Barn spoke calmly with his back to Zoro.
Zoro did not get up right away. Instead, he bit his lower lip hard and slowly turned to look at Luffy beside him.
"Sorry, Luffy..."
Luffy's face, which had been hidden beneath the shadow of his straw hat, came into view, revealing a bright smile.
"It's okay, Zoro. I can't beat him either. Hee-hee."
This was Zoro's first encounter with Conqueror's Haki, and he still struggled to withstand it. He did not even know what Haki was, simply assuming that Barn had defeated him through sheer presence. It made him realize even more clearly how far he stood from a legend.
Off to the side, Usopp, Nami, and Chopper stared in shock. They could not yet accept that Zoro, who was so powerful among them, had been defeated so easily. Sanji took it a little better, having witnessed Zoro's battle with Hawk-Eye. But judging by Barn's performance, he seemed even stronger than Hawk-Eye, and Sanji unconsciously swallowed.
"He really is a total monster..."
Fear and relief appeared in Usopp's eyes as he looked at Barn.
He feared the terrifying strength Barn had displayed, but felt relieved that the smiling man before him was a friend rather than an enemy.
"Hey, Luffy, are you heading to Yuba?"
Barn asked Luffy with a smile, as though his fight with Zoro had never happened. He still gave the misleading impression that he was very "weak."
"Yeah! What about you, Master Barn?"
Luffy answered with a smile as well.
"Ah, I'm going to Yuba too. I have something to do there. A request from a friend."
Before Luffy could speak, Vivi rushed forward. The strength Barn had just displayed had stunned her, and a pleading look filled her eyes as she gazed at him.
"Mr. Barn!