"What?! Just three Navy recruits? Don't scare me like that!"
"Tch tch tch… Do you know where you are, brats? You dare waltz in here?"
"Hahaha! You might end up wetting yourselves before this is over!"
The bar roared with laughter. Dozens of pirates raised their mugs and jeered, their crude remarks echoing through the wooden walls.
Had the three navy personnel held a recognized rank, these pirates would've been more cautious. But pirates were pirates—without fear, unless staring down real authority.
"Captain Bai Yu… are we really going in?"
Kirby's voice quivered as he leaned closer to Bai Yu, nervously glancing around at the predatory stares. The presence of so many notorious criminals made his back cold with sweat.
"Don't pay them any mind," Bai Yu said calmly.
He wasn't here to pick a fight—not yet.
First, he had a question that needed answering. He needed to confirm whether the infamous Blackbeard was truly on Jaya Island.
"Boss. I need some information."
Bai Yu approached the bar and sat down with a casual grace, his tone firm but not hostile.
The barkeeper—a rugged man in his forties with a bushy beard—paused wiping a glass. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Kid, take my advice and get out while you can," the barkeeper warned. "This isn't a playground for rookie marines."
"I'll be fine," Bai Yu replied without hesitation. "I'm looking for someone by the name of—"
Crash!
The sudden shattering of a glass behind them cut him off. The sound made Koby and Helmeppo jolt in fright, falling back onto the floor in a clumsy heap.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Navy dogs!"
"Fresh out of the academy!"
The mocking resumed at full force. Then a heavy pair of boots thudded against the floorboards.
A man rose from his seat—tall, broad-shouldered, with wild blond hair and a sinister smirk. A jagged scar marked his left eye beneath his shades.
"That's Bellamy!"
"Captain of the Bellamy Pirates—bounty 55 million Berries!"
"Damn, these marines walked right into hell."
The whispers spread quickly through the bar.
Bellamy, known as the Hyena, possessed the Spring-Spring Fruit—a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that let him turn parts of his body into coiled springs, launching powerful, high-speed attacks.
"You three," Bellamy sneered. "Unless you're eager to die, get lost. This isn't your turf."
He cast a scornful look toward Koby and Helmeppo, who were still scrambling to their feet, their pride bruised by the laughter surrounding them.
Their gaze turned to Bai Yu, pleading silently for reassurance.
But Bai Yu's face was calm—cold, even.
"Don't look at me," he said flatly. "If you can't even stand your ground against scum like this, maybe I need to rethink whether you're worthy to follow me."
His words struck harder than any insult. Koby's fists trembled, and Helmeppo clenched his jaw. But both stood tall, something shifting in their eyes.
"We're Marines," Koby said, voice rising. "There's no place in this world off-limits to justice!"
"They're the ones who should run from us!" Helmeppo added, fire returning to his tone.
Their declaration silenced the room.
Even the clatter of cups stopped.
"You got guts, kid," Bellamy said darkly. "But guts won't stop broken bones."
Dozens of pirates stood at once, chairs clattering, weapons drawn. The threat was real now.
But Bellamy just laughed.
Then, in a flash, he crouched low. His legs compressed—skin and muscle twisting unnaturally as they transformed into massive springs.
Boom!
With explosive force, Bellamy launched himself like a cannonball straight toward the two younger Marines. His right arm cocked back, spring-loaded and humming with power.
He closed the gap in an instant.
"Spring Death Punch!"
The air howled around his fist as it tore toward Koby and Helmeppo, who instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves.
Whoosh! Clang!
But the blow never landed.
A streak of silver cut through the air.
Metal rang as steel met spring.
When Koby and Helmeppo opened their eyes, Bai Yu stood in front of them, both hands gripping his blade—Dragon Flame Katana—angled to absorb the brunt of Bellamy's strike.
Bellamy's punch had been stopped cold.
"My crew," Bai Yu said, voice low and deadly, "aren't yours to discipline."
The weight of his intent spilled into the room like a killing aura.
"He blocked it?!"
"That rookie marine stopped Bellamy?!"
Gasps erupted among the pirates.
Bellamy's smirk faded. His eyes narrowed. The veins in his arms bulged.
"You've got some nerve," he spat. "Maybe I'll have to tear those arms off to teach you manners."
"I think your power is all talk," Bai Yu replied, lips curled into a slight grin.
Bellamy snarled.
He sprang backward, widening the distance again, fists trembling with rage.
"You've pissed me off now."
"I'll shatter your limbs and make you beg for forgiveness."
He crouched once more, both legs twisting into tightly wound springs.
"Koby. Helmeppo."
Bai Yu didn't take his eyes off Bellamy.
"Step back. I'll handle this clown."