Bellamy

As they entered, the pirates in the tavern looked up at them.

When they saw River and Crocodile, who was covered in a cloak and wearing a Ghostface Mask, they froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"What's with all the secrecy? Wearing a mask in broad daylight?"

"Never seen those faces before. More rookies from who knows where."

"This should be good. Someone's bound to teach them a lesson."

Voices rang out around them, but River and Crocodile ignored them all.

Under everyone's gaze, they walked straight toward the bar, heading for the empty seats beside a man with a blond buzz cut whose back was turned to them.

Then they slowly sat down on either side of him, sandwiching him between them.

"Bartender, two glasses of rum."

"Something strong, please!"

River called out with a smile.

He failed to notice that the tavern, which had been noisy just a second earlier, had fallen utterly silent. Some people looked shocked, others amused, and others vicious.

At the same time, the blond man between them slammed his glass onto the bar, his lips curling into a vicious grin.

"Sorry about this, you two."

The blond man suddenly reached out and draped his arms around River and Crocodile on either side.

"But these seats are taken!"

River looked momentarily startled, then broke into a brilliant smile and turned toward the man beside him.

Blond hair, a long scar over his left eye, and a savage, arrogant grin-it was none other than Hyena Bellamy.

Captain of the Bellamy Pirates, with a bounty of fifty-five million, and a user of the Spring-Spring Fruit.

He was also the unfortunate fellow Luffy had knocked out with a single blow in the original story, only to be used by Doflamingo two years later and defeated again.

On the right, Crocodile's mask concealed his expression, but an unmistakably icy aura seeped from him.

Clearly, this crocodile did not enjoy such close contact with others. Besides, Bellamy's behavior was far from friendly.

"Have you ever heard of Sky Island?"

Suddenly, Bellamy heard the man on his left ask with a smile.

"Sky Island?"

He paused briefly, then a cold, mocking amusement flickered in his eyes.

"You still believe in fairy tales?"

"Sky Island is nothing but a story a bunch of fools made up to trick children."

As he spoke, Bellamy slowly pressed down with both hands.

"That stupid question really pisses me off. And you've taken my seats!"

"That just makes me hate you even more!"

With that, he prepared to attack the two irritating men.

But in the next instant, a large hand landed on the back of his head, making his entire body jolt.

The smile suddenly vanished from the face of the man on his left, and his eyes turned ice-cold. "Sky Island is no fairy tale!"

Bellamy opened his mouth to speak, but it was already too late.

The hand on the back of his head suddenly exerted force. An overwhelming, irresistible strength erupted, driving his head down hard against the bar.

"A frog at the bottom of a well like you can't see how vast the world outside is, and refuses to believe in anything beyond his own understanding."

"How pathetic!"

After a pause, River slowly stood, grabbed Bellamy's blond hair with his right hand, and hauled him back up.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Bellamy's face was covered in blood, and he spat blood from his mouth, his eyes filled with confusion.

Someone had actually used his own trick against him. This was exactly how he had intended to attack these two men.

Even more absurdly, throughout the entire ordeal, his body had seemed frozen in place. He had been utterly powerless to resist.

"You're nothing but a thug."

The indifferent voice reached Bellamy's ears, sending a jolt through him as his eyes widened.

Those words reminded him of the time he had faced that man.

The man he had always admired had said the very same thing when Bellamy stood before him.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough! You!"

Bellamy tried to roar in fury.

But in the next instant, River strode forward, gripping his head, and slammed him into the wall ahead.

Boom!

The entire bar shuddered, its wooden roof shaking as the decorations hanging on the walls rattled violently.

"Urgh!"

Bellamy's roar was forcibly trapped in his throat. His eyes lost focus, and his face was already covered in scrapes and bruises.

"Although I don't really agree with many of the so-called dreams people in this world cling to either!"

"At least I know how to respect others."

The calm voice reached his ears. Bellamy gasped for breath, but could no longer respond.

Two simple blows had nearly split his head open.

"Scum like you only deserve to lie in the street, clinging to life."

River spoke again, then flung Bellamy away with his right hand, tossing him out like a sack.

Afterward, he turned and returned to his seat.

Crocodile was still sitting there quietly, paying no attention to what had happened. A large hole now gaped between them.

The entire tavern suddenly fell silent.

The pirates who had witnessed everything wore stiff expressions. As they stared at the backs of the two men, fear filled their hearts.

"Bellamy, with a bounty of fifty-five million!"

"They took him down that easily!"

"Who the hell are these two?!"

Fear and tension quietly spread through the tavern.

Without a doubt, the two men who had easily dealt with Bellamy-a man they considered incredibly dangerous and not to be provoked-had become the new people they absolutely could not afford to cross.

"Clunk, clunk."

Someone swallowed, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Bartender, my drink!"

Just then, a voice rang out with a light chuckle.

The tavern owner, who had been standing behind the bar in a complete daze, finally came to his senses. "Huh? Right."

He immediately poured the drinks while studying the smiling man before him.

This man, whose attacks had been so ruthless and decisive, seemed far easier to get along with than Bellamy.

Some people in the tavern began quietly rising to their feet and tiptoeing outside. Once the first person left, others followed one after another.

River and Crocodile paid them no mind, letting them leave. They raised their glasses, clinked them together, and took long swigs.

"You had a reason for going after a small-time thug like that, didn't you?"

Crocodile asked quietly.

"Hahahaha! You know me well. You really are a sharp man."

"That's exactly what I value about you."

River laughed, then paused briefly, narrowing his eyes.

"Just wait a while. The person we're waiting for will come."

Crocodile set his glass on the bar and spoke coldly to the owner, who was straining his ears to eavesdrop.

"Pour!"