"No, I'm truly not trying to brush you off, honored guests. It's just that business is exceptionally good tonight. All of our top courtesans have already been reserved by another customer."
Madam Sang was sweating profusely as she explained in a rush.
She wasn't lying.
Business really was unprecedented tonight.
She had even made inquiries and discovered that it wasn't just her establishment—every venue along Happy Street was thriving. It was said that a particularly powerful pirate crew had arrived. Not only were they numerous, but they were also generous spenders, each ordering multiple girls.
"Reserved?" Sandy's expression darkened further. "Tell me which private room they're in. I want to see who dares take my top courtesan."
Rather than calming down, he became even more furious.
He suddenly stood and strode forward, grabbing Madam Sang by the throat with one hand and lifting her into the air.
"Ah—!"
The girls in the room screamed in terror and scattered.
"…Private Room 666!"
Madam Sang clearly hadn't expected him to resort to violence. Happy Street wasn't defenseless—it was one of the kings of the underground world. Normally, even pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions wouldn't dare cause trouble here.
Though frightened and enraged—and already planning to report him to higher authorities afterward—she remained rational enough to survive the moment.
Face flushed from suffocation, she quickly gasped out the room number.
"Hmph. Boys, follow me. I'll make sure you all get some top courtesans too."
Dropping Madam Sang like trash, Sandy led his men out with imposing momentum, heading straight for Private Room 666.
…
Inside Room 666—
"What's all that noise outside?"
"I don't know. Sounds like someone's fighting."
"Should we go take a look?"
…
Though the room was tightly shut, the commotion outside could still be heard—shouting, crashing, even screams.
Kaito Arisawa, who was in the middle of enjoying himself, frowned in irritation.
"What's going on? Is the security here this bad?"
"It's fine, my lord. Perhaps someone drank too much and is making trouble."
"Yes, my lord. We have professional guards. Even if someone causes a disturbance, it will be dealt with quickly."
The courtesans reassured him anxiously, worried that dissatisfaction might cost them their generous fees.
Kaito considered for a moment and activated Observation Haki.
Not because he feared danger—but because if the situation escalated too much, it would disrupt the atmosphere.
"Huh?"
Through his perception, he sensed Mangu fighting outside.
"And there's a fairly capable opponent among them…"
He focused further.
"Not a problem. Just a warm-up for Mangu before he gets to relax."
Satisfied with his assessment, Kaito withdrew his Haki and resumed his activity.
"Eh? My lord, you're starting again? Didn't you say you'd call in more sisters?"
"I can't help it. It's dangerous outside right now. Better stay in and keep working hard."
"That's unfair…"
Amid teasing complaints, the revelry continued.
…
Boom!
Dust and debris exploded outward as a wall collapsed.
A figure was hurled from the nightclub-style venue and crashed onto the street.
It was Sandy—the captain of the Violent Bear Pirates.
"Damn it… Who the hell is in Room 666? That guard is insanely strong!"
Rolling across the street, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Sandy scrambled to his feet in shock.
From the wreckage, Mangu strode out calmly, mace resting on his shoulder.
He looked like a towering beast emerging from destruction.
"Someone's causing trouble—move aside!"
"Whoa, a fight! This'll be good!"
"Hey, isn't that 'Grizzly Bear' Sandy? The 78-million-Berry pirate?"
"Then that giant with the mace… Could that be the War Pirates' famed savage, Mangu?"
"Are the Violent Bear Pirates and War Pirates going to clash?"
Happy Street at night was lively, filled with onlookers. Men and women alike gathered, excited by the spectacle.
Both pirate crews were among the strongest forces in West Blue.
Inside the venue, dozens of Sandy's men had already been knocked unconscious by Mangu.
But outside, more members of the Violent Bear Pirates quickly gathered.
"Captain! We're here!"
"You dare attack the Violent Bear Pirates?! You've got a death wish!"
"Brothers! Show them what we're made of!"
Hundreds of pirates assembled around Sandy, glaring fiercely at Mangu.
With reinforcements behind him, Sandy regained his confidence. The fear from being blasted through a wall faded.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and stepped forward.
"You've got guts," he growled at Mangu. "Do you know who I am?"
Mangu said nothing.
He merely shifted his grip on the mace.
His silence was heavier than any threat.
The tension on Happy Street skyrocketed.
A major pirate confrontation was about to erupt.
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