Steve the Pirate, former captain of the Steve Pirate Crew.
If Alvin remembered correctly, Steve once carried a bounty of 8.7 million Berries. What puzzled Alvin was that the Steve Pirate Crew was supposed to have been wiped out by the Marines.
Yet here he was in the Kingdom of Asriel, not only alive but acting as a gang leader.
Whatever the circumstances, one thing was certain.
Alvin could not ignore 8.7 million Bounty Points.
However, he could not act recklessly. Although Nico Robin had saved him, that did not mean the gang members around her would treat him kindly.
If he openly intervened, he could not be sure whether Robin would stand on his side. At this stage, she trusted no one.
From the way she remained guarded even among the gang she was cooperating with, that much was obvious.
"If I can't reveal myself, then I'll have to eliminate Steve from a distance," Alvin muttered.
The calm tone he had used earlier now carried a trace of cold intent.
He took out the sniper rifle from his system storage. Its metallic surface reflected a faint, cold gleam under the dim light.
After carefully observing the battlefield, he selected an optimal firing position.
He crouched steadily, braced the rifle against a broken stool, and slowly adjusted the scope. His gaze sharpened as he locked onto Steve's figure in the distance.
Steve, surrounded by his men, wore a ferocious expression. He clearly understood that escape was no longer possible.
If that was the case, he might as well drag someone down with him.
"Heh heh heh."
"Kaib, don't think you've won. Let's die together."
With lightning speed, he pulled out a flare gun and fired it into the sky.
With a sharp whoosh, the flare shot upward and burst into brilliant, colorful light, illuminating the night like a blazing star.
The expressions of Kaib's group changed instantly. Fear and unease flashed across their faces.
Even the usually composed Nico Robin tensed slightly.
At that precise moment, Alvin pulled the trigger.
A thunderous gunshot echoed through the night.
For Alvin, a distance of several hundred meters was effortless. By the time the gang members reacted to the sound, the bullet had already pierced through the back of Steve's head.
Steve's body trembled faintly. A final trace of disbelief flickered in his eyes before he collapsed heavily onto the ground, motionless.
[Ding~]
[Bounty Points + 8.7 million!]
[Drop: Vehicle Sea Stone version Water Motorcycle! (It boils water~)]
At that instant, not only were the gang members stunned, but Alvin himself froze.
A vehicle?
Sea Stone version?
It boils water?
What kind of drop was that?
As Steve's body hit the ground, Nico Robin reacted first.
She vanished into the shadows immediately, concealing herself from Alvin's line of sight.
The gang members scattered in panic. Kaib hurriedly hid behind his men, terrified of being targeted next. The previously surrounded survivors immediately threw themselves flat onto the ground.
Several hundred meters away, Alvin forced himself to remain calm. There was no time to dwell on the absurd drop notification.
He slipped down from the rooftop and quickly withdrew, disappearing from the slums.
Hidden in the darkness, Nico Robin watched the distant figure retreating.
A sense of familiarity surfaced in her mind.
In an instant, she thought of the boy she had saved earlier that day.
"It's him."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
Suddenly, arrogant laughter rang out.
"Kaib! So you're here. You really made me search for you."
"Zelas!"
"It's you!"
Kaib's expression turned grim. Now he understood what Steve had meant by dying together.
Nico Robin, concealed in the shadows, also felt a surge of shock.
Zelas was once a mountain bandit in Asriel. He had previously been issued a 23 million Berries bounty by the World Government. Later, he established a powerful gang and took control of Sagamia, the city adjacent to Iceberg Bay.
Most crucially, the King had granted him official status as the legitimate Mayor.
Although the World Government had never revoked his bounty, the Marines had tacitly chosen not to arrest him.
After Kaib spoke his name, a large group of well dressed gang members quickly surrounded Kaib's faction.
Despair spread across Kaib's men.
With confident strides, Zelas approached Steve's corpse.
He kicked the body casually, a cruel smile curling at his lips.
"Look at these pirates. Ungrateful to the core. If I hadn't saved you from those hateful Marines, you would have been wiped out long ago."
"And now you dare to dream of becoming a mayor like me? Truly laughable."
He waved his hand lightly, issuing a silent command.
The gang members behind him immediately raised their guns and opened fire on the surviving members of Steve's crew.
"Spare us!"
"Boss Zelas, it was Captain Steve who instigated everything!"
"Please give us another chance!"
"Help…"
The dozen or so survivors dropped to their knees, begging desperately.
Zelas did not even glance at them.
Bullets rained down mercilessly, tearing through flesh and bone. Blood quickly soaked the ground, and the air filled with the heavy scent of iron and death.
Across from them, Kaib's group trembled violently, unable to even hold their weapons steady.
Zelas did not immediately address them.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the darkness where Nico Robin was concealed. A playful expression appeared on his face.
It was clear he had long since noticed her presence.
"Nico Robin, Demon Child. Are you interested in joining us?"
"I am the Mayor of Sagamia. I can provide you with legitimate protection."
"Far more reliable than this useless Kaib. He doesn't even have official status."
"What do you say?"
He spoke as though everything was already under his control.
Kaib's face grew even more unpleasant. He had cooperated with Nico Robin precisely because he was confident he would soon obtain the title of Mayor of Iceberg Bay.
But now that possibility seemed distant.
A soft laugh echoed.
"Heh heh."
Nico Robin stepped out from the shadows.
"Then… please take care of me from now on, Mayor Zelas."
"Nico Robin, you…" Kaib's anger flared. He had expected her to agree eventually, but not so easily.
"Sahahahaha!"
"Excellent! Nico Robin, welcome."
Zelas was clearly pleased.
Though Nico Robin carried a bounty from the World Government, that was not an issue for him. More importantly, she was a Devil Fruit user.
With his objective achieved, Kaib's faction had outlived its usefulness.
Zelas immediately ordered their complete extermination.
This was done deliberately.
A demonstration for Nico Robin.
...
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