually.

Then he could not help laughing.

"Hahaha!"

At the same time, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates burst into loud laughter as well.

"It's my turn."

Brando had followed the bandits into the tavern and watched coldly from beside the entrance the entire time.

Realizing that his chance to use Haki had arrived, Brando spoke up.

"What's so funny?"

"Did you treat him like a little dog? Did you think his provocation was as ridiculous as a dog acting cute, so you chose to ignore it?"

"That kind of brain-dead thinking is truly incomprehensible. A real king would never tolerate even the slightest provocation. Pirates these days really are a bunch of trash. That so-called Pirate King was probably the same kind of stupid, weak coward, treating the World Government like a little dog and obediently going off to die, right?"

Before Luffy could speak, he heard a familiar voice and immediately turned around.

At the same time, he revealed a shocked expression, thinking Brando's words were incredibly harsh.

"What did you say!"

The many pirates who had been laughing instantly fell silent.

Shanks abruptly stood up as well, glaring at Brando with wide eyes filled with killing intent!

Brando's heart skipped a beat.

What was going on? Was his Will of the Overlord too powerful? Had it drawn the attention of the other's Conqueror's Haki?

"Ooh, how scary!"

"I told you, pirates are still pirates. Even the village chief and the others thought you were good people!"

"When you ran into those bandits earlier, every one of you acted like a turtle hiding in its shell. But now that you're facing an ordinary villager like me, you've suddenly grown a backbone. Is this what pirates are?"

But Brando did not stop. He continued unleashing his Will of the Overlord, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Yet his heartbeat grew faster and faster. If he did not have King's heart, the drums of battle would probably already be pounding by now!