"You three seem to be having a lively chat here!"
"Would you mind telling me what it's about?"
Bob spoke in a light, flippant tone as he looked at the trio whose faces had turned pale, rendered speechless from shock.
"Wh-Why are you here?!"
"We were just discussing those Marines!"
"Those damn Marines had the audacity to come to my casino! Someone must've tipped them off. We'll make sure to find that rat and deal with them!"
The casino boss forced himself to maintain composure as he faced Bob. However, seeing the infamous pirate standing in front of him brought all sorts of unpleasant thoughts to his mind. But no matter what, he knew he had to stay calm. The more panicked he got, the worse things would become. Still, facing Bob, his body trembled uncontrollably, his voice shaky as he spoke.
"Oh! Is that so?"
"Stop shaking! What's there to fear from the Marines?"
"Relax. Those guys have already been chased off!"
Bob face bore a smile that didn't reach his eyes, his voice steady and unbothered. Upon hearing this, the casino boss felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his brain. His eyes widened, and he was momentarily at a loss for words. The other two weren't faring much better, their expressions equally grim. The news that the Marines had been defeated felt as though they'd plummeted from heaven into a pit of despair.
Suddenly, the casino boss seemed to recall something, hastily speaking up.
"What about Zephyr? Where's Zephyr?"
"Doesn't Zephyr count as a Marine?"
Bob voice was indifferent. Then, without warning, his expression turned icy, his tone as cold as frost as he continued.
"You all are the ones who tipped off the Marines, aren't you?"
Bob silently observed the trio, not bothering with further pretense.
"N-No! Of course not!"
"We run a casino, why would we contact the Marines?! You must've gotten this all wrong!"
The casino boss face had turned the color of cooked liver as he desperately tried to explain.
"And that cheater is one of your own, isn't he?"
Ignoring the boss protests, Bob continued, his gaze shifting to the short man. The look in his eyes said it all. This time, none of the three said another word. At the exact moment Bob accused them, it was as if all the strength drained from their bodies. They slumped into their chairs, utterly defeated. There was no point denying it anymore. Bob had known all along they were the fools in this game.
Watching the trio lifeless demeanor, Bob expression shifted again as he spoke slowly.
"Exchange the chips I've won. Do it right, and I won't harm you."
With that, he tossed the bag of winnings onto the table before them. Hearing this, the casino boss felt a flicker of hope. Thinking there might still be room to salvage the situation, he quickly spoke up.
"Of course! Right away! Please follow me, I'll personally handle it for you!"
He hurriedly moved toward the exchange area, his trembling legs nearly causing him to trip on the flat ground. The other two, seeing the movement, quickly scrambled after him. Bob, unhurried, made his way toward the chips exchange counter, awaiting the boss's return. Nearby, John lay unconscious, still slumped in a chair.
Before long, the casino boss and his two accomplices returned, carrying a heavy bag of money.
"Your winnings total to 270,800,000 Berries. It's all here, not a single coin missing!"
"Oh!"
Bob took the money, flashing a smile in response. He then delivered a sharp slap to John shoulder, the force stirring the unconscious man.
"Wake up. We've got work to do!"
In his subconscious, John felt something collide within his mind. Jolting awake, he found Bob staring at him. Jumping to his feet, he took in his surroundings and realized they were back in the casino. There was only one explanation—Bob had defeated Zephyr and brought them both back to the casino. Suddenly, remembering Bob earlier remark, John frowned.
"Work?"
Following Bob gaze, John saw the three casino workers standing there, and everything immediately became clear. In an instant, John rapier glinted coldly as he slashed across the three men's necks. Three crimson lines appeared on their throats. Before long, the trio clutched their necks before collapsing backward.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sounds of their bodies hitting the floor echoed—their final moments in this world.
"Hmph! Trying to cheat me and sell me out? You deserve this!" John grumbled while shaking the blood off his sword. As an experienced gambler, John had already noticed the short man shady tricks during their game. However, without concrete evidence, he hadn't acted immediately. Then when the Marines showed up here—well, it was obvious the casino boss was involved.
After dealing with them, Bob gestured for John to leave. John chuckled mischievously but didn't rush to exit. Instead, he disappeared from sight only to reemerge shortly after, carrying a hefty bag. There was no need to guess what was inside. Shaking his head, Bob said nothing further as he turned to leave the casino. Seeing this, John quickly hefted the bag and followed behind.
At the island's shore, a luxurious lifeboat quietly waited. Bob and John climbed aboard. While Bob had initially planned to use his newfound wealth to purchase some supplies on the island, his face was too well-known. Wherever he went, doors slammed shut. Additionally, judging by the time, the Marine Headquarters' reinforcements would soon arrive. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Bob decided to leave immediately.
After securing the money and valuables from the casino, Bob pulled up the ship's anchor and glanced at John, who sat at the bow.
"Navigate us back to the Rocks."
Hearing this, John sighed, pulling out a log pose and map to study. After scanning them, he shot Bob a look and asked dryly,
"So if I navigate this whole trip, can we cut down my debt a little?"
Upon hearing this, Bob temple throbbed in irritation. He glared at John with disdain. Coming to the island, John had been the most proactive about taking charge of the route, only to now start haggling the moment they were on their way home.
"You have two choices: either navigate now or I drop you overboard, take your bag of money, and navigate myself!"
As he spoke, Bob raised a fist menacingly into the air. Seeing this, John broke into a sheepish grin.
"Relax! I was just joking."
With that, he started up the boat, steering it back toward the Rocks.
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