Paying for a Meal with a Head!

But the moment he finished speaking, his companion clapped a hand over his mouth and pulled him back.

Scarface tried to struggle, but his companion leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"Idiot, that's Ensign White Dove. If you want to die, just say so!"

Terror immediately appeared on Scarface's face. He looked fearfully at Ivan's back and fell quiet.

Ensign White Dove was a rising star who had recently emerged among the East Blue Marines. Though he was no match for pirates with bounties of ten million, he could handle the vast majority of those with bounties of one million.

That strength alone was more than a small-time pirate like him could handle.

More importantly, unlike the other Marines in the East Blue who quietly accomplished nothing, Ensign White Dove might have had an elegant name, but he was a butcher through and through!

In just the past two years, he had slaughtered dozens of pirate crews, wiping out nearly all the pirates with bounties under two million!

Now, among the pirates of the East Blue, Ensign White Dove had a new name-Ensign Butcher!

That name showed just how terrifying Ensign White Dove was.

Scarface no longer dared to say another word. If he hadn't been afraid of looking too cowardly, he would have wanted to leave immediately.

Ivan ignored the insignificant character provoking him over there. Paying him any attention would have been beneath him.

After defeating Alvida, it wouldn't be long before he received several million Beli in bounty money, so Ivan didn't skimp. He ordered the most expensive dishes at Baratie, enough for all the Marines.

The waiter looked at Ivan, wanting to speak but hesitating. All this food would cost a million Beli. Would Ivan really pay?

That was right. At the Baratie sea restaurant, apart from the pirates who caused trouble, the Marines weren't much better.

Far too many Marines used their official status to refuse payment. If their boss hadn't had some strength, the restaurant would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Still, despite his doubts, the waiter took the menu away and had the kitchen prepare the food.

Ensign White Dove had a better reputation. Surely he wouldn't act like a thug like those Marine bullies?

But while this waiter trusted Ivan, the other people in the restaurant clearly did not.

Not long after Ivan and Tashigi sat down at a table in the middle of the room, a blond young man with distinctive curled eyebrows came out of the kitchen.

A cigarette between his fingers and a hint of coldness on his face, he walked straight to Ivan's table and knocked on it a few times. He was just about to say something to Ivan when he happened to notice Tashigi beside him.

Sanji's expression changed in an instant. The coldness quickly vanished from his face, replaced by a fawning smile:

"Wow, it's the honor of three lifetimes to meet a beautiful lady like you at Baratie. Miss, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you right away!"

Startled by Sanji's sudden enthusiasm, Tashigi instinctively shrank behind Ivan and watched Sanji warily.

That brought Sanji back to his senses.

So she's a married woman. Forget it, then. He loved beautiful women, but he had his own principles.

So, after smiling and nodding to Tashigi, Sanji's face turned cold again as he looked at Ivan.

His tone carried a touch of the politeness particular to a waiter as he scrutinized Ivan:

"Sir, we don't serve food to people who can't pay. Can you afford it?"

Ivan nodded and smiled. "I should be able to."

The smile on Sanji's face faded. He clearly didn't believe him.

After being cheated far too many times by those unscrupulous East Blue Marines, he considered their credibility practically nonexistent.

The so-called Ensign White Dove before him was clearly planning to dine and dash!

If it had been the usual dishes worth tens of thousands, he could have let it go as before. But this meal was worth a full million Beli, and it included many rare Sea King delicacies that were hard to obtain at any price!

If they let someone dine and dash this time, the sea restaurant would be completely out of cash and would have to close down!

Sanzhu stared hard at Ivan. He would never allow that to happen!

Bang!

The kitchen door was shoved open, and an old man in a towering chef's hat strode out.

Without a word, he raised a foot and kicked Sanji hard in the back of the head, leaving a big red bump on it.

Sanji grimaced in pain, but before he could make a sound, the old man scolded him irritably:

"You brat, everyone who comes to our Baratie is a guest. How could they eat without paying?"

Seeing Sanji crane his neck to argue, the old man swiftly clapped a hand over his mouth. He turned to Ivan and Tashigi with a broad smile and bowed repeatedly in apology:

"Sir, sorry, there's something wrong with this boy's head. Sorry to disturb you. We'll prepare your food as quickly as possible and make sure you get to enjoy the most delicious cuisine in the East Blue."

"Wait, we're different from those Marines. We'll pay!"

Tashigi tried to stop Zeff and explain.

She had naturally heard that some scum among the East Blue Marines used their status to profit and bully ordinary people, but Ensign White Dove wasn't like that!

Ensign White Dove was one of the rare Marines who truly fought for justice!

Zeff turned back and said with a smile, "I understand, I understand. You must be Marines of justice!"

Although Zeff said that, Tashigi understood that he didn't believe them at all.

Seeing that his young adjutant was about to explain further, Ivan waved a hand and stopped her.

Under these circumstances, no matter what they said, Zeff wouldn't trust them.

Only by putting the facts in front of him!

Ivan suddenly bent down slightly, picked up a sack from the floor, and put it on the table.

This caught everyone's attention. They didn't know what Ivan intended to do.

Ivan reached into the leather sack, took out a head, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Zeff.

At the sight, Zeff's expression changed drastically. Was this fellow openly planning to dine and dash, using a head to threaten them outright?

But Ivan's next words made him dismiss the thought. Ivan smiled and said:

"This is the head of the Alvida Pirates' vice captain. His bounty is 1.2 million Beli. I think that's more than enough to cover the payment.

"As for the remaining Beli, consider it a fee for going to the Marine Base and collecting the money yourselves. That counts as payment, doesn't it?"

At those words, the whole room fell silent!

They knew Ivan had the title of butcher, but they hadn't expected him to use a pirate's head to pay for his meal!

Seeing this, the pirates in the corner trembled. Scarface in particular immediately stood up and fled the sea restaurant.

After all, he had a bounty of over a hundred thousand on his head. Though it wasn't much, White Dove definitely wouldn't mind killing him along the way and collecting it.

Who said a little money wasn't money?

As for Scarface's departure, Ivan paid it no attention at all.

Before coming to the sea restaurant, he had already instructed his subordinates: today, not a single pirate was to be left alive!

Zeff was also taken aback by Ivan's move. He was a well-traveled man, but even on the Grand Line, there were few Marines more ruthless than White Dove.

Still, Zeff had seen plenty in his time. He quickly recovered, nodded repeatedly, and said with a smile:

"Yes, of course!"

With that, he pulled the dumbstruck Sanji away and went straight to the kitchen to cook.

Ivan and Tashigi sat in the dining hall, ordered a bottle of wine, and began drinking as they quietly waited for the food.

But a moment later, the door opened again.

This time, however, the newcomer was even more arrogant than Ivan!