Riberra Sami and his group pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the tavern, their surface scarred with countless cuts and dents, and stepped inside what had once been the liveliest bar on Jaya Island.
The scene before them was nothing like the bustling chaos they remembered.
The entire hall was in disarray.
Tables overturned. Bottles shattered. Half-eaten food scattered across the floor.
It was as if everyone had vanished in an instant, leaving behind only traces of a frantic escape.
Only Old Sam, the tavern owner, remained.
He was hunched over, slowly sweeping the debris, the soft rustle of the broom dragging across the floor echoing faintly.
"Boss Sam,"
Riberra Sami walked over and sat at a relatively clean table. Dozens of crew members followed, some leaning against walls, others flipping chairs upright and wiping them before sitting.
"Why are you the only one here? Where did everyone go?"
Old Sam didn't even look up as he continued sweeping.
"Ah… they all ran. Said they were… too scared."
"Hahaha!"
Riberra Sami burst out laughing.
The crew froze for a moment—then laughter erupted throughout the tavern, instantly lifting the mood.
"Boss, forget the cleaning for now—bring us some good liquor!" Riberra Sami called out.
A few sharp-eyed crew members immediately stepped forward, helping Old Sam straighten tables and clean up the mess.
"Ah, thank you, thank you," Old Sam said, finally pausing and straightening his back as he rubbed it.
"The drinks will be right up."
He headed into the back.
Soon, a few pale-faced young waiters emerged, trembling as they carried trays of drinks.
"Y-your… your drinks…"
"Relax, boys. We're not Sea Kings."
Riberra Sami grinned, taking a large mug of rum and gulping it down.
He let out a satisfied sigh.
Yet somehow, that only made the waiters tremble even more.
Old Sam came back out and looked at Riberra Sami.
"Captain Riberra Sami… you've come back this time… for something important, I assume?"
Riberra Sami glanced at him—but instead of answering, he asked:
"Where's Bakins?"
Old Sam froze.
He clearly hadn't expected that question.
After a moment, disbelief crept onto his face.
"Bakins? You're asking about him… does that mean… you actually found Sky Island?"
Riberra Sami set his mug down with a firm thud, his gaze sweeping across the tavern that had witnessed that absurd bet.
"Hahaha! Of course we did!"
"Otherwise, why do you think we went through all that trouble to come back here?"
Meanwhile—
At the Sabaody Archipelago, Marine Base G-66.
The atmosphere inside the command office could not have been more different from Jaya.
Colonel Brando sat stiffly behind his desk, his expression cold.
Opposite him sat a flamboyantly dressed man with exaggerated mannerisms.
At that moment, the man was speaking in a sharp, affected voice, clearly displeased.
"Colonel Brando, how should I put this?"
He raised a delicate hand and brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve.
"You've been holding my people for nearly ten days now, haven't you? I've stayed here waiting with you, listening to this nonsense about the Jellyfish Pirates walking into a trap… and what now? Not even a shadow of them has appeared."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Surely you don't expect me to wait indefinitely? My business requires people to manage it, you know~"
Brando frowned deeply.
"Spade, what's the rush? Without orders from above, I cannot release him."
The man called Spade covered his mouth and laughed lightly.
"Oh my, Colonel Brando… don't forget—we both ultimately serve the esteemed World Nobles."
His tone shifted subtly.
"If your actions interfere with their enjoyment… can you really bear that responsibility?"
Then, with a faint smirk, he added:
"Or would you like me to mention this little inconvenience to the 'gentlemen' above?"
Brando's face darkened instantly.
He knew exactly who this man was.
Spade was a major figure in Sabaody's slave trade network.
Through his operations and tributes, he maintained murky connections with several Celestial Dragons.
But—
Jillian had been personally captured by Vice Admiral Rald and handed over to G-66.
Without explicit orders, releasing him was absolutely forbidden.
Allowing Spade to take him after the mission was already the greatest concession Brando could make.
And yet—
Ten days had passed.
The Jellyfish Pirates, who were supposed to head straight for Sabaody, had shown no sign of appearing.
The pressure on him was mounting.
Was the intelligence wrong?
Or had they never planned to come here at all?
Just as the tension reached its peak—
The Den Den Mushi on his desk rang.
"Buru buru buru…"
Brando immediately picked it up.
"Yes—this is Brando… Yes! Understood! …Alright, we'll execute immediately!"
Click.
After hanging up, he let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
He stood.
"Come with me."
The two descended to the damp, cold holding cells beneath the base.
The air was thick with mold and moisture.
Spade wrinkled his nose the moment he stepped in, covering it with a handkerchief.
"Ugh~ what a disgusting smell."
Inside one of the cells—
Jillian, haggard and pale, was curled up in a corner.
Hearing footsteps—and that familiar voice—
he suddenly looked up.
The moment he saw Spade behind Brando—
his lifeless face lit up with overwhelming joy.
He scrambled forward and threw himself against the bars.
"Boss! You—you came to save me! I knew you wouldn't abandon me!"
Spade fanned the air lightly with his handkerchief, narrowing his eyes as he examined Jillian's miserable state.
"Oh my… look at you."
His tone carried mock reproach.
"How many times have I taught you? And yet you still managed to get caught by the Marines—and almost ruined my affairs."
He swayed forward, poking Jillian's forehead through the bars.
"If it weren't for the fact that you've been somewhat useful over the years—earning me a decent amount of Beli—I wouldn't have bothered with this mess at all."
Jillian nodded frantically, his face full of fawning gratitude.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Boss! Thank you for saving me! I'll be more careful—work harder—anything!"
Brando watched the scene expressionlessly.
He waved to the guards.
"Open the cell. Release him."
The door swung open.
Jillian stumbled out, nearly collapsing—only to be disdainfully pulled upright by Spade.
Brando spoke coldly:
"You're being released only because of certain… influential figures. Remember—once you leave, you are not to reveal anything about this place."
"Yes, yes," Jillian nodded repeatedly.
Spade snorted softly, not sparing Brando another glance.
Without another word—
he turned and left, dragging along the newly freed Jillian.
The cell fell silent once more.
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