"Let's find a tavern to settle down in first."
Wilton suppressed the urge to flatten Spiders Cafe Town and gain some reputation, intending to arrange accommodations for Sadi and the others before heading to Sky Island.
Until he obtained the Devil Fruit he wanted, he should do less of this kind of time-wasting. There would be plenty of time later.
To achieve his ambitions, strength was ultimately the foremost requirement.
"Yes, Lord Wilton."
Sadi shifted her legs awkwardly. A closer look revealed bruises on her ample chest; Wilton had given her those.
She had acted up twice over the past day and night.
The four Jailer Beasts and over thirty Marines followed behind them. It was quite a large group.
Thus, no pirate foolish enough to seek attention came forward. Those four Jailer Beasts were still quite intimidating.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Wait, that Marine is..."
A pirate watched Wilton's departing back, hurriedly pulled a newspaper from his pocket, and his face rapidly changed after seeing its contents and photograph.
He had been wondering why that dumbbell-carrying Marine at the front looked so familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Now it all clicked.
"That's Marine Tough Guy Vice Admiral Wilton, the man who killed Shichibukai Desert King Crocodile in the Kingdom of Alabasta two days ago."
"What?"
"There's no mistake. Dumbbells, a flat cap, a tight tank top, stretchy workout shorts, an incredibly beautiful female adjutant, and four humanoid beasts."
"It really is him."
"He's actually a vice admiral? I thought he was some low-ranking Marine."
"Damn it, why would a Marine Vice Admiral show up in Spiders Cafe Town? And it's Wilton, the Marine Tough Guy who killed a Shichibukai."
More and more pirates recognized Wilton.
After all, the newspaper was still fresh.
The Alabasta incident had happened only two days ago.
A vice admiral.
In the first half of the Grand Line, that alone was immensely intimidating, let alone a vice admiral who had killed a Shichibukai.
Some pirates were terrified, while others were disdainful.
For a time, Wilton's arrival gradually made the atmosphere in Spiders Cafe Town oppressive, because no one knew why he had come.
Perhaps he was merely passing through. Or perhaps he had his eye on a certain pirate crew.
"This place will do!"
They had traveled without obstruction. Wilton looked at the tavern before him called "Sunday." It might not have been the largest tavern in Spiders Cafe Town, but it was certainly among the top few.
Even standing out on the street, he could hear the uproar of voices inside.
Wilton pushed open the door first. The boisterous tavern instantly fell so silent that a pin could be heard dropping. Many pirates were drinking and eating inside; some were bare-chested and powerfully built, while others were covered in tattoos and scars, with broadswords, serrated blades, massive axes, and other weapons beside them.
Some even carried rocket launchers, sniper rifles, flintlock guns, and other firearms.
An ordinary person would probably have their legs turn to jelly at the sight.
"Marines?"
Quite a few pirates sized Wilton up. Some recognized him, while others did not. Some even wore mocking expressions, eager to have some fun.
"Boss, bring us wine and meat."
Sadi appeared from behind Wilton and flicked her long leather whip. She paid these fierce-looking pirates no heed whatsoever. On the contrary, their eyes gleamed as they stared at her.
A man spent his life pursuing power, wealth, reputation, and women.
"I-I'm sorry, but there are no seats left in the tavern."
Amid the strange atmosphere, a bald middle-aged man emerged from behind the counter, looking troubled as he faced Sadi and the others.
Wilton said nothing. Instead, he swept his gaze across the tavern before finally fixing his eyes on a window-side table.
It was quite unexpected.
He had not expected to encounter one of his Devil Fruit User targets here.
A pillow delivered just as he grew sleepy.
An unexpected delight.
Perhaps stripping the Sand-Sand Fruit and Explode-Explode Fruit had used up all his bad luck. Now his fortune was turning around.
"Lord Machvise, that Marine is coming over!"
At the window-side table, a group was drinking and eating meat. The most eye-catching among them was a sturdy man with long curly hair, a black hat, a tight ribbed bodysuit exposing his chest, a pirate crew tattoo on his right arm, and chest hair.
A Den Den Mushi in front of him was currently on a call.
"Don't mind some insignificant Marine."
Machvise took a huge bite out of a meat leg. He glanced at the approaching Wilton and ignored him, then spoke into the Den Den Mushi. "Lord Diamante, when will you and Young Master arrive in Spiders Cafe Town? That pirate named Bellamy has helped us deal with quite a few troublesome people."
"He said Young Master once lent him the Donquixote Family's pirate flag, and he currently claims to be a pirate of the Donquixote Family."
"Bellamy? That sounds familiar. Ah, I remember. There was indeed such a thing. By the way, has the business in Spiders Cafe Town been handled?"
Diamante's voice came through from the other end.
He did not care much about a pirate called Bellamy.
"Of course. They were all insignificant underworld trash who had no idea whom they had provoked. I crushed every last one of them into meat patties."
Machvise gulped down some rum. As an officer of the Donquixote Family, he had been sent to Spiders Cafe Town three days ago.
Some blind fools on this island had been competing with the Donquixote Family for business. After arriving in Spiders Cafe Town, he had uprooted those forces completely.
During that time, a pirate called Bellamy had caught his attention.
Not only had Bellamy provided him with lists of many hostile forces, but he had also helped deal with quite a few stragglers. More importantly, the man worshipped Young Master and wanted to join the family completely.
He was no longer satisfied with merely borrowing Young Master's pirate flag.
Young Master, Diamante, and Trebol had returned to North Blue some time ago to handle certain matters. Judging by the time, they should be passing through Spiders Cafe Town before long.
"Very good."
"What? I just heard something about Marines?"
At the same time.
A Pirate Ship was sailing toward Spiders Cafe Town on the Grand Line, and the flag flying from it was unmistakably that of the Donquixote Family.
Whether on the Grand Line or in the New World, this was not a flag that ordinary forces could afford to provoke, for it belonged to Shichibukai Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo.
He also possessed hidden identities as the Underworld King JOKER and a Celestial Dragon.
He was a legendary figure who commanded immense power across both the underworld and the surface world.
Before Machvise could answer Diamante, Wilton had already stopped in front of the table, looking at Machvise and confirming that he had not mistaken him.
"Machvise, user of the Paramecia Ton-Ton Fruit."
Machvise looked up at Wilton while continuing to devour meat, his eyes filled with utter contempt and disdain.
Looking closely.
This Marine wore no Justice Coat, nor did he have an insignia on his chest identifying his rank. He apparently really was an obscure Marine.
Furthermore, he was an officer of the Donquixote Family, and Young Master was a Shichibukai. Ordinary Marines had to take a detour whenever they encountered them.
That was the Donquixote Family's deterrent power.
Even if a vice admiral came, Machvise could show respect if he wished, or refuse if he did not. What could the Marines possibly do to him?
"Where did this Marine come from? Get lost. We're members of the Donquixote Family."
A subordinate beside him drew a pistol and pointed it at Wilton's forehead with an arrogant expression. "Even if we kill you here, Marine Headquarters wouldn't dare say a thing..."
Before you continue