"You seem rather happy," Ron said calmly, staring straight at Ochoku.
Ochoku looked natural. He spread both hands and smiled. "I'm eating food I like and drinking wine I like. Am I not allowed to be happy? Or is happiness something forbidden now?"
Ochoku was still somewhat worried. He was afraid Roger had already confessed that it was he who had provided Ron's location. If so, it would bring some unnecessary trouble.
But he did not care too much. After all... he had already prepared the words to gloss it over. As long as he firmly "denied" it, Ron would not be able to produce evidence.
"Be as happy as you want. That's your business. But if you don't give me an explanation today, I think we need to have a life-and-death spar," Ron said in a low voice.
Hearing that, Ochoku's smile stiffened for an instant. The next second, anger surged up.
As one of the veteran figures of the Rocks Pirates, he was a person with status no matter where he went on this sea.
And Ron was openly provoking him to his face, saying he wanted a "life-and-death spar"?
Did he think Ochoku had no dignity?
"Heh-heh-heh... Bastard, are you threatening me?" Ochoku asked coldly.
But inside, he could not be sure whether Ron had learned something.
Otherwise, why would Ron come here demanding an explanation?
But no. Impossible. He had handled everything flawlessly. How could Ron know?
"Where is Annika?" Ron asked expressionlessly.
Putting aside the fact that Annika was now his personal cook, the more important point was that she was the bargaining chip he was using to trade with Shakky for a Devil Fruit.
If this deal fell through, the loss would not be just one or two meals.
In the end, was Ochoku trying to rob the robber?
"Annika? Who?" Ochoku deliberately paused, his brows furrowing as if he were trying to remember. A few seconds later, he suddenly nodded in realization. "Oh, you're talking about that girl. Idiot, I'm not your subordinate. Why would I watch her for you?"
"No need to waste words with me. Whether you did it or not, you know it yourself."
"Evidence?" Ochoku sneered and crossed his arms. "I admit she does have some beauty, but the women chasing me, Ochoku, line up from the New World all the way to the first half of the Grand Line."
Ron froze slightly.
Women chasing you line up from the New World to the first half of the Grand Line?
Who do you think you are? Li Ruolan?
You really have no shame at all.
"Evidence? Heh..." Ron was amused. "You're asking a pirate for evidence to prove something?"
"Bastard, don't push your luck!" Ochoku cursed. He had originally thought Ron held some substantial clue, but now it seemed this guy was acting purely on instinct.
"I've already given you a chance, Ochoku." Ron slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Ron had wanted to choose the safest method to get Annika back. But things had gone against his wishes. Since Ochoku refused to solve the problem properly, Ron also knew a little about solving things with fists.
At the same time, on the road leading toward the auxiliary ship, Whitebeard and Kaido walked side by side, one carrying Murakumogiri, the other carrying a kanabo, their steps neither hurried nor slow.
"Hey, Kaido." Whitebeard analyzed his earlier conversation with Ron and the urgent look Ron had worn, then asked Kaido in confusion, "That girl Annika... did she run away?"
"Uh..." Kaido was stunned by the question and scratched his head. "Newgate, we left together. How would I know? But running away doesn't seem likely. If she wanted to run, she would've done it long ago."
"Mm." Whitebeard nodded. After walking silently for a few more steps, he suddenly asked, "Does Ron have his eye on Annika?"
"Huh?"
Kaido's CPU began spinning wildly. He rubbed his chin with one hand, eyes looking forward while his mind filled with all sorts of strange images. Had his eye on her? What did that mean? That kind of man-woman thing? Mm... probably that.
Did Ron have his eye on her? If he did, what would happen? Kissing? Hugging? But it seemed none of that had happened. Ron's attitude toward Annika had always been fierce. He showed no mercy when calling her stupid.
Whitebeard watched Kaido fall into deep thought, and his brows furrowed even more.
"Forget it," Whitebeard waved his hand. "Pretend I didn't ask. How would a brat like you understand?"
"Huh?" Kaido immediately retorted. "Don't underestimate me, Newgate! I understand everything!"
Whitebeard clicked his tongue and glanced at him from the corner of his eye. You spend all day fighting and killing. What the hell do you understand?
Boom!
Suddenly, a violent explosion sounded from far away. Then the ground under their feet shook faintly.
Whitebeard and Kaido stopped at the same time and quickly looked around.
Nothing was wrong nearby. The explosion had come from far away.
"Don't tell me Roger used the chance while Ron was alone to get ideas again?" Kaido guessed, then cursed loudly, "Bah! Roger really is a bastard!"
Whitebeard did not speak. How long had it been? They were fighting again? Besides, Ron had done nothing wrong. Had Roger lost his mind? Was he chasing Ron nonstop?
Meanwhile, on Ron's side.
Rolling smoke filled the surroundings, dyeing his vision gray-white.
Rustle, rustle.
In the ruins, a collapsed wall suddenly cracked from the inside. Then a head poked out and looked left and right. Cold sweat slowly appeared on its forehead.
Madman.
Ron was absolutely a madman.
Every attack he launched was not aimed at forcing Ochoku to admit he had kidnapped Annika. It was aimed at killing him.
Step. Step. Step.
Footsteps rang out through the smoke.
In the hazy field of vision, a gleaming golden figure slowly appeared.
"You..." Ron said slowly. "You really are vicious enough."
This guy Ochoku had been hiding all along. Hiding his strength, hiding his ambition. He made everyone feel that he posed no threat, made everyone overlook him.
All for the sake of special moments when he could strike back and kill his opponent in one blow.
And in their exchange just now, Ron had nearly fallen for it.
Of course.
As a veteran figure of the Rocks Pirates, how could he possibly be weak?
All his previous retreats were merely because his interests had not been touched.
"Ron, you madman!" Ochoku cursed. "If we really fight to the death, you might not gain any advantage!"