The Kingdom of Liquor, Its Former Glory

"We are Bass..."

"Shut up!"

Bass suddenly shouted, interrupting his underling who was about to speak.

Then she raised her head, looked at Kuta, her eyes filled with pleading.

"Big brother, can we skip looking for ordinary people? There's really nothing worth looking for!"

Clearly, Bada and his gang seem to be protecting something.

Kuta stared at Bada for a long time without saying a word. Then, an aura of unparalleled dominance rose up, bypassing Bada and his gang, and instantly swept across the entire dock.

Everything was silent; even the chirping of insects at dusk vanished in an instant.

When Kong Kuta unleashed his power, Bada and his gang thought Kuta was angry and was going to start a massacre, beginning with them.

They all raised their weapons, staring intently at Kuta with bloodshot eyes.

"Conqueror's Haki"

Bada stared at Kuta, his pupils contracting, a fleeting look of surprise crossing his face.

"Now you can take us to see the rest of Bass's people, right?"

Who exactly are you people?

Bada looked at Kuta, his hunched body straightening up, and he concealed the fear on his face.

His expression changed completely, as if he had become a different person, exuding an aura that was entirely different from his current appearance.

This is the kind of aura that can only be cultivated by those who have been in a high position for a long time; it is not strong, but it is resolute.

"Big brother."

The underlings looked at Bada as if they were seeing him for the first time. Was this still their boss, who exuded a sleazy aura and would do anything for food?

"Impossible, impossible."

"It must be a hallucination."

"How can my elder brother exude such a noble aura!"

They had only ever sensed this aura from the Nobles and Royal Palace ministers of Bass before the kingdom was destroyed.

"Us?"

Kuta looked at Bada, a smile flashing in his eyes.

"You can call us Partners of Justice."

This guy finally stopped pretending. He was humbly begging for survival for his underlings, and his underlings dared to look him, this Sea, in the eye for his sake.

I knew these people were definitely not ordinary Bounty Hunter.

Keep in mind that he has a bounty of 500 million on his head from the World Government, making him a top-tier Sea in the first half of the Grand Line!

From the moment his identity was revealed, this group of people were the most unique on the entire dock.

It's hard not to notice.

In the world of Pirate King, whether you're a Pirates, Bounty Hunter, or a Marine who's truly willing to fight alongside your crew...

Actually, there aren't many.

The ability to coexist with companions is actually a very valuable quality.

These kinds of people often have a purpose that they are determined to uphold.

"A partner of Justice!"

"Hey! Stop joking."

"Does such a thing even exist on the Grand Line?"

Upon hearing Kuta's words, the Kuta immediately shouted at him.

"How can those who only know how to live in peace understand the sorrow of living in a chaotic world?"

"Isn't Justice just a trick played by World Government to deceive people?"

"Kid, stop showing off your worthless Justice."

Clearly, these henchmen are all victims of persecution by Justice, which has made them lose faith in Justice altogether.

Just like the Crazy Bull Pirates in the East Blue, it's unclear whether they were persecuted by Nobles, Pirates, the Navy, or even the World Government.

Kuta didn't know.

Since he didn't know, he simply asked.

"Judging from how excited you all are, you wouldn't happen to be the remaining people from the Bass Kingdom, would you!"

"Well!"

The underlings all paused.

This is their identity on this island, one they can never reveal under any circumstances.

"Alright, that's enough. I can answer anything you want to know."

Bada looked at Kuta seriously.

Opening.

"But you must tell me why you insist on seeing the rest of the Bass Kingdom."

"If I said I wanted to drink the renowned 'Bass Wine' from the Bass Kingdom, would you believe me?"

Kuta stared intently at Bada, his tone serious, without a trace of frivolity or mockery.

Bada stared at Kuta, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Everyone around stared at Bada, perhaps for a moment, perhaps for a century.

He spoke.

Okay, I believe you.

As he spoke, he showed the first genuine smile since meeting Kuta.

They are indeed the remaining people of the Bass Kingdom.

His identity cannot be revealed at this time.

Although he did not detect any malice in Kuta's attitude.

But the other party is, after all, Pirates.

In the Grand Line, to talk about benevolence and trust with Pirates is a ridiculous idea.

Then his face returned to its usual lewd expression.

It was as if the person who had just exuded an aura of nobility wasn't him at all.

"Phew~"

"Boss, you're finally back! We thought you'd been possessed by someone!"

"Yes, the way you looked just now, while noble, was also quite frightening!"

"What are you saying, you little brats!"

Bada turned and roared at his underlings.

Actually, these underlings weren't very old, only about fifteen or sixteen years old; they were really just kids.

Then, Bada turned his head, looked at Kuta, and his face changed. Combined with the guy's fiery red hair, he looked indescribably lewd.

"Boss, from now on you can just call me Hachi. I'll take you to see the rest of Bass now."

"Are we really going to take them?"

"They're all Pirates!"

When the underlings saw their boss's expression, it was as if they had truly acknowledged Kuta as their leader.

"Alright."

"I know what I'm doing."

Bada took the lead and walked towards the shore, gesturing for Kuta and the others to follow.

When I walked up to the riverbank, I saw the people lying on it.

Bada asked a question.

"Boss, what should we do with these guys?"

"How do you plan to handle this?"

Kuta looked at Bada, a smirk playing on his lips, and burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

"Since you're willing to be my underlings, then you can handle these guys!"

Upon hearing Bada, Bada paused, a hint of surprise flashing across his face as he looked at the countless figures lying on the ground, his eyes turning icy.

He really wanted to keep these guys here forever.

While these guys at the docks weren't the main cause of the Bass Kingdom's current predicament, they were the culprits behind the remaining people of the Bass Kingdom Hiding and Fleeing.

Chapter 9 The Wine Kingdom, Its Former Glory

"Boss, this is the original winery of the Bass Kingdom."

Bada stood on one of the bridges across the great river between Spring Island and Winter Island, looking at the ruins of buildings on the bridge, a flash of memories in his eyes.

"Bass Island is a rare island with two distinct climates, making it exceptionally rich in natural resources."

"Spring Island, skilled in growing crops, and Winter Island, with its unique hot spring water."

"Therefore, the combination of these two factors gave birth to the unique 'Bass Wine' of the Grand Line."

"This also led to the past prosperity of the Bass Kingdom, making it once a renowned 'Wine Kingdom' throughout the entire Grand Line."

He gazed at the back of the river, his eyes narrowing, and then said, "These ruins before us were once the distilleries. At the height of its power, the Bass Kingdom had as many as thirteen such distilleries."

Thirteen?

Kuta followed Bada's gaze to the ruins on the bridge, then looked along the river to the area behind it.

There were more than a dozen bridges of varying sizes spanning the river behind.

Each bridge has buildings in the same style as the ruins before us.

These dilapidated buildings, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, appeared even more desolate and lonely.

He could sense the former prosperity of this place from these bridges and buildings.

It must have been a sea of people, with the bow of the ship surging.

Countless ships came here, filled themselves with the local Bass Wine, and set sail for the Grand Line, and even the Four Blues.

Let's go!

Kuta didn't say much, nor did he ask any more questions.

"Okay, boss."

Bada took the lead and stepped onto the bridge.

Behind him followed dozens of henchmen carrying enormous packages.

Although Bada did not kill the Pirates and Bounty Hunter who had fainted on the dock.

But they plundered all their food and money.

Don't let the fact that this guy is Bounty Hunter fool you; he hasn't actually killed that many people. They wouldn't be able to bring themselves to kill so many at once.

Although they knew these guys deserved to die, who knew if there might be some truly good people among them!

The moment they crossed the bridge, Kuta others all shivered.

Only the Grand Line could have such a magical place!